Winks, Blinks and Tears

Currently Watching Face To Face

2011-01-09T01:12:00.000+08:00

I am staying late night here to finish some online task. And what keeps me awake? Simple, watching ( this time, listening) to Face to Face, a talk show that aims to tackle different problems per episode.

It is not that I really want to see people doing cat fights on television. But I really like this show because the host as well as the three advisers make it a point to really listen to the guest's concerns and give their unbiased and professional advice to solve the concern.

I really hope that Face to Face would continue to showcase the importance of solving these problems while teaching the values that need to be practiced for a more peaceful environment that we live in.

Watching Survivor Celebrity Showdown

2010-09-10T20:47:00.000+08:00

While I am waiting for a blogging inspiration, I am watching Survivor Celebrity Showdown on GMA 7. I admit that I was not able to watch the past seasons of this reality TV show, but what piqued my interest today is the fact that 'celebrities' are the ones who are stranded on the island.

Will they start to be bitchy as soon as some challenges arise or will they continue to be nice because there are cameras around? So far, there are some crying and fighting scenes but not that enough for me to really be that much intrigued hehe.

How about you? Have you watched this season of Survivor in the Philippines?

News and Religion Site

2010-09-08T01:50:00.000+08:00

Have you checked The Rapture of the Church site?

Well, if you are the person that follows the trail of latest happenings and its connection to some details from the Bible, then I believe that you would be interested in checking out their website.

When I checked the website today, I saw a long list of news collection about different topics like peace talks, technological devices, army troops and more. It made me interested to browse through those list because of the diverse topics that are yet neatly organized for better scanning and reading through the titles.

So if that made you interested as well, check out their site and see what reading will catch your eyes today.

Starting to Drop EC Cards Again

2010-09-08T01:38:00.000+08:00

In the next few minutes, you might see me dropping EC cards on your blogs again, that is if you dropped ECs on my blogs in the last few days.

After that, I will advertise on some of the interesting blogs, and I just hope that you would approve of it. :)

News on Annulment and Child Custody

2010-08-29T23:08:00.000+08:00

A local celebrity here in the Philippines is into a bitter battle on pushing an annulment case and has a group of custody lawyers that deal with their child custody. I hope all these issues will be resolved soon because sadly, their marital woes were almost exposed on the media more than other issues of national concern.

Tips In Starting A Shaved Ice Business

2010-08-26T18:48:00.004+08:00

Today, one of the most common treats is ice cream. Ice treats are one of the favorite treats to help us relax during stressful days and very hot weather. Most tropical countries in many part of the world consider ice cream as a most beloved desert enjoyed by different brackets of age. Since icre cream is very expensive and only those who have extra money can buy it, shaved ice came about.

Hot areas or tropical areas are the most lucrative place to start your own shaved ice business. The store should be located where it is accessible such as in children's parks, in recreational areas, or even in booths during major outdoor events. Many people would rather treat children with flavored shaved ice because it costs lower and is faster to make.

Some people are frustrated with long lines but because shaved ice will take a lesser time to prepare, many are happy to wait for their turn. For you to eventually succeed in this business, you will be needing the right materials and the right technology.

The ice treat may come in many flavors. Though the ingredients may be available during special seasons, because of advancements these days, everything can be possible. You can use pre processed flavors. In the market today, there are weird shaved ice flavors that many love. People are after the quality of your service and the taste of your product.

When you venture into a shaved ice business, consider having different flavors. You can choose to create your own flavor to serve as your signature or you can use the more common flavor like tropical fruits. It will be easier for your customers to remember you if you have your own signature flavor.

Many people are into this particular business and there are more who patronize these sweets. Stressful days can easily be managed with these delicious treats. These treats are very popular these days thus, your business can easily branch out.

You can be a very strong force in the industry if you serve many people. When you start this business, you are helping yourself and you are also helping your customers eat the stress away.

Because you can expect many competitors, you can also think of other ways to market your products. Just have an open-mind.

When you are into making desers, starting a shaved ice business can be very lucrative. One of the biggest mistake of businessmen and one of the reasons of their failure is when they sell products that they don't have any knowledge about.

This can be a very lucrative venture for you if you are very passionate about ice treats. Try studying about Italian ice treats or ice recipes. Who knows, you can start your own line of flavors or even your own signature flavor.

If you're looking for a cheap yet salable business, have an ice cart and sell those sweet frozen delights. But you need to research on ice carts first so you know how to handle one when you actually have your own business.

Using Stickers to Promote Website

2010-08-26T03:54:00.000+08:00

Would you want to further promote your website using stickers? I bet this is a cool way to do some outdoor advertising for your blog.

Well, if that's the case, make sure to always check the quality of stickers that you will use before giving it out to other bloggers who will use it eventually, this is to make sure that you will give them a good, lasting impression about you as a blogger.

How To Select Bird Cages On The Internet

2010-08-26T03:34:00.003+08:00

You might not think that picking bird cages is an excessively straightforward mission. But really, searching an ideal cage will not be so simple to do. The sort of cage that you choose to acquire needs to be correct for those variety of birds which you would place inside. Another good thing about purchasing a bird cage nowadays is that you just don't have to go pet delivery oulets.
That's since you can now buy at the Web by means of internet facility bird cage stores. Simply guantee that the over the internet outlet that you prefer presents a wide kind of cages for birds so as to eliminate your worries concerning how to choose bird cages.

Bulky bird cages can be taken a large investment for bird takers such as you , hence it is at all times a good suggestion to go for types which are created of high quality in addition to safe stuffs. As an illustration, be sure that the border, wires, bars plus several sections which compose the cage is not made with injurious chemical compounds.

Because cages are prone to getting moist, you should in addition decide one which has impression corrosion guard or resistance. Most imperative, select large cages that are durable and sturdy, if not your pet could possibly be injured if ever the cages may straightforwardly smash or turn out to be distorted. More info here: click here.

Several significant factors to bear in mind are the form and cost of the bird cages. Investigation has revealed that spherical large bird cages causes bird nervousness and other mental health conditions for birds, so it's shrewd to decide cages that are structured like pack or those which possess corners and and triangular shapes. As to cost, you should strike equilibrium among the charge and the class of the cage. Again, just be sure you only obtain from a good online shop.

Custody Information

2010-08-25T21:56:00.001+08:00

I know it is something technical for a subject, but what do you know about custody laws?

Do you only get this information from a legal person? What if a relative or a close friend will ask you for your understanding of it?

If you want to know more information regarding custody laws, head on to reputable sites that offers additional details about it. It is always a gain if we know something new like custody information.

Car Warranty Offers

2010-08-25T02:05:00.000+08:00

How important is car warranty to you? If you have a car like me, you know how important it is to have this well taken care of.

That is why we have to be smart enough in choosing the company that will take care of this stuff. Just like USDirect, the site that I stumbled today. They got a clean, well groomed site filled with information that I need to know about getting a car warranty.

This is something that is really helpful because you have all the immediate answers to your major questions should you take advantage of their related warranty services for your car. So if I were you, go ahead and check out their site, USDirect today for more information about their car warranty offers.

Bad Web Hosting Choices Can Ruin Your Online Reputation

2010-08-20T21:48:00.003+08:00

A couple of years back I was a member of a popular web forum. It really was a cool site with some great contributors. But when I decided to log on to the site one day I noticed that there was no content there; everything that had been previously posted and all the articles had just vanished. And the worse thing of all was the fact that a note on the site explained that there was no way to replace the data - that it was all gone forever.

Most people felt that the blame here lay with the web hosting provider but everyone also felt that the owner should have done more to ensure that this kind of thing didn't happen, such as ensuring that backups were done. While we could all see how the owner of the site had been shorted changed with his web hosting it was still his reputation that took the hit. The website owner actually attempted to re-launch his website but it never took off in the same way and it's a shame but these days it is more like a ghost town.

This is an extreme example but choosing the wrong web hosting option could really ruin your chances of building a good online reputation. And even if you did not end up losing your data there are other problems which could occur to put visitors off such as a site which is constantly down or really slow loading pages. And sometimes if this happens you can get a bad reputation online and if this occurs it is hard to come back from it. Visitors on the web do not have to give sites a second chance because there is just so much choice there for them that they will always be able to find one of your competitors instead.

As you can see web hosting is important for your online reputation and choosing wrongly could harm you. It pays to take your time and find something that will allow you to show your worth to visitors; you can have the best content in the world and still suffer because of poor web hosting.

When you decide to go into internet marketing, you should make sure that you have web hosting dealt with beforehand. Newbie's can find, though, that the web hosting world can be rather confusing. An example of this could be coming across free web hosting or even dedicated servers while searching different options.

Use a Branded USB Today

2010-08-19T23:32:00.000+08:00

A lot of people says that a quality branded usb helps you function more in saving a lot of files and documents securely. And I really believe them because today, we use USB units most of the time to secure those soft copies of documents.

Today, I was able to check out Bespoke USB brands from UK. The site showcases a lot of quality branded USB units that you will really have a great time browsing through the selection. I also loved the idea that you can order safely from the website, something that an online shopper like me would always want to have since a lot of buying transactions nowadays are done online. If I were you, I'd go to the site and you'll definitely love the different types of branded USB units there.

Reviewing William Young's The Shack

2010-08-18T22:58:00.000+08:00

Ok, so I must admit that until I was talking with my church small group, I had never heard of William Young’s The Shack.

After someone brought it up, everyone in the group started going on about it.. Needless to say, I felt left out because I didn’t even know this book existed.

