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 !!!

Just Because

Two more weeks and it's Valentine's Day.

So what? It's not like we celebrate Valentine's Day. No, we don't... Muslims do not have such celebrations. But on February 14, we will be celebrating that day. Only slightly differently.

Last year, when the world was busy literally painting the town red and celebrating hearts' day, we lost someone very dear to us.

Emilkhayr Punzalan Pimping-Benito passed away.

She was Ate Tatanie to us, bubbly, frank and outspoken. Fierce, loving, passionate. It's a description of contradictions, but yes, she was all that. All that and more. Everyone looked up to, adored and loved her. It was sad. No, it was tragic, how we lost Ate Ta. She went away so unexpectedly. It was like the Angel of Death stole her away from us when we weren't looking.

First week of February last year, Ate Tatanie, her husband , in-laws and parents flew in to Manila. She suddenly fell ill and they all agreed to take her here for treatment. They were giving her all sorts of tests and shots and was constantly on painkillers. She was in pain but tried not to show although her eyes said otherwise. But still, she didn't let the pain beak her down. She had a warrior's spirit...wouldn't back down from a fight. And then, that fateful day. No one thought it would happen so soon. No one thought it would happen, period.

We were distant relatives, my dad said, but I was only close to one of her younger brothers, Zaad, who was my age, as we both went to the same university when i went off to college. We only became close when we got married to our husbands (Hamza and Kuya Cocoy are first cousins). Although they lived in Mindanao, and us, here in the metro, the proximity didn't hinder us from being close.

I remember whenever we had the chance to go to Mindanao, we'd make time to visit their food place, Pastel Tats, the one in Mindanao State U (Marawi), and we'd find her there, busily taking orders from customers, chatting with the cousins and friends, managing the crew and taking care of the register. She did all that, and then after a while she'd disappear, only to find her managing the meatshop next door which she and her husband owned as well. They were a young, successful couple, and they had it all going for them. When the scene at the resto would die down a bit (which was rare), we'd find a spot and just talk about life. She'd give me unsolicited advice about marriage, about taking care of oneself, or what-have-yous. But I liked it best when we talked about her love life, how she and Kuya Cocoy fought for their love. I didn't mind hearing about it again (I wouldn't ask in the first place), because I just never got tired of it. It was like a novel, or even a complicated soap opera; you wouldn't believe the things they went through for each other. It just makes you stop and say to yourself, 'Now, THAT is love'.

December 2005 was her last reunion with the family. I can still recall how she and the rest of the cousins decorated the house with tassles and such, to make the house more festive. And then she ran off to the kitchen with Ate Ling to finish her cooking. She didn't seem to get tired doing things...such a busybody. And to think she had Rayhaan (six y/o) and Tanisha (four m/o) to take care of, too. That was one of our best reunions, and sadly, our last, too, since we welcomed 2007 with our respective families.

Every now and then, when I'm doing something or nothing at all, she would cross my mind. I'd remember all the times we were together, all the stuff that she taught me, and the advice she gave me. And then a wave of sadness would wash over me and my eyes can't help but get misty over the thought of her. Sometimes I still can't believe that it happened; like it's all a bad dream.I still miss her, and I'm sure everyone else who has been touched by her does, too. If only I could thank her for all the kindness she's shown me. I can only do so through prayers... du'as to you, my cousin.

Why am I writing this entry?

Just because... I miss her. Still.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'un.

"Verily we belong to Allah, and to Him we return."

Do You Think This Is Funny?

A first grade teacher collected well known Proverbs. She gave
each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders (six-year-olds), because the last one is a classic!

Better to be safe than .......... punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the .......... bug is close.
It's always darkest before .......... Daylight Savings Time.
Never underestimate the power of .......... termites.
You can lead a horse to water but .......... how?
Don't bite the hand that .......... looks dirty.
No news is .......... impossible.
A miss is as good as a .......... Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new .......... math.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll .......... stink in the morning.
Love all, trust .......... me.
The pen is mightier than the .......... pigs.
An idle mind is .......... the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's .......... pollution.
Happy the bride who .......... gets all the presents.
A penny saved is .......... not much.
Two's company, three's .......... the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what .......... you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and .......... you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as .......... Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not .......... spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed .......... get new batteries.
You get out of something only what you .......... see in the picture on the box.
When the blind leadeth the blind .......... get out of the way.

And the favorite:
Better late than.......... pregnant!!!

November 17, 2006

November 17, 2006

our third wedding anniversary...

to abi and rajabOi...

thanks for everything...

i love you to pieces!b

love,

ummi jOdi

October 26, 2006

So what.. It's about 4:51 in the morning and I can't sleep. Well, I'll sleep after Fajr, but that'll be around six in the morning the latest (an hour after prayer pa..hehe!). So what's new? It's not like i haven't done this before..not sleeping early, I mean.

Hmm.. We bought tickets earlier this evening. Be leaving for Mindanao on Thursday. Yey! I get to see my mom, my brothers, my ina (i hope you get well), my cousins, aunts and uncles..Everyone i haven't seen for the longest time! But we're not going there to vacation, really. My sister-in-law's getting married on Saturday, the 28th and she's really dissing that day. I guess when you're going to get married to some complete stranger then that wouldn't feel right, right? If that happened to me... I don't know... I probably would've ran away or something. I think it was brave of her to hang in there and cooperate with the whole thing. But then again, I don't think she had any choice either.

