MikeLigalig.com

An airstrike has killed the military leader of an Islamic militant group in Somalia with close ties to al Qaeda, a spokesman for the group said Thursday.

The strike also killed a high-ranking member of the Al-Shabab militia, which the United States considers a terrorist organization, said Mukhtar Robow, a militia spokesman. He held a telephone news conference with journalists from an undisclosed location in Somalia.

Adan Hashi Ayrow, the military commander of Al-Shabab, was killed in the strike along with Sheikh Muhudiin Moalin Omar, a senior leader, Robow said. Six others died in the attack and another six were wounded, he said.

The strike happened in Dhusomareb, a town in central Somalia, he said.

He said the United States military conducted the airstrike, but that claim could not immediately be verified.

The U.S. military has attacked several Islamic militants in the last few years in Somalia, including a strike in early March against a man thought to be an al Qaeda associate.

The strike hit a house in the town of Dhusomareb around 3:00 a.m.

In March, the U.S. State Department declared Al-Shabab a foreign terrorist organization.

China is investigating whether hundreds of children, most aged between 9 and 16, were sold to factories in the southern province of Guangdong over the past five years to work as virtual slave laborers, state media said.

The probe was launched following the publication Monday of an investigative report by Southern Metropolis, a state-run daily newspaper in Guangdong. The report said the children were "sold like cabbages" by their parents to gangs who then sold them off to employment agencies or directly to factories hundreds of kilometers (miles) from their homes.

Most of the children were from Liangshan, a poor farming town in southwestern Sichuan province, and ended up working in factories in Guangdong's Dongguan city as well as Shenzhen and Huizhou, the report said.

The official China Daily newspaper on Wednesday quoted Dongguan spokesman Wang Yongquan as saying that the city's "labor enforcement and trade union will investigate all companies in the town, the labor market and agencies."

He told the newspaper that police had already rescued more than 100 youngsters from rented houses and arrested several people. He gave no additional details.

The probe comes less than a year after Chinese media uncovered that children as young as 8 were abducted or recruited from bus and train stations with false promises of well-paying jobs and sold to brick kilns in central Shanxi province for about US$65.

The victims were forced to work almost around the clock, beaten, and deprived of pay, nourishment and basic medical care.

The Southern Metropolis said the children from Liangshan earned as little as 2.5 yuan (30 US cents) per hour and were forced to work long hours.

The Guangzhou Daily described following police Tuesday in Dongguan, as they questioned young factory workers. One girl named Luo Siqi from Liangshan said she made 4 yuan (50 US cents) per hour, and she initially claimed to have come to Dongguan on her own.

When told by police that the money she thought she was sending home could not have reached her family, she broke down in tears, the paper said.

"My father and mother sold me; I don't want to go back," Luo was quoted as saying.

 A group of native Hawaiians occupied the grounds of the old Hawaiian monarchy's royal residence Wednesday, vowing to stay and do the business of the kingdom's government.

"It is through a greater realm than ours" that the group took this action, said Mahealani Kahau (prono: muh HAY uh LAY nee kuh HOW), elected leader of the group, called Hawaiian Kingdom Government. "Today and every day, we will be here to assume our role."

The group is one of several in Hawaii that reject statehood and seek to return to the constitutional monarchy that effectively ended in 1893 when a group of politicians, businessmen and sugar planters -- aided by the U.S. minister to Hawaii -- overthrew the kingdom's government.

The monarchist groups say that the kingdom was overthrown and annexed into the United States illegally.

Hawaii's office of the attorney general did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on Wednesday's action.

The staff of Iolani Palace, built in 1882 and now operated as a museum, shut down the building to visitors. The 60 or so protesters occupied the grounds, chaining the gates and stationing guards there to explain to visitors the purpose of the action.

The group later reopened the gates, but remained on the grounds and the building was kept closed.

"It saddens my heart to have to turn away visitors," said palace staff member Cindy Ascencio, who added that although she, too, is a native Hawaiian, she does not understand the actions of the group. Ascencio also said that the group appeared peaceful and she was not concerned about security.

Jose Carrion, a visitor to Hawaii from Puerto Rico, told Honolulu's KHON-TV that he was "disappointed" he wouldn't be able to visit the ornate palace and "learn about the culture of the Hawaiians."

"We wanted to come here precisely because we thought we'd learn something about the history of Hawaii and the last queen and the monarchy," said Carrion, who said he had reservations for the visit. "But we're leaving tomorrow so we won't get to see the palace."

But Carrion also said he "kind of understood" the actions of the group.

Puerto Rico and Hawaii, along with Guam and the Philippines, were annexed into the United States in 1898 after the Spanish-American War. Guam and Puerto Rico remain territories of the United States. The Philippines gained independence after World War II, and Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.

Although the monarchy was not overthrown until 1893, its fate effectively was sealed six years earlier when the same group that forced the overthrow imposed a new constitution on King David Kalakaua, who was forced to sign it under threat of arms.

The document dramatically reduced the authority of the monarchy and instituted voter requirements that limited voting to wealthy businessmen and Hawaiian landowners, barring 75 percent of the native Hawaiian population and all Asians.

When Queen Lili'uokalani ascended the throne after the death of her brother in 1891, she began work on a new constitution that would have effectively reversed the 1887 document. With the help of John L. Stevens, the U.S. Minister to Hawaii, the elite group that had changed the constitution in 1887 opposed the queen's actions.

Two years later, under threat of U.S. troops, she yielded her authority, saying, "Until such time as the Government of the United States shall ... undo the action of its representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands."

The queen was later imprisoned in Iolani Palace for eight months for her participation in an attempted 1895 revolt, until she relinquished her claim to the throne in return for her release. She died in 1917 at 79.

In 1993, the U.S. Congress approved, and President Clinton signed, an apology to the people of the Hawaiian islands. The document "acknowledges that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii occurred with the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States and further acknowledges that the Native Hawaiian people never directly relinquished to the United States their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people over their national lands, either through the Kingdom of Hawaii or through a plebiscite or referendum."

Although it was used as a seat of government for decades after the deposition of Lili'uokalani, the palace fell into disrepair. When the last of the government office moved out and into new facilities adjacent to the palace in 1969, restoration work began. It opened to the public in 1978

To MY one and only Mommy Liza,

I just want to say that I appreciate all of the things you have done for me, Mommy.
During the times that I succeeded in my goals and my expectations were met, thank you so much for always encouraging me to keep on going. For the times that I was angry, thank you for showing me humility, and patience. Mommy, all throughout college and in high school, you were always there to pat me on the back, to encourage me to aim even higher and most of all, for your unshakeable faith. For the times we had the Blessed Santo Nino in the house, for teaching us the blessed sacraments, how to pray the novena, and the ability to forgive those who did us wrong. For the hard times you and Dad went through to send me and Angel to college, for your overtime in the hospital, for your sleepless nights, for your patience whenever we did something wrong. The list goes on, Mommy. I could not have done anything or even be here without you, without your love, your grace, your words of advice and your motherly reprimand. You corrected me when I was wrong, directed me to the straight path, and reminded me of where I come from, where my roots are, and the history of our family. You gave me the breath of life, and brought me into this world and raised me to the man that I am today. I owe everything and even more to you and to Dad. For never giving up on me, and for always, always pushing us forward.

