a few wise lines

don't know if i've already posted this before but i've been using it in portions somewhere at the lower page of this blog. an old poem that is so bitingly practical it gives you one good set of guidelines in your everyday life.

DESIDERATA
written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s --

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

pito-pito

Sabi ako ng sabi na hindi ako fan ni Pacquiao but everytime naman na in the spotlight sya heto at sulat naman ako ng sulat tungkol sa kanya. Well let me just say he’s hard to ignore. Kapag lahat ng dyaryo at tv show, mula sa showbiz hanggang sa dapat eh mainstream news, mukha nya ang makikita mo, kahit hindi ka nya kampon you would find it difficult ignoring this not-so-good-looking yet so-very-talented boxer.

Ayan nga at pati Time Asia nilagay na sya sa cover. And that is even before his utterly convincing win over Cotto. Parang Time themselves predicted na walang sinabi ang Puerto Rican pug sa ating pambansang kamao. Otherwise they could have damaged their prestige kung a few weeks after the cover eh nilampaso sya ni Cotto sa ring.

So what’s my take on this 7th crown across 7 divisions na wala pang nakagawa kahit sino?

To call him The Greatest Boxer of All Time, as I read in some papers, sounds an overkill sa una pero justifiable naman in the end. Coz the greatest boxers we’ve known so far – Muhammad Ali – the most recognizable sa tulad kong hindi boxing fan, won only in his weight division (yon ang alam ko huh… boxing aficionados, pls confirm). Hindi katulad ni MP na 7 division ang kinopo. Kaya pwede na ngang ikabit ang ‘Greatest’ sa kanya for now. At siguro matatagalan pa bago may makagawa ng same record na ginawa nya.

Although napangiwi ako nong may makita akong streamer that says Pacquiao for President. I hope you’re not serious guys. Hindi naman porke pwede nang tawaging Greatest Boxer yong tao, pwede na syang magpatakbo ng isang bansa. Lalo na ang Pinas na sadlak na sadlak na sa kahirapan at corruption. Iba syempre ang pagtayo sa lona kesa sa pag-tayo sa podium na may sealion emblem.

Sana makinig na lang sya sa payo ni Atienza (na sabi nya kino-consider nyang tatay-tatayan) at wag na syang tumakbo in any political post. I-maximize na lang nya ang opportunities habang nasa prime pa sya ng kanyang career. Kung pwede kalabanin muna nya ang mayabang na si Mayweather. Ipakita nyang mas mayabang sya sa pangit na yon at nang matanggal ang bad weather sa katawan.

Coz sana, dahil paulit-ulit na lang nangyayari, pumasok na sa kukote nya ang epekto nya sa Pinas. Zero crime rate. Walang traffic lalo sa Edsa pag may laban sya. Even the rebels stopped their kidnapping activities. All these he can do kung ipagpapatuloy nya ang pagbo-boxing. But if he switched to politics, anong magiging national impact nya? Titigil ba ang mga Pinoy para panoorin syang mag-speech sa Congress?

Kung serbisyo publiko ang purpose nya, mas maraming paraan. Foundations is one. Mas maraming makikinabang. Tutal hindi naman nya kailangan ang government funding para makapag-tayo ng mga ganito. Hindi rin kailangan na sa sarili nyang bulsa manggaling. Pwede syang mag-solicit sa mga celebrities na fan nya. Hindi sa Pinas huh. Sa Hollywood. Anong ginagawa nila Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Mickey Rourke and now, even Paris Hilton. Pati nga si Bill Clinton di ba. Hingan nya ng donations.

Ipagpatuloy na lang nya yong showbiz career nya. Tutal marami pang natutuwa sa pagkanta-kanta nya dahil sikat pa sya. Kahit nga Al-Jazeera news yon ang pinakita. Obviously naaliw sila sa boksingerong di lang left hook ang kayang pakawalan. Pati sintunadong Sometimes when We Touch. On a global tv pa yon huh! Nag-iisa lang talaga sya!

