Hercules

Recently acquired a male Chihuahua as a gift for my son who celebrated his 7th birthday. It was a choice between a puppy and a PSP. Suprisingly my son chose the puppy. At first, I was hesitant knowing that having a pet is not a walk in the park. It's like having another child but after considering the vote of the celebrant, and my desire not to give another hand held game device, the Chihuahua won over the PSP.

The next question is what breed we would get. Unanimous vote is a small breed dog. I wanted a low-maintenance dog that doesn't shed that much, doesn't consume that much dog food & can be kept in an apartment such as ours. After consulting the internet & asking around, it was decided that we will get a Chihuahua.

So we visited different Chihuahua breeders to see for ourselves the puppies. Finally, we got ourselves a male chocolate reddish brown Chihuahua from a reputable breeder. He conforms well to the standard breed and does not have any major defaults. One look at him and I know he was for our family. His eyes stare at you with such inquisition. I immediately fell in love with him!

Naming him was another cause for debate. Suggestions like Oreo, Toblerone, Choc-nut and more came out but finally we named him Hercules. He may lack in size but he definitely brings us enormous joy. The kids adore him & he comes with us everywhere; in our out of town trips, beach, car rides & bringing the kids to school. He comes with us everywhere as long as the place permits.

Having a pet in a family teaches the kids responsibility. They take turns taking care of him like feeding him, replenishing the water in his bottle, cleaning his poop, playing with him & more. Seeing Hercules grow healthy and strong, I know he is well loved by all of us.

Zambales Island Tour

In my tours, I get to meet different kinds of people. My April 25 to 26 tour was composed of 15 people whose common denominator is that they are all former college classmates. My other tour was made up of two groups. One was former high school friends who even having graduated 10 years ago, have still managed to keep in touch with each other. The other group on the other hand was employees of a known company in Eastwood. I am amazed that despite their busy schedules, they have taken the commitment to make time for their outing just so that they will be reunited.

As a tour organizer, I get to see wonderful scenery, meet new people, have fun & get paid doing it. But hey, it's not all fun.

There are also hitches like delays and a possibility of having 1 or 2 difficult participant. It can be that they are hard to please or that they just have high expectations. As they say, it's part of the game and I don't mind if I do encounter guests such as those. Then there are also the long hours & the physical demands of the work.

As of now, I see myself counting miles.

For more pics, visit http://www.travelplus.multiply.com/

The Birth of Travel Plus

I love to travel, seeing new places and going on road trips. In my frequent travels, I have had some bad experiences like getting lost or mixed-up reservations leaving me & my family no place to go to after a long trip. And since I am in charge of my brood, I find myself in the market and kitchen attending to the food of the group and missing all the fun.

It is because of this that I have found the need for a tour organizer. With today's fast paced lifestyle & heavy workload, who has the time to coordinate everything? Sure D-I-Y vacations can save you a few bucks and if you have the time and patience, why not? But in the end, after computing everything, the few bucks saved is not worth the lost time and frayed nerves.

Thus, Travel Plus was born. Still in its early stages, my pet business is something that keeps me on my toes. I have to admit that I'm still learning and at times can be a bit stressful. But I am enjoying every minute of it. Visit my multiply site at www.travelplus.multiply.com.

Okay, enough of my hiberbation from writing. I am inspired, I feel good and I feel so blessed! As they say, the best is yet to come!

The Move

It has been exactly 18 days since we transferred to our new house. Our departure from our old place has been abrupt but with God's grace, everything is falling into place.

Looking back, house hunting has been a challenging and roller coaster ride. You will be engulfed with different emotions varying from excitement, to disappointment to exasperation. After 3 days of exhausting ourselves physically in trying to find a house, our prayers were answered as we were able to find a house that not only suits our budget but also fits our "space needs". Viola! A 3 bedroom house with 2 T&B and a covered 1 car garage in a small quiet ville where my kids could ride their bicycles without fear of being ran over by fast vehicles. And aside from the kitchen, it even has a small dirty kitchen & laundry area to boot. Each room receives ample natural lighting. A far cry from our old place wherein you would always need to turn on the lights even at daytime.