When I look in the mirror and look at myself I see a man. A grown man, with features that resemble Dad. Dark hair, curly black hair, a bearded face, buffy body, and a low tone of voice. Yet, deep in my eyes in the recesses of my mind I have your charm. Your love of family and your faith in God. Mommy, thank you so much for being always there for me whenever I needed to hear my Mommy's voice. For hearing me out whenever I needed to talk to someone.

I may appear as a full grown man, even more, lol. But inside my hulk and brawn, lies the heart of a baby that you call your son. Your first baby boy. And I am so proud to be your son.

I miss you so much and cannot wait to see you in a few days.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Love you so much, Mommy Liza.
Your Baby Boy,
Bran-Bran



Mommy (front right) with my Titas. 


Mommy Liza, Me, Daddy Rico
My parents and I

Quote from: grazie7y on April 30, 2008, 12:53:52 PM
Dong, so your graduation is on May 11.  Did you say wa na moy klase karon?  When man anha imong family from NJ to attend your graduation diay?

Classes ended on Tuesday of this week, 'te. Now we're preparing for our Final Examinations.
My parents are driving up here on the 9th of May. My father, mother, my brothers and my dog Kaiser. haha. My aunt, uncle and cousin are also coming up.

I cannot guarantee that I will not be crying this week.

This goes to tell us, that race, ethnicity and background is not a limiting factor.
We Filipinos are truly a noble race. All of us.

I am no one special, 'te, a simple and humble boy who comes from very humble roots in Valencia, Bohol and Pintuyan, Leyte. My grandparents did not even go to college, and were simple but hard working people that instilled work ethic and faith to my parents. Who then instilled it in me and my brothers and sister. I am but a product of my grandparents. A testament to the sacrifices they and my parents gave for the children. My success is their succes. And a living proof that poverty and humility does not limit a person. But invigorates them forward. To my Papa Titing, Mama Luz, Lola Nating, Lola Babing, Lolo Dolong, Lola Hermohina, Lolo Ricardo, Lola Donisia, Lola Gabina, I hope you are smiling down on me form Heaven. MY heart beats pride in being a Boholano. And A Bisayan.

When we put our minds to something, nothing can stop us.
When God is with us, who can be against us?

by A. Webster

"NEWS to the king, good news for all,"
The corn is trodden, the river runs red.
"News of the battle," the heralds call,
"We have won the field; we have taken the town;
We have beaten the rebels and crushed them down."
And the dying lie with the dead.

"Who was my bravest?" quoth the king,
The corn is trodden, the river runs red.
"Whom shall I honour for this great thing?"
"Threescore were best, where none were worst;
But Walter Wendulph was aye the first."
And the dying lie with the dead.

"What of my husband?" quoth the bride,
The corn is trodden, the river runs red.
"Comes he to-morrow; how long will he bide?"
"Put off thy bridegear, busk thee in black;
Walter Wendulph will never come back."
And the dying lie with the dead.

by B. Belloc

Seated in a Moorish garden
On the Sahel of Algiers,
Wandering breezes brought the burden
Of its history in past years.
Lost amidst the mist of ages,
Its first chronicles arise;
Yonder is the chain of Atlas,
And the pagan paradise!

Past these shores the wise Phoenicians
Coasted outwards towards the west,
Hoping there to find Atlantis,
And the Islands of the Blest.
Somewhere in these mystic valleys
Grew the golden-fruited trees,
Which the wandering son of Zeus
Stole from the Hesperides.

Many monsters, famed in story,
Had their habitations here,
Scaly coats and tresses hoary
Struck adventurous souls with fear.
Not far off lived Polyphemus,
Glaring with his single eye;
Sailors wrecked upon these waters
Only gained their brink to die.

But if ever, while carousing,
Rescued travellers told their feats, -
How the elephants came browsing
From the inner desert-heats -
How the dragons and the griffins
Likewise howled along the shore -
Those who listened bade their footsteps
Seek those dreadful realms no more!

My long first year of perfect love,
My deep new dream of joy; She was a little chubby girl,
I was a chubby boy.

I wore a crimson frock, white drawers,
A belt, a crown was on it;
She wore some angel's kind of dress
And such a tiny bonnet,

Old-fashioned, but the soft brown hair Would never keep its place;
A little maid with violet eyes,
And sunshine in her face.

O my child-queen, in those lost days
How sweet was daily living!
How humble and how proud I grew,
How rich by merely giving!

She went to school, the parlour-maid
Slow stepping to her trot;
That parlour-maid, ah, did she feel
How lofty was her lot!
Across the road I saw her lift
My Queen, and with a sigh
I envied Raleigh; my new coat
Was hung a peg too high.

A hoard of never-given gifts
I cherished, priceless pelf;
'Twas two whole days ere I devoured
That peppermint myself.

In Church I only prayed for her
'O God bless Lucy Hill;'
Child, may His angels keep their arms
Ever around you still.

But when the hymn came round, with heart
That feared some heart's surprising
Its secret sweet, I climbed the seat
'Mid rustling and uprising;

And there against her mother's arm
The sleeping child was leaning,
While far away the hymn went on,
The music and the meaning.

Oh I loved with more of pain
Since then, with more of passion,
Loved with the aching in my love
After our grown-up fashion;

Yet could I almost be content
To lose here at your feet
A year or two, you murmuring elm,
To dream a dream so sweet.

Because I liked you better
Than suits a man to say,
It irked you, and I promised
To throw the thought away.

To put the world between us
We parted, stiff and dry; '
Good-bye', said you, 'forget me.' '
I will, no fear, said I.

If here, where clover whitens
The dead man's knoll, you pass,
And no tall flower to meet you
Starts in the trefoiled grass,

Halt by the headstone naming
The heart no longer stirred,
And say the lad that loved you
Was one that kept his word.

by C. Bronte

The human heart has hidden treasures,
In secret kept, in silence sealed;­
The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures,
Whose charms were broken if revealed.
And days may pass in gay confusion,
And nights in rosy riot fly,
While, lost in Fame's or Wealth's illusion,
The memory of the Past may die.

But, there are hours of lonely musing,
Such as in evening silence come,
When, soft as birds their pinions closing,
The heart's best feelings gather home.
Then in our souls there seems to languish
A tender grief that is not woe;
And thoughts that once wrung groans of anguish,
Now cause but some mild tears to flow.

And feelings, once as strong as passions,
Float softly back­a faded dream;
Our own sharp griefs and wild sensations,
The tale of others' sufferings seem.
Oh ! when the heart is freshly bleeding,
How longs it for that time to be,
When, through the mist of years receding,
Its woes but live in reverie !

And it can dwell on moonlight glimmer,
On evening shade and loneliness;
And, while the sky grows dim and dimmer,
Feel no untold and strange distress­
Only a deeper impulse given
By lonely hour and darkened room,
To solemn thoughts that soar to heaven,
Seeking a life and world to come.

With this ring I do solemnly swear.
That my whole life with you I'll share.
To be with until death do us part.
Together in soul, together in heart.
Together with a bond that will last our whole life.
You and me as husband and wife.
Touching and agreeing in everything we do.
Our whole life it will be us two.

