Globules of Dots

Promise and Childhood

2010-08-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Magellan's Cross, Symbol of Christianity in Cebu

2010-06-08T01:40:00.000-07:00

Magellan's cross is certainly a tourist attraction in Cebu. It is housed in a small chapel (?) a few meters away from the Basilica del Sto. Nino. We went there on a Sunday (06 June 2010), so go imagine how crowded it was.

Magellan's cross

Tindalo wood (afzelia rhomboidea)

Benedictine Retreat House, Digos City, Davao del Sur

2010-04-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

When we were in Davao, we went to Kiagot where most of our relatives are. Reunion, yes. ;)
Before waiting for people to arrive, we decided to go to Benedictine. Ayaw naman namin masunog at mangitim lang habang naghihintay, kailangan kahit papano may mapala.

I was informed that my Lolo (actually not really my Lolo. Brother of my maternal Lolo, that is) was the former caretaker of the Benedictine farm in Digos City, Davao del Sur. When the monastery was built in the year 1981, a portion of the vast land was given to my Lolo. Kaya pala anlapit lang ng residences ng mga Tito&Titas ko dun. :D

So there. We went there.......and I fell in love with the place.

Here are the pictures:

Front

Inside. Check out the hanging light fixtures.

Inside. Very simple.

Inside. Very few statues, I must say. They're keeping it simple I guess.

Outside. Beautiful landscape.

Outside.

Outside. Parking Area.

❣

I'm inlove. :D

Davao during the Lent

2010-04-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

For lent, our family went to Davao to finally meet my maternal relatives.

We departed Manila Wednesday, 31 April, afternoon. Medyo pagod coz we all came from the office then haharapin namin ang almost 2hr flight MNL-DVO. Well, nothing interesting happened naman that day. Aside from this picture that made my day.

Local version po ata ito.

01 April 2010 | We went to Lake Agco in Kidapawan City, although I am not sure where exactly. I refuse to Google it coz I'm trying to remember. Haha. Lame. :D Mud Pack, Jacuzzi, steam bath, Sulfur inhalation, enjoying the falls, Good Times.

Lake Agco Sign . Third degree burn, anyone? . Falls

02 April 2010| We went to Kiagot where most of our relatives were. Usap usap, kain kain, pasyal pasyal. Went to Benedictine Retreat House (which deserves its own blog post), and was super amazed. Ganda lang eh! Can I just say that the Binignit in Kiagot is the yummiessssssssssttttttttttttt? Sa sobrang sarap nga, nakalimutan ko to take a picture of it. Nonetheless, I have this. Hahahahaha. At least meron. :D

Binignit in the making

After Kiagot, Davao City bound na kami. We went to the Philippine Eagle Center. Ang iingay ng mga ibon. Mas maingay pa sa amin. :|

MAINGAY KA!

03 April 2010 | Island City of Samal. We stayed in Blue Jazz Resort. Snorkeling, island hopping, swimming, Jetski-ing, Kayak-ing, Giant Slide-ing, food trippppssssss. :D

Blue Jazz Resort - view from the dock .
A house in the Vanishind Island, the only island we visited on our island hopping deal, :D .
Blue Jazz again

04 April 2010 | Davao City tour. Ate at Antonio's. Zipline. Outland Adventure is the coolest.

Show off na kung show off. Cool kaya!

Been a while :)

2010-04-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Been a while indeed. The last blog I had was almost four months ago.

Eh wala lang. ☺

Hero. Heroine. Free Rider.

2010-01-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

saw this circulating on Tumblr

Funny lang eh.

Manny Villar, I blame you!

2010-01-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

saw this circulating on Tumblr

LSS much?

Ampatuan and Fortun = Contempt of Court

2010-01-06T08:12:00.000-08:00

Image from ProfessionalHeckler

Di pala marunong mag-filipino ha. Naks.

SINUNGALING.

See the evidence here

Long or Keep? ...distance.

2009-12-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

Ang cute.

Apple or Honda?

2009-12-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

Bakit kailangang idikit ang sticker ng Apple sa kotse na Honda?

Confused eh?

Mommy Dionisia and her Terno

2009-12-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Terno talaga. Naks.

De Quiros and Singson

2009-12-17T13:14:00.000-08:00

✔ AYOS ✔

**✘ HINDI AYOS ✘**

Source: Spot.ph

Upper East by AHA. Sosyal?

2009-12-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | AHA Philippines Website

Sorry naman, AHA. Bigtime kayo eh no?

GMA on Time

2009-12-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | Time

Please click image to enlarge

Hayden Kho. Dead or Not? What?

