Gift-giving

In the YMCA of Manila, Tito Art Sadorra used to tell us that
true giving hurts.

Perhaps, it hurts because when one gives a gift, one gives a
part of oneself.

Whenever I give something, I also buy and keep one for myself.

I guess that I don't want to hurt :)

sayong
09-30-05 6:00pm

Sabbath

Among the daily Bible reflection guides I've read, I like Sabbath best. Like most Bible reflection guides, it's published every quarter. But don't expect to find a copy when the quarter already started or even a week before the quarter. Despite being quite costly, it's easily sold out. I was lucky to find a copy tonight, the last one in St. Pauls in SM City Manila.

Unlike most guides that are personal stories and reflections of the author, Sabbath is more philosophical and meant as study guide for reading the Bible. Unlike other guides, Sabbath articles are all authored by priests who explain passages in the Bible, Church practices, introduce the saints and how the Gospel apply to our lives. To quote from it, “its purpose is to encourage Catholics to understand with greater depth the Word of God and thereby apply it in their personal lives.”

I'm happy to have a Sabbath as guide for this coming quarter.

sayong
09-29-05 11:55pm

accounting

I had a haircut tonight at Reyes Haircutters in Nagtahan-Rotonda.

If I hadn't checked my receipt the last time I was there, I
wouldn't have remembered that it has been two months since I was
there. And this receipt in July is not the oldest one I keep. I have
this penchant to keep all my receipts until such time that I have
entered my expenses in the computer, which I never seem to be able to
find time for :)

What bothered me about the receipt issued by RHC this time
is that it's different from what I had been given since I started
having a haircut there.

I know that RHC still has the receipt like my last receipts
because I was asked to write my name on one. I was given my change
and when the cashier and haircutter wondered why I still didn't go, I
told them that they haven't given me the receipt yet. So the
haircutter wrote the amount in another receipt.

Comparing the two receipts, I believe that I was given the
"fake" receipt in previous visits. I wonder if this is an example of
what my accounting teacher explained as the ABC in bookkeeping.

A is for actual and B is for BIR. I forgot what the C is :)

sayong
09-28-05 11:55pm

living by your word

The word has such power, emphasized our priest during last
Sunday's mass, that it can build or destroy a person or affirm or
negate what he is or what he has done.

Another point he made was that we have to be true to our
words or tapat sa ating mga salita, in Filipino. TAPAT (loyal), even
when spelled backwards, is still TAPAT.

He pointed out that great men are not only known for their
great words but how they have lived and stood by these words. In
short, words not backed by deeds are nothing.

I wonder how many politicians are truly great :) For that
matter, how many of us stand by our words? Do I? :)

sayong
09-27-05 11:55pm

lovestruck

How do you know if you have already found your soulmate?

Clap your hands. If when you part your hands, you saw that the marriage lines (lines that are located just below the base of the little finger) in your left and right palms connect, then you have met your soulmate.

This is according to love guru Jandra in the movie Lovestruck by GMA Films. It was highly recommended to me by Em and Danny so I watched it last Sunday with my mother :)

I truly enjoyed the movie despite Jennylyn Mercado's overacting. It might not have presented a socio-economic issue like in Can This Be Love, which touched on Filipino migration. And I don't believe that it even intended to. I guess that all it wanted to do was give the audience laughter, light-heartedness and of course, kilig :)

Does everyone have a soulmate?

According to my brother-in-law's aunt and godmother, who visited my sister and young nephew yesterday, "may takip ang lahat ng palayok" (each pot has a corresponding cover).

Unless, of course, the cover or the pot had been broken :)

sayong
09-26-05 11:50pm

new UP song

I just got my copy of the Carillon, UP Alumni Newsletter, for June-September 2005. I can’t remember if I got a copy last quarter.

What interested me was an article about Ryan Cayabyab’s new song for UP.

sayong

09-24-05 11:55pm

====================

Mr. C writes a new song for UP



Last April, a "true-maroon" son of the University of the Philippines came home to Diliman to inspire the graduates as this year's commencement speaker.

But it's not as if he left. Because he never did.

Acclaimed musician Ryan Cayabyab (BM'83) has been and will always be a son of UP Diliman. He spent his childhood in Area 1, a neighborhood located at the campus periphery. He never went to any other school, from primary to college. Afterwards, he went on to teach at the College of Music where he met his wife Emy, and now his firstborn is enrolled in the same college. No doubt then that he topped the shortlist of commencement speakers for the Class of 2005.

"I do not like delivering speeches, I'd rather write music. When I was offered to be the speaker, I considered after giving it much thought and consultation with friends. Not one of them dissuaded me. Everyone told me to go for it," Cayabayab said. Known as the inimitable Mr. C in the entertainment industry, Cayabyab had previously turned down an invitation to speak at a UP Integrated School graduation ceremonies for exactly the same misgivings.

Ironically, Cayabyab never heard the commencement speaker at his own university graduation simply because he did not attend. "Nahihiya ako because I overstayed," he confessed, laughing. But now he realized that it was time to give back to the university that honed him to be what he is now.