It was physically, emotionally & financially draining but then, the storm is over. Life goes on and everything is slowly returning back to its normal state. Each day that passes, I see my family adjusting and enjoying our new surroundings.

The people that caused our sudden transfer will forever carry in their hearts the guilt of their irrational & harsh behaviour when they displaced a family with 4 kids in the middle of the school year. But one thing I am sure of is that I, together with my family will happily move on to the next chapter of our lives full of hopes in our new found place we now call HOME.

Second Time

For those who are close to me, you would know the situation that I am in right now. I came across this poem when it was sent to me via email and the mark that it left me was so profound that I want to share it to anyone who is reading this blog.

After a While

"After a while you learn the subtle difference

between holding a hand and chaining a soul.

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning

and company isn't security.

(Kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.)

After awhile you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes open,

with the grace of a woman,

not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build your roads on today

because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain

and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns

if you stand too long in one place.

So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul

instead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers.

And you learn you really can endure,

that you really do have worth.

You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn."

....Author unknown...

I remember coming across this poem way back in high school when I would read whatever is available. Back then, this poem didn't create much impact and I easily dismissed it. Well, what can you expect? I was 14 or 15 years old, life was carefree and one of my concerns at that time were if I could ask for extra allowance from my dad. Besides, I was nude of experience during my adolescent years. Now, I was given the second chance to read this poem & undergoing a difficult time in my adult life, the poem is enlightening! Ironic that the deepest pain one could feel would be the source of one's liberation & realization.

Speaking of second chances, I am reading again (now in chapter 18) The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I have finished this book already way back 2004 & even gave it out as souvenirs to my guests during the christening of my youngest child. The first time I read it, the book did made sense already and helped me discover a lot of things. But now, as I am reading it again, it gave a totally whole new sense of meaning and depth that I didn't encounter the first time I read it.

This ascertains that for every stage of our lives, people or things can leave an imprint in us that we would carry on. So never be hasty in dismissing people you once knew or books you might have read already as you will never know if they will serve their purpose again in your journey.

BTW, for copyright purposes, I tried to research who the author of the poem is but to no avail. If you happen to be aware, please let me know.

When the Dust Settles...

Picture this. A bright, sunny day and you are standing in the middle of the road when you see a speeding car. It's too late and you got hit. You're thrown in the air, you hit the sidewalk & still shocked by what happened, you try to get up. You can't believe that the driver almost killed you and didn't even bother to stop.

Shuddering right? Well, that is how it is when a crisis hits you. Difficulties come at a time when you least expect it. But when the dust settles, you gather yourself and try to pick up the remaining pieces of what's left. They say that every crisis is a call to greatness. And every callous deed done to you by a person is a call for you to rise above it all. I say, it is a call of faith. The difficult moments of our life will shape us to be a better person. We have been given an ability to cope to whatever life offers us. However, it would all depend on how one would react to a tough situation.

How often do we find ourselves hindered by negative thoughts that almost surely it affects our work? How often do we find ourselves overshadowed by the wrong decisions that we make. Often, we justify our actions and thoughts by saying that these are the things that we have no control over. We support the premise that we are victims of our destiny simply because it relieves us of the guilt and it is the most convenient thing to say. But that is otherwise. The greatest gift we have been given is the power to choose. We can choose how to cope with life's uncertainties and situations. We can choose how to respond when someone's callous behaviour hurts us. We can choose to succumb to weakness or to stand up & be strong, or choose to walk the right but hard path rather than choose to do the easy but erroneous way. The decisions that we make in life is the legacy that we will leave behind.

Empowerment is the key word here. We are empowered as human beings to choose as to how to react to what life throws upon us. Any person can be laid off from work, have huge amounts of debt, have a terminally sick family member or be dumped by a spouse. The disparity here is how we will react to this experience. The old saying, "When life throws you lemons, make a lemonade" is true.

But if I may add, make it a pitcher of lemonade...so you can share it with others. Life is still beautiful!

