Yesterday was my second time to experience Memorial Day here in the United States. Yes, I've been here for over a year now (Anniversary was last May 21, 2007). How time flies by so fast. Last year's memorial day was spent with my family and relatives over at my cousin's place. Oh it was fun with all those kwentuhan (story telling/sharing) and karaoke (one of my favorite things to do). Honestly, at first it felt weird partying on a so called "Memorial" Day.

But this year we did quite the opposite. We spent the day at home; me and my family. I just danced, read the newspaper, biked around the village, prepared food for the family, watched the news and Ms. Universe 2007. I told you it was the oppposite. Why? Did our relatives banned us from joining them grill burgers? No. Simple, the rest of our relatives live mostly in California, some are scattered around the U.S. and the rest around the globe.

But however way we choose to celebrate this day what matters is we honor and remember those who died; whether we know them or not. And yesterday's memorial day I offer to the soldiers who died in the war in Iraq, the innocent lives that were unfortunately taken away, and the wounded families left behind. From exatly a year ago - Memorial Day 2006 - nearly 1,000 U.S. soldiers had already died. That data is only for U.S. soldiers, how about their opponents? And the lives lost and affected due to this war? The number of children with diseased parents increases every year and that figure results to various negative acts in our society.

We will never know exactly when this growing war will end. But let us at least honor the brave souls who fought for their countrymen and for their principles. May their families be able to move on from such lost and the children continue to walk on a straight path despite the lost and absence of parents to guide them.

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This is another one of those forwarded messages i got online. I kept it in my blog for a very long time till now that I've decided to finally publish it. I posted it here not because I think there is some luck attached to it like every forwarded message says. Nope. I just want to share to the world the lessons. They are just simple deeds but should be done with sincerity.

Again, nothing has been added to the original post.

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This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. Hope it works for you -- and me!You have 6 minutes
There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This has been sent To you for good luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so Far. Do not keep this message.
This must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES.

Otherwise you will get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear.

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---This is something I first read a few years back when the 9-11 tragedy was still very fresh to the victims and their families. (and it still is, I believe). It's freaky but i don't know how true the facts presented are. Yet I still wanna share it to others through my blog. The coincidence with numbers reminds me of the movie "Number 23" by Jim Carrey. It shows the same game with numbers and how specifically the number 23 controlled their lives.---

This is actually really freaky!! (mainly the end part, but read it all first)

1) New York City has 11 letters
2) Afghanistan has 11 letters
3) Ramsin Yuseb (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) has 11 letters
4) George W Bush has 11 letters.

This could be a mere coincidence, but this gets more interesting:

1) New York is the 11th state
2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number11
3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11
4) Flight 77 which also hit TwinTowers , was carrying 65 passengers. 6+5 = 11
5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known. 9 +1+ 1 =11
6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number 911. 9 +1 + 1 = 11

Sheer coincidence. .?! Read on and make up your own mind:

1) The total number of victims insideall the hi-jacked planes was 254. 2 +5 + 4 = 11
2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year. Again 2 + 5 +4 =11
3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 11
4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towers incident

Now this is where things get totally eerie:
The most recognized symbol for theUS , after the Stars & Stripes, is theEagle.
The following verse is taken from the Quran, the Islamic holybook:

"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."

That verse is number 9.11 of the Quran.
Unconvinced about all of thisStill ..?! Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:
Open Microsoft Word and do the following:
1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the first plane to hit one of the Twin Towers.
2. Highlight the Q33 NY.
3. Change the font size to 48.
4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS.

----I did not add anything to the information above.

When I first read this I thought, the person who did it sure is smart enough to have figured out such. Now, was everything planned to fit such picture? Or is everything mere coincidence? Whatever the reason may be, I just hope and pray that such violence will end. Guns should be made to protect their owners and not to gain power which will only be abused. Owning one requires responsibility and maturity. Such tragedies occur because people don't think of the consequences of their actions and they boast once they think they have control over the situation. A little joke may end up in a big fight.

The 9-11 victims are suffering until now. Some died even after the incident because of the gas they inhaled during and after the attack. The buildings may be replaced after how many years or months of work but the lives taken will never be. The families are suffering; parents who lost their children, children who lost their parents, lovers who lost their partners, friends who lost their friends. When will the word "war" be wiped out in the dictionary of the world? Will the killings, sufferings, pains, and the sort ever end? Is there really no Utopia?

Some may have lost hope for peace to ever come. Especially those who have lost everything. But then once there is still life, there will always be hope. As long as we all have faith and do our part for it to come.

We were really confused. While transcribing medical audiotapes, a colleague came upon the following garbled diagnosis: "This man has pholenfrometry."

Knowing nothing about that particular condition, she double-checked with the doctor. After listening to the tape, he shook his head.

"This man," he said, translating for her, "has fallen from a tree."

-Patricia Longbottom

p57, Reader's Digest. April 2007

Some Things Most People Don't Know About Me:
(even my own family don't know me that much. what do you expect 5 years away from home.)