When I finally got this book, I was floored by its message.. The Shack was by far one of the most compelling stories I have ever read in my life.

The story goes like this:.
Mack Phillips decides that his family needs a vacation.. While on vacation, his daughter is kidnapped.. Mack would later learn that his daughter may have been murdered deep in the woods of Oregon..

Family issues being to pile up on the heartbroken father..

Mack receives a mysterious note from God that invites him back to the site of Missy's murder.. At first, Mack isn’t convinced that he should go, yet eventually changes his mind and decides to go.

While at this shack, Mack will discover things that will forver change his life..

If you’re anything like Mack and have ever asked why me during a stressful time in your life, then the answers in this book will give you something to reflect upon.

After finally reading The Shack, I can see why it is so popular.

The Shack is a great combo of drama and spirituality..

If you are looking for a great book to read that may also impact your life, The Shack is the book for you.

The Shack by William Young is a fantastic novel that I couldn’t put down. While this book has its critics, it is truly a stirring piece of spiritual fiction.. It will keep you entertained and informed all the way through.!

Afraid to Go Out and Mingle

2010-08-17T18:59:00.000+08:00

What happens when you have some damaged hair? As for me it will be very embarassing to go out there and face a lot of people who always take sometime to look and feel good. So if I were you, I will be careful of the products that I will choose to prevent damaged hair.

Did you know that Joico makes a broad selection of hair color products? Their salon-quality hair products such as their K-PAK Color Therapy shampoo and conditioner are world class.

Dealing With Nerves On Stage

2010-08-17T18:54:00.000+08:00

Performance anxiety is a big problem among performers of all kinds and at all levels of experience. To overcome performance anxiety you have to acknowledge where it comes from and find ways to turn your nerves and adrenaline into positive forces. It's important to identify the source of fear, in order to deal with it successfully.

Some common fears you may deal with as a performer are: your voice cracking during a performance, not being able to reach certain notes, feeling or looking stupid in front of friends, forgetting the lyrics of a song, wondering if you will fail or succeed, or even rejection - just to name a few. Once you can name your fear you can take steps to overcome it. When you understand the problem, take the time to deal with the source of your fear as opposed to just the symptoms.

You will notice that with adrenaline comes a racing heart. Running in place until you're out of breath is one way to duplicate the effect of an adrenaline rush - then practice singing while your heart races. Being out of breath while you practice helps you get used to singing phrases where you desperately want to just exhale and not sing. The feeling you get when you're out of breath is very similar to the way you feel when performance anxiety takes over. Your breaths will feel like they are falling into your body. It is important to understand that even when the heart is pounding, you can sing. It's just not easy.

It might help to know that you're not alone and that thousands of singers deal with anxiety before performing as well. The symptoms include butterflies in your stomach, shaky knees, dry mouth (sometimes called cottonmouth), a sudden urge to cry or run away, trembling hands, a racing heart rate, nausea, runny nose, cold hands but sweaty underarms, and the urge to pee no matter how many times you visit the bathroom.

For singing performance tips and great ideas on how to build singing confidence, check out these helpful online singing lessons .

Most singers assume they should be calm and collective before a performance, but for most people it's just not the case and believing they should be only increases the anxiety.If you expect the nervous feelings, you'll be in a much better position to sing through them. Once you learn to take control of your nerves you can use that adrenaline to actually enhance your performance. Just by reframing the thought process and acknowledging your nerves, will allow you to seize the opportunity and improve your performance.

On Hair Care Products

2010-08-17T18:24:00.001+08:00

How do you choose your hair care products nowadays?

If you truly love your hair, which I am sure you do, you have to be very careful about picking these hair care products. For all you know, these can extremely damage your hair if you won't take much time in checking the ingredients and everything that they have in the bottle to take care of your hair. This is just a little reminder for me since I want all of us to have a fabulous crowning glory.

Did you know that Joico makes a broad selection of hair color products? Their salon-quality hair products such as their K-PAK Color Therapy shampoo and conditioner are world class.

Happy with Hair Color

2010-08-17T03:00:00.002+08:00

Are you happy with your hair color? If yes then you are lucky, but if you are stuck with your old and not so attractive hair color, then it is time to check out Joico Professional Hair Care Products that gives hope in making your hair color get that needed life again, before hitting that next important appointment.

Did you know that Joico makes a broad selection of
hair color products? Their salon-quality hair products such as their K-PAK Color Therapy shampoo and conditioner are world class.

Joining BC Bloggers

2010-08-16T03:41:00.000+08:00

Do you want to befriend more interesting bloggers in the next few days?

Then join us in BC Bloggers.

This is a project of bloggers who want to interact more and socialize further by supporting each other in a lot of ways. I really am positive that I will have some more online friends after this. So if you are also up for it, then click the badge and make sure to follow simple instructions right away okay?

Online Voting for Bloggers

2010-08-12T03:43:00.000+08:00

Gone are the days when you wait for the media to listen to their updates and then post reviews on the newspaper the day after.

Now, we can take this initiative to implement our online voting system. Does this sounds exciting enough? Well, yes, it is indeed exciting especially when all you have to do is to plan on the questions that you will ask, prepare for the probable choices as answers and then invite your friends and other online buddies to go ahead and vote online.

Easy right? Now, will you go ahead and test it for yourself? =)

Dreaming of Going to Paris

2010-08-11T05:18:00.000+08:00

Have you ever dreamed of going to a place where you can really appreciate the beauty of nature along with the interesting interaction with a lot of people?

Well, for me I have been wanting to try Trains to Paris as I have heard a lot of great stories from some of my online friends who have been to the beautiful city of Paris. They told me that you will get to appreciate the scenery while you are in transit.

I just have to save a lot of money but definitely I would like to set foot in Paris soon. :)

Buying Flowers Or Toys Can Put A Smile On Your Childs Face

2010-08-11T04:36:00.000+08:00

Are your children upset with you for some reason? Are the children not smiling because you have done something wrong to upset them even by accident? Why not send flowers online and ask the florist to get them delivered in school if they are in school or at home if they are at home. I am sure they would love it as it would be a great way to say sorry.

Florist nowadays have flowers for all occassions from birthday flowers, wedding flowers to apology flowers. Kids normally get hurt pretty bad when they are at the age between 3 to 5 as they don't know what's going on and they want it all their way, so it is a must to say sorry. I missed my daughter's 5th birthday and it wasn't pleasant. Even though the reason was powerful because of work I had to go out of the country but she wasn't having any excuses, so to apologise I got her two bouquet of flowers sent one to her school and one to the house. It worked in a way that she got few toys out of me after that.

Few kids do not like flowers so the alternative is to get them the toys they been wanting for sometime. This will for sure bring those innocent and cheeky smiles back in their faces. Some children are hooked with computer games even at that young age so getting them a new computer game will certainly bring a smile on their faces.

There are other things you can do to say sorry other than buy them flowers or gifts. You can take your kids to do an outdoor activity. Surprise them by telling them you are taking them to KFC but take them to go carting or rock climbing activities which I am sure will feel their mood with excitement. Then after the activity you can take them for a nice meal just to say sorry for what you have done and won't happen again.

Full English Transcript of President Benigno Aquino III’s First State of the Nation Address (SONA)

2010-08-03T22:56:00.000+08:00

A lot of Filipinos tuned in to TV, others listened to the radio and the rest were glued to the streaming sessions that were shared online. All because President PNoy or President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivered his first State of the Nation Address. Here's the full English Transcript of his speech delivered just a week ago.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay, Chief Justice Renato Corona, Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps;

My beloved countrymen:

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions are made to protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of the majority; to have a firm grip on principles; and to be faithful to the public servant’s sworn oath to serve the country honestly.

This is the straight path.

On the other side, personal interest is the priority, and where one becomes a slave to political considerations to the detriment of our nation.

This is the crooked path.

For a long time, our country lost its way in the crooked path. As days go by (since I became President), the massive scope of the problems we have inherited becomes much clearer. I could almost feel the weight of my responsibilities.

In the first three weeks of our administration, we discovered many things, and I will report to you some of the problems we have uncovered, and the steps we are taking to solve them.

This report is merely a glimpse of our situation. It is not the entire picture of the crises we are facing. The reality was hidden from our people, who seem to have been deliberately obfuscated on the real state of our nation.

In the first six years of this year, government expenditure exceeded our revenues. Our deficit further increased to PhP196.7 billion. Our collection targets, which lack PhP23.8 billion, were not fully met, while we went beyond our spending by PhP45.1 billion.

Our budget for 2010 is PhP1.54 trillion. Of this, only PhP100 billion – or 6.5% of the total budget – can be used for the remaining six months of the current year. Roughly 1% of the total budget is left for each of the remaining month.

Where did the funds go?

A calamity fund worth PhP2 billion was reserved in preparation for anticipated calamities. Of this already miniscule amount, at a time when the rainy season has yet to set in, PhP1.4 billion or 70% was already spent.

The entire province of Pampanga received PhP108 million. Of this, PhP105 million went to only one district. On the other hand, the province of Pangasinan, which was severely affected by Typhoon Pepeng, received a mere PhP5 million, which had to be used to fix damages inflicted not even by Pepeng, but by a previous typhoon, Cosme.

The funds were released on election month, which was seven months after the typhoon. What will happen if a typhoon arrives tomorrow? The fund has been used up to repair damage from typhoons that hit us last year. Our future will pay for the greed of yesterday.

