Yummy Havies--My Wish List

I like Havaianas... they're cute and comfy. But I'm not one to really splurge and collect them. But their Chiso line is my favorite! I'm willing to shell out for these cuties. To bad they're not in production anymore *sniff*. If anyone knows where I can still get these pairs (though I know they've long been released and sold out), let me know.

Fare Thee Well

Whenever March swings by, I am reminded of final exams, thesis defense, the thrill of not having to worry about anything related to school, getting your grades and of course, graduation day. Hamza's twin sisters graduated from high school this afternoon. Although we didn't attend the ceremony (kids weren't allowed), high school graduations bring back memories of my own graduation day. It was eons ago, twelve years to be exact! But still, it was a memorable one. I got up on stage twice to get my diploma and get my certificate for artist of the year (three times in four years.). We were a small batch, only seventy candidates, but it was a norm in our school, 'only the strong survive.' We were a tight batch, us Wolverines *waves at fellow Wolves*, and even though we all have long graduated from high schol and college, lead different lives and live in different places, we manage to keep tabs of each other, never losing our bond.

Going back to my high school graduation, we chose the song "Farewell" by Raymond Lauchengco. I think it's a timely song for graduates to sing... unfortunately, we didn't get to sing it... we were bawling like babies onstage in front of everyone even before getting to the chorus.hehe!

Anyway, here're the songs lyrics just in case you're not familiar with it. Enjoy.

Farewell

Raymond Lauchengco

We used to be frightened and scared to try
Of things we don't really understand why
We laugh for a moment and start to cry
We were crazy

Now that the end is already here
We reminisce 'bout old yells and cheers
Even if our last hurrahs were never clear

Chorus:

Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you.

Yesterday's atreasure, today is here
Tomorrow on its way, the sky is clear
Thank you for the mem'ries
Of all the laughter and tears

And not to mention our doubts and our fears
The hypertension we gave to our peers
It's really funny to look back
After all of these years

Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you

Chorus 2:

Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't worry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be oceans away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you
With you, my friends
With only you...

The Googler In Me.

Lately, I have been finding myself "googling" just about anything: from psychological disorders (I misplaced my DSM-IV) to friends to see if they're "Google-able" (I know I am!) to recipes of Filipino delicacies (mostly kakanin and other sweets) to the characters and novels of movies that Hamza and I have seen (the last of which was Shattered Glass), and now, my latest addiction, hunting down our residences using Google Earth.

Yeah, I've been "googling" down our houses using GE. It's pretty fun. At least to me, it is. Google Earth is like a 3D map of the entire planet. Its images are photographs taken by satellites and aircrafts over the last three years and is updated on a rolling basis. I've marked down our houses in the south and here in the metro. pretty cool.=) Here're pics to give you an idea of what I've been googling about.

this is a photograph of our house in Marawi (left pic)... God, I got really excited when I saw it.hehe! Guess I just miss hanging out by the terrace with the cool view of the green, green field and MSU. And not to forget the weather! Lamig sa terrace in the evenings.=) Cool place to have conversations over coffee...too bad I don't drink it. hehe.;)

This is our house in CDO (right pic)... I had the hardest time finding it... had to ask for Hamid's help while on YM (thanks,bro!). I was showing him images and he was like, "you're showing me wrong pictures of the area!" =p

And this pic on the left is where I currently live...somewhere in the Scout area. This is where I grew up. No problem looking for this place. We're moving to a different house, but it's just a couple of blocks down.Love it here!;)

I've marked a bunch of other houses of relatives and such but I'm not gonna put them up here anymore. Baka ma-tempt na naman akong mag GE, hanapin ko pa bahay ninyo!;)

03.03.07

I know I'm supposed to do something. But I can't remember what. I used to be so OC (obsessive-compulsive.. well, I wasn't diagnosed as one, but the symptoms are there,really), but after giving birth to Raja, I noticed that I have become more and more forgetful. Well, I wouldn't say I'm a complete blankhead but more like I tend to miss bits and pieces of this and that. Crazy huh? Some say it's because of the anaesthesia...it makes you lose your memory. Or parts of it, like you have selective amnesia or something. hehe. But I doubt it. It may have caused my atrial fibrillation (cardiac arrhythmia, which recurs now and then..tsk tsk), but not losing my memory.

Why write something about this? It irritates the heck out of me, like it's doing right now. See, I'm the type who remembers everything: birthdays, anniversaries, death anniversaries, deadlines, errands that needed to be done and all that.. but I've been noticing myself to be more and more forgetful. It may be insignificant, minute, but still, forgotten. I know it annoys Hamza at times (although he doesn't show), how we have to go back home to get something I forgot to put in Raja's bag or if all the faucets have been shut tightly (unless we want to go home to a house with a waterfall), but more so it annoys me because it makes me feel a bit s-t-u-p-i-d. And to think I'm contemplating law/graduate school this June..good luck! *snickers at myself*

Oh well, it'll come around...whatever that is.

