alchemist2

My world is…

2004-12-14T09:48:41Z

It seems that my boredom hasn’t ended yet so here I am again trying on some on line quizzes about my world and this is what I found out….

Your World (Part One): What is your world made of? [girls]
brought to you by Quizilla

bahala na

2004-12-01T07:33:17Z

Each country and culture is known for their certain characteristics. We Filipinos have always been known to be God fearing, friendly and with the ability to face problems and situations with a sense of joy and humor (with a touch of flexibility, and creativity). These characteristics are just some of the strengths of the Filipino character which also includes strong family orientation, hard work and the ability to survive.

It is ironic to note that many of the strong points are also the sources of weakness. Our faith in One God and religiosity are sources of strength and courage but they also lead to an external orientation that keeps us passive and dependent on forces outside ourselves. This concept can be best illustrated by the "bahala na" philosophy.

In belief, it is a very positive characteristic. "Bahala na" literally means Bathala na or putting one's faith in God or letting God take care of it. It gives a person hope and optimism to face problems and hardships in life as well as the good times too. (although it is known that people put their faith in God more during times of trials than exceptional times in their lives) It enables us to comprehend and accept reality in the context of God's plan. Thus, tragedy and bad fortune are accepted.

This positive character can be a source of weakness when taken to the extreme. We Filipinos believe in luck and good faith (this can be seen best in Quiapo where faith healers, fortune tellers and the faithful congregate the most). We sometimes forget that one has to work hard in order to achieve things. Prayer and hard work goes together and that is the way it should be. God gave us hands to pray but also to use for work.

the count down begins

2004-11-30T09:12:57Z

"Officially" christmas in the Philippines starts on December 16, which is the start of the simbang gabi. Unofficially, it starts right after all saint's day, when the malls put up the xmas decors and start playing xmas tunes to entice shoppers to buy the presents early. Even the TV networks get into the act and start with their own version of the Christmas countdown during those news programs. Only in the Philippines where you can see news reporting with a touch of commercialism!

Tomorrow is the 1st of December, which means that it's 24 days before Christmas, 31 days before the New Year and only 17 days before the offical start of xmas vacation, parties, traffic, shopping and all the food you can eat.

'INFECTIOUS' FUN TASK

2004-11-25T07:29:50Z

I bloghopped and got this doc emer (http://www.dr-emer.tk/). You might want to try this for fun. Any form of levity these days is good for your health.

(A) First, recommend to me:
1. a movie
2. a book
3. a musical artist, song, or album

(B) I want everyone who reads this to ASK ME 3 QUESTIONS, no more, no less. Ask me anything you want.

(C) Then I want you to go to your journal, copy and paste this allowing your friends to ask you anything; say that you stole it from me.

wish list

2004-11-24T08:53:35Z

1. a new celphone
2. books (the life of pi, a dan brown novel, the new sidney sheldon book, etc)
3. start on a diet (eating the right stuff)
4. a day at the farm
5. new shoes
6. a day at the spa
7. to be able to visit my siblings
8. a new and better job (as well as better compensation)

this is me! (tama ang result)

2004-11-22T08:40:55Z

Your Beauty lies
in Contradiction. Controversial, unpredictable, and
never what anyone expects.
You appearance and your personality are two
opposite things. Even your
appearance sends different signals to different
people. To some you may look
innocent and sweet, to others you look mysterious
and intimidating at the same
time. No one ever knows what to expect with you.
You are a little bit of
everything all mixed together. You can be watching
the football game with the
guys one minute and the next out shopping at the
mall. You seem to be almost a
different person every time you meet someone, but
at the same time you know
exactly who you are and there is always that one
thing that makes you you. You
enjoy keeping people guessing and people love how
completely unpredictable you
are.

Some Things
That Represent You:

Element:
Fire, Water Animal: Chameleon Color:
Dark Tones, Light
Tones Song: Everything by Alanis Morriesette
Expression:
Half-smile

Gemstone:
Opal Mythological Creature: Gryphon,
Half-breeds Sign:
Gemini Planet: Mars Hair Color: Red
Eye Color:
Brown

Quote:
"Appearances can be deceiving."

