Happy Thanksgiving!

While the US celebrates Thanksgiving, I'd prepared a mini-thanksgiving dinner for all of us here at home last night. I prepared a seafood-themed thanksgiving which my housemates enjoyed. A day like this is worth celebrating especially if we offer it to God as a way of gratitude for giving us bountiful blessings. Cheers to all the blessings we had for this year. And we hope for more to come next year!

Christmas = Gifts

Do you have a list of gifts for your loved ones but don't know where to find it? Well, stop worrying, christmas gifts are just a click away. If you haven't decided which gifts to give, here are some gift ideas in store for you. And who would miss out on children gifts? Click on toys for a handful list. I bet your kids would not stop raving about it. For your mom and girlfriends, a nice perfume would surely make their Christmas smell good and merry. If you are a kitchen lover like me, then food hamper would be a great gift to give. And for men? A laptop wouldn't be so much if it's for the one we love. Guys would love to experience days with fun as well.

So what are you waiting for? No gift ideas yet? Save the worry for next Christmas because this year's Christmas is just a friendly click away. Happy shopping!

Helpless battle

Have you ever been in a fight where you're helpless? I am in a battle where I cannot fire back. No matter how ready I am, I just cant. And I hate myself for being in this position. I badly want to fight for myself, but I just feel that it isn't right. I feel this way because there are people affected, people that I care so much. And I just want to get rid of this awful feeling.

If only I could disappear right now. If only I have the power to teleport to a place where nobody knows me, a place where I could exist as me. I'm starting to feel suffocated. I need some air to breathe in.

Something to ponder...

"Good or bad, hard to say"

Yang Wai Hoong wrote:

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his followers very much because he was very wise and always gave very useful advice. Therefore the king took him along wherever he went.

One day, a dog bit the king, the finger was injured and the wound was getting worse. He asked the follower if that was a bad sign. The follower said, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. In the end, the finger of the king was too bad that had to be cut. The king asked the follower again if that was a bad sign. Again, the follower gave the same answer, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. The king became very angry and sent the follower to prison. One day, the king went hunting in the jungle. He got excited when he was on the chase of a deer. Deeper and deeper he went inside the jungle. In the end he found himself lost in the jungle. To make thing worse, he got captured by the native people lived inside the jungle. They wanted to sacrifice him to their god. But when they noticed that the king had one finger short, they released him immediately as he was not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice.

The king managed to get back to his palace after all. And he finally understood the follower's wise quote, 'Good or bad, hard to say'. If he hadn't lost one finger, the native people could have killed him. He ordered to release the follower, and apologized to him. But to the king amaze, the follower was not mad at him at all.

Instead, the follower said, 'It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up.' Why? Because if the king hadn't locked the follower up, he would have brought the follower along to the jungle. If the native found that the king was not suitable, they would have used the follower. Again, the quote 'Good or bad, hard to say' stands.

The moral of the story is that everything that happens in this world, there is no absolute good or bad. Sometimes good things turned out to be bad things eventually, while bad things become a gain. Whatever good things that happen to you, enjoy it, but don't have to hold too tight to it, treat it as a surprise in your life. Whatever bad things that happen to you, don't have to feel too sad or despair, in the end, it might not be a total bad thing after all. If one can understand this, he or she will find life much easier.

East Coast fun-filled day!

Weee! I had a blast yesterday with some Filipino colleagues at the East Coast park. We had a BBQ party and it was really fun. I previously posted something here about my missing to play roller blades. Finally, I made it happen yesterday. Too bad, I wasn't wearing proper gear because I didn't know I'll be playing until King (colleague) told me to join him. Funny that he invited me yet he doesn't know how to haha.

Gleefully enjoying the ride without safety gears haha. I have not done this in years.

Snapshot of me panting like a crazy dog (but managed to smile) after a long skate. East Coast is like a hundred kilometers in whole stretch. And I didn't intend to burn all my fats in just one day by skating the whole park haha. I had to stop hehe.

Left-Right: RC, King, Ryan, Khay, Richard, Nellie, Me, Archie (Do we look behaved? Well, just for the photo shots haha!)

