MY YOLI DAYS

Network Twenty One

2011-12-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the business Network 21. Would you like to join me, please contact me at 09289943105 or email me at yvbangeles@yahoo.com

Late arrival on the patented gene scene

2011-05-18T00:24:00.000-07:00

Posting here a copy of an article about MC's book, NEXT. Lifted from the NewScientistsBlogs

Where has Michael Crichton, of Jurassic Park fame, been these past 17 years or so? The reason I ask is because it seems he's now decided that the most iniquitous thing on the planet is the patenting of human genes. He's launched a campaign against it in Next, his latest novel. He summarises his objections and plugs the new book in Tuesday?s New York Times.

Which is all well and good, except that Crichton's a bit late on this issue, which first came to light in 1991 when it emerged that the US National Institutes of Health had begun filing thousands of patent applications on fragments of genes called expressed sequence tags. Publicly-funded genome researchers in other countries expressed outrage at the time, and said it was a complete waste of money.

Arguments raged over exactly the issues now highlighted in the novel, such as how DNA can possibly be patentable when it's part of nature, and therefore merely a discovery like elephants, Bolivia and the Grand Canyon, as opposed to a patentable invention. After reaching something of a crescendo in the mid-1990s, a mere 10 years ago, the controversy died down.

It now surfaces only when someone tries to patent something exceptionally controversial, like a human-animal chimera, or the entire genome of an organism that causes human disease (again, as pointed out by Michael, in the context of SARS).

Yes, there have been cases where science and medicine have been held back because other researchers feared violating patents on disease and other genes. And yes, there have been cases where companies have used their patents to charge extortionate fees to hospitals and health authorities, for diagnostic tests to check whether patients have inherited diseases or genes that pre-dispose them to cancer, for example.

But ironically, patents have in some parts of the world helped to keep these profiteers in check. Take the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants that predispose women to breast cancer, for example, patented by Myriad Genetics of Salt Lake City in Utah. A ruling by the European Patent Office in 2004 saw these patents revoked because publicly funded researchers in Europe, fronted by Cancer Research UK, had taken the trouble to apply for their own patents on these genes.

These trumped the Myriad patents, according to the EPO, and the more public-spirited European researchers allowed hospitals throughout Europe to offer the test free of charge to patients. If they had not taken out the patent, they would have had no legal weapon with which to fight the Myriad patents, forcing hospitals to carry on paying for the Myriad tests.

It's also a reminder that patents are not about owning parts of the human genome, in the same way as someone owns a dog. They're about having legal power to stop others profiting unfairly from your hard work and invention, at least for 20 years until the patent expires.

The other important point is that it's all very well to agonise over the morality of patenting molecules that seem intuitively to be part of our biological heritage, but if researchers either in the public domain or in companies discover through their own hard graft human genes and parts of genes that are linked to serious diseases, why shouldn't these be included in patents aimed at drugs and diagnostic tests which convert these basic findings into practical medical applications? Provided the patent is narrow enough in scope, and the patent holders generous enough with licensing to allow other research teams to apply the findings in slightly different ways, it's difficult to see what's wrong with the original researchers being rewarded for their own hard graft.

Equally important, it's difficult to think of viable alternatives to patenting. If human genes were unpatentable, what incentive would there be for universities and companies to spend millions of dollars developing new tests and therapies only for them to be copied and sold more cheaply by rivals?

Way back in 1995, New Scientist looked into possible alternatives to patenting with potential to reward inventors and researchers. Sadly, nothing really seemed to offer a workable alternative. So it looks like we're stuck with patents, unless Crichton or someone else can magic up an alternative.

It may even turn out to be pretty much a non-issue because of publication in the public domain of the human genome in 2001. Publication of the sequences in the public domain renders them unpatentable, and has played big part in the demise of companies exclusively set up to patent parts of the genome. Most of these companies have either gone bust or abandoned their original mission, to license their gene patents to other companies. Very few took the bait, because the information was all available publicly anyway. So most gene patents have proved to be worthless.

Nor do patents last forever, only for 20 years or so. The upshot is that it won't be long before all gene patents expire naturally. So very soon, the human genome will by default become the very public resource that Crichton wants it to be, just like the elements of the periodic table.

Are you still worried about gene patenting? Let us know in the comments below.

by Andy Coghlan, senior reporter from the SHORT SHARP SCIENCE a Science News Blog from NewScientistBlogs

Comments:

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please let us know, quoting the comment in question.

Crichton's knowledge of patent law is spotty, but he's on the right side of the debate. For a more detailed discussion, please see my blog.

By Andrew Chin on February 16, 2007 1:11 AM

The analogy to patenting the discovery of elephants in inapt. Considerable ingenuity and effort is required to discover gene sequences, and some property recognition acts as a financial stimulus to such inquiry. There was a "Franklin stove" episode in the paper just yesterday, where researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered that a drug previously patented for another use, cannot get produced because the patent has expired. No one wants to fund the clinical trials to get approval without patent protection. No patent implies higher death rate. No need to worry about paying high fees for the cancer treatment--it simply will not be available. Seems to me death is a higher price, but we all have our opinions.

By Anonymous on February 16, 2007 2:35 PM

Shouldn't the magic of the invisible hand be solving this issue? No, the invisible hand is not the final solution. Different nations, and different people in those nations, should not be denied the right to the best treatment; for any period of years, be it 10 or 20 or 70, discriminated just because of their current wealth conditions. That is a crime against humanity. Let people pay according to their means, for example.

By Gustavo on February 17, 2007 4:02 PM

This is like the group that wanted to patent the wild rice that Native Americans have been harvesting for centuries - all because no one had "discovered" it yet.

Here's a thought... All these discoveries by labs HAVE been funded by public money because their costs have been written off as a tax expense.

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The Dangerous Christians Today (Based on the Pastor’s Message on April 3, 2011)

2011-04-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Christians today have eyes but are blind, have ears but are deaf, have hearts but are abhorrent, have feet but are lame, have mouths but are dumb. They indulge in idolatry because they trust their money, skills, careers, possessions, security and other worldly treasures more than God in Heaven. They fear a lot because they don’t want to submit to God for control.

God knows how fickle-minded Christians are. Do they truly and sincerely trust God everyday? Do they depend wholly in God? Christians are great pretenders, pretending to be true and sincere.

Christians today do not know that once a Christian becomes true ad sincere, he struggles. He struggles to keep promises, to pray, to prepare preaching, change attitudes, to be really true, to spread the Gospel of God and to become perfect in the image of God.

Christians today do not want to be ridiculed, to be corrected, to be taught because they think they are insulted if done so. They easily get angry, easily get offended. They always want praises. They are the first to ridicule, to judge other’s mistakes and are very resentful. They are not open for a new change of a Godly character. They do not want the feelings of being reminded. Of being reminded to wash hands before sitting on the dining table.

Christians today have multiple characters. They are like sheep during Sundays but become goats and tigers during the rest of the week when no other Christians are near them. They are like wolves dressed like sheep when in their work – offices, businesses and elsewhere. They are regular church goers – they may be Baptists, Pentecostals, Catholics and other church members that teach the Deity of Jesus Christ. They know how to preach the Holy Bible, how to tell stories from the Holy Bible and how to interpret the Holy Bible.

Christians today know the Christian teachings, they even know that what they are doing on earth is just vanity. Being a Christian is only a knowledge that they possess but do not truly know what is really in their hearts. They have the knowledge but do not have the true/Godly hearts. They claim, yes, they truly claim to be true Christians and are Sons of God but have they experienced how to literally tremble before God? They claim that God is in control of their lives and God is the authority in their lives, but they do not even know how to respect the God they are claiming who saved them.

If an ordinary citizen has to go to the office of the Mayor, the Governor, the Senator or even the President of the Philippines to ask for something, he literally trembles even how prepared he may be. The feeling is but natural because those said offices are in authority. But how about the One who is truly in authority of every single thing around this planet earth who is even higher in authority than the highest office in the world? The Bible tells that even the mountains tremble and bow and the oceans roar in praise of Him. How about these Christians in name?

Can’t we just sacrifice some of our comforts and allow God to control us and place us in the rightful place? Can we not leave some of our worldly treasures and submit to His authority. God is higher than any authority. Can we not sacrifice our worldly comforts in exchange of love, compassion and praise in every breath that we take? Can we not sacrifice to help a lost soul with that love and compassion that we have? Can we not sacrifice to just shut up our mouths if our hearts and eyes are conniving to ridicule or misjudge a lost soul instead of just acting immediately to help him/her? Can we not sacrifice to put aside a time daily to read the Bible and sincerely pray? Can we not sacrifice to be offended sometimes just for our bad attitudes to be corrected?

Think of it. Is it easy? If you claim you are a Christian but do not feel the struggle to give up some of your comforts to help, then you are among the thousands of Christians dressed in sheep’s clothes.

On Securing Agriculture

2010-11-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

Gone is the generation when agriculturists were just hunters and gatherers. Nature provided them food and shelter. Gone also is the generation when agriculturists just concentrated mainly on the procedures of producing volumes of harvests the conventional way. Now? – The generation of agriculturists producing volumes of harvests aided with non-conventional technologies vis-à-vis an immense budget because of the effects not only of climate change but also of greed.

In securing enough food amid climate change, agriculture is urged to focus on both adaptation and mitigation measures.

Agriculture is currently banking on the development of resilient crop varieties that are either drought or flood tolerant and identifying heat and disease tolerant breeds of livestock and poultry including the development of vaccines against diseases. Perking up the digestibility of feeds and fortification of nutritional ingredients to minimize enteric gas emission and waste management is also highly in progress. And not to forget the high finances on water harvesting technologies. These situations are now leading to an expensive but must-be conservation and protection of natural and indigenous animal and plant genetic resources. Adding up works of science that either “has or without a human face” like gene reworks that sometimes slip away from science protocols either to cushion negative effects of climate change and further increase the extent of food production despite hot issues or speculations on the long term consequences or just to merely satisfy selfish desires.

Agriculture now runs and manipulates nature to provide food for the human race. However, there are several reasons that regardless of a huge surplus of food production, food insecurity is still a vast problem having over a billion people around the world going hungry each day. There are the distribution of food within a country being a political issue, land deals wherein rich governments and corporations are buying up the rights to millions of hectares of agricultural land in developing countries in an effort to secure their own long-term food supplies, an industrial development model based on large-scale, export-orientated agriculture tied to international competition, self interest and stock market which when a reorientation towards more localized, smaller scale and sustainable agriculture will allow a situation of an always available food on the plate and the undermining of commercial seed varieties of local seed systems. These are just a few of the numerous reasons agriculture is flossing up with.

Food security though is an intricate topic, standing at the crossroads of various disciplines agriculture being the central concern.

THE REST OF MY LIFE

2010-11-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

(Unknown)

I - Part of my life brings tears of regret
And part of my life I would rather forget
Part of my life I can never recall
    But the rest of my life, I'll atone for it all.

Ref: Yes, part of my life to false idols I bowed
       And part of my life I just followed the crowd
       Yes, part of my life is a story of sin
       But the rest of my life, I will honor God's name.

II - Freely I drank from life's glittering cup
      So deep, in my shame I could hardly look up
      Broken and spent to the Saviour I cried
      Now the rest of my life, we will walk side by side.

Ref:

III - Too many years I squandered in sin
        And too many years, I was bitter within
       Tears of regret is the price I must pay
       But the rest of my life, God can have His own way.

Ref:

AT MID AGE

2010-10-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

October 14^{t h}simply celebrated my 39^th birthday (hehehe) with an icecream toss that foamed to coke floats, etc… One year more would be the age when I will begin life at!??? Haha..

Anyway, I realized that I’m now at what most call the “middle age.” It is the age of crisis of all sorts that I still cannot comprehend and for which of course I don’t want to entertain. I heard lots of stories about mid-life or mid-age for which the word “crisis” commonly tagged along so that mostly were disasters! My life though is full of disasters ever since I knew how to distinguish colors, recite my alphabets and count my fingers! (wehehehey…)

I found myself currently working in a place with about 90% who are at present in their golden and yellow diamond years. In less than 7 years from now almost all of them would be retiring from work. Daily, I would always hear varieties of stories from them like the simple household chores, children and grandchildren, great achievements, the color of the hair, the softness of the skin, PMS, the need to wear eyeglasses, forgetfulness, rheumatism, blood pressure and all sorts of ailments. This includes stories about non-sense things that would sometimes unpredictably break into irritations and “war” inside the workplace.

Sometimes I do wonder if right now I can sense some of the common ailments that most of them and most people feel upon reaching 40. Or I may just be ignoring the truths of those senses. Well, my hair is still black. I can still run as fast as I can. I can still laugh at the top of my lungs. I can still go mountain climbing. My teeth are still intact and complete. I don’t frequently complain of joint aches, etc.. I still don’t need eyeglasses and I’m not yet a “walking pharmacy.” (lol)…

Of course I won’t deny that I do observe changes in my body. How about my memory? Do I frequently forget simple things that I do? Maybe. Is my skin still tight? It’s beginning to sag. I now also wear a “salbabida” haha… I hope I won’t look like a squash after a decade…I now grow freckles and little black spots on my face, hands and legs. My cheekbones are beginning to pop out…iiiiwwww!

And, of course we are just mortal beings so that at 39 or 40, the body has naturally completed the needed turns that it must have undergone and thus has to start another turn for another physical progress. It is a fact that physiologically and biochemically, the body deteriorates in age prompting it to feel several ailments that sometimes shove others to become either nerds or absurd.

Nobody in this planet has ever yet found the fountain of youth except for Benjamin Button!

THE GAME OF THE DEVIL

2010-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today, May 10, 2010, was the chosen date for all qualified Filipino voters to participate in the devil’s game and the day to decide whom the final owners of seats would be to run the house of sworn statements made to be broken.

Promises and allusions have already been publicized since December 2009 like ending poverty. Who could really end poverty? Tunay na mahirap. Who is really a true mahirap? A true friend. Is there really a true friend when playing the devil’s game? Many jobs will be opened. Questionable? Is it so easy? In reality, kailangan pa ang basbas ng ninong o ninang (na politiko) eh before you get a job. If you don’t have that what they call, “The Evil’s Plus Factor!” it is very difficult to land a deserving job or get promoted in the government even if your credentials speak so well. A true servant. Yes, a true servant of greed, fame, deceit and gory.

At this very hour, as casting of votes are going on, treacheries and some more treacheries are rising above the scale, and lives, be they innocents or partakers, are expected to be sacrificed in the name of the game. And yes, this is the devil’s game!

I did take my part in the game this morning putting my trust to those imps I know though are lesser evils.

WHY DO THE POOR GET POORER AND THE RICH GET RICHER?

2010-05-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

Many times when I get locked into an underprivileged situation, I usually drop down to a seat and ask the same question to the air around me. I was born in a poor family in a poor province in a poor Philippines so I know very much how it is to be so materially poor.

Watching or thinking about the rich-poor gap here in our very dear Philippines, I generally arrive to several answers some of course are just hypothetical. However, one reality is that when you go to the poor and do actually listen to them talk, they talk about money, money, money, that they want money or that they do not have money, and for some they want this and that new gadget/s, new thing/s, and getting rich overnight. But the problem is: They refuse to work hard! If they want work, they want one that promises big returns of a small investment. Because of that money that they direly want to get hold of, they invest in gamble games. Jueteng, lotto, cockfighting, and little casinos to name a few are hotcakes on the streets promising them lumps of money. If not, they pounce on numerous loans without wise plans of ventures treading them more heavily into debts.

Both the poor and the rich are given an EQUAL PRIVILEGE of spending 24 hours a day with what they like. But what do you observe? If not talking about money, the poor people can afford to just sit down the whole afternoon busy doing nothing but tsismis or playing tong-its. On the other hand, if you listen to the rich people talk, they talk about work and so much work to be done, ideas and other opportunities for work.

These situations are just among the few answers to the question above but if these lifestyles were slowly corrected then would contribute a lot to the closing of the burgeoning gap between the rich and the poor - Lifestyle Discipline – and it still requires hard work.

EASY VS DIFFICULT

2010-04-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

(Lifted from the Feature Articles Section of the ADZ UNLIMITED an Ads Paper from the column: Thoughts to Ponder by Virgie Milan, March 2010. page 7).

Easy is to get a place in someone’s address book; Difficult is to get a place in someone’s heart.

Easy is to judge the mistakes of someone; Difficult is to recognize your own mistakes.

Easy is to talk without thinking; Difficult is to refrain the tongue.

Easy is to hurt someone who loves us; Difficult is to heal the wound.

Easy is to forgive others; Difficult is to ask forgiveness.

Easy is to set rules; Difficult is to follow them.

Easy is to dream every night; Difficult is to fight for a dream.

Easy is to show victory; Difficult is to assume defeat with dignity.

Easy is to admire a full moon; Difficult is to see the other side.

Easy is to stumble with a stone; Difficult is to get up.

Easy is to enjoy life everyday; Difficult is to give its real value.

Easy is to promise something to someone; Difficult is to fulfill that promise.

Easy is to say we love; Difficult is to show it everyday.

Easy is to criticize others; Difficult is to improve oneself.

Easy is to make mistakes; Difficult is to learn from them.

Easy is to weep for a lost love; Difficult is to take care of it so you won’t lose it.

Easy is to think about improving; Difficult is to stop thinking about it and putting it into action.

Easy is to receive; Difficult is to give.

Easy is to keep friendship with words; Difficult is to keep it with meanings.

MOST BEAUTIFUL ADVICE

2010-04-28T06:17:00.002-07:00

(Lifted from the Feature Articles Section of the ADZ UNLIMITED an Ads Paper from the column: Thoughts to Ponder by Virgie Milan, March 2010. page 7).

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.’

Here are right steps to take:

Pray.
Go to bed on time.
Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
Say NO to projects that won’t fit into your time schedules or that will compromise your mental health.
Delegate tasks to capable others.
Simplify and unclutter your life.
Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many).
Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
Take one day at a time.
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.
Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in your garden, extra stamps, etc.
K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut!). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
Do something for the kid in you every day.
Carry a Bible with you to read waiting in line.
Get enough rest.
Eat right.
Get organized so everything has its place.
Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
Write down thoughts and inspirations.
Every day, find time to be alone.
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.
Make friends with Godly people.
Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good, ‘thank you Jesus.’
Laugh.
Laugh some more!
Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
Be kind to unkind people. They probably need it the most.
Sit on your ego.
Talk less, listen more. (That’s why we have two ears and one mouth! Italics mine.)
Slow down.
Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
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.