Where Does Your Beauty Lie? ..::Original Pictures Are Back! Detailed Results::..
brought to you by Quizilla

another quiz, another result

2004-11-22T08:31:56Z

20's You are thinking more clearly than most
people... you can see the real world as it is,
you don't live in this fantasy place anymore
but you are not very mature, you are just fine,
perfect! :)

. What is you inner age?
brought to you by Quizilla

Your so cute anyone would think your cute. Even the
grown ups:) Probaly any boy would run up to you
with flowers and cute stuffed animals like
you;) Just look at you. Your adorable:)

What Type Of Girl Are You???(Amazing Pics)
brought to you by Quizilla

ode to my companion

2004-11-22T07:16:02Z

To the one person who have to power to make me happy and the power to hurt me the most;
To the one person who can make me smile inspite of all the worries in world, my one-person cheering squad;
To the one person who takes me back and hugs me close inspite of all the trouble I cause;

I say thank you and I love you…

pleasant surprise

2004-11-22T07:13:45Z

Just when I thought you have forgotten, you do something that conveys you planned this all along… that you knew about it and was just waiting for the right time to say it.

Just when I am about to thrown in the towel and say “that’s it! I can’t take the *#@* anymore,”, you do something so commonplace that it melts my heart.

With a phone call, you were able to dispel my fears and worries; with a touch you were able to convey a feeling so strong that it dissolves any doubts. Your warm embrace evokes feelings of home and love, of being safe. To be with you, is to be protected and loved.

You are a grown-up with an inner child trapped inside, a person who seems so unaffected and indifferent but whose deepest desire is to be loved deeply and truthfully.

You never cease to amaze me. I am truly thankful to have you in my life.

and i am this sex and the city character too

2004-11-18T06:34:32Z

You Are Most Like Charlotte!

You are the ultimate romantic idealist

You've been hurt before, but that hasn't caused you to give up on love.

If anything, your resolve to fall in love is stronger than ever.

And it's this feminine optimism that men find most appealing about you.

Romantic prediction: That guy you are seeing (or crushing on)?

Could be very serious - if you play your cards right!

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You Most Like?
Take This Quiz Right Now!

Find the Love of Your Life
(and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

i am...

2004-11-18T06:13:32Z

You Are Summer!

Outgoing
Friendly
Flirty
Cute
Fun

What Season Are You? Take This Quiz :-)

Find the Love of Your Life
(and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

storm brewing

2004-11-18T06:04:12Z

after all the love and promises, what next?

after the silence, do you expect everything to stay the way it was?

if trust and respect a two way street, how does one manage to give to more than once and others only once?

why is it always an uneasy silence before the storm?

mirrors of the soul

2004-11-16T04:51:51Z

“The depth of a friendship – how much it means to us… depends, at least in part, upon how many parts of ourselves a friend sees, shares and validates” – Lilian Rubin

Friends are not only there for us during the good times, but real friends stay with us through the bad and rough times of our lives. They are not only essential for coping with our day-to-day frustrations and heartaches or sharing private jokes, they help us go through a crisis, and help us grow as human beings. Friends tell us much of who we are - what we value in life, what we believe in, where we are in our lives and what we deem should be changed. Indeed, they are part of us as we are of them. They are in fact a mirror of who we are.

It is not to say that families don't have a great support system, they do, but one must realize that friends have a support systems uniquely their own.

Relationship among peers is extremely important among teenagers and young adults. They are just some things and issues that one can tell their friends and not their family. A bond among peers is extremely important as we need other people who can relate to what is happening in our life, we need them as models and models whose circumstances are closer to our own. We look at them as guide of who we once were, who we are and who we will become. We look at friends and their experiences and heed their advice, we learn from our mistakes as much as we learn from theirs, we look through experiences to start defining ourselves and how we value ourselves as human beings.