St Matthew 19:5

To my favorite Professor,
Professor of History,
This is for you.


There was a man whose name remains ananymous

always dressed the same , always knowledge did i gain

from any topic I brought up, ! He was Unique not strange;

Millions of Intense things we discussed

when we ,did I'd shut up;

the little innocent ones having greatest fun ,

In the midst of all the tropic sun;

underneath the green leafed trees;

As he spoke volumes of all details beyond belief,

His words danced inside the breeze;

carried me anywhere across lands and seas

bio and geogrphy

what a gift this ole guy was to me ,

his mind was complete and spirit free,

no  boarder line to keep him within inside

We both traveled through the contents of his mine

and Now I have not seen him in quite some time;

all he taught I realize gave him pleasure

like a professor

seeing the light in the Student ignite in eyes

of one learning a new , finding out a treasure!

The The park again and he is nowhere in sight;

Tomorrow i will return to see

if  he too might

revisit the place where I found the truth , the answer, questions and proof!

Maybe he expects that I put all his teaching to use

If he taught me ,

maybe I should pass it on to you!

I miss his style of clothes and the glasses low on his nose,

v neck sweaters and white shirts

Buttoned and closed;

and a modest jacket ; subtle style; He could have dressed

in anyway; I stopped wondering why; He Dressed The best

after all he was a professor

he never said so I guessed!

Poem written by a good friend of mine, Anne Thibiedeu.
On Graduation. A fellow graduating senior. And soon to be Law student. 


We glide across the academic pond
like visitors on swan boats, magical
inviting vehicles that carry us
from one shore, green with youthful vibrancy,
to some unknown, yet undiscovered shore,
where time will tell us what the flora is.
There’s some who swear the native growth is gold
or silver, paper currency or plastic.
There’s some who think the world is just a fiction,
poetic creation filled with metaphor
and fog. There’s some religious, some profane;
there’s some who think that up is down or wrong
is right or something down is up above.
I think the world is blood and guts and love.

I have a thick black beard. And a hairy chest. And some white hair. I know I'm getting older.
Even if I shave it off, in a week's time it grows back. 

To the Allegheny College Class of 2008,
The 193rd Graduating Class of Allegheny,
The Finest product of Allegheny,
605 Graduates, 605 successful dreams
Let us Look Back to Our Fair and Beautiful Alma Mater,
Let us Make History,
Let us make our footsteps; so it may be followed.




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 vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons that 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 a 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 child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not 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 labours 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.
Desiderata.

Pariho ra bitaw sila sa mga tawo no?
Luuy pood ang mga babies. Intawn ang mama ning hilak ra pood kai gi patay iyang mga anak!
The pain of giving birth, feedin them, and then watching her babies killed by cars.

A mother is a mother jud. Animal or tawo, pariho ra jud na sila.

Ooo! 'te you are so correct about the mama birds.

You know last summer, I was driving by down route 322 down Black Horse Pike and there was a column of ducks crossing the street. There was a mama duck, and 6 or so baby ducks and the papa duck was behind the line. Intawn, there was a big truck that was driving so fast--and ran over the center of the line!!
The truck killed the baby ducklings except for one or two; the papa duck was also killed as he did not leave the ducklings at all.

I remember I stopped my car and walked to the center of the street to ask the drivers to let the mama duck and her surviving 2 ducklings cross the road.

Aguy, Ate Belle, ang Mama duck..nang hilak intawn. She went to the bodies of her baby ducklings and did not leave them.

She was crying intawn, squawking at me and she covered the babies' bodies with her wings. She even went to the body of her mate, the papa duck. She stayed with the babies and did not leave. So i left her there with them.

When I drove back the same way several hours later, I found that the mama duck and her other ducklings were also killed by oncoming drivers.

The mama duck did not leave the bodies of her babies, uy. I cried baya when I passed their bodies.


The love of a mother to her babies is paramount jud. Imagine, that mama duck was probably sitting on top of her babies when they were still but little eggs. Keeping them warm until they finally hatched and called out to their mommy. Intawn gi ligsan ra sila.

I support you, Ate Ging.

At the Arcade


Broom Broom. 

Blooming again

May the Hammer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines clear the jungles of this communist presence. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Quote from: st. agnes on May 01, 2008, 01:22:55 PM
hala! kuyawan nas mommy AYa San ai.... lol

What about you Elsie? Did you have secret love notes when you were younger?

Ha? haha, thats too cute, Ms. Orchids.

LoL, I remember when we were smaller, my sister would keep a love diary in her room. Haha, I would go to her room and read it and sometimes she would find me reading it and chase me around. Ah, brings back memories.

Aguy! really?

Intawn when I wrote a love letter to my gf at the time, I told her that I loved her. When she wrote me back, she placed it in our mail box. And my mother found it--and read everything.

All the things that was meant for me was unearthed and my parents questioned me about it.
Embarassed and completely emasculated. Alas, I never was able to read the letter that was for me.

It was back in 2003.

Mike's poems are very deep and piercing.

There is beauty in a person's soul when he has the gift of poetry.

A window to the soul.

Specially reading some of his balaks.

Mike I bet there are alot of girls that were in love with you, bro. You're such a romanticist. The words that come out of your writings can melt anyone, even men. lol!
Maybe the woman who is the target of your poems has read this poem. And now she can fully know what she really missed out on. Sayang for her.

How I wish I had the gift of pen like you. So eloquent--yet so true.

Quote from: st. agnes on May 01, 2008, 01:01:48 PM
OT:
Doc.. what wrong..nalimut naka...
kadto bitaw nga bisaya nga kanta...
basta ang lyrics kay murag ing-ani..

pahaluka ko day
--- asa man?
sa imong aping
--- nganu man?

basta ing-ani...

nah pag practice nah...

Hahahahahaha!
Eslie! Hahahaha!

You remember it da! Sige sige, mo kanta ko ana para nimo then. Ayaw lang ko i katawha, ha? If I make a fool of myself, its for you lang. 

Hahaha well thats good! You should always be lingaw lingaw. Beautiful women should always smile.

hehe

Quote from: michael-ligalig on May 01, 2008, 12:55:47 PM
Dear _ _ _ _,

You know wa pa ni mahuman ning ahong open love letter.
But I just want to be honest nga nasakitan jud ko nga wa ko nimo
padajona sa akong pagpamisita nimo unja karon gi-text-text
nalang ka.

Sige nalang,
M

Brod Mike,

You should have gone to this girl and picked her up. Is she the type that wants to be surprised?
Bitaw, some women are just unpredictable or unreadable.

Quote from: st. agnes on May 01, 2008, 12:57:22 PM
very much Enzo...


OT: Doc hapit nah ang July.. follow-up lang ko.. nag practice na baka sa duet nga song nga kantahaon nato? "the Bol-anon" song?

Haha, Elsie I told you raba I can't sing for squat. I have no tune, haha. Sige sige, I'll sing just to make you guys laugh, ha?

Unsa man atong i-dueton? The spagetti song? hahaha NOT!
Anything but that, actually.