Let's do this for Baguio!

Add your name to the list and send this message to as many people as possible.

Please do not just click 'forward'-- Instead highlight the text and copy onto a new message box.

Thank you.

Everyone who has gone to SAGADA, PULAG, IFUGAO,and other places in the Cordillera -- will notice that
BAGUIO has LOST its CHARM--it is crowded, it is polluted, water is scarce, it is full of squatters
even in the watershed areas and it is HOT. The pine trees are so choked with smog. Session Road is no
longer leisurely cool walk -- it's like being in Cubao (okey - exaggeration but i really hate the
billboards up there -- it's so cluttered, an eyesore).

Hopefully Sagada won't follow suit---but it's getting to be commercial up there too. Maybe by
signing up, you will help RECLAIM BAGUIO's lost beauty and stop the degradation of all the other
places we all love in the Northern region--so, how about signing this petition?

PETITION for BAGUIO CITY:

We believe that the City of Baguio is culturally, environmentally and aesthetically unique and
different from other cities in the Philippines.

We believe that Baguio is the nerve center of our rich and diverse cultures: the Filipino culture
in general, the highland Cordilleran culture, the lowland Ilocano culture, and the heritage culture
brought about by the Americans during the early 20th Century.

We believe that in the past two decades, the City of Baguio has experienced a substantial degradation of
its unique culture, environment and art.

We believe that the approval of certain politicians with no respect for the aesthetics and the
environment of Baguio to put up concrete structures such as malls, overpasses and flyovers only worsens
Baguio City's lamentable decay as a 'City of Pines.'


We believe that this overdevelopment resulting in pollution has to stop.

We believe that due to its unique history and blend of cultures, Baguio can be to the Philippines as
Barcelona is to Spain, Chiang Mai is to Thailand, and San Francisco is to the United States: a main
center of arts, culture, philosophy, education, tourism, sustainable development and environmental
awareness.

We believe, therefore, that the City of Baguio deserves to be declared a 'Special Heritage Zone,'
so that the degradation brought about by overdevelopment can be minimized and gradually
controlled.

We believe that Baguio City's heritage as a center of culture and environmental awareness
is a valuable asset not just to the Philippines, but also to the world.

We now respectfully call on the residents of Baguio and the Filipino people to sign this humble
petition, and for the local and national government concerned to implement and declare Special Heritage
status on this unique mountain City as soon as possible, preferably before the Baguio Centennial in
2009, so no further destruction on its limited cultural, environmental and aesthetic resources may
continue.

Please add your name to the list and send this message to as many people as possible.

Please do not just click 'forward'-- Instead highlight the text
and copy onto a new message box.

Thank you!

