HAVE A REAL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Christmas is here!!!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Christmas is here! As the cliche goes, it's the season to be happy! It's true that life's worries are all around us but don't let it all dampen your spirit!

I've heard many people say- as I have observed myself- that this year's Christmas doesn't seem quite as festive and happy as the last. Well,to point us all to the right perspective, I want to share what our priest said in his last night's homily. He said that Christmas should not be viewed through the eyes of commercialism; that Christmas is an occasion of remembering God's love and the gift that is Jesus.

The first Christmas started in a manger, with poor shepherds being baby Jesus' first visitors. It's a picture of simplicity and yes, humble poverty. Yet, more than 2000 years later, this is the birthday we all celebrate with expectations of merry festivities. I think that it's high time we all look deep down in our hearts and examine what's truly keeping us happy this season. Is it the birth of our Savior or is it the presents we expect to receive?

I myself need to put this all in my heart. Here's what I wrote on the e- cards I mailed:

The real spirit of Christmas is not about outward festivities, the presents we unwrap on Christmas Eve, nor the feast we serve on our tables. It's giving thanks for the gift of God's love and sharing it with the rest of the world!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."
-Roy L. Smith

Look forward to this season with the eyes of a kid. See the simple joys that life has to offer. These simple joys lead to the path of true happiness, peace and contentment!!!

Have a real and MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Book Review: "Here Comes Ginger!"

Hello! It's been a really long while since my last post! I think this has been my longest gap yet! I've been too busy mulling over other things and stressing my mind but now, I'm back, back with some good news! Today, I welcome everyone to my second book review. Yep! I've decided to include book reviews in my blog. My book reviews will follow my readings so there will be no specific genre confinement. It will be really varied, natural and fun!

So here goes! For my second book review, I choose "Here Comes Ginger" By Elaine L. Schulte. This book is another book for young readers. I've come to read it because my sixth grade cousin borrowed it from the shool library. Actually, she borrowed it for me! Very probably, it's meant for a younger age group but this never really bothered me since the book seems interesting! The story revolves around a ten year old girl who is frustrated by her parents divorce and cannot accept her mother's looming remarriage. Add to all these changes, Ginger has to cope with the new idea of her mother's newfound Christianity- she's dating a pastor's son- and her father's seeming oblivion to her mom's lovelife!

What I like about this book is Ginger's character. She's stubborn and naturally funny. She's also very mischievous and comes up with many wild, contrived ideas to end her mother's new love relationship. It's easy to understand her actions, however. Change can be very hard and when you're ten and coping with your parents' divorce and the idea of a new family, it can easily be overwhelming. In her book, Elaine Schulte has created in Ginger, a person that's easy to symphatize with and be friends with. Ginger isn't your perfect, prim and proper kid but she loves her family. Her being defensive and a bit problematic is understandably the result of her threatened sense of security. Children seek security and home is where they first look for it.

"Here Comes Ginger!" is a well- meaning and wholesome read. It has a Christian theme of love, forgiveness and acceptance. It shows the struggles of children taking in their parents' separation and the fears and insecurities every child has. I recommend it to every child especially those who are struggling with the same issue as Ginger's. Children will find it easy to identify themselves with Ginger, her reactions to what is happening in her family and her totally natural behavior. Another strong reason why I recommend this book is for its Christian values. It shows that children need to develop a strong sense of faith and virtue as they grow up and face inevitable life challenges.

"Here Comes Ginger!" is a part of the Ginger Trumbell series by author Elaine Schulte who has written many other books for kids and adults. The Ginger Trumbell books may nowadays be hard to find in bookstores. I recommend looking in on second hand book shops, libraries or better yet, the Internet.

Book Information:
"Here Comes Ginger!" by Elaine L. Schulte
Published by Chariot books, an imprint of David C. cook Publishing Co.
Copyright 1989

The Ginger trumbell Series:
"Here Comes Ginger!"
"Off To A New Start"
"A Job For An Angel"
"Absolutely Green"

Back Cover details:
Ginger's world is falling apart. Her mom has recently become a Christian and, even worse, has fallen in love with Grant Gabriel. Ginger can't stand the thought of leaving their little house near the beach...moving in with Gant and his two children...trading in her "brown cave of a bedroom" for a yellow canopied bed.

Ginger will try anything to fight the changes she knows are coming-green fingernails, salt in the sugar bowl, a near disaster at the beach. But she finds that change can happen inside her, too, when she meets the Lord her mom has come to trust.

Theme: Salvation/blended families. Ages 9-12

Thanks for reading and till my next post everyone!

Princess Academy and The Place I Call Home

Hello everyone! Many days have passed since my last post. Halloween went by and so did All Soul's day. Prayers for souls everyone!

I'm writing to talk about a book I just finished yesterday. It's called Princess Academy and it's written by Shannon Hale. I thoroughly enjoyed it especially the characters and Shannon's description of the marvelous, wonderful place. I love the exciting and intriguing plot punched in with just the right characters to provide conflicts and excitement. This book is actually categorized under the Young Adult (YA) division but for those of you who may not consider yourselves YA fans, I still urge you not to dismiss reading Princess Academy entirely.

Princess Academy is about a smart young girl named Miri. Miri lives in a mountain called Mount Eskel where life is simple and at times, hard. Her small village thrives on quarrying linder stone directly from the mountain. As they all live far above the lowlands, Miri and the people of her beloved village are seen as remote, even unknown and uncivilized. This is how the rest of the lowlanders in their kingdom sees them until one fateful day when the priests of the kingdom divined that the future princess will hail from none other than Mount Eskel. All of a sudden the village, especially Miri and the rest of the village girls are put under the kingdom's spotlight. Miri and the rest of her village's eligible girls are made to attend a Princess Academy, a school designed to train and polish girls until the day that the prince of the kingdom chooses one of them to be his bride. With all the pressure and the criticism surrounding these girls, how do they manage to study and maintain their friendships? As though all these aren't enough, Miri and her village encounters real danger and Miri herself struggles with the inner conflicts of her desire to be a princess and her love for her family and her mountain home.