Stick with GMA-7 para consistent sa 7 wins nya. Pero wag na wag syang lilipat ng Dos at baka magkatotoong dalawa ang bebot nya like what the rumors are saying. Dati si Ara Mina. Ngayon nadagdag pa raw ang Krista Ranillo. Lupet talaga ni Pacman. Pero sa totoo lang, malas yan Manny Boy.

Isipin mo lang na para ka ngayong fresh pupu na ang dami-daming bangaw na naa-attract. Bilyones na kasi ang dolyares mo. Bakit, nong unknown ka pa, kilala ka ba ng mga hindurupot na yan? Lalo ang mga girls na obviously ay naghahanap lang ng sponsors ng mga kaluhuan like expensive bags and signature shoes? Gusto lang makapag-suot ng mga designer clothes na sinusuot ni Jinkee. Pati ang mga naglalakihang diamonds ni Mommy Dionisia na sa dami ng alahas parang naluma si Anabelle Rama huh!

Look back to where you are 5, 10 years ago. Saka mo tingnan kung sino ang nasa paligid mo noon at naniwala sa iyo minus your billions of dollars. Then you would realize kung sino talaga ang mga taong may malaking importansya sa buhay mo. You should realize na sa Tv station lang dapat ang loyalty mo. Sa totoong buhay, wag sundin ang kaPuso... importante pa rin ang kaPamilya!

Ay, bakit ba ako nakikialam. The guy has so much money, power and fame kayang-kaya na nyang gawin ang lahat ng gusto nya. With his dizzying celebrity status, hindi ko sya masisi kung mag-umpisa na syang magkida-kida (Arabic slang po yan ng mga kalokohang activities). He has worked so hard, even risked his life all the time na may laban sya. He deserves to do whatever pleases him now. Yon nga lang, he should do that without hurting the people he loves most.

Besides, yang mga rumors tungkol sa extra-marital affairs na yan only add to his machismo. Dagdag pogi points dahil pinapatunayan nyang hindi lang sya pang-sports, pang-lover boy pa! Kaya ang mga Kuya, Manong, Tiyo, Tatay and even Lolo na samba sa kanya, lalong dumadami. At marami ring gusto syang gayahin. Except sa mga kabataan na mas gusto sumali sa StarStruck!

Whatever happens, Pacman’s legacy is here to stay. Bahagi na sya ng history ng Pinas as the first (and probably the only) boxer na nagkaroon ng ganiyang achievement. At sya rin lang ang boksingerong pinag-aksayahan kong i-blog. Dahil kahit pa anong sabihin, feeling proud din naman ako pag nananalo sya. Pinoy pa rin kasi ako kahit hindi ako boxing fan. Pero pag kumanta na sya, bahala na kayo!

no. 17: marlboro and six-pack

Nothing’s constant but change. Cliché pero totoo. Everything has to evolve from one point to another. From one form to another. At palagay ko nandon ako sa mood na yon.

Coz suddenly, out of the blue, I felt like straightening out a few crooked ways. Hindi ko na kailangang maghintay ng New Year to implement someresolution. It could be done right here, right now sabi ko sa sarili ko.

First, I’ve decided to quit a long-time habit. Yup, it’s exactly one month today na smoke-free na ako. Something I should have done a long time ago. Buhat pa nong sinabihan ako ng doctor to quit smoking, stop using perfumes and avoid dust para hindi ma-exacerbate ang allergic rhinitis ko.

Kailangan pang sipunin ako ng 2 beses na ilang linggo lang ang pagitan bago ko lubayan ang pagpaparusa sa respiratory system ko. It must have been crying out for mercy na ewan ko ba naman kung bakit ini-ignore ko. So I said better stop now dahil hindi ko naman pinangarap na maubos ang retirement fund ko sa pagpapagamot ng emphysema or worse, television na walang kulay!

Fortunately, hindi ako dumadanas ng mga sinasabi nilang withdrawal symptoms. Aside from a few days na parang naglalaway ako, wala na akong ibang naramdaman. Considering na ang tagal ko ring suki ng Marlboro white. And I hope I can keep my resolve para hindi na bumalik yon. Will do my lungs some good pati na ang bulsa ko. Lalo na ngayon na SR7 na ang isang kaha. Kamahal!