1. Cristina Bejar Gallardo
2. Maximino M. Bejar
3. Monserrat M. Bejar
4. Minette Cruz-Soriano
5.Jaja Mendoza
6. Jaime B. Antonio Jr., Local Government Academy
7. Augusto Villalon, Heritage Conservation Society
8. Rene Luis S. Mata, Heritage Conservation Society
9. Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Heritage Conservation Society
10. Fernando Nakpil-Zialcita, Heritage Conservation Society
11. Leon Cruz Araneta, Heritage Conservation Society
12. Peter Allan R. Bontuyan, Heritage Conservation Society
13. Verna Mamicpic-Alih, Siquijor Heritage Foundation, Inc.
14. John L. Silva, Heritage Conservation Society
15. Sony K. Ng, Museum Volunteers of the Phils.
16. Jack Sotto, Makati City
17. Rizzo Regis-Tangan, Las Pinas
18. Robby S, de Silva - Campaigns and Grey Phils.
19. jigs javier - Alabang
20. Gloria Roca - Makati
21. Yvonne de Paula - Makati City
22. Margarita L. Emmanuel - California, USA
23. Ming Roxas - Quezon City
24. Vincent MB Pinpin - Quezon City
25. Alvin Lim - Quezon City
26. Lizette Yulo - Paranaque
27. Meg Isleta - Makati City
28. Dabong Isaac * BAGUIO CITY
29. Dina Marie B. Delias - Baguio City
30. Issur Olairez - Baguio City.
31. Harris Co - General Trias, Cavite
32. Stella Milanes - Adelaide, Australia
33. Veronica Simbol - Canberra, Australia
34. Gigi Manuel - Baguio City, Philippines
35. Bessie Oliva- Sydney, Australia
36. Kathleen C. Palasi-Eyeasia, Philippines
37. Gia Ll. Atienza - Quezon Province, Phil.
38. Aris Cari'o - Abra
39. Zaldy L. Lamsis, Baguio City
40. Cecille Soltura-Mandaluyong city, Philippines
41. Ariel Dalisay - Mandaluyong City, Philippines
42. Richar d A. S. Grimaldo - Mandaluyong City,
43. Maria Cristina V. Turalba - UAP Sentro ng Arkitekturang Pilipino
44. Issa Avendano - UAP Sentro ng Arkitekturang Pilipino
45.Benedict Hermoso - UAP Internal Affairs
46. Odessa Tango - UAP Sentro ng Arkitekturang Pilipino
47. Adrian Hope Pedroso - UAP Sentro ng Arkitekturang Pilipino
48. Antonio A.Turalba - Active Group Inc.
49. Lena Lubi - Active Group Inc
50. Dorothy Lucasan - Active Group Inc
51. Imee Seprado - Active Group Inc
52. Bobby Manasan - Virginia, USA
53. Erlinda W. Taylor LA, CA
54. Ofelia R. Sta.Ana - Parannaque City,
55. Amy Puno, Makati City
56. Ma.Corazon G.. Fajardo, Mandaluyong City
57. Ma. Leonora A. Valmonte
58. Tesa Valmonte-Geronimo
59. Geenette M. Garcia
60. Chris Domil O. Cobacha, Muntinlupa City
61. Ma. Teresita A. Cobacha, Muntinlupa City
62. Ma.Rovilla C. Sudaprasert, Bangkok, Thailand
63. Maria Rona C. Reyes, Los Banos, Laguna
64. Connie N. Rey, Bacoor, Cavite
65. Isadelle H. Reyes - BiÃ'an, Laguna
66. SAM Marasigan - Bahay Kalakal
67. Myrna Guevara
68. Celso dela Paz
69. Pete Bernardo, Pasig City
70. Milagros Roa,Mandaluyong City, Phils.
71. Eugenio A. Enriquez, San Juan Metro Manila
72. Anna Marie C. Cabatu, Pasig City
73. Leslie Ann B. Cariaga, Pasig City
74. Marnelli M. de Ocampo, Marikina City
75. Cheche Zapanta - Taytay, Rizal - Phils.
76. Lilian Villa - Cavite
77. Cora Sanchez - Rizal
78. ANNE LESLIE G MATIAS- BACOLOD
79. PAUL MICHAEL D. SANTOS- DON BOSCO MS'97 /MAKATI
80. GINA C. ALMOCERA, MASBATE/TAGUIG, PHILIPPINES
81. Eric Babao - Quezon City
82. Jin-Jin Babao - Quezon City
83.. Veyon B. Calinawan - Quezon City
84. Teresita S. Castillo (Tessam) - Taguig
85. Mayvelyn B. Remigio, Quezon City
86. Macel Aguilar-Kalookan City, Phil
87. Adora Pascual Carpio-Nicolas - Hawaii, USA
88. Precy Platon-Tica -Manila, Philippines