Mike, are you still friends with this person?
Strikta diay siya?

Quote from: st. agnes on May 01, 2008, 12:54:36 PM
wow! chocolates...
luv it!

You like chocolate, Elsie? haha

I'm a new-found lover.

Mike! no! hahaha

Quote from: st. agnes on May 01, 2008, 12:53:36 PM
hahahahah! Doc, tan-awa ra.. pa blank2x ka jan... nga na basa na namu kang kinsa nah nimo loveletter....

Elsie, ha? Hopefully dili siya mo anhi. Pero okey ra pood.

Dear____________

You know what they say, about chocolate.
So sweet, but too much can cause cavites?
Rubbish. Hahaha, woot woot. You're too yummy, yo.

Dear __________,

Wow, baby, you rocked me that night several weeks ago. Haha, maybe it was a bit too many shots we had in Nicole's place. Haha, who would've known that I had a craving for chocolate. lol.
I had a great time with you, baby. Mmm

Your Filipino bunny,

Quote from: Barbaro on May 01, 2008, 12:43:12 PM
hay nauwahi sad ko dah.. apil unta ko saon na close naman bahaw napod ug hisgutan pa..

Kuya Barbaro, kaon ta. Ning luto na raba ko ug chicken adobo with white rice. Sige, lingkud na, hapit na raba hooman.

haha, Elsie, how is your dokdok going on? haha

Mwah, babe!

Aguy! na gutom na sad ko.

I had coco for drinks and for dinner i had scrambled eggs.

It is so sick to see things like this, and hear things like this. I really cannot understand why there are people like this who play with other people, and take advantage of the little things that they have.

May God rebuke them for it. Luuy lang pood ang mga tawo that are preyed upon.

I love you, o dear poster. Whoever you are. Wherever you are.

We might know each other, maybe not. But just know that I love you and hope that you have a beautiful and timid day.

PS. Cute ka na ba? haha

haha bitaw no? Its always so beautiful to see that there are people that are so appreciative of nature like Ate Belle. And you capture that beauty so perfectly with your pictures.

Thank you Ate Belle for sharing with us the beauty of your surroundings. Haha, very meticulous jud ka, 'te. I notice that you are very good with animals, with Louis, then with Mr. Squirell, and now the birds! haha.

LoL, 'te birds are just like humans jud.
The male makes the home, gets the wife, impregnates the wife--and then he goes hunting. Ang mama bird does the hard work, intawn. Giving birth to the babies, and feeding the babies until they're all grown up. hahaha, pariho ra jud bitaw ug sa tawo. no?

Beautiful pictures!!

I like to take things on a moderated approach, with tolerance and with a grain of salt. However, Beth, you and I know that there are those in the United States that take advantage of the rights we so dearly have--and are guaranteed for us Americans by the blood of our soldiers who have died for our sakes, and who have upheld the rights of its citizens. Even when it concerns those abroad.

Take one example; the Westboro Baptist Church.
Perhaps you've heard of them? They're the repulsive religious cult that are responsible for protesting the funerals of dead American soldiers who died in Iraq. This so called 'church' is run by a disbarred Mr. Fred Phelps, who styles himself to be called 'Pastor Phelps' is vehemontly homophobic, anti-multicultural, anti-catholic, anti-orthodox protestant. In fact his so called church is anti everything. Please note that the members of his cult are deluded family members.

I had a discussion about this with some of my friends several days ago; on the concept of the freedom of worship and rights of all. Sure, I do believe that we all have the right to worship our particular religion. Either we be Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. However, when we start putting our religious views down people's throats and start protesting and insulting the memory of family members, because of a perverted twist on scripture, then I say there is something wrong with that concept.

The kinds of things that this group says are, "God Hates F_gs, God Hates Jews, God Hates Catholics, God Hates America, God Hates the World, God Hates Everyone, etc etc etc"

This kind of message is sickening and is already a twisted perversion of scripture; and a lack of tolerance.

This is what I mean about the need of restriction; sure we have the right to say what we want--so long as that it does not offend those around us--or is not directly meant to offend a group or a particular group of people.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A6AJSVnzX_g
Westboro Baptist Church

This is an example of uncontained and unrestrained 'freedom of expression'.
Let us not be like them.

Can you imagine, if say 20 or so Tubag Bohol memberse puts in about 50 dollars for a donation to send a Boholano student to school. That translates to $1000.00. That translates to p40,000.00.
That can send a Boholano student to college.

Just a view lang ba.

One thing that I am amazed by is the proud and intelligent minds of Tubag Bohol.
All of you guys who are engaging in this dialogue is truly a somebody. Inspiration mo tanan!
Lets keep the momentum going on this topic.

Beth, do you also use the $5 phone cards to call PI?
My parents always use those to call back home, hahaha, i always laugh and smile whenever im in the table hearing my dad call home because you can tell when the minutes are timing out. He'll start to talk real fast and then after that while in the middle of a sentence, he'll open another card, lol.

Gotta say man, I love watching Filipino OFWs talk to family back home.

Ma lingaw-lingaw.

Sige sige,

AT&T bought off Cingular. Strategic corporate take over.

Its better that way, as in Cingular customers will have a greater umbrella and benefit form AT&T's rates, as well as its international coverage. Verizon is limited in that aspect.

It depends, Bem. Dan Kyu is a level of Dan. In Soo Bak Do, the martial art form that my brothers are enrolled in, a Dan is the rank of Red Belt. There are different degrees of Dan; ranging in stripes, the highest is the 15th stripes Dan. Once you pass the examinations after Dan, one will be given a black belt.

But in Soo Bak Do (a defensive martial art form; as compared to Tae Kwan Do--an offensive form), there are degrees of Black Belt. There are over 10 levels of Black Belt. The highest rank is the rank of Master, which takes years to achieve.

The Black Belter is higher than the Dan Kyu. But being higher in terms of rank doesn't always translate as ability. I've seen my brother Don spar with a black belter of the same age. Don Rico, who is a 5th stripe Dan, was able to take down a black belter. One thing that I am impressed by Don Rico is his ferocious stance; he is offensive based. And barrages his opponent until their defensive capability is weakened and exhausted. He takes them down with his classic double side round house kick and a mid-level round house kick. Mao jud na iyang signature take down; the roundhouse kick combo.

Quote from: PrincessSaDagat on May 01, 2008, 05:03:50 AM
At&T might give you a better services and better family plan for your own personal/family usage.

Not that just. Verizon is a conglomerate; and its gruesome with its surcharges and off-minute charges. I've had experiences with this on first hand account.

With AT&T we have unlimited hours as well as unlimited text ability.

Quote from: PrincessSaDagat on May 01, 2008, 04:59:25 AM
you are right, "sleek kaayo" but start traveling outside your city boundaries... you will loose your connection.  Example... if you are traveling in San Diego area, certain part of San Diego city areas don't have phone connection. I love I-phone but it has a lousy connection.   Here's what I hate.. when I-phone became public it was around $300.00 plus.  Within a year (or less) or so it was reduced to $100.00 dollars less on its original price.  A lot of people who bought it at the beginning was pissed. 

Perhaps its a problem in the west coast. I've had no problems with AT&T. I am currently living in the northwestern pennsylvania region; and have had no problems in connection.