This is also what happened to the funds of the MWSS. Just recently, people lined up for water while the leadership of the MWSS rewarded itself even though the pensions of retired employees remain unpaid.

The entire payroll of the MWSS amounts to 51.4 million pesos annually. But this isn’t the full extent of what they receive: they receive additional allowances and benefits amounting to 81.1 million pesos. In short, they receive 211.5 million pesos annually. Twenty four percent of this is for normal salaries, and sixty six percent is added on.

The average worker receives up to 13th month pay plus a cash gift. In the MWSS, they receive the equivalent of over thirty months pay if you include all their additional bonuses and allowances.

What we discovered in the case of the salaries of their board of trustees is even more shocking. Let’s take a look at the allowances they receive:

Attending board of trustees and board committee meetings, and you get fourteen thousands pesos. This totals ninety eight thousand pesos a month. They also get an annual grocery incentive of eighty thousand pesos.

And that’s not all. They get a mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, and financial assistance. They not only get a Christmas bonus, but an additional Christmas package as well. Each of these amounts to eighty thousand pesos. All in all, each member of the board receives two and a half million pesos a year exclusive of car service, technical assistance, and loans. Let me repeat. They award themselves all of these while being in arrears for the pensions of their retired employees.

Even the La Mesa watershed wasn’t spared. In order to ensure an adequate supply of water, we need to protect our watersheds. In watersheds, trees are needed. Where there should be trees, they built homes for the top officials of the MWSS.

We cannot remove them from their positions quickly because they are among the midnight appointees of former president Arroyo. We are investigating all of these things. But if they have any shame left, they should voluntarily relinquish their positions.

Now let’s discuss funds for infrastructure. The DPWH identified two hundred forty six priority safety projects to be funded by the motor vehicle user’s charge. This needs a budget of 425 million pesos. What they ended up funding were only 28 projects. They disregarded 218 projects and replaced these with seventy projects that weren’t in the plans. The 425 million pesos originally asked for became 480 million pesos, increasing because of projects allocated for a favored few.

These projects make no sense: unstudied and unprepared for, sprouting like mushrooms.

The era of such projects is at an end. Under our administration, there will be no quotas, there will be no overpricing, the funds of the people will be spent for the people.

There’s more. Five days before the term of the previous administration ended, they ordered 3.5 billion pesos to be released for the rehabilitation of those affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. This was supposed to fund eighty-nine projects. But nineteen of these projects amounting to 981 million pesos didn’t go through public bidding. Special Allotment Release Orders hadn’t even been released and yet the contracts were already signed. It’s a good thing Secretary Rogelio Singson spotted and stopped them. Instead, they will all go through the proper bidding, and the funds will be used to provide relief to those who lost their homes due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Let’s discuss what happened in Napocor. From 2001 to 2004, the government forced Napocor to sell electricity at a loss to prevent increases in electricity rates. The real motivation for this is that they were preparing for the election.

As a result, in 2004, NAPOCOR slumped deeply in debt. The government was obligated to shoulder the 200 billion pesos it owed.

What the public thought they saved from electricity, we are now paying for using public coffers. Not only are we paying for the cost of electricity; we are also paying for the interest arising from the debt.

If the money we borrowed was used properly, then there would be added assurance that constant supply of electricity is available. However, this decision was based on bad politics, not on the true needs of the people. The people, after having to sacrifice, suffered even more.

This is also what happened to the MRT. The government tried again to buy the people’s love. The operator was forced to keep the rates low.

In effect, the guarantee given to the operator that he will still be able to recoup his investment was not fulfilled. Because of this, Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines were ordered to purchase the MRT.

The money of the people was used in exchange for an operation that was losing money.

Let us now move on to the funds of the National Food Authority (NFA).

In 2004: 117,000 metric tons (of rice) was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they (the government) bought were 900,000 metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than seven times the amount of shortage, they still bought more than what was needed.

In 2007: 589,000 metric tons was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they bought were 1.827 million metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they again bought more than what was needed.

What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they need year after year, the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses ended up rotting, just like what happened in 2008.

Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 million Filipinos who do not eat three times a day?

The result is NFA’s current debt of 177 billion pesos.

This money that was wasted could have funded the following:

- The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at 12.7 billion pesos this year.

- The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost 29.6 billion pesos.

- All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost 130 billion pesos.

This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.

You have heard how the public coffers were squandered. This is what is clear to me now: change can only come from our determination to stamp out this extravagance and profligacy.

That is why starting now: we will stop the wasteful use of government funds. We will eradicate projects that are wrong.

This is the point of what we call the zero-based approach in our budget. What used to be the norm was every year, the budget merely gets re-enacted without plugging the holes.

Next month we will be submitting a budget that accurately identifies the problem and gives much attention on the right solution.

Those that I have mentioned were only some of the problems we have discovered. Here now are examples of the steps we are undertaking to solve them.

There is a case of one pawnshop owner. He purchased a vehicle at an estimated cost of 26 million pesos.

If he can afford to buy a Lamborghini, why can’t he pay his taxes?

A case has already been filed against him. Through the leadership of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, every week we have new cases filed against smugglers and against those who do not pay the right taxes.

We have also already identified the suspects of the cases of Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio and Miguel Belen, 3 of the 6 incidents of extralegal killings since we assumed the Presidency.

Fifty percent (50%) of these incidents of extralegal killings are now on their way to being resolved.

We will not stop the pursuit of the remaining half of these killings until justice has been achieved.

We will hold murderers accountable. We will also hold those who are corrupt that work in government accountable for their actions.

We have begun forming our Truth Commission, through the leadership of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. We will search for the truth on the alleged wrongdoing committed in the last nine years.

This week, I will sign the first ever Executive Order on the formation of this Truth Commission.

If the answer to justice is accountability, the answer to the dearth in funds is a new and creative approach to our long-standing problems.

We have so many needs: from education, infrastructure, health, military, police and more. Our funds will not be enough to meet them.

No matter how massive the deficit is that may keep us from paying for this list of needs, I am heartened because many have already expressed renewed interest and confidence in the Philippines.

Our solution: public-private partnerships. Although no contract has been signed yet, I can say that ongoing talks with interested investors will yield fruitful outcomes.

There are some who have already shown interest and want to build an expressway from Manila that will pass through Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, until the end of Cagayan Valley, without the government having to spend a single peso.

On national defense:

We have 36,000 nautical miles of shoreline, but we only have 32 boats. These boats are as old as the time of (US General Douglas) MacArthur.

Some had this proposition: they will rent the Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard and the Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio.

They will take care of the funding necessary to transfer the Navy Headquarters to Camp Aguinaldo. Immediately, we will be given 100 million dollars. Furthermore, they will give us a portion of their profits from their businesses that would occupy the land they will rent.

In short, we will meet our needs without spending, and we will also earn.

There have already been many proposals from local to foreign investors to provide for our various needs.

From these public-private partnerships, our economy will grow and every Filipino will be the beneficiary. There are so many sectors that could benefit from this.

We will be able to construct the needed infrastructure in order to help tourism grow.

In agriculture, we will be able to have access to grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, orderly road networks and post-harvest facilities.

If we can fix out food supply chain with the help of the private sector, instead of importing, we will hopefully be able to supply for the needs of the global market.

The prices of commodities will go down if we are able to make this efficient railway system a reality. It will be cheaper and faster, and it will be easier for travelers to avoid crooked cops and rebels.

A reminder to all: creating jobs is foremost on our agenda, and the creation of jobs will come from the growth of our industries. Growth will only be possible if we streamline processes to make them predictable, reliable and efficient for those who want to invest.

We make sure that the Build-Operate-and-Transfer projects will undergo quick and efficient processes. With the help of all government agencies concerned and the people, a process that used to take as short as a year and as long as a decade will now only take six months.

The Department of Trade and Industry has already taken steps to effect this change, under the leadership of Secretary Gregory Domingo:

The never-ending horror story of registering business names, which used to take a minimum of four to eight hours depending on the day, will be cut down drastically to fifteen minutes.

What used to be a check list of thirty-six documents will be shortened to a list of six, and the old eight-page application form will be whittled down to one page.

I call on our local government units to review its own procedures. While we look for more ways to streamline our processes to make business start-ups easier, I hope the LGUs can also find ways to implement reforms that will be consistent with the ones we have already started.

All will certainly benefit from this streamlining — be it businessmen, soldiers, rebels and ordinary Filipinos. As long as the interests of Filipinos will not be jeopardized, we will explore all available avenues to make this a reality. We must start now, and we should all help achieve this and not stand in each other’s way.

The time when we will no longer be made to choose between our people’s security and the future of our children is upon us now.

Once we implement these public-private partnerships, we will be able to fund public service in accordance with our platform.

This will enable us to fund our plans for education.

We will be able to expand our basic education cycle from seven years to the global standard of twelve years.

We can build more classrooms, and we will fund service contracting under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Program (GASTPE).

Conditional cash transfers that aim to lessen the burden of education on parents will also be funded if this partnership becomes a reality.

Our plans for improving PhilHealth can now be within reach.

First, we will identify the correct number of Filipinos who sorely need PhilHealth coverage, as current data is conflicting on this matter. On one hand, PhilHealth says that eighty-seven percent (87%) of Filipinos are covered, then lowers the number to only fifty-three percent (53%). On the other hand, the National Statistics Office says that only thirty-eight percent (38%) of Filipinos are covered by Philhealth.

Even as we speak, Secretary Dinky Soliman and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are moving to implement the National Household Targeting System that will identify the families that most urgently need assistance. An estimated 9 billion pesos is needed in order to provide coverage for five million poor Filipinos.