2009-12-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | Pinoy Buzz

please click image to enlarge (and to read)

Noynoy and Gibo : A comparison by King del Rosario

2009-12-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Photo from King del Rosario's post .

Let me get my phone and change my relationship status. NOW. -Groom

2009-12-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

Watch the video here .

Poor Kiddos

2009-12-01T05:52:00.000-08:00

Photo Credits The Best Worst of Everything by Izismile.com

Burj Dubai

2009-12-01T05:29:00.000-08:00

Burj Dubai

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2,684 ft

Construction started 21 September 2009

Expected date of completion January 2010

Cost: not less than USD 4B.

Graph

comparing popular structures in terms of height (in metres)

Photo credits and more story about Burj Dubai here .

Maguindanao Massacre 101

2009-11-29T07:37:00.000-08:00

GMA News TV

Noli and Gibo on GMA-Ampatuan

2009-11-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | Twitter

Oh.

Olsen Twins. Ack.

2009-11-26T03:55:00.003-08:00

Screenshot | Yahoo! OMG

Ayun lang!

World Pyro Olympics 2009 moved to 2010

2009-11-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | World Pyro Olympics

Miagao Church, Iloilo

2009-11-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

Miagao Church

[photo taken April 2009]

Constructed more than two hundred years ago in the year 1797, the Miagao Church stands as a living legacy of the culture and way of life of the people of Miagao centuries ago, anchored in a strong foundation of Christian faith. As most travelers would agree, the Miagao Church is one of the country’s architectural gems because of its unique and imposing designs, ornaments and motifs.

The artistic facade of the Miagao Church is decorated with a relief sculpture of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child amidst coconut, papaya and guava shrubs. Like any other foreign influences, the architecture of many colonial churches has undergone the process of indigenization. This process is carried out by incorporating the prevailing Hispano-American and Medieval Spanish architecture with local as well as Muslim and Chinese touches. Thus, the synthesized topology which is anachronistic with the unmindful sues of decorative elements. It had no distinction in terms of periods or orders. A truly ‘Philippine Church’, it exudes a native touch.

A large stone image of St. Thomas of Villanueva, parish patron saint, dominates the center. Carved life-size statues of the Pope and St. Henry with their coat-of-arms above them flank the main entrance. Supporting the facade are the twin belfries, one towering two-storeys and the other three-storeys high. The churchâ€™s simple interior is nevertheless highlighted by a striking gold-plated retablo.

In Baroque-Romanesque style, the church sinks six (6) meters deep into the ground with walls one-and-a-half (1 1/2) meters thick and buttresses thrice thicker.

The creative and aesthetic abilities of Spanish colonizers are reflected in many colonial churches in the Philippines. This is especially true in Miagao Church – a world-renowned religious structure now included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Miagao Church can be accesed via jeepneys plying the Southern Iloilo (Miagao or San Joaquin) route.

Source: Explore Iloilo

Maguindanao Massacre

2009-11-25T04:31:00.003-08:00

Black Ribbon

NO TO MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE

Efren "Kuya Ef" Peñaflorida

2009-11-25T04:17:00.001-08:00

Screenshot | CNN

We are all happy for this guy. Yes, I'm sure we are. But I encourage you not to stop there.

As how our hero puts it:

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes, and sizes.

We are one great tapestry. Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need."

I'll put emphasis on the last phrase: "and be the hero to the next one in need."

Visit their org's site, Dynamic Teen Company.

Oh yeah. Good Job, Tim Yap. ✔

2009-11-24T10:14:00.000-08:00

Screenshot | Twitter

10 Cheesy Political TV Ads by Spot.ph

2009-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

We all know that media plays a very vital role in our country's politics.

So if you're a political aspirant, I tell you:

the best way to present your self to the public is to use MEDIA.

In most countries, debates are aired to acquaint the public with their candidates'

platforms, etc. However here in the Philippines (well at least in my opinion), the most we (public) can get are forums. Other than that, we have nothing but POLITICAL ADS.

Check this 'list' from Spot.ph entitled 10 Cheesy Political TV Ads.

At first, it's kinda amusing. But if you look at it critically, are they really that

amusing?

* Photo grabbed from Transcultural Blog

Mar-Korina Wedding

2009-11-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Mar-Korina Wedding's Padyak
Photo grabbed from Miss GR Rodis' FB page

Silence = Betrayal -Dr. Batalla

2009-11-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

Silence is a symptom of an impending betrayal

-Dr. Eric Vincent Batalla

Threading the needle by J.P. Realista Garado ...and a little reflection by me

2009-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Although our mother was leaving us so we could have a better life, the ties between us could ever be broken

___

Mama sat quietly in the corner of her bedroom, sewing a torn shirt. Her reading glasses flashed momentarily in the light when she looked up to see who had come in.

