Warning: May cause severe headache!

Actually, I find this one funny.

It was forwarded to me and I thought of sharing it to you. No intent to demean the friendster blogger, but I think she has to think twice before publishing online an English post. Pwede naman mag Tagalog, di ba?

What do you think?

Click on the image to read clearly the texts.

How to get a man to wash his hands!

Studies show that Men do not wash their hands as often as women do….but wait… here’s the solution for this…..take a look! LOL!

Why is trick or treat better than sex?

Here are the top 10 reasons why trick or treating is way better than sex!

10. You're guaranteed to get at least a
little something in the sack.

9. If you get tired, wait 10 minutes
and go at it again.

8. The uglier you look, the easier
it is to get some.

7. You don't have to compliment the
person who gave you candy.

6. The person giving you candy doesn't
fantasize you're someone else.

5. If you get a stomach ache,
it won't last 9 months.

4. If you wear your Batman mask,
no one thinks you're kinky.

3. It doesn't matter if the kids hear
you moaning and groaning.

2. You'll feel less guilt the next morning.

1. If you don't get what you want,
you can always go next door!!

Don't keep the fun to yourself... Make sure you pass the giggles on!!

Worst Parent of the Year Awards

Enjoy the photos. Which one have you experienced before? LOL.

Lose 5 Pounds Fast with the Fruit Diet

Eating all fruit for a short period of time will allow your body the time to cleanse itself, detoxify, purify and drop at least 5 pounds - guaranteed!

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need:

Fruit: bananas, apples, pears, oranges, kiwis, mangos
Nuts: pistachios, peanuts, walnuts, cashews
Water

Step One

Purchase a variety of fruits & assortment of nuts (of your choosing). Make sure you have enough fruit to eat for several days so you don't need to do emergency food trips to the store. Be prepared to eat ONLY fruit for a period of two weeks (this is the minimum amount of time for this to be effective).

Step Two

When you wake up in the morning and are hungry for breakfast - you should choose a piece of fruit and eat as many pieces of that fruit you would like to eat to make yourself feel full. You'd be surprised, but you can get full off of fruit.

Step Three

Due to digestive processes, it is best to wait 90 minutes before eating a different kind of fruit. When you decide to eat the other fruit, you may eat as many pieces of it as you like, to make yourself full and satisfied.

Step Four

Drink water throughout the day and in the evening you may also eat some nuts. Do not go overboard with the nuts or you will not achieve the desired cleansing affect and weight loss.

Overall Tips & Warnings

The first two days are the most difficult part of this diet, but afterwards, you will feel quite energized, light and healthy.

After doing this for two full weeks, your body will be cleansed, detoxified and you will have shed some serious pounds. Slowly integrate vegetables and meat back into your diet as you feel fit.

Listen to your body and choose foods which will compliment your health and well-being!

Source: JulieAnderson of eHow.

Boycotting Britney

Some former Britney Spears' pals are calling for a blackout on Blackout—at least until the singer cleans up her act.

The MySpace-based page was created by people who used to work with Britney, including a bodyguard, backup dancer and makeup artist, as well as several old friends.

The group accuses record executives and other business associates who make money off of Spears as acting as enablers, turning a blind eye to her erratic behavior because she continues to make them money.

There was no immediate comment from Jive Records, which plans on releasing Spears' new album, Blackout, Oct. 30.

In the past two months, Spears gave a train-wreck performance of her new single "Gimme More" at the MTV Video Music Awards, was dropped by her lawyer and manager and has been routinely lambasted by a court commissioner, who labeled her a "habitual, frequent and continuous" user of drugs and booze and temporarily took her kids away.

The new site, boasting the Heroes-channeling headline "Save the Popstar, Save the World," urges fans to contact Jive, MTV, her management team and her music publishing house.

"Let them know you'll be around to buy her music, her merchandise, when she sets a better example of how to be a performer...It is every employer's job to make sure their staff is doing their job to the best of their abilities."

Spears caused some grief in the Jive ranks when she no-showed at two auditions for backup performers. Spears was supposed to personally choose the hoofers for her next music video and upcoming tour but failed to turn up at the L.A. dance studio."She kept saying she was sick, but then the paparazzi would catch her out and about, smiling and buying latte drinks at Starbucks," an insider tells E! Online.

Staffers at the studio say word was sent to Spears, from her label, to get back to work.

"They say that," the former Spears colleague says. "But in reality, they let her act any way she wants, as long as her records sell. Every time she's on a tabloid for embarrassing herself or being a bad mom, what do they care? They don't.

Source: Yahoo Entertainment

Glorietta mall explosion

At least eight people were killed and 119 others were wounded when a powerful explosion rocked the Glorietta Mall in Makati City yesterday afternoon.

A powerful bomb exploded at around 1:20 pm at the parking area for delivery vehicles near the entrance of Glorietta 2 building, shattering the mall’s glass door entrances and damaging several vehicles in the vicinity.

Witnesses said the explosion appeared to have centered on an escalator which was near a cellphone repair shop.

