Erap found guilty of plunder

While on my way to the office today, I heard the verdict. Former President Joseph Estrada was acquitted of the perjury charges against him, but was found guilty of plunder. His two other co-accused, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward Serapio (who happens to be a former teacher of mine) was acquitted of the plunder charges.

In my opinion, the case is far from over. Should Erap decide to file a Motion for Reconsideration or appeal the case, I foresee that the case will drag on for several more years.

For Senator Jinggoy, life goes on. He may feel unfortunate that his father was found guilty, but he still has his career and his family to go back to.

For Atty. Serapio, however, the case is still far from over. Yes, he can go back home to his family who I'm sure will welcome him with open arms. But I'm not sure the legal profession will look at him kindly, having been dragged into the Erap controversy. With no legal career to fall back on, it's as good as finding him likewise guilty of the plunder charge. And with 6 years of his life spent behind bars, I do not foresee any company welcoming him with open arms. For him, convincing the public of his innocence is just about to start.

Think again before reaching for that bag of popcorn

A fondness for microwave buttered popcorn may have led a 53-year-old Colorado man to develop a serious lung condition that until now has been found only in people working in popcorn plants.

Apparently, all fingers point to diacetyl, the ingredient that puts that buttery taste in microwave popcorns, as the probable culprit.

On the other hand, producers of microwave popcorn said their products were safe.

Studies show that "Heated diacetyl becomes a vapor and, when inhaled over a long period of time, seems to lead the small airways in the lungs to become swollen and scarred. Sufferers can breathe in deeply, but they have difficulty exhaling. The severe form of the disease is called bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn workers’ lung,” which can be fatal."

Of course, this study is not conclusive at this point.

Dr. Cecile Rose, director of the occupational disease clinical programs at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, said that she first saw the Colorado man in February after another doctor could not figure out what was causing his distress. A furniture salesman, the man was becoming increasingly short of breath. He had never smoked and was overweight. His illness had been diagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by chronic exposure to bacteria, mold or dust. Farmers and bird enthusiasts are frequent sufferers.

But nothing in the Colorado man’s history suggested that he was breathing in excessive amounts of mold or bird droppings, Dr. Rose said. She has consulted to flavorings manufacturers for years about “popcorn workers’ lung,” and said that something about the man’s tests appeared similar to those of the workers.

“I said to him, ‘This is a very weird question, but bear with me. But are you around a lot of popcorn?’ ” Dr. Rose asked. “His jaw dropped and he said, ‘How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr. Popcorn. I love popcorn.’ ”

The man told Dr. Rose that he had eaten microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.

“When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much,” Dr. Rose said. “That’s heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers’ studies is the highest risk.”

“This is not a definitive causal link, but it raises a lot of questions and supports the recommendation that more work needs to be done,” Dr. Rose said.

I guess the man overdid it a bit by eating popcorn at least twice a day for 10 years. Moi? I still love my bag of popcorn especially when watching a good movie. Heck, we only live once right???!

Note: You can read the rest of the story here.

My Current Obsession

Just to clarify, I don't own a Nikon D80.....YET. Not enough moolah anyway. You see, I have more important things to spend my money on like food, food and more food...heeheehee.

Looking at the photos posted by these fellow bloggers Abaniko, Eric, Kyels, Rey and Sidney convinced me that DSLR is the only way to go. Please Santa, I've been good this year. What can I do to afford one? Let me count the ways:

1. I can buy tickets to the lotto and hope to win the jackpot. Wow! I can buy not only one DSLR camera but a whole truckload of them!!! Problem is, the chances are 1 in 10,000,000 or some similar digit before I can win the jackpot. I'll have more chances of being hit by a lightning than winning the lotto! Arrghh!

2. Try to join the next Philippine Idol and hope to convince everyone that I'm a deserving winner. Problem is, I can't sing even if my life depended on it. Do-re-mi, do-re-mi... I can still give this a try though, not everyone who joins these kinds of contests are excellent singers...remember Sanjaya Malakar??? Nuff said.

3. Maybe I can enter into a government contract to supply millions of equipments to some far-flung barangay??? Problem is, I don't have anything to offer 'cept my legal services and that's not for sale.

