100 Days And 100 Lies

From tomorrow, January 30th until May 10m 2010, we only have 100 days to go before the National Elections. Fr. Robert  Reyes is launching a campaign "Isang Daan Na Lang" to rally the public to seek new ways of nation-building in the 100 days before the May national elections.

It will be a crucial period for all Filipino voters, for the next 100 days, thre will be more than 100 lies and promises from the Presidentiables, Senatorial, Congressional and LGUs candidates all over our 7,100 islands.

You cannot miss the irony when administration candidates will start to distant themselves from Pres. Arroyo. Start reading their lips as most of the presidentiables start to associate themselves with religious groups such as El Shadai and Iglesia Ni Kristo.

Your eyebrows will start to rise for the next 100 days as the Presidentiables kicks off their pro-poor programs by visiting squatter areas and dump sites shaking hands with the urban poor which never happens for the last 5 years of their lives.

The next 100 days will tickle your funny bones as most of them will deliver their prophetic promises that they will bring food to every dining tables, create more jobs for our unemployed sectors, improve the sinking economy of our nation, but ask them how will they do it, they will just smile and say 'have faith on me'.

And for the next 100 days, the fate of our nation will not reside on any of this Presidentiables, the fate of this country depends on YOU.

The momentum and the intensity of the campaign builds almost everyday, presidential candidates will spend at at least 10 million pesos for their campaign just to get your vote, they will never get tired of speaking empty promises and shaking their numb and cold hands just to get your attention.

Starting today, let us focus on the candidates' characters and family backgrounds their personal and political party agendas, their religious convictions and let us follow their campaign trails and their active participation on various debates on how they react and answer ondifferent questions thrown to them by panel participants and audiences, read their lips and feel their sincerity. Don't let your vote be influenced by political surveys, TV and print ads, and religious and celebrity endorsements. Let us make a difference, LET US BE A RESPONSIBLE FILIPINO VOTER.

For the next 100 days, feel free to blog your political thoughts on the next ideal leader of our land, let us read and follow political blogs and blog advocacy to learn more about your candidate and the political beat\such as:

100 Araw

Isang Daan Na Lang  

Ron Senoda's Smoke 

Get Real Philippines

Filipino Voices

And for the next 100 days, the fate of our nation will not reside on any of this Presidentiables, the fate of this country depends on YOU. Let us make a difference, let us identify the next leader of our land that exhibit a deep and fundamental understanding of the factors that ill society.

He should possess the answers to problems besetting the country and squarely address them based on present realities. The next president should be abreast with emerging geopolitics and should know the best way to position the country and its people in the most competitive state. He should be a role model in terms of carrying out his life as a citizen of the country.

For the next 100 days, let's pray that each citizen will be convicted to vote for the man of righteousness, the man of God’s choosing. Pray that God’s Spirit will overshadow each one of us as we make our decision.

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide ... by what his ears hear.” (Isaiah 11:2-3)

PAF PLANE CRASH KILLS 9

Today, I was saddened to hear of the tragic plane crash at the Cotabato City. My heart went out to the families of all those perished in the incident.

I was shaken by the news that a Nomad plane crashed in the residential village instantly killing all the 8 plane crews and passengers of the Philippine Air Force which includes  Maj. Gen. Mario 'Butch' Lacson, commander of the PAF's 3rd Air Division in Zamboanga City and a woman also perished from one the residential houses where it crashed.

It was reported that the pilot of Nomad plane was able to contact the tower minutes before the plane crashed that it was experiencing power loss.

I  googled the involved aircraft - the GAF Nomad "is a twin-engine turboprop, high-winged, "short take off and landing" (STOL) aircraft" (wikipedia), and I was shocked on the following facts:

1. The Nomad plane was once nicknamed "Widowmaker" on the Australian  Broadcaster Corp.  report where in 19 planes crashed over a period of 20 years.
2. The bush-planes.com reported that the plane's major shortcoming is its engines an "Achille’s heel of the Nomad".
3. According to Aviation Safety Network's Safety Database, there are 31 occurrences involving GAF Nomad from 1975 - 2009 with 87 fatalities.