Police investigators identified three of the fatalities who were killed on the spot as Janine Marcos, Alan dela Cruz and Nestor Perigrina.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Avelino I. Razon Jr., said that the explosion was "likely caused by a bomb" and not a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank.

Reynald A. Rosero, deputy chief of the Philippine Bomb Data Center, said the bomb used had highly explosive chemicals.

As this developed, police and military forces in Metro Manila were placed on red alert following the incident.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Geary Barias reported last night a bomb threat in three hospitals in Makati . The bomb threats were called in at around 7:30 p.m. last night to the Ospital ng Makati in Ayala, Ospital ng Makati in Rembo and the Makati Medical Center .

Razon ordered police commanders in Metro Manila to secure vital facilities such as the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), communication facilities and other possible targets of terrorist attacks following the explosion.

Barias earlier said at a media briefing near the bomb blast site that they were still conducting an investigation and would not comment further.

A Reuters report, quoting unnamed sources, said traces of C4 plastic explosives were found at the location. The bomb appeared to have been left near a cellphone repair shop at the bottom of an escalator, they said.

Barias said the explosion tore a 200square meter hole through the second level of the Glorietta 2 building, filling the ground floor with debris. He pointed out that the blast did not leave a crater.

He added that the bridge way connecting Glorietta 2 and Park Square 2 across the street also had some of its frames sticking out. Within the approximately ten meters from the blast site, several restaurants also sustained damages, mostly shattered glass panels.

As of 5 pm yesterday, the NCRPO chief said SWAT personnel were still scouring the immediate vicinity of the blast site for possible unexploded devices.

As of 5 p.m., more than 40 people were being treated at the Makati Medical Center for injuries from the explosion while 31 others were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK).

Witness Tony Peredo, 37-year-old mall goer, said in an interview that the building shook for several seconds after a loud blast. What followed was mayhem as terror-stricken mall goers ran towards the nearest exits, toppling others on their way.

Alfonso Reyes, spokesman of mall owner Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), said the portion of Glorietta 2 where the bomb exploded and the adjacent areas will remain closed indefinitely as engineers check the building’s structural integrity. The nearby Landmark mall was also closed late yesterday afternoon.

He said that they have not received any warnings or threats of a possible mall attack.

Reyes assured relatives of the victims of the blast that ALI will shoulder the hospital expenses of blast victims.

Meanwhile, Mayor City Mayor Jejomar C. Binay asked police authorities yesterday to be thorough in their investigation on the blast.

Binay issued the statement from Fukuoka , Japan where he is attending the Asian Scouting Conference.

He said that the investigation should be seen as credible, impartial and thorough in order to dispel speculations about a possible link between the explosion and recent political developments.

He said that given the present political situation, it is not easy to dismiss these speculations.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing as of early last night and authorities said the operations were likely to continue until today.

Manila has largely been spared a spate of bomb attacks by Muslim rebels that have plagued the southern Mindanao region.

But it has been hit in the past. A series of bomb blasts in 2000 killed at least 22 people.

In February 2004, more than 100 people were killed when a bomb planted by Abu Sayyaf rebels sank a ferry near Manila Bay , the country’s worst terror attack. (Felix Mediavillo)

Airports placed under full alert

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) was placed under full alert yesterday following the Glorietta bomb blast.

Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi, who is also the concurrent chair of the Airport Security Center , decided to increase the alert level at the NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 and at the Manila Domestic Airport .

The airport chief ordered the deployment of members of the Airport Police Department to undertake more frequent patrol of the Aircraft Movement Areas, increase the visibility outside Terminal areas, strictly implement access control and challenge procedures to intensify intelligence and monitoring tasks at the cargo warehouses within the NAIA complex.

NDCC activates operations center in Makati City

The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) yesterday activated an operations center in Makati City .

"The NDCC has activated (an operations) center just to give LGU support regarding the incident," Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Dr. Anthony Golez said. "We are also giving financial assistance to the victims," he added.

Golez, who was touring hospitals where victims were possibly taken, said they were still not able to tell the identities of the victims. "It doesn’t look good," Golez said, describing how the victims’ bodies looked.

Hightened alert ordered but it’s business as usual for MRT, LRT systems

There was a heightened security alert but it was business as usual at the railway systems in Metro Manila despite the bombing incident at the Glorietta 2 mall in Ayala Center, Makati City.

Ret. Gen. Roberto Lastimoso, general manager of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) said operations went on normally at the EDSA system but stricter security measures were implemented.

Lastimoso said the stringent security measures were also enforced in anticipation of the usual Friday crowd taking the MRT-3.

Stricter security measures were also implemented at the Lines 1 (Monumento-Baclarn) and 2 (Santolan,PasigRecto, Manila ) of the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) according to its media relations officer, Jinky Jorgio.

Robles appealed to passengers to be patient with the stringent security measures in LRT stations since they are also for their own good.