Can you guess that I do so love the book? I really do, especially the relationships between the characters, the mountain secrets and the marvelous place itself. I imagine myself attending such an academy and I wonder how good or bad I will do? :0)
I love how Ms. Shannon described the place! Her colorful descriptions make me want to live as a villager on Mount Eskel, be friends with Miri, Peder, Britta, Esa, Katar and all the others! Who knows, I may find such a place with good people where I can build a home! I know I will, remember this is Lorrainekid writing!

Well, home is where the heart is and actually, the home I live now is where my heart will always be! The world and all the universe hold such special, magical places however, that I always do believe there will be many more places that I will be happy to call home. In the end, I do believe that home is where your loved ones are with you and you are at peace with the rest of the world and its Creator. Home could be anywhere, you just need to open your heart!

My Meez Avatar!

Hey! I just joined meez! Check out the new meez me! I'm new so if anyone has any tips, please comment to help!

Websites To Join!

Hello everyone!!!
It's just 70 plus days before Christmas!!!
Anyway...I'd have to say I feel really happy today! My spiritual blessings make me so!

For those who may have dropped by my blog, I'd like to introduce you to these sites you may like to join:

• triond. com
• xt3. com (it's an online community made especially for Catholics! You'll learn a lot from here!)
• www.circleofprayer.org/ - Believe in the power of prayers!
• shelfari.com ( See part of my shelf below)

So, there! I hope you'll love these sites!

Share your fave site now by commenting!

Till my next post!
*** I'm lovin' the Phantom's new story! What's with all those women warriors?!

Christmas Is Coming!

Hello everyone! Check out my new blog template! It's called "The Night Before Christmas". I got this one at bloggerbuster and I love it! See the falling snow?

So, it's off to my favorite season of the year, Christmas! It's a year when the air is suddenly more cheerful and people find something to be happy and thankful for. We'll have lots of fun and laughter and then we'll pile up on memories.

I know that with many people, this season is not as merry as it should be. Take for example the tragedy of those typhoons that hit the Philippines (where I live) and Vietnam, the earthquake and tsunami in Samoa and Indonesia. We all see people with houses immersed in floods and rubbles. People lose their loved ones. All of these are really heartbreaking.

Christmas, however, is not all about the shallow joys of shopping, eating and receiving gifts. It's more than the lights in your houses and Christmas trees. It's a different kind of celebration, a kind of thanksgiving and praise. It's the time when Jesus decided to come down from the heavens and be human to save us all from our sins. Christmas is about love. This season, let's show our love by helping our fellows who are in need!

So, I'll be counting the days and feeling ever moment till that person's very special birthday: Jesus Christ. I know it's been more than 2,000 years but still, Jesus's birthday present is still not complete. Let's all chip in our worthy share by trying to be kinder and nicer inside and out!

Another thing...do you believe in Santa? I say, why not? The universe is full of endless possibilities! Yes! For Lorrainekid, Santa is real!!!

Christmas is coming! Jesus is here! A fun, meaningful, love-filled, heart-warming and genuine Christmas season to everyone!

For the Victims of Typhoon Ondoy/ Katsena

Hello! It's been really long since my last post, but here I am! I know its quite late but I just cannot miss the opportunity to write about the tragedy of Typhoon Ondoy/Katsena. I know its all over the news now; the internet and television is buzzing with reports about dead bodies being found, families losing every property, roads blocked, mud covering just about every surface...lives lost and the overwhelming grief.

Typhoon Ondoy is really different from the usual tropical storm. Its rain downpour is heavy and continuous. Witihin hours, areas started to flood. Even places that weren't previously affected by floods were flooded and damaged.

Apart from the Philippines, Typhoon Katsena has wrought a lot of damage in Vietnam. Humdreds of lives are lost and thousands of people are sad and grieving. It's very hard to lose your home, your hard earned property but the hardest and most painful of all is to have your loved ones die.

I feel really blessed to have our own family and properties saved but I do realize that the victimized, grieving people I have seen on TV could very easily have been me! Truly, we are all dust in the wind! The very length of our earthly existence is unpredictable!

This maybe hard to swallow but I believe the truth is: we humans are majorly responsible for this tragedy. Typhoon Ondoy/ Katsena has CLIMATE CHANGE screaming at the top of its lungs! Imagine a month's worth of rainfall pouring in just 6 hours!!! All of us need to do something NOW!!! It's really sad but we can all see that the poorest people, the ones who are the least contributors to climate change and the ones who are most helpless are the ones who are suffering the most!!!

There are things we can all do to fight Climate change. All of us are important in this fight. To learn more, you can browse these useful websites:
http://www.unep.org/climatechange/
http://beta.worldbank.org/climatechange/
http://www.earthhour.org/

The victims of Typhoon Katsena all need our help! If you have the time or resources, you can choose to volunteer for relief packing/ donating or join medical missions. You can try to going to your local Red Cross headquarters, much are being done there. Please support your local community and participate in cause- oriented activities.
Contact: 143- Philippine National Red Cross or visit PNRC National Headquarters. If you live in Manila, t you may visit PNRC main by going to lawton and riding a jeepney(pier..).

You can also spread the cry for help! This is our time to use social networking sites ( Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, xt3...). Like me, you can also blog about it!

You can also visit: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

Best of all, let's PRAY! God hears our cries and though we may not understand the reason for all these, we must continue to trust Him. God has a reason for everything! He is always in control!

God Bless Us All!

Peace, Love and Happiness To Our World!

Hello! I want to explore the things that are keeping me happy and alive these days!

Thank God for:
1. Good, good food
2. The upcoming US Open final (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Nadal and Federer!)
3. My Blog
4. Nice TV shows...I like those sucky telenovelas and gripping documentaries
5. My To Kill A Mockingbird book and DVD
6. My family
AND...
7. God's love!!!

