Big Booty of Treats

Boo! It's Halloween and it's time for trick or treat!


All you need to do is say "trick-or-treat," smile, extend your Halloween bag and voila - Halloween candies!


All the kids had their fair share of a bagful of nice Halloween treats.


Have a Fa-boo-lous Halloween!

Fantastic Mommy

It’s your birthday and if I could wrap love in a ribbon, it would be my gift to you.

Mommy, we’ve shared so much,

I have enough memories to fill my heart for a thousand years.

I hope you’ll always know how very special you are and how lucky the world is to have you in it.

Happy 55th Birthday, Mami!

Workplace Language

This is cute…

Blamestorming: Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

Chainsaw Consultant: An outside expert brought in to reduce the employee headcount, leaving the top brass with clean hands.

Cube Farm: An office filled with cubicles.

Prairie Dogging: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

Elvis Year: The peak year of something's or someone's popularity. "Barney the Dinosaur's Elvis year was 1993."

Idea Hamsters: People who always seem to have their idea generators running.

Mouse Potato: The online, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

Ohnosecond: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a big mistake.

SITCOMs: What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids. Stands for Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage.

Starter Marriage: A short-lived first marriage that ends in a divorce with no kids, no property and no regrets.

Stress Puppy: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

Tourists: People who take training classes just to get a vacation from their jobs. "We had three serious students in the class; the rest were just tourists."

Xerox Subsidy: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

Alpha Geek: The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. "Ask Trisha, she's the alpha geek around here."

Assmosis: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.

Beepilepsy: The brief seizure people sometimes have when their beeper goes off (especially in vibrator mode). Characterized by physical spasms, goofy facial expressions and interruption of speech in mid-sentence.

Depotphobia: Fear associated with entering a Home Depot because of how much money one might spend. Electronics geeks experience Shackophobia.

Flight Risk: Used to describe employees who are suspected of planning to leave a company or department soon. Irritainment: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them. The O.J. trials were a prime example.

Percussive Maintenance: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

Seagull Manager: A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, sh-ts over everything and then leaves.

Uninstalled: Euphemism for being fired. Heard on the voicemail of a vice president at a downsizing computer firm: "You have reached the number of an uninstalled vice president. Please dial our main number and ask the operator for assistance." See also Decruitment.

My absolute favorite – Idea Hamsters. As for myself, I’m a self-confessed Mouse Potato.

A Woman's Dictionary

Copied and reposted…

Argument (ar*gyou*ment) n. A discussion that occurs when you're right, but he just hasn't realized it yet.

Airhead (er*hed) n. What a woman intentionally becomes when pulled over by a policeman.

Bar-be-que (bar*bi*q) n. You bought the groceries, washed the lettuce, chopped the tomatoes, diced the onions, marinated the meat and cleaned everything up, but he "made the dinner."

Blonde jokes (blond joks) n. Jokes that are short so men can understand them.

Cantaloupe (kant*e*lope) n. Gotta get married in a church.

Clothes dryer (kloze dri*yer) n. An appliance designed to eat socks.

Diet Soda (dy*it so*da) n. A drink you buy at a convenience store to go with a half pound bag of peanut M&Ms.

Eternity (e*ter*ni*tee) n. The last two minutes of a football game.

Exercise (ex*er*siz) v. To walk up and down a mall, occasionally resting to make a purchase.

Grocery List (grow*ser*ee list) n. What you spend half an hour writing, then forget to take with you to the store.

Hair Dresser (hare dres*er) n. Someone who is able to create a style you will never be able to duplicate again. See "Magician."

Hardware Store (hard*war stor) n. Similar to a black hole in space-if he goes in, he isn't coming out anytime soon.

Childbirth (child*brth) n. You get to go through 36 hours of contractions; he gets to hold your hand and say "focus,...breath...push..."

Lipstick (lip*stik) n. On your lips, coloring to enhance the beauty of your mouth. On his collar, coloring only a tramp would wear...!

Park (park) v./n. Before children, a verb meaning, "to go somewhere and neck." After children, a noun meaning a place with a swing set and slide.

Patience (pa*shens) n. The most important ingredient for dating, marriage and children. See also "tranquilizers."

Waterproof Mascara (wah*tr*pruf mas*kar*ah) n. Comes off if you cry, shower, or swim, but will not come off if you try to remove it.

Valentine's Day (val*en*tinez dae) n. A day when you have dreams of a candlelight dinner, diamonds, and romance, but consider yourself lucky to get a card.

Oh, what a vocabulary, oh my!