In life, one meets a lot of people... Some mere acquaintances, others friends for life. The degree of friendship one has depends on how much of us we are willing to share with them. Of how much we see in them. While it is sometimes true that opposites attract, it is more probable that people whose degree of similarity in characteristics, likes, belief and values are drawn closer. These pave the way for greater understanding and better bonding. The depth of friendship greatly depends on how much of yourself you are willing to share.

While there are friends what we might loose touch with through time and distance, we must be grateful for the memories that we have, the good and the bad times shared and the lessons we learned from them.

a different war

2004-11-12T02:25:37Z

How well do we know our neighbors?

Let me tell you about a story of two neighbors, fictional as they may be, named Abdul and Juan. They were good neighbors, stayed in the community for sometime. Juan, wanting to have better ties and friendship, invited Abdul to dine with his family. Abdul consented, and so Juan overjoyed and wanting to impress his new friend, laid out a feast. What is a typical feast tray in a Filipino Christian home? Lechon and the continuous flow of drinks. Juan, had this prepared with the assortment of other fiesta favorite like menudo, pancit and the like. Having everything in order, Juan waited eagerly for Abdul to arrive.

When Abdul finally arrived, Juan greeted him with the usual candor that one expects from a host. He then led Abdul to the table to partake in the spread prepared for him. Abdul viewed the food with disdain. He felt so insulted by the preparation because Muslim cuisine specified halal food or food that is allowed to be eaten, according to the Quranic Law. It is prohibited that he eats the flesh of swine and drinks anything intoxicating. Juan, on the other hand, felt the same, because Abdul rejected his offer. What started out as a gesture of continuous friendship ended up in animosity.

This is a case that can be repeated time and again and because we don’t take the step to know one another. Majority of Muslims who went to school knows a lot of the Christian ways and ethos, but the question is: How many Christians know about Islam and about Muslims?

I have often pondered about this and realized that indeed, majority of the Christians in Manila know very little about Islam, about Muslims and the people of Mindanao. What little they know is information they have from the news, (which are quite negative) and the stereotypes they have read about or have been told to them by the older generations. Often times, these stereotypes are reinforced by what they have read or watched in the news. But the news is NOT representative of the majority of the Muslims. I once rode a taxi and the driver was very vocal about his views regarding the Muslims. He is one of those who reinforce the commonplace way of thinking that “a good Muslim/Moro is a dead Muslim/Moro”. It is so sad that to this day and age, people (and some of them are educated too) still have this point of view (a view that borders to bigotry).

Just these past months, there was such a hullabaloo about on the Muslim prayer room that the Ortigas have decided to put up in Greenhills. This was done to give the Muslim traders in the Greenhills shopping center privacy for prayer. What I really don’t get is the opposition for so-called educated people living near the shopping center.
The Ortigas are just giving the Muslims an equal opportunity to pray in private, peace, quiet and dignity.

The Greenhills residents, lead by a columnist / publisher is raising so much noise about this and is opposed to the building of this prayer room. He seems to be on a crusade to stop the construction of a Muslim prayer area by the Ortigas & Company. In his columns, he explains his opposition saying that the “mosque” (he is insisting on calling the prayer room mosque) “would provide a ‘sanctuary’ and a ‘base’ not just for peaceful Muslims traders and residents in the area, but for Moro troublemakers from Quiapo and Taguig. The fact is, the Muslims traders come from all points in Metro Manila (Quiapo and Taguig included).