• I HATE cats. Some may look cute and adorable but I get goose bumps every time I see one.
• I am not afraid of insects. I may partly freak out but only when they crawl up to me because they are that dirty and disgusting. But I am not scared.
• I love to stare at the sky and gaze up at the stars.
• I do believe in wishing upon a star - my wish once came true.
• I make a wish every time an eyelash lands on my cheeks and when I play the solitaire.
• Ultimate crush since like forever = John Paolo Prats. Cute = Freddie Prince, Jr. and Ricky Ullman.
• I am not the Barbie type of girl. (proof? huh! just watch my debut DVD.)
• When I was a little girl, though I had really long hair like Barbie's, every time after opening the box of my new Barbie doll I pass it on right away and give it to my sister. And right before I graduated from grade school, I gave all my dolls away to a friend who never experienced having one.
• I am very eager to learn how to play the drums and improve my guitar and piano skills.
• And I want to be a singer. WHHOOOOOPPPSSSS!!! I can't believe I just spilled that one out. SSSHHH!!
  

These were randomly selected.

There are times when my own family get shocked with my own actions and preferences. Those 5 years away from them sure did influence me a lot. I am my own person, way different from my own mother and father. uhhmmm. No wonder it seems like world war 3 when we're all around.

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
-Henri Nouwen

The story of a love is not important - what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
-Helen Hayes

Every time I pass by the Strip (Las Vegas Blvd) I can't help but notice the MGM Grand Hotel and its' big poster that says "The World Awaits." It is referring to this weekend's boxing event - probably the biggest for this year - the highly anticipated match between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. As a new resident of Las Vegas and a self-confessed rookie boxing fan, I admit I am very eager to watch the game. Honestly, I used to not get the essence of how people called beating each other a sport but then what did I say, I have a bit of everything.

Aside from two boxing giants fighting against each other, I want to see how my friend, Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, and acquaintance, AJ "Bazooka" Banal, will do in their matches. They are undercards to Oscar De La Hoya, whom I must admit, looks very stunning and thrilled for this weekend's big event.

Yesterday I got the chance to message Boom Boom Bautista, whom everyone anticipates and considers to be greater than world renowned Manny "Pacman" Paquiao - who I also got to see in person in Los Angeles, CA. Boom Boom responded with an update about their ongoing press conference - the last before this weekend's epic battle. He added that it was jam-packed with famous people and the media. It was reported that if both Banal and Bautista win, the next World Cup in boxing featuring Mexican World Champions against Filipino Challengers will assemble in the Philippines. This will help bring in tourists to our beautiful country and open its' doors to more opportunities.

Everyone knows how much these Filipino boxers have prepared for this event to give pride to our country. I honestly feel very honored to be friends with these great boxers. And I hope that my fellow Filipinos will also support and pray for the success of their fights - for their families and for the country.

Jokes
I was texting my boyfriend yesterday and we were joking around. It felt good because I wasn't sounding like my usual too serious self! And we sure did finish our conversation in a nice way.

It's always nice to joke about serious matters. It makes the topics less serious (and scary, I should say) yet both parties continue to learn something new from the other. Joking may sometimes be necessary, to get the answers that your looking for, as long as one is sensitive enough so as not to offend the other. Or else, your jokes may not end up in laughters.


to a friend
Thanks for opening to me. I know we're not really that close but you trusted me with your secret - your emotions, and your actions. Thanks for showing me the real you. Like I told you, I'm honored. And I will always be around.

I won't tell them what you did wrong. But I will tell you directly that it is. 'Cause I'm your friend.

Relationship 101:
I had the chance to chat with two of my guy friends yesterday. And I interviewed them about some perceived "meanness" regarding the guy's world to better understand guys (guys - i refer to those who are more knowledgeable than boys yet less mature than men).

Together with the stories and surveys i had read in one of my most visited Pinoy websites, I have come to these conclusions (well, not really conclusions) - regarding one of the most talked about at the same time avoided questions about relationships.

Girls or Ladies (I should say):
Don't just give in to your "guys" demands and deceiving wishes.
Both Gents and Ladies:
Before entering a relationship you should first know your partner (and most importantly your self. of course!). Always be SURE of your FEELINGS.
Be sure you know what you're doing and the CONSEQUENCES attached to your ACTIONS.
- Ask yourself if that is right (morally)
- Are you ready? (emotionally, spiritually, and financially)
Etc.
Etc.

There are more questions and other realities to check. Basing on the surveys I've read, mostly everyone knew what to do and what they are doing. Everyone knows! We all do!
We ALL just have to remember that we have our own FREE WILL and the gift of CHOICE.
We should NOT BE TOO IMPULSIVE.

Ladies, THINK! Guys won't loose anything. But you will loose a lot. Love? It can be expressed in many ways. LOVE YOURSELF.
Gents, THINK! If you really love your partner, like you say so, show that you really do. RESPECT them.