MS. PHILIPPINES - MS. UNIVERSE 1ST RUNNER UP

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Philippines is indeed home of "beauty and brains". You make us proud again for being the Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner Up -- Ms. Janine Tugonon!

MIND BLOWING MOTHER NATURES CREATION

This article is taken from Yahoo! News (Philippines) and I want you guys to see these so you will witness how beautiful our world is and how AMAZING God is!

These are the extraordinary phenomenons of the natural world. Colorful mind-blowing natural landscapes that will surely captivate everyone's mind and heart. I hope one day I can see at least two of these with my naked eyes.

Let us see and be amazed!!

**************************************************************************

The Wave in Utah -- Carved rock eroded into a wave-like formation made of jurassic-age Navajo sandstone that is approximately 190 million years old.

**************************************************************************

The Great Blue Hole in Belize -- A large submarine sinkhole which is over 984 feet across and 407 feet deep. The sinkhole was formed during several episodes of quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower.

**************************************************************************

The Elephant Rock Formation in Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada -- A strange natural sandstone rock formation resembling an elephant.

**************************************************************************

The Pink Lake (Hiller Lake) in Western Australia -- Scientists have proven the strange pink color is due to the presence of algae which is usually the cause of strange coloration.

**************************************************************************

The Sliding Stones of Death Valley, California -- The movement of the rocks continue to baffle experts, with some rocks sliding across a perfectly flat bed despite weighing up to 700 pounds each.

**************************************************************************

Balls Pyramid -- The worlds tallest sea stack, at 562 meters, in Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia

**************************************************************************

The Champagne Pool -- A colorful hot spring in the Waiotapu Geothermal area of New Zealand. The surface temperature of the big spring is 74 degrees celsius and its bubbles are due to uprising carbon dioxide.  Minerals contained in the hot water are gold, silver, mercury, sulphur and arsenic.

**************************************************************************

The Moeraki Boulders of New Zealand -- The gigantic boulders started forming on the ocean floor and can now be seen sitting mysteriously on the coastline. Thanks to centuries of erosion.

**************************************************************************

Tufa Pinnacles at Mono Lake in Sierra Nevada -- Mono Lake is a closed hydrological basin -- meaning -- water floes into it but it doesn't flow out. The only way for water to leave is through evaporation. Four vertical feet of water can evaporate during the course of a year. 

**************************************************************************

The Beauty Pool of Yellowstone National Park -- The hot spring allows luminous algae and bacteria to flourish creating a vivid array of colors. 

There are millions of wonderful natural landscape out there -- DISCOVERED AND UNDISCOVERED! May we have the knowledge to take care of them so the children of our grand children will experience what natures looks like in today's years. :)

A STORY OF APPRECIATION

One young academically excellent person went for an interview for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the first interview; but in that company, the director did the last interview and made the final decision.

The director discovered from the CV, that the youth’s academic result was excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never was there a year he did not score. The director asked,

“Did you obtain any scholarship in school?” and the youth answered “no”.

The director asked,” Did your father pay your school fees?”. The youth answered, “my father passed away when I was one year old and it was my mother who paid my school fees”.

The director asked, ” Where did your mother work?”

The youth answered, “my mother worked as cloth cleaner.” 

The director requested the youth to show his hands and the youth showed a pair of hands that was smooth and perfect to the director.

The director asked, ” Did you ever help your mother wash clothes before?”

The youth answered,” never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother could wash clothes faster than I could”

The director said, I have a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother’s hand, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt that the chance of landing the job was high and when he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother’s hands. His mother felt strange. With happiness mixed with fear, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly and his tears fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and that there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that she shuddered when his mother’s hands were cleaned with water.

This is the first time that the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hands that washed the clothes every day to earn him the school fees and that the bruises in the mother’s hand were the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother’s hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, the mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.

The director noticed the tear in the youth’s eye and asked:

” Can you tell me what you did and learned yesterday in your house?”

The youth answered, ” I cleaned my mother’s hands and also finished washing all the remaining clothes.’

The director asked, ”Please tell me what you felt.”

The youth said:

“Number 1, I know what appreciation is now’. Without my mother, I would not be successful today.

Number 2, Now I know how to work together with my mother. Only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I know the importance and value of family relationship.”The director said, “This is what I want. I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the suffering of others to get things done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager. You are hired.”

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employee worked diligently and as a team and the company improved tremendously.