MY PRESIDENT

2010-03-31T22:26:00.000-07:00

“Mama, whom will you vote soon as our president?” my daughter seriously asked me about a month ago. Not yet certain that time of whom I would really vote I just answered her, *“Candidate A”. “Why?’ she asked again. “Because I believe in his capabilities.” I replied. “How about you? Who is your bet?” I asked her back. *“Candidate C” she said. “Why?” I also asked her. “I don’t like your candidate even if he says he is the answer to all our problems. You see I memorized those songs about him but I don’t like him,” then she sang one of the popular infomercial songs to prove she really knows the song. “I would ask you rather to vote *Candidate C,” she continued to tell me. “Why he? Did someone tell you that you support *Candidate C?” I questioned her but she said she just wanted the person and no one ever had told her to like that candidate. She was not able to explain fully why she wanted *Candidate C to become the next Philippine president.

My daughter is now eight years old and just like many others of her age or even younger, who are still years behind the voting age in our country, they know how to gauge the capabilities of those popular people who are running for political seats. They have their own reasons influenced mostly outside their homes. If not for a lot of TV infomercials, they are influenced by what their schoolmates tell them, their elders in the community and some discussions that they hear around them. Children could pick up a lot of information through their own ways in what we adults consider as still their small worlds. I never told my daughter whom to vote as president neither my husband. I don’t even know whom my husband would soon vote. I was just somewhat speechless when my daughter suddenly asked me that question. She has her own very reasons why she opts for her candidate.

Yesterday, I asked again my daughter of her president. She still sticks to her *Candidate C .

*Actual names during the conversation are withheld on this site.

DR. MALUNGGGAY

2010-03-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

Just like the camote and sayote (in Benguet and Mt. Province), many would say that malunggay is a poor man’s food. This raison d’ etre may be because it is just boiled for a few minutes with a dash of salt and presto! it is a viand. Or, maybe because it is easily grown and is commonly seen in the tropic belts so that meat eaters and people who depend too much on highly processed food consider it so. However, it is very much savored in countries mostly in Asia.

I haven’t met Dr. Malunggay in my childhood days because it does not thrive in cool places. (I grew up in the cold mountains where vegetation is different from those in the low lying areas). I now live in the Ilocos Regions, so I had to teach my taste buds tang vegeplants in hot areas at the start. I finally got inloved however, with Dr. Malunggay.

When I did my MS Graduate Study, Dr. Malunggay was my frequent companion in our dormitory kitchen. I remember very well that while cleaning and separating the small oval leaves from the petiolets, sorts of stories would quickly spring up about it from my kitchen mates. My kitchen buddies before aside from Filipinos were from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar and they have their own names for Dr. Malunggay. They have their own way also of preparing it. It was then that my brain subconsciously committed to my memory its Scientific Name, Moringa oleifera Lam. so we could understand each other when entertainingly asked of what to cook for dinner on such a day. All what I knew of the plant’s name before was just a malunggay tree called horse radish tree in English.

It was in that kitchen also that I learned that the Cebuanos call the plant kamunggay when Ilocanos call it marunggay. I learned also that the Tagalogs and Visayans do not eat the pods while both the leaves and pods are a delight in the Ilocano dish. The Tagalogs usually associate the leaves for tinola, a menu of chicken and unripe papaya. The Visayans cook it with much water, a pinch of salt and a little of ginger and call it bulanglang. Some prepare it with squash and coconut milk especially in the Southern Tagalog Region.

Aside from malunggay leaves however, I often saw my foreign kitchen comrades particularly those from Laos and Thailand relishing tender shoots of a certain wild vine of the cucumber family found growing a lot in the vicinity of our University. Wow, I also found it so yummy! So, I also gathered shoots of this weed with the malunggay leaves, camote tops and spinach freely growing at the side and back areas of our dormitory.

As much claimed today, Dr. Malunggay is so wealthy of minerals needed in the human body .It is now available in drugstores in capsule forms for the reasons, one: is to help curb malnourishment in the Philippines, a program of the DOH, two: to add claimed minerals to health of people who do not consider greens on their plates.

And, given a time I would go back and thank again those leaves that lusciously grew around our dorm! It helped me not only in my budget during those times (hahahaha) but also in maintaining my health aglow! Besides, I was able to influence some of my meat-eating buddies to include those weeds on their diets (hahaha again!) even if they amusingly called me "Miss Damo." wahahaha!

NAN KAWEW

2010-02-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

Nan kawew ay kanan da id Sagada
Ay ma-inom nan danum nan aboboa na
Carnivorous plant ay kanan di syentista
Tay lamok ya baban-eg ay insekto et kanena.

Mailiwak is kaungungak
Tay no umey kami id Maney
Et siya enak anapen no maewewak
Mang-ep-ep is ewew enggana sumaa kami.

Laton baw ta idwani
Maadal amin di mulmula ay naklasi
Et siya ennak nangamoan mampay
Ay nan kawew et dandani maamas obpay.

Ilaen tako pud ay kakailyan id Ganduyan
Ta adi tako pud baybay-an
Nan nayda mula ay kakaisuna
Ay tumubtubo isnan entako lota.

Aywanan tako daida, tay ilan yo pud nan alumani
Agsop, nging-iyaw, sengang ya kitkit-il
Ay esa pay ngen ammon di uungung-a
Amin datona no is kawakgatana?

A Doctor’s Price

2010-01-10T19:04:00.000-08:00

Because of an inflamed pharynx and larynx caused by many things to enumerate during the Christmas and Yuletide holidays (hehe, really?!!), I lost my voice again to a sore throat. Unknowingly I also had my pharynx infected causing some choking sensations when I swallowed. I tolerated this condition for 5 days so that on the 6^th day when the pain was on its worst, I went to the District Hospital in our place for check-up. I went early in the morning thinking that there would be many patients on the waiting when I would leave a little bit later. Well, an early bird really catches an early worm. I was the second patient on line that morning (although we were only five patients that time until I left the hospital). The annoying intern student nurses were the ones who filled the OPD-ER. They were the ones assigned to get some information from patients before they are finally ushered to the doctor’s station. I waited until 8:00 when the Cashier’s Office would be opened and when the Doctor on duty would arrive.

A few minutes past 8:00, a lady doctor arrived who was somewhat suplada. Then the ball started to roll. The first patient was called into her room and know what? - was out just after one minute. Then my turn came. I entered the room and without waiting for me to sit down, she asked me what was my problem. I told her of my throat trouble then she asked me to open my mouth. She just made a quick look without using any light. I wonder what she glanced at! Did she have bionic eyes? What I expected of a doctor when diagnosing a throat illness is a thorough detail. She then immediately, wrote her prescription on her list, gave it to me and told me not to drink cold water. That was it. I was out by just around one minute and a few more seconds than the first patient. And she proved she was really suplada! I didn’t know what those pills she prescribed me because I didn’t buy them anyway. CONSULTATION FEE: P30.00

With great dismay, I hailed a jeepney ride to the city while grumbling to myself of how stupid I am to be trusting yet this hospital and why did I not go directly to the city (around 30 minutes ride from that district hospital) and see an EENT specialist! I made my time useless that morning. Anyhow, I went directly to a private hospital in the city and looked for a specialist on EENT. I found one and patiently hanged around for my turn as he had many patients waiting.

The doctor was smiling when I entered his room. He asked me many details of what I ate and what I did recently. He brought out his pen light and a spatula and looked into my throat. He pulled my tongue a little bit and asked me to squeak out a high-pitched tone. He even knew I was choking which I really did. He told me to have a complete voice rest for 3-5 days and if I wanted to say something, I should write it on a sheet of paper. Wow! What a punishment! He told me things to do and things not to do if I wanted to have a complete recovery. He even asked me to have a chest x-ray since as he said, frequent sore throats are sometimes associated with abnormalities in the lungs. He prescribed me antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-colds and should go back to see him after 5 days. CONSULTATION FEE: P300.00

THEIR LITTLE PRAYERS

2009-12-22T04:26:00.001-08:00

My daughter woke up at 6:30 in the morning and as usual started off into the streets (our house is just along the baranggay road). After a couple of hours she came back with a bunch of kids (around fifteen of them ages 4-11) announcing that she invited the children because her Mama would teach a Bible Study. It was the third Saturday of November 2008.

I then prepared our front porch for them to settle down. I was a little bit nervous. I haven’t tried to teach a Sunday school in my whole life and here I am facing children who know me well in our barrio as a stern woman. I started the morning with them about the love of Jesus supported by verses in the Bible. We sang short choruses then tried to make the activity a series so they would be excited to come every Saturday.

Enthused by how a church in Laguna I had attended before of their deep concern for children who needed to know the true love of God, I asked my daughter the day before she brought these kids in our house if she would be willing to help me start a Bible Lesson for children in our barrio. (Jesus said “…Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.” “And he took them up in his arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.” – Mark 10:14, 16). This was the first day I started a Children’s Bible Study in our house.

In July of this year, I was able to usher these kids to a Fundamental Baptist Church about 5-6 kilometers away from our barrio. I usually go with them in their ride to the church and leave them there while I go to San Fernando to my church. One of the members of this said church that offered her passenger jeep to haul children and some members to and back from nearby barrios during Sundays was able to include our place in its route.

Five to six months after the Bible Study was started however, I noticed that some of the former children, who came, stopped attending while some just occasionally visited. I learned later that their parents did not permit them because they suspect our Bible Study as an initial activity to change their religion. Some parents also thought that I’m just teaching their kids some non-sense stuffs. This came about when I had to let the children identify themselves the bad versus the good values and which ones to keep and which ones to put away particularly the “washing of mouths from rubbish lingo” typical in the mouths of barrio people. Until now however, I accept, I am in difficulty checking the children in this said area because it is a normal idiom at their own homes. We do an activity that we call, “Values Check”. Before I tell them stories about Jesus or stories of people in the Bible, we usually check each ones personality and ethics and have to let go of unnecessary attitudes and some garbage that were harbored during the week. I tell them to also tell these taken for granted values to their parents.

Just as freeing the mouth of scraps, these kids are also regularly reminded of keeping their surroundings free of refuse one example of which is by simply putting candy wrappers into their pockets or bags if there are no trash bins available in the vicinity. With these simple moral codes that each one should live with whether a child or not, I was not spared of criticisms though. I am looked at by some parents as just one of the “pretending saints” who try to correct their children of rubbish standards by using the Bible.

During the third quarter of this calendar year, I involved these children (about 4-7 of them who regularly attended the Bible Study to date) in a prayer movement. I asked them to think of at least one concern and pray for it regularly in their own homes until the next Saturday that we would meet. Later, I told them that I would help them in their prayers so I listed each child’s prayer requests. (From time to time then, I ask them for their prayer requests which I include in my prayer list). I couldn’t describe what I felt during the first time I took and listed their requests. It was that time that I again realized how broken homes are today. Physically, yes, homes in the Philippines especially in the barrios are united but are truly broken in terms of emotions.

The following is a list I picked up from among the requests, which I perceive as prayers that need to be really prayed for. I was surprised that two little girls in the group (ages 4 and 7) have one each of the following requests:

Parents NOT TO ALWAYS quarrel over money
A prayer for a mother to stop smoking, getting drunk and stop betting in “jueteng”
A prayer for parents to stop using bad words especially the “PI’s” common in Philippine country sides
A prayer for a mother to stop hating a neighbor that often results to neighbors’ quarrel/s
A prayer for parents to stop belittling their children’s capabilities and worst coupled with filthy language
A prayer for fathers to stop drinking and smoking

All of these scenarios as the children claim keep them feel not loved enough because of tensions that they regularly witness around their small worlds. One of the above problems howver, did not spare my daughter who requested for fervent prayers for his Dad to stop his gambling hobby and getting drunk (her father chose to go back to his old ways so that many times I flood myself with millions of “why” questions. I also feel at times that my prayers are just in vain).

It is very obvious that these kids only wanted a peace and loving home. In fact, it is their entire Christmas wish!

Our lessons regarding prayers were I consider really a great change that I see in these children. For example, December is a month of singing carols when some of these kids including my daughter were in our front yard one early evening. They were practicing Christmas carols that they would later sing to some houses in the neighborhood. I got touched when I heard one of them say, “We should pray first, before we go.” I slowly sneaked a look at them and they were really in prayers, the eldest of the group leading it. They prayed particularly for protection.

At this moment, it is my fervent prayer that I will still have that STRENGTH as long as I live TO KEEP ON PRAYING not only for my concerns but more than ever for the “little” but serious prayer requests of these kids that come to our house and play in our front yard and strength to also pray for other people who need prayers. (“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; … The Lord of host is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. - Psalm 46:1-2 & 7. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” – John 15:16)

Ang Pagkakalat ng Mukha

2009-08-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

I love adventure and that's for sure.
Sometimes I go spelunking...

...watch mountains from afar and wonder how
to climb it...

... pose with classmates...

... and really climb mountains with friends...

... thank Our Maker who made my feet that
carry me to wherever my pituitary glands
command me to go...

... envy some friends who reached the peak
(called Peak 3) of Mt. Makiling...

...laugh at a friend who can be either a monkey
or a lizard...

...get a pose with my fellow Octoberians/Librans
who would naturally flock together...

... find time to tutor some foreigners and their
children for an additional allowance, haha! This
girl is one among them...

... watch friends who graduate. well, that's life,
they have to graduate 'coz they completed their
degrees ahead of me...

... take pose with the graduates of 2006...

... join unexpected 'bulagahan" at the LBSquare.
Kasalanan ng mga "hayup" brothers...

... watch a friend go kengkoy kahit time
of graduation na...

... watch the Philippine flag fly at the
middle of a forest...

... feel proud as a Filipino...

... see one evidence of years going by,
we can't stop it...

...wonder when will we leave this world
just like this tree...

... get a time to smile with friends at the NACP...

... give a candid look? ...

... stretch on a cold, misty and cloudy
morning in the mountains...

... allow myself to go in communion with God
with views like this during climbs to mountains...

... taste a brunch in the mountains...

... accomplish my obligations as student of course...

...smile with co-residents at theInternational
House in December 2007...

... take a time with the mythical and famous
Pagsanjan Falls!!!!....

...give a smile with Rosc...

... capture an image of my friend who always
bring me to a jolt every time it catches
"gamu-gamo" and other nocturnal insects outside
my window screen...

... give a happy face on a sports fest day with IHRAns...

... let you see our smile with Maidz on one Christmas...

...wonder why a horse and a horseman walks
along the beach and not on the mountsins,
who would have thought of it!!!...

... have lunch! Who are they?...

... Oh!...

... thank Sharon sa pagkain. Salamat din kay
Ryan whose room always serves as the group's
dining room...

... visit a man-made lake with beautiful huts
alongside...

... take a walk to the mudspring with arvin,
edwin and lilia (not in the picture)...

... get a pose after an awful, depressing afternoon!
My first semester in the University. I was still able
to get a pose with these mini-houses...

... visit Biak-na-Bato...

... wonder if may sumpa ba talaga itong carabao
park?...

... view Mt. Pico de Loro from Mt. Marami...

... pose on top of rocky Mt. Marami...

...watch our tents down...

... gather many questions on why this Dau tree
reached the "crime scene"...

... post this image in my blog of the dear Adobo of
IH who died on July 31, 2009...

... watch and take a pose with the snow fall in summer....

... hhhhmmm...

...ows!...

... nothing! just wanted to pose with these
flowers...

... carbon sequestration, climate change,
carbon emission broker, etc... it's what
I've heard...

... hhhmmm...

... give a big victory sign to say "hey friends,
I'm at Mt. Makulot"...

... always get amazed when I see this heavy
fruiting Bignay tree...

... enjoy being blown along with tall grasses by
strong winds in Mt. Makulot with Vero...

... see God's beauty at the peak of mountains...

... say "I was here also"...

... feel painful to pack things and say goodbye
when it's time to...

...see prices of items at a bookshop and wonder
did this man really feed the world - with rice?!...

... miss a regular view when I visit the IRRI library...

... enjoy watching kids play jack and stone?
My daughter with her playmates...

... "Hi, I'm Freya with my Igorot legs, anyone?
Can't be hidden. My mama gave it to me!"...lol

... dare if you wanna look down the sea with me?
That is, if you are brave like me!!!...

... shout to Vero to be extra careful...

... I can't explain fully my feelings when I'm
on top of the mountain!...

... show you through this picture the beauty of God's
handicraft. It's so beautiful!...

... "cook your food and leave no litters"...

...give a sign of victory climb to Mt. Makulot!...

... pose with Jaime's "kids" at the LWBC...

... let's party...

... let you know that I'm on the top of the, hhmm,
hhmmm... rock with friends...

... "anyway I'm here in Luzon. My students do
not know that their instructor is as kengkoy
as this"....

... brave Mt. Marami...

... have to accomplish our
duties as officers of IHRA...

... a place full of.....

... give a morning pose with acquaintances from Batanes
to Zamboanga... Thank you, thank you!

(Untitled)

2009-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

(About three weeks ago, I received an elegantly designed wedding card from a distant friend. Today is his wedding day. What can I say then?: "Congratulations my friend and God bless. Thank you very much for still remembering me and utmost for your friendship. I gave you this poem three years ago in response to the one you composed for me and 'tis only now that I'm going to post it through this blog, hehehe...")

by: YBA - 8/25/2006

From North to South and from East to West

The world contains culture so vast

And so the skin, go red and white

Black, yellow, brown adds to the light.

Some can go somewhere out there

But others can’t so they stay behind

Privileged is he who flies and roams

To hear the truth and meet the world.

A story then starts to build a line

Like these phrases they take so fine:

“They have but I have none”

“I’ll go to sleep ‘coz 1+1 is equals one.”

“The sun never rises from the West

Nor does it ever settle to the East.”

“How come and why like that?”

“Bye, bye! Take care,” and just like what?

Off to Marinduque from out of plan

Three days, four nights same shirt and pant.

But just relax, explore, enjoy and have some fun

Simply like the dance plays of Shahrukh Khan.

India, America and the Philippines

With intrigues and mysteries so filled it seems

Laughter, naughtiness and arguments all won

Yet LB Square’s still a place of perfect fun.

And now - all these lines I know of one

Who’ll leave them all at the IH walls.

Friends he met and again they’re gone

Like the river blue that flows and rolls.

In Memory of Adobo Who returned to Dust on July 31, 2009

2009-07-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

JESSIE GRADUATING

2009-06-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

Something I find amusing that was written by one of my amusing friends three years ago hehehe...

by: Annavarapu Vijay Bharat Sastri 3/24/2006

International House, UP Los Baños, Laguna

The celebration of Jessie graduating

was followed by partying,

The party started in IC’s by sitting and chatting,

But this way of celebrating

the party of Jessie graduating was very boring

So, we started deciding

Where to celebrate the party of Jessie graduating.

LB Square was very catching

To celebrate the party of Jessie graduating

I started partying by Buko Pandan drinking

But I was not enjoying Buko Pandan drinking

Then my mind needed some kicking,

Because Jessie is graduating.

Real party started by beer ordering

Because Jessie is graduating

Then on my talkings they started laughing.

Finally, Ate Mimi, Michelle and Jen

Went home safely by our escorting.