4. Maybe I can join a photo contest where the prize is a DSLR camera. Problem with this plan is that those who win these contests are those who already have a DSLR camera which they used to take the winning photograph! It's the chicken-and-egg cycle once more.

5. Buy tickets to the Oprah show and pray that the episode I get to watch is one where Oprah gives away the latest gadgets and hope that it includes a DSLR camera. But I guess there are many loopholes in this plan. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get to Oprah's show??? And what are the chances I get to watch the episode where she gives away stuff?? Boy, I would love to have been part of the audience when she gave each one a car.

As you can see, I'm running out of ideas. Can you help me formulate a plan??? Hahaha...all in the spirit of fun ha, nothing serious or illegal, ok?

Two awards and a meme

Starting off the awards season is this "thoughtful award" from Ipanema and momoftwo, "for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others." Fooled you two, didn't I??? Hahahaha...just kidding. My deepest appreciation to the 2 of you.


I also received the thinking blogger award from verns. Thanks verns. Although I would have to refute this award because my blog is where turn to and just have fun without having to think. Ahehehe...just look at my previous post and you'll see why.

I'm supposed to give out these awards but since this post is already way overdue, I guess I will have to award these to you, my blog reader/s (so you won't think I'm presumptuous in thinking there's more than one of you....hahaha) for bearing with me especially during those times I wanted to quit blogging due to personal problems. Thank you to all my blog friends. You all deserve this award.

Finally, I got tagged by momoftwo. I'm supposed to mention 8 random things about me which I haven't yet revealed in my posts. Hmmm...it's a tough task but I'll try.

1. I'm a late-bloomer. I had my first ought-to-be forgotten boyfriend at the ripe old age of 24. Fortunately, that forgettable portion of my life didn't last long and I met my (now) husband soon thereafter.

2. I have a sister who's 10 years older than me. Yes, quite a big age difference noh? My parents were not planning on having another child after my sister, but one night they had a misunderstanding, and the rest, as they say, is history.

3. I have the attention span of a 4-year old. Sometimes, 3 minutes into the homily, I would ask my husband what the priest is talking about. I don't know how I was able to survive law school.

4. Like momoftwo, I'm also a crybaby. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm sad, sometimes I just cry for no reason at all.

5. I have a secret not-so-secret-anymore phobia of worms, especially the big varieties. Please don't surprise me with one or I might just accidentally spill that steaming hot cup of coffee on your pants.

6. During high school, I went out on a group date. Among those present was a guy whom I really had a big crush on. We went to McDonald's. Guess what I ordered? Chicken joy. Hehehee...probably the reason why I'm a late-bloomer.

7. What am I supposed to write about??? Ahhh, 8 random things about me.

8. See, there goes my attention span. Maybe I'll rename this tag "6 random facts about me", hehehe.

Anyway, I really had fun with this meme. Thanks momoftwo. I'm not tagging anyone this time.

Hair Makeover

I haven't had a decent haircut in months. If I remember correctly, my last haircut was still sometime in February, so can you just imagine my hair's current state??? I badly need a major makeover!!! So, I decided to have fun and goof around with possible hairstyles. I need your opinion on this...

Should I dye my hair blonde???




Hahahaha....lol! This doesn't look like much of an improvement at all. Wanna try and have your own makeover??? Just visit the makeover studio and have fun experimenting!

The Life and Love of Noli Eala

Last August 1, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a decision which became a much-talked about topic in various legal circles. What makes this case stand apart from the rest?? Well, this case is principally a disbarment case, involves a love triangle (or is that square?), and most importantly, it involves a famous public figure.

Who am I talking about? The PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) Commissioner...or rather, erstwhile Commissioner Noli Eala. The case stems from a complaint filed by Joselano Guevarra against Atty. Jose Emmanuel M. Eala, a.k.a. Noli Eala, before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Committe on Bar Discipline for “grossly immoral conduct and unmitigated violation of the lawyer’s oath.”

According to the statement of facts in this case, Guevarra first met Eala when his then-fiancee Irene Moje introduced Eala to him sometime in January 0f 2000. Eala was then married to another woman with whom he has 3 children. After Guevarra and Irene got married, he noticed that Irene frequently received phone calls from Eala, as well as messages some of which read “I love you” or “I miss you.”