Today the world commemorates the 9/11 incident. The tears brought by this incident should eternally fuel our fight against violence, terrorism and social indifference. I pray for all violence victims and their families.

As I come to think of it, this day, New York bears more significance to the world because of 9/11. The biggest event there today is the commemoration of the victims of 9/11, not the US Open or the fluctuations in the stock market.

Still, God gives us all a reason to be happy. He gives us real peace and hope. The world may contain violence but let us remember God built it out of love and goodness. However hard, we must continue trusting God.

And still....
Hey! Hey! The BER months are here! Christmas is approaching. There's a quick reason to smile inspite of everything! Look up, try to smile! Smile though nothing seems harder!

Peace, Love and Happiness To You!

US Open 2009 and My Sorely Missing Telly

Here I go again. I'm sad because Star Sports Asia won't be covering US Open Grandslam this year. What happened? They covered it perfectly last year! My cable provider does not have balls or tennis channel so I'd have to scour the net for free live streams. The problem is, most streams load so slow and are of poor quality. So for those of you who might happen to read this and know a site which provides good quality streams for free, please, please let me know. I know of HD live streams on the net but some of them aren't free.

Anyway, I know the US Open tournament will be lots of fun. You can't go wrong when Federer's vying for a record sixth straight and players like Nadal, Murray and the rest of the talented crew are fighting for the same goal. Personally, I wish for another Federer vs. Nadal final. I must admit that I'm a fan of their now famed rivalry. Too bad, our cable telly won't be of much service.

Sweet Treats For Everyone!

Hello! I would like to share with everyone my favorite sweet treat. This particular recipe is incredibly easy to make but really addicting, that is if you love bananas! We Filipinos love this so I hope you will too!

Minatamisang Saging Na Saba/ Sweetened Plantain Bananas

You will need:

• plantain bananas also called saba bananas- This kind of banana is larger with thicker skin. It's very easy to spot in the market, usually they are the ones still twinged with green. Just ask for the cooking type of bananas.
• cups of brown sugar- Brown sugar is needed for its color. Do you know that brown sugar is a healthier option than the white one which is highly processed?
• water
• a few pieces of jackfruit/ langka (optional)
• Evaporated milk
  

Procedure:
Mix water and brown sugar. Your bananas must all be swimming in this sweet syrup. Adjust the sweetness of the mixture to your taste.
Boil the mixture until it reaches a thick, syrupy texture.
Put the bananas in the mixture.
Add the pieces of jackfruit.
Cook the bananas for a few more minutes to let the syrup penetrate. Be careful not to overcook the bananas.
Serve with a dose of evaporated milk!

* Depending on how you like it, this treat can be served hot or cold. Personally, I like to pour mine with lots of milk and then I refrigerate it. You can also put ice cubes on it. It's a cold sweet treat!

Try this one and you'll go bananas!!!

Trusting God

Sometimes, blessings can come in unexpected. Sometimes, they are disguised. Whatever the situation is, trust God. He loves us and will only allow what is best for us.
In my current situation, I say all for Your greater glory God!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

I Will Not Complain!!!

In life, we people can find a million reasons to complain. However, looking around us will reveal why we should not. Lately, I have been facing some sort of crisis and I found that when times are really hard, it's easy to slide down the road to bitterness, even depression. I realized that I must STOP and HELP myself. I remembered the people with much harder plights than I have and how they carry on with life. The other, other day I saw a crippled man with deformed fingers sitting on a cardboard in front of a pharma store. He was selling sampaguita flowers; with the few garlands raised by his deformed hands. One of his hands have only one finger; the other hand is also deformed. I also saw a man on TV who lost half of his legs due to an accident. It was amazing because he still strives and manages to drive a tricycle to fend for his family. The show rewarded him with a new tricycle so he did not have to rent one.

It is when I see and remember the plight and amazing courage of people like those that I realize I have no reason to complain. I have a trillion more reasons to rejoice and be happy and thank God! Those people inspired me to see the hope in every situation; that God always knows and that He will be there to help. Yes, I WILL NOT COMPLAIN.

I still struggle for a more positive outlook each day. I however, will try to remind myself that the good always outweighs the bad. God is my stronghold; in Him there is hope.

God Bless everyone!

* These are some articles which may help struggling people like me:
http://healthmad.com/mental-health/top-tips-for-easing-your-stress-and-worry/
http://socyberty.com/advice/how-to-get-up-and-survive-from-failures/
http://webupon.com/services/a-website-of-prayers/

Farewell to Our National Icon of Peace and Humility

Hello!!! Yesterday, me and my mother went to the Manila Cathedral to pay our last respects to the great former Philippine President, Corazon C. Aquino. We waited for a long time but it paid off in the end. I do feel really lucky because I had the chance to partake of this historical event. We even wrote on the memorial tarpaulines.
I salute you, President Cory! You make me really proud to be a Filipino! You have shown the courage that only a woman of true faith can exhibit. I know that good people like you will reap their heavenly rewards. Jesus said He will always be with us all and I know He keeps His promises.

On to other things, The Phantom comics is becoming more intense and exciting. This love triangle undermined with the darkness of politics makes a perfect combination. I can't wait for the next strip!

I have a movie recommendation from my brother. He said The Hangover film was really funny. So for those of you who want a comedy flick, I guess this one is it for now. He and I have quite similar takes on what makes a good comedy, so I can vouche for him safely.

BTW, my cat is making me crazy. He keeps on peeing and pooping around our house. I have half a mind on ejecting him out of the house just like the reality shows do but he has a n irressistible cat charm. In the end, I just have to try and TRAIN HIM OVER AND OVER....

Till my next post......;o)

Magic and Solar Eclipse

Hi! I recently watched Harry Potter 6. I thought it was a very good adaptation. I have read the book and I do love the whole series. I'm also quite sad it's gonna end soon. BTW, I have a new widget, the one from Triond. Watch out for the articles that will be shown there. I hope readers and those who happen to stumble opon my blog will find this new feature interesting and possibly helpful! Go ahead and read on!