Although, he didn't really know what to say. For one thing, he didn't want his speech to be long and boring.

"It took me just one sitting and several revisions before I finalized my speech. I rehearsed it in front of my wife and she said, nangilid daw luha niya. Puno daw ng UP, mapuso. That's when I knew that I could already deliver it," Cayabyab said.

His speech was meant to show that he never went to any other school except UP. "I wanted to inspire them [the graduates] and make them realize that here I am, a 100-percent Philippine-trained, UP-trained musician, and I didn't learn it from any other school, here or abroad," Cayabyab related.

Mr. C was not, however, without surprises.

Longer than he worked on his speech, Cayabyab spent more hours putting together a song that would show the young graduates, and not just tell them, the beauty of creativity and innovation, which was this year's theme.

Putting music to the poem of high school classmate Romeo Candazo titled "Salamat sa 'Yo, UP" originally written for their UPIS class, Cayabyab thought it best to turn it into a song, give it a totally pop arrangement and premiere it on graduation day. He commissioned friends from the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Miguel Master Chorale, most of whom came from the UP Concert Chorus and the UP Madrigals, to perform with him. The result was a first in the history of UP graduations: a commencement guest who did not only speak his heart out, but who sang his profoundest gratitude to his Alma Mater.

Here is what Cayabyab (and Candazo) surprised the Class of 2005 with:

Salamat Sa 'Yo, UP

Sa 'yo UP maraming salamat
Ikaw na aking tahanan
Mula sa aking pagkamulat
Hanggang sa aking huling hininga

Sa 'yo UP maraming salamat
Ang iyong mga aral ang aking gabay
Baon ko ito sa paglalakbay
Hanggang mapanaw ang buhay

Kami'y lumaki sa iyong pag- iingat
Natutong mag aral, natutong magsaya
Dulot mo ay init tuwing kami ay nagiginaw
Sa lahat ng panahon bigay mo'y pagasa

Sa 'yo UP maraming salamat
Ang iyong mga aral ang aking gabay
Baon ko ito sa paglalakbay
Hanggang mapanaw ang buhay

It is not surprising that faculty and alumni have started clamoring for a copy of "Salamat sa Iyo, UP" which, as early as now, is touted to be the new UP song.

UP President Emerlinda Roman talked to Cayabyab and asked him about the possibility of using the song for the fundraising activities in line with the UP Centennial in 2008. Targeting to raise P5 billion, university officials will go on a sort of a road show and travel abroad to rally alumni to support the endeavor.

"I told her that the university may use the song in anyway they deem best. I even suggested that we could produce it, and ask prominent UP personalities to sing it and record it," Cayabyab adds.

With its lyrics, the song is indeed appropriate for the alumni of the university. "It is also subliminally appealing to the hearts of the alumni to give back," said Ryan. "Music has this way of creating an emotional attachment, and I hope this song will do it for the alumni."

Article by Ivy Lisa F. Mendoza, reprinted from the Manila Bulletin

the crow

Tonight, I saw The Crow: Wicked Prayer.

For violence and language (curses), I think it should have
been R-18 instead of R-13.

But it's a good movie as a whole. I particularly appreciate
its many symbolisms.

Still, I like the original The Crow, which starred Brandon
Lee, better.

sayong
09-23-05 11:30pm

baby strategy

My sister and nephew got out of the hospital this Thursday.
Thank God that the hospital bill didn't reach the Php50,000 we were
told to expect in a caesarian delivery.

They were both sleeping when I got home from my German class
at past 9 in the evening. It's too bad that they didn't remain so :)

I was only able to finish my dinner and watching Encantadia
when my nephew began to cry. As my sister can't carry him yet, I do,
while feeding him. Whenever he is put down, even when is already
sleeping, he cries.

Finally, I have devised a strategy :) I placed him on my
pillow and put the pillow on my lap. So even as I type, he can still
feel my presence.

It's already 1 a.m. of Friday, my nephew is already sleeping
but I still can't put him down :)

sayong
09-23-05 1:05am

living dangerously

For lunch today, I demolished two potato chips -- a barbecue flavor Oishi Ridges (125 calories) and a spicy barbecue flavor VCut (150 calories); one mango flavor Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt (140 calories); and one mug of sugar-free Nescafe coffee, which is about 110 calories. That means 525 calories in one sitting! And it's not good for someone who has a sedentary lifestyle and weight a little more than the average Filipina. And half of that weight is because of my logs, I mean, legs :)

A calorie is simply a unit of energy. The number of calories in a food is a measure of how much potential energy that food possesses.

Sometimes, we consume more food and calories than our body could use or burn. An accumulation of 3,500 extra calories is stored by our body as 1 pound of fat. Fat is the body's way of saving energy. If we burn 3,500 more calories than we eat, whether by exercising more or eating less, our body converts 1 pound of its stored fat into energy to make up for the shortage.