Our country is beginning to see better days ahead. The private sector, the League of Provinces headed by Governor Alfonso Umali, together with Governors L-Ray Villafuerte and Icot Petilla, are now ready to do their share when it comes to shouldering the financial burden. I know that the League of Cities under the leadership of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez will not be far behind.

If the local governments share in our goals, I know that I can surely count on Congress, the institution where I began public service, to push for our agenda for change.

Our Cabinet has already showed it skill by identifying not just problems but also proposing solutions in a matter of three weeks.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang, we were told by those in the power sector that we would be without electricity for four days. The quick action of Secretary Rene Almendras and the Department of Energy resulted in the restoration of power to almost all those affected within twenty-four hours.

The so-called water shortage in Metro Manila was quickly attended to by Secretary Rogelio Singson and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Secretary Singson did it without prodding, which alleviated the suffering of those affected.

We also witnessed the competence and initiative of those we appointed to be part of our Cabinet. It is but just that they not be forced to go through the eye of a needle to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Should this happen, competent Filipinos will be encouraged to help our country by becoming public servants.

In the soonest possible time, we will convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss the important bills that need to be addressed. Rest assured that I will keep an open mind and treat you honorably.

We will push for the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, which will limit spending bills only for appropriations that have identified a source of funding. We need 104.1 billion pesos to fund those laws already passed but whose implementation remains pending because of lack of funds.

We will re-evaluate fiscal incentives given in the past. Now that we are tightening our purse strings, we need to identify those incentives that will remain and those that need to be done away with.

We will not allow another NBN-ZTE scandal to happen again. Whether from local or foreign sources, all proposed contracts must undergo the scrutiny of correct procedures. I now ask for your help with amending our Procurement Law.

According to our Constitution, it is the government’s duty to ensure that the market is fair for all. No monopolies, no cartels that kill competition. We need an Anti-Trust Law that will give life to these principles, to afford Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises the opportunity to participate in the growth of our economy.

Let us pass into law the National Land Use Bill.

It was in 1935, during the Commonwealth, that the National Defense Act was passed. There is a need to amend for a new law that is more responsive to the current needs of national security.

I appeal to our legislators to pass the Whistleblower’s Bill to eradicate the prevalent culture of fear and silence that has hounded our system.

We will strengthen the Witness Protection Program. We must remember that from 2009 to 2010 alone, cases which involved the participation of witnesses under the program resulted in a ninety-five percent conviction.

There is a need to review our laws. I call on our lawmakers to begin a re-codification of our laws to ensure harmony in legislation and eliminate contradictions.

These laws serve as the basis of order in our land, but the foundation of all rests on the principle that we cannot grow without peace and order.

We face two obstacles on our road to peace: the situation in Mindanao and the continued revolt of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Our view has not changed when it comes to the situation in Mindanao. We will only achieve lasting peace if all stakeholders engage in an honest dialogue: may they be Moro, Lumad, or Christian. We have asked Dean Marvic Leonen to head our efforts to talk to the MILF.

We will learn from the mistakes of the past administration, that suddenly announced an agreement reached without consultations from all concerned. We are not blind to the fact that it was done with political motivation, and that the interest behind it was not that of the people.

We recognize the efforts of the MILF to discipline those within its ranks. We are hopeful that the negotiations will begin after Ramadan.

To the CPP-NPA-NDF: are you prepared to put forth concrete solutions rather than pure criticism and finger-pointing?

If it is peace you truly desire, then we are ready for an immediate cease-fire. Let us go back to the table and begin talking again.

It is difficult to begin discussions in earnest if the smell of gun powder still hangs in the air. I call on everyone concerned not to waste a good opportunity to rally behind our common aspiration for peace.

Our foundation for growth is peace. We will continue to be shackled by poverty if the crossfire persists.

We must understand that now is a time for sacrifice. It is this sacrifice that will pave the way for a better future. With our freedom comes our responsibility to do good unto our fellows and to our country.

To our friends in media, especially those in radio and print, to the block-timers and those in our community newspapers, I trust that you will take up the cudgels to police your own ranks.

May you give new meaning to the principles of your vocation: to provide clarity to pressing issues; to be fair and truthful in your reporting, and to raise the level of public discourse.

It is every Filipino’s duty to closely watch the leaders that you have elected. I encourage everyone to take a step towards participation rather than fault-finding. The former takes part in finding a solution; from the latter, never-ending complaints.

We have always known that the key to growth is putting the interest of others beyond one’s own. One thing is clear: how do we move forward if we keep putting others down?

How will those without education secure quality jobs? How will the unemployed become consumers? How will they save money for their future needs?

If we change all this, if we prioritize enabling others, we will open a world of opportunities not just for ourselves but for those who direly need it.

We have already begun the process of change, and we are now able to dream of better things for our country. Let us not forget that there are those who wish us to fail, so that they will once again reclaim power to do as they please at the expense of our people.

My firm belief is that our fate is in the hands of God and our people. While we focus on uplifting the lives of our fellow men, I have an unshakeable faith that Almighty God will give us His blessings and support. If we remain firm in our belief that God is on our side, is there anything impossible for us to achieve?

The mandate we received last May 10 is testament to the fact that the Filipino continues to hope for true change. The situation is not what it was before; we can all dream again. Let us all become one in achieving a fulfilment of our hopes and aspirations for our country.

Maraming Salamat Po!

Win This Complete Kérastase Minis Set This 2010

2010-01-04T22:22:00.002+08:00

Hair in Manila is so gracious enough to hold a contest with a lovely prize this January 2010. Take a look at the picture below.

This is the lovely prize that I'm talking about. At first I cannot believe my eyes. Oh yes, this is the Complete Kérastase Minis Set that Hair in Manila will have as their reward for the lucky blogger who will join their blog contest.

Is there a New Year blog contest that can top this one? :) I don't think so. :)

I really hope to win this one! So excited to finally have this in my vanity corner. :)

Looking for Cheap Domain Names

2010-01-01T23:46:00.003+08:00

Now, a lot of people are searching for cheap domain names because they are very much interested to make money online.

And why not, this gives equal opportunities to a lot of people to learn a new skill, well yes, in using the internet and at the same time earn something out of it. :)

So if you are looking for great deals on finding some cheap domain names, I would suggest that you research online and also scout for some great packages, especially if you would like to buy your preferred domain names in bulk.

In that regard, I would suggest that you go to http://www.cheapdomainseller.com/ for some great offers as you buy your domain names and start blogging right away. Remember that getting your own domain name will establish your identity as a banner so go ahead and buy one now. :)

Happy New Year to All!

2010-01-01T23:41:00.001+08:00

May this year fill you all with life's blessings and continue to be a blessing to others. :)

Happy New Year! :)

Reasons Why I Love Link From Blog

2009-09-21T21:46:00.003+08:00

I have been blogging for the past four years, blogging privately and treating this mainly as a hobby.

But when I found out that I can also earn from blog advertising I told myself that I can also do this too. That is why I started to check out some opportunities online just like Link From Blog.

Link from blog is the apple of my eye in making money online through some sponsored reviews because the company has been very transparent of their dealings with their member bloggers.

Let me tell you why.

First, they laid out all your possible questions to help you evaluate your blog before thinking of submitting it.

Another is that they also posted simple instructions for you to qualify your blog for activation. And the best part of it is that you are presented with a lot of opportunities to bid from.

And oh, did I say that they are going to give you a credit per quality blog that you submitted? So if you want to also earn money out of your blogging efforts, click on my affiliate link here and or the banner in the middle to get started right away okay? :)

Another Holiday is About to End

2009-09-21T21:20:00.002+08:00

Yes, I have to say goodbye to another day of relaxation because tomorrow will be another working day for me.

I have been working for the BPO industry for the past eight years and I know that most of the employees working in this industry are required to report for work even during the holidays.

That is why I am so thankful lately that I was able to enjoy some additional rest days like the ones since last month. :) These little breaks in between really made me more motivated to report for work the next day.

Just like what I am feeling right now. Have to prepare for a night's sleep. Till next post. :)

Earn Money Online From Link From Blog

2009-09-20T14:34:00.003+08:00

I have been blogging for almost two and a half years but I only realized that you can earn from blogging just last year.

How did I know about it? When I read other's blogs telling others about how they worked much to earn money online, I then became inspired to do the same. Since then, I also tried some online opportunities and had my share since then.

Now, there goes another way to learn from blogging through Link From Blog. I am very much excited because I already earned from this company, I am just waiting from some additional opportunities so I can cash it out real soon.

If you want to try this one out, I'd recommend you to click on the banner to get started. :)

Mac and Cheese is My Favorite Dish

2009-09-20T11:52:00.005+08:00

I really love to eat Mac and Cheese. It is indeed my favorite dish, or yes, side dish at times.

I have tasted a lot of Mac and cheese 'versions'. Some are indeed tasty and some are just ok, plain, bland mac and cheese combination.

I have watched a video on youtube on how to make a good mac and cheese and I should say that it looks so easy. I am now excited to try this at home. :)

Of course, as soon as I moved in to our new house. :)

image credit: achuen

Teen Driving Issues

2009-05-21T01:54:00.000+08:00

Whenever I watch our local newscast here in the Philippines, I always see one or two segments about road accidents. Before, I was surprised to hear such news on TV but now I guess I just take it as a normal happening, which is bad.