What Will Make Me Leave The Philippines--An Open Letter To Every Filipino

This is the "hottest" circulating article that was written by youth leader Mr. Harvey S. Keh, which, in fact only started as an open letter that he sent out to his friends and then made it to thousands of people's e-mail addresses (including my two accounts) and a major spreadsheet. Since it's all over (meaning everywhere), I thought it wouldn't do any harm if I reposted this on my blog site. And oh, about the letter? All I can say is this:

"my sentiments exactly."

What Will Make Me Leave The Philippines...An Open Letter To Every Filipino

Dear Fellow Filipino,

Good day to all of you! Before I begin my letter... just a disclaimer, for people who know me they know that I love the Philippines very much and I am not really one who rants and complaints to high heavens about what is happening to our country and does nothing about it, in fact, I feel that at my relatively young age of 27, I have done much service to the Philippines by setting up Pathways to Higher Education which has sent more than 500 poor but deserving students to college and AHON Foundation which has already built two public elementary school libraries that have benefitted more than 3,500 students. Yet, after seeing how events in our nation have transpired the past few weeks and talking with some friends, I feel the urge to share with you my own thoughts and feelings.

Over the weekend, we saw the completion of two major political alliances for this coming Senate Elections that has just began here in the Philippines . Now we have two political forces with familiar faces nonetheless on opposite sides of the fences. On one end, you have Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta who were two major stalwarts of the opposition and the FPJ Campaign in 2004 hobnobbing with the woman (Pres. GMA) whom they claimed to have cheated FPJ in the last Presidential Elections.On the other side of the fence, you see Manny Villar, the former house speaker who was actually responsible for impeaching Erap now part of the United Opposition who is led by no less than... Erap himself. Now if you don't see anything wrong with this picture then you must be one of the many Filipinos who have accepted this very sad reality that there is indeed no permanent ideals that our government leaders stand up for but rather they just go where there self-interests can best be served. It is this kind of politics why I no longer wonder why good people like Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City or outstanding Bulacan Governor Josie Dela Cruz will find it hard or worse, never be elected to national positions.

It is with these in mind that I'd like to share with you what are events this coming May elections that will make me consider leaving the Philippines :

1.) If former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of Hello Garci fame wins in his bid to become Congressman of Bukidnon...seeking to replace a good man no less in incumbent Cong. Neric Acosta... We would really be the laughing stock of the whole world if we allow a man with the reputation of Garci to be one of our so called "Honorable Gentlemen".

2.) If Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta reclaims her seat at the Senate... I hope that all of us would still remember that dance that she did during the 2001 impeachment hearings after they voted to overrule the decision of then Chief Justice Davide... let us make sure that people like her never make it to the Senate again.

3.) If Richard Gomez becomes a senator... what does he know about making laws? We already have the likes of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid in the Senate and their performance or lack of it would be reason enough not to elect another actor who has no prior experience in government to the distinguished halls of the Senate.

4.) If Gringo Honasan wins again.... have we not learned our lesson? I cannot believe that just because someone is charismatic then we will just elect him to become one of our senators despite the fact that he has time and again caused so much instability in our country... if we want a military junta similar to that of Thailand ... then lets all vote for this guy....

5.) If Manny Pacquiao becomes Congressman of General Santos City... everybody loves Manny the Boxing Champ but Manny the Lawmaker? Lets be realistic here, Manny is our Hero alright but I think it takes more than just great boxing skills and a desire to serve to be able to make appropriate laws that would help uplift the lives of the many Filipinos who live in Poverty.

6.) If Lito Lapid wins for Mayor of Makati City... I don't like Jojo Binay as well but Lito Lapid as city mayor of the country's finance and business center?!?! And do you really think he is from Makati and has good plans for the city? The Arroyos asking someone like him to run just goes to show you how much love and concern this government has for our country.

7.) If Chavit Singson becomes a Senator, Illegal Gambling = Chavit... enough said.

Now if all of these 7 things happen during this coming elections then don't be surprised if I decide to leave this country that I love dearly. Like I said during the first part of my letter, I feel that I have done much for this country but I think its time that Filipinos become more vigilant and critical in selecting our leaders for the sake of our future and the generations that will go beyond us. So I appeal to every Filipino who asks what can I actually do for my country... Choose and vote for the right people this coming elections, huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong maganda lang ang jingle o gwapo lang sa mga poster. Let us choose leaders who have a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed towards serving our country.

Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating Kinabukasan at para sa Kapakanan ng ating Bayan!

Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter.

Sincerely,

Harvey S. Keh
Email: harveykeh@gmail.com

KAILANGANG MABASA ITO NG 80 MILLIONG PILIPINO !!! IPASA NYO NG IPASA !!!