Last 2 days ago, I had the chance to see the partial solar eclipse. Here in the Philippines, it's only partial but in places like India and Japan (if I'm not mistaken) and other Asian countries, it was total! Please feel free to share your experiences about any rare event like this by commenting!

Ok, so that's all for now, I'll catch up soon!

Comics Are Pure Fun!

Every Sunday, the Philippine Star newspaper comes with an 8-paged, full- color edition of its Sunday Comics. Among my favorites are: Hagar the Horrible, Beetle Bailey, Archie, Blondie, Spiderman and now, The Phantom. Normally, the Phantom's adventures take center stage, but now Prince Rex's love life becomes intriguing and confusing. Rex now has to choose between Princess Alicia or Captain Lara! Their love triangle has been told many years before, so I'm a late follower, now reading the version of De Paul illustrated by either Nolan or Ryan (as I found searching the net).

I wish the desire for comics will endure today's hype for tv series, movies and the internet. Its addicting and gives more leeway for our imagination.

BTW, I got to watch the new Transformers movie. The robots are bigger, stronger and fiercer. Its a worthy sequel with even better effects and a more absorbing, fast-paced story.

I just love it when comics are made into movies! Older people who followed, say, Spiderman when they were young kids enjoy seeing him in full animation technology! Whenever these comics superheroes hit theatres, people of every generation are eager and interested. These comics are the constant factor in every generation. Fascination for their characters never waver.They are constantly republished and the characters have become global icons. They are here to stay!

Another thing, is there a site out there which gives easy access to archives of these cool strips? Please, please can you tell me? Thanks...!!

Winning and Losing

I watched the Wimbledon finals last Sunday. The match was close and exciting. If I remember right, it was 4 hours and 19 minutes! I congratulate Roger Federer for winning and setting a new record in history. Actually, I feel really sad for Andy Roddick. I saw how determined he was and how much he wanted to win. Of course both players gave their best, but it was Andy Roddick's loss that I really sympathized with. Roger Federer could have reached his 15th slam another time; I'm sure he'll bag a few or more titles to his name, but its been quite a long time since Andy Roddick made it to a grandslam final, as he himself said. Throughout the match and even more so on the last games, me and my brother was eager for Andy Roddick to break Roger Federer's serve and win. However, that didn't happen, and Roger broke Andy's serve for the first time and eventually won. I don't know much about tennis but I think if Andy Roddick can well receive serves like his own or like Federer's then the match would be his. Overall it was a 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 match, was that the longest 5th set in Wimbledon? I do hope Andy Roddick will win in Wimbledon next time. He lost the finals to Roger Federer for the third time so I hope he wins in the next.

Anyway, today, Michael Jackson's remains will be brought to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here in the Philippines, the live telecast will be shown on 1 am. I want to watch, although I'm not sure because its really very late. Michael Jackson's popularity especially his fans' support for him is heartwarming. Today is historic as well, we see that in spite of the many intrigues surrounding MJ's life, the good things he has done sustained the people's love for him and his music. Its true that he's had his share of faults, just like the rest of us, but he's done so many great things as well.

Its all as well, in life as in every sport, how we played the game may somehow, in the long run be more important than the game's outcome...I end my post by quoting this line from Rudyard Kipling's poem, "If". Its the same famous line etched on the wall at wimbledon; just where the players pass before they make their entrance on centre court.

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same..."

Immortal

Today, I woke up to a very sad news: Michael Jackson, The King Of Pop, died. I know the whole world is now very shocked and grieved with his sudden demise. Michael Jackson is a person that words may fail to describe. He is an icon, a superstar, a person whose following and appeal transcended the boundaries of race, gender, age, music preference and many more. He is the superstar. His music is liked by almost everyone, even people who are not fans of pop, love, or at least found something to like in his songs. Rock fans think he and his songs rock, even though the genre is different. Classical musicians and listeners acknowledge his genius and listen to his songs. People who aren't even born before his peak love him, adore and idolize him. His influence is indescribable, incredible, frenzied, unlike any other.

Whenever Michael makes an appearance, the crowd is sure to get wild. There is that something in him; whether its an appeal, a powerful charisma, an aura, no one can exactly grasp. People are just drawn to him. He's had so many ups and so many downs but through it all, his following never wavered. I pray that wherever he is now, he find true happiness in our Creator. In Him, he will always be that kid he longs people like us to see and understand.

I grew up listening and loving Michael Jackson's music. My family loves him and his music, just the way he is. One of my fondest memories is listening to The Jackson 5 Christmas Album. I love their rendition of those songs. Christmas for me is not complete without hearing their album. Through the years, and through the many playing, I have even memorized the order of the songs from the album.

I don't think I can go on any longer with today's blog entry. No words can describe what Michael Jackson is.

I have heard from the news that one of his wishes is to become immortal through his music. He is already.

A fan commented on the CNN post and I find no other ways to express it better:
Dead or alive, he still will be and will always be: The King!

Happy Birthday Dr. Jose Rizal!

Today our Filipino nation celebrates the birthday of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. If he were alive today, he would be 148 years old! Dr. Jose Rizal was born at the province of Calamba, Laguna. He died for his revolutionary and nationalistic ideas. His death was the ultimate straw for sparking a much unified revolution of our nation under the hands of the Spaniards. Dr. Rizal is an extraordinary hero. During those times when many brave Filipinos wanted to engage in a bloody revolution, he was the man of patience, logic and reason. He cautioned the revolutionary heroes from engaging in a bloody war, not because he did not share their hopes for the nation, but because he is realistic and wise enough to note that our people do not have the necessary resources like money and firearms to succeed. He never wanted them to lose their lives in a battle where they would be obviously overpowered, without a chance of succeeding. He urged them to bid their time; to wait and plan for the right time.