I have read that women who do not have active lifestyles should only consume about 2,000 calories a day. And people like me, overweight and with little physical activity, should only have 900 to 1,500 calories a day so that we could use our stored energy or FAT :)

People wonder if it matters where their calories come from. According to howstuffworks, at its most basic, and if we're only talking about weight, the answer is no -- a calorie is a calorie.

But if we're talking about nutrition, it definitely matters where our calories originate.

And there lies another problem :)

A junk food lover like me would find it easier to balance our calorie intake by foregoing rice and other heavy carbohydrates rather than junk foods :)

Well, we only live once...so we might as well eat all we want :) Tomorrow can take care of itself :)


sayong
09-21-05 4:55pm

Vince Andrei

For their first baby, Quino, my brother-in-law, gave his son
the name Vince Andrei.

Vince is derived from the Latin word, victor. And there's
no need to explain what it means :)

Andrei has French and Greek origin and means manly, valiant,
or courageous.

Is he then destined for greatness? Time will tell :)

Right now, my nephew looks so small (well, he is as he was
only 5.6 lbs when he was born). And so far, he looks as good-natured
as his parents. That's all that matters now :)

sayong
09-21-05 12:40am

Yan ang boyfriend ko

Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy
By: Cinderella

Ang aking boyfriend
Mahilig sa disco
Lagi sa disco
Lahat ng Sabado

And when the kids go dancing na
Lagi pa siyang nauuna
At ang sayaw pala niya
Ay mashed potato

'Yan ang boyfriend ko
Di ko ma-take ang gusto
Siya ay "in" na "in"
Ngunit "out" pa rin
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy

Ang aking boyfriend
Ang groovy magdamit
At kung sa porma
Mahirap lamangan
But when we go out "dating" na
Kulay ng polo niya'y pula
Berde pa ang sapatos niya
Asul ang medyas

'Yan ang boyfriend ko
Di ko ma-take ang gusto
Siya ay "in" na "in"
Ngunit "out" pa rin
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy

Siya ay "in" na "in"
Ngunit "out" pa rin
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy

'Yan ang boyfriend ko
Di ko ma-take ang gusto
Siya ay "in" na "in"
Ngunit "out" pa rin
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy
Ang boyfriend kong baduy, baduy

I got the lyrics from: http://www.tristancafe.com/music/midis/angboypren.html. Be sure to listen to its karaoke midi file, too :)

I wondered what happened to Cinderella. I was too young at the height of its popularity. I saw somewhere that "Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy" was released in 1976. I was way too young then :) But my Aunt Ellen used to play and sing Cinderella's songs. She really liked singing "Bato Sa Buhangin". So I also used to sing it when I was a child :)

A few years ago, I read about the demise of its female vocalist. Or I could be mistaken :) I can't find much write-up about the group.

For sure, the group has left its mark in the Philippine music industry.

"Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy" and "Bato Sa Buhangin" are songs in the album "T.L. Ako Sa Yo". And each of the songs in this album was popular. Who wouldn't know these songs?

1. T.L. Ako Sa Yo
2. Sa Aking Pag-iisa
3. Ang Boyfriend Kong Baduy
4. Tulak Ng Bibig, Kabig Ng Dibdib
5. Ang Pag-ibig Mo
6. Ang Boypren Ko
7. Ikaw Ang Idolo Ko
8. Sana'y Maging Steady Mo
9. Nakikinig Ang Buong Pilipinas
10. May Crush Ako Sa 'yo
11. Bato Sa Buhangin


sayong
09-20-05 5:40pm

==============================
T.L. AKO SA 'YO
By: Cinderella

Ewan ko ba kung bakit type kita
'Di ka naman guwapo
Kahit malabo ang pagpili ko
T.L. ako sa 'yo

II.
Panay kantiyaw ng mga utol ko
Dehins ka daw bagay sa kagandahan ko
Malabo na ba raw ang mata ko
At na-T.L. kita

Refrain:
Ganyang liku-liko
Ang takbo ng isip ko
Sabi ng lolo
May toyo ang utak ko
Sabi ng lola
Ay humanap ng iba
May porma't mayaman
T.L. wala naman

III.
Ewan ko ba kung bakit type kita
'Di ka naman guwapo
Kahit malabo ang pagpili ko
T.L. ako sa 'yo
Repeat Refrain:
Repeat III.

T.L. ako sa 'yo
Ikaw ang true love ko

on motherhood

It is said that a daughter can never ever repay her mother's sufferings until she herself has given birth. My baby sister has just given birth to a baby boy tonight.

I was in my German class, answering an exercise, when my cellphone rang. I was so surprised to see the caller ID reflecting my sister's number that I pressed reject call instead of answer. That was when I saw my cousin's text messages that my sister was in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and prematurely giving birth. She was scheduled to deliver her baby on the first week of October until October 9. And her husband, who works in Singapore, is not scheduled to arrive until September 28.

Meine Lehrerin (my teacher) said it was okay for me to go. But I told her that I'd rather stay in class. Focusing on my sitwork rather than my fear for my sister enabled me to compose myself and gave me time to consider what needed to be done.