89. Claire O. Esteban - UPISSI, Diliman, Quezon City
90. Theresa A. O. Esteban - UP Diliman, Quezon City
91. Emmanuel Ikan Astillero - Phil Institute of Environmental Planners
92. Eve L. Magnata - Asian Social Institute, Manila
93. Victoria V. Rialp - Quezon City
94. Louella Rialp - Lufthansa
95. Tina Nepomuceno-Di Cicco, Hong Kong
96. Rufina R. Millan, Hong Kong
97. Carla O. Cruz, Hong Kong
98. Glenna G. Aquino,Makati City
99. Lynn Cruz - Intramuros, Manila
100. Leslie Ann Murray - American Chamber
101. Joan Orendain - Orendain & Associates
102. Bambi L. Harper- Filipino Heritage Festival Inc./Inquirer
103. Mert Loinaz - Makati
104. Margot Mañosa - Makati
105. juliet Siytangco - Quezon city
106. Jane Sarte - California, USA
107. Lu Gaerlan - California, USA
108. Roland Alcantara - California, USA
109. Gideon Omero - Baguio City
110. Cynthia Remiendo Maslian - Baguio City
111. Rosemarie A. Diaz - Baguio City
112. Elizabeth Aurelia Salango- Gonzales- Baguio City
113. Edward Thaddeus V. Gonzales- Baguio City
114. Charles Rabara - Vigan, Ilocos Sur
115. Monching Amores - San Jose, California
116. Irene S. Amores - Legazpi City
117. Pedro Camilo Moreno - Naga City
118. Jose A. Adolfo, Jr. - Canaman, Camarines Sur
119. Carlito B. Balingbing - Los Ba񯳬 Laguna
120. Rochelle B. Bonagua -- New Manila, Quezon City
121. Mary An A. Tang - Makati City
122. Agnes Curtis - UK, Eastbourne
123. Angie Nanglihan - Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK
124. Bernadette Golocan-Dimas- -- Como, Italy
125. Myrna Ingosan , Baguio City
126. Grace D. Ingosan - Solano - Baguio City
127. ULYSSES BASIL GOJO - BAGUIO CITY
128. Ailene I. Alafag - Baguio City
129. Margie B. Agaled - Dornod, Mongolia
130. Ela Victoria F. Sarmago - Quezon City
131. Rizalene F. Velacruz - Quezon City
132. Deanie Lyn Ocampo - Quezon City
133. Violeta C. Imperial - Las Pinas City
134. Sinag A.S. de Leon-Amado -Women's Media Circle U.P. Mountaineers
135. Luisa (Aguilar) Igloria - Old Dominion University,
136. Jennifer Patricia A. Carino - Baguio City
137. Angela Blardony Ureta - Makati City
138. Wawi Navarroza - Taguig City
139. Miren Facultad - Makati City
140. Vic Facultad - Makati City
141. goo simpliciano - Quezon city
142. Higgy Simpliciano - Palawan
143. Bernardo M. Soriano, Jr. - PAGASA, DOST, Q.C.,
144. Anna Bella Siriban-Manalang
145. Raquel Chua - Manila/Tarlac City,
146. Ritchie Chua - Tarlac City,
147. Eva E. Gabon - Malate, Manila
148. Lolita A. Abonitalla - Sta. Mesa, Manila
149. Reynaldo B. Ame
150. Mharra M. De Mesa - San Pablo City, Laguna
151. Jose S. Redor, UAP- Quezon City
152. Romeo V. Saguisag - Pasig City
153. Lilimay R. Manalo - Pasig City
154. Monina Rañeses - Dept. of Tourism-National Capital Region
155. Dolly Alvarado - Dept. of Tourism-National Capital Region
156. Rosechell C. Gamir - Accenture - Cybergate, Mandaluyong City
157. Fidel A. Rapisura - eperformax - Makati City
158. Dr. Edwin Chinel Monares, Global Reciprocal College, Caloocan City and SAVE ME Movement, Inc.
159. Josephine Carino Turner- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
160. pet furing-House of Rep. Quezon City
161. Melody B. Grecia - Irosin, Sorsogon
162. Arcie B. Grecia - Irosin, Sorsogon
163. Garry N. Viajante - Los Banos, Laguna
164. Melany Grecia-Viajante - Los Banos, Laguna
165. Reinald del Valle - Calauan, Laguna
166. Virnel R. Ventura - Makati City, NCR
167. Annalie N. Ventura- Makati City, NCR
168. Ma. Melissa T. Gamboa - Makati City