Across the room under an open window stood a large grey suitcase.

Although it was framed by bright, mint-green walls and a curtain fluttered merrily over it, it was a lonely sight for me. For the suitcase and all the things inside it would be the only things from home that Mama would have with her when she left for Canada in a week's time.

Mama barely earned enough for our family as a Department of Health inspector in a small town in the southern Philippines. In addition to paying the regular bills and expenses, she insisted ons ending her three children to a private Catholic school.

But Mama was admiringly hardworking. Each day she endured a 90-minute bus ride to her office and back again to our humble home in Davao City. Often, she travelled across rocky roads to faraway villages to do fieldwork, sometimes coming home sunburned and aching.

I was 11 years old. Mama decided to leave in 2001 for Toronto, where her brother lived, to take a job as a domestic helper. My brother Johannes, sister Jollibee, and I would have to stay with our uncle and aunt.

The tthree of us were counting down the days, wondering when we would see Mama again after she left.

"I just wish she didn't have to go," I said

"She wants to go. She wants to get away from you," Johannes would tease me. "You're so unbelieavably stinky when you get home from school that she wants nothing more than to move to another country."

I would stick my tongue out at him, but I knew he was kidding. Mama wanted to improve our lives by working abroad. She wanted to be a good provider, a role she has shouldered since her marriage to our father crumbled when I was seven. After that, we never saw him or received any support from him.

Raising three kids on her own was extremely difficult. Sometimes during examinations, my siblings and I had to stand before the severe-looking nuns and beg them to allow us to take the exams even though our school fees weren't paid up.

I often wondered why mama didn't send us to a public school instead. It would have spared her something like 3000 pesos ($64) every month. But I know exactly what she would have said if I had ever had the nerve to ask her: "Education is important. We may not be rich but at least I have given you that priceless gift."

Mama pulled me back from my thoughts as I stared at the suitcase in the corer. Holding out her needle and thread, she said, "Inday, could you please do it for me?"

I understood what she meant. She always asked me to put the thread through the needle hole when she was sewing. Sometimes it annoyed me.

"Why always me?" I once demanded, after she had interrupted me while I was playing jackstones with my cousins.

"Because you have clearer eyesight," Mama said.

"Well, Ate has clear eyesight," I said, referring to Jollibee. "Why won't you get her to do it?"

"Because you are the youngest," she simply replied

Today, as I took the needle and thread from Mama, I noticed that her nose glistened with sweat from the effort of trying to do it herself. It took some time for me to thread the needle, but I know that if I'd let Mama do it, she would have missed her flight to Canada before she actually succeeded.

I realized at that that moment threading the needle for Mama was a very small favor compared to what she had already done and will be doing for us. When I finished, I handed the needle back to her. I dare not look her in the eyes, because I knew what she would see in mine--sadness.

That feeling only grew worse as my gaze fell on the suitcase again, and then the needle in her hand. Without thinking, I said: "Who's gonna put the thread through the needle for you in Canada?"

I wanted her to know that I would put every thread through every needle in Davao City just to make her stay, even if it did annoy me.

Tears started rolling down Mama's cheeks. She reached out and pulled me into a tight embrace, I started crying too because at that moment, I knew what Mama's answer was--no-one.

I realized that everything that she needed from home, she could carry not in a suitcase, but inside of her. I understood that all those tiring days Mama spent climbing hills through remote villages were nothing compared to what she could still do. She would be willing to go through a thousand needle holes if it meant a better life for us. I knew at that moment that even though Mama would be far away from us for years to come, our hearts would forever be sewn together.

***

This is an excerpt from the April 2009 issue of Reader's Digest. I read this a few months ago and my heart was really touched by the story. I thought of sharing this thinking that it might touch yours as well.

The article is only available in the magazine (well, at least now). I tried to find it online so that I can just copy-paste it but to no avail. So I decided to type the whole article. (see how eager I am to share this?)

I don't know. But I am really touched by the story. Perhaps because to some extent, the author and I had similar life situations.

1. The marriage of her mom and dad failed thereby giving her mom all the responsibilities parents should provide. | I am not a product of a failed marriage but my dad died when I was 8, my mom provided me everything since then.

2. She and her other siblings were sent to a private school despite the hardships. | My mom also did that to me. My mom even managed to send many other people (like relatives) to school--all to private school, that is.

3. Her mom is willing to do everything for her children as exemplified by her willingness to go abroad and work there as a domestic helper. | I am pretty sure that my mom is also willing to do that. There are already a number of times wherein she did that, I have lost my count.