But that's the truth, a lot of road accidents involve bikes, cars and the people who happen to drive them or be the driver's companion.

Just like what happened to the Union City Teen who died days ago. This guy apparently lost control as he went all the way with an incredible speed in his car.

He died from serious injuries brought about by the accident while his companion was taken to the hospital for some immediate attention.

Take note that this wasn't the first incident documented ever in the US (and same here in our country). But my question is: Why are these mishaps look like a common thing nowadays?

Who is responsible for all these road accidents involving teens? Is it the parent who's supposed to guide these teens, the teens who's supposed to know (as early as now) what are the things they should be responsible for or the law enforcers who should always be visible to apprehend road offenders? Call it chicken and egg question, but I wanted to hear from you.

Dropped Paid Entrecard Ads

2009-05-20T18:24:00.000+08:00

In one of my previous posts, I told you how excited I become when I have found out that there are a lot of paid Entrecard ads waiting for my approval. It is like looking at my blog differently then, because I thought that when you got a lot of pending paid ads for approval, it means that your blog is getting a lot of attention, that makes your blog worthy for ad placement.

But when I learned about this affecting the non-paid ads, then I started to think about it. Please don't get me wrong. It is not like I don't want to help Entrecard to earn, because I have been letting these paid ads to be on my blog for weeks. But when I notice the drop of EC based ad placement, that made me worry a bit.

I also noticed that a number of bloggers are beginning to cancel their paid ads and bluntly placing badges about their stand not to approve paid ads. I don't know what will be the implication of not approving EC paid ads but I wanted to respect the effort made by the bloggers who placed non-paid ads on my blog. :)

Pacman Mom's Five Gowns on her 60th Birthday

2009-05-19T17:51:00.000+08:00

Yes, you heard it right, Pacman's Nanay Dionesia Pacquiao wore five expensive and elegant gowns as she celebrated her 60th birthday last Friday night.

Who could've imagined that she will have bigwigs from business, politics and showbizness when before she was a simple mother to her seven kids? Now, she is enjoying all the blessings and the attention brought about by the recent triumph of her son Manny Pacquiao.

I don't have anything against how she planned her birthday, Manny has the budget to call for such big celebration. The family had the legwork of people willing to help them carry on such grand party.

That was her way to thank God and herself for working so hard as a mom. And if there are other things that she wanted to experience for herself, let her be. She would probably call it over as soon as she became happier and more grateful of her blessings to share it to others in need. :)

Own or Rent?

2009-05-18T17:22:00.000+08:00

If given the chance, will you prefer to own or rent your place?

In my opinion, there's no sweet and safe security that will equal to you owning your own place. It is like having a great fortune to think that you have something that you have total control of.

Although of course, it will not always be easy if you want to own one. You have to go through all the rigors of saving money, letting go of your little luxuries and learning some technicalities about owning a property.

Just like what we are experiencing right now. We just finished paying the equity of the townhouse that we got months ago. Now, my fiance Johann is the one in charge of monitoring the building and construction from time to time since he is now living in the same village where we bought the house.

Of course, that was just one phase of payment that was done. We still have to apply for a government housing loan and pay for it for a certain term (while having it rented because we now have another and much bigger house to look out for).

While we are doing that, we also have to pay a certain amount to my parents after our wedding because we are planning to stay in the house that my parents bought but was placed under my name. So technically, we have to take care of two houses, what a blessing! :)

But that also means that we should have to work double time to make money online and work on our future budget together. :)

So that's our take on it. How about you? Would you rather own your place or rent a space? :)

Slumdog's Child Actor is Homeless

2009-05-17T16:41:00.000+08:00

Slumdog's child actor is struggling in the movie and in real life?

I just read this news article over Yahoo this morning and it really kept me puzzled for minutes. According to the article, Azharuddin Ismail, the child actor was sleeping when the demolition happened.

"When they came I was sleeping, they shook me awake and one policeman even threatened me," Ismail, surrounded by half-broken suitcases filled with clothes and utensils, told Reuters.
"What can I do if they have demolished my house? I will sleep out in the open."

I pity the child for experiencing such trauma. I mean, he worked for something so big, he helped India be recognized for the movie that was worth his time and talent, and now this is all happening to him?

What happened to the money he earned from it? Who is responsible for keeping his earnings?

In February, the housing authority of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, said they would give Ismail and fellow child star Rubina Ali new houses. But Ismail's mother, Shameem, said the family is now at the mercy of the rains.
"We also heard that the government had promised us houses, but what happened? We are still homeless," she said. "My son has brought glory to the country, shouldn't he get some credit?"

I hope that Azharuddin Ismail will get some help from the government if there was really a promise of extending assistance to him and his family. Otherwise, this was just part of a large scale publicity and lip service to Azharuddin Ismail's family.

Jang Ja-yeon of Boys over Flowers Committed Suicide?

2009-05-15T21:26:00.005+08:00

Jang Ja-yeon is one of the mean girls cast of Boys over Flowers, one of the recent Koreanovelas shown on ABS CBN.

I just stumbled this news online when I searched for some information regarding the show because the TV station is heavily promoting it. I must say that I am more for the Taiwanese version but let' see if I will get to like this one too.

Going back to Jang Ja-yeon suicide incident, according to some online blogs and sources like Wikipedia, she had episodes of depression and has undergone medication and treatment prior to the suicide incident that happened last March 7, 2009.

According to this blog, the family did not want Jang to be subjected to autopsy as the angle of suicide was evident that time.

To support that claim, Wikipedia has this additional information about her suicide incident:

An alleged suicide note left by Jang describes how she was beaten and forced to entertain and have sex with several program directors, CEOs and media executives, causing considerable debate about relations in the entertainment industry, as well as a police probe into her management agency

If this is true then we can just imagine how she went through some tough, traumatic times. I am not saying that this is really happenning in the showbusiness but who are we to say that these allegations did not happened in the first place? May her soul rest in peace.

Photo credit: googleimages

Blogging Contests

2009-05-15T15:40:00.002+08:00

Have you tried joining blogging contests?

I did before. It was fun, but I did not win. :) I'll have to see myself winning in a blog contest so I can feel what the winners felt then. :)

Seriously, if I have more time, I will join another blog contest again. Prizes have evolved from ad space and EC credits to Paypal money, free domains, books, cds, and more. Isn't that exciting enough?

To add to that, what I wanted more about blog contests are the benefits that you will get when you both became a sponsor and a participant. You get the share of some link juice from the rest of the bloggers and at the same time you get to visit and discover blogs with same interest. Now that really spells fun. :)

Now I am thinking of having my own blog dedicated to join blog contests. How about you? Would you do the same thing? Or will you incorporate blog contest posts in your blog instead?

I Want Siberian Pups!

2009-05-14T20:55:00.000+08:00

Siberian Husky!

When I discovered this dog breed online I know I wanted to have one. I love to look at their eyes, they look tough and mysterious. I would also wanted to feel their fur and really take care of them.

I see a number of Siberian Huskies when I go to Eastwood City every weekends. They accompany their masters every morning for a walk. They are huge ones and can really intimidate toy dogs and other people who sees them for the first time.

I can just imagine having this dog while I have my daily walk and teaching them some tasks. I also want this Husky (if I'll have one) to be a watchdog but according to some online references, they are generally friendly even with strangers and they hardly bark. :)

Well, I searched for some online reference and I found out that they easily get bored, thus needed more of your attention. This would be perfect as soon as I start to work at home, but for now, I'll just have to be contented looking at their pictures instead. :)

What breed of dog would you like to have as a pet if you don't want to have a husky at home?

Chatting with Blogger Moms

2009-05-13T19:52:00.001+08:00

Well I am not a mom yet, but lately I found myself chatting with Mom Bloggers. They have interesting personalities and they have a lot to share to me about blogging in general and making money online.

Aside from that, I also got to know how they survived blogging and having a day job at the same time. Well, some have been thinking about giving blogging a go and stop working. A full time problogger is something that I want to do eventually, because I see that blogging will still prosper and not a fad.

Really, the thought of being a WAHM and a Problogger excites me. But for now, I still love the corporate life and my work in a call center. When I ask them about their opinion of plunging into Problogging this early, they told me to weigh my options first, which is good. These moms really are gems in my blogging stint as they are always friendly and willing to help their fellow bloggers. :)

Note: I would have to ask them first if its okay to share their names here. Will update and make another posts as soon as I got their approval. :)

What Makes You Smile

2009-05-12T20:14:00.001+08:00

What makes you smile lately?

Whenever I feel low, I tried to think of happy thoughts, but that is not enough for me to smile.

What works for me is to listen to an upbeat melody to stir my loneliness or boredom and I will be okay after that. But this won't last long.

They say that a pet can help you feel that natural high but the problem is I don't have one. Well we have dogs here in the house but they grew up without much of my care because I am always busy and out of the house.

So based from my experience, it is best to talk to a close friend as I can feel at my most comfortable sharing my not so happy thoughts with them. Well, if you are lucky enough, you might share a laugh or two with them after, especially if your friend has a good sense of humor. :)

Remember to smile because your emotion affects your health. How about you? What makes you smile? :)

Photo credit: Coole Images - Flickr

Shaheen Jafargholi's Disabled YouTube Video

2009-05-11T08:00:00.000+08:00

Have you heard of the name Shaheen Jafargholi?

I already made a post in my Online Diva blog about this cute boy who was challenged to sing his second choice piece after the first one was called 'off' by Simon Cowell.

Even if I already posted his audition stint in my other blog, I still want to write about him here because I really find him adorable and talented.

