Flyers For Sale.LOL

I was watching a program on ABS-CBN (okay, it was a soap!), then a commercial came on. It showed the Probe's features for that week and one was about Lanao del Sur and the coming elections so I decided to wait up for it.

After the late night news, Probe came on. The strains of the azan, the masjids, the people performing prayer, the sight of Banggolo(!) with all the streamers and posters hanging and plastered everywhere brought a wave of homesickness. Oh, I wish I could go to Mindanao even for just a short time! Anyway, back to the feature, they interviewed a bunch of people about what goes on before, during and after elections, when and where cheating starts and what measures are being done in order to control it. But one particular part of the feature that caught my attention was the bit where they showed two samples of flyers of certain candidates with money stapled onto it. Both flyers were from former re-electionists, one of which is the sister of a congresswoman (also a re-electionist) and the other, that of my UNCLE's.

GOD. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry when I saw that. But the former took the better part of me. It was embarrassing... I mean, of all flyers from the hundreds of candidates (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating here), they had to pick one of my relative's. And to think that it's not even the ARMM elections. Sheesh! But then, it's common knowledge to us that this stuff really happens. I'd be a hypocrite if I say my relatives who ran didn't do that, and I'd be calling you the same thing if you said your politician relative/s didn't.

I mean, c'mon, let's all be honest here... even if you belong to a family of politicians, if you do not have money to give to the voters, the leaders, the COMELEC, you're nothing. Like that guy said on tv (with that thick Maranao accent), "Kung wala kang pera, sino ka para iboto ko?" True, true. It's sad how we people complain over the lack of progress in our province when it is also us who elected them into those positions by eagerly selling our votes, our rights and dreams to a better Lanao.

It's so discouraging every time this happens. And to think they also use the Qur'an so the pledgee (read: the one who receives the money) will follow through with the transaction (read: vote for the candidate he has committed to vote). Tsk,tsk,tsk... Jeez. I admit I find it morbid, but what can I do? It's so rampant, it's like the plague, really.

I admit (again) that I, just like any of the younger generation born to political families, have aspirations to build a better place that we call our home. But whenever the election fever strikes, I get discouraged. It's a sad plight, but who knows, one of these days, it just might end. Inshaallah! Like they say, there's always light at the end of the tunnel.

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Seeing all the election posters hanging and plastered everywhere made me laugh... I wonder if Mr. Abalos has the ba**s to go to Lanao and tear down all the candidates' election paraphernalia.

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bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan... may bukol.

don't get offended here, this is my personal viewpoint...that's why it's in my blog. and besides, it's my relative's flyer that was featured, not yours.

Flyers kayo diyan!

Whatta Day!!!

Petiks mode.

Me? Us? Says who? Do you even know the things I, we, go through just to get through the day?

Petiks mode...

My ass.

(sorry...im just in a really foul mood right now.)

Doctor, Doctor, I Am Sick!

Hmm...I'm feeling a whole lot better now...I was in a semi-sulky mood yesterday, but now's an ok day.=) I got this from my email, and it got me laughing. Just thought I'd share (ito na naman ako eh, noh... share ng share. haha!).=)

ACTUAL SENTENCES FOUND IN PATIENTS' MEDICAL CHARTS at PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL (PGH):

1. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

2. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it
disappeared.

3. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be
depressed.

5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

6. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

7. The patient refused autopsy.

8. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

9. She is numb from her toes down.

10. While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home.

11. The skin was moist and dry.

12. Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

13. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

14. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

15. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.

16. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

17. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stockbroker instead.

18. Skin: somewhat pale but present.

19. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

===

Sa PGH, may tinatawag na Central Block. Nandoon ang Radiology Department kung saan ginagawa ang mga X-rays, Ultrasound, CT Scan at Radiotherapy. Dito ko naobserbahan ang evolution ng mga Pinoy medical terms. May mga pasyente o bantay na aking nasasalubong, ang madalas magtanong ng direksyon.

Mga Versions ng CT Scan:

1. "Dok saan po ba ang Siete Scan?"
2. "Doc saan po ba magpapa-CT Skull"
3. "Doc saan po ba CT Scalp"
4. "Doc saan po ang CT Scam?"

===

Madalas akong mapagtanungan ng direction papunta sa Cobalt Room.

"Doc saan po ba ang Cobal" Yes, laging walang T. Marami ang gumagamit sa term na Cobal. Saan napunta ang "T"?

Marami din kasing nagtatanong, "Doc, saan po ba ang papuntang X-Tray?"

Conclusion: Ang "T" ng Cobalt, ay napunta sa X-Tray.

===

Nang mag-rotate ako as intern sa Pediatrics ng PGH, mahal na mahal talaga ng mga nanay ang kanilang mga anak na may sakit. Pilit nilang tinatandaan ang mga gamot at tawag sa sakit ng kanilang anak.