His argument about violence erupting in Greenhills, about business establishments going into a slump and real-estate prices plummeting are down-right flimsy and oozing with ignorance and bigotry. (A recent newsbreak article tackles this issue with surprising results which you could read here)

Let me tell you about Islam. Islam is a way of life. It is a way to Allah and this way is a peaceful one. What you know may just be a tip of the iceberg. The five pillars of Islam guides a devout Muslim. The five pillars are: Believing that there is only on God (Allah) and Muhammad (s.a.w) is his prophet, praying 5 times a day, observing Ramadan, doing charity and going to Mecca for Pilgrimage (Hadj) – especially if one has the capacity to do so. These are the basic things one needs to know regarding Islam. (to know more about Islam you can go here, here or here)

One must realize that the Abu Sayaf are not representative of the Muslims in the country. While it is true that the government has indeed ignored the Muslim community, as history can very well divulge, one must not be quick to judge the actions undertaken by Muslims and Muslim groups such as the MILF and the MNLF. If I remember correctly, the MILF and the MNLF were born with the intent of fighting for the rights of the Muslim community and because or the Jadiba massacre. I firmly believe that knowing our history will lead to greater understanding.

I grew up in Zamboanga City. Muslims and Christians in this community work and live together harmoniously (at least they try to). As a matter of fact, my high school “barkada” are all Christians and whenever there is a fiesta and I’m invited, there is always a separate table or a special meal prepared for me. They prepare this before thay prepare any food with pork. They do this, because they know my religion and me. They took extra effort to understand my religion as I also take an extra effort to understand theirs. In my community, there is an effort to work together and to understand one another.

An organization was even formed to promote better understanding between the Christians and Muslims brothers of our community. The Paz-Salam, an organization actively taken into by the church, the Ateneo de Zamboanga, the Muslim and Christian community and the NGOs of Zamboanga City. They have projects to disseminate information and better understanding between the two religions.

I do hope and pray that there will come a time that the people of Luzon and Metro Manila in particular can have at least a semblance of understanding regarding Islam. I also would like to point out that news articles regarding so-called Muslim criminals contribute to the stereotypes and prejudiced way of thinking. (we don’t say a Christian killed his wife or kidnapped a Chinese do we?) I do hope that there will come a time where people would learn to live side-by-side with his neighbors, loving and living with the differences that sets them apart and the similarities that keeps them together. For in the end, we are just once race, separated by islands, the sea and by religion. Let us work together inspite of the differences.

thoughts on population control

2004-11-10T07:31:10Z

Just like the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg... I wonder if poverty contributes to increasing population or increasing population contributes to poverty?

The Philippines has one of the highest birth rates in the world (2.36% annually) as well as one of the highest incidence rates of poverty (34%) in Asia and the world. If the annual growth rate continues at 2.36 percent, then the Philippine population is expected to double in approximately 29 years. This means from 76.5 million in 2000, Philippine population will be 153 million! This year, we are nearing the 90 million threshold.

In the Philippines, population control is such a sensitive topic. The Department of Health (DOH), backed by the President is advocating the natural family planning method, deterring the use of artificial control methods as it will anger the Catholic Church. In fact, the government is vague on the issue of how to control the rising population.

According to the news, the DOH still has 111 million pesos worth of contraceptives stashed in its warehouse. My question is, WHY is it hidden / stashed when health centers, NGO clinics are in such dire need of the supply? WHY can’t the government advocate natural family planning along with artificial methods? It’s ok promoting natural method as long as education / information on this is available and accurate. But the fact remains, people are still in the dark as to what natural method really is and how it works.

I believe that an aggressive information-campaign drive and the active participation of the local government units and other sectors concerned down to the barangay level is the key to addressing population control. Now poverty is another matter.

a personality test

2004-11-09T01:56:58Z

surfing the Net, i chanced upon this personality test... i just couldn't resist. Below is the result

Big Five Test Results

Extroversion (56%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.
Friendliness (52%) medium which suggests you are moderately kind natured, trusting, and helpful while still maintaining your own interests.
Orderliness (66%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly organized, reliable, neat, and hard working at the expense of flexibility, efficiency, spontaneity, and fun.
Emotional Stability (50%) medium which suggests you are moderately relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.
Openmindedness (46%) medium which suggests you are moderately intellectual, curious, and imaginative.