The PAF has already grounded its remaining 3 Nomads which was acquired from the Australian government in 1975; as Aviation authorities are conducting their investigation into the latest incident.

Though there is nothing we can do to lessen the pain felt by family and friends, let us offer them our prayers that may our Merciful Father bring healing and comfort to the families that have lost their love ones in this plane crash. And help all of us who see this situation realize that life is short and let us feel the urgency of sharing the Gospel of Jesus with everyone we encounter.

Note: The author is currently on his 24th year working in the aviation world.

God's Cup of Tea

We are like teabags, 

whose strength comes out 

when we’re put in hot water.


So, when problems upset you… 

Just think, 

you must be God’s favorite cup of Tea!

Image snipped from flickr.com
Uploaded by aimee✿

Diaspora and Flesh Trade

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11

Jane::   Hi

Man :  What's your your name?

Jane:   I am Jane Lim

Man:   Jane Lim, and what country would you be from Jane Lim?

Jane:   Philipines

Man:   The Philippines, the islands?

Jane:   I'm in the Manila where the parties are...

Man:   Manila, very cool. How long you'd been here in the United States?

Jane:   A year.

Man:   A year? Are you enjoying it so far?

Jane:   Yes, and I ended in porn (laughing)
Man:   And you ended in porn, how did it happen, tell me
Jane:   I put my resume on sexyjob.com and that's it and a lots of people called me to shoot with them
Man:   Wow, so basically you're enjoying the porno business so far?

Jane:   Yes

Man:   And how old are you by the way

Jane:   35 year old

Man:   Wow, she looks younger for 35 years old, doesn't she, you're still younger than I am, hey can I see your..(censored due to explicit words)

I cannot stomach the next scenes as Jane and her male porn partner begin to undress, and stand naked.. I press the Stop and Eject button of my DVD player and destroyed the DVD disc  Nobody should see this movie, and I ask forgiveness if I have offended Thee for the sinful video that I have seen.

And above conversation was a true self confession of Jane Lim, a Filipina (not her real name) during her interview as part of her commercial porn video which was send to me by a friend from USA who personally knows Jane too. A horrifying revelation which depressed me and my family because she is a family friend when she was still here in Doha.

My family met Jane on January 2005 through friends, she was an entertainer, a band lead singer  performing nightly in famous hotel in Doha. We used to watched her and her band perform and couple of times we invited the during Filipino community gatherings. She used to come with my family to attend our Friday mass too.

It was mid 2005 when she met Joe (not his real name) a white American expat working in a US firm based in Qatar. He was educated and seems to be a decent man and started courting Jane.

After a year, they get married, Jane agreed to her husband's request to end her singing career and start her new role as housewife. Despite of their interracial marriage, their bond seemed to work perfectly. Me and my family has been invited for several occasions for dinner and barbecue parties in their luxurious American house in an exclusive Executive Village in Doha.

But in 2007, her husband decided to resign from his job and the couple flew to USA  for good. It was a tearful farewell. When she arrived in US, we exchange emails and messages on the wall which  later became occasional and finally the communication has come to a halt. I assume that she got a very busy job and probably enjoying the life of a Pinay immigrant breathing the air of freedom and vast opportunity of  America.

Along the avenues of an imaginary love that provide empty promises of permanent migration to rich countries now circles the globe and haunts our desperate Global Filipinos, the cost in destroyed lives has become a blight to rival any of the depredations mankind has inflicted on itself.

I ask God why did it happen to my friend Jane and  how many of our kababayans around the world who are in search for a better future ended in  flesh trade, sex slavery, prostitution and porn business. When will this end? When will they find help, comfort and justice? And when will they find true love?

I pray to the Almighty to touch the hearts of my friend Jane and other Filipinos who are hooked and trapped in the dark hole of prostitution and pornography around the world. May they find courage to resist and cease toying with the occasion of sin and that they may realized that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, destined someday for a glorious resurrection.