It would be remembered that the Blumentritt Station of the LRTA’s Monumento-Baclaran line suffered a terrorist attack in Dec. 30, 2000 where 22 passengers were killed and 104 others were injured in what would come to be known as "Rizal Day Bombing."(JC Bello Ruiz)

Source: By LEONARD POSTRADO and ARIS ILAGAN

Shaider invades Philippine television

Okay, time for Philippine entertainment news. Are you a Shaider fan? Here is an article from the Philippine Entertainment Portal.
****
For those who grew up during the late ‘80s, their memories of the said period will always include (in any order) the historic EDSA Revolution, synthesized disco music, failed coup attempts, Madonna, and a blue-colored metal fighting machine known as Shaider.

THE ORIGIN. The program's original title was Uchuu Keiji Shaider, which is "space sheriff shaider" in English. The said show was the third part of the so-called Metal Heroes genre popularized in Japan .

According to Wikipedia, the Metal Heroes is a genre of characters revolving around a technological theme and bordering on being futuristic. Toei produced the shows from 1982 to 1996. Owing to the success of the first installment, the Metal Hero series generated a number of sequels that remained faithful to the origin of the previous shows, thus, creating continuity.

The other two Metal Heroes that preceded Shaider were Uchuu Keiji Gavan and Uchuu Keiji Sharivan. Both shows enjoyed tremendous success and were shown in other countries and translated into different languages.

Right from the start, the Metal Heroes program created a sensation that was felt in Asia and even extended to France and Brazil . Not one to be left behind, the Philippines latched on to the burgeoning phenomenon and imported some of the shows under the genre.

SHAIDER'S PLOT. Shaider graced Japan 's TV Asahi from March 2, 1984, to February 22, 1985.

Shaider tells the heroic exploits of Dai Sawamura (Alexis Del Mundo in its Philippine version), an archeologist-turned-space sheriff, as he tries to save the planet Earth against Great Emperor Kubilai (baptized as Fuuma Le-ar here in the Philippines) who has evil plans of domination.

Dai, or Alexis, is aided by his best friend and classmate, Annie (played by Naomi Morinaga), as he fulfills his duty of protecting the world. Annie also has a score to settle against Le-ar for annihilating her home world named Mount.

The Shaider hero and Annie join forces to halt Le-ar and his troops from successfully carrying out their wicked mission.

THE PHENOMENON. Shaider's advent in Philippine television was welcomed with great anticipation by a new generation of young viewers who were looking for a modern superhero to embrace.

Locally, Shaider became the Voltes V of the post-Martial Law kids. And just like the popular robot cartoon, Shaider would end up leaving a lasting legacy to its audience, triggering a feeling of nostalgia whenever memory buttons are pushed.

It is important to note that Shaider's dawning came at a time when cable television was still totally unheard of (at least to most of the majority) here in our shores. Shaider, and the Metal Heroes in general, were also a novelty back then simply because they appeared more real to the viewers, compared to cartoons.

Aside from Shaider's notable characters like Alexis, Annie, Babaylan Ida, and Fuuma Le-Ar—the show successfully nailed the right formula of visual effects mixed with memorable tunes that would boom from the TV speakers to prompt the highlight of an episode or a change in the plot.

Who could ever forget the hypnotic shigi shigi wakashigi wuga chant that infiltrated the sound waves while Le-ar cast his spell on individuals who simultaneously raised their hands in a trance as a form of salute?

In times of Shaider's great despair, a music containing the lyrics: Juu wo tottara / Anii ni -o makase / O-ribon-yutte oshare shite... comes out to add more drama to a helpless metal hero.

There is also the popular line, "Time space warp ngayon din," by Le-ar's loyal advisor and strategist Ida. The said phrase became so popular that during the alternative band explosion of the ‘90s, a band named Balahibong Pusa wrote a socio-political song titled "Time Space Warp."

And of course, the kids of the '80s would remember his weapons and powers: Shaider Super Scope, Shaider Blade Cutter, and Shaider Super Slash! The plot per episode was actually predictable. Once he shouted "Shaider Super Slash," the viewers expected that the next frame would show the death of his nemesis.

THE LEGACY. Of course, just like any other television trend, Shaider's popularity came to an end the moment it ceased airing. Shaider fanatics had no choice but to find new heroes to fill up that fantasy void left by the blue-armored space sheriff.

Regardless of its foreign origin, Shaider would go on to become a cultural icon and one of the lasting symbols associated with the ‘80s.

Hiroshi Tsuburaya, the actor who played Shaider, died from a liver disease on July 24, 2001, at the young age of 37. His time of death was recorded at 9:27 a.m., Tokyo time.

Much more disturbing was the news that after her stint as Annie in Shaider, Naomi Morinaga ended up in a number of low-budget adult films. She also graced a couple of men's magazine, including Penthouse Japan , as a nude model.

Yet, despite the heartbreaking news and the years that passed since Shaider's original run, people who grew up watching the program have sprung up, particularly in cyberspace, to pay homage to the legendary Metal Hero.