But when I checked YouTube today for his videos, I noticed something. The embed option is disabled by request. I was surprised because I seldom see YouTube videos being disabled for sharing. The growing number of viewers says something how this wonder young man is getting viral, just sad to say that I would have to settle for his picture right now.

Well, you can just go ahead and check out his videos in YouTube and see how he beautifully belted Michael Jackson's 'Who's Loving You' hit. :)

Slashed My Blog's Categories

2009-05-10T20:56:00.000+08:00

I spent almost 30 minutes today to slash some of my blog categories.

This made me go through each of my posts, scan the content and tag with related labels. When I checked some other blogs today, I noticed that there were a lot of categories that it almost took one sidebar of their blogs.

And since I vowed to take care of this blog, I took care of cleaning these tags before all I add some more posts.

Let me give you some hint of my revamped blog's categories:

Now I have general categories regarding blogging, business, events, finances, health, recreation, travel among others.

I will also add some more posts regarding the genres of music that I love through random posts about YouTube stars. :)

Well, I don't say that this list is final. I have yet to check if I can add some more as I continue to blog here. But I will make it a point to focus on blogging about random surprises as much as possible. :)

How about you? Do you need to also slash some of your blog categories? Why or why not? :)

Momsense is Making Sense

2009-05-10T15:53:00.002+08:00

Have you heard about Anita Renfroe before?

She is a Christian comedian who caught my attention after I saw her videos in YouTube.

Do you want to get a clue on how cool the lyrics go? Check this out:

Get up now
Get up now
Get up out of bed
Wash your face
Brush your teeth
Comb your sleepy head
Here's your clothes
And your shoes
Hear the words I said
Get up now
Get up and make your bed
Are you hot?
Are you cold?
Are you wearing that?
Where's your books and your lunch and your homework at?
Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat
Don't forget you got to feed the cat
Eat your breakfast
The experts tell us it's the most important meal of all
Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall
Please remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today?
Don't forget your piano lesson is this afternoon

That was just the first part of the song. Now if you want to hear it in full, then feel free to play the clip below. Happy Mothers Day to all beautiful Moms! :)

Yucky Chicharon!

2009-05-09T22:40:00.006+08:00

If you are not familiar with Chicharon, this is a deep fried fat that gives a crunchy sound as soon as you eat it.

According to Wikipedia, this does not come only from pork but from other sources as well.

Chicharrón (also torresmo) is a dish made of fried pork rinds. It is sometimes made from chicken, mutton, or beef.

I just found out that there are variants of chicharon in other countries as it is also popular in the US, Andalusia, Spain and Latin America. :) All the while I thought that we're the only ones who has tasted this very delicious yet (bad for the health) treat.

In the Philippines, tsitsaron, as it is spelled in Filipino (chicharon is now an acceptable variant term, a derivative of the Spanish word chicharrón) is usually eaten with vinegar or with bagoong, lechon liver sauce, or pickled papaya called atchara. Tsitsarong manok, made from chicken skin, is also popular.

Okay, now that we know what chicharon is, I just wanted to share with you an Imbestigador (Investigator) episode where they revealed how other makers of chicharon are preparing it bad, too bad that it can cause more harm aside from its given health hazards.

I would like to share with you a documented video of how this was grossly prepared by some. :( Take a look:

That's so gross right? It was just so sad that they shortchanged their customers because they wanted to make money right away.

Let me know what you think in the comments section of this post okay?

Skipped EC Drop on Some Blogs Today

2009-05-09T21:54:00.004+08:00

I survived 3oo drops today! :)

Take note that I completed 900 EC drops today as I focus on promoting my three newest blogs. I was so glad that the internet connection was not that problematic and so the pages loaded faster as I tried to load like 10 -15 blogs and drop in one go. :)

But I have to confess something today. I skipped some of the blogs that took too much time to load. A lot of bloggers wanted to make money online out of their blogging efforts, but before they do that, I believe that they need to get out of their blog clutter first.

I noticed a lot of slide shows and widgets that were unnecessary. Those widgets affect their blog's loading time and it will not help that much especially if they are going to 'sell' their blogs for ad placement and paid reviews. No clients would wanted to link to a blog that takes forever to load, or some blog that easily loads some parts of the page but not all the templates' content.

This will be my call from now on, and I hope that a lot of bloggers (who may have that concern) will do something about it.

Have you had the same concerns when you dropped ECs before? Let me know your experience here. :)

Random Surprises is Up!

2009-05-09T09:55:00.003+08:00

After weeks of consulting my fiance about our blogging stints, he finally approved of me getting a .com for this blog. I am sooo happy! :)

And why not? I had this blog since March of 2008. Well, at first I am not sure yet of what to do with this blog. You know when a lot of bloggers are writing about their random musings? That's what happened to me.

I am not saying that its bad. What I want to drive at is that bloggers are entitled to their own blogging destiny. As for me, I want to revamp this blog and finally give it more attention now and getting a dot.com is my first wave of changes that I have to do here.

So today I registered this blog and gave it a new name. From lifeswinksblinksandtears.blogspot.com, I now call it random-surprises.com. Yey! :)

Why Random -Surprises?

Well, aside from a simple yet catchy domain name, I prefer a shorter URL because visitors can easily remember it, which will make my blog 'friendlier' to upcoming visitors. Before, I am not too keen about getting visitors for this blog, because it is a personal one, but now I realized that getting more visitors won't hurt right? That is why I am finally giving blog promotion for random-surprises a go. :)

While doing all these I will also have to work on some changes in this blog. I already changed my template, which is a lot cuter than the previous one. :) Next is to do a category overhaul since I noticed how different it is to use the label versus category functions for wordpress and blogger. Then I also have to write some more of my random surprises in different leaner categories and do promote my blog. :)

Let's see how this works for me as I also take care of my other blogs. I will keep you posted on my blog overhaul progress, but for now, let me know what you think about my ideas.

Or simply answer these questions:

When was the last time that you did major changes in your blog and why? Can you tell us something more about it? What were the lessons you've learned out of the experience?

Approved 14 Paid Ads on This Blog

2009-04-05T11:03:00.004+08:00

When I logged in to Entrecard today, I was quite surprised to see 14 paid ads that needed my approval aside from six common Entrecard ads.

Was it good? I guess so. Although Entrecard introduced this in a more affordable budget per click, still it is a welcome idea for bloggers to take advantage of. If you are really serious in promoting your blog, this is a good way to go. Just make sure that you take some time to study how this type of promotion goes and how you can best benefit from it. Of course, it is your budget that's what we're talking about here. :)

Just a reminder though, it is okay, and indeed recommended for you to promote your blog. On the flipside, it is better to promote a blog rich in good and useful content. If you need more content, I suggest you work out on it first before you give a blast of blog advertising. :)

Picture credit: greggoconnell

Birds in the House

2009-03-29T21:42:00.004+08:00

They say that when you have birds as pets, its like you bought a piece of the sound of nature.

Listening to the sound of birds chirping will surely make you feel how close you are to nature, these birds will make a good companion as well.

Just like me, I always wanted to hear a sound around as I cannot stand complete silence. It frightens me, especially if I am just alone inside the house.

I remembered when one of my college friends suggested that I buy a pair. I was about to head to the nearest pet shop when my mom asked me not to have it because our neighbors' cat goes to our house often, and they will definitely look at those birds as their next prey. So I just gave up the idea of getting one.

Now that I am going to be married in just a few months time, I will have to deal with birds again, well as part of the ceremony. But if I will buy a pair of birds, I'll make sure to do it as soon as I started to just work at home. :)

Picture credit: Panina.anna

Another Blog in Progress

2009-03-29T21:32:00.002+08:00

I've been working through some English blogs since March last year and of course I intended to use it to also earn some money online.

Of course I earned my share in the last few months, but I also thought of how good it would be for me to start one and write in vernacular, which is Tagalog / Filipino.

I already started with one last year, I will just use that domain for me to start that purist blog. For the meantime, I'll just think of the topics to write about and start publishing.

In total, I have almost 7 blogs covering different niche and topics. I will tell you more about it in the coming days, but for now, feel free to browse through some of my posts here and leave a comment or two if you like it. :)

Summer Time Again

2009-03-08T23:35:00.004+08:00

All work and no play makes Jane a lil bit bored.

So why not take advantage of your weekend to dip in the pool or expose your bod in the beach? Just like here in the Philippines, summer season starts to make itself felt again with the increased temperature and people grabbing flavored fruit shakes and other chilled refreshments every now and then.

I would like to think that this is the last summer of me being single. I will marry my fiancee Johann this December and maybe this is a good way for us to take a break from our wedding preps. That's right. This is our last summer together as unmarried partners and it is just right to make it memorable.

How about you? What do you usually do in summer aside from dipping in the pool or going to the beach?

Image credit: Visual Photography Studio

Too Much Clutter in My Wallet

2009-02-09T19:03:00.005+08:00

I usually missed cleaning my wallet.

You know, cleaning and getting rid of some stuff inside of it. Well what are those?

Receipts

Little notes

Prepaid Cards

Bus Tickets

Raffle Tickets

I wish I took pictures of those that I considered wallet garbage haha. I promise to do it next time so I can let you see it.

The problem with me is that I can get too busy to attend to even the smallest of things. I would see to it that I will devote a little time to clean my wallet from time to time.

How about you? What are some of the unwanted things that you have inside your wallet?

Photo credit: colorado guy

Sanjaya's Got A New Book?