May God's grace give  our Global Filipinos the audacity to become spiritually stronger to resist all forms of temptation for which have strayed them from the path of salvation.

“Avoid immorality.  Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been purchased at a price.  Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:18-20

Proof of Life

Health is the first of life
Wealth is the next of life

Courage is the best of life
Respect is must in life
 
Turning is the test of life
God’s blessing is the crest of life

Love is crucial for life

Happiness is the perfume of life
 
Truth is the search of life
Death is the rest of life.

Image snipped from flickr.com
Uploaded by jdl_deleon's photostream

"Can a Woman Forget Her Nursing Child...?"

With all the struggles and difficulties, failings, weaknesses, disappointments and sadnesses along with the joys, excitement, pleasure, pride and happiness of parenting, parents, particularly mothers always say:

"Gagawin ko ang lahat para sa anak ko"

How many times you have heard these words?

And the union between a mother and her child is incredible. She will always defend her child from any harm, she will not allow mosquitoes comes near him; she will voluntary starve herself just to feed her child and will shield herself to protect her child from her abusive husband and accepts the physical and emotional sufferings of an OFW just to build her child's future.

But how far will a mother protect her child?

The web of lies and deceptions created by Marlene Aguilar to protect her fugitive son Jason Aguilar Ivler from the arm of justice finally fails.

I watched the footage shown on TV Patrol World, the exchange of gunfires between the NBI Agents and Jason Aguilar Ivler shocks me and was I noticed Marlene's calm composure; I guessed that she has finally accepted the fate that it's all over.

A new chapter of her life begins to unfold as she remained motionless while being handcuffed and the Miranda right is being pronounced by her arresting Agent.

Justice has been served.

"Ikaw, hanggang kailan mo ipagtatanggol ang iyong anak?"

"Pag-ibig anaki'y aking nakilala,
'di dapat palakihin ang bata sa saya;
at sa katuwaa'y kapag namihasa,
kung lumaki'y walang hihinting ginhawa."

"Sapagkat ang mundo'y bayan ng hinagpis,
namamaya'y sukat tibayan ang dibdib;
lumaki sa tuwa'y walang pagtitiis ...
anong ilalaban sa dahas ng sakit?"

"Ang taong magawi sa ligaya't aliw,
mahina ang puso't lubhang maramdamin;
inaakala pa lamang ang hilahil
na daratni'y 'di na matutuhang bathin."

"Ang laki sa layaw karaniwa'y hubad
sa bait at muni't sa hatol ay salat;
masaklap na bunga ng maling paglingap,
habag ng magulang sa irog na anak."

"Sa taguring bunso't likong pagmamahal,
ang isinasama ng bata'y nunukal;
ang iba'y marahil sa kapabayaan
ng dapat magturong tamad na magulang."

Excerpts from  Florante at Laura

Images snipped from Marlene Aguilar website

In Search of Happiness

People go through ups and downs of life
and constantly keep on searching happiness.

Others thought that the way to happiness
is through gaining popularity,
achieving power and acquiring wealth.

Some has traveled across the seas,
fly through thick clouds
and climb every mountains
and hills in search of happiness
and they all failed.

Most of them eventually ended lonely,
broken hearted, unsuccessful and isolated.

The only place that they did not search
was their own selves, 
their own heart, mind and soul.

The only way to happiness is:

Keep your heart free from hate,
your mind free from worry.
Expect little, give much.

Fill your life with love.
Scatter sunshine.
Forget self, think of others.
Think GOD and live a simple life.

Image snipped from joey velasco homepage

One Year Of Blogging and 200th Posts

 My sister (Ms. Tessie Bermejo) receiving the award for Palipasan

for winning No. 6 Best Blog Award for PEBA 2009

One year ago today I created Palipasan and published the first post and it has been quite a journey. I didn't realize the time and effort needed for such a venture, like a little child on his first walk, blogging in the beginning is a journey without direction, and the feeling is being isolated writing in a solitary.