MODERN VERSION. Recently, GMA-7 sought out Toei in the hope of doing a remake of Shaider. Toei reportedly turned down the script and granted the Kapuso Network their blessing instead to make an original series, featuring the descendants of the original Shaider characters. The locally-produced show, as we all know, is now called Zaido.

The show is currently doing well in primetime television although hardcore fans of Shaider, as well as purists, have expressed their collective rage for what they view as an inferior attempt to ride on the Shaider legacy.

One fan site even blatantly labeled Zaido as a "rip-off " before criticizing the modern version for allegedly altering some important facts that were vital to the original storyline. Other Shaider fans openly voiced out their disgust for what they viewed as sloppy acting and the plot's apparent focus on drama rather than action.

Despite the differing views, all these talks and debates only affirmed the lasting legacy created by Shaider, not just in Philippine television but also in the hearts of its Filipino viewers.

Source: Bong Godinez of PEP

Architects and engineers canstruction!

Architects and engineers compete to see whose team can build the most spectacular structure using little more than cans of food at Canstruction, the 13th annual NYC Design and Build competition in New York.

Canstruction is a foundation of the Society for Design Administration (SDA), Canstruction is a design/build competition currently held in cities throughout North America . Teams of architects, engineers, and students mentored by these professionals, compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food.

All these cans will go to the food bank afterwards. Visit canstruction.org for more info.

Britney Spears can't visit her children

Britney Spears can't even visit her children now. The troubled pop star may not see 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James who are in the custody of Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline until she complies with a court order, Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon ruled.

The order, dated Wednesday, does not spell out what directives Spears defied. A hearing in the matter was scheduled for Oct. 26.

A message left with Spears' attorney, Anne Kiley, was not immediately returned.

In the past, Gordon has reprimanded Spears for not complying with other court orders, repeatedly saying that she lost primary custody to Federline due to her own choices.

Among other things, Gordon has ordered her to undergo random weekly drug testing, citing evidence that Spears engaged in "habitual, frequent and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol."

She could not visit with her children without a parenting coach present. The coach participated in the emergency hearing Wednesday. Both parents were ordered to remain sober around their children.

Source. Yahoonews.

8 Healthy Halloween Treats that Taste Good

So...how much leftover Halloween candy do you polish off every year?!? And who doesn't feel a little spooky about giving out fistfuls of sugar-covered fat? Fright night, indeed. On the other hand, guilt-free hand-outs-- trail mix baggies, mini raisin boxes, tangerines--are no treat if all you hear are disappointed sighs from princesses and superheroes. Solution? Do your sweet shopping at health-food stores, where finding these 8 treats isn't tricky. Classroom and office friends will love them--and so will their bodies!

1. Let's Do...Organic Jelly Gummi Bears
These fat-free organic bears come in 80-calorie packages, so no one overdoes it. Though a little less gummy than traditional ones, the natural fruit flavors like elderberry and apricot are yummy.

2. Tiny Trapeze Caramels
Love Rolos? Try these chewy caramels. They have less than half the fat and calories of Rolos, and they're made with organic cocoa powder and cane juice. Everyone will snarf them up.

3. Figamajigs
Kids will think they're extra-rich raisin-filled candy bars. Adults will love the chewy goodness of figs wrapped in delicious dark chocolate. And guess what? They're low-fat (only 1.5 g saturated fat), high fiber (5g) and covered with heart-healthy almonds.

4. Reed's Ginger Candy Chews
These bite-size candies deliver a mouthful of sweet, spicy flavor for just 25 calories a pop. Ginger's a natural tummy soother too, which may offset the side effects of treat overload.

5. Florida's Natural Pocket Fruit-to-Go Stiks
Like fruit roll-ups but healthier, these organic, no-gluten, fat-free chew sticks are bursting with natural flavors and only 8 grams of sugar, half of it from juice. Available in small, 40-calorie packs.

6. Angel Mints
While there's nothing that devilish about Lifesaver mints, Angels have less sugar, fewer calories and no artificial flavors: Their tingly taste comes from pure peppermint oil. Stash a few for days when you're brain-drained--peppermint perks up mental alertness.

7. Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Edamame
Think chocolate-covered peanuts. But instead you--uh, your friends--get dry-roasted edamame covered in semi-sweet chocolate. For about the same calories, greedy goblins are also getting fiber (5g), protein (7g) and only half the sugar of M&M's.

8. CoCoaVia Blueberry and Almond Chocolate Bars
Finally! A real heart-healthy candy bar: flavanoid-rich dark chocolate, almonds high in healthy fat, blueberries bursting with protective antioxidants and some B vitamins. At only 100 calories, 3g of saturated fat and 9g of sugar, it's okay to be slightly wicked on Halloween.

Is it really worth going out of your way for healthier treats? You bet. Bad fats can send weight and RealAge soaring. Now that's scary!

Winning Foods That Make You Smarter!

This will be my dietary meals once I'll start with my Masteral degree in UP-Diliman this coming 2nd semester. Why this? Com'on, these are known to be winning foods that will fuel the brain with continuous glucose.

Why won't you follow me and let's all get smarter?