After my class, I went to SM City Manila and bought what I thought were needed :) And shopped I did :) I left the grocery at around 9pm with five SM bags (which included Wilkins Distilled Water, 6 cans of pineapple juice, 1 box of Selecta Moo Milk, 2 sets of Yakult, styro cups, plastic spoon and fork). I also had to take out dinner for my aunt and mother who were already at the hospital. With 6 plastic bags plus my own heavy knapsack, I could hardly walk :)

And when I got to the hospital, I walked to the delivery room with all my bags for I didn’t know that my sister had already given birth. And I had to carry them again to the opposite side of the corridor where my sister’s room is :( I really had an exercise.

But what I did was nothing compared to what my sister had to go through. Since the baby was breech, she had to make a caesarean delivery.

Just imagining it, I don’t think I could ever repay my mother :(



sayong
09-20-05 1:35am

Schokolade

Yesterday, I was very busy with the template of my first
blog: sayong.blogspot.com. My friends have been telling me to blog
at blogspot. So I told them that I actually already have one, which I
haven't been able to maintain. But I've made it a point that all my
messages in Friendster since first of September are simultaneously
posted in blogspot. I'm told that it is easier to post comments in
blogspot than in Friendster.

Anyway, my post today is about chocolates, Schokolade in
German. Am liebsten esse ich Schokolade :)

There's a Filipino saying that "Ang nabubuhay sa baril, sa
baril din namamatay," which means that one dies depending on how one
lives.

How does gun relate to chocolate? I thought that I'd die of one :)

Almost everyone knows of my sweet tooth and fondness for
chocolates – from local to imported ones :) I usually get milk
chocolate but I prefer white and dark chocolates. I also like those
with whole nuts – hazel, almond, macadamia :) I also like cookies and
cream – as a chocolate, ice cream, a Zagu drink or tiramisu :) I
could go on and on :)

My classmate in German, Marc, is usually checking if I brought
a Nestle Crunch in class. It is his favorite. In the first two
terms, I usually brought Schokolade. But I have gained a lot of weight
since. So I am trying to lessen my chocolate intake :) But I still
bring cookies ...with chocolate chips :)... to class and drink ice
coffee from time to time instead of cold water.

Anyway, I was just eating a bar of 100 Grand by Nestle. For
those who haven't eaten one, it's a caramel coated in crispies and
milk chocolate. The label also says 30% less fat. I should perhaps
eat two bars, so I will get 60% less fat :) I know, my logic and
math is terrible :)

But I will not eat choco caramel again. Or not as much
caramel in a chocolate bar. I'll stick to Snickers when I want one.
The caramel was so sticky that I though my jaw would lock. And while
I was trying to chew on it, I was thinking what a funny way to die :)

sayong
09-18-05 4:40pm

More trivia: Family, friends and suitors have given me various
chocolates but the only ones I haven't had again are Suchard Symphonie
(Swiss chocolate) and Mrs. Fields Decadent Chocolates. And my
birthday is October 3 :)

No Smoking

The implementation of No Smoking under the The Clean Air Act of 1999 is a joke in the Philippines.

I have yet to find a place where no one smokes. And I have yet to ride a jeepney or a bus, where I can breathe freely. That’s one reason I always carry a fan and a handkerchief, if not tissue. By the swish of the fan, some smokers can take the hint and throw their cigarettes away.

When I take the jeepney, I usually ride in front, beside the driver. To my work, I have to take two short rides. Unfortunately this Friday, both times that I sat in front, I had to sit with smokers. On the first jeepney ride, the boy in his early twentys immediately threw his cigarette. But I had to contend with his bad breath while speaking to the driver. On the second jeepney, the man had to smoke half of it first.

Another time, the smokers were the jeepney driver and a lady inside. I sat as far as way as possible from both of them. Ayaw ko naming maging tinapa :) (I don’t want to smell like smoked fish). Haaaay...when will the MMDA or police start doing their jobs?



sayong
09-17-05 11:55pm


==========
from: http://www.gov.ph/forum/thread.asp?rootID=5973&catID=9


The Clean Air Act of 1999 (R.A. 8749)

(enacted by the 11th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines and signed into law on 23 June 1999)

Section 24: Pollution From Smoking

Smoking inside a public building or an enclosed public place, including vehicles and other means of transport, or in any enclosed area outside of one's private residence, private place of work or any duly designated smoking area is hereby prohibited under this Act.

Section 47: Fines and Penalties for Violations of Other Provisions in the Act.

For violations of all other provisions provided in this Act and of the rules and regulations thereof, a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) or six (6) months to six (6) years imprisonment or both shall be imposed. If the offender is a juridical person, the presidents, manager, directors, trustees, the pollution control officer or the officials directly in charge of the operations shall suffer the penalty herein provided.

for more info, check out this url http://fcap.globalink.org/

God or country

Which should come first, the national anthem or the doxology?

This has been posed time and again during coordination meetings.

And I thought of this because time and again, I would be
forced to cut my prayers at home so that I could work. Yesterday
morning, my boss called while I was praying, so I stopped and did
first what I was asked to do. I resumed my prayers but hurried off
again when I heard the phone ringing. It was also my call.