But as days passes by and as I continue posting my blogs, it was a wonderful sight that visitors from all over the world, sometimes from unusual places as far as Kenya in Africa and to the war-ravaged countries of Iraq and Afghanistan.

I owe Palipasan's survival to my readers and commenters whose presence served as my bloodline for reaching this far. Thank you so much for the wonderful 20,000 visits you made to Palipasan, I am humbled with the fingerprints you left while you read the pages of my site.

As I look at all that’s happened over the past 12 months and all of my posts on my popular topics, I am reminded of how appreciative I am for all of the opportunities I’ve had resulting from my blogging, and even more grateful for the people who have helped me along the way. I would not be here without the support and encouragement from a few of those very special people particularly the people behind Kablogs.

And now, as I celebrate a double festivity, my first blog anniversary and my 200th post, I pray to the Almighty to guide me and Palipasan, to help me leave heartprints. Heartprints of compassion, of understanding and love.

May Palipasan touch a lonely reader, a distressed OFW, a runaway domestic helper, or perhaps, a dear friend.

I shall continue my journey in writing blog to leave heartprints; heartprints of kindness and genuine concern; because each time you visit my blog, I felt your touch, your love touching through me.

Maraming salamat sa isang taong haplos na inyong ipinadama sa Palipasan na naging dahilan upang makapaglathala ako ng 200 poste.

Essence of Love

"May nakatingin man o nakasilip, wala o may paki alam man.
Ang pahayag ng pag irog, kailanman, di dapat hinaharang.

Ang gigil na hindi papipigil.... Sa kaunting sandali ng ating panahon sa mundo, ipag kakait mo pa ba ang pareho naman nating gusto?

- Baywalk , Manila."

What's love for me?

It is sharing and caring,

Giving and forgiving,

Loving and being loved,

Walking hand in hand,

Talking heart to heart,

Seeing through each other’s eyes,

Laughing together,

Weeping together,

Praying together,

And always trusting

And believing

And thanking God

For each other…

Amidst the economic and political chaos,

the only valuable thing we have in life is love.

Let us share its true meaning to the one we love.

When we give love to someone, we find God.

Life is Beautiful, let us share love.

Image and caption entitled Gigil was snipped from flickr.com
Uploaded by kamalayan

The Strength of a Man, A Weakness To Others

The strength of a man isn't seen
in the weights he lifts in a gym
Its seen on his willingness to
carry his wife's handbag in public
whenever she's tired.

Hey kids, stop spying on us. (lolz)

The strength of a man isn’t seen in the width of his shoulders.
Its seen in the width of his arms that circle you.

The strength of a man isn’t in the deep tone of his voice.
It is in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn’t how many buddies he has.
Its how good a buddy he is with his kids.

The strength of a man isn’t in how respected he is at work.
Its in how respected he is at home.

The strength of a man isn’t in how hard he hits.
Its in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn’t in the hair on his chest.
Its in his heart…that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn’t in the weight he can lift.
It is in the burdens he can carry.

The strength of a man isn’t how many women he’s loved.
It's in how he can be true and faithful to one woman.

Sanay Ka Na Ba?

Martes, Enero 12, 2010

Matapos ang 27 araw na Christmas vacation sa Doha ng aking anak na si Geeka, hinatid namin sya kanina sa Pandaigdigang Paliparan ng Doha para sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas.

Naging maramdamin ang paghihiwalay namin sa airport, sa paghahatid ay di mapigilan ang pag-iyak ng aking maybahay habang mariing niyayakap at hinahagkan ang aking anak.

At di nagtagal, lulan ng aming sasakyan pauwi ng bahay,  matapos ang madamdaming pamamaalam ng aking asawa sa aming anak, di maiwasan na mag-usisa ang aking asawa sa akin at kanyang winika "Di ka man lang umiyak o naluha sa pag-alis ng anak mo?"

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya at pabulong kong sagot "Sanay na ako".