The Queen Comes To Town

It has been six years and eight months since the last time I saw my “Sister Taba.” A very long time indeed but communication was always present through long handwritten letters to emails to SMS. These became our bridge to our sixteen years of friendship.


Sister Taba or the Queen Bee in the famous Big Family of UP College of Baguio (now UP Baguio) is Maria Reyna C. Villacarlos. She’s the middle sibling from our elite group. Kuya is Atty. Menard Almazan and Ate is Bb. Jane Erese. You got it right, I am the Little Sister of the family.

Why the Big Family? Back then, we were all “BIG”. Even the other members of the family are also big and fabulous.


Now, Sister Taba is no tubby-tubby anymore. I totally did not recognize her when I fetched her at the Ayala-MRT Station last Wednesday. She got sick a few years back and went on a strict diet. In addition, being NGO worker affected her lifestyle. She’s now many pounds lighter but her face stayed the same. The bubbly smile even the voice was the same as I remember during our first days as blockmates.

We spent the whole day of October 8, 2008 together since I just came back from a previous engagement and she had to go back to Baguio before heading back to the Cordilleras for her work. I treated her to an Italian breakfast, two hours of pampering at a spa, strolled throughout the Greenbelt malls, a late American lunch and before sending her off back to Baguio, a sumptuous Filipino dinner.


For that whole day we spent together, we called the rest of the Big Family members – oops, only the ones that I have in my mobile phone. Some numbers were not anymore available yet we got lucky to call some of the big ones. We woke up Jane in Dubai, caught Menard in a court recess, Kit in a workshop, Peter on the way to Binondo and Alovel who just had dinner. It was fun even though we miss the rest of the Big Family. We tried calling Oli in Cambodia, Jojo in Singapore, Nhore in San Francisco and Joseph but all we got were voicemails. Sayang!


Maybe next time we’ll have a bigger Big Family reunion – we’ll get to see Cynch, Rhodz, Chris and also the rest of the EconBlock 3-A gang. (Hopefully on the 5th of December!!!)

But for meantime, I am treasuring the day spent with my Sister Taba. I just wish that we get to see more often rather than wait another six years.

Reyna, having to miss work for a day is incomparable to spending a day well spent with you.

Ice Cream Power

Last week Richard took his children to a restaurant. His six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As they bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby he heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, Richard’s son burst into tears and asked him, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As he held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at Richard’s son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" Richard’s son asked. "Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, Richard bought his kids ice cream at the end of the meal. His son stared at him for a moment and then did something he will remember the rest of his life. Richard’s son picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."

Do not let anyone tell you how to pray. Ask for what you want. Tell God why you want it and in the process of saying WHY you want something, you will already know a little more whether you will be getting your wish or not. And if the reason isn’t a good one, than sincerely change your reason, or change what you want.


And if you want ice cream, ask for ice cream. Personally, I like chocolate ice cream.

The Secrets to Happiness

Live beneath your means and within your seams.
Return everything you borrow.
Donate blood.
Stop blaming other people.
Admit it when you make a mistake.
Give all the clothes you haven't worn in the last three years to charity.
Every day do something nice and try not to get caught.
Listen more; talk less.
Every day take a 30-minute walk in your neighborhood.
Skip two meals a week and give the money to the homeless.
Strive for excellence, not perfection.
Be on time.
Don't make excuses.
Don't argue.
Get organized.
Be kind to kind people.
Be even kinder to unkind people.
Let someone cut ahead of you in line.
Take time to be alone.
Reread a favorite book.
Cultivate good manners.
Be humble.
Understand and accept that life isn't always fair.
Know when to say something.
Know when to keep your mouth shut.
Don't criticize anyone for 24 hours.
Learn from the past, plan for the future, and live in the present.
Don't sweat the small stuff.

We all should strive for happiness – but we all also need to WORK ON IT.

The Ten Conyo-mandments

Saw this from Meyan’s blog and forwarded the script to my cheeblings.

The Ten Conyo-Mandments
(taken from The La Sallian-Menagerie)

Conyo here, conyo there, conyo everywhere! Here at La Salle, conyospeak has become an unofficial language as a good chunk of the student body knows, or maybe even mastered the socialite tongue. However, one must never forget the basics of the conyo and we thusly bring you: The Ten Conyomandments.

1. Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa".
"Let´s make pasok na to our class!"
"Wait lang! I´m making kain pa!"
"Come on na, we can´t make hintay anymore!"