Solo Flight

With 4 kids and with no helper for 6 straight months, I am trying to keep my sanity. I do everything. I wake up at 4:30 am, cook breakfast and prepare them for school, bring and fetch them to school as well. Aside from this I do our mountain of laundry, do the shopping for groceries, clean the house, teach the young kids, pay the bills & attend PTAs. My free time is only between 7am to 10am which I use for praying, checking my emails & preparing my orders for eBay. After 10am, I'm busy as a rat always running from one chore to another.

Our house would be quiet at 9pm & it would be my time for some solitude. I savour this because this is my opportunity to do whatever I want at my own pace. I can surf the internet, watch TV, read a book or newspaper, and even apply treatments on my hair. But sadly, I don't do much except read the newspaper or 2 pages at the most of my book. Don't have the energy anymore, ha ha! Later than 10pm, and I'm already groggy with sleepiness. It is really physically demanding. At times, I miss the days when I am a "lady of leisure" and regret that I do not have much time for myself. Hey, I miss going to the salon or taking a nap in the afternoon or basically doing.... nothing.

But still, at the end of the day, I thank the Lord for the blessings that I have & for making me physically fit to take care of my kids and not be the one to be taken cared of. I also get to enhance my time management skills as a Domestic Engineer aka Stay-at-Home mom!

Recently, I've been having conflicts with my 14 year old son. They say that God gave us 13 years to love our kids because we would need all that love when they reach their adolescent years. All, all I can say is it is TRUE! Raising a teenage son could be quite a feat to handle. It's like having a love-hate relationship. Often, I would like to squeeze his neck to bring sense to him but at the same time embrace him.

Parenting is no easy task. Doing it on a solo flight makes it even harder. There is no vacation or days-off even when there are days that you feel like not getting up or have a simple headache. There's just nobody to rely on. The team that I thought I had vanished into thin air & I found myself all alone.

Nevertheless, I still believe that there is nothing that one couldn't handle. Each of us will have our moment of difficulty. It is my time now. It is the season of rain for my life. I welcome it believing that only after the rain will the rainbow come.

Red Marked Dates

Last June 12 was our country's Independence Day or birthday as we may put it. However, the new generation, our children, will never really know when our country's birthday really is. Why? It's because of our President's fondness for a long weekend. Ever since Arroyo became the head of the state, you can never rely on your trusted calendar for the red marked holidays. There is nothing wrong with that, if you ask me, in trying to give our labor force a much deserved long break but please not all the time. These dates were made holidays for its meaning and are part of Philippine history like our Independence Day & Rizal Day to name a few. And it is in history that we learn from the mistakes of our ancestors and ascertain the courage of our heroes.

With us, adults, there is no problem with the replacement since the event is already imparted in our memory but how about the new generation? How will kids know that June 12 is really our Independence Day when June 8 was declared holiday to give way for a long weekend? You could say that they should just memorize the dates but there is more to it than just simply memorizing. It is the simple act of celebrating that day that makes it a part of your being a Filipino.

Visiting Sagada

Where can you find a place that is so serene and blessed by nature? Where the people are kind and accommodating? Where the way of life is so simple.... seemingly untouched by the rapid changes in our society not because they do not have access to it but because they want to protect their way of life?

Where else but in the beautiful Sagada, Mountain Province. It is a place that would entail twelve to thirteen hours travel from Manila.

For a family of six, bringing our own vehicle was the most logical thing to do. We took the Baguio route going there and the Banaue route going home. There was around 3 hours of bumpy and butt aching ride as the only road leading to Sagada is not all cemented.








What makes the bumpy ride worthwhile is that you are treated by a spectacular view of nature.

Sagada is known for its scenery & caves. So we wasted no time in visiting its famous Sumaging cave. One must register at the municipal hall upon arrival before you can tour the town. They have an organized Guides Association who will accompany you when you do your chosen adventure. The rates are all standardized so there is no worry of being overcharged. Getting a guide is a must especially when you visit the caves and go hiking as it is easy to get lost and once inside the limestone caves, it is very slippery. We availed 2 guides since we are a group of 6, mostly kids who would need assistance. I must say that the guides were worth it. Since I have 2 little boys ages 5 & 6, they easily carried them on their shoulders when treading the slippery rocks inside the caves. They are skilled mountaineers and they really know their way around.