Take Free Big Five Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

a positive outlook

2004-11-09T01:01:33Z

I may be getting old(er) but i don't look my age. :)

An easy smile and a positive oulook can not only uplift the spirit, it does wonders for your appearance too.

According to realage.com Positive thinking may help older people remain physically active and strong, whereas a negative mental attitude may quickly lead to cognitive deterioration, a new study concluded. To see the glass as half full, spend time contemplating the good things in your life and try to avoid repeatedly mulling over negative experiences. It's RealAge Benefit: Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can make your RealAge up to 16 years younger.

Remember, it takes more facial muscles to frown than to smile. In fact, a scowl can contribute to more facial lines and wrinkles. A positive attitude, not only makes you prettier, it makes you younger too.

In fact the realage tip goes on to say: Positive thinking appears to boost health by enhancing immune system function. A positive disposition also may help people avoid mental conditions that have been associated with poor health choices, such as depression and anxiety. If you find yourself struggling to remain positive, consider writing your worries down and then promising to forget about them for the rest of the day. Return to your list when you have time to work on positive solutions to your problems. Also, finding enjoyable ways to pass your free time could give you less time to fret and more positive experiences to remember later on.

Now, wouldn't that make you want to start your day with a smile?

another one bites the dust

2004-11-08T09:30:28Z

This weekend I received news that a friend decided to bid single-hood goodbye and say hello to wedded bliss. Yup, just when I thought I could not get enough of weddings, I learned that a friend is getting married soon – and I mean real soon!

What’s with 2004 and the number 29 that makes people in my age group (anyone with student number ’92 and above?) go crazy and take the plunge? Is it the inevitable wrinkles that we know will be upon us soon? Is it realizing that we are past our prime, that our metabolism is getting slower and we just can’t eat the same food as before without getting a bit plump? YES, we are getting older, but does it also mean that we should necessarily settle down?

Another reality check that indeed I am getting older (albeit not necessarily wiser) is the fact that two of my friends recently gave birth to super cute baby boys. While I admire their commitment and strength (hey, it’s not easy bringing a child into this world – especially in this economic times), I can not see myself having one soon.

Babies and marriage is a BIG responsibility. You think beyond yourself, you are responsible not only for yourself but for the well-being of those around you. As of now, all I can think of is me, myself and I – my earnings are just enough for me to live by, I can’t for the life of me, imagine how I can manage having a family with a measly income. But, maybe, when I do get to have a family, my priorities will change. As of now, my priorities are having enough moohlah to pay my monthly celphone, credit card and house dues.

I admire my friends for starting a family. I know that age is a factor (hey our biological clock is ticking!) but maturity, love, commitment and respect are factors too. Congrats and best wishes guys! All the best

Hmmm, as of last count, there has been 5 weddings, and 2 new babies. What will next year’s statistics be? Who will succumb to the BIG COMMITMENT?

i'm a 48

2004-11-08T06:41:43Z

Got this test from a friend... thought it's an interesting look into our personality.

Dr. Phil scored (55) ----he did this test on Oprah, she got a (38) Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out.

Read on, this is very interesting! Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it only takes 2 minutes.

Take this test for yourself and send it to your friends. The person who sent it placed their score in the subject box. Please do the same before forwarding to your friends. Don't peek but begin the test as you scroll down and answer.

Answers are for who you are now...... not who you were in the past.

Have pen or pencil and paper ready. This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees.

It's only 10 simple questions, so...... grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers. Make sure to change the subject of the e-mail to show YOUR total. When you are finished, forward this to everyone you know, and also send it to the person who sent this to you. Make sure to put YOUR score in the subject box. =========================================================== 1. When do you feel your best? a) in the morning b) during the afternoon and early evening c) late at night