I can go on and on but I'd rather not.

Let me just say,

I LOVE MY MOM.

Live simply that others might simply live. - Elizabeth Seaton

2009-11-20T08:45:00.001-08:00

Simplicity of Life in Oslob, Cebu

[photo taken April 2009]

How time flies...

2009-11-20T08:43:00.001-08:00

Shanai Jashlyn C.

Gumanay

[photo taken 2007|2009]

San Miguel Archangel Parish, Samboan, Cebu

2009-11-20T08:35:00.000-08:00

San Miguel Archangel Parish in Samboan, Cebu

[photo taken March, 2009]

Buried statue in Samboan, Cebu

2009-11-20T08:29:00.003-08:00

St. Joseph statue buried in Samboan, Cebu

[Photo taken March 2009]

You can read more about the buried statue here.

Here in Taguig, we are pro-environment

2009-11-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Electric Trikes plying around Global City

[photo taken December 2008]

Eight Toxic Personalities to Avoid

2009-11-20T08:07:00.000-08:00

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.
Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.
2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their n
eeds met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."
Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.
3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.
Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.
4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.
Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.
5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.
Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.
6. Insincere Illissas:You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.
Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.
7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.
Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected.
8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.
Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common. 1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue. 2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one. 3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time.
Source: Shine

Hyatt Hotel and Casino - Food

2009-11-20T07:29:00.000-08:00

This is a collage of the dishes served to us

last 26 August 2009 when we attended the

Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. seminar.

Hyatt Hotel and Casino

is located at Pedro Gil Street, Manila, PH.

Pamilacan Island, Bohol

2009-11-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

Coral Tower in Pamilacan Island, Bohol Philippines

[photo taken December 2008]

Political Science. Period?

2009-11-20T06:36:00.002-08:00

yun lang. pero di naman din. eep.

Oslob Church

2009-11-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

Oslob Church

[photo taken November 2009]

Located 117 kilometers southeast of Cebu City is the town of Oslob. First mentioned in 1690, it was only a visita of Boljoon. Founded by the Augustinians, it was turned over to the Jesuits in the year 1737 but was returned to them in 1742. The original fortified Spanish settlement was located in what was then called Bolocboloc but now known as Daanlungsod, (in Cebuano, means, old town). It’s high walls and watchtowers are still standing today minus the original chapel.

The current church, located a few kilometers from the fortified settlement in what was then known as Catarman (or Katadman) in the present Poblacion (town center) might not have been possible if not for one very decisive event: the victory of Fr. Julian Bermejo, parish priest of Boljoon, and the townspeople of Oslob against the Moro slave raiders led by Sultan Goranding in the year 1813. Near the waters off Sumilon Is., the soldier priest’s fleet of local defenders aided by his string of watchtowers successfully repelled and captured the leader. Since then, these places were now peaceful and threats of further raids diminished.

Drawn from the plans of Bishop Santos Gomez Marañon, the cornerstone was laid by Fr. Julian Bermejo on 4 May 1830. The coral stone used for the walls and belfry were quarried from the seas, cut, polished and placed one on top of the other and cemented with lime from the ashes of seashells. Wood was sourced out from other places and islands while the church roof was made of tejas sourced out and baked locally from a place now known as Lulukhan. Construction of the church was not only done by the people of Oslob but townspeople from neighboring Tañon (now Santander) and Ivisan (now Nueva Caceres, Oslob) helped in building too. Because the town was not really rich and relied on voluntary labor, it was finished 18 years later in 1848.

During the time of Fray de Santiago, the belfry was damaged by a typhoon. In 1932, the tejas roof was replace with galvanized iron sheets. In 1954, the wooden flooring of the church was replaced with baldozas.

On 7 November 1955, a fire of unknown cause gutted the church and in three hours, burned everything inside except for the icon of the Immaculate Conception. The people were devastated. They decided to rebuild the church and various fund raising activities were done. One of these, the Oslob Church Reconstruction Movement Caroling Team made the rounds during Christmas. Oslobanons living or working abroad also channeled funds for the church. Up until the 80’s there were several restoration works done on the church and the kumbento.

There seems to be a confusion on the fires that happened before this year’s unfortunate event. Two sources: Galende in Angels in Stone wrote that the church building was totally burned by guerillas in 1942 and was gutted by fire of unknown origin in 1955. He also mentions that the vault and dome later fell after the first fire. By the way, the Cebu Daily News article in the preceeding post takes this line. Allego, in his memorare, only mentions the 1955 fire as the 2nd cataclysm that befell the church. The first being a strong typhoon damaging the belfry during the time of Fray Gregorio de Santiago (1892-1898). I tend to go with the latter author.