The experience of going inside the cave was quite difficult for me at first but later on got the hang of it. The guides took our hands on the parts where one would be required to go up or down on steep stones. Inside, you will be amazed at the magnificent stalactite formation and as you go deeper in the cave, fresh cold water will be a welcome refresher. Treading carefully is a must as the lime stones can be very slippery. There are portions wherein they asked us to go barefoot, coached us where to pass or how to climb the rope. My kids never complained and were excited by what they are seeing. They even took a dip in the cold water. To say that it was a thrilling experience is an understatement. The exhilaration of exploring the huge cave and making it out was truly unforgettable. One thing though that I really found hard was the part of going up to the mouth of the cave. It was a long climb up that I was really panting. Whew!

The next day, we went hiking for the Kiltepan view. Reaching the top, one would be awed by the magnificent scenery it offers. The mountain terrains and the Sagada terraces are so awesome. Some visitors go there to have a picnic and admire their surroundings. Definitely a photographer's haven.

There were so many places that we went to see like the Bokkeng waterfalls where the kids enjoyed a swim. The Hanging coffins, Burial caves, Echo Valley & St. Mary church are also among the places that we visited. Going to the burial sites require silence & respect as the natives or Ifugaos treat these places as holy.

Finally, after a day of adventure & sightseeing, what better way to cap the day but with a big cup of freshly brewed coffee from Bana cafe. Their coffee is superb at a super low price of Php 20.00! Coffee beans are grown locally there so you could just imagine its freshness that comes with the aroma. Complement your coffee with a Lemon Pie Meringue from Lemon Pie house for only Php18.00. Then sit back and relax your weary muscles from all the hiking you made.

Pushing 40

Approaching 40 is something that would not bother me at all... or so I thought. I just had my 37th birthday and I was a little unprepared to the reality that I only have 3 years to go before hitting the 40th mark. Is this midlife crisis or what? Some say that midlife crisis presents itself usually at the age of 50 but with all the turmoil and stress we now have, it has manifested itself earlier for some.

From my own perspective, midlife crisis is just a term but it is more of "midlife issues". Once the age of 40 looms near, I noticed that I am more critical in evaluating my life, my beliefs and even my faith. I begin to question whether is this the life that I really want and how can I get more out of life? I want to do more things that I have not done before or go to places where I have never been.

At 20, I was already married. I was more carefree and adventurous in my decisions. I do not get fat no matter what and how much I ate. It was a terrific & learning phase of my life. The only downside of this stage is that sometimes I felt, people, especially older ones, do not take me seriously in my business arrangements with them. They could not accept that they are transacting with this inexperienced young girl.

Reaching 30 was a wonderful moment for me. I was more confident and sure of myself. Family and acquaintances seems to take notice more of my insights. But the carefree attitude slowly receded as concerns for the future took its priority.

Now at 37, I keep thinking that there should be something more to life that what it seems to present. One factor that really creeps into me is monotony. Things and places that I have enjoyed before does not give me the same satisfaction as now. And it gets stiffer when I can not express my own individuality, which is my feistiness & assertiveness to some people knowing that they could not handle it.

Fortunately, I am still not desperate for a physical makeover though I have started to be more religious in putting moisturizers. Watching what I eat and the portions that I consume really involve much discipline. I am more conscious of how I look and would be pleased when friends and acquaintances would tell me that I just look my children's older sister. Call me gullible but so what, it's music to my ears.

Sometimes I wonder if it is time to replace my old beliefs and attitudes with new ones to match this middle age phase. It's because what we do is guided by what we believe in. It's really hard to identify the change of direction that I want to make for my life. Perhaps, a lot of quiet time which will lead to reflection will pave the way to the right path.

To quote Jim Rohn,

"If you don't change what you are doing today,

All of your tomorrows will look like yesterday."

Of Rains and Memories

For the first time since the start of summer, I did not have the fan pointed directly at me. It's raining and much as I hate getting wet, it is a clear and much welcome respite from the humidity that we all felt during the summer months. Last week was the start of the rainy season as what PAGASA (our weather bureau in Manila) said so we better brace ourselves for more rains, floods and more traffic.