Then I started vomiting

Because of drinking.

Siyempre Jessie is graduating.

Today my heart is aching

Not because Jessie is graduating

But because Jessie will be leaving

And I will be crying.

I STAND IN AWE OF YOU

2009-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

-yolanda b. botigan 5-27-09-

I stand in awe of You O God

I lift my hands and head up high in the heavens

In sincere praise and worship of You my Lord

My inner being cannot contain my soul

As warmth and stillness flow so peacefully, Lord

My tears roll down in Your presence

Through the emeralds and cool, fresh air

The sun rays that form

Beams of blue, red and yellow

Through trees on a misty morning

The vibrant mountain flowers

The dews on trees and grasses that unexpectedly

Drop and wet my skin

The birds, their magnificent sight

And their blissful echoes of pipes and twitters

The soft hush, hush of crystal waters

That quietly washes down the rocky brook

The sight of cows and horses

That happily graze on luxuriant greens

The calves and colts that run and jump

Moo and shout, warn and mock around the bend

While the lazy wind takes its part

In my knowing You more deeply O Lord

My soul sings praises for You

I give You my heart while

I stand in awe of You O God!

Centennial Graduation Bloopers Cum Diary

2009-04-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

(April 24-25, 2009 - 37th commencement exercises as well as centennial celebration of the foundation of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna)

April 24, 2009 – 1:00 p.m. – Pagod ako sa kakatakbo to and from SU, ACCI, Grove, Robinson’s for payments, room reservations, sa pagbili ng mga pinapabili, habilin, at etc.. since 8:00 kaninang umaga. Dumating ako ng IH ng 5:00 a.m. na walang tulog. Buti na lang at dito na si Tito with his sister na dumating pa raw kahapon ng 5:00 a.m. din all the way from Eastern Samar. He let me take a rest sa kanilang room sa Guest House ng IH while they went for their 6:00 mass sa St. Therese. Hindi na rin ako naka-attend ng Testimonial for Graduates sa Agronomy kaninang 9:00 a.m.

Took my lunch then immediately went to Geofe’s and Lizet’s room to iron our toga with Venus. Wow! Akala ko it would just take me 10 minutes to iron the two! It took me exactly one hour! 30 minutes each toga! Hindi pa maayos-ayos ang pagkaplantsa! Wahuhuhu…. After a few minutes na natapos na akong magplantsa –nagbrown out! Then umulan! Aba! Ano ba itong hapon na ito!

Mag-aalas kwatro na. Practice at the grounds starts at 4 pm pero paano makapagpractice eh, umuulan. Practice sana un then diretso na for the Recognition and Hooding ng 6:00 p.m. Anyway, we went down sa lobby ng Umali for the assembly. Aba, eh, ang init! Grabe! Na-aagnas na ang mga make-up hehehe… I saw the dedication talaga sa work ng mga taga Graduate School, sina Ma’m Pinky, Ma’m Cha, Ma’m Connie, Ma’m Dina at si Ate Luz. Pawisan silang nag-aayos ng mga dapat ayusin para matuwid ang flow ng program.

Buti na lang may snack before the start of the program. Gutom din ang mga gagraduate ehe. Sabi ni Jaime na nasa likod ko, “Wow, dinner! Heavy dinner ba yan?” Halatang gutom! Wahaha… At last nakakain na rin kahit nakatayo hohoho… Kumain kami ni Darwin sa malapit ng pintuan sa basement para man lang masimoyan ng kaunting hangin.

The Recognition and Hooding program started at 6:30 p.m. and was finished around 9:00 na ng gabi. Immediately upon the exit of the colors, eh, recessional na iyon, Ma’m Connie announced na sa ilang saglit eh mag-shishift ang lights for the normal power! Wow naman, si dakilang ilaw!!! Natapos na ang dapat tapusin tsaka ka dumating!

Ang grupo naman, nagkita kita after the program para kumain – eh, di sino pa sila? Ang mga muntik nang maiwanan sa biyahe. Ah, eh… biyahe ng 5 years allowed stay sa UPLB ang ibig kong sabihin! (!!!???). Si Darwin, Lizet, Dann Marie at si Jaime. Nadatnan namin si Geofe with her cousin and cousin’s friend sa LBSquare so nakiupo kami sa kanila. At wala pala atang planong kumain itong mga kasama ko. Pero ako, gutom na gutom kaya I had to stand up and order for food. Napatayo rin si Jaime na umorder ng pagkain kasi makikisimpatya raw sa gutom! Nnggiiiiiyyee… Walang nagawa ang iba kundi kumuha rin ng pagkain hehehehe…

After dinner, siyempre, lakad yan pabalik sa IH dorm. It was a cool night. The atmosphere reminded me that I will be missing the place and this group after the graduation. When will I come back again and be with this kengkoy group? No one knows! If ever I will come back for my PhD, it would be with different buddies. It would already be indifferent to be acting like a teenager like how I behave while with these pipol! The children in us always get on the loose when we are all together. I am the eldest in the group but it seems I am the youngest when it comes to kakulitan sa kakengkoyan hahahaha… although magkakalapit naman kami ng edad.. uuuuuuuuhhhh… At ako lang ang may asawa na….

Well, while we walked home, took shots from the carabao park until the grounds of Mariang Banga down the Umali Hall with all kinds of postures. You may ask for hard copies of the images from anyone of us. 12:30 na nang madaling araw nasa labas pa kami. Nauna na si Jaime na umuwi kasi pupunta pa raw sila ng Manila ng 6:00 a.m. kinabukasan bibili ng pang-graduation daw. O sige!

1:30 na ng madaling araw ng April 25 na kaya nung matulog na kami ni Lizet. Sinamahan ako sa transient room ko sa guest house ng IH…. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz…….

April 25, 2009 – 8:30 a.m. – Had some pictures sa likod ng PAS shop with Lizet and Dann Marie. (Dann Marie came all the way from Davao just to attend the graduation with us and her dear friends sa SESAM. She graduated last year). Had our “picture jumps” hahahaha… then left them while I went to see Venus and her sister sa Anest Tower where they checked in. Venus and I had quick things to do na hindi rin natupad kasi mahal pala, (Olive’s Photoshop) and besides, oras na for the preparation for the graduation. Mag-aalasdose na ng tanghali eh dito pa kami sa kung saan-saan. Eh, 2:30 ang assembly time kaya. We parted sa jeep after we bought hair blower each na tig-189.00 pesos hehehe sa Chinese shop near Robinson’s where Maida, Jaime and I bought the same aluminum cups one time last year.

1:00 p.m. – Nag-start na ang lahat magpabeauty kasabay ang pagkulog ng himpapawid na nagbibigay babala na malapit na niyang ibuhos ang kanyang balde-baldeng bendisyon para sa mga centennial graduates ng UP Los Baños.

2:30 p.m. – Umulan na nga. We waited for a few minutes na humupa ng konti ang ulan before we went down infront of the Umali Building. We were ordered by the Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Oscar B. Zamora to proceed to SU where we waited again for further directions kasi umuulan pa rin. Mag-aalas kwatro na naman kagaya kahapon, we proceeded towards Baker Hall for the final assembly. Naawa uli ako sa mga staff ng GS na basa na ang dala nilang listahan at program sa pagchecheck ng kung sino ang dapat nasa linya. They checked 3x just to make sure everybody and everything is in order. Kagabi sa Recognition at Hooding, pawisan sila kasi nga brown out, ngayon basang-basa sila, pero whatever happens, they do it because of duty and service. I salute you all people from the Graduate School.

I didn’t bring with me my umbrella kaya ako nakisilong sa mga katabi ko kahit di ko kakilala.. (wa hiya.. haha).

6:00 p.m. – Ayan na. Nagsimula na rin ang procession. Umaambon-ambon na lang din kaya okey nang mag-smile sa shots na kinukunan ng mga nakapuwesto nang mga official photographers. Ang mga graduate students ang pinakalast sa order ng procession so when we finally entered the “sacred ground” na nasilongan ng apat na malalaking parachute and where our seats were waiting for us, aba, eh, naararo na ang daan kaya ayun, mga bagong graduation shoes, lumubog sa putikan! Para naman matest ah, kung gaano naman katibay ang biniling sapatos! Appear tayo jan Jaime!

We finally took our seats nung oras na ng pagpapakilala sa panauhing

pandangal na si Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip. Grabe, ang sarap umupo. Pagod na pagod ang mga binti ko sa kakatayo mula pa nung 2:30 p.m. At last makapagpahinga na rin yung conductor ng banda, kung tama na banda ba ang mga nasa stage playing the instruments na tila kanina pang magsimula ang prosesyunal ay nagsimula na rin siyang mag-conduct exerting all her energy swaying her graceful hands just so that the musical background stays alive. (Iba yata ang grupo ng UPLB Chorale Ensemble).

The message of the guest speaker was about his managing the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD-MRI), an organization which he himself founded. It is providing microcredits mostly to marginalized women clients. At ang tumatak sa isipan ko hanggang ngayon na sinabi niya ay ang huwag mag-habol sa mga gadgets na lumalabas ngayon from the fast competition in new technologies.

Then came the awarding of diplomas. Buti na lang nung lumalalim na ang ceremony kasabay ang paglalim ng gabi, tumigil na rin ang medyo malakas-lakas na pag-ambon. Nagsimula na naman mag-conduct yung slim and energetic lady para sa marching music sa pag-akyat ng mga graduates sa stage. Bilib naman ako sa energy ng lady na yon!

I checked the time, it was 8:15. Parang kalahati pa lang ang natapos nang umakyat sa stage! Nakakabore din palang gumraduate heheheh… Hindi, naiinip kasi ako sa matagal na nakaupo. 9:00 na yata or a few minutes past pa nung tawagin na ang mga graduate students. At last, nakaakyat na rin sa stage to shake the hands of the Chancellor na tila hindi pa pagod.

Immediately, upon the mention of the name of the last graduate student to go up the stage, Mr. Jeric S. Alcala, B. S. Applied Mathematics, summa cum laude, delivered his graduation message. It was a humorous, challenging and simple message that almost everyone appreciated. I say that it was a very real, humble story that he shared to the graduates. The boy hails from Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

This centennial graduation was lead by two summa cum laude. The other one is Aidel Paul G. Belamide, BA in Communication Arts.

Natapos ang ceremonies around 9:30 p.m. Graduate na si Yoli, at last!

10:30 p.m. – Sinauli namin nila Venus, Geofe at Darwin ang mga toga namin sa Baker Hall before we went out for late dinner sa LBSquare. Were in our quarters around 12 midnight. I had to pack my things again… Bye, bye UPLB…

The Significance of Insignificant

2009-04-10T04:57:00.000-07:00

“If you focus yourself in the Bible would make you a very insignificant one in society. You are not encouraged to improve in your career. You would just stay small as a pinhead in your place.”

I was taken aback upon hearing this comment one time from one among the respected officials I had lunch with. Honestly, I wanted to comment and say, “yes you are really very insignificant on what the world calls significant but you are highly significant on what God calls a significant world,” but a “worldly respect” set my lips zipped. I faintly smiled back instead.

Have I questioned myself before since the time I surrendered my life to the Lordship of Christ of my significance to Him if I become His child?

I pray to my God who is mentioned in the Holy Bible. I ask Him to answer my prayers. I request Him to grant my needs. I worship Him. I praise Him. I adore Him and thank Him for everything He gives and do in my everyday life. I love Him and will always love Him. I keep my faith in Him. All of these I do because I am highly significant in Him and in a world where I live. I am in my freewill to be so and nobody nor nothing controls nor dictates me to believe that I am highly significant in this world while focusing my life in the Bible. Life may seem so cruel though but I would never exchange my significance in Him for anything.

It never crossed my mind to think that I will be insignificant if I focus my life in the Bible which means that I will believe in my God Jesus Christ, pray to Him and read His words. The more I focus on Him the more significant the things I do and will do. If I did never focus on Him and on His word, the Bible, then I would never had become His child. I would not have accomplished the things I needed to accomplish. I would never have reached the state where I am today. He never fails me but sad to say that I fail Him.

Is it true that one becomes insignificant if he focuses his life on the Bible? It is a very big lie from the devil! Anyone who believes that he becomes insignificant if he focuses on the Bible perceives the situation in an inverted triangle allowing him and his life in total deceit!

The Beloved Mascot Dog of IH "Adobo"

2009-02-27T03:16:00.000-08:00

Adobo? Adobo! Delicious!

Yes. It's adobo, a savoury Filipino dish but I'm talking about a different adobo. Adobo is the pet dog of residents semesters in and out at the International House (IH) of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. Just like you, when I first learned of his name, I was amused. Later, I asked why and how did he ever got his name. It was a long and funny story however.

No one knows exactly how old the dog is but basing on the story how and when he arrived at the residence hall, I am certain that he is more than 10 years old now.

During my first days of stay in IH I have seen how Adobo was taken cared of by several of the residents. Anything that a dog can eat was always available on his plate. One of the residents Kuya Rene, was his constant company going out for an early morning jog. During my later weeks during my first semester in the hall, I also became fond of Adobo. I usually played with him running and jumping during the late afternoons at the parking lot infront of the hall if not going for an early morning or late afternoon jog. And whenever I came back from the province, he would usually meet me under the mango tree wagging his tail and rolling on the ground happy to welcome me home.

I will never forget our Kuya Cons though as he is fondly called, who had been so caring of the dog when Kuya Rene was out from our hall for weeks or months. I learned great lessons from him through his taking care of dogs and cats. He understands the language of his pets. Whatever his “ulam” is would be also the “ulam” of Adobo and some cats that would stay in the IH kitchen for certain months and slip away for reasons cats would behave. He would always see to it that the dog is fed before he leaves for school. Sometimes I would entertain myself by watching Kuya Cons bathe Adobo and the cat even if they hesitate. While watching him he would lecture me on how to live with cats and dogs, their behaviours and how to handle some of their ill manners.

I would just smile to myself watching him shampoo the dog 2 to 3 times then putting some kind of aromatic gel to finish him off. Then I would laugh aloud sopped up when all of a sudden a clean Adobo with his sweet smell would immediately loose himself away from Kuya Cons and run shaking around then would roll on the grassy ground under the coconut trees infront of the hall or down the parking lot putting himself back to dirt again!

After 2 or 3 of my semesters in the hall, another guy also became so fond of Adobo adding him as one of the masters in the dog’s life. As one of Adobo’s masters, he also became one of my friends for all seasons hahahahaha…. His name is Jaime. He calls himself a guy who lives just on the next door of his neighbor !!!haha.. And...just like Adobo who becomes naughty many times, Jaime becomes one too especially in the YM....

I left IH in November last year after four long years of stay. I left Adobo behind including those people who touched my life. They’ve made my stay in the hall a very memorable one. I still have that nostalgic feeling. And as I see these three names that made Adobo a mascot dog in IH --- they seem to share a common denominator… hahahahahah……Jaime, Peace ha!

The Baby In The Manger

2008-12-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

I ask you a question. Have you ever heard of news during your generation or witnessed a human baby born in a stable or under where animals are kept and placed in a trough or manger?

Answering this question for myself, I haven’t yet. When I gave birth to my now seven-year-old girl, it was in a hospital with a private obstetrician. On the minute light illumined on her form at the delivery room, she was immediately wiped by the doctor’s assistants, wrapped with a sanitized cloth and placed in a small crib in the hospital’s pedia ward for proper SOP’s for newborns before she was finally given to me.

For what on earth then is my giving birth got to do with a baby born in an animal house and placed in a trough or manger?

December is the finale of the year when both colorful decors and lively choruses warm the breeze of the season signifying the celebration of Christmas. This month made it’s way to the details of the story of the nativity as told in the first chapter in the book of Luke of the Holy Bible.

Years ago since I first heard of the nativity, I haven’t felt strangely about it until one particular morning during a new children’s Bible Study held in our house every Saturday that began around mid-November this year with a group of kids from our neighborhood. It was the fourth Bible Study that started with who Jesus is, how He came to earth, what He wants for us and finally about His ministry. When our lesson was about Jesus’s birth, I described the part by how He was conceived until the point of Him being placed on a manger likely with dried hay as bed on a very cold night in a stable where sheep and other ruminants that time were kept and probably with many mosquitoes whizzing around. A strange feeling immediately crept inside me while narrating the story of which deeply touched my being and bringing me into tears. It was a feeling I never experienced before. I was with children about 10 of them aged 4-11 including my very own daughter and I was very certain that they were born in a hospice in the care of birthing aides. If ever one of those kids in front of me got born among cows, goats or horses kept in a stable, I’m sure he/she would have been the top list story in the community and his/her parents might have been the center of unfathomable ridicule. It was at this very point then that I got teary and felt somewhat physically drained. (I managed though to hide my face from the children). I found and felt the truest humility ever of God turning Himself into a human form and born into this world without any assistance from a doctor nor laying down on sterilized birthing accessories.

As a mother having experienced pregnancy, I imagined myself as Mary with my husband Joseph knocking on doors of a strange village on a very cold night praying that someone would shelter us because I was in severe pain laboring for birth. But nobody did so we ended in a cows’ and horses’ shaded corral. We were wearing thick rugs and our feet so dusty. We smell sour because of sweat maybe. With human feelings I pitied myself. I felt so insecure. I felt a tinge of anger against the innkeepers and the villagers. I shed a tear. Then I gave birth. The pain slowly ceased when I heard my baby cry for the very first time. Jesus our God and Saviour was born fully as a human being.

In the context of social science, one can never understand the behavior of a person or group of persons without putting himself in the shoes of the sample vis a vis the sample with the sampler. This situation is a metaphor of God turning Himself into human form. The reason? Because of His unconditional love to you. To me. And to the whole humanity. He loves us very, very much.

Like us though, He experienced hunger. He experienced thirst. He experienced pain. He laughed and cried and even got angry. He was ridiculed. He had to walk kilometers or possibly even miles and miles on mountains, plains and deserts during His ministry. He never slept in a cozy bedroom. He was born not in a palace. Educated not in Harvard University nor at the University of the Philippines nor at the Hebrew University in Israel nor at any prestigious school around the world. Yet He knows all. He knows every detail of your and my system. He knows you and me. He does not do magic yet He can cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the dumb to talk. He is immortal.

To most of the children whom I was telling the story was their first time to hear of the entirety of it. They only know the names of the figurines of the nativity scene that is popularly displayed every December - where there is Joseph and Mary, the baby Jesus, the sheep around and the “three kings” (the children haven’t heard of the wise men) who brought them gifts.

If God had not become a man, I would never understand His sacrifice just to save me from my evil ways. He had to obey death – death on the cross. He is the reason why there is CHRIST in Christmas! He was the baby born on a very cold night in Bethlehem. He was the baby in the trough. He is the Almighty God and I worship Him. Amen.

Playing God or Just Weird?