Irene began to go home late at night or early in the morning of the following day. When asked for the reason, she would mention that she stayed the night in her parents’ house or she was just busy with work. They would have constant arguments, resulting in Irene abandoning the conjugal home.

On April 22, 2001, Guevarra went uninvited to Irene’s birthday party. He saw Irene celebrating her birthday with Eala, her family and friends. Guevarra angrily left the venue. Upon arriving home, he went through her belongings and found a love letter which reads:

My everdearest Irene,

By the time you open this, you’ll be moments away from walking down the aisle. I will say a prayer for you that you may find meaning in what you’re about to do.

Sometimes I wonder why we ever met. Is it only for me to find fleeting happiness but experience eternal pain? Is it only for us to find a true love but then lose it again? Or is it because there’s a bigger plan for the two of us?

I hope that you have experienced true happiness with me. I have done everything humanly possible to love you. And today, as you make your vows . . . I make my own vow to YOU!

I will love you for the rest of my life. I loved you from the first time I laid eyes on you, to the time we spent together, up to the final moments of your single life. But more importantly, I will love you until the life in me is gone and until we are together again.

Do not worry about me! I will be happy for you. I have enough memories of us to last me a lifetime. Always remember though that in my heart, in my mind and in my soul, YOU WILL ALWAYS

. . . AND THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU DO!

BE MINE . . . . AND MINE ALONE, and I WILL ALWAYS BE YOURS AND YOURS ALONE!

I LOVE YOU FOREVER, I LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS. AS LONG AS I’M LIVING MY TWEETIE YOU’LL BE!”

Afterwards, Guevarra filed a complaint against Eala before the IBP Committee on Bar Discipline for grossly immoral conduct. Among the evidence presented was the birth certificate of Irene’s daughter, pointing to Eala as the father.

Eala for his part does not deny his relationship to Irene but argues that the relationship between them was not carried on under scandalous circumstances. (Errr, I think he might want to retract that statement now.) The IBP Commission on Bar Discipline Investigating Commissioner found the charge against Eala sufficiently proven. This was reversed by the IBP Board of Governors, dismissing the case for lack of merit. The case was immediately brought to the Supreme Court.

The rest, as they say, is history. Eala was found guilty of the charge (eh umamin naman kasi eh) and was DISBARRED for grossly immoral conduct, violation of his oath of office and of the Code of Professional Responsibility.

Eala eventually resigned as PBA Commissioner even before the PBA Board members could promulgate their decision to remove him from his position.

First off, how cheesy can a love letter be???!!! "I love you forever, I love you for always, as long as I'm living, my tweety you'll be!" I hope he has other lovable qualities aside from his love letter-writing ability.

Regarding Eala's disbarment and the resulting scandal surrounding him right now, I’m sure he is man enough live with the consequences of his decision, no matter how publicly humiliating it may be. I, for one, am not making any judgments about his actions or his morality because I don’t think I am in a position to do so.

What I’m concerned about is the effect this scandal would have in the lives of his children. Imagine growing up and reading about the Supreme Court decision. Unlike the write-ups which might eventually be forgotten and be hidden behind tons of other write-ups in the Google search engine, the decision of the Supreme Court will be studied and talked about in law school classrooms for decades to come. In cases like these, the children are always the losers.

Final note: You may want to read the full text of the Supreme Court decision here.

Funny letter

I received this funny email in my inbox. I'm sure some of you have already seen this. The origin of this letter is unknown and its authenticity is questionable. Nevertheless it elicited guffaws from me and I am posting it here to share it with you and to let you practice your powers of apprehension...errr, rather...comprehension. Let's just hope you don't get a headache after reading this. Good luck!

Dear ______,

We've been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. I realized he’s cute. And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I get your number?" I got worried. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained it's so we could keep intact. I told him, connect me if I'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? He was surprised. He shot back, “The! Aba! You have the nerve to get angry! Persona ingrata!!!” I cried buckles of tears.