Will it be God or country?

Is my work really for the country? Most of the times, I am
called to iron out or troubleshoot other's mistakes.

But for your reference, the national anthem always comes
first in the program.

sayong
09-16-05 10:05pm

love thy neighbour

I've always shied away from deranged people. I meant the
real ones and not people with idiosyncrasies one too many.

On my way to work today, I saw one, an old man, dancing
merrily to a child :) And I thought that if everything that happened
has a purpose, then it must have been God's mercy that made him what
he is now.

And it is also by God's design that we take care of people
like him. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," is the second
greatest commandment, said Jesus (from Matthew 22:39). For what is
Love in the Bible, but Charity? Read the Corinthians.

sayong
09-15-05 11:50pm

on social apathy

Why is People Power not taking off this time?

Father Robert Reyes explained the reason to be the pervading social apathy that is based on the following:

Survival = He said that people have to take care of their needs first.

Disillusionment = People are also cynical with present leaders and the effects of People Power.

Moral Indolence = People are experiencing spiritual laziness. The Filipinos have been spoon-fed and used to being told by the church what to do, especially during the time of Cardinal Sin. Now that the Church and the CBCP has taken the middle ground, people find themselves taking the easier path – to go along with the flow or not to take any stand at all.

There is a need to get out of this pit we are in...as to yield to social apathy is to surrender the nation’s future.


sayong
09-14-05 11:55pm

Manny

"Play to your strengths," advised the fake Professor Mad-eye Moody to Harry Potter in the "Goblet of Fire".

And that's just what Manny Pacquiao did...and most of those who succeed and become rich.

After his fight with Mexican Hector Velasquez in Los Angeles, California last September 10, Manny is $700,000 richer.


sayong
09-14-05 12am

Judy Collins

A CD of Classic Folk Songs by Judy Collins was brought to the office by Ate Libby. This is the first time I heard the songs sung her way. Her voice reminds me of Enya.

Her voice is sweet and her music, relaxing but I believe that she is better heard in the company of other people.

The CD has the following selections:

1. The Times They Are A-Changin
2. Morning Has Broken
3. Both Sides Now
4. Leavin' On A Jet Plane/Take Me Home Country Road
5. Cat's In The Cradle
6. Blowin' In The Wind
7. Barbara Allen
8. Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair
9. Plaisir D' Amour
10. Loch Lomond
11. Let It Be
12. Amazing Grace

The songs cut deep into the heart :). A person whose heart is broken just might be driven to the edge :)

But I recommend this CD. An Enya fan, what would you expect? :)


sayong
09-12-05 4:10pm

Friendster

          I like Friendster  :)

          I have been a member since 2003 but I haven't really made use of it.  The only time I visit the site is when a friend adds me to her/his network or leave me a message.

          But since I created a photo album, and for that, I also needed to create a blog, Friendster has led me to many of my old friends...and well, some new ones :)

          Today, I am so happy to meet online a friend whom I haven't seen since 1994.  If my memory did not fail me, the last time we saw each other was November 1994 :)  It was during YMCA of Manila's election of officers.  The YMCA has helped me in a lot of ways.  But that's for another posting.

          Right now, I am just happy with Friendster.

          
          sayong
          09-12-05  11:50am

          

Skyhigh and poverty

 

          I watched "Skyhigh" at Gateway Mall with my mother and niece, Patricia Joy.  I found it good and so was my mood.

          But on the jeepney home, someone's bag was slashed and I felt bad.

          The contrast is stark.  While Skyhigh presented the environment of the elite (take away the make-believe powers) and the upscale Gateway Mall speaks of affluence, stealing in any form speaks of poverty, in a lot of ways...
 

          People who steal are more than poor in material possessions.  They are wanting in spiritual guidance.  They have weak moral fiber...(ouch!!)
 

          Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan, sana'y makapag-isip-isip :)
 

 

 

          sayong
          09-12-09  12:40am

The Cascades

          "Was I dreamin'" was not one of the songs sang by the Cascades when they performed in Heroes Hall in Malacanang last Wednesday night :)  But I would have loved to hear them sing it.

          Nina was their front act and she sang Sunlight and Love Moves in Mysterious Ways.  I can only say that she's beautiful in person :)

          The Cascades rendered Angel on My Shoulder, Dreamin, Warm Manila Nights (which member Gab Lapano performed on piano), Shy Girl, My First Day Alone, Rhythm Of The Rain (which matched the rain just then), and The Last Leaf.