On 26 March 08, an 8 hour fire gutted the more than a century old kumbento (parish house) and church of Oslob in Cebu.

Source: Simbahan.net

Taylor Lautner. then and now.

2009-11-20T04:49:00.000-08:00

Before

Source: Us Magazine

After

Source: Just Jared

But wait. Check this out.

Source: Gossip Teen

Oprah says Bye

2009-11-20T04:45:00.000-08:00

Say GOODBYE to Oprah Winfrey on TV. Read it here.

Manny-Jinkee "kiss"

2009-11-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

Sigurado ba kayong okay na kayo?

Photo grabbed from Professional Heckler with URL: http://professionalheckler.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/pacman_jinkee-kiss.jpg

Chris Brown - Crawl

2009-11-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

I LOVE CHRIS BROWN. Here's the music video of Crawl.

I am a Filipino

2009-11-16T04:17:00.002-08:00

20 MOST Amazing Coincidences

2009-11-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

1. James Dean's car curse

In September 1955, James Dean was killed in a horrific car accident whilst he was driving his Porsche sports car. After the crash the car was seen as very unlucky.

a) When the car was towed away from accident scene and taken to a garage, the engine slipped out and fell onto a mechanic, shattering both of his legs.

b) Eventually the engine was bought by a doctor, who put it into his racing car and was killed shortly afterwards, during a race. Another racing driver, in the same race, was killed in his car, which had James Dean's driveshaft fitted to it.

c) When James Dean's Porsche was later repaired, the garage it was in was destroyed by fire.

d) Later the car was displayed in Sacramento, but it fell off it's mount and broke a teenager's hip.

e) In Oregon, the trailer that the car was mounted on slipped from it's towbar and smashed through the front of a shop.

f) Finally, in 1959, the car mysteriousl

y broke into 11 pieces while it was sitting on steel supports.

2. A falling baby, saved twice by the same man

In Detroit sometime in the 1930s, a young (if incredibly careless) mother must have been eternally grateful to a man named Joseph Figlock. As Figlock was walking down the street, the mother's baby fell from a high window onto Figlock. The baby's fall was broken and both man and baby were unharmed. A stroke of luck on its own, but a year later, the very same baby fell from the very same window onto poor, unsuspecting Joseph Figlock as he was again passing beneath. And again, they both survived the event. (Source: Mysteries of the Unexplained)

3. A bullet that reached its destiny years later

Henry Ziegland thought he had dodged fate. In 1883, he broke off a relationship with his girlfriend who, out of distress, committed suicide. The girl's brother was so enraged that he hunted down Ziegland and shot him. The brother, believing he had killed Ziegland, then turned his gun on himself and took his own life. But Ziegland had not been killed. The bullet, in fact, had only grazed his face and then lodged in a tree. Ziegland surely thought himself a lucky man. Some years later, however, Ziegland decided to cut down the large tree, which still had the bullet in it. The task seemed so formidable that he

decided to blow it up with a few sticks of dynamite. The explosion propelled the bullet into Ziegland's head, killing him. (Source: Ripley's Believe It or Not!)

4. Twin Boys, twin lives

The stories of identical twins' nearly identical lives are often astonishing, but perhaps none more so than those of identical twins born in Ohio. The twin boys were separated at birth, being adopted by different families. Unknown to each other, both families named the boys James. And here the coincidences just begin. Both James grew up not even knowing of the other, yet both sought law-enforcement training, both had abilities in mechanical drawing and carpentry, and each had married women named Linda. They both had sons whom one named James Alan and the other named JamesAllan. The twin brothers also divorced their wives and married other women - both named Betty. And they both owned dogs which they named Toy. Forty years after their childhood separation, the two men were reunited to share their amazingly similar lives. (Source: Reader's Digest, January 1980)

NOTE: our reader Linus wrote us after reading local newspaper Helsingin Sanomat: "Your story about the Finnish twins is missing some details: The first brother was killed by a lorry while riding his bike and crossing highway 8. He apparently didn't notice the lorry in the snow blizzard. The second brother was killed by a lorry only two hours later while riding his bike and crossing

highway 8. The second brother couldn't have been aware of the first brother's death, as the police was still trying to identify the victim."

5. Just like Edgar Allan Poe's book

In the 19th century, the famous horror writer, Egdar Allan Poe, wrote a book called 'The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym'. It was about four survivors of a shipwreck who were in an open boat for many days before they decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name was Richard Parker. Some years later, in 1884, the yawl, Mignonette, foundered, with only four survivors, who were in an open boat for many days. Eventully the three senior members of the crew, killed and ate the cabin boy. The name of the cabin boy was Richard Parker.