The Lessons from this anecdote:

A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he needs, develops an“entitlement mentality” and always puts himself first. He is ignorant of his parents’ efforts. When he starts work, he assumes every person must listen to him. When he becomes a manager, he will never know the suffering of his employees and always blame others. These kinds of people, may/will achieve good results and may be successful for a while, but eventually will not feel a sense of achievement or satisfaction.

If we happen to be this kind of (protective) parent, this is the time to ask the question - whether we did/do love our children or destroy them.

* You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn to play the piano, watch a big screen TV but when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it.

* After a meal, let them wash their plate and bowl together with their brothers and sisters.

* It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love and show them the correct way.

* You want them to understand that no matter how rich their parents are, one day they will grow old, become weak and that their hair too will turn grey.

* The most important thing is for your child to learn how to appreciate, experience and learn the effort and ability needed to work with others in order to get things done. They should also value, appreciate what the parents have done and love them for who they are!

MACAHAMBUS CAVE - CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

MACAHAMBUS CAVE is the most popular and most frequently visited cave in Cagayan De Oro City with a total of 57 meters in length. It is a "thru" cave which means it can be entered at one end and exited at the other. 

It has three chambers, the hide-out and exit of the Kagay-anon soldiers and their families in the Battle of Macahambus Hill which marked the first victory of the Filipinos against the Americans in the entire Phil-American War in this nation in 1900.

The cave itself is a picturesque spot.

 

 

The other exit of the cave is to a cliff overlooking the Cagayan De Oro River.

ALL SOULS DAY

Catholic Church observes "All Souls Day" during November 2. Did you know that its official name is "The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed". In some region it is called Feast of All Souls. 

The Roman Catholic celebration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful who at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins and from attachment to mortals sins cannot immediately attain the beatific vision in heaven and they may be helped to do so by prayers and by the sacrifice of the Mass.

Here are some common practices of people during All Souls Day:

1. Lightening of candles.

2. Sharing of soul cakes to the poor.

3. Baking of special types of bread, cakes and "kakanin".

4. Some people believe that the dead eat foods that are left out during supper.

5. Attend mass and visit the cemetery taking flowers to decorate their relatives' grave.

And by this time, help me pray for our departed loved ones:

Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the Mercy of God,

rest in peace.

Amen.

ONE DIRECTION - FOREVER YOUNG

I have heard thousands of songs. Of different genre, of different beat. Music always change my mood, regardless of what it is. Music is a part of my life. It always define perfectly whats inside my heart and my mind.

I was browsing Youtube and this song really caught my attention. I've heard many versions of this but One Direction cover bring goosebumps to me every time I hear their rendition. The reason... i don't know. I really don't know. And I am on to find out why. The song touches part of my heart. The sad and the weak part of it. Maybe because I am experiencing something right now.. Something that really brings pain into my being. I know I can move on.

The song weakens my heart every time it bangs on my ear. It made me realize that we have to make the most of our life while we can, while we are young.

Oh well...let's sit back and listen...

APL.DE.AP & JESSICA SANCHEZ - JUMP IN

Two international artist with Filipino blood in a lively jumping superb song is just amazing! Jessica's vocals gave life to the song and Apl.de.Ap showcased his undying talent.

The video is so Pinoy. ----  basketball, Apl.de.Ap rapping in Tagalog, jeepney and Asian, if not Filipino, casts.

This is a kind of song people would love to jump in and have fun!

HOW DO I LOOK TODAY?

For almost one week, I've been thinking of new article but nothing came up until I saw a recent picture of my face. LOL!

Tell me, how do i look today?

BEEN BUSY BUT NOW IM BACK!

Oh well..

September life has been so unkind to me.

Work! Work! and Work! I need to be on track again... and I, of course, considerably got my feet to where it should be. September challenges were gone too soon that I forgot to contribute even a single article for the whole September! Productive yet unproductive..

So much for that!

HOLIDAY GETAWAY (Part 3 : Arrival)

Part 1 : Call Time & Departure
Part 2 : Music & Stopover!

Habang naghihintay matapos maluto at maihanda ang pagkain, dumating din si Aldwin. Parang "Star of the Night!" lang ang peg. Hahaha. Humabol nga! 

Nakumpleto rin kame as planned. Sayang wala si Mabelle....but we understand. Umuwi sya ng Bukidnon. Nag-attend kase sya ng binyag at kasal. Dami nyang commitments no? Parang tatakbo lang bilang Kapitana sa barangay! Kaliwa't kanang commitments. Hahahaha!

Eto ang ebidensya oh: ------>

Yellow is the color. From head to toe(?).. BEAUTIFUL, inside out!