Dr. Jose Rizal's war was of a different kind. Through his novels and stories, he reawakened the nationalistic spirit of the Filipino nation. He exposed the people to the cruelties of it's Spanish oppressors: the corruption of the government and the church, the outright discrimination of Filipinos in their own country and many other injustices. His 2 masterpieces: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo was a brave testament of the sufferings of the Filipinos. Back then, the possession and distribution of any material which exposes the suffering plight of the Filipinos from it's conquerors were strictly prohibited. The possession of those kinds of materials, which may turn the Filipinos from their conquerors are considered grounds for execution. It was to be considered a suicidal act for Dr. Jose Rizal to write and publish his 2 masterpieces and many other works. However, our national hero was prepared to face death in his mission to serve as the Filipinos' voice of truth. For his love of country, he was sentenced to death on December 30, 1896 through a firing squad. He died at a young age of 35.

Dr. Jose Rizal is not only a man of revolution but a true genius. It would be really hard for me to enumerate his achievements so instead I am posting these extracted passages:

Rizal's multifacetedness was described by his German friend, Dr. Adolf Meyer, as "stupendous." Documented studies show him to be a polymath with the ability to master various skills and subjects. He was an ophthalmologist, sculptor, painter, educator, farmer, historian, playwright and journalist. Besides poetry and creative writing, he dabbled, with varying degrees of expertise, in architecture, cartography, economics, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, dramatics, martial arts, fencing and pistol shooting. He was also a Freemason, joining Acacia Lodge No. 9 during his time in Spain, he became a Master Mason in 1884.- Wikipedia

Having traveled extensively in Europe, America and Asia, he mastered 22 languages. These include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Malayan, Portuguese, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog, and other native dialects. A versatile genius, he was an architect, artists, businessman, cartoonist, educator, economist, ethnologist, scientific farmer, historian, inventor, journalist, linguist, musician, mythologist, nationalist, naturalist, novelist, opthalmic surgeon, poet, propagandist, psychologist, scientist, sculptor, sociologist, and theologian.- joserizal.ph

I remember that as a kid at school, me and my classmates used to have a really hard time in memorizing the languages Dr. Rizal mastered. Aside from his long name, José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, we were also asked to memorize his many achievements, professions and even the many countries where he traveled and resided, all of which gave me and my schoolmates a really hard time.

I am proud and happy that our country has a national hero like Dr. Jose Rizal. He and our other heroes gave their lives for our freedom. I hope that all of my fellow Filipinos around the world continue to give them the honor they forever deserve.

To Dr. Jose Rizal, we pray for you, and we thank you with our hearts! You are truly the Pride of the Malay Race! Mabuhay Ka!

"He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination."
(in Tagalog: "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.")- Jose Rizal

"He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and a smelly fish."
(in Tagalog: "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda.")- Jose Rizal

"I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it -- and forget not those who have fallen during the night!"
-- José Rizal, Noli Me Tangere (translated by Charles Derbyshire as The Social Cancer)

Mabuhay ka Dr. Jose Rizal! Mabuhay Pilipinas!

In Want Of Sherlock Holmes

Our world is filled with cries of injustice and we are in so much need of someone who can hold high the torch of equal justice. I do wish that Sherlock Holmes is here and of course, Watson. I love reading his stories and I do symphatize with Watson for suffering over Holmes's usual scathing wit. Be that as it may, Holmes is a genius and he is someone who cannot be swayed from his values, as too many people are these days. The world would be a much better place if Sherlock Holmes was here. I bet if Holmes were alive today, he would also be a computer genius, aside from being an active crime specialist.

Speaking of the world's most celebrated fictional detective, it has been announced that a new movie about him starring Robert Downey Jr. is due on December in the US. Jude Law will be playing Watson. Now, that is exciting! I am sure more than a few critical brows will be raised but at least Holmes's fans, including me, will be happy to see him personified once more.

I must admit that Robert Downey Jr. did not match Holmes's physical description. I have also seen the movie trailer and I am surprised that some of the scenes were quite comic and they depicted Holmes having a romantic connection of some sort to Irene Adler, played by Rachel McAdams. Of course, I would have preferred that they stick to the original character portraits, but it is interesting to explore other options for their personality. I can just hope that they retain much of what is original. As it is premature to pass judgement, I suffice to say that I am looking forward to the movie. It has been a long time since Sherlock Holmes had a successful adaptation. I also don't think it is wise to judge the success of this new movie by comparing it to the Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett adaptations.

I am sure this new movie will bring interest even to non-readers of Sherlock Holmes. Surely, more people would want to read his stories. I thank Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for Holmes and the faithful Watson, who has recounted much of Holmes's exploits. See you all in the movies!

Congratulations Roger Federer!

Hello! So Federer won Roland Garros! He now has 14 grand slams like Pete Sampras!

Congratulations! I am writing this just minutes after the match ended.

Great game...Soderling may have been beaten in straight sets but not just by any other player...

Congratulations! We all know you deserve this! =o)

There Will Never Be Another...Elmer Bernstein!

Hello! Today, my thoughts turned to the great composer Elmer Bernstein.He is an unbelievable musical genius. His works are timeless and he will always be one of my most favorite creatures who ever lived. I adore his music and I want more people to discover him.

I know Elmer Bernstein for his excellent movie soundtracks. His music takes us to the heart and soul of the film. He has this rare quality; he doesnt override or overpower the scenes, his music just weaves throughout the movie. I don't know, but great composers have this power to appeal to everyone's emotions...quite a deep statement.

My top 3 Movie OSTs composed by Elmer Bernstein are:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird
2. The Ten Commandments (Cecille de Mille version)
3.The Magnificent Seven

There are so many others that he composed. Scroll to the bottom page...I added some great compilations of his music which I found on Youtube. Many thanks to the people who uploaded those!

BTW..about the Roland Garros, the final is almost here.
I must confess the shock I felt when Rafael Nadal was ousted by Robin Soderling on the 4th round, but hey, its a sport and everyone always has a fair chance of winning and of course, losing.