2. You usually walk... a) fairly fast, with long steps b) fairly fast, with little steps c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face d) less fast, head down e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you... a) stand with your arms folded b) have your hands clasped c) have one or both your hands on your hips d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with... a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side b) your legs crossed c) your legs stretched out or straight d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with... a) big appreciated laugh b) a laugh, but not a loud one c) a quiet chuckle d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you... a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...... a) welcome the break b) feel extremely irritated c) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most? a) Red or orange b) black c) yellow or light blue d) green e) dark blue or purple f) white g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep.... a) stretched out on your back b) stretched out face down on your stomach c) on your side, slightly curled d) with your head on one arm e) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are... a) falling b) fighting or struggling c) searching for something or somebody d) flying or floating e) you usually have dreamless sleep f) your dreams are always pleasant =========================================================== POINTS FOR EACH ANSWER:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points. DON'T LOOK BEYOND THIS UNTIL YOUR HAVE COMPLETED AND SCORED YOURSELF. =========================================================== OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and venturesome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful, practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it, if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, slow and steady; It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions; who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

I don't know if this test is for real or not; if its realiable, but it was fun answering the questions

brain teasers

2004-11-05T01:38:16Z

Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles.

As we grow older, it's important that we keep mentally alert. The saying; "If you don't use it, you will lose it," also applies to the brain, so.....

Below is a very private way to gauge your loss or non-loss of intelligence. Take the following test and determine if you are losing it or are still "with it."

OK, relax, clear your mind and.... Begin.

1. What do you put in a toaster?

Answer: "bread." If you said "toast," then give up now and go do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said, "bread," go to Question 2.

2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk." What do cows drink?

Answer: Cows drink water. If you said "milk," please do not attempt the next question. Your brain is obviously over stressed and may even overheat. It may be that you need to content yourself with reading something more appropriate, such as Children's World." If you said "water," proceed to Question 3.

3. If a red house is made from red bricks, and a blue house is made from blue bricks, and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from?

Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said, "green bricks," what the devil are you still doing reading these questions????? If you said "glass," then go on to Question 4.

4. Twenty years ago, a plane was flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. If you recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany. Anyway, during the flight, TWO of the engines failed. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the third engine fails before he has time to attempt an emergency landing, and the plane crashes smack in the middle of "no man's land" between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors? . .. in East Germany or West Germany or in "no man's land"?

Answer: You don't, of course, bury survivors. If you said ANYTHING else, you are a real dunce and you must NEVER try to rescue anyone from a plane crash. Your efforts would not be appreciated. If you said, "Don't bury the survivors," proceed to the next question.

5. If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60 of a degree every minute how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour?

Answer: One degree. If you said, "360 degrees" or anything other than "one degree," you are to be congratulated on getting this far, but you are obviously out of your league. Turn in your pencil, and exit the room.

Everyone else proceed to the final question.
6. Without using a calculator-You are driving a bus from London to Milford Haven in Wales. In London, 17 people get on the bus. In Reading, six people get off the bus, and nine people get on. In Swindon, two people get off and four get on. In Cardiff, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. In Swansea, three people get off and five people get on. In Carmathen, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Milford Haven. What was the name of the bus driver?

Answer: Oh, for crying out loud! Don't you remember? It was YOU!!

State University held hostage

2004-11-04T09:59:37Z

The head might elicit a response that the state university (University of the Philippines) was held hostage by some terrorist group… this is not the case. The fate of UP and its budget for 2005 is now in the hands of the senate, in particular, it hinges on whether or not Senator Miriam Santiago goes on with her threat to block the passage of the UP charter bill. She has blamed UP officials (especially the UP law admission committee) for the suicide of her son last year.

To quote from the inquirer article:"THE FATE of a proposed new charter for the University of the Philippines now hinges on whether the state university's officials will bow to the will of one senator."

"Administration Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has demanded that the UP surrender the names and addresses of the members of the admissions committee that denied entry to her son into the UP College of Law."

The artcle goes on to say: "This was one of the conditions that Santiago gave for withdrawing the motion she submitted the other day asking the Senate to suspend floor deliberations on the proposed UP charter of 2004...Santiago's son, Alexander Robert, committed suicide almost exactly a year ago, which the senator has blamed on the "UP College of Law admission committee for school year 2003.”

