growing old gracefully

NJ Pipe for Raider 150

2011-04-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

It took us months to decide which pipe is best for Raider 150. At first, we thought DBS pipes are good then came the Nanban which they say is better than DBS. The dilemma then lies on whether to go for DBS or Nanban. Luckily, Marc had the chance to chat with a motorcycle expert who recommended NJ pipes.

What's NJ? We haven't heard of it yet and that pushed us to research on it. Unfortunately, no blogger nor any forum has mentioned it yet. The only data we have is that the NJ shop is in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan,so off we went to search for it.

For anyone interested to have an NJ Pipe, the contact details are:

Mobile numbers: 09331626209

09195870713

email add: njpipes@yahoo.com

And here's the one we've got for our Raider 150:

CELTA

2011-03-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

What reminds me of CELTA? Here are some:

* TTT (teacher talk time) like I had a lot of TTT! Well, I talk a lot I know. Have you met a teacher who doesn't talk a lot? Doubt it,hehe

* STT (student talk time) I forgot it's not me! The spotlight should be on the students.. :c

* Elicitation. Ooopps..Don't say the word.Ask the students!

* CCQ (concept checking questions) Ask them! Nope, not the usual Do you understand but questions that allow the students to give their understanding of the lesson.

* PPP (Presentation Practice Production) It's presenting the language (grammar structure, uses, phonemes included,etc.) practising it in a controlled way and freer practice in the end or production. It works but teachers shouldn't strictly adhere to this.

*TP (Teaching Practice) I may not be the lucky last but being first on the list has given me lots of advantages on handling the lesson and time!:D

*Feedback. I love criticisms - positive or negative as long as there's a basis for it.

And here are some that will stick with me for ages:

* I shouldn't have done that! :D We had a lot of practice on this!

* The elephant in the room! That's one of Ric's favorite lines,hehe

* Those bloody Americans! They've turned nouns into verbs! Like the noun network now has a verb: networking! Eto lang masasabi ko, Get a life Aussies! Kasalanan ko ba kung mga Kano ang sumakop sa Pinas at hindi Britons?

* Native speakers vs. Non-Native speakers? As my mama used to say, Life's not fair!

walang pamagat

2010-06-01T09:52:00.001-07:00

yun na yun..tapos na naman ang eleksy0n..masisi m0 ba kung paulit ulit na krinikritik ng taumbayan ang mga poltiko kahit kabago-bago pa lang ng mga it0? masisisi m0 ba ang taumbayan kung kauupo palang ng isang politiko eh may nanawagan na ng oust o patalsikin si ____ !?

sabi nga..wala sa mga ta0 ang problema..nasa sistema pa rin..the system sucks, sabi ng mga peti-burges..inuugat it0 dapat at hindi tinitignan ang eleksyon bilang solusyon sa problema. kada tatlo 0 apat na ta0n may eleksyon, per0 ganun pa rin..ang hinahangad nating pagbabago,mailap pa rin. ibig sabihin lang nun, hindi man0-mano o automated eleksy0n ang kasagutan.

sa mga uring peti-burges o mga intelektwal, ibinot0 si gibo. galing at talino daw eh.naniniwala sila na dapat may utak ang magpatakbo ng ating bansa. tama nga naman. pero hindi ba't matalino din si arroy0? si marcos? at iba pa per0 ang inaasahan nating ibibigay nilang pagbabago ay lumala. liban pa sa si gibo ay maka-arroyo o maka-administrasyon.

si erap, sa kanya pa rin nakadepende ang masa. sabi nga nung isang nakausap ko nung tinanong ko siya kung sinong presidente nya,si erap daw. bakit po? ang sagot,kasi nung panahon niya.mababa ang presyo ng mga bilihin.napakasimple ng sagot diba? mula sa isang taong nakakaranas ng tinatatawag nating "hand to mouth existence",ang presyo ng bilihin ang pangunahing basehan.isinasantabi na ang mga dahilan kung bakit natanggal sa pagkapangulo no0n si erap,isinasantabi na ang ilang bily0ng ninakaw nito sa kaban ng bayan maibalik lang ang mababang presyo ng asukal at NFA rice.

si villar..mayaman.sa kanyang mga commercial,parang kayang kaya niyang magpamigay ng bahay sa bawat pamilyang pilipino. marami ding kinakaharap na kaso, usapin sa korapsyon ang pangunahin per0 nanatili sa presidential race,hindi bumigay sa gitna ng walang habas na pambabato sa kanya nga mga kapwa nya senador ng mga kaso. ibin0to siya ng mga taong naghahanap ng bagong dugo sa pagkapangulo. nabigo man pero nanatili pa rin namang senador.asahan na natin ang milyon-milyong buwis na bigla na lang maglalaho,pambawi sa kanyang ginast0s nit0ng nakaraang eleksyon.