2008-11-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

Technologies today rapidly change the manner of living into systems that were unimaginable 10 or 20 years ago driving humans to live an odd life eventually changing our world into an uncanny one especially in the empires of computers and biosciences.

Since the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953, researchers continue to operate through their creepy imaginations where newer tools of genetic science are now on the racetrack. Scientists today play God by trying to mix and match almost any unmatchable units of life and try to fit into another genome and finally declaring in the whole universe that they’ve created a new species! Think of the recombinant DNA technology in which a copy of a piece of DNA containing one or few genes then transferred between organisms or "recombined" within an organism. Think of the stem-cell researches that would eventually solve terminal diseases of the human race as claimed. Think of xenotransplantation, an alternative to allotransplantation, that involves transplanting or grafting of animal organs, tissues, or cells to replace failing organs or to treat disease in humans. Researchers however continue to stabilize the rejection problem of transplanting animal organs into the human system. One example of xenotransplantation is the transplanting of a healthy heart of a pig into a human being who has a failing heart to further extend life.

Other examples of somewhat weird products of advanced bioscience researches are transgenic animals that carry foreign genes deliberately inserted into each one’s genome i.e. sheep, cows and goats to express foreign proteins in their milk as well as chickens that synthesize human proteins in their egg whites. Think also of the goat that produces spider silk as raw material for security vests, ropes for towing ships and materials for currency bills. Think of “Dolly” the cloned sheep in 1996. Think of the potato and the tomato that was called pomato, which can bear fruit when fused together. Think of the flavor-savor tomato. Think of the seedless yet still sweet watermelon. Think of the crops and animals that are and were bred so they can resist pests and pathogens or can withstand adverse environments: i.e. BT corn that can resist corn borer, rice and corn that can yield in saline waters, cows and sheep that can give liters and liters of milk or can give leaner meat than fatty meat and many other crops and animals that yield beyond the normal amount, size and weight! Scientists then call these organisms that carry manipulated DNA, Genetically Modified Organisms! And who could have thought that all of these things will practically happen after ten, fifteen or twenty years ago!

I consider the process of how GMO’s produced as eerie because they don’t undergo the normal divine steps of growing. There’s human manipulation! The impossible square peg that can’t fit into a round one can now be disproved! (The main goal however of crop and animal biotechnology researches as scientists claim is increased food security for the growing population).

And…as my Mangyan friend once jokingly told me of his weird imagination - when will rice breeders breed a rice variety that will yield single large grains so that each grain could fit into a large cooking pot enough to feed a family of twelve in one meal?! It would be an amazing research! Well, it all seems that nothing is impossible these days my friend! There’d be no more rice crisis in the Philippines if that would be so, where even the headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute is based! When that time comes though if I would still be alive, hope I won’t get frightened if I’ll see one!

Long Walk

2008-10-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

I woke up late on the morning of October 14th and found messages and missed calls in my cell phone. They were messages greeting me because it was my birthdayyyeeyyyeyyey....!!!! It was my 37th birthday!!!

I was however surprised to receive greetings from around mid-day from two dear friends whom I thought all the while have forgotten me because I only had occasional communication with them for the past 2 to 5 years. They spared few minutes of their time just to either call or send text message of their greetings. One even tauntingly asked me, "Hey Yoli, how old are you now?"

Well, friends I just left the toe pad still a few meters away and have yet a long walk to the finish line.

I am one among few people who do not pay much attention to birthdays, special holidays and anniversaries. Besides, the meaning of these occasions are truly convoluted especially at this very generation. Most of the time I would just give thanks to the Lord and let the day pass by.

October 14 was a rainy day in Los Baños (where I was that time) so when one of my long time friends called, I mentioned to him about the day. I was told however that the rain was a blessing and implies more blessings to pour for me onthat very particular day! All I was able to say back to him was my sincere thanks. Thanks that I have friends like him who truly cares and who are very thoughtful even if I'm not and was not thoughtful enough to them. And no matter how distant we all are from each other.

Looking back then to those years that passed in my life allows myself for re-assessment. I questioned myself again as I usually do. Who am I now? Where am I now? Where do I and should I continue my walk from here?

I am a weak vessel prone to sorts of dangers along my walkway. Many times i slipped to the wrong path. Thanks though to the grace of God that restores me and stay right. If I weigh the failures in my life versus the triumphs would bring the scale into a diagonal position with the failures outbalancing the triumphs at nearly 100%.

But how did I respond to all of those failures until today? I found out though that those questions along the years in my long walk are answered with questions also. How many people have I hurt because of my insensitivity, uncaring ways, thoughtlessness, impatience and wrong values? Was I able to restore old friendships? How did I and do I treat my parents, my brothers and sisters, my husband, my daughter, my neighbors, my friends and everybody I meet and have met? How do I talk? How do I tell jokes and respond to filthy jokes? How do I care for myself or for my health? For my surroundings/environment? And most of all, how is my present personal relationship with the Lord?

oOo

TSISMIS

2008-09-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

Lately, I got messed up with four of my dorm mates because of our very own offensive manners during our past daily conversations. The end result? - piles of stories were fabricated not only against me but to each of the five of us. In the first place though, I didn't guard my tongue. I allowed myself to wallow with them in the misfortunes of others and even helped them build the fire by wrongly treating some personalities through our conversations or through --- TSISMIS! (character assassinations). The result? -- battling eyes on the hallway, straight face, hatred and the over-all reaction? --- 'DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER" situation! Again -- PRIDE is underway!

Right now, I'm very much puzzled of how well engineered stories and situations come surprisingly tumbling down in front of me because I'm accused as the doer or the one who said such statements. I just kept and keep quiet, observed and observe and listened and listen more of what was and is still going to happen. In fact, I have heard many absurd character assassinations against other people from the very own mouths of these four individuals themselves. I just dropped them all to the trash bins. No need to recall them even if some of these individuals demand me to retell those tsismis against them that the other person they think have told the tsismis.

As of now, double-edged tongues still keep fabricating stories which are being hurled back against either each one of the five of us. Even my established freindship/s in the dorm were and are obviously affected! for whatever motives do these people wanted makes me even more puzzled. I don't understand it at all!!!

This situation I got into grieves my Maker a lot just like the situations during those long walks in my 37 years. But thanks for His saving grace that restores me always. It is my fervent prayer then to the Lord that from now on, I will allow Him to fully control the throne of my life and ask Him for forgiveness and for Him to teach me more how to understand the deeper meaning of forgiveness, for Him to take my hands and lead me more into His righteousness, for Him to help me guard, control and use my tongue in the proper way (James 3:1-12), for Him to help me walk the (long) way ahead with right attitude.

PSALM 139

2008-09-28T02:31:00.000-07:00

A Psalm of David in the King James Version

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising;

thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down,

and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue,

but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before,

and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?

Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

even there shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;

but the night shineth as the day:

the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvelous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;

and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:

when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:

depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly,

and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?

And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred:

I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:

and see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Researchers Challenge Assumptions Of GMO Agriculture or Feeding the World Without Genetic Engineering

2008-08-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

Posting here an article about the challenge that Rex Bernardo and Jianming Yu wanted to prove in accelerating "classical breeding through genetic analysis and selection of existing natural diversity in various crops without having to resort to alien species". It is an article published by Paul Schaefer in the agriculture sector of the Environmental News Network (ENN).

Manhatten, Kansas - A researcher is challenging the assumption that genetically engineered plants are the great scientific and technological revolution in agriculture and the only efficient and cheap way to feed a growing population. They are working on non-GMO methods to accelerate plant breeding. It's called "marker-assisted selection" (MAS). The research is focused on breeding methodology, finding more efficient ways to breed better varieties of corn, sorghum, wheat or barley that yield higher, require less irrigation and are resistant to diseases in farmers' fields. The work was recently published in an edition of the scientific journal Crop Science.

Kansas State University professor Jianming Yu, an assistant professor of agronomy, is teaming with Rex Bernardo, a professor of agronomy and plant genetics at the University of Minnesota, on research with marker-assisted selection. This agricultural technology offers a sophisticated method to greatly accelerate classical breeding through genetic analysis and selection of existing natural diversity in various crops without having to resort to alien species. Currently, marker-assisted selection has been a routine in many private seed companies with large-scale fingerprinting, global germplasm assessment and comprehensive bioinformatics support.

"With abundant molecular markers that can be routinely processed with modern genomic technology, we found it is more efficient to focus on selection based information all across the genome rather than the traditional way of genomic regions containing signals that pass a threshold," Yu said.

Their research is "a result of our constant deliberation of how to incorporate modern genomic technologies into breeding process, a more general term as genomic-assisted plant breeding, which differs from what scientists have been doing -- using markers to guide the introgression of single or multiple disease resistance genes," Yu said.

"The traditional way is to identify genome regions that show significant information," he said. "The new way is to consider all information genomewide. In other words, we strategically shifted the focus from finding the most interesting genome areas to considering all information simultaneously. This is critical, especially given that most of traits with agricultural importance are controlled by many interacting genomic regions and their individual effects are relatively small."

Yu and Bernardo plan to conduct experiments with sorghum in Kansas and maize in Minnesota.

"It will provide breeders, public or private, a powerful tool to advance their breeding practices," Yu said.

Psalm 100

2008-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

A Psalm of Praise

Posting here this Psalm of Praise one of which inspired me to know and worship the only true God who created me and you.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

IGOROTA

2008-06-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

This is a current popular folkhouse song in Baguio city. If you visit Ayuyang kano, it is where Jun Utleg, its artist, usually sings it. Makapasyar to man mamingsan! hehehe... The lyrics was composed by Danny Tawanna but the following isnot the perfect structure as how it was composed like the use of gerunds and prepositions in some lines. The following was captured by how the artist sang it.

On a smooth gray ground by the river bend
She was seated there to meet the morning sun
She was playing a flute when the songbirds went down.

As they listened to her wonderful melody
And the air was filled with every note she played
Slowly I sat by her side.

Refrain:
Igorota, girl of my dreams
You're the most precious gift that I ever had
Igorota, queen of my heart
I'll go on loving you throughout my life. (2x)

You are my day my morning sun
You'll forever be my only one
She puts down the flute then sweetly she smiled.

And she asked me, "Why are you staring at me?"
I held her close and a songbird sang
I whispered to her, "I love you."

Repeat refrain once

Ang Bata

2008-06-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

Posting here the lyrics of the song sung by Jun Utleg in his album, Sa Kanyang Panahon....

Ang bata, may dala'ng isang laruang lata
Hila-hila sa kalsada
Makipot at sira pa
Butas ang damit, marumi ang ayos niya
Siya ang bagong Pilipino.

Ang bata, may muta, tinunaw ng kanyang luha
Panis na laway, naghihintay sa kapirasong pan de sal
Ngunit mataas na ang araw sa Silangan
Wala pa rin si Ama.

Ang bata, nakayakap, dinadama ang init ni Ina
Malakas na ulan, malakas na kulog, tinatakot siya
Pintuan ng bahay, bubungan sira-sira
Ang tanging karamay niya.

Ang bata, nakatingala, nakatingkayad sa bintana
Siya'y nakasilip at nakikinig ng bulong sa labas
Bakit ang buhay kay ingay, kay gulo
Natutulig na ako.

Ang bata, ang bata, kawawang mga bata
Saan sila patutungo, saan papunta
Dito ba sa Lupa'ng puno ng kaguluhan
Puno ng kasawian.

(Repeat stanza I)

Morning In The Woods

2008-06-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasant walk one early June morning into the pine woods that smelled sweet of fresh humus. The sun's blazes rising from the east looked so beautiful against the blue horizon that was mapped with floating cottony white clouds.

As I walked through the narrow path of fresh hooves engraved on wet earth by wild horses that frequented the area, the cool and jaunty breeze played on the bare skin of my face and arms. The path led to the east as evidenced by the prism of early morning sun rays sending quasars lurking deep through the tall and slender legs of pine trees. Cheerful birds sang their varieties of songs. It was their way of greeting the day and giving praises to the Almighty Creator who gives them the daily fresh morning to enjoy and feast upon. I imitated some tunes and watched them hop and fly from one tree branch to another, their colorful wings adding to the festive fashion of the newborn day.

Finally, I reached a clearing, the sun then gaining momentum to heat the earth proved by steam that slowly rose from the ground. Crystal dews interlaced among the leaves dropped as a sluggish wind brushed its way through. From a distance, I spotted more than a dozen of wild horses, some gaily playing while some lazily feeding on the short lush of greens.

To the North, where tree ferns with large fronds stood, was a herd of cows, some lying down while enjoying their cuds. Black mounds of what I call, "grass cakes" were scattered around the vicinity indicating that the group took an overnight rest in the clearing. ( I was tempted to think of going back to the place to collect the "grass cakes" --- a perfect part for a soil media).

As I continued to commune with the physical universe, I moved to a shade under an evergreen with leaves similar to that of a eucalyptus tree. I sat down on a boulder of lime rock under it and just watched the seemingly tired cows and horses. The lazy leaves of all sorts danced in mockery along the passing by of the gentle June breeze. An eagle soared high to the blue sky. Some May and June beetles crawled their way underground to hide from the preying eyes of birds that just finished their songs of praise and were by then scheduled to hunt for breakfast. Breathed the purest air. Listened to the hush of swishing pine trees from the other faces of the mountain. Gazed at the different wild and colorful flowers often visited by different arthropods.

Near where I sat was a wild rhododendron with beautiful pink flowers. I watched as a bee came for a sip then flew away, came another insect of the wasp family, flew away again until a small and frail white butterfly came along, perched for a moment then as it lifted its wings to say goodbye to the flower, a darting red-tailed purple dragonfly caught and flew away with it. Poor little guy! That's symbiosis anyway!

I glanced at my wristwatch, it was time for me to go back since the sun was starting to push the mercury up the scale as it began it's journey to mid-sky.

Thanks to that real June morning in the woods 16 years ago back in my dearest hometown. How I wish then that if I go home and trek the place would be the same. But I know it would just remain a wish, because that particular morning would never be the same. It would just stay as one of the clippings in my memory.

PINK

2008-05-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Pink is my favorite color. Pink is so attractive. Pink represents beauty. Pink is love... etc! On the other hand though, pink is vulnerable. Pink is sissy - and a lot more of pink denigration - and still - pink is haiiissssssssshhhhhhhhh!!!! I don't know why!

For my visitors, just a CHANGE in the environment....geeee...!!! And - just like that! I still love pink!

A Mother's Commitment

2008-05-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

7:00 a.m.

‘T was a bright Sunday morning, just woke up, thanked the Lord for the day and said a simple prayer. My mind then flashed back to the chapters of the novel I’ve read just before I drifted to dreamland last night. I jumped out of bed then had to do simple chores in our room like swept the floor, fixed the books I had spread while searching for facts to justify the claims I am currently discussing in the writing of my thesis, washed the spoon and mug I used late last night and scribbled some notes I found important.

8:00 a.m.

While preparing for church, my mobile phone was busy signaling me since an hour before of messages it was receiving re: mother’s day greetings and quotations – my inbox was then full so I had to choose the best messages and kept them and erased the other ones. I wasn’t able to send back thank you’s anymore because I got empty load after a few sent messages…. lol.

11 a.m.

I was back in my quarters, nourished with the message in church, digested and reflected upon it.

I agree with the message delivered by the pastor that: “A mother’s love is a reflection of God’s love to us.” A mother’s love to his child is unconditional just like the unconditional love of God to us, His children. If a child gets wayward, the mother is so patient to guide him/her to be good and remain on the right road. This picture therefore demonstrates the faithfulness and love of Jesus Christ, our Lord to us His children keeping us on the right path.

There are many quotes describing who a mother is especially of her being a superwoman amidst the non-appreciations and all. And like many others, the heroine in my life is my mother. I’m the eldest of eleven children in the family and I witnessed how our mother sacrificed just to keep our home safe and comfortable. There were many super-duper prickly stages the family faced though yet she emotionally, physically and spiritually defied these circumstances with strength and bravery.

Today, when my younger siblings and I gather during occasions, we always talk about our mother especially about her emotional strength. We sometimes wonder where she gets all her strength in keeping her whole. I would always say that if I were in her shoes, I would have been broken down into pieces long time ago before other siblings came into the family. Nevertheless, I’m very thankful that I have a mother like her – a committed and a super mother.

4:00 p.m.

I glanced at the little clock on my table that told me that in just an hour more the day would wrap up its events to add to its files of history and I hadn’t called home yet to greet or say hi to my mother. I wondered though if my younger siblings have done it however I received greetings from some of them earlier this day.

My First Grade School Teacher

It was my mother, though an elementary graduate, who became my first teacher. She was the one who first taught me how to read and write my ABC’s and 123’s before I enrolled in Grade 1. I never attended a kindergarten school where most children learn first their alphabets and 123’s. My mother was so patient to monitor my progress in school. When I wasn’t able to cope with my lessons, she would find time every night before we were sent to bed to teach me on my home works and guide me to read more, write more and count more even if she was so tired of the demands of the day. She was also my first storyteller. She told me many children’s stories and when more siblings came into the family I helped her repeat those stories to my younger bothers and sisters.
Years after I graduated from college, was already in my mid-twenties and was always away from home, many times, albeit funny, there were moments when I would just reminisce my childhood years and remember the doting of my mother, I would long and cry for her in bed before I sleep, much more when I got sick.

Mother Stories

Right now, I’m currently reading a story along with the writing of my MS thesis, tempted, and I can’t forego because I just borrowed the pocketbook (hehehe), about a single mother who got to be brave and face the challenges of being one even if her current situation was from her stupidity. When she learned that she was pregnant, she had to tell the man who fathered it. Three times, the man convinced her for an abortion but she never liked the idea. She then gave birth to a boy who was diagnosed after two years of a speech defect. She courageously faced all the tests in life to raise her son in the most normal possible way.

Relative to this story, when I was surfing the Youtube for music yesterday, I came across a Christian singer’s testimony about he being an adoptee. He described that there are three kinds of a mother. First, a mother in the normal sense. Second, a mother who takes care of her pregnancy and gives up the baby for adoption, even if how painful, because she knows she cannot fully give what her child needs. Third, a mother who opts for an abortion. This singer was in tears while telling his story that he was still very thankful to his birthmom whoever and wherever she is because she opted to give up her son for adoption providing him the chance to live.

Celebration

Many to honor every mother celebrated this day’s event. The West and many countries it influenced including us in the Orient and every church regardless of denomination had a share of it. Many gifts I know were given and opened and many enjoyed this notable day.

Commitment

Becoming a mother is a lifetime commitment that pulls all the instincts of motherhood out to reality. And it is this commitment that fuels her to have the energy that words sometimes cannot even express of how she becomes a superwoman for all seasons. Nothing can describe her compassion, her sacrificial love, her strength, her beauty and all that keeps her a hero in every home.

Quotes

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. Washington Irving.