Plants get their much needed water during the rainy season, the grass seems greener every time it rains, and we tend to be a in a slowdown mode during this season. While typing, it is both soothing & pleasant to hear the sound of the rain on my roof with a cup of coffee on my table.

One of my fondest memories of the rainy season is when my mom would whip up a hot chicken macaroni soup to match the weather. With a lot of milk and flaked chicken, I would blow it impatiently. The feel of the warm soup running in my throat is enough to quench a child's boredom in being confined indoors.

With my own family, I'm not a good cook as my mom was but we do have our own memories to share. When the lights are out because of a storm, we would all gather in the living room and take turns telling stories to keep us pre-occupied. With all the darkness surrounding us and with just a candle, scary stories become the fave topic among all. It may sound so simple but that simplicity itself makes it endearing as it makes us bond more to each other. The absence of the TV, radio or computer makes us break free from the distractions that hound us everyday.

Well, that goes for my rainy season memory bank. Care to share yours?

The Day It Hit Me

It's been quite a while since I've last written in my blog. In fact, this is my first post for 2008. I'm undergoing a rough patch in my life right now and words just wouldn't come out. No amount of inspiration can get me to write. However, time has a way of making things get better.

I realized that when one is so close to the problem, a person tends to lose all perspective of things. When one is amidst the storm, he or she can not see the issues clearly. But the day will come when you will be sick and tired of being "sick and tired", and little by little, you will be able to accept things and go back to what you usually do but you will never be your normal self again.

Perhaps, this is an instance wherein LIFE happens. You see, I consider myself blessed for having an easy time. In my 36 years of existence, I was spared of the hardships and bitter realities of life. Even when my dad died then later my mom passed away as well, I was able to handle death fine. But there will come a moment when your faith will be tested.

But, I have passed this point already. A lot of thinking and prayers has helped me understand things that I was unable to comprehend before. As the saying goes, "What's done is done." And you begin to ask yourself, "Where do I go from here?"

I see now my life as an empty book waiting to be filled by new things that will happen and new people that I will meet. A chapter waiting to be written. Things and people will come and go into our lives. There is no point in holding on to something or someone that would not willingly stay.

In the end, you will see that it's a sunny day, after all.

Christmas Sense

Every Christmas that passes, its appeal and magic loses its touch on me. It's because as I get older and busier, the season brings only more stress into my life. Shopping gifts and tokens for family and friends, not to mention my children's classmates became a chore. The list of Yuletide programs that my kids have makes it even harder to squeeze into my tight schedule. Given the choice, I would rather not put up any Christmas decors knowing that the effort in putting it down would be doubled with all the dust it has gathered.

Am I turning into a scrooge? I realized that I am starting to become one unless I change my perspective of things. So I tackled the things I have to do into smaller tasks so as not to be overwhelmed. Now, with only 3 days before Christmas, all the gifts are wrapped under the tree & my grocery list is complete. I can sit back and quietly wait for it.

And so for this Yuletide season, I wish the same for all of you who are reading this post. May you take time off from your busy work, family and social demands. May you have a quiet moment wherein you can reflect and be with yourself and not be drowned in the series of parties you have to attend. I wish for you the gift of being still. It is only in us that we can find the true meaning of the season.

Have a good Christmas everybody!

Why Not?

I have 4 kids and I am proud of it.

Yes, I have been blessed to be given the chance to be the mother of four wonderful & hyperactive kids. When people ask how many kids I have & I tell them I have four, I usually get the response, " Wow, ang dami ah! Bakit?" Translated in English, it's "Wow, too many! How come?" The "how come" question implies why I allowed it to become that many. But, I just smile and shrug it off knowing that I should know better than be affected by those remarks. Sometimes, when I'm in a good mood, I simply reply "Oo nga." or "Yes, it's true."

I have 3 boys and 1 girl and I call them my Demolition team. My Demolition team is also one of the reasons why I resigned from my corporate job. I need to have a flexible time so as to focus more on raising them. I wouldn't be able to do that if somebody else owns my time. Thank God, I was able to find a way to earn my own money by having an online business. This enables me to be a stay-at-home mom and at the same time be financially independent.