si noynoy..ahh..the yellow fever leaves on.tama nga sila..maraming naniwala na kaya niyang ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan ng kanyang mga magulang.that remains to be seen ika nga. sceptical ako? sceptical ang mga ta0? mahirap naman yata kasing sabihing "o0,kaya nya" kung wala pa siyang napapatunayan.sabi naman ni kris,"he has served three terms daw as a congressman and later on became a senator.." sapat na ba yun?si lito lapid nga,three terms din na governor at naging senador pero may napala ba tayo sa kanya.liban sa inaliw niya ang mga tiyuhin natin sa kaniyang pagtumbling..

may nanalo.may natalo.pero ang taumbayan,talong-talo.

pano naman si madrigal,gordon,villanueva,acosta,perlas,atbp? sa maniwala kayo't sa hindi,mga pampagulo lang sila.paano?panghati ng boto.panghatak ng boto.

paanO? ang eleksyon ay isang malaking laro..

malabo ba? p0litika eh..

siguro nga..

2010-04-07T07:58:00.000-07:00

ang sabi ng matatanda, ang buhay daw ng tao hindi nauubusan ng hirap at pasakit, kaya matututong magtiis. "anos/anus lang" ang sabi sa Ilocano.

ang tan0ng, hanggang kelan dapat magtiis? walang katapusan ang paghihirap, wala din bang katapusan ang pagtitiis? ayoko naman yata nun.nakakapagod.

magtitiis na lang ba ako lagi? magtitiis ako kahit nai-sasakripisyo na ang aking kaligayahan o magsasakripisyo pa rin ako kahit naapak-apakan na ako bilang isang tao?

may hangganan ang lahat ng bagay.ang tao nag-iisip din,nakakaramdam ng pagbabago,ang puso't isipan napapagod din..

names..names..

2010-02-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

I love the fact that my name sounds androgynous. I’ve gotten used to people asking me to repeat my name, either they didn't get it right the first time or they just wanted to make sure they heard me right. Some like it and I love it. Others find it unique and i smile at the thought of it.

For more than a decade, I’ve been trying to hide or keep my real name away from the prying eyes of the military but now that my priorities have changed, I still try to keep it unknown for some reasons. I remember one time, I was at a cafe, I overheard the cashier asking the customer for her name. The woman was taken aback and asked “para saan?” only to realize that she’ll be called once her coffee is ready. Still, it’s a normal reaction right? If a stranger asks for your name, you need to ask why first or better yet, give another name which i, as a rule do if I know I would never get to see that person again, hehe Sounds mean? I don’t think so..

*itutuloy..

i've got to go..phone's ringing..hehe

looking forward..

2010-01-09T02:49:00.000-08:00

i'll be a year older again.. but still i don't know what's in store for me for the coming year.life has placed too much toll on me lately that i feel like birthdays including the new year are no longer worth looking forward to..

i thought the struggles of the filipino people are much heavier than our personal struggles but (sorry former comrades), but personal problems are more difficult to carry since we don't have anyone to share the burden with...whew..

virtual world

2009-10-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

very addictive is how i describe playing SIMS and those games in facebook.it's like having a different world or being a new you..others say it makes you antisocial because of the time spent more infront of the computer than being with others. i am already antisocial maybe that makes me more antisocial,hehe but it's ok,i'm enjoying what i'm doing.

SAY NO TO CHA-CHA

2009-06-08T22:57:00.001-07:00

let's show the Arroyo government that we're definitely not happy with what they're doing.stand up and take part in the mobilizations.

A1 Driving School

2009-05-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

I have just concluded my 15 hours of driving at A1. I have enrolled with them last February at their Boni, Mandaluyong Branch but due to work and I've gone for a vacation as well this April, I wasn't able to attend to it daily. What is good with A1 is they're very flexible when it comes to schedules. No pressure on your part, A1 would gladly adjust everything for their students.

Have i learned from them? Definitely! A1 claims that they could teach anyone to drive in less than five hours of training and yes, i could attest to that, they could really do it. I thought my first session with Jeff as my instructor would be more of orientation on the parts or on the basics of driving. I was wrong. Ten minutes after we have reviewed the gas, clutch, brakes and how to start the car, i was already on the driver's seat manipulating the car with Jeff giving me all the instructions.

Prior to one's actual driving lessons, A1 normally gives an orientation held for two hours in various branches. I had mine at the Mall of Asia. The orientation was a thorough discussion on BLOWFATCH as well as the common errors a student driver commits. The lecturer also tells stories of previous experiences they had with other students which help us not to do the same thing.