Santiago even has the nerve to demand that the UP gives her the names of those in the UP law admission committee, "or else"... to quote the artilce further: "In a privilege speech yesterday, Santiago "[requested] strongly" that the UP divulge, before Nov. 15, the membership of the committee whom she accused of being "directly responsible for the suicide of my son Alexander” and how they came to the decision to reject her son’s application."

Can you believe that? Only in the Philippines can a senator hold a University hostage for personal reasons. If the University bows to the will of a "mad woman", it will set a preceedent that will eventually snowball. It seems that in this country, it doesn't really matter that the State University seems to be going down the drain due to budget cuts, what matters most is that the good senator gets her revenge.

(to know more about UP pls log on to up.edu.ph; to read more about the article log on to www.inq7.net or get a hold of the November 4 issue of the inquirer).

When will the waiting for the ONE be done?

2004-11-03T09:30:15Z

Since we were little, our consciousness was filled with the notion of the princess meeting her prince charming, of knights rescuing the damsel in distress and of course of “living happily ever after”. These fairy tales are further reinforced as we get older by books, romance novels, TV shows and movies – hey, even action pictures had to spin the love angle too, the hero ALWAYS gets the girl in the end. We are continuously bombarded by this never-ending paradigm that we MUST find the love of our lives, get married and eventually settle down. But what if this NEVER happens? Will it make single life more difficult than married life? In a single’s pursuit to happiness, should it always include love and marriage?

Just this Friday, I received an invitation to a friend’s wedding, in fact this is the third or fourth wedding invitation that I got this year… hey, what’s happening? Why is everyone in a rush to get married? Is it age? Body clock? Or really finding one’s true love?

Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’m not bitter or anything like that, I just amazed at the number of my single friends that are getting married this year – a record number! I am extending my best wishes to them for finding their true love, for knowing deep in their hearts that they have found the right mate and would be with that one person for the rest of their lives. After saying “I do”, their lives will be forever changed. There will be no more spontaneous nights out with girl friends nor a impulse vacation or purchase, they will always have to confer with their “other-half” on making those decisions. They will cease to think in the pronoun “I” and start thinking as “we”, for they are not just responsible for themselves but also for the feelings and life of their mate. Boy, this truly is a BIG and LIFE ALTERING decision.

I would like to extend my best wishes to my friends who are brave enough to tie the knot and bid single life goodbye. I would like to say to them, “congrats!” on “finding the ONE” and may you live happily ever after!

For us single, I post this question: “when will our waiting be done?” Hmmm, better yet, while waiting for the one, let’s seize the day and live it to the fullest! It’s our life, our choice.

chocolates are good for the heart!

2004-11-03T08:07:38Z

I am NOT a doctor nor do i claim to be an expert on nutrition, but i would like to share with you what i found out regarding my favorite sweet - dark chocolate. I love the stuff! ... the darker, the better... i don't care much for milk or white chocolates but hand me a nice dark chocolate (esp. with nuts - yum yum) i will be your friend for life! :)

According to realage.com eating a small piece of dark chocolate can be good for the heart. Quoted below is one of its tip on reducing the risk of heart disease:

Getting a daily helping of chocolate may be one of the sweetest ways to help your heart.

Research shows that eating foods that are rich in catechin antioxidants, such as dark chocolate, may lower your risk of ischemic heart disease. To keep saturated fat intake low, however, limit yourself to one piece of dark chocolate per day and supplement with other catechin-rich foods that are
low in fat, such as apples and tea.
RealAge Benefit: Getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements can make your RealAge 6 years younger.

Is this one good reason to eat chocolates? To know more about looking, feeling and living younger, pls log on to realage.com.

life and death

2004-11-02T09:15:04Z

The past weekend was a testimonial to life and love…

The first of November is traditionally the day when all roads lead to the cemetery, for families to come together to pray and reflect on the lives of those who passed away. The trek to the cemetery is no easy task… one has to brave the traffic, the endless stream of people just to get to the destination and pay respect to the departed love-one. Just getting to there is an indication of how Filipinos value family and how they show that even in death, love is indeed eternal. For it knows no bounds, as long as a person is remembered, he is loved…as long as he is loved, he is remembered.