Lingid sa kanyang kaalaman, nagsisinungaling ako.

Lunes, Enero 11, 2010

Habang abala ako sa pagsasalansan ng iuuwing damit at pasalubong ng aking anak sa balikbayan box na kanyang dadalhin pabalik ng Pilipinas ay aking naalaala nuong Abril 2007 ang huling buwan na magkakasama kaming apat ng umuwi kami sa Pilipinas matapos makagraduate si Geeka sa Phil. School Doha.

Dalawang taon ang lumipas, Disyembre 17 ng sya ay bumalik ng Doha, muli nyang minalas ang malaking pagbabago ng Doha, ang mga naglalakihan at makabagong tindahan. Hindi matatawaran ang kasiyahang naidulot nito sa aming pamilya sa muli naming pagsasama-sama.

Naging isang family bonding ang lumipas na 27 araw, halos araw-araw na pamamasyal, pagkain sa labas at pamimili ang naging tema ng mga nagdaang araw, sadyang magastos subalit di kayang bayaran ang hatid na kasiyahan, ang mga ngiti sa labi ng aking pamilya. Naging makabuluhan at nag-iwan ng masayang alaala sa puso naming lahat ang bawa't araw at gabing naming pinagsamahan.

At gaano man kahaba at kasaya ang bakasyon, lagi itong humahantong sa pamamaalam. Kahapon, pinili kong hindi pumasok sa trabaho para isang buong araw kung kasama ang aking anak at upang maasikaso ko rin ang kanyang balikbayan box.

Habang isinasalansan ang kanyang napamili sa luob ng balikbayan box at pinanunuod naman ako ng aking anak. Isang pagkakataon na kami ay makapag-usap tungkol sa kanyang personal na buhay, sa kanyang pag-aaral at buhay pag-ibig. Naging tapat naman ang aking anak sa kanyang mga kwento, wala syang inilihim sa akin mula sa kanyang mga manliligaw at sa kanyang kasintahan.

Bawa't kwento nya ay aking inuunawa, binibigyan puri ang kanyang mga ginagawang kabutihan at pinaaalalahanan naman sa mga wastong kaugaliaan.

Di naglaon, tinanong ko sya: Anak, halos 2 taon ka rin na mag-isa sa bahay natin sa Antipolo, at katulong lang ang iyong kasama at ang dalawa nating aso, sanay ka na bang mag-isa?

Habang ako'y nakatitig sa kanyang mga mata, napuna ko na tila lumunok sya ng laway, iniiwas ang kanyang mga mata sa akin at sa mahinang tugon ay aking narinig "Oo naman". Sa unang pagkakataon, naramdaman ko na nagsisinungaling sya. Kinurot ang puso ko sa pagtatakip ng nararamdaman nya. Nais nyang maging matapang sa aking mga mata.

Di nya napuna na biglang tumulo ang mga luha mula sa aking mata at malayang dumaloy sa aking pisngi.

Naging madamdamin ang mga sumunod na yugto, niyakap ko sya at hindi ko na rin napigilan ang pagdaloy ng luha sa aking mga mata, marahan kong sinabi, "Miss kita ng husto anak."

Matapos ang halos 18 taon kong pag-a-abroad, aking napagtanto na hindi pa rin ako sanay sa muling paghihiwalay namin ng aking anak.

MRTCB Suspends Showtime Over Osang's Remarks

The Movie & Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB) on Monday placed the ABS-CBN talent show "Showtime" on a 20-day preventive suspension, after an incident involving one of the show's judges.

During a live show last January 7, judge Rosanna Roces made controversial statements against teachers in response to a question she threw at a contestant from Calamba, Laguna about Jose Rizal’s real name.

In the episode, Roces encouraged students who guested on the show to ask questions from their teachers. She went on to describe teachers as "repeaters."

On January 8, the show then announced that Roces has been removed as a judge of the show, as part of the network's self-regulation.

Despite this, the MTRCB slapped Showtime with a 20-day preventive suspension.