For the actual driving, they'll teach you how to start the car properly (unlike what i've been doing), park (all kinds of parking), overtake, change lanes, and how to have enough confidence while driving. On my part, the confidence came after i have mastered everything. I was only brave while holding the wheels because i know my instructor has his own brakes infront of him. Another good thing with having my instructor is they're still in control with the turning of wheels. Most of my instructors have grabbed not only twice but maybe around five the steering wheel. That i think is where i still need to familiarize myself with. unless i intend to drive in the provinces, where the roads are quite wide,hehe

Among all the driving schools here in Manila, only A1 accepts credit cards. For those who couldn't pay in cash like me better try A1.

I'm thankful to Jeff, Vic, William, Richard and the other guy whom i forgot to ask the name, for having patiently sat beside me and bearing with all my hard-headedness and to Ms. Roxelle as well for being accommodating.

A1 is definitely worth recommending!

licensure exams for teachers April 09

2009-05-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

i'm glad i did it despite the fact that i haven't done any review for this exams,hehe yabang aside,i'm just happy to let you know..

here's the link:

http://www.prc.gov.ph/examresults.asp?filter=B&svc_id=3&prof_id=4000&isfiltered=&pid=&selected_date=0409

2009

2009-01-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

happy new year to everyone!!!

shots of manila

2008-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

Quiapo between 5 to 6 pm.

at the back of Manila Ocean Park

Manila also has its own magnificent avenue.

licensure exams..

2008-12-10T00:46:00.001-08:00

Last week, one of my student's parent approached me while I was about to leave the school. She said she's really glad to see me back and she continued by appreciating my efforts in making her child understand fully all the lessons. She kept on praising and comparing me with the substitute teachers who took charge while I was away. Funny thing was, the talk lead us to discussing the school’s policies regarding teachers who aren’t licensed. The mommy said she questions the school for accepting teachers who aren’t licensed. I’ve been controlling myself not to divulge the fact that I myself belongs to that category. I haven’t taken the licensure exams yet. I was in Australia during the September exams. But my point here is, I think being a teacher is not supposed to be measured on whether or not you have that PRC card. I don’t think it should be seen as the only proof to show that one becomes an effective professional.

Same thing with the bar examinations, I don’t fully agree with the four-Sundays examinations which decides one’s destiny in the law profession. I know some who have failed in the bar exams but are far smarter than the lawyers that we have nowadays. Is it proper for just one exam to become the only reason why we can’t pursue our wants in life? I don’t think the multiple choice type of exams for most professions should be sufficient in measuring our abilities and intelligence. What happens then to the four or five years of stay in college, or 8 years for the case of law students or med students? Should we just let go of those years and spend another decade with our professors?

I haven’t taken the exam yet but from where I am standing I could attest that it is not the sole determiner nor should we box ourselves on those exams. Don’t you think they should have it abolished? Hehe

work.work.work.

2008-12-07T01:54:00.000-08:00

lately, i haven't had the chance to update much on this blog.work and work and too much work has taken toll on my mind and body. waking up at around 5 or 6 in the morning, depending on how late or early i slept the night before, then i have to be in school by 7 or as long as not half past seven or else, another deduction would be placed on my salary for the month.

i didn't know teaching was a very tedious task and i mean really tiring. aside from talking and talking all day, i still have to prepare not lesson plans but activities that would ignite my students' interests. i am not organized when it comes to paper works but with this kind of profession, i have to.

last week, i was given a student as my tutee, which adds another hour to my stay in school. and less hour for my rest. but my day doesn't end there, i still have to run to ortigas after that for another raket. i normally get home late at night.

i'm not enjoying it but i don't loathe myself for doing this. i just love the fact that i feel useful,hehe

Cherith Dayrith

2008-11-29T03:38:00.000-08:00

one of my nanay’s during the time i have lived my life as a revolutionary was Ka Eryll, Ka Leony or Ka Isis..but she was Ka Eryll during the time we were together..

i haven’t made any poem for her yet but i’d really love to.i’m not just emotionally prepared yet, the years that we’ve spent together was more like a lifetime for me. she shared much of her knowledge and has continued to shower me with the comfort and love a comrade could give.

i did cry when i’ve learn she was gone.i did blame myself for not looking for her when the encounter happened. i didn’t know i should have been there for her upon hearing the first shot..i regretted much not telling her i cared for her.

i found this poem in the net written only for her.

Panambitan / Elehiya para kay Ka Leony

http://barangayrp.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/panambitan-elehiya-para-kay-ka-leony/

My Short Trip to HongKOng

2008-11-29T02:51:00.000-08:00

along Avenue of the Stars and in HK Disneyland..

kudos!

2008-11-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

The results for the Licensure Examinations for Teachers taken last September 26 have made thousands of aspiring teachers to be really happy. I just hope most of them would fulfill their dream of being of service to their fellow Filipinos.