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

"As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." 1 Thessalonians 2:7

COUNTRYSIDE ROMANCE

2008-05-07T02:15:00.000-07:00

Yolanda B. Botigan/ 021095

Into I draw air fresh and clean

Where grasses, trees grow tall and green

The stars that shine look I nightly

With clouds that paint the blue beauty.

At times I sit beneath the pine

At leaves gaze I like crystal shine

The touch of earth so deep and brown

Smells Queen of May’s like perfumed crown.

The soothing pitch of Mother Earth I hear

The streams that flow, the winds that roar

The morning dew I touch and smell

And smile at Rhodoras pink, shaped as bell.

Wild roots and vines to trees they cling

Look down they search cold, silent spring

The sweet, sweet songs of birds that fly

Gifts all they give to God up high.

With You I am in loved so deep

‘Tis where I dream to live, no droll

So down I kneel, pray, sing and leap

To thank my Lord who made them all!

THE LITTLE LOST SEEDS

2008-04-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

by: Yolanda B. Botigan/ March 1992

In the midst of a twilight

I sat down alone, forgotten

Eyes wide, mind set

Tracing towards an unknown plight.

Quiet place – I took strength to stand

At a glance

A teary child, alone, I spied

Like me, another lost seed, I sighed.

Deep a feeling froze inside

Trembling, I slowly took a little stride

Alone, dirty, hungry, tired and helpless

Why? Where? Hopeless?

Who are you? Nobody.

From where are you? Nowhere.

Then lost like me, you are

Yes, just existed and no more.

Growing little seeds --- lost

Beauty of life, dispossessed

Unnamed tomorrow, scattered

Even just a single light

In darkness, little lost seeds …

Grow but groping

Eat but begging

In clothes but unclothed.

Yes, lost, they are

Lost, lost, lost

Will they ever be LOST?

I Am An Igorot

2008-04-27T05:51:00.001-07:00

this is just a reprint..... still searching for the name of the original author

I am an Igorot. Take a good look at me. Look at me for I defy the distortions heaped on my image by fellow Filipinos. Look at me for I defy those who have heard of me but have not seen me. Look at me for I am a living proof that defies the inanities of those who seek to degrade my integrity. Look at me for I am a part of you; and you, a part of me.

My skin, the fair and tender Benguet Lily that blooms in May, at the slightest touch of the first rain, hundreds of eyes relish on its sweetness whenever I pass by.

My shape, the graceful contours and the splendor of the eighth wonder of the world – Our Banaue Rice Terraces. And my youth, the greenness of the pines, of the forest and of the lush vegetation that in turn speak of the vitality and the strength of my people.

Look at me for I don’t hide behind the deceptions of cosmetiques – Look at me in my entirety, for I am poor, yet so rich in virtues as purity, honesty and simplicity.

Many centuries ago, my brave forbears set out to discover new horizons that to them meant sunshine and promise. Along the broad span of plains and valleys, hills and mountains, seas and rivers, they finally stumbled into a vast stretch of mountains. On these mountains lurked, the fear of the unknown yet over them was the promise of fertility.

At last, here was the land that was to be theirs, the land that they gave to me, and the land that I will give to my children so long as we exist in this part of the earth.

Over the years, my fathers toiled the early hours of dawn until darkness. Naked as the soil where they trod, they withstood the burning heat of the sun and the biting cold of the mountain winds. With few weapons but with the stoutness in their hearts, they fought the adverse forces of man and nature. With patience and perseverance, they created the forest and dug deep into the earth for the wealth that it hid. With inherent sense of beauty, they built a culture so rich, as their tools were so crude and ugly. Today, other people would wonder how my mother, lacking in all facilities that one finds in modern textile factories, but with the use of sticks and bamboo reeds, have fashioned so intricate a material as the cloth, that I wear. Still, it puzzles many that with no formal schooling my mother wove such rich designs and blended so beautiful the colors that no doubt would stand among the finest works of art.

Bare of tools and armed with ingenuity and resourcefulness, my fathers carved out of deep walls of these mountains, a magnificence that was to astound the world. Amidst our rice terraces is the skill, which surpasses many of man’s engineering feats. Amidst the beauty of our rice fields, our farms and our mines, which we have nurtured for ages with our sweat and blood, is proof of the ingenuity of my people. Amongst my people is the pride, which I must cherish with fervor as long as I live.

Who will speak for my fathers who have fashioned beauty out of these mountains and brought progress into this land? for my fathers who have contributed so rich a cultural legacy to this country?

Today even as alien cultures have seeped to the very core of our way of life, who will stand up for the quest of a true Filipino identity, unblemished by foreign tastes and idiosyncrasies? Who will answer the question of who is “the most Filipino among the Filipinos?” Truly, it is I. I am an Igorot!

Still, as the truth of the past is slowly unfolded, it saddens me and my brothers that here remains some callous hearts that would refuse to see the light. Truly, this is man’s inhumanity to man. What do I have that makes me anathema to writers of books and magazines? What have I done that has earned me the contempt of my own people?

I possess nothing but virtues which man has extolled over the centuries. That is what I possess. I have nothing but courage in the face of danger, fortitude – in my duties, patience in life. That is what I have. I have done nothing but toiled hard from the bowels of the earth until, such time as when prosperity flowered from my sweat and labor. And I have done nothing but defend to the last breath every inch of the ground which my fathers rightfully claimed their own. That is what I have done.

Over these rugged slopes and mountains, these fields and rivers my toils and struggles, my colorful heritage and my heroic past, I cry out with rage and indignation, “Rise up you souls of my immortal fathers and we will challenge the wisdom of this society. Rise up my unsung heroes and help me shout into the heavens … Give me justice which you have so long denied me. Bring me the glory that was mine, and give me back the honor to my name!

"I Am An Igorot"

2008-04-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

(A Reprint from "The Cordilleras and Behind" by Dtj)

I am an Igorot, son of parents in whose veins
flow Malayan and Indonesian blood. I was born
and reared amidst the mountains and hills,
covered with sturdy and verdant pines, that
sway and dance with the mountain breeze, beside the
mountain streams. This part of the country, the
mountain provinces I have learned to love and
called my home.

I am an Igorot. In my veins run the immortal
blood of my gallant, peaceful and freedom
loving forefathers. Blood borne by them, who openly
defied the authority of Spain, in the year
sixteen hundred and one. Again, it was the
blood that also freely flowed in the bloody
battlefields of the world famous Bataan and in
the rocky bastions of Corregidor.

That blood is immortal. It is the self-same
blood that flowed in the hearts of my
grandfather, father, uncles, cousins, and
nephews, who formed the might, 66th infantry.
Blood that watered the wild lilies of the
treacherous mountains. Some of them died,
fighting that I may be what I am now, a free
man, living in a free country governed by the
principles of democracy.

I am an Igorot, a proud one. I am proud of my
noble, brave, peaceful and hardworking
ancestors. Proud of the mountains and hills,
rivers, trees, and of the lilies that adorn the
forests which were given by Him above to mine.
Proud of the canao, and of the custom and
traditions handed to me from generation to
generation. Proud to beat the gangsa and to
hear the ravage sounds of the solibao.

I am proud too of my Christian status and
education, brought about by the pioneering goal
of the occidental missionaries and teachers.
Proud to be in an integral part of the Republic
of the Philippines.

Though in educational, economic, social and
political aspects, I may be far behind. Though
in high society, I may be frowned upon. Though
all and all, I may be called a barbarian. Still
I shall shout aloud that all may know and hear,
that I Am An Igorot.

Biofuels or Food?

2008-04-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

I believe that BIOFUEL PRODUCTION is a worldwide CRIME to humanity!

We produce GMO's to solve global hunger but the irony of it all is still hunger!

I hope you understand how the two statements above are related!

The Sting Of Death

2008-03-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV.

“For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6:23 NIV.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned - ” Romans 5:12 NIV.

Death is an irreversible cessation of biological life that people generally are afraid to face though everyone is destined to finally leave this world with it. For believers in Christ, death is the separation of the soul from the physical body. Everyone knows for a fact that someday our mortal bodies will soon return to the ground but when that time comes though, we do all the best to defy it.

Last February 14th this year, everyone in my workplace was shocked to hear a news that one of the employees (who was actually my former supervisor when I went on study leave) met a car accident and was critically injured. I witnessed how he fought for life. He tried to be strong. He was so aware of what was going around him and of what was being done with his body especially the medical drugs that were injected into his system. He tried to speak in answer to my greeting when we visited him in the hospital. His spirit to live was so strong. Nine days after the accident though, everyone got even more shocked when news spread that he died. He was quoted to have said a day or two before his death that he was so afraid and was so nervous. Death of a loved one is always difficult so that I felt the gruesome struggle of his family in the hospital, during the wake and until the burial.

On the 7th day of the wake, another fellow employee also died of complications leaving our whole Institute mourning for them.

When death strikes in the family, it becomes the worst stage each one has to face. For a believer in Christ though or the saved, death ushers him in the presence of God. Jesus also died. Adam, the first man, also died. Only the difference is Adam died because he was a sinner, and Jesus, who had never sinned, chose to suffer death as a substitute for sinners (Hebrews 2:9, 14-16). In Matthew 28, Jesus triumphed over death and sin and showed His power by rising from the dead on the third day. Because of Christ, death is a defeated foe.

For the non-believer in Christ or the unsaved, death is an end for the chance to accept God’s gracious offer of salvation. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment...” Hebrews 9:27 NIV.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain..." Revelation 21:4 NIV. How sweet would it be when that time comes for all believers in Christ to enjoy. We shall look forward onto it.

Michael Bronson in BibleHelp.org estimates that there are 153, 000 people who die every day in the whole world or 56.0 million every year. Of this number, how many souls are sure to go home to God and how many would end up the opposite?

I suggest you all to visit the website: http://www.gotquestions.org

Biofuel Euphoria

2008-02-17T13:12:00.000-08:00

I was in static smiles one trip home to the province from Manila upon seeing several plant shops along the stretch of Bulacan to La Union of Jatropha seedlings on sale! Will this Jatropha case ever bring the Philippines to wonderland if ever her dream comes true?

It's so obvious that Filipinos are now very desperate to escape from the pit of poverty in the country with either thousands regardless of status in life on exodus to many parts of the world in quest for more glitters to fill the pocket while others grip to sorts of money-making including this Jatropha biodiesel craze in the offing (albeit not only poverty that moves other Filipinos abroad but mere greed).

While researchers and scientists all over the globe are in the zenith of commercializing GMO's and biodiesel crops, Filipinos from all walks of life now talk about the Jatropha curcas L. or commonly known as "tuba-tuba" in Tagalog (Ilocanos call it "tagumbao" or "tag-tagumbao") as another big time source of money. Jatropha is from the family Euphorbiaceae and has a genus of approximately 175 succulents, shrubs and trees. It originates from the Carribean and was spread as a valuable hedge and medicinal plant to Africa, Asia and India by Portuguese traders. It is a weed in Brazil, Fiji, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico and El Salvador (Holm, et. al. 1979).

Jatropha is an introduced plant species into the Philippines and it hardly grows just anywhere in the country. The seeds is known to be a source of biofuel which according to studies if used will not be as hazardous to the environment as compared to the effects of ground fuel that we import.

For a long time, sewage, biodegradable wastes (i.e. kitchen left-overs, garden wastes, etc.) and swine wastes had been used as source of methane as bioenergy for cooking.

Now, aside from this Jatropha, research studies have also proved other agricultural crops that can be extracted for biodiesel oil. The U.S. has its corn while Europe has its flaxseed and rapeseed and Brazil has its sugarcane.

The Philippine government has alloted a P1B investment in biodiesel production primarily for Jatropha and half of the funds came from the Philippine National Oil Co., an alternative development corporation (PNOC-NDC). Half also came from the National Dev't. Co. This fund is mainly for developing marginally landless farmers who are supposed to benefit from the opportunity to grow biodiesel feedstocks including sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans and Jatropha.

According to Bioimpact and PNOC and to quote, "Most of the planned biofuel plantation are located in Mindanao where the country's poorest provinces are, where refineries with a capacity of 60, 000 to 240, 000 tonnes will be built at the center of growing areas with a 30, 000 to 120, 000 has. respectively."

While talking some time ago with some graduate students in the Chemical Engineering and other BioSciences field at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, we haven't escaped issues re: crazes that suddenly brought biofuels to the limelight driving politicians even to lick on the bowl of this euphoria. Some foregin students in the university have tried to study biofuel from our coconuts and came out with very attractive results. But the question is, should we allow our coconuts to be exploited more for biofuel when on the other end we direly need it in the food industry? The ratio of the Philippine population to its viable landmass is far not enough for support! Which is more on the priority list? This issue brought concern to some research organizations so that further campaign on this knowledge is restricted albeit investigations on coconuts as source of biofuel per se are still on the top list. At this time, jittery researchers continuously hover upon the chase like vultures to find an alternative commodity that which brought Jatropha curcas to the cinema of Philippine bioresearch.

In January 2006, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law R. A. 9367 or otherwise known as Biofuels Act of 2006 with the following mandates: a) A minimum 1% biodiesel blend into all diesel engine fuels, which increases to 2% after two years; b) a minimum 5% bioethanol blend into all gasoline fuel distributed and sold in the country within two years going up to 10% after 4 years. This law promotes the use of alternative transport fuels consistent with the Declaration on East Asian Energy Security ratified by the 16 heads of state of the Association of SEAN and its dialogue partners during the 12th ASEAN summit held on January 10-15, 2006 in Cebu City. In addition to the mandate, this Act aims to develop and utilize indigenous renewable and sustainably-sourced clean energy sources to reduce the country's dependence on imported oil and lower the amounts of toxins and pollutants in the atmosphere.

All this scenario then bred opportunists to sell Jatropha seedlings although they don't know exactly what is the plant and how it can produce fuel energy to run engines.

I thought all the while though that there's no need anymore for these seedlings to be produced and sold by private growers either in big or small-scale because a big chunk of the pie was alloted purposely for the production of such species!

Are all these discoveries that we so go euphoric about would uplift our economy or would it just spin the country the other way around? Is the Philippines a viable place for Jatropha biodiesel production? How much funds and non-bio energy do we have to spend before a liter of ready to use Jatropha biodiesel oil will be produced? Is it not better to use the alloted funds to rehabilitate the dwindling coconut industry or improve the copra production rather than starting a Jatropha industry from zero? The group tasked to steer this new venture has to hire foreign experts/consultants and which requires an amount of fees. Besides, they themselves travel to Jatropha growing countries like India and the South Americas for seminars and other related concerns. Their expenses is not a joke on the budget! There are so many questions that until now have unclear answers. And I'm not the only one who is cynical about this issue.

Recently, I even chanced upon a headline aired on TV that the Philippine malunggay or commonly called horseradish tree and scientifically known as Moringa oleifera Lamk. is also a plant that can be extracted for biofuel albeit plants generally, if not all, produce oils in different amounts and for different purpose.

The Philippines is just again hitting through this biofuel craze and is making the word/s "biodiesel" and "biofuel" a hot lingo even to the commonest citizen who have vague understanding of this topic while opportunists in the uppermost echelon of the government have already gulped and are enjoying their chunks of share in the supposed wholesome budget particularly for the said research.

The Powerful Tongue

2008-01-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

"The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high." - Japanese Proverb

"One thing man hasn't been able to tame is his own tongue. It can cause the most uncontrollable evil in all creation and can spread the deadliest poison. If not disciplined and controlled, one minute it can praise and bless God and the next minute it can curse those created in God's image.'' - Inspired by James 3:8,9.

True, the tongue is just a small piece of flesh in the human anatomy, yet how many morals have it destroyed? It is a muscle part of the digestive system yet many times it becomes a double-edged sword that violently quells the values of an individual. How many dreams, decisions, reputations and even families have it slayed and hurled into the fiery furnace of doom?

From elite brains to morons, this piece of flesh doesn't choose whom to wreck or regard. It is not even learned nor educated. It just flaggelates anytime when jerked.

And have you ever wondered yourself of the time when you became either the hero or the villain in the battlefield of the tongue? How many times did you become the villain or the hero? Did you feast upon your triumph?

It is such a tragedy that man easily embraces the deceptions carefully woven by the tongue into the norms of society today that psychologists would even justify as a favorable response. This sets me then to wonder that if as long as a man lives (that includes me of course), how much is the ratio between the correct usage of his tongue to its grave misuse.

It's not surprising though that the first misuse of the tongue happened at the Garden of Eden by the earliest couple of human beings which had since then been passed from generations to generations. Unfortunately, the misuse was thoroughly bred through the years giving birth to multiple deceits, debaucheries, treacheries to name a few.

If we want however real change and live in a world of honesty and Godly ways, where then do we divide the line and promise to use it in pious ways. How do we guard it from the imps around and cease from hissing?

Taming the tongue is a task so huge to undertake and one way to conquer its deceptive powers is to acknowledge that we are sinful and need to sincerely repent and totally turn around for change. The evil powers of the tongue must not be allowed to prevail.

"Such a tiny flicker it begins, sets many mountains into flames. Friend or foe this li'l creature power it so keeps." - Yolanda B. Botigan

Luck Vs. Blessing

2008-01-15T20:04:00.000-08:00

"Oh, you're lucky!"

Whenever something gets rewarding is usually owed to luck.

I am an individual who believed in luck during my earlier years so that I, too, always had the "good luck" words dangling in my vocabulary.

Luck in the common lingo is basically defined as, "the accidental occurrence of events affecting an individual, fortune and fate." Concluding thereby that luck is not something to be achieved.

A blessing on the other hand is defined as a "divine benefit or gift, that which promotes happiness or prosperity." It is a "consecration" and further means that it is a "special favor or approval."

Luck plays a lot in the lives of many whatever race and culture one belongs. It even goes to the extent of keeping charms and gems just to attract it to the bearer. We bid friends good luck if they are to undergo something challenging, i.e. exams, sport competitions, etc.

Unawarely though, too much dependency in luck leads a person to cast wholely his/her faith to it tending him to become either an agnostic and/or forgetting God the sole provider.

Here are some reasons why we put our faiths in the name of luck:

a. We are afraid of failures and other shortcomings the reason we even gamble the rest of what lies ahead aiming to double or triple that fortune. At the end though, imps will be laughing at our loss.

b. Plain laziness.

c. Offering life and fate in the name of luck is a form of greed because of discontentment.

d. Unbelief in one's capacity to face life's challenges and then immediately surrendering to weakness/es.

e. Unbelief in Jesus Christ our Saviour and God who provides everything.

In any achievement where efforts were invested, a blessing of course will surely follow. Blessings are in uncountable ways and these have not just existed or accidentally given. It is/was with a purpose that blessings are/were infront of the blessed.

We live daily with all the undue blessings that the Almighty God gave and is giving us. Only we just ignore or lack to acknowledge their presence in us, i. e. our very own lives, the whole creation where we stay and enjoy, the smile of a child, the encouraging words of friends, the smell and site of blooming flowers, the foods on our table, etc...