Pre-Exam Breakfast Ideas

1. Oatmeal with Berries: bowl of oatmeal topped with 1-2 teaspoons sugar, fresh berries, and a glass of skim milk.

2. Egg Sandwich : 1-2 scrambled eggs between 2 slices of whole wheat toast; enjoy with a sliced orange.

3. Breakfast Burrito: whole wheat tortilla stuffed with a scrambled egg, shredded low-fat cheese, ½ cup black beans and optional salsa

4. Waffles with Peanut Butter and Bananas: whole-grain waffles, toasted and topped with peanut butter and banana slices.


Pre-Exam Lunch Ideas

1. Turkey/cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread with baby carrots and an apple

2. Cold pasta salad tossed with light canned tuna, vegetables and low-cal dressing.

3. Leftover dinner; chicken stir-fry with rice

4. Bowl of hearty lentil or black bean soup with whole grain crackers


After-school Homework Helpers

· Low-fat popcorn

· Grapes (chilled or frozen)

· Apple slices with peanut butter

· Soy crisps

· Healthy dry cereal (Puffins, Mighty Bites, Heart to Heart, Multi-Grain Cheerios)

· Baby carrots

· Pepper sticks (red, green, and yellow)

· Cherry and grape tomatoes

· String cheese

· Edamame (in the pod)

· Raw almonds or cashews


Extra Credit for Overall Brain Health

· Hydrate with plenty of water

· Load up on omega 3 fats (fatty fish, omega 3 fortified eggs, ground flaxseeds, and walnuts)

· Eat foods rich in folic acid (spinach, oranges, broccoli, and fortified breakfast cereals)

· Get plenty of exercise

Source: Joy Bauer of Yahoo Health News

The Night Before Christmas: An African Christmas Story

This was written by Peter E. Adotey Addo. This is an inspiring story of hope. Read on and leave me comments.

******
It was the night before Christmas in Ghana and I was very sad because my family life had been severely disrupted and I was sure that Christmas would never come. There was none of the usual joy and anticipation that I always felt during the Christmas season. I was eight years old, but in the past few months I had grown a great deal.

Before this year I thought Christmas in my Ghanaian village came with many things. Christmas had always been for me one of the joyous religious festivals. It was the time for beautiful Christmas music on the streets, on radio, on television and everywhere. Christmas had always been a religious celebration and the church started preparing way back in November. We really felt that we were preparing for the birth of the baby Jesus. Christmas was the time when relatives and friends visited each other so there were always people traveling and visiting with great joy from all the different ethnic groups. I always thought that was what Christmas was all about. Oh, how I wished I had some of the traditional food consumed at the Christmas Eve dinner and the Christmas Day dinner. I remembered the taste of rice, chicken, goat, lamb, and fruits of various kinds. The houses were always decorated with beautiful paper ornaments. The children and all the young people loved to make and decorate their homes and schools with colorful crepe paper.

All of us looked forward to the Christmas Eve Service at our church. After the service there would be a joyous possession through the streets. Everyone would be in a gala mood with local musicians in a Mardi Gras mood. Then on Christmas Day we all went back to church to read the scriptures and sing carols to remind us of the meaning of the blessed birth of the baby Jesus. We always thought that these were the things that meant Christmas. After the Christmas service young people received gifts of special chocolate, special cookies and special crackers. Young people were told that the gifts come from Father Christmas, and this always meant Christmas for us. They also received new clothes and perhaps new pairs of shoes. Meanwhile throughout the celebration everyone was greeted with the special greeting, "Afishapa," the Akan word meaning "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." Oh how I wish that those memories were real tonight in order to bring us Christmas.

However, this Christmas Eve things were different and I knew Christmas would never come. Every one was sad and desperate because of what happened last April when the so-called Army of Liberation attacked our village and took all the young boys and girls away. Families were separated and some were murdered. We were forced to march and walk for many miles without food. We were often hungry and we were given very little food. The soldiers burned everything in our village and during our forced march we lost all sense of time and place.

Miraculously we were able to get away from the soldiers during one rainy night. After several weeks in the tropical forest we made our way back to our burned out village. Most of us were sick, exhausted, and depressed. Most of the members of our families were nowhere to be found. We had no idea what day or time it was.

This was the situation until my sick grandmother noticed the reddish and yellow flower we call "Fire on the Mountain" blooming in the middle of the marketplace where the tree had stood for generations and had bloomed for generations at Christmas time. For some reason it had survived the fire that had engulfed the marketplace. I remembered how the nectar from this beautiful flower had always attracted insects making them drowsy enough to fall to the ground to become food for crows and lizards. We were surprised that the fire that the soldiers had started to burn the marketplace and the village did not destroy the "Fire on the Mountain" tree. What a miracle it was. Grandmother told us that it was almost Christmas because the flower was blooming. As far as she could remember this only occurred at Christmas time. My spirits were lifted perhaps for a few minutes as I saw the flower. Soon I became sad again. How could Christmas come without my parents and my village?