Congratulations to Mak and to all my classmates!

All the best!

Hong Kong

2008-11-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

I've stopped in Hong Kong for a few days and i had a great time trying new things out there. i love how organized their MTR is. the train alone could suffice in going around Hong Kong. the signs/postings cater not only to the Chinese but to foreigners as well.

i also had a great time in HK Disneyland but then it could have been better if i was with my family. the kiddoes would definitely love it there. my nephew Charles would love to see buzzy-u (that's how he calls buzz lightyear) and woody.

one of the things i have looked forward to was meeting my long time friend, Freda who is now based in HK. we only got to chat for like half an hour, as i was again late for our supposedly early dinner meeting,hehe

back home..

2008-11-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

i'm home and glad to be back here in Tabuk. spending a few months away from my hometown made me miss much of my life back here.

things i do while waiting

2008-11-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

“Thornlie Line - 22 minutes - platform 4″ registers in my mind as i read it from the screen. That’s like half an hour. I thought of walking back to the CBD but then i might lose track of the time and miss my train. Besides,minutes of waiting wouldn’t be so bad. I settled for a seat near platform 5 where i could see all the trains coming in and out of the train station. The view from there was fantastic. I could see the main entrance where people tag on and off using their smart rider cards ,others simply flip their tickets to the guards and some visitors asking for instructions from them. No one arguing so far. I could see the young teen-age boys with their bikes and skateboards, the indian guys talking loudly in the background and some transit guards roaming the place.

As i seat here doing nothing, i came up with something else to do.
make a list of things do while waiting:

watch the busy Indians, Asians and Australians including the Aboriginals walking to and fro.
fix my hair
name the trains with odd names like slowdy thomas or spedsly
yawn
sneeze
compose a small poem
play with my mobile phone
send text messages
capture some photos
practice winking
eat cheese
write your name in air with your finger
hum your favorite song
fix my shoelaces
walk around
read books
think of tomorrow
listen to the voice-over announcements
observe the movements of birds
make a call
drink soda
go up and down the escalators

fave links

2008-11-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

**taken from my friendster blog..

i’m making another list.paragraph writing entails too much thinking which i’m not good at,hehe bulleted type is the best..

www.jkrowling.com- if you’re a harry potter fan and a jk rowling as well, you’ll love this. when you need some updates on jk’s life and on her books,visit this site.
www.bulwer-lytton.com - want some jokes to lighten up your day?
www.answers.yahoo.com - one of my fave pastime is to answer questions in words and wordplay,polls and surveys and yahoo philippines.
http://wiki.answers.com/ - my ever reliable source of other answers
www.google.com -whatever topic you wish to find out,google doesn’t always have it..hehe but still,it can provide relevant links to my queries. as for topics related to philippines,i have to add ph for more specific links
www.helium.com - for writing
www.wordsmith.org/awad/subscriber.html
www.kidsonthenet.org.uk
www.cyberteens.com/cr
www.youngwriterssociety.com/squills.php
www.wikiquote.org
www.bartleby.com - check it for fun and for tips on writing..

i also love:
www.pep.ph - tsismis!! ♥
www.igma.tv
http://www.gmanews.tv
www.tv.com
www.howstuffworks.com

leaving.

2008-11-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

I’m leaving again.

One of the things which I’m not really good at is leaving, either leaving a place, relationship or any kind of leaving. At my age and after all the 'leavings' that I have gone through, I still haven't mastered the art of doing it. I’m not sure if everyone feels the same way as I do. I just do hope this is normal.

Leaving a place where you have built a certain kind of attachment was never easy. It’s not as simple as packing all your things and saying goodbye. For me, the pain comes even before the decision making. Just plain thinking of doing it makes it already difficult. I maybe the emotional type of person but at least I know, I do feel for the people who would be left behind.

Urgghhh..i really hate the feeling.

scary story

2008-10-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure if it's a true story but it always gives me goose bumps when i relate it to other people. I first read this in a school paper years ago and i bet some of you have heard or seen this too. As for those who haven't, here you go:

In a hospital, a nurse just finished her shift and was about to go home. Tired and sleepy, she took the lift.

The lift stopped at another floor and a woman got in. The doors of the lift again opened on another floor, but as soon as the nurse saw the old man about to get in, she quickly pressed the close button.

The woman standing beside her asked, “Why did you close the lift? The old man wants to get in right?”

The nurse then said, “Did you notice the band tied on his hand? That’s what we put on the dead bodies on the morgue.”

“Just like this?” asked the woman as she raised her hand.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

how to ride a jeep

2008-10-22T08:57:00.000-07:00

I was inspired to come up with a post on how we Filipinos use our favourite mode of transportation when a foreigner popped this question under Yahoo Answers Philippines. (This one’s not actually intended for them, I just thought it would be nice to write about it. Add more if you want.)