ABS-CBN will file an appeal in court on Tuesday, while a hearing is scheduled on January 14 to let the show air their side of the story on the MTRCB decision.

Meanwhile, a new show, entitled "Magpasikat," will temporarily replace Showtime in its noon timeslot starting Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition said that while they are "saddened" by the suspension of the top-rating show, they commend the swift action by the MTRCB on Roces's infraction.

Personally, I view Osang's remarks unethical and too harsh as it degrades the morality of our respectable teachers. TV personalities should be sensitive to the different sectors and to general public when epxressing their opinions on national tv, radio and prints.

However I find MTRCB's 20 days gag order against the show a very drastic move without any due process as the network claimed that they were not given an opportunity to respond. MTRCB should consider that the show is broadcasting live and the network has no immediate control on the impromptu remarks of its TV host and guests and suspension should be put on the erring personality not on the whole TV show.

Note: The Pope is a subscriber of both TFC Kapamilya and GMA Kapuso networks.

Life Is Always A Race

Winning horse doesn’t know why it runs in race,
It runs because of beats and pains.

Life is a race, God is your rider.
So if you are in pain think God wants you to win.

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (James 1:2-3)

Go Out And Create

I Thirst

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40)

How does one find good in world?
With so much pain, With so many hungry children, With so much suffering?

The answer is not to try find ‘good’ but to create it,
by helping one person at a time. 

Life is Beautiful, go out and create something good today.

"for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (Matthew 25:42-43)

Two Hearts, One Love

"For June who loved this garden
from Joseph who always sat beside her."
Some people do spend their whole lives together.
(Anna Scott a.k.a. Julia Roberts)

God gave you...

Two Legs to Walk
Two Hands to Hold
Two Ears to Hear
Two Eyes to See

But why did He gave you only one Heart?

Because He gave the other one to someone for you to find.

Life is Beautiful, find the other Heart to create one Love.

Never Lose Hope

Ngiti ng Pag-asa

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can.It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we’d rather give in.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, then you still have hope.If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you still have hope.

If you still buy the gifts, put up the Christmas tree or Parol last month or say Happy New Year, then you still have hope.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage. Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it. Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.

Life is Beautiful, never lose hope.

Itim Na Nazareno

Ang taunang pagdiriwang ng Kapistahan ng Itim na Nazareno (Feast of Black Nazarene) ay gugunitain bukas ika-9 ng Enero at inaasahang dadagsahin ng milyon milyong deboto mula sa iba't ibang panig ng Pilipinas.

Naging bahagi ng aking buhay ang pagsisimba sa Quiapo tuwing unang Byernes ng bawa't buwan kasama ang aking ina, kung saan minsan ako ay nahulaan na maglalakbay sa ibang bansa na aking inakala na ako'y magiging isang pari at misyonaryo subalit ako'y naging isang OFW (Pananampalataya - Nasa Puso Ng Bawa't OFW).

Sa haba ng panahon ng aking pagsisimba sa Quiapo, samu't saring kahilingan sa Poong Nazareno ang aking hiniling, makapagtapos ng pag-aaral, maging pari at misyonaryo at iba pa. May mga natupad at may hindi naipagkaloob sa kadahilanang Poon lamang ang nakakaalam. Di man ako naging pari ay inihatid naman ng Nazareno ang aking mga paa sa lupain ng Doha di bilang isang misyonaryo kundi isang OFW.

Maraming naniniwala, maraming umaasa sa mapaghimalang Poong Nazareno, sa kabila ng lumalalang suliranin ng ating bansa, gutom at paghihikahos sa buhay, karatungan sa mga sumakabilang buhay na kababayan na biktima ng karahasan, at mga suliraning panlipunan na ang mga kasagutan ay ipinagkait ng pamahalaan, sa panahon ng kadiliman ng ating buhay, Diyos lamang ang tanging mapagkakatiwalaan at maasahan sa ating buhay.