How could this be Christmas time when we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace because since April we have not known any peace, only war and suffering. How could we celebrate as grandmother instructed us to do before she died? Those were the last words she spoke before she died last night. As I continued to think about past joyous Christmases and the present suffering, we heard the horn of a car and not just one horn but several cars approaching our village. At first we thought they were cars full of men with machine guns so we hid in the forest. To our surprise they were not soldiers and they did not have guns. They were just ordinary travelers. It seemed the bridge over the river near our village had been destroyed last April as the soldiers left our village. Since it was almost dusk and there were rumors that there were land mines on the roads, they did not want to take any chances. Their detour had led them straight to our village.

When they saw us they were shocked and horrified at the suffering and the devastation all around us. Many of these travelers began to cry. They confirmed that tonight was really Christmas Eve. All of them were on their way to their villages to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. Now circumstances had brought them to our village at this time on this night before Christmas. They shared the little food they had with us. They even helped us to build a fire in the center of the marketplace to keep us warm. In the middle of all this my oldest sister became ill and could not stand up. A short time after we returned to our village my grandmother told me that my oldest sister was expecting a baby. My sister had been in a state of shock and speechless since we all escaped from the soldiers.

I was so afraid for my sister because we did not have any medical supplies and we were not near a hospital. Some of the travelers and the villagers removed their shirts and clothes to make a bed for my sister to lie near the fire we had made. On that fateful night my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. This called for a celebration, war or no war. Africans have to dance and we celebrated until the rooster crowed at 6 a.m. We sang Christmas songs. Every one sang in his or her own language. For the first time all the pain and agony of the past few months went away. When morning finally came my sister was asked, "What are you going to name the baby?" Would you believe for the first time since our village was burned and all the young girls and boys were taken away, she spoke. She said, "His name is "Gye Nyame," which means "Except God I fear none.""

And so we celebrated Christmas that night. Christmas really did come to our village that night, but it did not come in the cars or with the travelers. It came in the birth of my nephew in the midst of our suffering. We saw hope in what this little child could do. This birth turned out to be the universal story of how bad things turned into universal hope, the hope we found in the Baby Jesus. A miracle occurred that night before Christmas and all of a sudden I knew we were not alone any more. Now I knew there was hope and I had learned that Christmas comes in spite of all circumstances. Christmas is always within us all. Christmas came even to our Ghanaian village that night.

Voice Within by dipdeep!

I told you I was a popular artist/singer before. Hahaha. Here is another video of me singing "Voice Within" on "Singgit Cebu", one of Cebu's variety shows.

There are still more. I will post them soon. For now, enjoy watching!

Fish Menudo

I thought of cooking a dish this weekend for dinner. Something with fish. Since I'm the only one who would be eating it, I thought of just a simple recipe and a budget saver one. :-) I'm tired of fastfoods and fried stuffs. I tried searching on line and I got this one. I hope I'll do it good! Goodluck to me...coz i'm really not a cook by nature. I AM JUST A DAMN EATER!!!!!!lol!

FISH MENUDO

YOU WILL NEED
1/2 kg labahita, filleted and cut into 1-1/2” x 1-1/2” cubes
3/4 tbsp calamansi juice
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pc small onion, chopped
150 g potatoes, cut into cubes
100 g carrot, cut into cubes
1 pouch (115 g) DEL MONTE Original Style Tomato Sauce
1/4 cup cooked/frozen green peas
1 pc small red bell pepper, cut into strips

HERE'S HOW
1 MARINATE labahita in 1-1/3 tsp soy sauce, 1/8 tsp iodized fine salt (or 1/2 tbsp rock salt), calamansi juice and 1/4 tsp pepper for 30 minutes. Fry until brown. Set aside.


2 SAUTÉ garlic and onion. Add potatoes, carrot, DEL MONTE Tomato Sauce and 1/4 cup water. Simmer until vegetables are cooked. Add green peas, bell pepper and 1/3 tsp iodized fine salt or (1/3 tbsp iodized rock salt). Add fish. Simmer for 3 minutes.



Serves 4
Excellent source of Potassium – for proper muscle and nerve functioning.

Source: http://www.kitchenomics.com/

A Blonde's Year in Review

January - Took my new scarf back to store because it was
Too tight.

February - Fired from pharmacy job for failing to
Print labels....Helllloooo!!!.....bottles won't fit
In printer !!!


March - Got really excited.....finished jigsaw puzzle
In 6 months.....box said "2-4 years!"

April - Trapped on escalator for hours ..... Power
Went out!!!


May - Tried to make Kool-Aid.....wrong
Instructions....8 cups of water won't fit into those
Little packets!!!

June - Tried to go water skiing.....couldn't find a
Lake with a slope.

July - Lost breast stroke swimming
Competition....learned later, the other swimmers
Cheated, they used their arms!!!

August - Got locked out of my car in rain
Storm.....car swamped because soft-top was open.

September - The capital of California is "C".....isn't
It???

October - Hate M & M's.....they are so hard to peel.