169. Freddie O. Gamboa - Makati City

170. Ria Gamboa - Makati City

171. Lui Gamboa - Makati City
172. Carmencita Crosier - Akron, Ohio USA

173. Guillermo V. Gaspar - Bensalem, PA USA

174. Maria Luisa L. Vibora - Canlubang, Calamba City
175. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB - Paranaque City
176. Vos Suarez - Parañaque City

177. Jun-Jun Reyes – Paranaque City
178. Andrew S. Corvera - Paranaque City
179. Mee Felix - Paranaque City
180. Bella Jakubek - Sydney, Australia
181. Catherine F. Arcega, CSMS - Quezon City, Metro Manila
182. Franz A.E. Luis, Antipolo City, Rizal
183. Josefina Natividad - University of the Philippines Diliman
184. Evelyn Gatchalian - Baguio City; HLURB
185.Eleanor B. Uboan- HLURB-CAR, BAGUIO CITY
186 Myrna Balabag- Long Island, New York
187. Heide Abulencia - Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
189. Haryet A. Braganza - Doha, Qatar
190. Elizabeth II Balais-Florentino - Tabuk City, Kalinga
191. Crystal Vemil I. Lammawin- Mambajao, Camiguin
192. Abigail M. Agliam - Singapore

Stressed...Torn...

If you have two beautiful places and you're only to choose one, will you ever get to pick if you just can't give the other up? What do you do if you're torn and caught in the middle? Ack! I'm left stressed and torn.

Another Tag!

I got this award from Badet.



Random Things About Me? Read on:

• I love to experiment on traditionally cooked dishes. I always alter some of the ingredients.
• I blog hop everywhere.
• I stay up late on weekends watching my favorite TV series.
• Sunday is iron day for office clothes. (Independence is what you master when you're away from home)
  
• I'm anticipating a big change in my work which I am not happy about.
  
• I want to go for a swim but the unpredictable rain stops me huhu
• I want to travel soon.
• I wish to fast forward this month to December.
• I wish I could go back home and live the life I had 2 years ago, when mom was still alive. I will trade for anything just to have that life again.
• I want to go back to school.
  
• I'd like to buy the SLR Cam I've been wanting to have.
• Someday I want to visit: The World
• I need to practice wearing heels again - taller this time! Ack!
• If I'll ever win a huge amount of money, I'll put up a foundation for the elders.
  

I'm tagging: Rona

Tag Me!

Rona tagged me! So Here it is. Thanks, Rona!

A. Attached or single ? — Attached
B. Best friend? — Rona is the closest
C. Cake or pie? — Cake
D. Day of choice? — Sunday
E. Essential item? — Computer
F. Favorite color? — Magenta
G. Gummy bears or worms? — Neither!
H. Hometown? — Baguio
I. Favorite indulgence? — Chocolate cake/ice cream
J. January or July? — January
K. Kids? — None
L. Life isn’t complete without? — Archie
M. Marriage date ? — still to come
N. Number of magazine subscriptions? - Zero
O. Orange or apple? — Apple
P. Phobias? - Snake
Q. Quotes? — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but in all your ways, acknowledge Him
R. Reasons to smile? — my family and friends
S. Season of choice? - Summer
T. Tag 5 people - Badet, Dominie, Prima, Meme, Honney
U. Unknown fact about me? - I'm Hitler's daughter LOL!
V. Vegetable ? — Bitter Gourd
W. Worst habit? — Change plan in a snap
X. X-ray or ultrasound? - X-ray
Y. Your favorite food(s)? - cake, ice cream, pasta, pizza
Z. Zodiac sign — Libra

Wake that brain up!

It's weird that sometimes I feel like I'm mentally drained. I haven't been proactively writing. Ack! Work and personal stuffs are really succumbing me. Everytime I reach home from work, I switch on my laptop but merely doing nothing. In fact, I've got pending loads to do, like finish the slide Archie has created, finalize some important matters and yet all I do is blankly stare...at nothing! Argh!