6. Twin brothers, killed on the sa

me road, two hours apart

On 2002, Seventy-year-old twin brothers have died within hours of one another after separate accidents on the same road in northern Finland. The first of the twins died when he was hit by a lorry while riding his bike in Raahe, 600 kilometres north of the capital, Helsinki. He died just 1.5km from the spot where his brother was killed. "This is simply a historic coincidence. Although the road is a busy one, accidents don't occur every day," police officer Marja-Leena Huhtala told Reuters. "It made my hair stand on end when I heard the two were brothers, and identical twins at that. It came to mind that perhaps someone from upstairs had a say in this," she said. (Source:BBC News)

7. Three suicide attempts, all stopped by the same Monk

Joseph Aigner was a fairlly well-known portrait painter in 19th century Austria who, apparently, was quite an unhappy fellow: he several times attempted suicide. His first attempt was at the young age of 18 when he tried to hang himself, but was interrupted by the mysterious appearance of a Capuchin monk. At age 22 he again tried to hang himself, but was again saved from the act by the very same monk. Eight years later, his death was ordained by others who sentenced him to the gallows for

his political activities. Once again, his life was saved by the intervention of the same monk. At age 68, Aiger finally succeeded in suicide, a pistol doing the trick. His funeral ceremony was conducted by the same Capuchin monk - a man whose name Aiger never even knew. (Source: Ripley's Giant Book of Believe It or Not!)

8. Poker winnings, to the unsuspected son

In 1858, Robert Fallon was shot dead, an act of vengeance by those with whom he was playing poker. Fallon, they claimed, had won the $600 pot through cheating. With Fallon's seat empty and none of the other players willing to take the now-unlucky $600, they found a new player to take Fallon's place and staked him with the dead man's $600. By the time the police had arrived to investigate the killing, the new player had turned the $600 into $2,200 in winnings. The police demanded the original $600 to pass on to Fallon's next of kin - only to discover that the new player turned out to be Fallon's son, who had not seen his father in seven years! (Source: Ripley's Giant Book of Believe It or Not!)

9. A novel that unsuspectedly described the spy next door

When Norman Mailer began

his novel Barbary Shore, there was no plan to have a Russian spy as a character. As he worked on it, he introduced a Russian spy in the U.S. as a minor character. As the work progressed, the spy became the dominant character in the novel. After the novel was completed, the U.S. Immigration Service arrested a man who lived just one floor above Mailer in the same apartment building. He was Colonel Rudolf Abel, alleged to be the top Russian spy working in the U.S. at that time. (Source: Science Digest)

10. Mark Twain and Halley's Comet

Mark Twain was born on the day of the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1835, and died on the day of its next appearance in 1910. He himself predicted this in 1909, when he said: "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it."

11. Three strangers on a Train, with complementary last names

In the 1920s, three Englishman were traveling separately by train through Peru. At the time of their introduction, they were the only three men in

the railroad car. Their introductions were more surprising than they could have imagined. One man's last name was Bingham, and the second man's last namewas Powell. The third man announced that his last name was Bingham-Powell. None were related in any way. (Source: Mysteries of the Unexplained)

12. Two brothers killed by the same taxi driver, one year apart

In 1975, while riding a moped in Bermuda, a man was accidentally struck and killed by a taxi. One year later, this man's bother was killed in the very same way. In fact, he was riding the very same moped. And to stretch the odds even further, he was struck by the very same taxi driven by the same driver - and even carrying the very same passenger! (Source: Phenomena: A Book of Wonders, John Michell and Robert J. M. Rickard)

13. Swapped Hotel Findings

In 1953, television reporter Irv Kupcinet was in London to cover the coronation of Ellizabeth II. In one of the drawers in his room at the Savoy he found found some items that, by their identification, belonged to a man named Harry Hannin. Coincidentally, Harry Hannin - a basketball star with the famed Harlem Globetrotters - was a good friend of Kupcinet's. But the story has

yet another twist. Just two days later, and before he could tell Hannin of his lucky discovery, Kupcinet received a letter from Hannin. In the letter, Hannin told Kucinet that while staying at the Hotel Meurice in Paris, he found in a drawer a tie - with Kupcinet's name on it! (Source: Mysteries of the Unexplained)