Quote from: B:) on May 01, 2008, 04:58:51 AM
Bran, I think you never been to places that has a poor connection of AT&T yet, like my friend from NYC, every time she comes and visits me in my area, she has poor connections that's why she encouraged her husband to get Verizon Wireless.

Princesssa....I was talking about the billing statement of the i-phone.
My verizon statements are perfectly fine, just 2 pages. I still don't trust paying bills online. You'll never know, i'm just in the safe side. 

I have, Beth. All over Ohio, pennsylvania, New York City, Syracuse, up-state New York and New Jersey.

We've had AT&T (former Cingular) for over 4 years and have had no problems with them concerning connection.

When we were in Disney World in 2004, we had full connection as well. And when we were driving around the states, we didn't have problems.

I guess your friend lives in an area where there is a lack of service, but hopefully that should be alleviated as AT&T increases its connection.

All the best,

You know, I foolishly tried to see how strong they are. I wanted to see their ability, so I told them to defend themselves. I tried grabbing Andre and he knew how to lock my arms; and attempted to do a shadow kick, a blow to the crotch. Luckily for me, I was able to jump up, lol. This little boy knows how to fend off enemies jud.

As for Don Rico, he is already a man. He weighs around 180lbs and the power of his punch is painful. I had to tell him to go soft on me, for fear of breaking his Kuya.

They have already surpassed me, lol

Ate Grace and Ms. Orchids,

Andre has already attained the status of Green belt and three stripes. 2 more stripes and he will become a Dan, a red-belter. Once he has a red belt, he will need to attain 15 stripes in order to get his Black Belt.

My younger brother, Don Rico, is already a Dan with 5 stripes.

Andre is skilled in the fighting stick, and with the Bokken. Don Rico specializes in the Bokken especially. I actually bought both of them red maple bokken sticks this past year. A black one for Don Rico and a light brown one for Andre.

My parents are right that schooling them in martial arts is good for spirit building as well as temper control. At least this way if anyone tries to mess around with them, they will be leveled to the floor.

We had verizon before, not impressed with their service.

So far AT&T is the best, in my opinion. They have a very generous family plan service.

really? i have great connection service with it.

one thing that i love about it is that it has an  30Gig ipod included in it. All in one

Sleek kaayo, imho

Those pictures look gorgeous, Beth.

I love the i-phone

Happy Fiesta, Tagbilaran City!
Hello and regards to my family in Tagbilaran!

Big Hugs and Love to the clan, The Lucino Family!

To all of my clan who is in Tagbilaran, Bohol and abroad:

Asst. Provincial Director Ma. Lucino
Engr. Roger Lucino
Engr. Roy Lucino
Engr. Ray Lucino
Dr. Renee Lucino
Mrs. Beth Lucino-Hinkley
Engr. Lorenzo Lucino Sr.

God Bless all of us! God Bless Tagbilaran!

Mr. Ben,

I think it was the right decision for you to send your children back to the Philippines. One, it will be beneficial for them in order to learn the English language and the basics of Filipino and Bisaya. Second, it will be a deep breath of freedom and break from such a stressful environment.

Sir, when you mentioned the word 'shi-ne' I can almost relate in that I have some acquaintances here in college who are Japanese-foreign exchange students. Every time I hang out with them and the Korean exchange students, the Japanese students will always blurt out words like "Baka, kuso, etc etc". When I asked some of them what it meant, I was so disgusted that they say such words so easily. I do not mean to offend the Japanese, but that is one flaw that I find in the Japanese, their almost godless character, in the Christian sense.

I am sorry, sir, that your son said "shi-ne" to you. Knowing that you are Boholano, I can only imagine your reprimand. In my relationship with my father, not once have I ever said such a thing to him, even if we had an argument. I know that if a word like that ever came out of my brothers' mouth or from myself, he will discipline us with his belt. He has a very 'Bisayan' anger.

I think it was a good decision that you sent your children to the Philippines.


All the best,
Bran lorenzo

I visited this old cemetery on the outskirts of Meadville, Pennsylvania. The cemetery was founded in the late 18th century during the founding of the town; circa 1788. There are gravestones around the area that were planted even before that date; so it suggests that the town was settled either by colonists or militiamen who died in conflict with Native Americans who lived in the area or with the French, who attacked the area during the French and Indian War of 1763.

The cemetery is a precursor of today's Greendale Cemetery, which is active today. The gravestones and gravesites are so old. Mostly during the late 1700s to the early to mid 1800s.

One thing I noticed, which I find symbolic and sentimental is the fact that there are no roses, there is a lack of offerings in the grave sites from their family members. Most of their family members are either dead as well; and the memory of these dead have already passed to the pages of history. Forgotten by their great-great-great grandchildren.

But even if that is so, even if they are forgotten by man, God has not. He loves them so much that every year, he allows the trees around them to bloom in spring, to sprout beautiful colors of pink, green, orange, red. Every autumn season, he allows the leaves to fall to cover and rain on the gravestones, showered in the colors of brown, red, yellow-brown. What man forgets, God continues and completes.

Visiting such old gravestones are emotional for me in a way.
Because, I am one of the typical youth who have already forgotten the names of my ancestors. I do not even know the name of my great-great-great-great grandfather, my great-great-great grand father, my great-great grandfather and their wives. Their families. Their lives. I do not even know where they are burried, where their final resting place is. In Bohol, In Leyte, or even in China.

Visiting these old gravesites in a way allows me to visit my ancestors, who all have gone to their eternal rest. It saddens my heart to know that I will never know their names, where they are located, but I find solace and some kind of comfort in the fact that I will someday see them again. God willing, it won't be for ages to come.

Dearest great-great-great-great Lolo, of my maternal and paternal side, who where you? Where did you live? How did you eat like? How was life like? How did you sound like..?
How did you look like?

Armadillo
(Dasypus bellus)


Anglerfish
(Lophius piscatorius)

In the dim depths of the deep-sea, olfaction, hearing and the distance touch sense of the lateral line become
increasingly well developed in the fish that inhabit these areas. The eyes of most deep-sea angerfish do not develop much beyond the laval stage and, by the time the fish is an adult, may be essentially functionless. As a result, most deep-sea fish, rely principally on a lateral line system to sense the surrounding world and to detect prey. The high diversity of lateral line systems in the deep-sea fishes allows speculation of evolutionary lineages.


Giant Manta Ray
(Manta birostris Maximus)

hahaha, the one making this is the male bird. I'm guessing sigoro blue jay ba ni or a robin or some kind of eastern woodland, probably a woodpecker.

Bright kaayo ang male birds kai they will woo their female counterpart by the size of their nest and the color of their feathers. Some male birds will whistle as a mating call; the louder the whistle the more attractive it is for the female. These male birds are offspring-oriented. They build large and strong nests to attract the most fertile and successful female bird. They will mate and she will bear him a litter or so of eggs. His offspring will continue his genetic success. And even if the male bird dies, he will never truly die because his offspring will continue his genetic legacy.

So long as they build nests that are as beautiful and large as their father's.