          I guess that I should have watched their concert tonight in Araneta Coliseum.  Or should watch them in Manila Hotel tomorrow.  But that is expensive :)

          sayong
          09-09-05  11:10pm

          

==============================

The Last Leaf by:  The Cascades
Lyrics by:  Chandler/McKendry  
1963

The last leaf clings to the bough
Just one leaf, that's all there is now
And my last hope lives with that
Lonely leaf, lonely leaf
With the last leaf that clings to the bough

Last summer beneath this tree
My love said she'd come back to me
Before the leaves of autumn
Touched the ground, touched the ground
My love promised, she'd be homeward bound

Then one by one
The leaves began to fall
And now that winter's come to call

The last leaf clings to the bough
Just one leaf, that's all there is now
Will my last hope fall with that
Lonely leaf, lonely leaf
With the last leaf the last leaf
The last leaf that clings to the bough
Bough, bough, bough.....

the beautiful

Blame it on my near-sightedness...but I usually don't notice
things around me :) I always tell Em that I can never be a witness.
Aside from being forgetful, I just don't take note of what's
happening.

For me, the Presidential Guards are very much a fixture in the
Palace, whom I don't notice until they speak or demand attention :)

This morning, one said, "Good morning, san po kayo?" (where are
you going?) to the visitors behind me. I would have just gone on if
one of the visitors didn't say, "Good morning, papa."

When I took a look back, he's really Papa-ble :) He's neat and
fresh-looking in his barong tagalog. He's fair in complexion and
good-looking. Papa talaga :) Nabakla ako :) And he made my mood
lighter.

With this, I can appreciate Imelda Marcos' advocacy of "the
good, the true and the beautiful." When one's surrounded by beautiful
things, one tends to hope and think of good things.

But then again, perhaps not. Man's greed does not stop from
seeing and owning just one beautiful thing. It tries to look for and
own more...

Anyway, my mood is good and I'd rather not dwell on humanity's
dark side :)

sayong
09-08-05 10:50pm

of Joshua generation

Lately, my prayers have been, "Lord, I seek you."

And just as I prayed this during communion on last Sunday's
mass, the choir sang the refrain, "This is the generation of those who
seek the Lord."

It might be wishful thinking. But I treat this as an
affirmation of my prayers and an answer...

Today, I found the song's lyrics...

sayong
09-07-05 9:45pm

=====
THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING IN THE DESERT

The voice of one calling in the desert
Prepare the way of the Lord '
The voice of one calling in the desert
Make straight the paths for the Lord

Ref. 1: And ev'ry valley shall be lifted up
Ev'ry mountain and hill be made low
And the crooked roads straight
The rough places plain and then all the world will see
The salvation of our God

Ref 2 M This is the generation of those who seek the Lord
Ref 2 W (This is the generation of those who seek the Lord)
This is the generation called to prepare His way

1. So with His armour fit for the fight
With the sword of HiS Spirit held tight
In the strength of His might
put God's enemies to flight
And then all the world will see
the salvation of our God (Refrain 2)

2. So rallied round His standard raised high
Men of dust now raised to the sky
side by side, eye to eye
"He is Lord!" as one we'll cry
and then all the world will see
the salvation of our God

W Who is the King of glory. who is He?
M He is the Lord both strong and mighty
W Who is the King of glory. who is He?
M The Lord Almighty He is the King of glory!
{Refrain 2 & 1}

End: The salvation of our God {3x}

(Scanned lyrics courtesy of Em)

Boomerang

More than my sexy...I'm choking! :)...built, one tends to
notice the bulky knapsack I always carry to work. People always
wonder what I put in that bag. It's always full, it's always heavy :)
I think that its weight is mainly responsible why I can't tuck my
stomach in :) When all that I carried around was my coin purse, I
used to look tall and just voluptuous. Enough of daydreaming! :)

But for all that it contains, my knapsack doesn't have my
beltbag today. That beltbag has my money and all my cards. I
wouldn't have noticed if my officemate Danny hadn't asked for a change
for his 500-peso bill. I was even taunting him for not having
money...only to have it boomerang on me :)

At least, I have my coin purse and 20 pesos on it :) It's
just enough to get me home :) I love being so close to home :)

sayong
09-06-05 3:40pm

Sturdy Filipinos

          Mike Enriquez interviewed a Fil-Am on radio this morning. Mrs. Jennifer Williams is one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. 

          When Hurricane Katrina reached Category 5, Mrs. Williams decided to leave St. Bernard with her friend.  They went to Texas, to stay with her friend's family.

          When Mike Enriquez asked her about her home, she replied, "Ay wala na akong tirahan, at wala na rin akong trabaho. (I don't have a house anymore, nor work.)" She said it so matter-of-factly, and with a hint of humor. 

          She said that at the moment, she doesn't have money, they don't have water, electricity and food but for the canned goods.

          "Hindi ko pa rin alam ang gagawin ko but okey lang ako (I still don't know what to do but I am just fine)," she reassured her family in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

          You have to hand it to Filipinos.  Filipinos don't crumble under strenuous situations.  They have a lot of practice at home :)  Come hell or high water, as they say, Filipinos are survivors, wherever they go, wherever they are.  And survive with their sense of humor intact :)

          sayong
          09-05-05  1:15pm
 

R.I.P.

 

          My radio is constantly on AM, and on DZBB dial at that.

 

          That's where I get most of the "tsismis" (rumors), ooops...news, I mean :)

 

          I usually listen to the programs of Mike Enriquez and the Double A sa Double B by Ali Sotto and Arnold Clavio.