Riding a jeep is actually very easy but the question made me realize if from a foreigner's point of view, it’s also as simple as I how I view it. I bet it isn’t. When I travel, I make sure that I have done my research on that place before embarking. I usually check on the mode of transportation – how do people get from one place to the other without taking a cab. I still believe that the best way to explore a certain place would be on foot or by trying to act as a local. I also procure a list of the places worth visiting and restaurants to splurge on food. I really think that’s a must, hehe

It is frustrating to learn that with the advent of technology, we still don’t have a good site nor a detailed map of the streets of manila posted on the web. I have seen some but it only includes the main highways of Metro Manila and the CBD in Makati, not on places like Sampaloc,Manila where the streets are tangled up like cobwebs. Google map can't be viewed with street maps and concrete directions as compared to other countries. A good one with a timetable is very useful for anyone who intends to go around the Metro.

Ok, on with how we ride a jeepney around Metro Manila:

First: One needs to know his or her destination. If one intends to go to Quiapo, then look for jeepneys bound for Quiapo.

Second: Hail the jeep – anywhere. Yes, sad but true. We can hail the jeep anytime except in the middle of EDSA Cubao and the drivers would be very willing to stop for you, though a sign up there just right beside you says ‘no loading and unloading’. Well, it’s just a sign. But then, if you’re wise enough then hail the jeepneys in proper places. I’ve been doing this but the problem is, the driver won’t stop in front of me. He prefers to be at the corner where most of the passengers are and I always end up waiting for another jeep with a driver that would do the same thing.

Another thing to consider, sometimes when jeepney drivers wouldn't stop right in front of you, always be ready to run after it or walk towards it if it stopped a few meters ahead of you. Don’t expect them to come to you.

During busy hours, there would be people willing to "sumabit". Sabit is when there are no more available seats but you always have the option to stand at the doorway, just hold on tight.

Third: Board the jeep like boarding a bus. Either you take the front seat, right beside the driver or you can stay in the long seats at the back.

Sitting beside the driver gives you a good view of the streets of Manila but in some jeepneys, you could not even see the car ahead of you with all the thingys placed on the windshield. Two more disadvantages would be, it could be very hot since you're a few inches away from the engine and you'll be squeezed by the driver and the other passenger, not advisable for women.

If you prefer to stay at the back, you’ll have a limited view of the places outside and you’ll have to endure facing a stranger all throughout the trip, that is, if the jeep is jam-packed with passengers. But if there’s a lot of space, you could even extend your feet and do sight-seeing.

Fourth: Pay your fare. Minimum fare now is P8.00. Cheap? No, my ten pesos years ago allow me to pay for my friend and pay for my two jeepney trips. Nowadays, ay deadma sa friend! She’ll pay hers, I’ll pay for mine and we’ll just smile at each other.

In paying for your fare, try to have the exact amount but if you don’t know how much it would cost you, either ask the driver or the passengers seated beside you. I still believe that there’s good in every stranger. They’ll tell you the truth. Better yet, if you doubt your seatmate, ask the question really loud, all of the passengers would give you a more definite answer.

If you’re seated near the door, ask the people near you to pass it on to the driver.

Fifth: if you’ve reached your destination, say “Mama,para or sa tabi na lang po.” Others also say, “sa kabila lang po” referring to the other side of the road when the jeep happens to have stopped before a traffic light.

I had this funny experience with a co-passenger back in College, he said "para" like three or four times already but the driver didn't seem to hear him. What he did, he shouted "ayoko na!" then next came the screeching halt. Saying ‘para’ also takes a lot of patience and i mean lots and lots of patience. Either the jeepney driver is busy scouting for passengers or has been playing that loud song which hurts our eardrums, he wouldn't hear you. But not all could be blamed on the driver, I have noticed some people saying ‘para’ whose voice can only be heard by them. Next time, try saying ‘para’ loud enough for everyone to hear but with grace..

Sixth: you can always say thank you to mamang driver but I doubt if you can. By the time you have set foot on the street, the jeep would already be meters away from you.

In some provinces, jeepneys are also commonly used but unlike in Manila where staying on top of the jeepney is not allowed, there people and bags are always welcome. We call it ‘topload’, I’m not sure with the other provinces.

To topload is advisable for travelers. You could have a great view of the sceneries and you’ll have an exciting trip. Bottoms may become sore from sitting for a long time on the metal and fingers may become numb from holding too tightly on the handles, still the experience is all worth it. Better even with rough and zigzag roads like those we have in Sagada.

traveling as an educational tool

2008-10-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

** my submitted article on helium.com under the topic, how travel can be used as an educational tool for children.

People who travel are very lucky and children who have the chance to go places are luckier. Children when exposed at a very young age tend to learn faster and easier from what they see and hear around them. Have you ever noticed how toddlers mimic our sounds, voices and every word we say? Remember how John Locke described the minds of children as a blank clean sheet of paper or the tabula rasa? I agree. The children's minds act like a sponge that absorbs what the senses could gather.