Sa Poong Nazareno kanilang nahantungan ang kanilang sarili, tulad ng pinagdaanang paghihirap ng Panginoon, nakikita nila si Kristo sa kanilang buhay sa bawa't sakit at paghihirap na kanilang nararamdaman.

Bukas muling magaganap ang isang pinakamaking himala ng taon, ang pagkakapantay pantay at pagkakaisa ng bawa't Pilipino, walang mayaman o mahirap, nakapag-aral man o mangmang, matanda o bata, politiko o simpleng taon, sdi alintana ang init ng araw o ulan, sama sama silang magkakatiipon tipon, nakayapak  ang karamihan bilang deboto sa Poong Nazareno ay magkakaisa sa puso't damdamin at aniniwala sa mapaghimalang Poon tungo sa kapayapaan, pagmamahalan at kaunlaran ng buhay ng bawa't Pilipino at ng ating bansang Pilipinas.

Create and Build Love

Love is not finding the right person,
but creating the right relationship.


It is not how much love we have in the beginning,
but how much love we build until the end.


Life is Beautiful, let's create and build love till the end. 

Are Special Children Considered A Flight Risk?

It was reported in today's GMA news that Cebu Pacific is about to face a discriminatory case to be filed by Ms. Mylene Alcantara against the airline company and its flight crews for disallowing her child to board a Manila-bound flight from Hong Kong last December 23 of 2009.

Mrs. Alcantara cried foul over the treatment given to them quoting her statement from GMA News:

"They did it in front of the passengers, without them knowing what's happening. Baka pwede nila isipin na (They might think) I committed a crime or whatever. It's very discriminating,"

However airline personnel defended its policy to  disallows two special children to be on board the same flight. Prior to Alcantara's son, a kid with Down Syndrome had already boarded the plane.

The incident caused a hour-delay in the plane's departure but eventually the crew allowed the child on the flight.

In a statement sent via text message, Cebu Pacific apologized to the Alcantara family for the incident as follows:

"We deeply regret the incident and have already taken steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We had apologized to the affected passengers who nonetheless traveled to Manila on the same flight,"

Last April 26, 2008, it was reported that Cebu Pacific refused to board 10 deaf passengers on a flight to Boracay as published by Filipino Deaf from the Eyes of a Hearing Person on its blogsite.

It is alarming to note that despite the extensive public media  information in tv, radio and print ads to educate the Filipinos to fully understand the rights of our disabled kababayan, it makes me sad to realize that it never reaches the sensetivities of a much healthy and highly educated men.

Related news on the continuing saga of our disabled Kababayan on discrimination events as reported by Inquirer.

Until now, I cannot think of a reason how can an accompanied  "special child" could pose a flight risk.

"And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." (Matthew 11:4-5)

Let Your Heart See The Light

When you look into life,
You don’t see what’s inside;
For you look with your eyes
And not with your heart.

If you want to know the truth,
Then you have to close your eyes;
And open your heart
To see the true Light.

Life is Beautiful, let us open our hearts to see the Light.





Photo grabbed from flickr.com
Uploaded by Manumaan

Life Is Beautiful

Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear. 

Keep faith and drop the fear.
Don’t believe your doubts and never doubt your beliefs.

Life is Beautiful... if you know how to live it.

Image grabbed from flikr.com
Uploaded by frozenjester

Apple Drops In Today's Google

Have you noticed todays Google animated doodle? If not, better open your browser and type Google.com and see the awesome animated doodle where an apple dropped.

This doodle was created in recognition of Sir Isaac Newton. Isaac Newton was born on January 4, 1643 and today is his 366th birthday, if he’s still alive today. People around the world were twitting about it, spreading the oh-so-awesome and fantastic news about the animated doodle.

The apple dropping from today’s Google doodle points to his first law of motion. In the absence of force, a body either is at rest or moves in a straight line with constant speed.

In layman’s term, “An object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force” or “A body persists in a state of uniform motion or of rest unless acted upon by an external force.