14. Two Mr. Brysons, same hotel room

While on a business trip sometime in the late 1950s, Mr. George D. Bryson stopped and registered at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. After signing the register and being given his key to room 307, he stopped by the mail desk to see if any letters had

arrived for him. Indeed there was a letter, the mail girl told him, and handed him an envelope addressed to Mr. George D. Bryson, room 307. This wouldn't be so odd, except the letter was not for him, but for room 307's just-previous occupant - another man named George D. Bryson. (Source: Incredible Coincidence, Alan Vaughan)

15. Twins brothers, same heart attack

John and Arthur Mowforth were twins who lived about 80 miles apart in Great Britain. On the evening of May 22, 1975, both fell severely ill from chest pains. The families of both men were completely unaware of the other's illness. Both men were rushed to separate hospitals at approximately the same time. And both died of heart attacks shortly after arrival. (Source: Chronogenetics: The Inheretance of Biological Time, Luigi Gedda and Gianni Brenci)

16. A novel that predicted the Titanic's destiny, and another ship that almost followed

Morgan Robertson, in 1898, wrote "Futility". It described the maiden voyage of a transatlantic luxury liner named the Titan. Although it wa

s touted as being unsinkable, it strikes an iceberg and sinks with much loss of life. In 1912 the Titanic, a transatlantic luxury liner widely touted as unsinkable strikes an iceberg and sinks with great loss of life on her maiden voyage. In the Book, the Month of the Wreck was April, same as in the real event. There were 3,000 passengers on the book; in reality, 2,207. In the Book, there were 24 Lifeboats; in reality, 20.

Months after the Titanic sank, a tramp steamer was traveling through the foggy Atlantic with only a young boy on watch. It came into his head that it had been thereabouts that the Titanic had sunk, and he was suddenly terrified by the thought of the name of his ship - the Titanian. Panic-stricken, he sounded the warning. The ship stopped, just in time: a huge iceberg loomed out of the fog directly in their path. The Titanian was saved.

17. A writer, found the book of her childhood

While American novelist Anne Parrish was browsing bookstores in Paris in the 1920s, she came upon a book that was one of her childhood favorites - Jack Frost and Other Stories. She picked up the old book and showed it to her husband, telling him of the book she fondly remembered as a child. Her husband took the book, opened it, and on the flyleaf found the inscription: "Anne Parrish, 209 N. Weber Street, Colorado Springs." It was Anne's very own book. (Source: While Rome Burns, Alexander Wollcott)

18. A writer's plum pudding

In 1805, French writer Émile Deschamps was treated to some plum pudding by the stranger Monsieur de Fortgibu. Ten years later, he encountered plum pudding on the menu of a Paris restaurant, and wanted to order some, but the waiter told him the last dish had already been served to another customer, who turned out to be de Fortgibu. Many years later in 1832 Émile Deschamps was at a diner, and was once again offered plum pudding. He recalled the earlier incident and told his friends that only de Fortgibu was missing to make the setting complete — and in the same instant the now senile de Fortgibu entered the room.

19. King Umberto I' double

In Monza, Italy, King Umberto I, went to a small restaurant for dinner, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, General Emilio Ponzia- Vaglia. When the owner took King Umberto's order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were virtual doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the striking resemblances between each other and found many more sim

ilarities.

a) Both men were born on the same day, of the same year, (March 14th, 1844).

b) Both men had been born in the same town.

c) Both men married a woman with same name, Margherita.

d) The restauranteur opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto was crowned King of Italy.

e) On the 29th July 1900, King Umberto was informed that the restauranteur had died that day in a mysterious shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, he was then assassinated by an anarchist in the crowd.

20. The 21st, a bad day for King Louis XVI

When King Louis XVI of France was a child, he was warned by an astrologer to always be on his guard on the 21st day of each month. Louis ws so terrified by this that he never did business on this day. Unfortunately Louis was not always on his guard. On June 21st 1791, following the French revolution, Louis and his queen were arrested in Varennes, whist trying to escape France. On September 21st 1791, France abolished the institution of Royalty and proclaimed itself a republic. Finally on January 21st 1793, King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine.

Twin F Terrazzas, Laguna

2009-11-14T09:42:00.000-08:00

I treated my family for a swimming party because I recently graduated from college.

This is a the private resort we have rented.

Twin F Terrazas in Laguna

the receiving area. on the opposite side of this is a dirty aquarium. nyek.

the grotto

the pool and the jacuzzi

the parking area which can accommodate maximum of two cars

the function area. yes, there's a karaoke.

stairway leading to the second floor and to the attic

in the second floor are two rooms and a billiard hall. the attic can serve as quarters if more space is needed.