Also, I am impressed by Juan Martin Del Potro. I didn't get to watch his semi-final clash with Federer but it was a five set match. Last time I watched him fight Federer, he lost in straight sets; now he made him risk his chance at a final! I do believe Del Potro has got what it takes to be number one someday. He's improving a lot and he is now able to challenge the top players.

Now its between Federer and the surprising, but deserving Soderling.
If its Federer, he'll tie up with Sampras' record..
If its Soderling, he'll make a great proof that tournaments aren't always dominated by the people at the topmost rank.

At the women's side, its between Safina and Kuznetsova.
I am guessing its Safina..its her time now...she must not let this pass.

Bye for now and enjoy the music!

I Love Birthdays!!

Hello! Tomorrow my Grandma Kulay is celebrating her birthday!!! Don't we all love birthdays? Its a day of remembering how lucky and blessed one is just to be alive. Yup, many times life seems less than stellar perfect but c'est la vie!!! Before anyone of us can complain, I suggest we all look at the lives of the people around us. Yesterday, Vincent, one of the 'kid-regulars' (or so, I'd like to call them) dropped by our house to yet again ask for plastic bottles. He sells those bottles and whatever other things he could gather to a nearby junkshop. One time, I asked him how much he earns, he replied saying it all depends on his collection. If he is lucky enough, he'll manage to earn about 2o Pesos ( a very meager sum). He also told me that he uses the money for his school allowance.

I sometimes get sad just thinking of this children and how hard they have to work for their needs. I mean, their just kids! They are supposed to be living carefree and happy lives. They should be provided for, but due to poverty, they have to fend for their own. I'm not saying that parents aren't doing their jobs, it's just that things are very hard for some of us. It's not for any of us to judge how much of an effort a parent puts through, I do understand that sometimes, poverty leaves many of us with no other choice.

Many times, I tend to diregard or take for granted the things that I have, like education, school allowance, clothes and food. I sometimes feel that those things come on quite automatically. However, I do need to open my eyes! Life is not as easy for so many! So many people have nothing! I may feel discontented and wish for much success and luxury while other people want nothing more than food to eat! Millions of people do not even have the necessary stuff. What little money they have goes for food that everything else are no longer a priority. If they don't even have money for food, how else can they provide themselves with education, or join other activities like sports, or especially, look after their own health.

Whew, how did my writing ever got that far? Hahaha..I guess I believe its just that we should not forget other people even when we are celebrating. We should always pray for them and help them anyway we can. I myself, need to do just that.

Here's a quote from Billy Mills:
"Your life is a gift from the Creator. Your gift back to the Creator is what you do with your life."

Happy Birthday celebrants!!! Smile and be happy, just be happy!!! Don't take life too seriously!!!

Advance happy bday to my cousin Gelo, he's clebrating his bday on Independence day, June 12!!!

Who Do I Love? SPONGEBOB!!!

I do! I do! I do love Spongebob Squarepants!!! It's ultimately funny, silly and lovable. For me, it's like a storybook filled with delighting, stupid and hilarious stories. I love Spongebob because he reminds me that the smallest and most simple things make me happiest. There are times when I feel that my critical attitude mirrors that of Squidward, and I do not want that. Squidward is also very weird and funny. He's ashamed to show that he's having fun while being stupid at the same time. Many times, he tries to cover up which leads to more embarrassing situations. I also love Patrick. Actually he is my favorite, for no other reason than because he is the funniest and most stupid starfish of all! He is pink but I don't think he is gay!!! Hahaha...
Then there are the others: Sandy, the smartest squirrel wearing an astronaut like outfit, Mr. Krabs, Bikini Bottom's own version of Scrooge, Plankton, the smallest villain ever, always busy with his futile plots on stealing the famous Krabby Patty Formula.

Today, I watched some episodes of Spongebob on DVD. I never get tired of watching it. How fun would it be to spend a vacation in the town of Bikini Bottom! If I get the chance, maybe I'll run in on Spongebob, be his friend, then I'll befriend Patrick too, then we'll eat Krabby Patties, annoy Squidward, workout with Sandy, go jellyfishing and disrupt the whole sea!!!

Spongebob tells me not to take life too seriously and he is right. Life is not just about being reasonable and logical and proper. I have a stupid funny side and so do all of us. We aren't perfect, that's why we're all on the same footing. It's no fun being too tight on oneself and watching out for others to make some boo boo. You'll get old easily!


"Being grown-up is boring. Besides, I don't get jazz."- Patrick

F is for friends that do stuff together U is for you and me N is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!!- Spongebob

I'M READY! I'M READY!!!

Who's It Gonna Be?

Hello! Today I changed my template and added a widget. I LOVE this widget because it updates you with every major detail about the French Open's game schedule, the scores and even photos!

So who's gonna win this time? Will Rafael Nadal continue his winning streak and make a new record with 5 consecutive titles? Will the other top 4 guys make a statement by winning this year, or will Federer reaffirm his reign by beating Nadal on his most powerful surface?

With the girls, I believe it would be hard to pick any strong bets..there hasn't been much display of consistency within the rankings. However, it should be more fun that way, everybody will be much motivated to come out on top. Will Maria Sharapova break the silence from her absence? How about Ana Ivanovic? Will she be able to defend her last year title?

I am excited. Thanks so much that Studio 23 came to my rescue. Our cable provider doesn't have Balls and Star Sports isn't providing a telecast this year. That was a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! What happened? This is a major event! I got really sad when I found out..but now I guess I just have to search for other options.

If any of you happened to read this...pleasepleaseplease..can you give me a site which shows free live streaming? Thanks!!!

Bye for now and I wish I were in France! +0)

I Joined Triond!

Hello! It's been quite a while since my last post. I just want to share this site I've discovered: Triond. It's a site that helps you earn money for any publishable material that you create. The good thing about it? Well, its free and you can write about any topic that you like, even photos and videos are accepted. They pay you 50% of your work's revenues. I haven't created anything yet but I hope to publish one soon.