One justification for free speech is a general liberal or libertarian presumption against coercing individuals from living how they please and doing what they want. However, a number of more specific justifications are commonly proposed.

For example, Justice McLachlin of the Canadian Supreme Court identified the following in R. v. Keegstra, a 1990 case on hate speech:

   1. Free speech promotes "The free flow of ideas essential to political democracy and democratic institutions" and limits the ability of the state to subvert other rights and freedoms
   2. It promotes a marketplace of ideas, which includes, but is not limited to, the search for truth
   3. It is intrinsically valuable as part of the self-actualization of speakers and listeners
   4. It is justified by the dangers for good government of allowing its suppression.

Such reasons perhaps overlap. Together, they provide a widely accepted rationale for the recognition of freedom of speech as a basic civil liberty.

However, there are those who would take advantage of the freedom of speech for the detriment of society and to those around them. That is why the freedom of speech does apply to all of us, so long as that it only affects us. When a person starts to engage in racist and bigoted conversation--with the sole purpose of addressing a group or groups of people and to offend them; then by that right, is the violation of the sacred right of freedom of speech. When one person oversteps their bounds and offends another, or hurts another either it by physically or mentally, then it is already a violation of  a) freedom of expression and b) freedom of speech.

Responsibility and accountability must be upheld. If not, then anyone has the right to say whatever he or she thinks without the preconditions and postconditions of societal response. If we go by th at standard then really there is no meaning of the orthodoxic and the orthoproxic. It becomes anarchic, which in itself is doomed.

Sure, I agree there needs to be some kind of form of freedom of speech and/or freedom of expression, however, there needs to be sets of limitations and regulations that governs the extremity of such actions. For the good of all, and the rights of all.

Back to the topic tho, lets address the concept of mutation. And how does mutation occur within the molecular model. As mutation can conflict with treatment, even alter the mode of treatment.

Shall we?

I personally like the idea of re-organizing the provinces into states. Better to collectively pull the resources of 5 or so provinces into one state. The federalist system seems quite similar to that of India's.

Looking forward to hearing more news about this topic.

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!"

- Dr. Seuss

"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit."

-Unknown

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away."
-Abraham Lincoln

Beautiful song, insurectus.


Lyrics

I've been sittin' here
trying to find myself
i get behind myself
i need to rewind myself
looking for the payback
listen for the playback
they say that every man
bleeds just like me
and i feel like number one
but yet i'm last in line
i watch my younger son
and it helps to pass the time
i take to many pills
it helps to ease the pain
i made a couple dollar bills
but still i feel the same
everybody knows my name
they say it way out loud
a lot of folks f--- with me
it's hard to hang out in crowds
i guess that's the price you pay
to be some big shot like i am
out skirt stands and one night stands
still i can't find love

And when your walls come tumbling down
I will always be around

People don't know about the things
i say and do they don't understand
about the s--- that i've
been through, it's been so long
since i've been home i've been gone,
i've been gone for way too long
maybe i forgot all the things I miss
Oh somehow I know there's more to life
than this, I said it too many times
and i still stand firm you get what
you put in and people get what they
deserve, still i ain't seen mine
No I ain't seen mine
I've been giving just ain't been gettin'
I've been walking down that line
So I think I'll keep walking
with my head held high
i'll keep moving on and only God
knows why

Only God only God
Only God knows why
Only God knows  why, why, why only
God knows why
Take me to the river hey
Take me to the river

my baby bro. Karate master raba ni siya.

hahaha aww ka cute na cute!

awww lami sila i-kusion.

Arter Hall, taken today.
Department of History.

Today was the last day of classes
Many a night I was in this building reading books till the dead of night.
Drowning in coffee. I can't believe its over.


Papers,


This past Saturday. Lisa and Summer trying to golf, haha 

Hahaha, Vietnamese and Koreans cannot compare to the beauty of the Filipina.

Filipinas are beyond comparison.

Glass of water, and roasted plantains.


OT: Darling Ginger, are those your dogs? Cute kaayo. Nag kiss! haha

hahaha, well thats good. Hmmm yea, you're very beautiful.

Quote from: mochajava on April 30, 2008, 02:55:34 AM
not exactly.
saputon man sab q. teehee

ngek! saputon diay? haha make sure you drink your coconut milk, kai maka smile baya na. Ayaw pood pa suko, ka ma wa imung beautiful smile.

You and Bem have very beautiful smiles. Filipino beauties jud.

Quote from: kiamoy` on April 30, 2008, 02:56:10 AM
java looks geeky there. haha

Hahaha, so says the geek herself

Bem, what are you eating in the picture? Looks lami..

O wow, what a beautiful song, Bem.

I really like it, buddy. Salamat for sharing.

Quote from: mochajava on April 30, 2008, 02:43:17 AM
jeez. natakdan nana na q kiamoy pag smile
kay she rarely smile jud .now she smiles alot pud:)

haha, mao ba? Well thats good,  you're a good influence then. You bring out the smile of everyone around you, ha?

This is the English version of Anak
Sung by the legendary Mr. Freddie Aguilar.
What a beautiful rendition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy_tA4Trxnc&feature=related

Quote from: ms da binsi on March 29, 2008, 02:08:30 AM


This was taken last night at around 7:45. Landscape mode and no flash. EV.03.

I miss the snow. I miss it so much!

Bem, mao nay kuyawang bajiha. Isugon jud na siya--dako'a pood nang bah-bah sa alligator uy. Na restrained diay ang 'gator? lol

@ Mochs, you have a very beautiful smile, lady.

Quote from: benelynne on April 29, 2008, 03:19:07 PM
Here's the latest update on this case from Japan Today:

TOKYO â€"A 48-year-old Japanese man was served a fresh arrest warrant Monday on suspicion of killing a Filipina woman whose body he also allegedly dismembered at an apartment in Tokyo’s Odaiba waterfront area, police said. The suspect, Hiroshi Nozaki, 48, allegedly admitted to the charges, saying he killed Honiefaith Ratilia Kamiosawa, 22, because she ignored him despite his devotion to her and that he dismembered her body as he wanted to possess her.

Some other body parts of hers have also been found in a coin locker and a canal in Tokyo. Nozaki allegedly strangled the Filipina and cut up her body in the 26th-floor unit of a high-rise condominium in the Odaiba waterfront district on April 3. The apartment was shared by Nozaki, Kamiosawa and two other Filipinas, all of whom worked in the same food service shop in Roppongi.

*****
My comments:

This was not the first time that Hiroshi Nozaki committed this perverse crime. He had just been let loose after serving 3.5 years for mutilating another body. He was not convicted for murder in the first case for lack of evidence, and was meted a prison sentence only for chopping up the body which carries a maximum penalty of 3.5 years. Even the Japanese themselves are puzzled why justice had been served so loosely on this man the first time he committed this crime. Is it possible to be charged only with mutilating a body and not for murdering the person?

I remember another Filipina was murdered some 10 years ago in our neighborhood, about 1 km from where we lived. Her corpse was likewise beheaded. I remember how the Japanese police kept bugging me at my office as she was my client, until I challenged them to prove that I know anything about the murder before I allowed them into my office. To this day, the crime remains unsolved.