He felt guilty. He said, “just think of it as a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of
his feelings, we'll go ouch na rin. Now, we're so in love. The past is mute and epidemic. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. I'm 33 years old and I'm running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in a state of shocked. Would you believe, when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. I immediately said yes. Love is a many splendor.

When we were making arrangements for the wedding, everything swell to pieces. We were having dinner when a lady in the nearby table turned to us and said, "Well, well, well. Look do we have here." What the fuss! The nerd of that girl! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand that’s why I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please, mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Because it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, she got tired of meddling. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said like twice. He's so supportive. He said, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."

So, my advice is - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal
and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Ten random facts about my mom

I was tagged by momoftwo and this time it's all about my mom. This is a long-overdue meme. Anyway, here goes 10 random facts about my mom:

(1) She's the 4th among 7 siblings. Unfortunately, 4 of her siblings have already passed away, while the 2 remaining ones live quite far; her brother lives in the province (La Union), and her sister resides in Alberta, Canada.

(2) Her birthday falls on the 28th of December, the feast day of Ninos Inocentes or the "Feast of the Holy Innocents."

(3) She has experienced so many griefs in her life, like the death of her husband and firstborn son, and I am truly amazed by her strength during times of adversity. She stood by armed only with her faith in the Lord and emerged from it all a stronger person. I believe I inherited my strength from her.

(4) She successfully ran a furniture business with an inborn business acumen, despite the fact that she was not able to finish her studies due to poverty.

(5) She is a freak when it comes to cleanliness, almost bordering on obsessiveness, though she will try to deny it when you ask her...haha. She never fails to wakes up every 3 A.M. just start cleaning her house. Grabe. This gene, I did not inherit, unfortunately. My husband can attest to this.

(6) She dotes on her grandchildren to the point of spoiling them. I think my angel Raphael would have loved playing with his grandma if he were alive.

(7) She is the most unselfish person I know. She always looks after her kids' and grandkids' needs first before thinking of herself.

(8) She likes spicy food. She can even eat siling labuyo. Need I say more?

(9) Ok, I tease her about this but I've observed that when she offers food to anyone, she always starts her sentence with "Ayaw mo nito...?" And even if I bring this to her attention saying that other people might get offended, she persists in doing it anyway.

(10) And finally, she cooks the best adobo in town. Well, according to my taste anyway.

So there, these are ten random facts about my mom. An extraordinary Filipina in my opinion.

Recall of Nokia battery and Mattel toys

Who doesn't own a cellular phone these days, epecially in a text-driven country like ours??? That's why news like this gets top-billings in the headlines. Of course I was immediately concerned upon learning that Nokia is recalling defective Nokia BL-5C batteries since my unit uses the same kind. Immediately, I surfed the internet for more info and discovered this official site of Nokia where one could type the serial number located on the battery and find out whether that particular unit is among those being recalled by Nokia. The verdict??? Fortunately, mine wasn't.

The recall was made on batteries made by Matsushita Japan, although no serious injuries have actually been reported. Recalling 46 million batteries??? This must be a nightmare for Nokia, especially with various emerging threats to its dominant position as the market-leader in the cellular phone business.

Have you also heard of the recall by Mattel's of its toys featuring characters like Big Bird and Elmo from Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer because of excessive amounts of lead paint?? These toys were manufactured by a company in China. This is especially alarming since Mattel is one of the most respected names in the toy industry. Sadly, the owner of the factory in China hanged himself in a warehouse last Saturday. Probably due to humiliation...poor guy. I just hope that these toys won't find their way to the Philippine market.

Holy Cupcake!!!

I was starting to get depressed with the incessant rainfall when my husband surprised me with this delightful box...

Cupcakes from Sonja's!!! Yipee!!!!

Unfortunately, one cupcake succumbed to the pressure of the long drive due to heavy flooding in Metro Manila....

But I was able to salvage this sumptuous ube piece...

As well as this chocolate delight...

The filling was absolutely wonderful...I think I just died and went to heaven...

And yes, those are my teeth marks....hehehe.

Cupcakes by Sonja can be found at the Serendra Piazza Ground Level in Fort Bonifacio. Check out this clipcast from ClicktheCity.com. Enjoy!!!