Just as there are reasons why we put faith in luck, so are there reasons also that hinder blessings to flow:

a. Unbelief in God who provides all blessings.

b. Greediness. One can own acres of land and fine houses here and there through greedy motives. But one may ask, are these still blessings because they were of course acquired through efforts? Material things are of course blessings provided, they are/were acquired through the most legal and Godly way sacrificing no one.

c. Unconfessed sins. We hide sins that hinder the normal flow of events in our lives.

d. Pride. This is also an unconfessed sin that we always blanket with all sorts of lies, artificial smiles, etc...

e. Plain laziness.

In my own tribal dialect, luck is termed, "gasat." If one wins in any game show or lottery draw, or is given a house and lot from any sponsoring agent, he is usually said to be "nagasat."

Winning in game shows and lotteries which involves betting are best examples of luck, an accident or probability that befalls upon one's name. This is in no way a blessing but is a form of gambling!

Remember that there is no such thing as luck or "gasat" to the one who has faith in God Our Saviour and Provider.

Learn to identify what is a blessing and what is luck.

The Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ

2008-01-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

"2008 is the year of the rat." "I was born in the year of the boar." "Last year was the year of the horse." etc...

Most Filipinos believe on these named years dictating them even on what to and not what to do, what to wear, where to go, what's good for business and many more.

Where did these, "in the year of the animals," originate though?

The Chinese people believe so much on lucks and omens so that they have all sorts of charms and calendar guides for direction on what to either keep or let go of. Their calendars are full of symbols to follow everyday. Each new year is welcomed with extravagant celebration owing to tradition with all eye-catching decor of antique and period pieces to all sorts of delicacies with tikoy never to be forgotten. The captivating lion and dragon dance symbolizing a prosperous future and long life respectively are parts that complete each celebration. And each year is named accordingly with an animal. Whenever unfavorable situations cross paths is usually blamed to the animal symbolizing the year.

As Bible believing Christian, each day, week and year is the day or year of the Lord Jesus Christ! He made each day of the year and blessed it for every human being to enjoy. Animals have nothing to do with each turn of the year. Any event, therefore pleasing or not is generally the consequence of man's own doing.

2008 is the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

The Paradox of Our Age

2008-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

(I found truth in this poem so I posted it here to share it to you. I don't know who the author is.)....

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;
Wider freeways, but narrow viewpoints;
We spend more, but have less;
We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families,
More conveniences, but less time;
We have more degrees, but less sense;
More knowledge but less judgment;
More experts but more problems;
More medicines, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke to much,
Spend too recklessly, laugh too little
Drive too fast, get angry too quickly,
Stay up too late, get up too tired,
Read too seldom, watch TV to much,
And pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values,
We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life;
We've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back,
But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space;
We've done larger things, but not better things;
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
We've split the atom, but not our prejudice;
We write more, but learn less;
Plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait;
We have higher incomes, but lower morals;
More food but less appeasement;
More acquaintances, but fewer friends;
More effort but less success.

We build more computers to hold more information
To produce more copies than ever
But have less communication;
We've become too long on quantity, but short of quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;
Tall men, and short character;
Steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare,
More leisure and less fun;
More kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce;
Of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away mentality,
One-night stands, overweight bodies,
And pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window
And nothing in the stockroom.
INDEED IT'S ALL TRUE!

- Anon-

The Story of the Three Trees

2007-12-22T22:40:00.000-08:00

As many as there are Christmas stories told year in and out so as the story of the three trees fits itself along. I heard this story from a church pastor during a children's Christmas program and I want it to share to you, my readers.

One fine day, there were three growing trees bragging to each one of what they would want to become when the time comes they would be harvested and carved into something of their dreams.

The first tree boasted that it wanted to be built as the finest mansion so it can house rich and respected people from anywhere around the world. It would serve guests cozy rooms and attractive surroundings.

The second tree said, it wanted to be built as a very big and elegant ship so it can travel to any place around the world. It would be a great ship because it would carry great passengers, kings and queens and other very important personalities around the world.

The third tree also said, it wanted to become a strong bridge so that anyone who passes through it will never get afraid. Anyone would just cross to the other end with confidence.

The time came when the lumberjacks came, fell the three trees and brought them to a sawmill where they would be built into their dreams. The three were of course very excited.

The first tree who wanted to be built as the finest mansion was instead made into a manger and was placed in a barn. The tree became so disappointed because its dream to house respected and great people from anywhere around the world would never come true. Unknowingly though, upon this manger, was to be born the child who was to become the Saviour of the world and who was to be named Immanuel, which means God with us.

The second tree on the other hand, who dreamt to be the most elegant ship was built instead of a small boat. It got disappointed also just like the first tree because its dream to carry great people would also never come true. But on this boat, the Lord Jesus Christ was to ride with His disciples into the sea to catch fish. It was on this boat that Jesus' disciples would wake Him up when strong winds and huge waves were rocking them onto the roaring sea. Jesus would then wake up and command the winds and waves to calm down and stop. His disciples would get so amazed and asked if who Jesus was. This boat was to be used during God's ministry here on earth.

Just like the first and second trees, the third tree was never built as a strong bridge the way it wanted to be. It got so frustrated also because never to its plan that it would just become a two-pieced post where a man is to be hanged.

The third tree though, never also realized that the man to be hanged and nailed onto it would be Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, God of all gods and the man who would once and for all, save humanity from sin. It was to become the bridge to fill the gap between God and man. Truth is, the third tree became the bridge, mightier than the strength it dreamt to be.

Physically, each of these three trees dreamt to become great and mighty throughout their lives as fine mansion, elegant ship and strong bridge, respectively. Never on their thoughts did they ever plan to be built in very humble ways opposite their dreams and be used as mightily as ever, mightier than how they wished to be used.

Jesus Christ is God, the Saviour of the world, born onto a manger, calmed the sea while on a boat and died on a cross.

Because of the third tree who at the end became the cross, many were able to reach God. It became the strongest bridge, the world has ever had.

These three trees were built in different and unique ways, but there is just one common thing among them --- the presence of God in each.

In our own lives, there are things that we ourselves direly want to happen that we tend to get so depressed once none of it will materialize. We only don't realize that what we wanted are not important at all in God's eyes. Why? He has greater things He wants us to become and greater things that we can be used of. Besides materials things are not at all enough!

Research 'toughening up' Thailand's jasmine rice

2007-11-30T21:32:00.000-08:00

I got this article from the e-publications of SciDev.Net authored by Piya Wong.
19 November 2007, Source: SciDev.Net

[BANGKOK] Thai researchers are developing a breed of aromatic jasmine rice that is resistant to some pests and diseases, as well as to flash floods, drought and salinity.

The ongoing research, which uses laboratory techniques to back up traditional breeding methods, was presented at the international BioAsia 2007 conference in Bangkok this month (7–9 November).

Thailand is the world largest rice exporter, with jasmine rice the most popular. But the country's rice plants often have to struggle against severe flooding or drought, as well as damage by the brown plant hopper (BPH) and bacterial leaf blight (BLB).

The experimental rice withstands nearly three weeks of flooding and is resistant to BPH and BLB, says Apichart Vanavichit, director of the Rice Gene Discovery Unit in Thailand, who is leading the research. His team are now looking for genes that enable other rice plants to tolerate salt conditions and drought.

Vanavichit said they hope to release their "super rice" with the whole set of resistance genes by 2012.

The scientists use genetic marker techniques to locate the desired genes in different rice varieties, which helps them identify the best parent plants for breeding.

Work began in 1998 with the identification of flood-resistant genes in a local Indian rice variety.

In 2001 the researchers conducted a field trial, and last year gave the flood-resistant rice seeds to farmers in northern Thailand.

Meanwhile, researchers crossbred plants with BPH- and BLB-resistant genes from a wild Sri Lankan rice and samples from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), before combining those traits with the flood-resistant jasmine rice.

"What would happen if India hadn't allowed us to use its rice variety? The sharing of genetic resources is definitely beneficial," said Vanavichit.

Surawit Wannakrairoj, a member of the Thai National Plant Variety Committee, told SciDev.Net that the results showed that Thailand does not need to embrace genetic-modification biotechnology.

Duncan Macintosh, a spokesperson for IRRI, says the development of flood-resistant rice is progressing well in several countries, so the chances of success in Thailand are high. "But the main challenge will be to maintain the quality of jasmine rice," he told SciDev.Net.

Unusually Sane?

2007-10-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

As new technologies are released to the amazed public and while babies are born and people get old, so are out of this world things take place. Other "out of this world things" are even listed in the Guinness Book of World Records which are usually made by man purposely for recording. And, of course the people who do it are not insane!

Just like one late February afternoon, I went for my rounds of jogging around the Freedom Park of our university. I saw a man probably in his late 60's having his afternoon walk but with what I thought at first glance, was a roan-colored small dog. The animal was dressed in a cream girl's spaghetti shirt. I was astonished at second glance that it was a baby goat! Instead of jogging past them, I walked in their pace and made sure that what I was seeing was really a goat. It was! A pet goat! Of course, I giggled to myself because it was really out of the ordinary to have a leisure walk with a goat! Goats are raised purposely as source of milk and meat. And in almost all of the provinces of northern Philippines, goat meat is a common delicacy. I began to wonder what the world is now doing with the minds of people!

The following weekend, I went for an early morning walk and saw the same old man with a stick in hand but this time walking with a rooster! 'This man is really amusing!' so I took time to watch them together. They went to an entrance of one of the buildings where there was a stair. He let the rooster get up, up and down the stairs with the help of the stick and was even talking to it in English. If the rooster reached the topmost stair, it's master would command it to crow. It would really flap its wings and do its morning crow boasting in triumph. Later, they approached a nearby iron pole around 3 meters long lying at breast level. The rooster was again commanded to walk on it and cross to the other end. Every time the rooster accomplished one task, it would crow and was given a reward of corn bits. What an amusement that morning!

I often saw the pair on their regular morning routine during the months that followed. The goat who has already grown up was taken for walks usually in the late afternoons.

Almost two years passed since I first saw this man with his pet goat and I was back to work when I watched them featured in one of the documentary segments on television. I learned that the rooster was named Robinhood and the goat, as Sandara.

What made this man treat a rooster and a goat the way pet dogs are taken cared of? This man wanted to teach something to everyone through his unusual efforts with Robinhood and Sandara. But for me, "Lolo" remains one of the "out of this world" animal lover.

oOo

During my semesters in the university I always had an early morning class which started from either 6:30 or 7:00. One morning I was walking to my class around 6:00 when I met a young gentleman. (One needs to keep his legs strong if in this university since students usually walk to and from distant buildings). He was fair-skinned and had clean-cut hairdo. He was wearing a neatly ironed pair of gray slacks and light-blue trousers. He was in necktie, in very-well polished pair of black shoes and was wearing a black shades (at an early morning). He was carrying a black portfolio in one hand and was pulling a string on the other hand. He was actually pulling a small marine toy car! UUuuuHHHH!!!! what a questionable look!!!! What's going on guy????!!!

Two days after, I came from the university's main library and was going for a noontime break. I saw this guy again walking around the vicinity of the library in the same looks!

I learned later from friends who happened to see him also that he was a neophyte of a certain fraternity undergoing a series of initiations!

The Irony of Parenting

2007-10-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." ( KJV 1611) This verse holds a very rich message that every parent must heed.

I am a mother of a little girl who just turned six three weeks ago. Through her years I felt guilty of my sudden reactions when she misbehaved. I admit that there were times when I was at the verge of my anger I would resort to my leather belt in my aim to stop her from misbehaving and instead obey my commands. To my surprise though, many times she never admitted lose. In retaliation, she would all the more wail, kick, roll on the floor and throw anything that her little hands could reach.

Several times I asked myself why tots today act the way they do. I have witnessed children dominating their moms in malls, buses, restaurants, churches and anywhere quarreling over something. This is opposite to who I was when I was young. If my father ordered me to do something in his favor, I hadn't hesitated but was always quick to finish the task. It was my duty or obligation to comply with orders at home even if it was against my will.

Partly, my attitude in having parented my daughter in her earlier years has been influenced by the way I was brought up so that I usually wanted her to instantly obey me. It was not always the case however. I had always ended up the commanded soldier and my daughter the commanding officer in the battlefield.

oOo

One bright and cool morning, I dropped by a fastfood for a late breakfast. While on queue for my food, my attention was directed to somewhat a commotion at the back corner. I saw a boy, probably between 4 to 5 years old, deeply sobbing in difficulty while his father already at the peak of spewing hot lava, was grasping his son's one arm while pointing at the boy's face commanding him to close his mouth, stop crying and sobbing. The other customers nearby and some of the crew of the fastfood were just watching. My blood boiled at the scene. I felt the boy's horrible pain of trying to stop sobbing and crying but cannot because of the continuous shouts, pushes and grasps of the father. To instantly stop sobbing at an instant command made the boy to cry even more.

I took my food then sat down at the other corner of the fastfood area. I still however, could hear the angry words of the father and the boy already in terrible, frightful cries.

My hunger was gone but I still took a few sips of my hot chocolate drink. Then I counted the number of minutes since the time I entered the fastfood, queued for my food until I sat down to eat and the number of minutes the incident started because it seemed getting worse.

Upset, I stood up and got near the scene again because I couldn't bear hearing the boy wailing in pain. The tables nearby were already vacated and the other man in red shirt (companion of the father and son sitting on the same table) just kept quiet but also looked troubled. I wondered why nobody tried to interfere neither the crew! I grumbled some stupid words in my anger and was really about to go near the father to talk to him. At the end however, I did nothing to help the boy.

When I went back to my seat I saw the father already shouting and pulling his wailing son out from the eating public. What a menace and a trauma this father did to his young boy!!!

While starting to nibble on my messed breakfast, my mind started to play back the events in my father's iron hands when I was young. I blotted them out immediately since if enumerated would just botch up my day. I didn't want to be a loser against the ghosts of my childhood.

I wondered how could such a fine-looking, professional-like, educated man do such wretchedness to his son in public!? And how many times did he do this both in public and at home? He would be raising an individual with a very low self-esteem! (forgive me for thinking such).

I recalled some do's and don'ts of parenting I heard in values education programs I attended years before ---- "never downgrade the little egos of toddlers in public places by scolding, slapping, pushing, kicking and/or shouting at them or even comparing them to other kids in the neighborhood." Was the father training his son? To what?

Going back to Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go..." To other parents, however, I wonder what the phrase mean to them. To train has several methods to anyone executing it. The subconscious mind immediately defines train-ing in a military way --- to undergo rough drills even if it is against the will of the trainee. This situation is however opposie to the method of training in loving communication. This way is what young children of this generation need - by spending quality time, talking and guiding them according to Biblical inspirations. It will train them to grow in love and not the opposite.

No matter what status a parent holds in life, he still remains a parent who is responsible with how he raises up his child to become a good citizen. This goes with the statement of Barack Obama, U.S. Senator, in an interview about coping with work and family in one of the segments of the Oprah Winfrey Show to "teach kids the values of becoming useful citizens and not just being cute."

oOo

One stupid truths in parenting is a situation like: The parent shields his child anywhere from anything or event he thinks unfavorable. One example is when the child is judged by his playmates because of some misbehaviours, the parent immediately comes in rescue and many times the parent does not even investigate the real incident. In school, when the same child is lightly punished like standing in class for 10 minutes while lessons go on, drives the parent into a mad lion against the teacher and the school. The parent feels his child is prejudiced! But once the parent himself gets irritated with his same child at home, he has the nerve to kick and slap until his kid gets blue and worse is even accompanied with shouts of filthy language! This situation impels me to think that some parents sometimes do become hypocrites of their own selves!

Usually, all the right methods of parenting are easily said than done!

As a parent, one of my deepest prayers today is to maintain self-control especially during times when I go home loaded with outside pressures so that I become an easy prey of an unstable behaviour. I do train my child as I train myself in more profound prayers by claiming verses in the Bible that could only pacify my spirit and stop me from misbehaving in the eyes of my daughter when she currently misbehaves.

12 Steps To Raise A Juvenile Delinquent

2007-10-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow to believe the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute.

3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let "him decide for himself."

4. Avoid the use of "wrong." He may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.

5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced throwing all responsibility on others.

6. Take his part against neighbors, teachers and policemen. They are prejudiced against your child.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way, they won't be so shocked when the home is broken up later.

8. Give the child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own.

9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that his every desire is gratified.

10. Let him read any printed material and listen to any music he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize to yourself by saying, "I could never do anything with him."

12. PREPARE FOR A LIFE OF GRIEF. YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE IT.

(Taken from a pamphlet entitled, "Twelve Rules for Raising Delinquent Children," distributed by the Houston Police Department)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Spare the rod and spoil the child"

Some Messages To Ponder Upon

2007-09-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

THE POEM

Anonymous

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do.

I had to hurry and get to work for bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.

No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry.

No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

Easy vs. Hard

Why is it so hard to tell the truth but Yet so easy to tell a lie?
Why are we so sleepy in church but Right when the sermon is over we suddenly wake up?
Why is it so hard to talk about God but yet so easy to talk about nasty stuff?
Why is it so boring to look at a Christian magazine, but yet so easy to look at a nasty one?
Why is it so easy to delete a Godly e- mail, but yet we forward all of the nasty ones?
Why are the churches getting smaller but yet the bars and dance clubs are getting larger?

Do You Personally Know Him (Part II)

2007-08-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

My daughter (turning 6 by the end of next month) and I were on a jeepney that same Sunday morning just after we attended church. We were on our way to the city around 18 kilometers from our town. We sat near a mother who cuddled her more than a year old (to my knowledge) boy. She was with other two mothers and two grade school-aged girls.

Upon sitting down I noticed the group not to be locals in our place or anywhere around Northern Luzon because of the way this mother carried her young boy --- with a sling cloth. The Igorot tribe, whom I am one, also carry their toddlers with a sheet cloth, but this group didn't look like one. They spoke in a dialect that seems I've heard before and I guessed them to be Badjao's, a small tribe in Southern Mindanao. Sometimes they are referred to as sea gypsies because they live along coastlines floating on sea. I softly asked them if where are they from. The woman beside me smiled and said, "Basilan."

Basilan is a province also in Southern Mindanao long known as a battleground between the government soldiers and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other groups of bandits. Currently, the mountains of the said province is a haven for the Abu Sayyaf group, an Islamic terrorist.

It was in the mid '80s, I was in highschool when I first read stories in newspapers about the peace and order situations in Basilan. The residents are generally of the Muslim tribes. Recently, however, 14 marine soldiers who were with the batallion to rescue Fr. Carlo Bossi, an Italian Catholic priest assigned in the area, kidnapped by members of the Abu Sayyaf, were killed in an encounter.