Now, I'm sure that grabbed your interest..visit triond now if you haven't already.
BTW, I've mentioned that I am new to Triond. If anyone of you had anything to say about Triond, please feel free to share it by posting your comment.

Anyway, on to other things. I've been hearing good reviews for the film Angels and Demons. I haven't watched it yet but they say its really exciting and absorbing. I wonder what those people who've read the book has to say about it. It's really tough to adapt a book into a film especially if its a best-seller because people can be too critical.

Another thing, have you heard about the remake of the movie Wuthering Heights? Wuthering Heights is a classic novel by Emily Bronte. I had some unforgettable experiences concerning that book. You see, when I was in high-school we made a film adaptation of it. Nothing big, it was just for a school project but I thought it was demanding work. I had to assume a lot of responsibility for it. This novel is about the love story of Heathcliff and Catherine and how their undying love for each other threatened to cause a lot of chaos and disagreements within the people surrounding them. Back then, I found it quite depressing. Maybe if I read it again I'll have another view of it. About it's supposed film remake, I have read on the net that it would star Ed Westwick as the unhappy leading character, Heathcliff. Ed Westwick is currently popular for his portrayal of Chuck Bass in the Gossip Girl TV series.

There has been 2 past film adaptations of Wuthering Heights. One was on 1939 with the great Laurence Olivier playing Heathcliff and Merle Oberon as Catherine. The 1992 version starred Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. Now I wonder, how would Ed Westwick measure up to the performances of these 2 renowned actors? What new element of Heathcliff's character could he embody on-screen? If the movie pushes through, we'll have the answers.

Bye for now! I hope to post something again soon!

TV shows and Charity

Hello! I haven't posted anything for some days now. I just want to share some of the good things on tv these days. My cousin is a fan of Lost Tapes on Discovery. I watched an episode and it really looked real and scary. My other cousin loves travel and living. I do too, especially Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown. Travel and Living always interests me. I do wish I could travel too. Someday I will. I tried watching Gossip Girl and I found it intriguing. It's really interesting and the story is quite engrossing. I wtached a few episodes and I want to know what happens next. GG is good but I also feel that the story can get tiring. Maybe I'll quit watching it soon.

Anyway...I'd love to know more about what other people look forward to everyday, maybe I'd love it too.

BTW, I am watching tv today. On the news they featured a young boy named Darrell strichen with osteosarcoma or bone cancer. He is having difficulty of breathing because of the water in his lungs. His legs are swollen, he has edema. He needs albumin and huge amount of money to help him.
If anybody comes across this and want to help Darrell, I suggest you look up the ABS-CBN website for details or numbers to call or maybe you can leave a message on their site. I was not able to jot down the numbers showed on TV Patrol but I am sure if anybody wishes to help and makes a phone call mentioning about the sick boy, they will be redirected and given information.

Many people especially poor children seek help. They are featured on Tv patrol ( ABS-CBN 2) or 24 Oras (GMA 7). looking up their websites and making a phone call to help others who have no one to turn to is a graet act of love and charity. In Baclaran Redemptoris church(Parañaque City, Philippines) hundreds of poor individuals, mostly sick people ask for help. The church needs donations. You can look it up on the internet or drop by the church itself where there are boxes for the poor. Let us all find a way to reach out to our fellows who need help, many of them really have no one they can turn to. For most of them, it's their life at stake.

Let us pray for them and help them anyway we can.

On the last day, Jesus will say to those on His right hand, "Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me." Then Jesus will turn to those on His left hand and say, "Depart from me because I was hungry and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was sick and you did not visit me." These will ask Him, "When did we see You hungry, or thirsty or sick and did not come to Your help?" And Jesus will answer them, "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of these least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"
http://www.ewtn.com/New_library/breakfast.htm

Search Me!

Hello! I'm adding this so more people can read my blog!
I am happy and feeling great!

I am optimistic!

Hi! There are days when everything just seems to go right, pretty much like the way you wanted it, and there are those days when things occur quite unexpectedly. On days like those, positivity is tested and must be sustained by will. Many times, its hard but it helps to think that there are a lot of good things I may have overlooked too.

Right now that I am tired, I see myself riding a red balloon and drifting up the sky. Sometimes, its really nice to let yourself go with the flow. There's less stress that way. I'll go where my balloon takes me and no danger will bother me. For me, balloons are a sign of happiness. They fill us with a sense of wonder and awe over the simple things.

I'd love to feel more positive so I'll list some of the things I'm thankful for.

My Blessings:
1. I am alive and healthy
2. I have a good and supportive family
3. My cat is healthy and growing well
4. I ate squid and porkchop for lunch ( I love seafood!).
5. I have a blog.
6. My cousins and I are a happy bunch
7. Brownies
8. books
9. Tv and movies
10. Most of all: God loves me!

Let's be happy happy!!!

"For myself I am an optimist - it does not seem to be much use being anything else"

Winston Churchill

"A positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative."

Movie Review: A Haunting In Connecticut

Yesterday, I finally had the chance to watch this movie. It was the same story shown on the A Haunting series of Discovery Channel but with many alterations, as expected (watch the video below). I found the movie suspenseful and moderately spooky. Some scenes are gross and disturbing but I think that much is expected since they dubbed this as one of the most known supernatural events documented. I will not overrate it, though.

The movie was about a family who was forced to move their residence to a place near a hospital where one of the kids were being treated for cancer. Burdened by financial constraints, they rented a house with a lower cost but with a grim past. Soon after they moved into the house, strange things began to occurr, especially to the ill child, Matt. It was a steep price to pay as their lives ( and sanity, I think! Gosh I'd lose my mind if I had to live on a place like that!) were brought into danger.

