Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.

Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

This is my mantra nowadays. Life seems so unfair. I feel so helpless. But when I feel depression coming, I just count my blessings. What more can I ask for? I have a very loving husband and we're expecting a baby who doesn't deserve to be stressed. Please Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Have a peaceful weekend everyone.

So, what's new?

I feel like I've been gone for almost like an eternity, what with all the comments I received in my last entry....hahahaha.

Well, blame it on PLDT. We couldn't apply for a new dsl connection since the previous family who rented this place left a 5-figure debt for unpaid internet bills. Grrr... So, the only recourse we had was to transfer our previous line to this place, which took more than a month. After we had our PLDT connection, it was very intermittent. So we had to badger the PLDT people to come up with a solution. Plus, the router we previously used became unusable. So we had to return it to the dealer who replaced the unit since it was within the warranty period. Problem was, this happened during the holidays. We had to wait till the first week of January before the dealer could have it fixed by the manufacturer. This took about a week. Sheesh! One problem led to another which would explain why I could only update my blog last week.

Oh, and what a busy week last week was and this week has proven to be. Lots of reports and letters to finish. Hopefully, this will all subside by next week. I can't really over exert myself, what with the pregnancy and all. Oh! By the way, I forgot to tell y'all....we're expecting another baby! I'm just praying hard to the Lord and all the saints and angels in heaven that we have a healthy baby this time. I will definitely tell him/her stories about their Kuya Raphael.

Oh, and it's midnight already. Hubby says I should go to sleep already so that the baby stays healthy. So, I'll be a good soldier and go to sleep now. I just want to say that I really missed blogging and I really missed all of my blog friends. Tata!

Latest Update

Finally, internet connection at last! It feels like I've been so out of the loop lately. Will update this blog soon. Have some stories to tell....seriously! But first, let me bloghop and surf the net. Freedom at last! Hahahaha!

See 'ya!

Quick Update

Sorry guys, I know I haven't been updating in a long while.  That's because we're currently moving to a new home.  No, not a new blog address, but literally to a new (well, kinda old actually) home.  Unfortunately, we do not have internet connection yet.  According to Bayantel, it'll take approximately 2 more weeks before we can have our internet connection.  (Well, good luck to us!!?!!)  In the meantime, we're busy packing and unpacking our stuff.  I will still try to bloghop every now and then, but I don't think I'll be able to post another entry until we have our internet connection.  See you soon guys!  

Bloody Friday - Glorietta 2 Mall Explosion

It's been barely 22 hours since the Glorietta explosion and I'm still shaken from the incident.


You see, my friend invited me out for lunch yesterday, and since I was tired of eating bland cafeteria food every single day (well, except for weekends nga pala), I readily agreed. I even picked out the place, A Veneto at Glorietta 3. So, at around 12:20 in the afternoon, my friend and I were catching up on gossip over onion rings and great pasta. After having lunch, I told her I had to buy some stuff from The Face Shop. While inside, we even had to ask for directions because I forgot how to go there.

After buying my things, my friend then requested if we could go a sports store since she wanted to buy a basketball. I suggested Toby's. So, at 1:15 P.M., there we were at the ground floor of Glorietta 2 near the activity center, right where the bomb was about to explode, looking up at the establishments on the 3rd Floor, trying to locate Toby's. We couldn't find Toby's. I knew it had to be visible from the ground floor. I told my friend, maybe Toby's was directly above us, on the third floor of Glorietta 2 so we couldn't see it from where we were. So, we decided to go up.

True enough, when we were on the third floor of Glorietta 2, we were able to find Toby's. I told my friend to go there and make her purchase, while I would be browsing at the tiangge stores right outside. I was looking at the latest fashionable blouses, muttering to myself that I would never be able to pull them off. I still tried on one blouse, but to no avail. Hindi talaga bagay...shucks.

I received a text message from my friend at around 1:25 P.M., telling me that she was near Timezone waiting for me, but urging me to take my time. Immediately after I got her text, I tried to locate her. Not able to find her, I decided to call her up.

Just when the phone was ringing, I heard a very loud explosion nearby coupled with a very intense shake which felt like an Intensity 10 earthquake. I almost fell to the ground because of the impact! I felt like I was in twilight zone or something, as I watched debris falling everywhere and smoke billowing from behind. Suddenly, people were screaming and shouting and pushing me. I had no choice but to follow the crowd. I began to wonder whether my friend was safe and as I was about to call her up, I heard what seemed like another explosion. I froze for a second, terrified, not knowing where to go. At that very second, I felt terror grip my body, wondering if there were still several bombs about to go off, and wondering if we were running headlong into another bomb. I don't know how my legs were able to function but before I knew it, I was walking straight into Landmark.

Thankfully, the guards removed the table and opened the doors wide in order to receive the big crowd emanating from Glorietta 2. As I stepped into what felt like safe ground, I received a call from my friend asking me where I was. I was relieved upon hearing her voice knowing that at least she was OK. I told her I was at Landmark and not to worry about me. I called up my husband to tell him what happened. Fortunately he was just nearby and that he would pick me up immediately. I couldn't contact my friend anymore since the network (Globe) was already busy. Good thing there was no traffic in sending text messages. After texting her and knowing she was ok, and that her driver was about to pick her up, it was only at that moment that I suddenly felt relieved.

Whew! Close call indeed. Had the bomb gone off earlier or later than it did, I don't know what would have happened to us. I really thank the Lord and my Angel Raphael for bringing us back to safety. It is so sad that others were not as lucky.

Warning! This game is addictive.

Still busy peeps. Need to finish an important project before I can post again, hopefully soon. In the meantime, I leave you with this very addictive game which I discovered recently.

Hahahaha...told you so!

2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships

It's finally here! Now on its fourth year, the 2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships will be staged from October 20-28, 2007 at the Yonex Philippines Badminton Club on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. As of now, there is still no news on the featured events, but I will be updating as soon as I get more info. It is one of the most awaited local badminton tournaments of the year since it features an "Open" category showcasing the best of the local talents.

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Sorry guys, haven't posted in a while. Been absolutely busy with work. I barely have time to eat and sleep when I get home, and then I'm off to work again. Shucks. I hope to post a more meaningful entry soon! Taa taa...

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?