Here are the reasons why travelling can be a useful tool for learning.

I do believe that learning is not dependent nor be suppressed to the four corners of the classroom. In order to learn more, we go out to see, touch, hear and feel the lessons or what the teacher has been discussing. Such is the reason why we've got experiments, laboratories and even hands on crafts work in school.

In travelling, children could see new places that they've never been to. Travelling also entails entering into the world of nature. Animals, trees and flowers which are only seen on books are now right before their eyes. What better way to make them understand the process of eating, hibernating and giving birth of animals if not to show it to them? A trip to the zoo is not only a fun-filled one but very educational.

Culture varies from one place to another. In travelling, children would further understand why in Korea and China, people use chopsticks instead of fork and knife, why in the western countries, children have to be on their own when they turn eighteen, or what are the various ways for Asian children to show their respect to their elders, among many others.

For language aspect, travelling opens up opportunities for children to hear new and odd languages. Not only do they learn new terms each time they travel, they would also understand the origin and uses of each word, thus expanding their vocabulary.

Minor reasons would be, during the process of roaming around places, the parents and children also have enough bonding moments to share. Children learn much from the other side of their parents which they don't normally see if they're at home. In cases where in parents bring their kids with them to work; these kids learn much not only on how their parents work but also on who their parents are when at work.

Exposure is one of the best ways to enlighten and educate our children on the world we live in as well as it is also one way to show our love for them.

As It Should Be...

2008-10-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

*i first posted this poem at www.helium.com

I talk when everyone's silent
I run when most prefer to walk
I laugh when only smiles can be seen
As it should be.

I create waves in calm seas
I flip through pages in unopened books
I write in white clean walls

As it should be.
I modify things that are contemporary
I go against rules when no one dares
I struggle forward when everyone's scared
As it should be.

Life should not be left as it is
As it should be.

daddy..

2008-10-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

with a long mustache and unkempt hair, he walks around the house with heavy steps. the wooden varnished chair is where he goes to rest after a tired day of sitting in a smoke-filled room with his friends. he loves to play cards which keeps him busy all the days of his life.

it wasn’t his fault he was irresponsible. it wasn’t his fault he has shortcomings as our father. endless stories surrounds him, each different from the rest. in the cool stormy evening, his face appears as a lightning that drifts casually through the horizon.

a small time farmer and business man in a remote town,my father had his strengths which until now amazes me, though at times,he couldn’t maintain a straight and narrow road to follow. the eldest of eight siblings, married to a former midwife and father to three wonderful women (that includes me! wink..wink..) and one spoiled guy.

He wasn’t lazy or callous as our neighbors would see it, he was just a dreamer. He love the tube and definitely couldn’t live without it. he could stay for hours in front if the TV watching Discovery channel, CNN or the local news. he has a love for issues no matter how complex and complicated they are.

he has his own political views which has inspired his three daughters to follow suit. he used to be an active member of a left-leaning political group during the Martial Law era. by the time he had us,he then imparted through our daily activities his love for democracy. i grew up with the notion that saying “manong/manang or kuya/ate” was “pyudal/feudal” and that it should not be practiced which we all understood. he didn’t force us to understand what he believes in. what is good with him is that he always allows us to do whatever pleases us as long as we know how to cope with the consequences later on.

Dad firmly believes that in exposing children to the harsh and bitter realities of life make them cope more and learn to face life. The first to go on a trip to Manila Zoo (that was the only zoo we had before) with him was our eldest sister. My father knows that making us see and feel what we see on papers and on the tube is very important. he knows it is a part of teaching his kids.

dad is a man of many words. not that he’s not wise, he is. a day wouldn’t pass without us hearing any of his favorite quotes in life. during breakfast, I would always hear him say “eat like a king and at night, eat like a pauper…” or “the flesh nearest to the bone is the best”. at times, he would please my brother by saying “my son, my handsomest son, nobody can deny..” yeah right, who could deny that, he’s their only son.

His love for reading has made him broaden his horizons. He has a high tolerance for frustration and easily accepts failures which we couldn’t.

A greasy-bum who grew up with trucks, tractors and machines of all sorts. A good and efficient driver but thought that teaching his kids to drive would make them leave and go places without asking permission from them.

He’s now in his late 50’s, still as healthy as our granddad. Daddy will still live to see his apo’s grow old with him..