November - Baked turkey for 4 1/2 days .
Instructions said 1 hour per pound and I weigh 108!!

December - Couldn't call 911 .... "duh".....there's
No "eleven" button on the stupid phone!!!

What a year!!

NOTE: NO OFFENSE TO THE BLONDES! PEACE OUT!

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

Let's get a bit serious this time.:)

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and uncluttered your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Top 20 Universities/Schools in the Philippines

Here is a listing of the Top 20 schools in the Philippines. Ateneo universities were ranked #5, #6 and #12 while De La Salle came in as #16. Kudos to UP for achieving a rank of #1, #2 and #3.

TOP 20 SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINESThis statistics is a result of the study conducted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and theCommission on Higher Education (CHED), based on the average passing in the BOARD EXAMINATIONS OF ALL COURSES of all universities and colleges in the Philippines. This study is concluded every 10 years.Eleven schools come from Luzon, two from the Visayas and seven from Mindanao .


I am proud to be a CAROLINIAN!!!! UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS- CEBU ROCKS!!!!


1. University of the Philippines(Diliman Campus / Luzon )

2. University of the Philippines(Los Banos Campus/ Luzon )

3. University of the Philippines(Manila Campus / Luzon )

4. Silliman University ( Dumaguete City / Visayas)

5. Ateneo deDavao University ( Davao /Mindanao )

6. Ateneo de Manila University ( Manila / Luzon )

7. University of Sto . Tomas ( Manila / Luzon )

8. Mindanao State University (Iligan Institute ofTech/ Mindanao )

9. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Manila/Luzon)

10. Saint Louis University ( Baguio City / Luzon )

11. University of San Carlos ( Cebu City / Visayas)

12. Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro / Mindanao )

13. Mindanao State University (Main / Mindanao )

14. Urios College ( Butuan City / Mindanao )

15. Polytechnic University of the Philippines ( Manila / Luzon )

16. De La Salle University ( Manila / Luzon )

17. Mapua Institute of Technology ( Manila / Luzon )

18. Adamson University ( Manila / Luzon )

19. Central Mindanao University (Bukidnon/Mindanao)

20. University of Southern Philippines ( Davao /Mindanao)

Fountains of the World!!

See the Top 15 beautiful fountains of the World!!! Amazing, breath taking!!!

15. Abu Dhabi
















14. Las Vegas















13. Mirage, Las Vegas






















12. Dubai
















11. Dubai















10. Moscow
















9. Moscow
















8. Moscow















7. Kiev





















6. Saint-Petersburg















5. Saint-Petersburg



















4. Geneva















3. Barcelona















2. Tivoli
















1. Philippines

How Do You Heal a Broken Heart

Damn....I just love this song....that's why I'm posting this video-audio from youtube.

Thanks to Autumnshin for uploading this!

Enjoy everyone!

Beyonce Knowles falls face first down stairs - Orlando FL Concert

I know, this a 3-month old video. I just saw it actually when i tried browsing different videos in youtube. Thus, I'm sharing it to you guys, in case you wanna see how the hottie Beyonce Knowles fell from a 12-steps stairs during her concert in FL and how she managed to got herself up and showed everyone how it is to be a performer, missing not even a single step after the fall and continue such a flawless performance!!!! Makes me wonder, is the "fall" choreographed? hehehe...
Beyonce Rules!!!!!!

Enjoy the videos!!!!

Star in a Million- Sa dihang showbiz pako!

Well, d'you think I dont have my own video that I could be proud of???...Watch out...here it is... pambato ng PINAS!!! lol!!!

Enjoy!!!!




Note: I'm placing this permanently on my side bar just in case, mingawon mo nako!!! ahhahaha!

Connie Talbot on Britain's Got Talent

Whattaaaa f**** voice! Such so sweet!!!! As per Simon, this girl makes the whole world silent once she does start her first note!!! She indeed makes everyone listen to her.

I admit, there are a lot of good and talented little kids here in the Philippines when it comes to singing....but hey, this one is different....she has this "it". And who wouldn't have a soft spot for her once you see her smile with her two front teeth missing. hehehe...

Enjoy the video!!!

Desperate Housewives" producers and ABC apologize for racist slur

Calls from angry viewers, and over 30,000 names on an online petition truly got the attention of ABC Studios and the producers of American comedy series Desperate Housewives after the show aired its controversial September 30 episode.

An excerpt from the online petition declared: "A statement that devalues Filipinos in healthcare is extremely unfounded, considering the overwhelming presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the medical field."

In one scene of the said Desperate Housewives episode, a doctor confronts Susan Mayer (played by actress Teri Hatcher) with the news about Susan experiencing menopause. During the doctor's explanation, the uptight Susan cuts him short with an apparent racist slur against Filipino medical schools.

Dr. Mayfair: "I know for a lot of women, the word ‘menopause' has negative connotations. The heart ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire...."

Susan Mayer: "Before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? ‘Coz I would just like to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."

The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios have become aware about the incident as it continues to draw attention in Philippine news shows and newspapers.