I’ve also grown tired of my ever-expanding belly. From my eternal 27 waistline, it suddenly expanded to 32 over the last two years. Dahil sa katakawan kong kumain pero hindi man lang nag-e-exercise. Ang pangit nang tingnan dahil hindi naman kalakihan ang frame ko and at 5ft 6in, para akong butete.

Dati ayaw kong magsuot ng uniform na issue ng kumpanya pero ngayon sinusuot ko na rin dahil ang mahal na ng pantalon. My favorite Dickies jeans na dating SR 120-130 lang ngayon halos SR 200 na. Kaya hindi pwedeng bili ng bili ng pantalon.

Kaya nag-umpisa na rin akong mag-exercise. Halos one month na rin akong nagsi-sit-up araw-araw. Hopefully maituloy ko rin at hindi lang parang sumpong. Hindi ko pinangarap na magka-six packs. Tama na sa akin yong lumiit ng konti or, at the least, mapigil na ang paglaki. Besides, masarap mag-shower sa umaga pag nakapag-exercise. Hindi tulad ng dati na tubig ang gumigising sa tulog kong kalamnan.

Changes for the good. Sana kayanin ko. It’s just a question of resolve. Ang siste lang, I gotta have a lot of will power. Mas marami dapat sa aking katamaran. And that, my friends, is the real challenge!

hotnothot 20

sorry pero pulitika pa rin tayo... may ilang isyu kasing kareak-reak at hindi ako makapigil ng aking mga komento...

Hotnot: Gunigundo’s advice on OFWs. Today’s edition of Abante Tonite (today, tonight… ugh!) carries a news item about Valenzuela City Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo giving what is obviously an unsolicited and stupid advice to OFWs. Sabi nya, tularan daw si Manny Pacquiao when it comes to handling his finances. Dahil tayo daw mga OFW kumikita ng milyones pero hindi natin naha-handle ng maayos ang mga pera natin unlike Manny na kahit daw mag-retire na sa boxing eh kikita pa rin from his investments. Unang-una Congressman, ang kinikita ni Manny ay hindi kikitain ng milyones na OFW kahit umabot pa sila ng 100 years sa pagta-trabaho sa abroad. Kasama na ako doon. Pangalawa, kung ang sinasabi mo ay tungkol sa financial management, stupid advice yang tinira mo. Dahil kung magi-endorse ka rin lang ng role model, wag na yong nababalita na nagpapatalo ng milyones sa sabong and even in billiards. Marami pa dyan na mas role model-material pagdating sa paghawak ng pera kahit hindi kasing-sikat. Papogi ka naman yata masyado kay Manny!

Hotnot: Impeachment case kay Gloria dahil sa NBN-ZTE scandal. Maigsi lang ang sasabihin ko : BAKIT NGAYON LANG? Sa bagal ng impeachment proceedings, nakababa na si Gloria sa 2010 hindi pa tapos yan. Mga impakto.

Hotnot: Scam na naman! Pati ba naman road signs pinatos na rin at naibulsa daw ng kung sino ang 1.5B bilyon pisong pondo. Eto raw yong para sa mga road signs na ewan kung bakit aabot ng 1.5 bilyong piso. Diamond studded kaya ang street signs na ilalagay? Dito sabit ang pangalan ni Ebdane na nag-declare pa mandin na tatakbo na sya for President. O baka naman demolition job against Ebdane? Pero dahil dito, siguradong sasabihin ni Mikaela Bilbao na ‘sabi ko na sa inyo noh’. Sabi nya kasi, si Dodie Puno nga daw ang may pakana kaya pati pangalan ni Gretchen and Pops sabit din. Showbiz, pulitika, corruption. Parang soap opera na naman sa tv. Pero ang pinakamasakit, mukhang nakawawa na naman si Juan dela Cruz. Naisahan na naman ng kung sinong ganid!