2009-01-26T06:40:00.005+08:00

A friend, an American Idol fanatic, told me that Sanjaya is releasing a book about his life and about his stay in the American Idol.

To be honest, I didn't give a damn. It's not that I don't like Sanjaya (he was actually one of the most colorful contestants that ever graced the show, if only because of his hair styles) but I never really liked him because I don't think he's not that great a singer. He can sing, yes, but just not in the level for those who vied for the American Idol title.

I especially don't like when he sang "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". When I was watching it, I was waiting for him to shout and hit the high notes. But he didn't which left me very much disappointed because I love that song and it can only be sung as it was originally sung.

There are some songs that just can't be changed.

Obama's Day Yesterday

2009-01-21T22:12:00.004+08:00

I had the chance to watch some parts of Obama's inauguration yesterday and I cannot believe my eyes. There were a lot of people who went there and showed support to the 44th President of the United States.

It was my first time to watch such celebration, I say feast of Americans over someone's political victory. When our local newscast gave more details on how people went out and really waited outside amidst extreme cold, I believe that they're really hungry for a change.

I was glued from the time he started his speech up to the last minute that he gave for that turn to finish. He was firm and hopeful about what he wants. What I really liked about his speech is that he wants a collective effort. This is a realistic approach rather than wear the hat of an expert and a hero.

What do you think about his speech? Any thoughts?

Just joined Twitter

2009-01-16T23:50:00.001+08:00

I only had friendster before, and I stopped joining social networks since then. :)

Not because I don't want to, but I just can't find the time. Since the time I started taking blogging seriously, I also committed to reach out to more people, bloggers in general so we can exchange some good quick wit online.

That's why I joined Twitter. Now I'm beginning to exhange sweet tweets and starting to know more bloggers from around the world.

Let's follow each other if you want. If you haven't had a Twitter account, please take time to sign up. My Twitter Nick is callcentergal. Let me know if we can be twitter friends by leaving a message on my twitter nick okay? I'll surely tweet you back. :)

Random Drug Testing: Are You Up for it?

2009-01-15T22:58:00.002+08:00

Another issue that has been hitting the Philippine government nowadays is the drug buy bust scandal that happened last week. PDEA or Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a college student out of the buy bust operation that they conducted that day.

A lot of sectors were alarmed, since the President declared herself as the Anti Illegal Drugs czar afterwards, ordering some government sectors to act up on this pressing issue.

Part of the action plan is to conduct random drug testing to universities and colleges. According to the President, they don't have to worry about the expenses involving this procedure since the government will be the one paying for this.

Of course they ( government ) should be the one to take care of all those expenses. I understand how parents are making ends meet nowadays just to put their children to school and the last thing that they want will be an additional detail coming to their long list of expenses.

In my opinion, this should've been done years ago. A lot of crimes are being committed in relation to illegal drug use. It is unfair that these people live the life they want while making others' lives miserable.

If cost was out of the issue, would you subject yourself if invited to a random drug testing?

Helping Cagayan de Oro Flash Flood Victims

2009-01-15T17:57:00.009+08:00

A lot of bloggers should not only use this to express themselves and earn on the side, they should also use this to help people in need.

Just like the Cagayan de Oro flashflood victims. They have suffered from an uncomfortable state since last week when heavy rain fell non-stop. The flood was too high it damaged most of the houses of eight barangays according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

If you will look at the picture above, you will see a sample of how people are trying to survive despite the flood and all the inconveniences. Please extend your help $3 via paypal to this email address: jamgfx@gmail.com. To date, they already raised $53, of course if we can help them spread the word, the better chances of more people to donate this amount to them. They'll use it to buy rice and noodles to give to the flashflood victims.

You can check out Chiq Montes' twit and plurk messages about it. Just click on the links to follow the conversation.

Ploning did not Make it to the Oscars

2009-01-14T21:16:00.006+08:00

I'm watching the news tonight and one of the news items that struck me was that Ploning did not make it to the Oscars.

Ploning is the Official Philippine Entry to the Best Foreign Language Film Category of the 81st Academy Awards. This will be the first ever Philippine Movie that will grab the title if the movie was pushed to make it.

I haven't watched this film yet, thanks to the hectic schedule that I had months ago. But I promised myself that I will buy a DVD copy of this movie so I can understand why this movie deserves to win.

I remembered that the entire cast and crew helped one another in lobbying for additional funds. They held auctions, parties and other promotional activities to gather more funds. The government also gave some amount to support the film.

Not only that, even some online bloggers extended their appreciation and support for this project. One blogger even got the domain name after the movie Ploning. It's just so sad that they didn't make it.

Game shows

2009-01-10T01:02:00.005+08:00

I am doing this post while watching a late night local game show. All you need to do is to register using your mobile phone and text certain codes so you can be eligible for the electronic raffle draw. If you're lucky, you will be called live on national TV and you'll be allowed to guess a certain thing based on the category that was set at the onset of the show.

The prizes aren't that much, cellphone load, some cash, cd movies and soundtrack. I think that the target viewers of the show are the ones who wanted a light viewing on a late night, just like me.

In case you're curious of the show, it's entitled Games Uplate Live. :)

Macy's Move to Close 11 Stores

2009-01-09T02:37:00.003+08:00

I'm in the Philippines. But I still am affected by the thought of Macy's closing down some of their stores in the United States.

I feel for people who will be affected by this (somewhat) unforseen event. If the reason is to trim down the number of underperforming stores, this means that people are now starting to tighten their 'economic' belts and save money as much as they can.

Of course those affected employees can apply in other branches, but the emotional part of it will always echo in their minds. As much as we don't want to welcome recession, this is happening. All we have to do is to prepare for it as much as we can. Spend wisely and save your hard earned money.

Going back to work

2009-01-04T16:20:00.007+08:00

Gone are the holidays, and so are the rest days.

Tomorrow, I'll be back in the corporate world. I will be working again for eight hours which is something I miss because of the long holiday that we had here in the Philippines.

I'll see people rushing to the train station again, endless lines of workers queuing to hail a cab, more call center agents in the pantry, endless number of people everywhere. :)

How about you? What do you usually look forward to after a long holiday vacation?

Photo credit: K2D2vaca

Change of Blog Theme

2009-01-02T03:52:00.001+08:00

I realized that I really should make some quick changes if I want interaction on this blog.

I just read the message Karen Zemek sent through Entrecard. She told me that the comment function doesn't seem to work. And so is the blogger behind Reap Money Online.

Okay, I may decide to change this template again. But for now, let me know if the comment function works. I'll attend to it as soon as possible.

I apologized for what happened. And thank you for letting me know about it.

Not Really In the Mood for Movies

2009-01-01T23:53:00.000+08:00

I had the chance to watch Dayo the other day, especially since I expressed my intention to see it but somehow watching movies at this time of the year lost steam.

Perhaps it's the current economic crisis that every peso nowadays is very valuable. It's so hard to part from your hard-earned money, right? At times like this when the habit of saving becomes ever more important.

Or perhaps it's because I've heard some people talking about the film and that they didn't like it. Normally I would disregard the opinion of others because I believe the beauty of a film is at most times, relative to the one viewing it. But when my budget is tight, I would easily stay away from things that have great chances of disappointing me. More especially movies.

This is why lately I've been relying on the reviews of popular film critics before I go out and spend my dough on a film. I trust critics because they have their high standards on what is entertaining and worth the viewer's time.

But with all honesty, if I could just afford it and if I am not right now saving for something, I would love to watch all those films. But sadly I can't.

New Years Resolution

2008-12-31T16:37:00.001+08:00

I will lose weight.

I will exercise more.

I will study my notes every night to avoid cramming.

I will save more of my earnings.

I will limit my night outs with friends and colleagues.

Do you still think of your New Years Resolution before the next year begins? Okay most of us would say yes, but the question is do we hold on to that resolution? If yes, for how long? :)

If you will look above you can see some of the resolutions I made years ago. How about you? Can you relate to the resolutions above? Which of them did you do well?

The sad part about these New Years resolutions is that we (most of the time) do not keep them good to last for a year. It's easy to fall back and go on doing things the old way.

So for me, I will just make a weekly or monthly SMART goals so that I can help myself achieve it and see results.

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Reliable

Time bound

I'll keep a food journal to list the food that I take everyday. I will have a set weekly budget and will work on it no matter what. I will keep all my blogging earnings and deposit it right away on my checking account to fund the equity that I need to settle for the townhouse that I'll loan before 2009 ends.

I'll increase the time walking briskly whenever possible. The thing is I cannot do strenuous exercises because it increases the acid that makes me feel uncomfortable. I'll also use this blog to serve as my online diary in my quest to lose weight.

How about your own SMART goals for this year? Can you share some?

Photo credit: Jupacri

My Boyfriend's 2009 Wishes

2008-12-30T04:45:00.001+08:00

I asked Johann what are the things that he wishes for come 2009. I was expecting him to say things like a new laptop, a Sony Playstation Portable, a car or even a first-class massage. But he only answered, none.

He didn't want to make any wishes believing that he's jinxed when it comes to wishes. He had made so many wishes in his life but he said the things he wanted the most never do come true. So I guess he got tired of wishing.

Live life one day at a time. I'd say that would be his motto. I don't really dig that because I'm the kind of person who likes to make plans. And I love to make wishes and I believe wishes do come true. Of course not everything that you wish for will happen, but at least a few of them will... or might.