2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "di ba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.
"I don´t like to make lakad in the baha nga, noh? Eh di ba it´s like, so ewww, di ba?
"What ba? Stop nga being maarte noh!"
"Eh as if you want naman also, di ba?

3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It´s SO pang-uri!".
"It´s so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right? So sarap nga eh!"
"You´re making me inggit naman, I´ll make bili nga my own burger."

4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", "tsong" or "pare".
"Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."
"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh."

5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
"My bag is so bigat today, you know."
"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kase the jumbo Physics book eh!"

6. Make gawa the plural of pangalans like in English or Spanish.
"I have so many tigyawats, oh!"

7. Like, when you can make kaya, always like. Like, I know right?
"Like it´s so init naman!"
"Yeah! The air-con, it´s like sira kase eh!"

8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?
"Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"
"It´s so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"

9. Make gamit of plenty of abbreviations, you know, daglat?
"Like OMG! It´s like traffic sa EDSA."
"I know, right? It´s so kaka!"
"Kaka?"
"Kakaasar!"

10. Make gamit the pinakamarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
"I´m like, making aral at the Arrhneow!"
"Me naman, I´m from Lazzahl!"

One Cheebling replied: “So loka tlaga, u knw. Its so lyk gawa ng Lazalista yan, ryt. Make pdala 2 my mail nmn s YM, its so kul kc. Pra pdala q s mga friendships q, u knw, my frendly frends”.

I had fun reading the whole set and receiving a reply from Cheebling No. 2. So funny naman, I’m making tawa-tawa na. Ha, ha, ha!

Words of Wisdom

I got this from Tita Carol…

Six Pinoy Words of Wisdom

1. Lahat ng problema may solusyon, kung walang solusyon, wag mo nang problemahin.
2. Always remember, kung kaya ng iba, ipagawa mo sa kanila. Don't force yourself, make life easy.
3. Hindi lahat ng gwapo may girlfriend ang iba sa kanila may boyfriend.
4. Don't face your problem if your problem is your face; umiwas sa lahat ng bagay na nakakaaninag- - salamin; microwave; stainless steel na kawali, kaldero, kutsara, tinidor.
5. Di bale ng tamad, di naman pagod.
6. Praktis makes perfect but nobody's perfect, so don't praktis
   

What do you think? True or False?

The Sand Castle

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it. And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic.

A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.

All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future. Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.

Yet that is where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified. He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.

"It's my castle," he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs...

I don't know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud. Salute the process of life and go home.

Be child-like, not childish, but having the enthusiasm of a child who saw something or built something for the first time.

Red. Hot. Chili. Elline!!!

We usually don’t select a theme for our birthday celebrations but a few years back, we had Japanese for the whole year, then Chinese and then finally we got tired from the same cuisines. We experimented with fusions of dishes and yet we still craved for more. However, whatever the choice, it still is good as long as we are filled with good company and laughter.

For Ella Elline’s post birthday celebration, she craved for a Tex-Mex flare. Where else did we go but Chili’s Grill and Bar in Greenbelt One. The three of us cannot remember the last time we ate at Chili’s. We had a fun time guessing when but, at the end, we failed. (Now I have to check the big albums to know when.)

I came first so I got a good table, with a good view too -- the Legaspi Street and a very weird couple having early dinner. I wasn’t able to get a snack so I gladly ordered some appetizers and by the time I had company I was a little bit full. Elline arrived next and since Mary Ann was running late we availed of the Wi-Fi services of the restaurant. I gladly helped Elline solve her biggest problem to date and she savored the free Wi-Fi.


While waiting for Mary Ann to arrive, we were making fun of her. You might ask why, because she always came late whenever we have gatherings within the Ayala area. Why again, because she walks around the Makati Commercial Business District. Nevertheless, we salute her for her enthusiasm. How I wish I had the drive of Mary Ann!!!


It didn’t take long for Mary Ann to arrive. So when se did, we ordered our choices. While we enjoyed dinner and shared our stories, we missed another Sistahud. I just wish by the next celebration she’ll be able to join us, perhaps on her birthday. You know who you are and do visit us soon!

Before we parted ways, I gave them my “pasalubongs” and we gave Elline her birthday presents. We even checked our calendars for Mary Ann’s birthday blowout. Since I won’t be here for the Holidays, we’ll have an advance celebration for the Mary Ann Birthday and Christmas treat. Another Sistahud event that’s worth waiting for!

Elline – happy birthday to an ageless beauty! For the Sistahuds - let's do this again soon!

New Show Premiere Dates

I wonder what will make it till the end of the season...