Having 4 kids has challenged me in many ways. It tested my patience, my stamina and above all my faith in Him. Believe me when I say it isn't easy to raise 4 kids, wherein most of the time, I am alone with them. When you have 1 child, you put in your effort already but when you have 4 kids, a quadruple effort is needed.

My multi-tasking skills were put to test every day as I jumble my regular tasks. I have become adept at cooking and at the same time answering emails from clients, helping them in their homework and at the same time sending out projects, talking on the phone and dressing up my son to name a few.

As if that wasn't difficult enough, just last week, I had gone solo without a house help so I was left doing all the things in the house. From driving to cooking to cleaning to doing the laundry to washing the dishes to answering emails from clients and a whole lot more, I thought I can not make it through the day. But not only did I survive the day, I made it through the week.

I have also learned to appreciate solitude. Our house is only quiet a few hours a day when 3 of my kids are at school. During weekends, it gets crazier. Amidst the fighting, playing, shouting & bickering, I crave for some "quiet time" wherein I could have all my thoughts to myself.

It has also made me look at things in life not on what is ideal but what is possible at the moment. For one, our house is always in shambles. Before, I was obsessed in keeping our house orderly but after having my 3rd child, I gave up. It's not that I let the house go but somehow, I have learned to make allowances and accepted the fact that I have kids in the house. Vases will be broken, stains will be made in the sofa or elsewhere, there will always be a toy under the bed and the laundry will always be full. Kids will be kids, they run around; they jump, fight & scream so I just let them be. If I will always focus on the small things, I'll go nuts!

Life is guaranteed to be fun and chaotic. I never had a dull moment with them. They never fail to surprise me. I see them all in a different way. Each has its own personality. All of them can be fun, sometimes moody, and even downright hard-headed at times. But they all have their individual charm that makes them unique. Sometimes, in my eagerness to do what is right for them, I forget that they have their own personalities. I try my best not to mirror my life in them. To listen to what they want for themselves and not as to what I think they want. It takes a lot of conscious effort to really do that.

So, how is life with 4 kids?

Marvelously challenging. That would be my answer.

Frame of Mind

Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they have been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It is a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.

-author unknown-

When I came upon this quotation, it strikes me so much because it magnifies what I exactly needed in a time when a decision needs to be done. Often, decisions are so hard to make because of various concerns that we have. We are taken aback by the prospect of venturing into the unknown, of doing something that is not sure. Basically, we are so comfortable or "lazy" in our place in the sun that the thought of leaving what we are used to seems to be out of the question. The practicality in us makes us lose our faith in taking the challenge. But we must not succumb to this fear. Nothing is impossible in this world. Nothing is out of our hands. Nobody is too old to start again. In the different paths that we take, we may stumble but it is in our rising and starting over that we shine.

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Lately, I have been so preoccupied that it seems time passed so quickly. Our house underwent repairs so it was really chaotic. With all the noise and dust, I have somehow managed to do my general cleaning in time before the year ends, put up Christmas decors and continue my regular tasks. Time could mean a lot to different people. It could mean having too much time or the lack of it. For those who are busy, the 24 hours that we have is not enough. But for those who are "killing the time", it is boring. It all boils down as to what situation you are into. As they say, we all have the same 24 hours, it is how we use that matters.

Climbing a Tree

When was the last time you wished for something really hard? Having been schooled in a Catholic school all my life, I believed in the power of prayers. As a child, I would pray for trivial things like a new toy, to go somewhere fun or to get high grades in school. It's been years since I prayed for something really hard. This is not because I am losing faith but perhaps I really didn't want something as much as my heart desired.

Each one of us has our own faith depending on our own religion. It doesn't matter to whom you believe in. What matters is that you know that there is someone out there whom you can count on in times when matters are out of your hands. However, God helps only those who help themselves. It is not enough to just pray and pray and not do your part. It is not enough to be cocky and complacent. Laziness is not at all tolerated by Him.