 

          One interesting thing I heard today is that the opposition is following R.I.P. to oust the president.  

 

          R = Resign

          I = Impeach

          P = People Power

 

          Does it mean that the opposition's effort to oust the president is doomed from the start?

 

         

 

          sayong

          09-05-05  12:40pm

Chantal Lucas

For the first time in years (2-4 years perhaps), I played the tape Praise 4. It was given to me by Chantal Lucas and I suddenly miss her.

Chantal Lucas was like a mother to me when I was at the World Alliance of YMCA's in Genava, Switzerland in 1994. I believe that more than anyone there, she understood how I missed my family. She toured the Philippines before she married. And she told me that one glaring difference between Geneva and the Philippines is in the size of their churches and houses. While churches in the Philippines are imposing structures and most of the people's houses are small, churches in Geneva are quite small compared to the high-rise buildings in which people live.

She wrote me several times but I haven't been good at keeping in touch and writing letters. Now, I wonder where Chantal and her family are now.

Well, technology has shrunk the world. Perhaps, I'll meet her again one of these days :)

sayong
09-04-05 11:55pm

Block Rosary

It's our turn to host Mama Mary. She'll be here for a week before she's turned over to the next household.

And on her first night here, I already showed poor hospitality as my temper got the better of me.

My Tita Delia called us to pray the rosary. My cousin Whet begged off, saying she was already sleepy. And it was not even 8pm yet. If she could stay half the night talking to her girlfriend on the phone or attending parties, how could she not spare 15 minutes to pray?

I told them not to receive Mama Mary if they don't intend to pray the rosary.

I used to be a member of Stella Matutina, a legionnaire, when I was in my teens. I used to do the Blessed Sacraments, used to pray and touch all the statues in our parish.

But though I still revere Mama Mary, I have long since lost the inclination to pray the rosary. But for "Our Father" I no longer believe in repeated prayers.

And I believe that a statue is only a figure...until you pray and invoke the presence of the spirit to whom you're praying.

My prayer now follows the pattern taught in Singles for Christ - playing praise and worship songs, bible reading and reflection and talking to God.

So I'm not too keen on this block rosary crusade. The odd thing here is that I've been named after this movement.

But one good thing about repeated prayer is that if its meaning don't sink in the first time, you're bound to get it next time.

So as I speak, "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us," I prayed, "please forgive me for judging her. She'll come to you in her time, but hopefully not only when she needs a job or to pass an exam."

And now, she's waiting for her friend to call. Grrrr...

Lord, please give me patience and understanding. Let me not be a hypocrite, to pass judgment so I may not be judged.

sayong
09-03-05 10:20pm

meine Note auf Deutsch II

I just got my grades for the second term. And I'm happy to
see that I got 1.0 (excellent).

meine Note auf Deutsch II

But more than this, I was pleased to
see the note of the Personnel Development Committee Chairperson on the
Memo with our grades:
"We should encourage this. Post this FSI Program and update
on email/website."

Malou, our admin officer and secretary, was first to tease
me to treat them because I got another grade of 1.0. Others followed
suit. Verbo came in, I showed him the memo and told him that he could
treat us instead. He gave a 100 pesos, and Danny, 50 pesos. Now, we
have a merienda of karioka, pandesal, kamote cue and coke. As Em
said: Seize the Day! Eat all you can! :)

I don't think there is any other group or agency as
supportive as mine :) Viva PMS! Viva SWG! Ooops…I got in the wrong
class :) Wie sagen Sie "long live" auf Deutsch?

sayong
09-02-05 3:30pm

Charity

This day is only getting better :)

Just before I left for work, my nephew Tom told me that his
older brother Timboy didn't share the potato chips I gave Timboy
yesterday. I just told him that I'd take care of it. Children!

And on the jeepney, an old man (well...about 50 years old,
perhaps a little younger than my mother) started talking to me. Not
to pick me up! :) He first asked if the jeepney would pass Mendiola
St. and I told him that it would depend on whether there were any
police :) Only Quiapo-Santol jeepneys have franchise to pass through
Mendiola. The others have to take Legarda St. But most drivers take
the risk of being caught and fined, especially at night.

He then asked if I were Ilocano. I said that my mother is
but I can understand him well enough. He said that he was a teacher
in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and was going back there tonight. He only came
to Manila to send off a relative going to California. Then he told me
that he was praying that he'd meet an Ilocano. He said that he was
actually left at the domestic airport by his companions who were in
two FX taxis. He asked me for 72 pesos to add to his fare for Vigan.
I said that I could not help him. He then asked if I could give him
even just 40 pesos. And I still said no.

With so many swindlers in the city, one cannot be too
careful. When he went off the jeepney, I quelled my feelings of guilt
for not helping a needy one. His story is too much like those men,
women or children in Quiapo, Recto, Morayta and other crowded places
in the metro, asking for a minimum of five pesos to complete their
fare home. When one pass by those places again in another day, one
will see these same people encouraging others to give them money. And
they will not be "home" for a very long time...not as long as people
are willing to loosen their purses.