Doktor: "Mrs. ano po ang mga gamot na iniinom ng anak niyo?"
Mrs: "Doc phenobarbiedoll po."
Doktor: "Ah baka po phenobarbital. "
(Gamot sa convulsion ang phenobarbital)

===

Doktor: "Mrs. ano po ba ang sinabi ng dating doktor kung ano daw ang sakit ng inyong anak?"
Mrs: "Eh Doc sabi po niya Tragedy of Fallot.
Doktor: "Ah baka po Tetralogy of Fallot
(Isang Congenital Heart Disease ang
Tetralogy of Fallot)

===

Biglang nagtatarang ang isang nanay at sumigaw.
Mrs: "Scissors! Scissors! Nag-sciscissors ang anak ko, Doc!"
Doktor: "Nurse, diazepam please, nag-seizure ang pasyente!"

===

Doktor: "Mrs. ano daw po ba ang sakit ng anak ninyo?"
Mrs : "May ketong daw po."
In-examine ng doktor ang balat ng pasyente. Wala siyang makitang senyales ng ketong. Tumawag pa siya ng isang Dermatologist para mag-examine nang husto. Wala talaga.
Doktor: "Mrs. sigurado po ba kayong ketong ang Sakit ng bata?"
Mrs : "Eh iyon po ang sabi ng doktor niya dati. Mataas daw po ang ketong sa ihi dahil may diabetes."
Doktor: "Ah ketone po yon!

(Ang positive ketone sa Ihi ay senyales ng kumplikasyon ng diabetes.)

===

Doktor: (Sa buntis na mrs. na nagle-labor) "Mrs.pumutok na po ba ang panubigan mo?"
Mrs:"Eh Doc, wala naman po akong narinig na pagsabog."

Hanep!

In Search of the Body Beautiful

In The Name Of Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful

As’salamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

All praise is due to Allah: and blessings and peace be upon His messenger and servant, Prophet Mohammad (s) and upon his family and companions and whoever follows his guidance until the Day of Resurrection

In Search of the Body Beautiful
By: 'Itrat Azad

There seems no limit nowadays to the extent that women (and men!) are prepared to go to in order to achieve that 'perfect look'. Forget false eyelashes and wigs, we are now talking scalpels, implants and liposuction! !

Cosmetic surgery amongst film actresses has been commonplace for quite some time now, but these days, we wouldn't be too hard pressed to find ordinary women on the street who are more plastic than real! Indeed, in some circles, having multiple facelifts has become a status symbol: the more you have, the higher you are in the status rankings.

If questioned whether cosmetic surgery was Islamically correct or not, then without doubt, most Muslims would instinctively respond by saying that it isn't, for the simple reason that it would be interfering with Allaah's creation. And certainly, this would be the correct response. The Companion, Ibn Mas'ood, radiAllaahu 'anhu, once said (quoting what he had heard the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, say): "Allaah has cursed the tattooers and those who have themselves tattooed, and those women who have their teeth filed for beauty and those who have their [facial] hair plucked and thus alter Allaah's creation." A woman remarked, "What's all this?" So Ibn Mas'ood - radiAllaahu 'anhu - said: "Should I not curse one whom Allaah's Messenger cursed? And it is in the Book of Allaah!" She said: "I have read the Qur'aan from cover to cover, but I did not find that in it." He replied: "If you had read it thoroughly you would have found it. Allaah says, 'Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it and whatever he has forbidden, retrain from it’" [Sooratul-Hashr (59):7]. 1

So the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, forbade women from performing these three practices which the women commonly did for the sake of beauty in those days - seemingly 'insignificant' practices for which they would incur the CURSE of Allaah. And this forbiddence isn't just restricted to the procedures mentioned in the hadeeth. Because Allaah says in more general terms in His Book: "So set your face truly to the faith, Allaah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind, [Let there be] no change in the creation of Allaah." 2 [Soorah ar-Room (30):30].

Therefore, it is obligatory for us to accept the creation of Allaah as it is, not making any alterations to it.3 More importantly though, it is also obligatory or us to believe that all of Allaah's creation is beautiful, because Allaah, the Khaaliq (Creator) does not create anything except with beauty and perfection, which is why He says to mankind: "You can see no fault in the creation of ar-Rahmaan [the Most Merciful]. Then look again: can you see any rifts? Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you in a state of humiliation and worn out." [Soorah al-Mulk (67):3].

This may all sound quite strange when we consider how often we hear women complaining about their appearance. In fact, it is estimated that over half of the Western women today actually perceive themselves to be ugly. In addition, surveys show that nearly all women feel under pressure to "look good". As a result, the quest for beauty has become a serious preoccupation for many women. Open up any women’s magazine and you will not fail to find a single one which doesn't contain tips on how to "look good", or which don't contain huge adverts promoting new creams that halt the aging process or concealers to hide wrinkles, etc.