Love you daddy. I hope i could come up with a better essay next time, for now (as if you’ll get to read this,hehe) let’s work on this. ♥

things i do while waiting

2008-10-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

I settled for a seat near platform 5 where i could see all the trains coming in and out of the train station. The view from there was fantastic. I could see the main entrance where people tag on and off using their smart rider cards ,others simply flip their tickets to the guards and some visitors asking for instructions from them. No one arguing so far.

I could see the young teen-age boys with their bikes and skateboards, the indian guys talking loudly in the background and some transit guards roaming the place.

As i seat here doing nothing, i came up with something else to do. Make a list of things do while waiting:

watch the busy Indians, Asians and Australians including the Aboriginals walking to and fro.
fix my hair
name the trains with odd names like slowdy thomas or spedsly
yawn
sneeze
compose a small poem
play with my mobile phone
send text messages
capture some photos
practice winking
eat cheese
write your name in air with your finger
hum my favorite song
fix my shoelaces
daydream
reminisce
walk around
strike a conversation with an old lady
read a book or the paper
think of tomorrow
listen to the voice-over announcements
observe the movements of birds
make a call
drink soda
go up and down the escalators

peking duck

2008-10-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

our yellow brothers call it their Peking duck but for us, its the usual roasted duck.

in our search for a siopao last sunday, we have traveled a few suburbs just to have a feel of that white, soft- stuffed- with- a- cat’s- meat thingy that has been introduced and shared to us by some of our Filipino friends before.

we have relied mainly on the infos shared by them during our conversations, no concrete instructions were actually given. we tried pulling all the conversations we had and checked on the ever reliable google map for further help on the directions.

After a few lefts, rights and some U-turns, we were able to reach Spencer Foodcourt. it’s a place crammed with Asians and asian stalls as well. a wide range of food from thailand,indonesia,singapore and china (no philippines yet..sigh..) could be sighted there.

i went straight looking for that stall that sells siopao or steam buns. i relied mostly on the photos on their tarpaulins rather than reading the shop’s names as it would be easier for me to check whether they have siopao or not. as i started threading my way to the stalls, i thought i was lucky enough to find it easily, but i was wrong, i was looking at a photo of a cup of rice instead of a siopao. hehe

the shop is located at a corner, where there are huge bamboo steamers all over it. alas i could see the realization of a dominie eating a huge siopao… but too bad, their trading days are from mondays to saturdays only. the owner was there, but busy doing his usual sunday cleaning.
instead of getting frustrated, i got delighted when I saw the store’s name - it’s "Foo Kee"! nice name haha i forgot to bring my cam that day, i could have shared to you a glimpse of that shop.i hope to get a good shot of it when i get to be there again. i didn’t invent nor change the name..that was how it is..

to relieve ourselves of the disappointment for that siopao, we opted to have dinner in that place instead. of the many oriental foods around, i chose to have a roasted duck. i remember eating a very good one when i went backpacking in Singapore before and i thought since the people behind the counter looks Singaporean to me, they all look the same though..hehe they might give me that same experience of the roasted duck.

It took them twenty minutes to give the three servings of roasted duck. I had a more than a cupful serving of rice with it and my sister and brother-in-law opted to have the thin yellow noodles that slides-in-your-fork-when-you-eat-it. The noodles are appetizing. That alone could satisfy me. The rice and roasted duck costs $9.50 while the one with the noodles cost $9.00 only. Australia has increased their prices on rice as well, hehe

The well-cooked roasted duck was as expected, scrumptious. It comes in a very good serving, more than a quarter. I’m not good in describing tastes, so I couldn't really tell you how it was (I only know how to eat, hehe) but over-all, I liked it. It was a bit briny on the bottom part, the sauce might have accumulated there but nevertheless, it was very satisfying.

shearing a sheep..the modern way

2008-08-25T07:45:00.001-07:00

While touring the Caversham Wildlife Park last Sunday, we happened to have witnessed the modern process of shearing a sheep here in Australia. Gone are the days when farmers have to rely on big shears that they use manually to trim the fur of a sheep..whew! very tiresome..

here's the process:
1. pick a sheep that needs a trimming badly..

2. place it near the shears

3.the shearer uses the back support..

4. start trimming from the tummy as it is the dirtiest part

5. then proceed to the rest of the body..

the end product would be processed for wool, clothing and even for beauty products.

*disclaimer:
no animals were harmed during the making of this blog,hehe

boycott mcdo..

2008-08-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

the activist in me kept telling me to boycott all Imperialist companies and products, and i willfully did except for one..my favorite fast food - McDonald's. when i got back here in Perth,the first place that I've been to was the McDonald's located at the ground floor of Myer's, in front of the train station in the city of Perth. God, how i miss the cheeseburger and big mac that comes with a very juicy and really palatable beef.