"Newton remains influential to scientists, as demonstrated by a 2005 survey of members of Britain's Royal Society (formerly headed by Newton) asking who had the greater effect on the history of science, Newton or Albert Einstein. Royal Society scientists deemed Newton to have made the greater overall contribution. In 1999, leading physicists from all over the world voted Einstein "greatest physicist ever;" Newton was the runner-up.

Newton was also highly religious, though an unorthodox Christian, writing more on Biblical hermeneutics and occult studies than the natural science for which he is remembered for today." (Wikipedia)

Happy Birthday Isaac!

A Journey to Seek, Find and Love Christ

Happy Three Kings!

The story of the searching Three Kings serves as a fitting and powerful metaphor for our journey to Christian consciousness.

Today, I could picture the Magi as a caravan, a bandwagon comprising people of all races, genders, colors and orientations, bearing their gifts of self, their gifts of symbols; encouraged and empowered by a deep longing for consciousness and wholeness, a desire that ultimately protects them and us from the unconscious, life-numbing states of being that fear and resist growth and change; states of being that are ultimately egocentric, corrupt and greedy in wealth and power.  King Herod serves to illustrate such a state of being and its destructive and life-denying characteristics.

Let's not forget that just as there is a part of our human being that yearns to journey as the Magi to find and claim Christ, yet there's also another part of our human weakness, like Herod, wants things forever comfortable and forever under control.

We can and must overcome such evil desires, within ourselves we should renew our longing to look for Christ with the same determination of the Wise men. Whatever it take!

In our lives, we don't just find God once, and then our search is over.  The journey of the magi doesn't end at the feet of the infant Jesus, but back in their homelands where, gifted with new, deeper insight and with gifts of discernment and creativity, they are called like us, to manifest Christ.

To manifest, the consciousness and love that is gained as a result of our journeying with one another and with the God who walks in our midst.

May we seek Christ.

May we find Christ.

May we love Christ.

New Year At The Pearl

Tiramisu Cake

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Day.

Before the clock struck to 12 midnight, my family offered a Thanksgiving Prayer  for the passing of wonderful 365 days in our lives, the abundant blessings that we have received from the Lord, the family challenges that we were able to overcome through patience and faith, virtues which have drawn us closer making us One With Each Other (OWEA) and One With God (OWG).

For our New Year's Eve Dinner, we had our traditional Pasta Carbonara, Chicken Cordon Bleu which I personally prepared, while my wife cooked Beef Caldereta and Macaroni Salad, while my children bought Tiramisu cake from Opera Cake House.

Despite the absence of fireworks display and confetti, welcoming 2010 was the best New Year celebration that my family have, as we share dinner and a bottle of Asti Champagne with our 2 OFW kababayans guests who experienced their first taste of New Year celebration outside the Philippines.

Nothing beats the outdoors especially the winter season. This New Year's like most, a stroll in the park is our family event that begins at 4:00 pm, this time we headed to The Pearl-Qatar;  a Riviera-style man-made island developed in an exclusive environment in Doha,Qatar and the Middle East's most glamorous address.

We take a tour on the Porto Arabia, the home to The Pearl-Qatar's main harbor. The Island’s first phase was set around a colorful waterfront, a lively 2.5 kilometer pedestrianized concourse lined with fine shopping and dining, its architecture inspired by the best French, Italian and Spanish architecture.

It was fantastic, its a very nice to have a place like this to go walking, an experience of cosmopolitan atmosphere as we walk to the boardwalk filled with coffee shops, it's really fun, as it is shown in our faces, join us as we tour the island.

Harbor's View

A Cosmopolitan Flair

 

Gift boxes to be unwrapped

 

Coffee Break

My wife's favorite Ferrari

We have agreed on this ONE

 

Super Models Mode

Harbor at night

Start Now

Start to put your dreams, 

your wishes into action.

Limit the things you hate 

and change it bit by bit.

If you continue to do the same things, 

you will gain the same results.

You must do all what you can 

to get all what you want.

Start from now. 

Go ahead.

Photo grabbed from flickr.com
Uploaded by  Mitchoy!