I do not know what's with the Japanese. But if you look at their manga or comic and pornographic literature, it's so full of bloody, sordid violence. A Japanese TV commentator mentioned that perhaps the man is afflicted with a psychological disorder of deriving sexual satisfaction from cutting up the bodies.

Another interesting development. Yesterday, the Japanese Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision that held a woman psychologically incapable of judgment when she killed and cut up her husband into pieces due allegedly to domestic violence. This woman was given 15 years in prison. Although the court accepted the unanimous psychiatric opinion of insanity due to protracted violence, the Court asserted that the woman so methodically carried out the crime up to disposal of the body parts that refutes the argument of insanity.

Japan is peaceful on the surface, but there is raging insanity underneath.

This is why I always get angry at my younger brother Don for engaging too much in Manga, and watching  late night Anime shows. The last time I came back during spring break, he was watching some kind of demon-based anime show, and had my little brother Andre with him.

I was shouting at them for watching such kinds of movies and at such a late hour.

I don't like these animes and mangas that my brother reads because they are so violent; they are always talking about demons, demon slayers, demon lords etc. I remember I forced my brother to pack away his old mangas under threat of taking away his game systems. "I'm sorry Kuya" iyang reply. Di ko gusto ma hilak sila, pero sometimes my parents do not intervene kai they think it is only a comic book. Pero some of these comics are just so down right perverse, gruesome.

Quote from: Scott on April 29, 2008, 08:13:17 PM

"love your opponents and suffer to convert them"

"people describe me as a saint trying to be a politician, but the truth is the other way around."--M. Gandhi, most commonly thought of as the little brown man in a white loincloth who successfully twisted the tail of the British lion

And now, the British Lion cannot help but sit back and recognize the rise of the once small calf, the calf is now the Elephant Bull of India. Full of power, hunger. The Indian Elephant and the Chinese Dragon begin to rise.


The British Lion and the American Eagle can only sit and watch.

OT: The Malaysians are so greedy and taking advantage of the poverty of Filipinos. Are they not satisfied with the vast land of Sabah that they stole from the Philippines? The states of Sabah and Sarawak in Eastern Malaysia are practically un-used and still ripe with rubber trees; the soil in those states are so rich in nutrients.

And they have the audacity to come to the Philippines?

Wake up Philippine government! Why are we prostituting ourselves to businessmen of Malaysia and other south east asian nations? Keep Philippines for the Filipino!

The Philippines needs to implement a law that prohibits foreigners to ever purchase land, only if they are willing to become Philippine citizens and pay Philippine taxes can they purchase land.

I like China's and India's stance on their territory. No foreign national can purchase Chinese or Indian soil. And even if one marries into a Chinese or Indian family, the foreigner cannot own the land; technically his or her child can. So long as the child is born and recognizes China or India as their motherland.

Mr. Ferniz, Malaysians are known to take advantage of their poorer neighbors. They take advantage of poor Indonesians as well, using them as domestic workers, and encroach on Indonesia's land. It is a shame that they are doing this as well in the Philippines.

Mr. Ferniz, I salute you for your refusal to sell land to these Malaysian businessmen. It is a total shame that they would take advantage of their own Malay brothers. Beyond the name and our religions, the Filipino, Malaysian and Indonesian are brothers. Of the great Malay race.

But even in some sibling relationship, I guess there is always one brother who takes advantage of his poorer relatives. And Cheats them from what they truly own and deserve.

It is so unfortunate that this so called industrialization is happening. In the United States there are rising 'underground physicians' namely these are Gynecologists who also specialize in the trade of abortion. In fact, that specialty alone is so profitable that many Gynecologists specialize in that aspect instead of traditional Gynecology. It is the business of killing babies, and where I go to college at, there is a known Gynecologist in town that engages in this 'trade'. It sickens my stomach to even know about it.

There are two kinds of physicians-surgeons. The one that enters the field for the sole interest in treating patients, in saving lives and monetary reasons are merely secondary.

The other is the one that enters the field for purely monetary reasons. It matters not if their interaction with patients is adequate or not. These kinds of physicians-surgeons end up hating the profession and become rather lousy in their endeavors. And it is their patient who pays for it; figuratively and literally.

I don't know the economic and health care-cost conditions over there in the Philippines, but here in the United States, health care costs are rising. With the insurance agencies taking advantage of the physician, he or she is forced to admit more patients in order to accumulate enough earnings. So there is always an economic reason for things. Even so, there always needs to be a reminder for physicians of their professional oaths. You know, the handling and caring of life isn't like selling food here and there. Life can end. You can always buy more food, grow more food. When one's health is jeopardized, there is no assurance that it can always be 'regrown'. I can only hope that our physicians wake up.

With hard work, the fruits of your labor will be rewarded.

My condolences to the individual's family. You have my prayers.

Its good to hear that the Philippines is at least implementing some kind of policy that addresses the issue at hand; organ trade.

Wherever there is a demand of a commodity, there will always be those who are willing to provide it; and what is sad is the fact that some of these organ donors do so due to economic needs. Some of the organs are never used or are unusable. Its just very hard to understand that economic conditions are so bad that people would sell one of their own visceral parts for an extra thousand peso or so.

I know that most buyers go to poor third world countries and feed on the fact that some of the citizens of these nations are in destitute. Easy access. Western buyers take advantage of not only the women, sexual practices, but now even organ donation/illegal organ trade.

Well, I am happy that at least the Philippines is taking an official stand that prohibits it.

And I just hope that the channels of government are able to catch and address those who are responsible for engaging in illegal organ sales; and punish them before the Law.

Human Life is not to be sold; nor should it be given a price tag.

She was just sitting outside the gates of the hospital? Ngano wa man siya gi hatagan ug kan-onon? At least basic medical care? Dios Ko, grabeeh pood ni.

I need someone to explain to me something, as I have been trying to understand a particular scriptural saying.

"You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men"
(Matthew 5:13).

My question is what does the Lord mean by the salt? Are Christians, in general, the salt? Or is the salt humanity in general? Just what did Christ mean by saying that salt could loose its savor?
What can we do in order to prevent this from happening?

Sige, let us get back into topic of bible study.

I apologize for going of topic.

Please, someone start a topic of study.

Thanks, guys

Quote from: grazie7y on April 29, 2008, 01:57:45 PM
Dong, I dunno if I can answer some of your questions.  When I graduated college, I had one visual in mind:  to work in a fancy office and well, I am embarrassed to accept that becoming a a boss was one of my goals.  Of course, I wanted to become big so I could help my family but I think most of it, I want to achieve something that could feed my ego.  When I was accepted to work in the bank, I was so happy.  I knew then I was on way to fulfilling my dreams. I started as an encoder and at the same time an accounting clerk in the bank.  I worked so hard.  I was so impatient to learn everything there was to learn in my scope of work and more.  I was driven. 

My first year job assessment came and I got an "above expectation" rating - or maybe they didn't expect much from a be-pimpled, skinny promdi girl that I was.  At that time, I think I was enjoying more on my work and the promotions were just inevitable.  By the third year, I was already a junior officer.  It was a glimpse of being a boss already.   I became addicted to work - like big time.  I don't go home until late night and sometimes at dawn time, go home, take a cat nap and back again to work.  There were times I couldn't celebrate Christmas and New Years with my family because I needed to work especially year-end is the busiest day in any banks.  One of my brothers got married and I wasn't able to attend the wedding because I had more important thing to do in the bank.  I so regretted that now.