Finally, everything is in order. Ready. Set. Go. Lakbay ulet, this time sa tunog naman ng "Cool Down". What's new? Paulit ulit din 'to. Hahaha.. Mapakinggan nga ulet.

Now Playing: Cool Down - Kolohe Kai

After hours of road trip, laughter and music, nakarating din. BAGUIO DISTRICT CALINAN DAVAO CITY. Pinawi ng excitement ang pagod sa mahabang oras at maalog-alog na byahe. Oo, rough road ang daanan pero ayos naman. Sa sobrang layo eh parang dinala kami sa dulo ng daigdig, yung tipong ang akala mo eh bilang lang ang tao na nakakarating. Hehe..

Pumarada ang sasakyan. Kung gaano kabilis namatay ang makina ng sasakyan eh ganun din kabilis nagsibabaan ang mga kasama ko. Sinabayan pa ng sobrang ingay dahil siguro nawala ang inip sa paghihintay at pagod sa halos  isa't kalahating oras ng byahe!

Agad kong napansin na tila sa loob kami ng gubat napadpad. Gubat kung saan may nakatagong tila paraiso sa aking paningin. Maalinsangan ang panahon pero nararamdaman ko ang dampi ng malamig na hangin sa aking balat.

Ito ang bumungad sa akin:

"isang lokal na paraisong binabalot ng luntiang kapaligiran dulot ng mga puno at halaman na pinapaibabawan ng bughaw na kalangitan at malabulak na ulap. :) Napakasarap langhapin ng hangin..malamig..sariwa!"

Na-excite ako bigla. Natuwa sa nalanghap na sariwang hangin. Halos hindi ko na namalayan na busy na pala sila sa pagbayad ng entrance fee. Haha. Swabe! 20 pesos na entrance fee at 20 pesos din sa parking fee. I hurried to the group para iabot ang bayad ko kasabay ang isa pa naming kasama, P60. :)

Maya maya pa, nag-aya na ang karamihan patungo sa loob nito..

(To be continued...)

HOLIDAY GETAWAY (Part 2 : Music and Stopover!)

Part 1 : Call Time & Departure

Nakailang flash na ang camera, wala pa ring dumarating na Aldwin. We then decided to leave at tinext na lang na humabol sya..

8:09am

So ayun! Natuloy din ang pag-alis ng sasakyan. Masaya. Tawanan, biruan, kulitan. Halakhak dito. Halakhak doon. Walang sawang music.

Pagkatapos ng isa. Play na naman ulet ng isa. Pero, TEKA! ano tohh? Puro Meri Lewa ng O-Shen ang paulit ulit na naririnig ng aming mga tenga. Hindi lang isa o dalawang beses! Haha. More than 7x atang tumugtog ito na lalong nagpalakas sa aming tawanan.

Maya maya pa.. may nagrequest.. Di ko mawari kung sino pero ang request nito... Meri Lewa na naman. Haha. Nakakaloko at nakakaloka! Hahaha!

Ilang sandali pa.. Kringgg! Kringgg! HALA! Telepono ko, TUMUTUNOG! 7 Missed Calls. Bakit kaya? Holiday naman eh may tumatawag pa! Kliyente pa. Spoilers!! (hehe..)

Kuya? Kuyaa! tawag ko sa driver para huminto sandali at makapag-return call. Bumaba ako saglit at humanap ng pwestong tahimik. Tsk! Bad Timing!...

"Hi Sir.. Good Morning.. " ..bungad ko.. Blah! Blah! Blah! Mahaba ang aming naging pag-uusap. Bored na nga ako kase sa dami ng sinasabi nya na hindi ko naman masyadong maintindihan, marahil sa excitement ko sa outing. Sa kakaikot ko sa nakuhang pwesto.. Nakakita ako ng puno ng durian, First Time! May bunga  pa.. AAAhhh. Ganito pala ang itsura!. Now I know..

Tuloy ang saya! Haha. Byahe ulet. Isantabi muna ang trabaho. Kaya nga naimbento ang salitang "holiday" eh.

And finally, nakarating na rin sa bahay nila Esen. Kung saan, naghihintay ang aming... PAGKAIN! haha.. Suit yourselves..ika nga.. Upo. DOTA! May nag-pa aircon pa! PAGKAnalang..

Sinamantala ko na rin makigamit ng laptop para magcheck ng emails. Hehe.. Nagwoworry pa rin naman ako sa trabaho ko. :)

Pahinga. Pictures. Pahinga. Pictures. Pictures. PICTURES! Kuyawa sa mga models at gitarista. Haha. Meron pang nag-DOTA!

(To be continued..)