Eden Cheese Sticks

2009-11-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

You'll be needing:

small block of Kraft Eden Cheese

a pack of Japanese Breadcrumbs

small pack of Corn Sta

rch

small pack of Flour

6 Eggs

Oil for deep-frying

---

Recipe:

Cut cheese into 3x1/2" sticks

Beat Eggs to make Mixture01

Mix Corn starch and Flour to make Mixture02

Dip cheese sticks to Mixture01

Coat with Mixture02

Dip again cheese sticks to Mixture01

Dip in Japanese Breadcrumbs

Put in the freezer for about 5 minutes

Deep fry

Serve while hot. You can put Heinz if you want.

Gibo-Edu VS Noynor Mar

2009-11-14T02:59:00.000-08:00

Liberal Party--Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas

LAKAS-Kampi-CMD--Gibo Teodoro and Edu Manzano

Some facts:

Noynoy Aquino and Gibo Teodoro are both from Tarlac.

Mar Roxas and Edu Manzano are both Ilonggos.

(yes, Mar Roxas is popularly known from Capiz specifically Roxas City but Ilonggos can attest that he is also from Iloilo)

Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas are both from Ateneo.

Gibo and Edu are both from De La Salle.

Noynoy Aquino was Korina Sanchez' former boyfriend. And of course as we know it by now, Korina is now the wife of Mar Roxas.

---

Side note:

By looking at their body languages, I can say that Gibo-Edu showed more sincerity in their smiles.

Cebu and Dumaguete [November '09]

2009-11-13T23:16:00.001-08:00

We went to Cebu & Dumaguete for four reasons: 1. visit our Lola 2. check our business 3. visit Dad 4. have FUN

We = Zoila, Nena, Steph, Aika, Avy, Mona

PLUS

Them = Auring, Frenz

__________________________________________

We + Them = FUN

Edge Coaster with Aika & Avy

2009-11-13T23:12:00.001-08:00

the one who says GO

and the one who says STOP

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

2009-11-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

Palawan + Family = ♥

We went there for a (brief) vacation. As how we put it: GmREAT ESCAPE.

June 11-15, 2009

stayed in Asturias Hotel

St. Paul's Underground River Tour

St. Paul's/Palawan Subterranean Park

Badjao Seafront Restaurant

Honda Bay (Cowrie, Pandan, Snake, Bat)

Crocodile Farm

Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm

Mitra's house

Baker's Hill

Giuliano Stroe

2009-11-13T22:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know but he's kinda freaky in my eyes.

Okay maybe not freaky. hmmm..a weirdo?

meet Giuliano Stroe, born 061804...hell yeah! at the time of me writing this post, he's 5 y/o. FIVE! and this is his most recent picture.

now tell me he's not weirdo. tell meeeeeeeee!

He's on FB: Stroe Iulian

Us

2009-11-13T22:56:00.000-08:00

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down”

Spirited Away

2009-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:00

"the heroine thrown into a place where the good and bad dwell together...

She manages not because she has destroyed the 'evil',

but because she has acquired the ability to survive."

- Spirited Away (2001)

♥

Cebu Hotcake : An inexpensive hotcake because of inferior quality is what I like

2009-11-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

This is how a cheap hotcake looks like.

My cousins and I have these sweet memories in Cebu while we were out of the church and was eating lots (and I really mean lotS) of pancakes.

---

Recipe:

1. Mix: flour, small can of evap milk, small amount of yellow food coloring and egg (optional)

2. Cook in the hotcake pan. If none, use a non-stick pan greased with small amount of butter

3. When cooked, grease the hotcake with generous amount of margarine and sprinkle with sugar

(some) La Sallians are Filipino Environmental Advocates

2009-11-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

I was in OAP's blog site and saw this.

It's good to know that fellow La Sallians (and PolSci mates as well) are being part of a group--Filipino Environmental Advocates.

You?

What are you doing for our environment?

"Your (wrecked) truck is a threat to the security" - PSG

2009-11-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

This is how our truck looked like after being involved in a road accident around 0400 today somewhere in Quirino Avenue, Manila.

While our representative was attending to the needs of our slightly injured truck personnel, PSG told him to have the truck towed ASAP because it's a "threat to security". Our representativethen called up MMDA to ask for their towing services.

Needless to say, our people cannot do anything but wait for the MMDA tow truck. But this PSG officer had been very persistent on telling our representative that the removal of the truck has to be done "at once".

We COMPLETELY understand that you're protecting the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, but f*ck! PLEASE understand that our people cannot f*****n do anything without the assistance of MMDA.

Now let me just tell you my 'dear' PSG officer, you did not help us by any means. Anyhoo, I just want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for annoying us.

and F*** you. I hate you.
Boo.