Perhaps I never outgrew Santa Claus. You know, when we were kids, we would make lists and Christmas wishes of toys and stuff that we wanted Santa to bring us. I still do make wishes, not to Santa, but to God. I believe he answers wishes or prayers, sometimes they're just the same.

:)

Dayo (Filipino Animated Movie)

2008-12-23T07:34:00.002+08:00

If I have to watch a movie from the present Metro Manila Film Festival, I would watch Dayo first.

And why not? This is the product of all Filipino animators. I believe that it's about time that they experience the support of the Filipinos in this project.

I went to their official website today at www.dayomovie.com . Take a look. :)

Cast:

Bubuy - Nash Aguas
Anna Manananggal - Anna Legaspi
Nano - Peque Gallaga
Narsi - Michael V.
Anna's Father - Johnny Delgado
Diwata - Laurice Guillen

Want to know what this movie is all about? Check out what Inquirer has to say:

"Dayo" follows the adventure of 11-year-old Bubuy as he tries to save his grandparents who have been abducted and brought to Elementalia, a mysterious and magical land that is home to popular creatures of Philippine mythology.

So there. A typical story of a helpful kid with extra ordinary struggles to overcome. Imagine now that a manananggal is portrayed as a good and helpful person. :)

Aside from the cast, I would also like to commend Lea Salonga for sharing her talent. After she provided the melody in some international animated movies, she also proved that she can support her Fellow Pinoys. Great job Lea! :)

In the end, I believe that this project will inspire more Filipino animators to do more movies like this. If anyone of them would happen to read this, please continue your efforts. Prove to the world that we're not only capable of providing animation outsourced services, we can also come up with our own full length animated projects. :)

Toyota Losing Money

2008-12-23T07:14:00.001+08:00

I am watching the news this morning when I heard that Toyota announced that they're losing some money, blame it on the value of Yen (that's according to the news) and global financial crisis.

I'm not sure about it but if you're here in the Philippines, you will notice a lot of Toyota cars on the road. I know that here, Toyota still rules in terms of car sales. Be it from private vehicles to taxi fleet sales, they're the preferred brand of Filipinos.

I just hope that this won't affect their workers. I feel for them knowing that I've worked for a Toyota dealership before. I really pray that this won't result to layoffs and job loss that will increase the number of unemployed people here in the country.

Too Many Blogging Things to Do

2008-12-22T22:44:00.001+08:00

If you maintain multiple blogs like I do, I know you'll feel for me when I tell you that blogging takes much more of your time. Of course I'm not complaining, in fact I made this post to quickly evaluate the things that I've accomplished today.

Let's start with my call center blog. I already updated it with a new post, like a teaser on what the readers can expect on the next few posts, like call center activities. It only takes less than a minute to check my post about it so feel free to hop . :)

Next, I already posted a paid post in my marriage blog. After this post I will also write one more regular post about my newly bought wedding directory/magazine. That is my first wedding related purchase as we are preparing for our wedding in December next year.

After that I also wrote a post about a problogging job opening link I got from Jobstreet. Of all my blogs, I feel that my freelancing blog needs more time to build on content but it's fine. I'll really find time this week to write more posts on some of my other blogs.

Okay, enough of the posts, now for the Entrecard drops. I already completed 300 drops for call center gal. Now, I'm dropping for this blog. :)

Simple Married Life and Pinay Freelancer are Up Again!

2008-12-17T19:54:00.002+08:00

Do you know how it feels to have blogs that are 'invisible' to your visitors? I say so because two of my other blogs were down for almost five days.

Now that I have those blogs up again let me tell you more about my two missed blogs:

First is Simple Married Life. I co-authored this blog with my boyfriend Johann. We want to make this blog as our online diary as we plan our wedding and live a simple married life after.

Then the other one is Pinay Freelancer. I created this blog to record my thoughts on how to work at home and earn something online. This is what I wanted to do eventually, to be like my mom who is successful in taking care of the family while making money for herself through her offline business.

I would encourage you to visit my other blogs and feel free to leave your comments. In return, I'd bring back the visit and comment back on your blog.

Entrecard Here I Come!

2008-12-16T01:22:00.001+08:00

As of this writing I am now waiting for Entrecard to scan my blog. I just inserted the widget and I hope this will work fine for this blog, just like how it worked well with my other self-hosted blogs.

For those who doesn't have an Entrecard account yet, it's time to sign up your blogs so you can get to expose your online diaries to a lot of bloggers.

I'm really excited. Let's see who gets to place an ad here. :)

Earning Money Online

2008-12-15T22:47:00.001+08:00

I've been doing this for some of my self-hosted domain blogs. There's no harm in making some extra money out of blogging right? Especially now that times are tough and we all need that something more to help sustain our finances.

These are the things that I've tried to make some more money online:

Advertising 125x125 banners
Text link advertising
Paid posts
Paid features

I have yet to try online surveys and affiliate programs. Let me know how else can I legally earn money online aside from those that I've mentioned above.

Brenden Foster Dies

2008-11-26T18:11:00.001+08:00

I dunno why but I always am touched by stories of people who made a positive difference in their simplest ways. That is why when I read this story and watched his video in You Tube I really felt sad about what happened to Brenden Foster.

I cried for what happened to the boy. Until now that I am writing this post, I am still touched by the thought that he made his short stay worthwhile.

If you're reading this post, the least we can do is to help spread the word. We can help make a difference by writing a post like this. Are you up to this simple task?

Claiming this blog in Technorati

2008-11-25T21:12:00.000+08:00

Technorati Profile

Rest from Blogging

2008-11-16T10:41:00.001+08:00

I've been working too much on my online activities for the last few months. Every weekend, I need to attend to a lot of things and whenever I miss something, I feel like I'm in trouble the next day.

My boyfriend noticed that weekends were never a relaxing days for me. So he told me to just have a weekend off, which I reluctantly agreed.

But now I'm proud to say I did forget about my online stuff, even for a day. I never checked my multiple email accounts, logged on to my blogs, moderated comments, updated my plurk and twitter profile, dropped Entrecards, anything that has to do with my blogging activities. I just went out with my boyfriend to check the house that we're considering to loan from the bank. We spent the rest of the day having a good meal, talked about just anything and walked to check some goodies. ;)

Now, I'm back again to wear the blogging chain hehe. But from now on, I'll make it a point to call some weekends off so I can relax and get away from blogging stress.

Relaxing Online Experience

2008-10-08T19:37:00.002+08:00

I've always wanted to work at home and I'm working on it little by little. ;) Though I'm planning to be a SAHM / WAHM someday, I would still wanted a stress-free online experience while doing my writing gigs. This picture of a laptop and an apple inspires me more to achieve my simple goal ;)

My New Blog Template

2008-10-07T20:58:00.001+08:00

Can you believe that cool templates really inspires someone to blog?

Just like what I'm feeling. I really love the look of my new hip blog. This has a very stylish design as oppose to the classic look that it had before. ;) I would like to really commend my cute boyfriend blogger who have been very supportive of my blogging whims. ;)

Cool Educational Websites - Math

2008-05-03T21:47:00.002+08:00

This entry is just the first part of a series that features educational websites. I wish I had a chance to use them when I was in (grade/high) school. Now, I wanted other people to benefit from these useful websites.

Math Subjects

Who loves math subjects? =)

I admit that I am really challenged by these math subjects when I was in school. I can easily get the basic concepts but finds it hard to follow complicated ones.

Click on this link to view a list of these cool math sites. =)

Me and My Aching Feet

2008-03-16T21:42:00.001+08:00

Before, I used to stand for almost eight hours (at the most) whenever I have training classes. Now, after an hour or two, I'm starting to feel that my feet need to rest. It became worse that I was advised to consult a podiatrist.

I was able to consult a physician (since I was assigned to one) and her suggestion: BLOOD TEST! She wanted to check if its a possible case of gout. =(

That thought scared me and so I started to read related literature. I'll update this post as soon as I got the result. But for now, I need to avoid eating the following (from http://goutdiettips.com/ ):

Diet

Dried beans and peas, mackerel, meat extracts, sardines, scallops, shrimp, yeast extracts and organs like brain, heart, liver and kidneys.
Moderate amounts of purines, including asparagus, dried beans and legumes, fish, mushrooms, poultry, and spinach.
Lose weight by reducing calories rather than by vigorous exercise (which increase uric acid production).
Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to dilute the uric acid concentration of urine.
Avoid alcohol, especially beer (with its brewer’s yeast content).
Eat cherries.

Nutritional Supplements

Avoid trace mineral supplements containing molybdenum. Molybdenum surplus causes a condition very similar to gout.
Avoid megadoses of vitamn C. They may increase the production of uric acid.
Avoid high doses (over 50 milligrams per day) of niacin. Niacin competes with uric acid for excretion into the urine.
Avoid iron supplements. Excess iron in the bloodstream can cause uric acids to form in joints.

As one of the popular lines of the doctors would say: "Prevention is better than cure."

Till next post. Have a healthy week ahead. =)

Normal things that people can go back to now that Paquiao has won

2008-03-16T17:42:00.002+08:00

MILF and Philippine Army can now end their ceasefire.
Some of our neighbors can now go to church to hear mass.
My Dad can take his afternoon nap.
My mom can now water the plants.
I can now write more entries on my blog. ;)

Doing laundry on weekends

2008-03-16T15:21:00.002+08:00

I love to do the laundry. How about you?

Its just that lately, I feel that there are lot more important things to do aside from just doing the laundry the whole day. So I just gave my mom an amount just enough to hire someone to do it for us.