I love being a Muslim. I am grateful to be born into this religion. But it's more of the culture that I don't like really, I guess. Well, some of it. Sure, it is said in Islam that parents may choose for their children who they will marry. But in Islam, the daughter has a choice to accept or decline whoever it is they have chosen for her. The difference of the religion to that of our culture (Maranao), is that irregardless of what the daughter feels, the wedding will commence and there is nothing that she could do to stop it...unless maybe if the parents were understanding and considerate enough of the girl's feelings.

That's probably the only thing I don't like in my culture...Arranged marriages. I mean, sure, it worked for some, and I respect that and I'm really happy for you, but it's just not my cup of tea. It's not like I'm saying that you go and run off with the first guy/girl you find and ride off the sunset, but at least I want to have a say on matters like that. Marriage is a lifetime commitment, and I wouldn't want to spend it with a complete stranger. Or jerk for that matter. Just because he/she comes from an illustrious family that everybody wants to be a part of doesn't make her a god or a goddess. I wouldn't want my child to be wed to someone he/she barely knows. I've seen families come together and then later break apart like fallen legos because the guy's and girl's parents don't get along anymore and it's just sad. I mean, weren't they the ones who made the arrangement in the first place? And then they break up their kids' marriage (just when they have fallen in love with each other) because they belong to opposing parties in politics and have decided to run against each other or simply because they don't get along anymore? This isn't something that I'd want for my child or future children (assuming that Allah (swt) gives us more than one). I'm lucky that my parents didn't force me into doing something (or anything) that I didn't want. Mom, dad..love you to pieces!

Wala lang.. just made me think.

And I guess it's because it's almost, almost five in the morning and I'm still awake.

Oh well... du'as to you sister... you'll get through this...

We got your back.. We love you!

GORGEOUS!

JANUARY=PIMP
Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Brave and fearless. Always making friends. Not easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions. Unpredictable. Extreme loathers. Understanding. Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive. Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and ravelling. Systematic. Hot but has brains.

FEBRUARY=SMARTS
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. sexiest out of everyone.A real speed demon. Has more than one best friend. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Horny. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH=SEXY
Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous. Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal. Does work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive. Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh. Able to motivate oneself and others. Understanding. Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive. Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and travelling. Systematic. Hot but has brains.

APRIL=GORGEOUS
Drop dead gorgeous!!!Attractive personality.Very! sexy.Affectionate & Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic.Chatterbox! Loves to talk alot! Loves to get their way! . Unbelievable kisser! Easily angered. Very stubborn in the most way possible! Loves to get noticed! Willing to take risks for others. Makes good choices. Has a great fashion sense! Maybe a little too popular with others * wink wink*. Outgoing and crazy at times! Intelligent. Can sometimes be a heartbreaker! Can love as much as possible! Hates insults. Loves compliments! A very big flirt! Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Observant and assesses others.

MAY=SWEETIE
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Shy towards opposite sex. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding.
Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves travelling. Dislikes being at home. Restless. having many children. Hardworking. High spirited.

JUNE=SHYNESS
Fun to be with. Loves to try new things. Boys/girls LOVE you. You are very hott. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed.
Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. spazzy at times.Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things.
Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

JULY=FLIRT
You've got the best personality and are an absolute pleasure to be around. You love to make new friends and be outgoing. You are a great flirt and more than likely have a very attractive partner, a wicked hottie. Like somebody with an August birthday. It is also more than likely that you have a massive record collection. When it comes to films, you know how to pick them and may one day become a famous actor/actress yourself - heck, you've got the looks for it!!!

AUGUST=ATTITUDE
Ooutgoing personality. Takes risks. Feeds on attention. No self control. Kind hearted. Self confident. Loud and boisterous. VERY revengeful. Easy to get along with and talk to. has an "everything's peachy" attitude. Likes talking and singing. Loves music. Daydreamer. Easily distracted. Hates not being trusted. BIG imagination. Loves to be
loved. Hates studying. In need of "that someone". Longs for freedom. Rebellious when withheld or restricted. Lives by "no pain no gain" motto. Caring. Always a suspect. Playful. Mysterious. "Charming" or "beautiful" to everyone. Stubborn. Curious.
Independent. Strong willed. A fighter.

SEPTEMBER=Gangsta
Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and
caring. Suave and generous. Usually you have many friends. Emotional. Stubborn. Hasty. Good memory. Moving, motivates oneself and others. Loves to travel and explore. Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand.you are a great match with somebody in June.

OCTOBER=THUG
Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the centre. Great in bed.Inner and physical beauty. Doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. A meaningful love life partner. Treats friends importantly. Brave and fearless. Always making friends.
It is all about love and fairness.Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Horny but does fullfill. Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions. Knows what to do, to have fun. Unpredictable. Someone to have close to you. Extremely smart, but definitely the hottest AND sexiest of them all.

NOVEMBER=HOTTIE
Trustworthy and loyal. Very passionate and dangerous. Wild at times. Knows how to have fun. Sexy and mysterious. Everyone is drawn towards your inner and outer beauty and independent personality. Playful, but secretive. Very emotional and temperamental sometimes. Meets new people easily and very social in a group. Fearless and independent. Can hold their own. Stands out in a crowd. Essentially very smart. Usually, you ever begin a relationship with someone from this month, hold on to them because they're one of a kind.

DECEMBER=BEAUTY
This straight-up means you’re the most good-looking. Loyal and generous. Patriotic. Competitive in everything. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Easy to talk to, though hard to understand. Thinks far with vision, yet complicated to know. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best.

So, which month were you born?

Hit me back and let me know!

Have fun!