Hotnot: Demolition job din against Noynoy? Pinapaimbestigahan daw ulit ni Satur Ocampo ang barilan sa Hacienda Luisita. Tanong ko ulit: Bakita ngayon ulit? Sabagay ganyan talaga ang pulitika sa atin. Eleksyon na naman kaya labasan na naman ng baho ng bawat kandidato. Kawawa talaga si Juan dela Cruz! Ang nag-iiba lang petsa at oras. Ang mga karakter ganon pa rin. Ang sistema ganon pa rin. Bulok. Kaya ang hangin sa Pinas di na naman kakayanin ng air fresheners!

the future star

sana buhay pa ang DS when this little girl turns out to be a singing sensation like what her proud father said. coz i'm sure siya mismo matatawa dito sa ginagawa nya pag nakita nya ito.

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wala pa pong 2 yrs old ang cute naming si sofia but she's already a star na talaga naman pong maipagmamalaki ng daddy ricky and mommy weng nya. can't wait for the day na talagang kakanta na sya ng isang makabagbag damdaming birit! meantime, makitawa muna tayo sa hindi maintindihang solo ng sofia the singing diva!

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the beauty of mother earth

it's saturday and as usual i'm feeling lousy. isang oras na ako sa aking workstation at wala pa akong ginagawa kungdi magkape at mag-check ng mails at blog ko. then i stumbled upon these marvelous pics on the net and it seemed to have done something magical to me. bigla akong nagising.

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earth is truly amazing. nakaka-overwhelm na ang katulad kong isang tinatamad na trabahador is just one tiny, miniscule portion of this wonderful planet called earth. just look at these pics of beautiful islands as taken from outer space. God is so gracious to have given us something so beautiful and yet we're just taking it all for granted. so let's take more conscious effort to take care of our planet shall we?

atafu islands, new zealand

eleuthera islands, bahamas

galapagos islands, pacific ocean

hawaiian islands, pacific ocean

maldives, indian ocean

millenium islands, republic of kiribati

onekotan islands, russia

lesser sunda, indonesia

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to view the whole article, visit http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/islands-space/?npu=1&mbid=yhp

hotnothot 19

my apologies if i don't have any hothot issue this time. i'm focusing on the political scene and i'm sure you'd agree that it's difficult to find something positive in that area right this moment.

Hotnot: Chiz Escudero’s politics. As I said in my previous posting, I used to adore Chiz. He’s young, he’s smart and he embodies the political idealism I can relate to. He’s like a breath of fresh air among the stench of the old ‘trapo’. But to me his actions of late are signals of a very calculating, possibly scheming character. From his dilly-dallying in making any official announcement to his sudden bolting out of his political party, I can sense one devious character hiding beneath the boy-next-door image. Maybe it will be for the country’s best if he doesn’t end up in Malacanang after all.

Hotnot: Gloria’s desperation. His spin doctors are churning out a lot of bs that’s stripping Gloria of whatever respect left on her already plummeting reputation. Things like Gloria running for Congress after her term doesn’t sound right. And the latest, Gloria running for VP leaves a bad taste in the mouth altogether. What’s wrong with her? Is she really that greedy for power that after being the ‘queen’ she’s willing to become just one of the witches cooking magic spells for the new ruler? Or is it her spin doctors who are behind the greed? Either way I hope it doesn’t come true. There’s too much greed already and millions of Pinoys are suffering. Lord have mercy on us!

Hotnot: Pacquiao overdrive. I’ve said it time and again. Even if I’m not a fan of Manny, I’m proud of what he has done for the Philippines. But for the Philippine legislation to grind to a halt just because of Manny’s bout is way too much of an over drive. These politicians should not be scampering to Vegas and instead be in their seats doing their jobs. It’s workday people. And since you’re salaried employees of the Filipino people, Juan dela Cruz oughta be kicking you’re a**es if you’re not in when the rolls were called.

Hotnot: Alvin Flores gang. Just one of the many names dotting an invisible map of organized crimes in the PI. Organizations that can easily pounce on large and supposedly safe establishment like Glorietta. Which only reflects the kind of society we are living in. A society where more people are in dire poverty which makes survival the only thing that matters. Unless the government does something to address this great divide between the few uber rich and the millions and millions of super poor, more Alvin Flores will surface.