The day is also a testimonial to life. It is a day where families get together to share and reflect on the lives of those who passed on. It is a day where families remember the dead and celebrate the continuity of life. In fact, cemeteries during these times present a fiesta atmosphere, where families share a picnic and stay the whole day or even the night in the cemetery. They bring food, drinks, and sometimes games (cards, board games, etc), the day has become one big fiesta.

In fact, this tradition of visiting the dead on November 1 and 2 is similar to the Mexican tradition / festivity “Dia de los Muertos” , which literally means “the day of the dead.” In fact, the two are so similar in nature that Mexicans might just be Filipinos who just happens to be at the other side of the world. I do think this is also influenced by the Spanish conquistadors and priest.

To quote Ricardo J Salvador on “what do Mexicans celebrate on the ‘day of the dead’?” where in he traced this festivity to Mesoamerican native tradition, he says: "The original celebration can be traced to many Mesoamerican native traditions, such as the festivities held during the Aztec month of Miccailhuitontli, ritually presided by the "Lady of the Dead" (Mictecacihuatl), and dedicated to children and the dead. In the Aztec calendar, this ritual fell roughly at the end of the Gregorian month of July and the beginning of August, but in the postconquest era it was moved by Spanish priests so that it coincided with the Christian holiday of All Hallows Eve (in Spanish: "Día de Todos Santos.") This was a vain effort to transform the observance from a profane to a Christian celebration. The result is that Mexicans now celebrate the day of the dead during the first two days of November, rather than at the beginning of summer. But remember the dead they still do, and the modern festivity is characterized by the traditional Mexican blend of ancient aboriginal and introduced Christian features."

He goes on to state that: "Generalizing broadly, the holiday's activities consist of families (1) welcoming their dead back into their homes, and (2) visiting the graves of their close kin. At the cemetery, family members engage in sprucing up the gravesite, decorating it with flowers, setting out and enjoying a picnic, and interacting socially with other family and community members who gather there. In both cases, celebrants believe that the souls of the dead return and are all around them. Families remember the departed by telling stories about them. The meals prepared for these picnics are sumptuous, usually featuring meat dishes in spicy sauces, chocolate beverages, cookies, sugary confections in a variety of animal or skull shapes, and a special egg-batter bread ("pan de muerto," or bread of the dead). Gravesites and family altars are profusely decorated with flowers (primarily large, bright flowers such as marigolds and chrysanthemums), and adorned with religious amulets and with offerings of food, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Because of this warm social environment, the colorful setting, and the abundance of food, drink and good company, this commemoration of the dead has pleasant overtones for the observers, in spite of the open fatalism exhibited by all participants, whose festive interaction with both the living and the dead in an important social ritual is a way of recognizing the cycle of life and death that is human existence."

I find this information fascinating as it is also what is seen during November 1 (All Saints Day) and November 2 (All Souls Day) in the Philippines. The above mentioned Mexican traditions are very much alive in my country. People still trek to the cemeteries, offer prayer, have a picnic and celebrate life and love no matter how hard it takes to get to there, no matter how hard life has become. All Saint’s Day and All Souls Day has been, is and will forever be the day where Filipinos remember those who came before them and will be meeting in the end.

life's little pick me uppers

2004-10-28T08:30:01Z

with so many problems in the country, here are a few things to be thankful for and worth smiling about, my so called pick me uppers:

... a loving family
... wonderful friends
... being in love and being loved in return
... knowing you are right in trusting someone
... a completed work
... hearing a baby laugh
... mc donald's french fries
... the smell of a new book
... new shoes
... a good cry
... go nuts donuts
... dark chocolate and choc nuts
... a long solitude walk

what are you thankful for lately? what makes you smile?