Even Filipino officials expressed their displeasure. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told GMANews.tv that he would write to the producers of the show to seek an apology and note the country's "vehement protest."

Senior cabinet member Eduardo Ermita also added that the apology should be sought "on behalf of our Filipino professionals."

ABC responded to the growing clamor by issuing a public apology.

The statement reads, "The producers of Desperate Housewives and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.

''As leaders in broadcast diversity, we are committed to presenting sensitive and respectful images of all communities featured in our programs."

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Co., added that it is considering editing the controversial episode on future airings and DVDs.



SOURCE: Elyas Isabelo Salanga (PEP)

Your Birthdate: February 17

***Your Birthdate: February 17***


You tend to find yourself lucky - both in business and in life.
And while being wealthy is nice, you enjoy sharing your abundance with others.
You put your luck to good use: you are very ambitious and goal oriented.
Often times, you get over excited and take on more than you can manage.

Your strength: Your ability to make your own luck

Your weakness: Thinking you can do it all

Your power color: Bronze

Your power symbol: Half Moon

Your power month: August


What Does Your Birth Date Mean?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourbirthdatemeanquiz/

Filipinos irked with "Desperate Housewives" racial slur

Popular primetime TV show Desperate Housewives raised a lot of eyebrows in the Filipino community with the show's September 30 episode in the U.S.

In one scene of the said episode, a doctor confronts Susan Mayer (played by actress Teri Hatcher) with the news about Susan experiencing menopause. During the doctor's explanation, the uptight Susan cuts him short with an apparent racist slur against Filipino medical schools.

The following is an excerpt from the controversial episode:

Dr. Mayfair: "I know for a lot of women, the word ‘menopause' has negative connotations. The heart ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual desire...."

Susan Meyer: "Before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? ‘Coz I would just like to make sure that they're not from some med school in the Philippines."

That dialogue proved too much for a lot people as they criticized the show's creators and the actress through blogging and online forums. One Filipino in particular, Dr. Siegfried Perez from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, emailed his sentiments to GMANews.TV.

"I have communicated with fellow members of the health care profession, both Filipinos and other nationalities alike. We have all come to the conclusion that this kind of racial slur is a very irresponsible act ...[which] should NEVER be tolerated in any society, whether in a first world or a third world country," said Dr. Siegfried Perez. The Filipino doctor added that they would demand the immediate public apology of the show's producers, writers and actors.

As most people blame the show's writers, others have turned their eye on actress Teri Hatcher.

"The actress, Teri Hatcher, should insist not to deliver such dialogs as she just became the face of this insult to a country that was once a territory of the US," posted by an online user from the blogsite, Coffee With Aimee.

Teri Hatcher is best remembered as Lois Lane in the now defunct TV series Lois and Clark.

Desperate Housewives is a multi-award winning comedy series which premiered in October 2003 and is aired weekly in the U.S. by ABC Network. It is locally shown on Studio 23. It follows the story of five sexually "desperate" sub-urban housewives living along Wisteria Lane in the fictional American town of Fairview. Aside from Hatcher, the show stars Felicity Huffman (as Lynette Scavo), Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp), Nicollette Sheridan(Edie Britt), and Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis).

A sample video is just a click away in youtube.com.



Source: Elyas Isabelo Salanga - PEP


Additional Information:

An on-line petition for a public apology by ABC and Desperate Housewives is being disseminated already for the episode be edited and remove the ignorant and racist remarks. To all the PINOYS out there, let us support this appeal so all these MORONS will know that we don't deserve such stupidity!
Here's the link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/FilABC/petition.html

What a BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby girl Nadia, who weighed 7.75 kg (17.1 lbs) after birth, is seen in a maternity ward in the Siberian city of Barnaul September 26, 2007. One Siberian mother has done more than her fair share to heal Russia's dire population decline. Tatyana Khalina shocked her husband by giving birth to a 7.75 kg (17.1 lbs) baby girl this month, her 12th child. Picture taken September 26, 2007. REUTERS/Andrey Kasprishin.

NOTE: Pwede na tong sumali sa BIGATIN portion ng WOWOWEE!!!! hehehe...



Source: Reuters; YahooNews

I got a THOUGHTFUL BLOGGER AWARD!!!!!! Ang saya!!!!

I'm so glad I have been awarded for the first time in the blog world!!!



Thanks to BYOTIPOL for this award. It is such a nice feeling to be awarded considering that I am just a new blogger in the block!

See the pic below as a proof that I have been awarded. It's just that, i'm so proud of it. Nevertheless, you can visit the link of BYOTIPOL as well to check the other awardees! Who know's you are just one of them....!

Apple Transparent Laptops

Are these for real? Imagine going to Starbucks bringing your laptop having a transparent screen with it, isn't it just sooooo cool?. It's kindda weird but it really ROCKS!! Considering APPLE has the most advanced and most extraordinary technologies for lappys on earth today, this is not too difficult to realize then.

See how these laptops look like. Aren't they just amazing??.....