Knowing Basilan to be war and poverty-stricken usually drive away the residents to nearby regions just like what this group with us in the jeepney did and decided to come north probably to find peace. As our conversation went comfortably, I slowly asked again if they belong to Muslims. They softly answered, "Hindi po. Badjao kami." (No, we are Badjao's). I was right with my earlier guess. I've seen some of them before in my travels to other cities in Luzon roaming the streets. I asked them if they have relatives around whom they visited but said, nobody. "Mahirap ang buhay sa Basilan," (Life in Basilan is so difficult). According to them they just ride and walk, ride and walk to any direction their feet would find them and beg for food. They spend their nights along street corners. It was visible though on how they looked --- tired, rugged and hungry.

I asked my daughter to give to the thin young boy, one apple fruit from the four pieces she was carrying while I continued to tell the group to hang on to life's challenges. Knowing the conditions of Badjao people in the Philippines ever since, I cannot help but pray for material help to reach them. I cannot give more than anything to these souls beside me but told them that our physical bodies are just temporary here on earth, so that even though how difficult circumstances are to each one, there is still Someone who loves and truly cares for us. I wondered though if they believed what I told them when in fact, materially, they are not well taken cared of. Nevertheless, I can see traces of happiness on their faces no matter how tough life for them is.

Finally, I said to the woman beside me, "Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Saviour?" I was so delighted to hear her answer, "Yes, I believe in Him. I just don't know with others." Her second statement seemed askew with the first one but her answer made me more comfortable to share to them the goodness of God even though many times we don't understand why we have to suffer poverty, wars and many pains that our physical and temporal bodies have to bear. If we personally believe in Him and ask Him to become our Saviour, then we are assured that once the time comes for us to leave this world, our souls will surely go home to our God to His kingdom in Heaven.

Reaching the city, we all parted with smiles and blessings. My daughter and I left them with their chorous of, "Thank you."

Do You Personally Know Him (Part I)

2007-08-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

"You may be a very rich and intelligent person, well-travelled, have earned several degrees in prestigious universities and have elite friends. You may be a well-updated person in current world events, have read shelves and shelves of books, know the biographies of famous mathematicians, scientists, politicians and world leaders like Aristotle, Einstein, Graham Bell, Queen Elizabeth and scores of others... and personally you may even know them. But did you ever know that there is a Person greater than your elite friends and greater than all the famous people the world has ever produced? Have you ever read His biography? Are you well-updated with His constant encouragements and promises to you?" These were some of the lines and in whole, the message one Sunday morning in church this month of August.

Well, it's not bad to be the individual in the message because God wants each one of His children to become rich, intelligent and comfortable in life.

It was not my first time to hear a similar message in a Gospel-based gathering urging each one to become aware that there is a person greater than anyone else and who loves each one so much. Because of His unconditional love for you and for me and to all human beings, He paid the penalty for out sins when He was nailed at the cross more than 2000 years ago. His name is Jesus, the Christ.

In my several acquaintances, I've met people of different colors, of different cultures from different lands or in short --- from different walks in life. There were many who were so intelligent that I always got a childish curiosity to ask myself how and why are these people so intelligent? Why am I not like them? Why is their comprehension so full while I don't have? They know so many things than me under the sun. How come and why like that?

Many intelligent people upon asking if they personally know who gave them their intelligence, would give a loud and defensive answer. I attacked a point in their ego!

Some I've met brag about their achievements in life and their good works, their successful children, successful career, etc... I feel happy for their achievements and I envy them. Only I feel pathetic when along their stories, they don't personally know who gave them all the intelligence, comforts and successes in their lives. They may answer that God gave them their assets when asked them but who is this God? There are many, many gods out there.

When it comes to spiritual beliefs, many still grip on superstitious beliefs/omens and ghosts! I pity these fine-brained people who don't know the very basic reason why they are alive. They don't know the most intelligent Person of all.

I am a born-again Christian because I humbled down before Jesus Christ, gave Him all my being, my problems, my achievements, my family and friends and everything of me and allowed Him to cleanse away all my sins and finally allowed Him to control the throne of my life. I prayed and received Him as my Personal Lord and Saviour 15 years ago. My feelings and views of worldly things became different from that moment because of the assurance of salvation that I received.

Along the years though after I got saved was not easy for me because of my inner enemy--- my own stubbornness. Trials and struggles popped along the way so that Satan became so occupied to bring me back to my old habits. It is his job to destroy each and every Christian as much as he can. At times I gave in, but Jesus my God would always hold my hands. I was so thankful because despite all the struggles I've gone through, my faith in my Christ never faded. Until now, He keeps on directing my feet to the path even if I get obstinate so often. He is truly a caring and loving God.

With lifestyles these days however, being too much occupied having no time even to sit down for a minute to say a short prayer of thanks, the more we lose updates on the goodness of God so that the preaching that Sunday morning became a bullet that pierced my heart. I claim to be a Christian for long, long years but do I regularly update myself with His words --- the Bible? My Christian friends out there -- this is a question I also leave to you. If we claim to be born-again Christians, do we really know Him? How deep?

To readers who want to know Him personally and become a Christian right now, here is a prayer of acceptance or sometimes called the sinner's prayer. It is short and simple. Pray it sincerely and allow the Lord Jesus Christ to work in your lives:

"Lord Jesus, I need You. I have sinned against You and against others. I confess that I am a sinner. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen."

If you prayed this simple prayer and want to know more about Jesus Christ, our God, you can go to any full-Gospel church near you and fellowship with other Christians.

God bless and praise the Lord!

Ways To Destruction

2007-08-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Before the GATT-WTO (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades of the World Trade Organization) came into world scene, product exchange or transfer of goods (i.e. barters and trades, imports and exports) was not as easy because there were many restrictions on the standard operation procedures that must be followed. Export and import of fresh products between some countries were not even allowed. Supply of certain goods or products either for export or import were thus regulated.

When the world opened into an agreement on tariffs and trades in the mid '90's, Research and Development boomed to the extent that some research technologies went beyond the limits of morality and ultimately posing danger into the human race. As a Bible-believing Christian, I believe in hermeneutics that World War III is at hand. This war however is very much different from the past World Wars I and II. It is not of arms and nuclear bombs but rather of an economic war.

True, it is happening today of the unpredictable fluctuations in the world economy. This situation is prophesied in the Book of Revelation in the Holy Bible of the Christian faith.

Aside from famines, earthquakes, floods and wars, many events were and will still be fulfilled before the final hour of these worldly things will happen. One is the One World Government. There will only be one ruler of this world. The transfer of basic food items from one country to another will easily be controlled.

Basing some events in what Revelation tells, many countries will unite into one big nation. As we know, the European countries agreed to have one currency called Euro as against the present World currency, the $US. Is this a prelude to the one world government?

The division of food crop species with headquarters based in strategic parts of the world including the Philippines, is another way of preparing the world as prophesied. In just a snap of a finger, thousands of food crop species can be destroyed forever. You may ask, how? Through the introduction of virulent crop diseases and devastating pests! Food supplies can be easily controlled through this situation! Result? Hunger. Eventually, massive death of the human race.

I am an avid viewer of the CBN news via the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the British Broadcasting Cable (BBC World). I watch daily the short noontime world events aired through CBN and it is from this network where I learned that certain foods that China export to the open world were detected to contain amounts of formaldehyde. Later, this situation was aired through the local networks identifying particularly the white rabbit candy coming from China that has a water soluble and edible secondary wrapper to contain the same chemical. Later, other Chinese products were scrutinized by BFAD wherein certain Chinese food companies use formaldehyde as one of their preservatives. Cosmetics and perfumes from the same country were also found positive of the chemical.

Formaldehyde can be available either in gas or liquid and aside from being used as preservative can be used as disinfectant and in making resins and dyes. If accumulated in the body will cause cancer.

Recently, children's toys coming from China manufactured particularly by Fisher-Price company were found to contain lead element. This includes the toys that Mattel, a US-owned company, distribute to the world market to also contain the same element. Mattel's toys are made particularly in China.

A man's heart is plagued with sin thus by ruling his selfish desires he can manufacture anything under the sun without considering the offensive consequences gradually poisoning the human race. The ultimate goal is an early rendezvous with death!

Before these world issues, the Philippine media was plagued with news about the abrupt increase of several brands of infant formula prompting most mothers of this generation to have their babies depend solely on the said synthetic milk instead of breastmilk. Almost all milk manufacturing companies today continuously establish tie-ups with government health centers to promote their products. Because of very promising advertisements, these companies make mothers more fickle-minded. The milk products are advertised to make babies geniuses even at the ages of 2 to 3. Who could not be enticed however! All mothers of course want their children to be strong, healthy, good-looking and have high IQ level! But irony of all ironies, after all the perfectly structured lines of enticements however, the last and brief lines to be said is, "Breastmilk is still best for babies up to 2 years." Wow! It's not a guarantee that if a baby is fed with golden infant formula will make the child so bright. Synthetics are still synthetics and natural is still natural!

I salute the unsung heroes of the rural health units in the country who promote breastfeeding and continuously discourage the sole use of infant formula. May your tribes increase!

The reason why infant formula were made is for emergency alternative in extreme cases like, mother's death where no breast milk is at hand, serious/debilitating disease that the mother carries wherein the pathogen can be transferred to her baby through her milk and in such that the mother is physically unable to breastfeed. But these reasons were ignored however, and instead the use of infant formula became a trend or fashion thereby continually psychologically inverting the reasoning powers of most mothers today.

The many reasons I've heard from lactating mothers this generation why they resort to infant formula is the limited volume of milk that they can give their babies. Of course for a reason to defend are many other reasons! I then paused to raise a question on this case. The trend today is that every pregnant woman has to has a private doctor (OB gyne). All the drugs, be it milk for pregnant women, vitamins and all that the private doctor prescribe are religiously taken in. To my surprise, if all the drugs tell the truth including the stimulation of the production of breastmilk during the lactating period, why is it that young mothers of today complain of limited milk production? What are the secret contents of these drugs that delimit the natural production of breastmilk in lactating mothers? In my own opinion, maybe these vitamins, milk, other drugs and every synthetics that are prescribed to pregnant women has something to do with the limited production of breastmilk later on so that all these infant formula available in the market will be sold ---- selfish desires! These companies make senseless profit from should be lactating mothers!

Comes now the time to let the baby receive doses of vaccines. A parent of course is branded crazy if he/she doesn't allow his/her baby to receive vaccinations against harmful pathogens.

One time, I watched a world health news on television posing a question, "Are all vaccines safe?" Alleged victims of vaccinations were shown on screen as either autistic or with very low IQ level. One 18 year old boy was shown as thinking and acting like a three-year old. Another was a child who after receiving an anti-polio vaccine became a polio victim instead. These cases are not isolated I guess because there had been other previous cases around the globe.

I just don't know but my observation, question and conclusion is: Why is it that around 10 years ago to this date, cases of autism in the Philippines is very high in children? Is it because of these vaccines that babies receive? The symptoms of autism usually manifest when the child reaches pre-school years around 3 to 4.

Autism is considered a mental illness just like schizophrenia. It is an organic condition in children caused by neurological disorder. Autistics may excel in one or more skills and they barely remember their names.

Somehow, I am convinced that these said disorders can be acquired through medicine, vaccines and other instant food products because of either what some unscrupulous researchers mix and match to come up with results that are immediately released for consumption even without completing the required product screening in the units of research and development or because of accidental procedures that went unnoticed during the process. The toy on the playground is the food chain.

We live with all the advanced technologies, the products of advanced researches, thereby we become robots of advertisements. Our eyes are very wide open. Yes, we can see but we are blind on the way to destruction!

Reasons To Say 'I Don't'

2007-07-27T21:55:00.000-07:00

I found this article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer by: Melinda P. Magsino in PDI - Youngblood SectionThursday, July 15, 1999. I found it somewhat satirical so am sharing it to you through this post.

After the month of June when brides and grooms said nothing but "I do," it is time to ponder upon the 25 reasons one should say "I don't":

1. Marriage is not a word. It is a sentence - a life sentence.
2. Marriage is very much like a violin: after the sweet music is over, the strings are attached.
3. Marriage is love, and love is blind. Therefore marriage is an institution for the blind.
4. Marriage is an institution where in a man loses his bachelor's degree and a woman gets her master's.
5. Marriage puts a ring on a man and a woman's finger and two under their eyes.
6. Marriage certificate is just another word for a working permit.
7. Marriage is not having a wife or a husband, but also worries inherited forever.
8. Marriage requires four types of rings: the engagement ring, the wedding ring, suffer-ring and endu-ring.
9. Married life is full of excitement and frustration: in the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. And in the third, both of them speak and the neighbors listen.
10. If it is true that love is blind, marriage is definitely an eye-opener.
11. Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends; you order what you want, and when you see that the other girls have, you wish you ordered that.
12. It is true that all men are born equal. But some pf them get married and then life becomes unfair.
13. There was this man who muttered a few words in church and found himself divorced.
14. A happy marriage is a matter of giving and taking: the wife gives her all and the husband takes.
15. Son: How much does it take to get married, Dad? Father: I don't know son, I'm still paying for it. Son: Is it true, Dad, that in ancient China, a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her? Father: That happens everywhere son, everywhere.
16. A man who once said, "I never knew what happiness was until I got married - and then it was too late!"
17. Love is one long, sweet dream and marriage is the alarm clock.
18. They say that when a man holds a woman's hand before marriage, it is love, after marriage, it's self-defense.
19. When a newly married man looks happy, we know why. But when a man who is married for more than 10 years, we wonder why he is there.
20. There was this lover who said he would go through hell for her. They got married and now he is there.
21. When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, it is either the car is new or the wife is.
22. If you want your wife to listen and pay attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.
23. Marriage is like a cage: the birds outside are desperate to get in and those inside are desperate to get out.
24. Love is entirely a matter of Chemistry. You can be treated like toxic waste.
25. Wife: I am an excellent housekeeper. Every time I got divorced, I keep the house.

ISRAEL - The Country In My Dreams

2007-07-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

Recalling my secondary years, my teacher in World History once asked us to pinpoint the map of Israel on the globe and describe how it looked like. For almost 20 years since then, that subject kept bringing me to the different maps of countries in the Middle East in search for the shape of the so-called Promised Land.

Since the time I learned how to read the Bible, the Holy Book of the Christian faith, Israel is the country mostly described. It is a country where numerous miracles were recorded both in the Old and New Testaments.

In the World map, Israel represents a tiny strip along the borders of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Egypt. South is the Red Sea. In other World Map editions, the map of Israel cannot be found. Nevertheless, this tiny country that God promised to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob powerfully exists!

Ten years ago, I applied for a short training course in Horticulture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Rehovot, Israel. Unfortunately however, my qualification wasn't able to compete with that of my co-applicants. There were three of us from Luzon who applied for the course and one each from the Visayas and Mindanao respectively. As far as I knew, there were only two in the Philippines who got the posts for the training course.

I told myself, however, that it is not yet the time to visit the land where the World's Saviour was born in flesh. I glimpsed instead at how Israel looked inside.

I was oriented to many of Israel's historical sites especially the old cities of Jerusalem and Nazareth. I was also introduced to the sites of the Dead Sea, the Dome of the Rock, the possible sites where Jesus Christ prayed in isolation, the possible peak of Mt. Golgotha where the Saviour was crucified and Bethlehem where He was born.

In agriculture, I learned that Israel is one among the biggest exporters of temperate cutflowers, vegetables and fruits in the world. Many wonder how did this tiny desert country turned its arid lands into a flourishing soil? I learned that Israel is until now keeping abreast with technologies in many fields in science. And most, I learned that the people of the land are called Jews or Hebrews who belong to the ancient Semitic people. Towards the middle of 1900, Adolf Hitler of Germany rose into power and tried to eliminate this race from the face of the earth by subjecting them into forced labor and killing 2 million of them either through shootings or gas chambers. God however didn't allow this race to vanish rather He still preserved it. He has reasons to it.

Records show that Israel had been into several struggles and even wars against her neighbors. Israel is a tiny land but wars nor other struggles cannot strip off the country from where it belongs. America even can never equal the wits and power of this desert land. God has still a plan for His people.

Israel is full of miracles!

How Did Israel Become Israel?

The Book of Genesis of the Holy Bible narrates the creation of the earth and everything in it until the time God created man and woman and named them Adam and Eve. It is in this book that describes how sin crept within the first couple and into the human race. Adam and Eve bore two sons, Cain and Abel. Because of sin, jealousy moved Cain to kill his younger brother Abel. In time Adam and Eve bore another son and named him Seth. More sons and daughters however came to the family after the third son.

Seth became the father of Abraham with his other brothers. Abraham begot only one son from his wife Sarah. He named his son Isaac who became the father of Jacob. Aside from his daughters, Jacob bore 12 sons with Joseph the Dreamer as the 11th. It was from Jacob where a community and 12 tribes arose composing now the nation Israel! His 12 sons actually represent the 12 tribes of the Promised Land.

The book of Genesis further tells how God called Israel to nationhood and salvation with the promise of a posterity, a land and a Saviour.

When Joseph, the 11th Son of Jacob was sold to the Egyptians by his brothers, he grew up until he held a respected position in Egypt at the Pharaoh's house. His family back home never knew about it. It was only during the years of plenty and the years of famine that the true identity of Joseph was later revealed to his brothers who went to Egypt to buy food. Jacob then was assured that his 11th son was still alive. With the approval of the Pharaoh and blessings of God, Jacob with his clan and all his possessions moved to Egypt upon the request of Joseph. All those who went to Egypt with Jacob - those who were his direct descendants not counting his son's wives - numbered 66 persons. With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob's family that went to Egypt were 70 in all." (Genesis 46:26-27).

For 430 years, the said number increased into a nation estimated at two million people. During those years, the large number of Hebrews in Egypt became a threat to the leaders who were to become future Pharaohs. These Hebrews then were subjected into slavery. "So they appointed taskmakers over them to afflict them with hard labor." (Exodus 1:11). These were the years when God seemed to be silent to the Jews/Israelites until a liberator was born in the person of Moses. The accounts of Moses and how God used him to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt is told in Exodus. Although for reasons that God only knows, Moses was never allowed to enter Canaan where God chose to settle down His people. Moses was only allowed to view the place from afar.

It was through Moses when the first direct miracle accounts were encountered by man. It was through him whom God spoke through a burning bush. It was through him whom God used to free the Israelites from slavery to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey - a land whom He promised to give to the descendants of Araham, Isaac and Jacob.

For 40 years that Moses led the Israelites out from Egypt, they lived from one place to another in the desert. And it was Joshua's (Moses's brother) task to take them back to Canaan - the Promised Land! While in the Promised Land, three kings arose in turn, Saul, David and Solomon. (Note: read the whole book of Exodus to understand the dramatic freedom of the Israelites out from Egypt).