Lately, my carpal tunnel syndrome has started to worsen. If you want to know more about CTS, please click this link. I seriously need to rest and minimize too much typing or doing anything repetitive that aggravates the pain. Rest from typing? Would you? I've contemplated a lot of times. And the answer is hell NO haha! I just can't. So I've decided to purchase this glove reliever online. I'll have it shipped ASAP so I'll have a help. No more resting required hehe.

But then, thinking of how technology has greatly influenced us, I think we should not take our health for granted. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is not just like a headache. It's not a one pill magic kind of treatment. I guess nobody would want their good hands sliced just to get rid of those swollen muscles like the photo below. Aaw! Scares me so much :(

Photo credit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/19250.jpg

Financially stable

I am delighted to see the current exchange rate today, it's PHP 32.60! Isn't that great? Last year when I first got here, at this time, it was already around PHP28+ I hope it'll remain like that so I'd still have a merry Christmas.

Crowns of Power

Are you into online games? The evolution of Digital video games is extremely emerging nowadays. Different genre is continuously developed to entertain game enthusiasts like me. Some of the examples are role-playing game (RPG), action-adventure, construction and management simulations, life simulations and a whole lot more. I am a fan of construction simulations and RPG.

Rapid Interactive have developed Crowns of Power, a free massively multi-player online role-playing game. The game runs on 3D graphics where the character can move to different coordinates.

The game world is being designed to support hundreds of players concurrently, with the network capacity to sustain many gamers at different servers. Players will meet up with others from all parts of the world to fight each other or oppose one another on the field of battle. Guild system is also adaptable with the game for players to help team members on game quest, easy level-up and guild team battles.

The game objective is to progress your character through adventures and quests while obtaining rare and unique items, spells and powers. As you progress, your role in the social and the public aspect of the game could take on significant roles as people elect fellow players into positions of power and guild system.

With the above review, I challenge you to play Crowns of Power to give yourself a conquering entertainment. And remember, this is a free online game. So, let's play and share comments about your created character and game experience.

Loaded Saturday

Yesterday was one of the most exhausting days I had ever spent in the last few months. Whoa! My body is no longer as revved up as before. I feel like I've aged so much haha.

So how was it loaded? We started of our day with a little prayer for the departed in commemoration to Philippine holidays for All Saint's and Soul's day for Nov 1 and 2. After that, off we went to Tanjong Pagar to collect Archie's card. Later, we headed off to Ngee Ann City to open a bank account. Hmm, that was quite a long wait. But the bank lady was kind enough to let us go for a good walk at the mall and wait for her call when queue is cleared. Ok, so we window shopped in those high-end stores of posh bags and shoes. I was drooling over mid-day haha. Funny thing, we went inside LV store. It was my first time to get inside as I always see a chunk of shoppers waiting outside. Luckily, it wasn't so crowded yesterday. While inside, I was daydreaming that it was my own closet haha. I saw this one bag displayed and I was very hesitant to get near it or even touch it because when I looked around, I don't see people touching the bags. Hmm, so I'm not sure if that was how they shop or was it a rule not to touch the bag haha. I felt so dim-witted, clueless of what to do. Good thing I managed to kind of adapt what I saw from others hehe. So I moved away and looked around instead. Sigh, so near yet so far. But I thank for the experience.

Alright, so we continued to window shop. Actually, Archie was meant to shop as he needs some clothes for work. Thanks to Hush Puppies for their 50th anniversary, we definitely had a good buy. Eventually, the time was up and the bank lady called us up. Once done, we took a train to City Hall and window shopped again for shoes. I'm actually looking for a nice pair of stilettos. But I just didn't have enough energy and patience to walk some more because I was starting to feel really exhausted. Every after a bus or train ride, walking was the means of transport. Whew! So we just passed our time until we decided to head home and stop at Holy Trinity church to attend mass. Off we went with an hour bus ride. Since we arrived pretty early at the church, we decided to drop by at the Filipino store to buy some ingredients for our menus. After the mass, we didn't go home yet. We went straight to the supermarket to buy groceries. We thought of doing all chores in one day so we could just bum around the next day hehe. So to sum it up, we spent 12 hours doing all these stuffs in one Saturday. Praise God for another day despite exhaustion.