Beauty today is big business. Beauty contests are very profitable and - contrary to popular belief - more are spawned every year. The cosmetics market is a multi-billion dollar industry; the demand for cosmetic surgery is growing at a tremendous rate. All three industries promote the same notions o beauty that women everywhere are expected to meet: mainly a white, European, "Barbie-doll" like standard. The pressures on women to conform to these standards are enormous and few are able to withstand them.4

The fact is that Western women today may complain that they are not treated with equality and respect, but it is they themselves who have made it acceptable for society worldwide to see women merely as beauty-objects who are there to be ogled by the men who in turn are the (im)polite voyeurs. When viewed in this light, we find that beauty contests are not too dissimilar to reality itself: just as the tallest, slimmest blonde girl gets the title in the beauty contest, in the real world it's the tallest, slimmest blonde girl who gets the man!

In Islaam, beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder, beauty is in the whole of creation, because Allaah - the One free of all imperfections - is the one responsible for it. And as Allaah says: "Your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses: no choice have they. SubhaanAllaah! And far removed is He from the partners they ascribe [to Him]." [Soorah al-Qasas (28):68].

So it is from the wisdom of Allaah that He has chosen to create some of us short, others tall, some fat, some thin, some dark-coloured, some light - all are beautiful and perfect in their own right. That is why we are taught from the Sunnah, the beautiful du'aa (supplication) that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, would say: "O Allaah, as You have made my appearance beautiful, likewise make my character beautiful." (Allaahumma kamaa hassanta khalaqee fa hassin khuluqee). 5

As Muslims, we must believe that evil and imperfection cannot be attributed to Allaah.6 The desire to change any aspect of ourselves means, in effect, that we are dissatisfied with Allaah's choice and His handiwork, and that there is imperfection in what He has created. Thus to say about ourselves or anyone else that we or they are ugly is a great sin. This point was reinforced by the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, when he once saw the Companion, 'Amr ibn Fulaan al-Ansaaree, radiAllaahu 'anhu, whose izaar (lower garment) was hanging low (to the ground), so he, sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, ordered that he raise it. ‘Amr made an excuse saying that he had skinny shins (i.e. he was embarrassed to show them), so the Prophet responded by saying: "O 'Amr! Verily Allaah - the Mighty and the Majestic - has created everything in the best form." 7

All this is certainly not intended to discourage women to look after themselves and adorn themselves in lawful ways (e.g. wearing nice clothes, having nicely done hair, etc.). Indeed, adorning oneself is something that the wives are obliged to do for their husbands and Allaah rewards the woman who pleases the husband when he looks at her.8 But with these tremendous pressures on women to conform to the ideals set by the marketing media, it may be hard for Muslim women to resist feeling insecure or uncomfortable about their appearance. Consequently, many Muslim women have shed their hijaabs for the sake of following fashion; Muslim women too develop inferiority complexes about themselves.

We must bear in mind that this search for the 'body beautiful' is, in reality, a deception from Shaitaan. Shaitaan has vowed that he will create such false desires in mankind. He has said (as stated in the Qur'aan): "Surely I will arouse in them [mankind] false desires; and certainly I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah." [Soorah an-Nisaa’ (4):119].

May Allaah always keep us safe from the false promises of Shaitaan, for Verily He is the One who guides to the Truth.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- Notes

1. Reported by Ibn Mas'ood and collected in Saheeh Muslim (English trans, vo1. 3, p.1166, no.5301). This incident is a good illustration of the status which the Sunnah held in front of the Companions.

2. Note that this forbiddence applies to the whole of creation, not just human beings. Therefore, defacing any part of Allaah’s creation is haraam. By extension, this ruling also applies to all forms of genetic engineering, which are carried out on farm animals, for example, in order to procure more profitable meat from them.

3. This is with the exception of those things which have been prescribed in the Sharee'ah, e.g. clipping the nails, shaving the underarms and around the private parts, etc.

4. In fact, some women go to such extremes that it results in them developing health problems - anorexia nervosa - for instance. The carcinogenic nature of breast implants are also well documented now. No doubt, the future will reveal more harmful effects of these artificial means of changing creation.

5. One hadeeth which contains this supplication mentions that this du'aa should be recited on looking in the mirror. However, the chain (isnaad) of this hadeeth is not authentic. But it is authentically reported as a supplication to be recited at any time. (See Ibn Taimiyyah's al-Kalimat-Tayyib with al-Albaanee’s footnotes.)
6. For an explanation of this important aspect of belief, please refer to The Prophet’s Prayer Described (p.15).

7. Saheeh - collected in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad (vo1.4, p.200).

8. See Musnad Ahmad, an-Nasaa'ee and others. Also, it is forbidden for the husband to invoke ugliness upon the wife - as was a common practice amongst the pre-Islamic Arabs.


originally appeared in Ad-da'wah ilallah magazine, Volume 1, Issue 3.

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.