In achieving our dreams in life, there are many pathways to take. It is usually not a straight line. You may need to go a step backward in order to move forward. Just like in climbing a tree, there are many ways to do it. Having brains is not enough. Having guts alone is also not enough. You need a mixture of both to reach the top combined with a lot of prayers to sustain you when things are getting tough. Surely, with this combination, you would reach the top of the tree.

Bits and Pieces

All Soul's Day passed and each was one was reminded of their departed loved ones. People flocked to the cemetery bringing flowers, candles & food. It is also the time when families get reunited since this is a holiday and mostly, people went back to their own provinces. But I wonder, in the midst of all the fun & noise, can one truly remember and pray for their deceased family? My parents are both gone now and I never visited them on November 1. I would rather go on an ordinary day when there are less people. In that way, I can pray for them in tranquility and in solitude.

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I'm sure most of you know already that Joseph "Erap" Estrada was already pardoned by the ever powerful and mighty President Arroyo. This did not come as a surprise to me anymore since I wrote about this in my previous post that a pardon was seen forthcoming. The administration justifies its decision by saying the man has repented already with 6 years in house arrest in Tanay province. But, did Erap really repented? It isn't forgiveness he wants but freedom. So how could you forgive someone who has not truly repented? Well, all things said, it is only in the Philippines where corruption is tolerated with a lot of icing on it.

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Recently watched 30 Days of Night and it was freaking scary! Initially, the movie was slow but later on it switched gears and there was lot of screaming. As the title implies, it was 30 days of pure evil and terror that one would fervently wish for the 30 days to come to an end. I will not tell you details of the story so as not to spoil the fun but if you are keen on scary films then this one is definitely for you.

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Pure Madness

Imagine this, you go to the mall with your family or friends to eat and have a good time but later, one of you or worst, all of you ends up dead. It may sound incredulous but it did happen.

The recent Glorietta 2 bombing that occurred last October 19 was so shocking. Watching the survivors' recount their experience would make anyone thankful that he or she was not there at that time. Bombing a mall is just like shooting anyone in random. It could have been you and me. You see, going to the mall is one of the most popular past time of Filipinos. We just have so much time to spare that we would go to the mall any given time of the day. It's not just a place to shop and dine but now, it is also a place where you can pay your bills, exercise, meet and conduct business meetings, get a massage, leave your kids to play while you do errands and more. In short, it is a place where everybody goes and where everybody thinks they are safe. Or so we thought it to be.

Feeling safe or having a preconceived notion about it enables any human being to function normally. But what happens if this feeling of safety is threatened? Is this what our society is all about now? The architect of this evil act will never be able to justify what he did. There could be no valid reason for this.

Pure madness. This is just what it is all about.

Corruption at its Best

The news headlines recently featured Father Ed Panlilio showing the Php 500,000.00 given to him by a nameless palace employee. Father Ed, as he is more known, is the current governor of Pampanga. The money was handed over in a small paper bag. He was told that he could use the money for whatever purpose he deems will be appropriate for his constituents. The way it was given and the absence of formality suitable for disbursing government funds was indeed questionable. One can easily assume that it might be bribe money. But, hey, what were the Palace officials thinking? Bribe a priest? Well, they could try... after all, he is still human. Unfortunately, it didn't work and Father Ed exposed it to the media.

In the province of Pampanga alone, the amount of money lost in taxes was so huge. Imagine, almost 1 million pesos of taxes lost everyday during the time of Governor Mark Lapid. This was discovered when Father Ed seated 4 months ago. The total taxes being remitted now is a gigantic leap from the previous collections done 4 years ago. Whew!

The degree of corruption in our country is so intense that one could understand why politicians would kill come election time. No wonder they would do everything, as in everything, to hang on to power. Philippine politics is not about servitude. It has become a business, a family business, which is handed down from one generation to another.

Sadly, it is the ordinary Filipino who is getting nailed deeper and deeper into poverty. The fact remains that we are a poor country because of corruption. It seems that this ugly word is so ingrained in our system. However, I do not blame only our leaders. We, the Filipino people are also to blame because we let things happen and we permit things to be the way they are. We quickly forget and act as if nothing happened.

So what will be the solution to cure all this? A cynic once said, "Annihilate the Filipino people and start a new breed."