The McDonald's we have at home aren’t as good as the ones they have here. It says there on the wrapper that they use 100% pure Australian beef (and I could attest to that,it's true!really true!) instead of pork and of course, they’ve got fresh lettuce and cucumber placed on top of the beef that makes it more yummy.

yumminess!!

i'm craving for one now..mmmm..

what is..

2008-08-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

if no one's there to talk to you?

what are you suppose to do to regain your sanity?

would writing a blog works?

the margaret river chocolate company

2008-08-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

One of the best places to go to are those that has freebies and one of them is The Margaret River Chocolate Company located along Swan River which has unlimited free taste of chocolates for all visitors.

Whether you prefer white, dark or the usual brown chocolates, they have it. you could queue for as many times as you want...

They also have a wide playground for kids to bum around and for adults to enjoy the view as well. they serve all kinds of drinks - chocolate, milk, tea and coffee, hot or cold - have it your way. I love their long hot chocolate which goes well with a slice of cheesecake.

perth city

2008-08-15T23:59:00.001-07:00

the beauty of Perth can be seen night and day...

popping thoughts

2008-08-15T22:58:00.000-07:00

Blogging has never caught my attention before. I thought it was just one of those new web sites like myspace, multiply, tagged, bebo or youtube wherein one could upload photos, write short information about them or it was just another way of contacting long lost friends and relatives. I was wrong; blogging could be different, if we allow it to.

I started writing blogs out of boredom, though I do write I just thought publishing my thoughts where strangers could read is not appropriate and I wasn’t ready to be criticized and ridiculed for wrong grammars, punctuations and the like.

The first blog I wrote was a very short one. It has only four sentences, I think. After publishing that, I felt a sense of contentment. Why? During that time, I was alone at home for more than a month. There was no one to talk to after work. I busied myself doing research on the web and reading books but it would not suffice. I still long for a real communication - someone to listen to everything I say, answer my thoughts or give their opinions or disapprovals. I was longing for someone to interact with.

The first blog I made was sort of a release. A certain emotion has flown out of my chest and I felt I have connected to someone whom I don’t know. Whoever that person is it doesn’t really matter, as long as I know that, that someone listened to what I have said. From then on, blogging has served as an outlet for me. I do write down my thoughts before in a paper, no one to see nor read it. I threw it right after scribbling down my pent-up emotions, gone down the drain which didn’t help make me feel at ease at all. I was still worried and stressed out over things which have been burdening me for days and weeks. But blogging works entirely differently, whether there is someone going through my blogs or not, still I know someone listened to me and I felt good after composing it.

A few months later, I received a comment from one of my friends saying that she does read my blogs and that I should keep on writing. I was surprised and felt good about myself. I never realized someone would spend some time to go through what I have been writing. I wrote blogs simply for me but to be read and commented by others are pluses.

I was inspired to continue writing and until now I still do but this time with a far different goal, to improve my writing and to have a short story for kids published in my hometown. I still hope for that time to come…soon.

London Court, Perth

2008-08-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

the photos below are two of my favorite shots taken here in the city of Perth.

this avenue is called the London Court. the place is far from what you normally see once you get out of it. the old and small shops designed for selling souvenirs are really fantastic. it's a very short avenue but nevertheless,full of surprises. one shop could sell souvenirs of all sorts, the others would either be selling traditional souvenirs made of kangaroo's or other animals skin. there are also some coffee shops for those who would like to sit ,relax and enjoy the view.

it is a busy street during daytime since most tourists or visitors would flock that place to scout for a good thing to bring home.

i bought some key chains, necklaces and bracelets made of silver, including the coin purse made of a kangaroo's scrotum,hahaha they liked that at home.

there are also other places to procure some souvenirs but this London Court is just along the city. you don't have to go far nor hop from one shop to the other since it's all there.

there is also a money changer around the corner,one doesn't have to worry about AUD's anymore.

cartoons

2008-08-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

i find it amazing how other people could be very creative in coming up with various kinds of cartoon characters. from the usual disney characters that we have before - mickey mouse,cinderella,snow white,aladdin among many others have evolved into a much different level of cartoons nowadays.

have you ever wondered what a sponge would be doing in your child's cartoon movies? it's seems the yellow soapy sponge have gone from the usual dish washing paraphernalia into an amazing entertainer that lives under the ocean and could make friends not with a dishwashing liquid but with another entity.

last month, i was scouting for dvd's and vcd's to give to my nephew. the wide selection of cartoon movies has left me dizzy and not knowing what to get. do i prefer animals as characters, fictional characters like the witch or those things that suddenly has become world famous like sponge bob?

i felt that as a mature adult, there is a need for us to enlighten the children on importance of the lesson derived from the story. it doesn't matter what kind of characters are there but what could be squeezed out of the story which would serve as guide as they grow older.