In his book, Leadership That Builds: Leadership Secrets of Nehemiah, Glenn Johnson narrates that when Kings, Saul, David and Solomon arose in the nation of Israel, "it was tragic that the kingdom was divided north from south because Solomon's many wives led him into idolatry. The ten tribes of the North were called Israel. The two in the South were Judah. The division was God's judgment on His people and more judgment followed. The North was carried away by the Assyrians in 722 B. C. Their national existence was over. The South's final activity occurred 587 BC at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian. This began the 75 year Babylonian captivity. In 2 Chronicles 36, it documants what next takes place. The Baylonians slew the young Jews, abused the virgins and stole the worship articles from the temple.

The survivors were chained together and began the long march to Babylon. But with God failure need not be final. He still had for them a purpose and a plan.

Three groups returned from exile often referred to as the "second exodus". In the Book of Ezra 1-6, it records the return of nearly 50,000 under the command of Zerubabbel, about 538 BC. Ezra spearheaded a second group - around 4, 000 who returned eighty years later - 458 BC (Ezra 7-10). Nehemiah's exile came about 444 BC."

God gave Canaan, that is Israel today, to the Jews or Hebrews!

I am not yet fully adept to the history and people of Israel but for some personal reasons, it is my long desire and dream to visit this country in the fututre, God willing!

(Note: the Babylon before is now the country, Iraq).

SAGADA HYMN

2007-06-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Posting here the hymn of my beloved hometown

Beyond those travelled hills of the North

Lies my home all laden with pines

Amidst the soft and silken touch

Of morning mist I lay my prayers before thy shrine
My thanks to Thee my love dressed in green
My paradise unforseen
My thanks to Thee who spawned my life
Sagada, Sagada you'll always be mine

With you I believe
In my life I can live
With you I will share
What I have without care

Isnan ad-adawi ay bilbilig
Isdi nan i-itaw tet-ewa
Kaneg isnan kankanaenda ay Shangrila
Menlowalowak ken sik-a
Madaydayaw ka'y Ili, natalna
Umeyak ay m'id egyat na
Salamat 'snan Diyos ay nanapo
'Snan Sagada, Sagada kokowak enggana

Ken sik-a mamatiyak
Isnan biag matagowak
Ken sik-a makibingayak
M'id balina isnan kowak
(Repeat first stanza)

My Shangrila

2007-06-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Everytime I go home to my hometown, I always feel sorry both for myself and for my very own dear Shangrila. Considering the other side of the coin though I am not against social and economic development because this is what every society direly seek for. I cannot only help but fear for the consequences of this rapid effect of keeping abreast with advanced technologies correlated to the social and economic status of the town.

I was born from a poor family so I never tasted how it was to sleep in a very cozy bedroom all by myself in a big, big house. I used used to sleep on the wooden floor with my siblings on a mat. The family also used to eat meals squatting on the floor sometimes with spoons and forks but most of the time only with bare hands.

During my school years, I went through several struggles just so I can meet both ends and earn a degree. I am not the only one who had a life like this especially in the region where I came from. What I want to emphasize is, this is how poor my hometown used to be 20-25 years ago.

My hometown had been a tourist spot for so long and only occasionally visited by foreign adventurers. I can still barely remember when I was in grade 1 back in 1978 when I used to meet on my way to school, although occasionally, foreign tourists. As kids we called these tourists, "puraw" or "pulaw" in the local dialect which means white. We always wondered where these kinds of people with unusual sizes of noses and with blonde hair come from and why do they come to Sagada, my birthplace. We were once told that they were Americans but we learned later that not all of those white people were such but people from everywhere around the globe.

Most of those foreign tourists who until now frequent the Shangrilaism of Sagada are the Kibbutz - Israelites, Canadians, Irish, Swiss, Germans, Australians, Italians and of course the Americans.

It was only around 10 years ago that local tourists (Filipinos) started filling the inns and cafes of the town particularly on Lenten seasons. To this date, whenever I visit home I see several new faces roam the town who are not from the locality. They are Filipinos of course - local tourists who frequent every scenic spot of the town. This situation alarms me most, because I know, Filipinos have no discipline when it comes to proper disposal of trash. Every place they visit, they leave sorts of trash!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I accompanied some acquaintances to Sumaguing Cave, the most frequented place in the town these days. I felt ashamed of myself when I saw how the cave looks these days.

I first entered the cave when I was in Grade four and I can still remember some spots that were so intact and so clear. The map of the cave itself found just after the entrance which is used to guide visitors inside was so clear; the pigpen was half-full of crystal clear water; the rice granary looked like one amidst the flowing clear water; the entrance was knee-full of guano, bats' dirt, and it smelled awful; the thick black bats that were once so noisy above the walls of the cave with their eyes glittering against searchlights; the king and queen's curtains that really looked like curtains while clear water flowed over them and the intact stalagmites and stalactites.

The second time I visited this cave again was after 10 years. It seemed it had no great difference since the time I first entered it except the bats that seemed to have been 50% gone so that their guano was just around ankle-deep. During the following years of visit around 2-3 years interval, when local tourists started pouring in into the town, I saw the effects of exploitation particularly on nature.

My fear before became worse when upon my recent visit, I saw cigarette butts and used match sticks all over the entrance of the cave including candy wrappers, tissue paper and some sorts were somehow irresponsibly scattered around. The bats and guano were gone. Only few bats greeted us when we entered their haven. Names and other signs were written on the walls, some with charcoal. The water inside became dull when it used to be crystal clear. The most shocking sight was when a shop intended for business was built just opposite the steps going down the entrance. It offered washrooms and other basic needs after getting tired. My heart broke when I realized how greedy and opportunistic human beings become given a chance. The cave that Mother Nature gave to enjoy became a means of livelihood. I don't want though to entertain arguments that it's only the owner's way of having a livelihood! ---- My! I know the status of the name in town who owns the lot.

For six years past I had no chances to roam the stretch of the town whenever I went home for short visits, not until this recent one. I was stunned to see several souvenir shops mostly selling woven materials all over the town. I knew only of one weaving center in Sagada that monopolized the business for long, long years before I was born. I myself guarantee that their woven materials are of high quality prompting the owner to stick to a price that is not easily availed.

Today, several woven designs are all throughout the town. I bought one small item from one shop. It's cheaper than the usual price of the original weaving center. I can compare the difference. Next I bought another small woven item from the original weaving center. The material they are using now is not as durable as what they used years before.

To name some that I saw in these shops were: home made wine from: mulberry, mountain blue berry, bignay and rice wine; artificially made-antique old man's cane, arrow and shield ("kalasag") that our forefathers used during tribal wars; war axes; woven rattan tribal caps; postcards with several sceneries including postcards of pinetrees; T-shirts with imprinted SAGADA or any figure depicting the cultures of the townspeople.

Sagada is now busy stripping herself and busy selling all her limbs.

I know of one foreign tourist who got attracted to the town and opted to stay in the place for the rest of his life. He stripped the town of it's clothing and sold it in dollars abroad. How did he do it? He made video CD's by capturing all corners of the town that he found attractive; he was a painter, so he made several beautiful paintings; he was a potter, so he made several items made of Sagada clay --- all of these fetched him a good man's gain! I doubt if all the Sagadians know about this and if it's proper in their culture --- where is Shangrilaism?

Development and keeping abreast with the current trends in life is not bad. Certain aspects though need not to be sacrificed!

As we walked through the town, I was awed by the big and newly built western-styled houses and commercial buildings! Everytime I see new one, I asked myself if how and where did the owner acquire sums of money to build a mansion-like house. I know that to build a fully furnished big 3 to 4 storey commercial building would cost about a million or more of Philippine currency.

Since almost all the tourists who visit Sagada are foreigners, they always demand for internet cafes and it is so! All the inns and resthouses have internet connections. The resthouse where I checked in my friends had two units fully operating a 24 hour internet connection! Wow! Nothing is hidden now a days...!

I am also a romanticist as compared to a classicist. How I wished that the rice terraces and the once dense pine trees along the road to my home would stay as is. It's just a wish however because, mansion-type houses rapidly pop-up along the way in exchange of what I dreamed of to be. My companions always reiterated that people in my hometown are not classified as poor as what I had introduced to them. Well, I can't argue anymore because I myself cannot personally also assess how did these fine buildings were built in just a span of around 5 years.

I would just wish and keep on wishing TO REALITY that the sacredness of my dear Shangrila will remain even if life goes high tech as they say....!!!!!!

To Say Goodbye

2007-06-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

How many times in your life did you ever say 'goodbye' to special people and special places? How many times did you feel bad by the effect of this word? And have you ever wondered why do we have to say goodbye to our dear ones when time commands us to?

One Sunday morning in church, I pondered on the preaching regarding comfort zones in life. We need these zones of course in our daily well being. Besides it's always what we aim in life to be comfortable with people including our loved ones and the environment where we stay. The preacher said, "But we must always be on guard because these comfort zones where our lives revolve may either improve us or downgrade our images."

Leaving a comfort zone is depressing, yes, but one should not allow himself to wallow down into it. This is a lesson I've learned through the years. There are reasons why we should also say goodbye to such situations.

A day after my comprehensive examination ( a requirement before qualifying for a degree in a Graduate Study in most state universities in the Philippines), I slowly arranged my books and other things, packed some and cleaned my room. I suddenly realized that I was leaving the residence hall where I lived for two and a half years. Those five semesters in the University of the Philippines Los Baños that my agency allowed me to spend was finally over. And I spent it only in finishing my academics exclusive of the time I will soon spend for thesis! I had no other option but to write a letter requesting the chair of the Faculty and Staff Development Program of my University to grant me another one semester extension of my study leave and start my thesis. I was however elated after I learned that my request was approved after several board meetings and signatures although specified on Official Time. I was so thankful of this privilege.

The date that I set to leave the residence hall came. It was a Fiday evening. I took a deep breath, glanced over once more at that moment the unlighted reading room where I spent almost my last four semesters grueling with my subjects even until the wee hours. I sat on the benches in front of the hall and quietly watched some of my co-residents come in and out of the main door with some either leaving their smiles or bidding me goodbye.

I was somewhat happy and at the same time pathetic ---- a feeling I can't understand ----- a feeling of bidding goodbye!

Nevertheless, I found myself back in my agency five days after that evening. And the very first day, I visited my 'might-be' new supervisor and had a short chat. She offered me a room where I can use for the laboratory part of my thesis. Immediately, I started working my way because I needed to keep abreast with time. I found out that I am in the real world again of being a government employee collecting all whatever available resources so I can proceed with my work. My Institute is not a 'well-fed' agency thus requests for supplies are mostly nil!

As I began my work that day, my mind became so restless in between several minutes so that I was frequently fetched back infront of people/friends I talked, laughed and exchanged jokes with.

I was both physically and mentally so active during the past two weeks so that my mind have gotten used to it thereby affecting my transition pace including the fact that part of my being has not yet fully accepted to get back to my workplace affecting my behaviour.

I'm deeply longing to stay at UPLB where my comfort zones were again recently established. This is a pre-depression stage but I must face reality and not allow myself into such emotional instability. Instead I thank my God for caring for me and my family and for all His provisions all through those years I stayed in the said university. I thank Him also for giving me such wonderful people who had been my other source of encouragements and inspirations to hang on to life. I will treasure them in my heart forever. PTL forever......

The Power of Encouragement - Part II

2007-05-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Ate Lilia (5/29/2007: 05:26:23 AM): “The power of God within you, is greater than the pressures around u.” Good a.m., God bless your compre. Enjoy it with His presence.

Ate Lilia (5/29/2007: 05:31:06 AM): I will be praying for you. Itext mo c Mam Tess ng maaga kasi minsan nakakalimutan niya and sked, kwentuhan mo ako after ha?

Kathy (5/29/2007: 07:00:57 AM): Good luck and God bless on your compre

Kathy (5/29/2007: 07:02:27 AM): That’s normal. Pray ka lang. I know u can do it.

Ma'm Tess (5/29/2007: 08:10:11 AM): Good luck and God bless!

Kyin-kyin Win (5/29/2007: 07:28:27 AM): Good luck for your compre exam

Kyin-kyin Win (5/29/2007: 08:34:05 AM):Don’t worry u will pass. I pray 4 u.

Ate Mabel (5/29/2007: 09:48:57 AM): Good luck and God bless sa compre mo

Chari (5/29/2007:09:38:29 AM): Ate, I prayed for ur compre today! God bless po!

My comprehensive exam started at exactly 9:00 a.m. and ended at 11:15 a.m. I was really roasted as I expected it to be. I knew very well that many were praying for me during those hours.

Then I felt my legs strained and guessed if it was already 12 noon.

Finally, my adviser requested me, as the usual ritual of an oral exam, to leave the panel for awhile for the final decision. Immediately I went to the Reading room of the Agronomy Dept. in search of a wall clock. The clock told me it was 11:15 a.m. That was how long I stood in front of my panelists!!! I was called back in after around 3 minutes and was announced that I passed the exam. Handshakes and congratulations followed after for which I realized the exam was a reality and not just a dream. This feeling was the worst that I've gone through in all my academic examinations.

Carrying the empty paper bag to which I earlier brought with me the drinks of my panelists, I walked out of the Agronomy Building feeling happy but so exhausted. I wanted to scream because another heavy load in pursuing my degree was relieved. As soon as I reached my quarters, I composed a long thank you message and sent it to all who had been so caring to me. After which I again harvested many, many congratulation messages. At mid-afternoon I called some long distance friends to thank them for their concerns and thoughtfulness.

To God be all the glory and praises!

Until now, I am still receiving greetings of congratulations. I do treasure all these encouragements…. To all of you: Thank you very much!

The Power of Encouragement - Part I

2007-05-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's now exactly 12 hours before my general comprehensive examination tomorrow, May 29th,will start. This exam will determine if I will qualify further for the degree in MS Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna.

Earlier this day, I received 'good luck and God bless' messages either as greetings or text messages from my dorm mates and friends then gave them the usual 'thank you' welcome answers. It was later this evening when I realized the sincerity of friends who really cared to send me messages of blessings. It was also the time when I realized that the power of encouragement was really pouring over me. When I received a missed call and a message early this evening from someone close to my life, I was expecting it to be a message of blessing. But it was a message of Discouragement, the tool that Satan uses to harvest victims into his fold. The message was just one word but it meant a lot. It immediately devastated my flow of thinking that very minute I received it. I was stunned and got so quiet for a moment but then the Lord calmly reminded me to stay cool and just meditate upon His promises which instantly brought back peace and understanding in my spirit. Then after a minute or two, I received again a text message but it was from an unexpected person who had been a source of encouragement since the time I entered UPLB. The messages gradually neutralized my feelings that moment afterwhich I gave back sincere thank you's after her pieces of advice that came one from another.

From my room I went in front of the residence hall where I lived and met the coolness of the evening after the late afternoon rain. It smelled of fresh earth and greens that was preparing the birth of this year's month of June. The evening surrounding helped me overcome the ruined mood that I earlier had because of that wrecking message.

It was also this time that I recalled how golden were the seconds, minutes and even hours that concerned dear friends had spent to tell me how they really cared for me through their words of encouragements that they either verbally told me along the way wherever I met them or through their yahoo messengers or through text messages. Some even were so thoughtful to call from long distances just to say 'keep going'; 'God bless you'; 'just relax' and 'you can do it!'

I slowed down for a moment and recalled since yesterday all those precious people who sent me encouragements particularly for my exam tomorrow. Ate Bing, my former dorm mate, treated me for a 'halo-halo' break at Chowking-Vega around 2:00 this afternoon as well as prayed for me and my exam. It was unusual for her to give me favors like this but I still thanked her for her sincerity and kindness.

I tried to recall all those whom I met during the last 36 hours who gave me handshakes, smiles and greetings of blessings. The following are some of the encouraging messages that I was able to archive from my YM and mobile inbox:

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:29:40 PM): good luck Yoli

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:32:04 PM): nothing will happen.... they will try to prove that u don't know anything but u must be firm with ur answers..

Vijay (5/27/2007 2:35:53 PM): what is the time of compre?

Vijay (5/27/2007 3:36:19 PM): .. and just relax on ur exam

Vijay (5/27/2007 3:36:24 PM): GOD BLESS U

Ate Bing (5/28/2007 10:00:00 AM): God bless sa compre mo tomorrow

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:10:29 PM): God bless and good luck sa compre

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:12:51 PM): Pag ninerbyos meaning prepared! Just give your best kick!

Ate Angie (5/28/2007 19:16:20 PM): That's true! Tulog ka na. Hwag ka na magreview para relaxed mind mo. Sleep and meditate ka tomorrow early morning.

Sisaphaithong Thongkoun (5/28/2007 20:07:11 PM): Hey..I know u can do it tomorrow. Good luck and don't be too serious.

The words of these caring people helped me brace myself and put on more confidence to face my panelists tomorrow.

I can't give back any other things to them only my sincere thanks and prayers for them.

I thank the Lord for giving me these caring people as well as those who constantly downgrade my image - they strengthen my faith in my Lord God and Creator!

I also give thanks to all those who are praying for me.... Praise the Lord!

The Philippines opts for biodiesel

2007-05-19T06:19:00.000-07:00

by Imelda V. Abaño, 10 May 2007, Source: SciDev.Net

The Philippine government has implemented laws requiring the use of coconut-blended biodiesel this week (6 May).

The Philippine biofuels act mandates all oil firms to blend one per cent coco-methyl ester in their diesel products. The act also requires the addition of at least five per cent ethanol in other gasoline products by 2008, increasing to ten per cent by 2010.

Raphael Lotilla, the Philippine's Energy Secretary, said that the government hopes to decrease the amount of fossil fuels imported into the Philippines.

The biofuel law will offset 70 million litres of diesel — out of the seven billion litres used every year — and will save the country at least US$167 million annually in foreign exchange, he said.

The move by the Philippines came just days before the publication of a report by UN Energy (9 May), which states that adopting biofuels could impact negatively on people's livelihoods and the environment, especially on the biodiversity of plants and animals.

Professor Sandy Gauntlet, Asia program coordinator of the forest-protection organisation Global Forest Coalition (GFC), said that increased biofuel production will ultimately destroy the few remaining forests of the world by converting them into plantations.

She said biofuel farming was becoming the main cause of deforestation in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil.

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) plan to develop 740,000 acres of land to meet the demand for coco diesel.

PCA Administrator Oscar Garin said the Philippines would need at least 70 million litres of coco biodiesel to comply with the biofuels act.

Armando Galvez, one of the estimated 3.5 million coconut farmers in the Philippines, is worried about the massive destruction of forests that could occur when farmers rush to meet the biofuel demand.

"Farmers will now be competing with each other because of the government's demand on us to produce more coconut for biodiesel," Armando told SciDev.Net

Galvez also fears the local population will suffer from a scarcity of food in the future.

"There will be more coconut farmers now. Others might stop producing food crops for the local population and as a result, prices of basic commodities and food staples could soar. That would be devastating," he said.