Tuesday, Sept. 2
90210 (CW), 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3
Sons of Anarchy (FX), 10 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5
Samurai Girl (ABC Family), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 7
True Blood (HBO), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 9
Fringe (Fox), 8 p.m.
Privileged (CW), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 10
Do Not Disturb (Fox), 9:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22
Worst Week (CBS), 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23
The Mentalist (CBS), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Knight Rider (NBC), 8 p.m.
Gary Unmarried (CBS), 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3
The Ex List (CBS), 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9
Kath & Kim (NBC), 9:30 p.m.
Eleventh Hour (CBS), 10 p.m.
Life on Mars (ABC), 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10
The Starter Wife (USA), 10 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 13
My Own Worst Enemy (NBC), 10 p.m.

My money's on 90210, Fringe and Knight Rider. Crossing my fingers.. very tight!

Fall TV Premiere Dates

Here goes...

Tuesday, Aug. 26
Greek (ABC Family) 9 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 1
Gossip Girl (CW) 8 p.m.
One Tree Hill (CW) 9 p.m.
Prison Break (Fox) 8 p.m. - 2-hour premiere

Wednesday, Sept. 3
Bones (Fox) 8 p.m. - 2-hour premiere

Sunday, Sept. 7
Entourage (HBO) 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 8
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox) 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 16
House (Fox) 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 18
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) 10 p.m.
Smallville (CW) 8 p.m.
Supernatural (CW) 9 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22
CSI: Miami (CBS) 10 p.m.
Heroes (NBC) 9 p.m. - 3-hour premier
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 8:30 p.m.
Two and a Half Men (CBS) 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23
Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 10 p.m.
NCIS (CBS) 8 p.m.
Without a Trace (CBS) 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Criminal Minds (CBS) 9 p.m.
CSI: NY (CBS) 10 p.m.
Lipstick Jungle (NBC) 10 p.m.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25
ER (NBC) 10 p.m.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) 9 p.m.
My Name is Earl (NBC) 8 p.m. - 1-hour premiere
The Office (NBC) 9 p.m. - 1-hour premiere
Ugly Betty (ABC) 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 28
American Dad (Fox) 9:30 p.m.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) 10 p.m.
Californication (Showtime), 10 p.m.
Cold Case (CBS) 9 p.m.
Desperate Housewives (ABC) 9 p.m.
Dexter (Showtime) 9 p.m.
Family Guy (Fox) 9 p.m.
King of the Hill (Fox) 8:30 p.m.
The Simpsons (Fox) 8 p.m.
The Unit (CBS) 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 29
Chuck (NBC) 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 1
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) 10 p.m.
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV 101) 9 p.m.
Private Practice (ABC) 8 p.m.
Pushing Daisies (ABC) 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3
Ghost Whisperer (CBS) 8 p.m.
Numb3rs (CBS) 10 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 6
Samantha Who? (ABC) 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30
30 Rock (NBC) 8:30 p.m.

Whew! Another season of Tivo-dependent shows! Just a few more winks and we're off!

On the Road

I am still in my one of my adventures right now and will be posting my pictures and stories soon! Wait for it.

I know you're waiting... you know you want it!

The Coffee is Brewing

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

All the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself, adds no quality to the coffee in most cases, just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...and then began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups... enjoy your coffee. Do not to get caught up in the trivial material side of life. Enjoying life’s abundances is a blessing, but don’t confuse it with the bigger picture.

Words...

... don't come easy to me - ha, ha, ha!

Thanks to Wordle!

Things to Say When Stressed Out

I like the last one!

Loss for words when the going gets tough? This ought to be your guide the next time:

• "Okay, okay! I take it back. Unfuck you!!!"
• "You say I’m a bitch like it’s a bad thing?!"
• "How many times do I have to flush before you go away?"
• "Well, this day was a total waste of make-up."
• "Well, aren’t we a bloody ray of sunshine?"
• "Don’t bother me, I’m living happily ever after."
• "Do I look like a fucking people person!"
• "This isn’t an office. It’s HELL with fluorescent lighting!"
• "I started out with nothing… still have most of it left."
• "I pretend to work, they pretend to pay me."
• "YOU!! … Off my planet!!!"
• "Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble plastic is cheap. You choose."
• "Practice random acts of intelligence and senseless acts of self-control."
• "Errors have been made. Others will be blamed."
• "And your cry-baby, whiny-assed opinion would be…?"
• "I’m not crazy. I’ve been in a very bad mood for 30 years."
• "Sarcasm is just one more service I offer."
• "Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed."
• "Do they ever shut up on your planet?"
• "I’m not your type. I’m not inflatable"
• "Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven’t gone to sleep yet."
• "Back off!! You’re standing in my aura."
• "Don’t worry. I forgot your name too."
• "I just want revenge. Is that so wrong?"
• "I work 45 hours a week to be this poor."
• "Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?"
• "Not all men are annoying. Some are dead."
• "Wait… I’m trying to imagine you with a personality…"
• "Chaos, panic, and disorder… my work here is done."
• "Ambivalent? Well, yes and no."
• "You look like shit. Is that the style now?"
• "Earth is full. Go home."
• "Aw, did I step on your poor little bitty ego?"
• "I’m not tense, just terribly, terribly alert."
• "A hard-on doesn’t count as personal growth."
• "You are depriving some village of an idiot."
• "If assholes could fly, this place would be an airport."
  

Those where the days… Wink, wink!

Thoughts on Time

I don’t know that the thoughts below are really "life lessons" or not, but it had a profound effect on me the morning it came to my mind. It made me realize just how short our lives are on this earth, no matter what age we reach. It made me realize that we are so consumed with “time” and that is the one element we have no control over. For no matter what we do, time keeps ticking by at an ever-increasing speed.

As I awake each morning, I glance at the clock to see what time it is. One morning as I was doing this, the thought came to my mind that when we are young we try to determine the time upon awakening because we live by the minute. As we mature, we seek to know what day of the week it is, because we live by the day. Then as we grow older, we seek to know what month it might be, for time has sped up and now we live by the month. Then as we grow into our senior years, we seek to know what year it is for now time is simply spinning out of control and we strive to just hang on and live by the year.

Do not waste any time in your life, whether it is a second, a minute or a year.

Happy Birthday, UP!

The University of the Philippines, the school that bred many of the nation’s leaders, artists, rebels, and of course – me and my sister, turns 100 years old today.


From the UP Diliman Information Office:

On June 18, the University of the Philippines will be celebrating its centenary with, among other activities, one grand community singing of the “Happy Birthday UP Song” in the university amphitheater to be led by no less than the UP, GHQ and Quezon City Symphonic Band, Dean Ramon Acoymo of the College of Music, the UP Cherubim and Seraphim, and the UP Staff Chorale. But prior to this, a parade by the UP constituents to the amphitheater will be led by the GHQ Band and the Quezon City Symphonic Band.

The celebration actually begins at the break of dawn around 5:30 AM with events that will lead up to the gathering in the amphitheater. The occasion starts off with a photo expedition at the Quezon Hall/Oblation Plaza featuring 100 UP alumni and residents donning fig leaves and emulating the iconic Oblation figure that has served as a monument to the institution’s undying service to the nation and the people. A flag-raising ceremony and a singing of the alma mater hymn UP Naming Mahal around the Academic Oval follows. UP Centennial President Emerlinda R. Román delivers an inspirational message soon after the UP community sings their beloved university happy birthday.

Other activities lined up after the flag-raising ceremonies include the oath taking of the new set of University Student Council (USC) officers and the launching of four commemorative stamps designed by UP College of Fine Arts alumnus Alfred Capiral. Afterward, the UP flag soars with the release of a hundred balloons that carries it into the air. One hundred significant university personalities lead the particular affair and made brighter by the unleashing of a hundred fireworks.

The USC also launches the Vinzons UPgrade renovation project that aims to restore and preserve the architectural heritage of Vinzons Hall. Modern designs are set to further emphasize its historical features and establish the structure as a genuine student center.

The entire day is set out to be an open house. All academic and non-academic units are enjoined to participate in the memorable occasion from beginning to end. The university units are to welcome various visitors and well-wishers into their homes. Everyone is invited to partake in the festivities, in the commemoration of UP’s hundred years of leadership in higher education, and expression of gratitude to an institution’s unflagging service to the country and indebtedness to the people working tirelessly to further propel UP to a hundred more years of significance and excellence.

Cheers to 100!

The History of Father’s Day

Contrary to popular belief, Father's Day was not established by Hallmark, American Greetings or others to grow the greeting card business. In fact, there were no Father’s Day cards when the holiday was contemplated.

Mrs. John Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children, by himself, on a rural farm in eastern Washington State. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time, in various towns and cities across America, other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's Day.

Do reach out to those special men in your life – fathers, grandfathers and role models, who have helped make you who you are today.

Wishing you all and the special men in your lives a Happy Father's Day!