I remember another comparable incident that happened to me
and my sister last year.

Anyway, when the old man went off the jeepney, I then
noticed that he was carrying a big umbrella. In my mind, that
umbrella gave his story a loophole bigger than those I already
noticed. For example, I wouldn't be at the domestic airport if my
relative were going abroad. I'd be in NAIA 1 or at the Centennial
Terminal, depending on what plane my relative would take. But I
thought that he couldn't know any better – the difference between
domestic and international airport -- even if he was a teacher. But
if I had a car waiting for me and it was not raining, I wouldn't be
carrying a big umbrella around, especially not at the airport where
security is stricter. I would leave the umbrella at the FX but not my
wallet.

I guess that I was right not to give him money.

sayong
09-02-05 1:35pm

A lovely way to start the day

My eyes still hurt. I haven't even had two hours of sleep
as I stayed the night blogging and writing captions for pictures in my
photo album. When I write, I don't stop for it would take me some
time to do so or have the determination again.

But work woke me up. Em called me up to check if I saw her
text message (which, of course, I haven't seen yet because I was still
asleep then). Then I saw her text messages and Annblyth's. Diona
also called and texted me. The last call is Ate Libby's. And it
wasn't even seven quarter yet :(

I wonder where OCD-OPCEN is, if it hasn't been abolished
yet. It's supposed to operate 24 hours to receive and send messages
and instructions. This is just the situation for it.

sayong
09-02-05 8am

German III

I got home early from my German class. Today is the first day of the third term. It was supposed to start last Monday. But Monday was declared a non-working day because of Heroes Day last Sunday. Day...day...day :)

It is reminiscent of our second term. We were also supposed to start on May 2 but it was declared a non-working day because Labor Day fell on a Sunday (from Section 9, Rule IV of the Omnibus rules Implementing the Labor Code). So we started our term on a Thursday also.

Time really flies.

September 30, 2004.

It was my officemate Danny's birthday. He invited our group to have lunch at their place.

But HRD informed me that mid-morning only that it was the last day of filing the application for the Foreign Language Program offered by the Foreign Service Institute. The FLP is mainly for the officers and personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (know more about the Philippine foreign affairs). But about 10 people from other government agencies may be accepted per foreign language course.

Needless to say, I was quite exasperated. I submitted my intention to participate in FSI’s language program several weeks ago and for me, it was the height of inconsideration to inform me that I could go ahead with my application on the last day of the submission of papers. You see, government employees have to be endorsed by their agencies if they wanted to participate in any training programs and the likes.

My officemate Em printed an ID picture since I didn't even have one. And while they were eating lunch at Danny's place, I was at the office rushing my application for a 1pm deadline.

The night before my exam and interview at the FSI, I attended the concert of the German quintet Amarcord with my mother, meimei (Mandarin word for younger sister) and my then 8-year old nephew and godson, Timboy.

amarcord poster with autograph



My nephew, as most of the crowd, loved their rendition of “Pen pen de sarapen.” And he remembers Daniel the most as he was quite nice to try to engage my nephew in a conversation.

daniel and me

Hmmm...Herr Daniel is much better-looking in person :)


The next day, we took the Pimsleur language aptitude test. After that exam and the interview, I thought that I wouldn't make it.

But if only for the experience of taking the Pimsleur exam, I was glad that I applied even if I did not pass.

Of course, I felt much better after learning in December that I passed it :).

And I was and still am grateful for Marivic of HRD who informed and pushed me to go through with the application despite my exasperation.

It’s almost a year ago, and I was a few pounds lighter then.

I must admit that since I started studying German, I have been eating quite a few more chocolates, cookies, ...oh... just about every sweet thing :) On my second term, I tried to miss a few snacks during lessons but I got sleepy and couldn't concentrate on the lessons.

I cannot remember eating (well, not as much!) when I was taking Mandarin lessons although my Chinese teacher used the full three hours. Perhaps, it was because my mouth couldn't be full when we had to speak/recite now and again.

Anyway, German III is now posted in our room at the FSI. German III. Finally. It looks nice, sounds nice. And much more important-sounding than German I or II. I’m glad :)

sayong
09-01-05

Again...again...again

I've tried many times to start a blog. But I always find it
hard to maintain it. Sometimes, thought and words would chase around
my mind and I would be so hard-pressed not to write them down there
and then. But most of the time, other things and activities happen
and I will be so busy that I will forget all about writing ... The
desire is always there...to write, to tell a story, to reflect, to
learn from them...but mostly, to share my experiences and learnings
with others.
But I always seem to run out of time...I guess that I have
to exercise more will-power :) But then I'm a Libran. Balance and
responsibilities first. But for food :), other wants take second
place :)
This is another attempt at blogging.
Could a person be described as illustrative? I was thinking
of illustrious but that's altogether different :) Anyway, friends and
family know that I love substantiating my narratives with drawings and
pictures. You'll find new pictures here even if you may not find new
writings.
Welcome to my thoughts, welcome to my world :)

sayong
09-01-05