The movie was scary, but not edge-of-your-seat scary. Some of the scenes were visually disturbing. Personally, I found some aspects of the Discovery Channel's version scarier than the movie. There's more of a silent, creepy atmosphere generated by the series. Maybe because, of the narrator, or the interviews from the actual people involved, or the spookier appearance made of the house. Of course, the visual effects of the movie were better but the series' had more of a real feel to it. Like the last part where the house was being teared apart, I thought it was just gross and the effects were exaggerated, it didn't scare me any longer, quite unlike the Discovery's version were the spookiness was sustained. I think its because the Discovery's version stayed truer to the facts and the movie just cannot do the same. They had to show something more on the big screen, perhaps.

Still, it will do for a bit of a scare. Maybe, I would have liked it more if I hadn't seen the tv version first. I admit some of the scenes really caught me and surprised me, so I can still say its quite scary. As for myself, I'd do anything just to be out of that house once I find out what it was. I try to understand the family though, they didn't have much of a choice and maybe they even did some good.

So next time anyone of us might think of staying in another place, let's think twice and consider ourselves warned...

Let's Be Happy!

Hi! i just want to have my own share in the celebration of Manny Pacquiao's win over Ricky Hatton yesterday! I didn't expected it to last for only 2 rounds but Pacquiao's skill and power was on full display so....Hey Heyhow!!!

Anyway, to any other fellow Filipinos who might come across my small space, I'd like to encourage you guys to become registered voters. It was easy enough for me. The process took less than an hour. You only have to bring a photocopy of a valid ID ( driver's, professional, student...). It's easy and believe me, you better take advantage of this current convenience. The deadline is till October but we all know how many people will be filing by then.

BTW, I recently watched Body Of Lies starring Leo DiCaprio. It's action-filled and I thought Leo was thoroughly convincing as a CIA agent, although I have to admit I don't really know what its like to be one. The movie got me thinking: is that the way CIA agents get treated or protected? Seems to me, from the movie, that they function more or less by their own cunning skills and go to hell type of bravery...It's a good action movie though, it did not bore me, although the love interest bit didn't jive for me..
There's a viloent torture scene so its not for very young audiences.

About the swine flu..I am thankful there hasn't been a reported case in the Philippines yet. However, let's continue to pray for all those who are affected.
Bye for now!

What I Think: The Reader

Classic. Yes, in my opinion The Reader has all the qualities of a great dramatic film. The story is moving and shocking. The actors are very intense. The characters in this story have very complicated personalities which must have been very challenging to effect on-screen. I commend all the people behind The Reader for having done excellent work.

The story which was set on a Post World War II Germany, centers on a boy named Michael Berg. Michael was like any other fifteen- year old during his time until the day he sought to thank a woman named Hannah Schmitz. Through a whirlwind of events and stirred emotions, Michael quickly became involved in a passionate love-affair with the mysterious Hannah, a woman almost twice his age. The affair itself didn't last long but what Michael discovers about Hannah, years after she disappeared, will alter both of their lives.

How could someone whom you've spent so little time with affect your whole life so greatly? This was the thought I had pondering on the film. I see however, that it is not how much time Michael have spent with Hannah that have made such an impact but the time itself when they had their affair. Michael was fifteen. He was at that point when he was still beginning to understand himself and make adjustments, in other words, he was still forming an identity. He was very vulnerable and to be thrust into such a mature affair was bound to overwhelm him. Could his perception of Hannah be somehow likened to a tainted version of hero-worship? Never mind that he may have been in love, what mattered were his tendencies to fall under dominance of a stronger personality. Looking back a few years, I find that I have then perceived some older, more mature people to be more than who they probably are. I still do. Even now that I maybe of their age then, I could not see myself in the position I have perceived of them. I guess for most of us, that's true.

There is such a thing as banking your emotions towards a certain person, even when you don't know them enough. For Michael, it has been such a hurtful shock to learn the truth about Hannah's past life. I think because he has retained a relatively nice image of her in his head and then feeling like a naive fool, he's got to confront the reality of who she is. However, he cannot get himself past the effect she had on him. The image and emotions attached to her is too strong, born out of his perception of her as a young lad who believes he is in love. Hannah's emotional appeal to Michael would cause him to be burdened by her secret and her bitter condition.

What about Hannah? She is a very complicated character, yes. She's not the evil person the court accused her to be. She was a guilty woman, yes, but she was also a victim. I don't find it very clear what she thought of Michael but surely, he must have been her only source of comfort for her many years in prison.

Well, I will say it again: It's a great film; and yes, I believe Kate Winslet deserved her Oscar.
Also, I was impressed by the acting of David Kross as young Michael. I'm not familiar with him since his relatively new but i think he got those emotions right to us movie-goers especially during the trial. Ralph Fiennes, played the adult Michael and he was very moving as well.

My Rating: Very Good
Watch it, not with children though, adult content
I think its one of those stories which lingers on you long after its over.
The Reader is based on a German novel by Bernhard Schlink.

My shelfari shelf

Hi! I just posted some of the books from my shelfari account. It's a great site to connect with people and talk about books or the authors that you love. I guess this is just one testament that I do love to read. I don't mind any genre just as long as the book is good and I won't be wasting my time. Anyway, I hope I can put up book reviews and maybe film reviews of my own in due time.

So what am I up to now?
1. I plan to watch A Haunting In Connecticut ( I've learned its the same story of a family I've watched from the discovery Channel's A Haunting series, but I still would like to check it out)
2. I am anticipating the Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight on Sunday, that's 5 days from now!
3. I am excited to see the 6th Harry Potter film: The Half blood Prince.
4. I am teaching my kitten how to use a litter box.
5. I sometimes lose my mind doing the 4th.
6. My cousin is urging me to watch the A Haunting In Connecticut Discovery episode on Youtube.
7. I am planning to buy ice cream from a nearby shop...
8. I will have to end my post..

Bye for now!! I hope to connect with

Hobnobbing!

Yes, I decided to have my own blog...I might enjoy doing this who knows? What's up with me? Well I am a girl and I am 21. the other day I watched Susan Boyle On youtube..people are talking about her. I love happy endings and I am hoping she get the success she deserves. Everyone should have fair opportunities. The world's possibilities are endless, having said that...I should grab some for myself now!!!