I started to miss my meals because it was a waste of time.  I then started to get ill.  I was diagnosed ofchronic myalgia of the upper trapezius.  Not only that, my friends started to see signs of eating disorder.  I don't know if it was anorexia or bulimia but whenever I eat, I started to throw up.  I landed in the hospital to force me to relax.  I had therapy for my aching shoulders. 

One night I woke up.  I asked, what am I doing this for, Lord?  and then I didn't feel his presence.  Oh yeah, I felt that my heart was empty of God's presence.  No matter how busy I was, I didn't forget church every Sundays and sometimes Wednesdays and Fridays but that particular moment, I couldn't feel God's presence.  I was panicking.  I felt like God deserted me.  I kept pushing and pushing for his attention.  I talked to a colleague and she said, she felt that way too.  It was a  relief but I kept knocking on God's door to let me in again.  He did.

Then I had a chance to work in a tripartite project in South Cebu and being in boondocks.  I grabbed it.  It meant more work and travel because that was on top of my job in the bank but I wanted something new.  It proved to be what I needed for.  I was to help set up a bank for the people.  Meaning, I deal with people.  I work with them.  I eat with them.  These are the real people.  The farmers, the cooperative organizers, and more.  I loved that work.  I was working for my family and yet I was able to help people.  It was fun.  I got to attend community meetings to explain and inculcate the value of savings. I got to eat with them in the farm.  I was accepted and in that 2-year experience, I gained friends. Real friends.  It later became an even more of a blessing when, after about 7 years, my Mom was in Cebu Chong Hua Hospital fighting for her life, the same friends helped and comforted my sisters and cousins who were there with Mommy.  One of them was Manang Nessy.  She brought her son to the hospital so my sisters and cousin would have an errand boy to buy medicines, etc..  What was a huge blessing from God. 

Working in the commercial bank in the big city was nothing compared to working with the people in the barrios and boondocks.  But my work in the bank in the city led me to my experience in Cebu.  It was glorifying.  That kind of job made me feel like I am doing something good for God and not just for myself and my family.  I further realized that there's a lot of ways to do your work and at the same time glorify the Lord.

Dong, your job as a doctor is a very important one.  You'll be helping life.  You'll be God's hand in healing people.  I have no doubt in my mind that you will do an excellent job not because you are summa cum laude but because you have the heart.  You have the conscience. You have tremendous faith in the Lord I don't get to see always in young men like you.  Keep grounded with your faith, Dong, because you will go far and every step of the way, God will guide you.

There is a saying baya, Ate Ging,

QuoteLearn to think in positive affirmations. Affirmations are any statements you make. Too often we think in negative affirmations. Negative affirmations only create more of what you say you don't want. Saying, I hate my job, will get you nowhere. Declaring, I now accept a wonderful new job, will open the channels in your consciousness to create that.

-Louisse Hay

and this saying almost applies to your personal anecdote. You are a work-a-holic, 'te. Even before I read this or talked to you about this in our countless conversations, whenever I read your posts or look at the pictures of the activities you have with friends and family, maka conceptualize pood ko tha you are work-oriented.

There is organization and categorization in your objectives, in your duties, in your passions. When you cook something, it is followed almost in meticulous order; whenever you take pictures, you start of in order, when you explain a saying or a personal story, there is always an element of organization and fluid-like systemic approach. There is always a life lesson, which goes back to scriptural references, in all of your explanations. To tell you the truth, that is one of the many reasons why I love to read your posts and internalize it personally.

When you say something, it is astute. A lesson to learn.

As for your experiences in Manila as a successful banker and officer, I know you are quite successful. I already knew this before reading your personal stories. In fact, one can see it through how you explain things, it is always blanketed. Total coverage

Ate, I personally think you are so lucky in that you have the experience in urbanized banking, but also you have the experience in grass-roots organization, agrarian-based banking, local systems, and also Most Importantly, you are so family oriented. Your life lesson reverberates to all of us, Ate Ging. And what a powerful experience you have, something I can only dream of even experiencing. Some of us students are mostly theory-based; wa pa jud mi ka interact on a 'hands-on' basis. So to hear from your experience and digesting your lessons is like a breath of fresh air.

For me, there are two kinds of people:
Those who prioritize work, and those who prioritize family.
You cover both, Ate Ging.

Quote from: simplylee on April 29, 2008, 01:49:32 PM
nindot bitaw jud ang magbible study. kinanindotan gyod tun an ang pulong sa DIYOS kay ang resulta ani dili ra man dinhi kun dili hangtod sa kinahangturan. sa among grupo naay bible study nga ginabuhat ka upat sa usa ka semana ganahan pod ko moshare unsay among natun an ngadto sa mga tawong adunay interest bahin sa bible. kun nahigugma ta sa DIYOS gusto jud ta nga makaila kinsa ug unsa SIYA. wala may laing paagi nga siya mailaila pinaagi ra man sa Iyang pulong. the Word of GOD is the mind of CHRIST.

Ma'am Lee, I must admit that for some time I was always afraid, embarassed, and unworthy to call on the name of Jesus. For me, His Name is like the purest of pure light, and during my teenage years and early college days, I always felt that I needed to express my thanks to other means. As in reading about the saints, the works of the saints, the religiosity of the saints, the benedictions. Yes, they did help in rekindling my faith during college years, but I cannot deny that I always had a feeling of distance. As if I was one of the multitude, and as if I was addressed but not personally. When I began my Catholic Confirmation in the Fall term of my Junior Year of college, I was able to meet up with not only my sister (both of us were getting our confirmation), but we also met up with Fr. Mark Hofman, our college catholic chaplain, and several students and town people who were looking to confirm their faith. We divulged into deep bible study, reading the different books and having conversations. And I guess I first started asking and addressing Christ Jesus on a personal basis after that event.

I am a sinner, a humble man, with temptations that all of us have. And I felt that I was unworthy to call on Christ Jesus, but when I started to call on Him. I developed an almost personal calling and personal relationship with Him.

There are times that I come to church in the middle of the night. In the dead of night when there is no one there, I can pour out my emotions like a lid being removed from a topper ware. I am able to release my pains, my anguishes, my hopes, my pleas. Just me and Him. There is no worry of etiquette or not, kai i am just being myself to Him. It is at the dead of night that I can cry like a baby in church. And you know, it is through bible study, through personal relationship with Jesus that allowed me to do this.

Hard bitaw sometimes having to be normal with my friends and yet having time for faith. Pero, naa man jud na a pull to me to pray. Even if sa night time ra, naa bitaw na. Ug di ko maka pray, dili jud ko maka tulug. Ug di ko mo pray before I study, dili jud ko maka concentrate. Ma anxious ko, ma scared, uneasy, restless.

Amen, I say you are very right, Ma'am Lee.
The Word of God is the Mind of Christ.

Quote from: simplylee on April 29, 2008, 02:05:42 PM
daghan salamat sa imong panghinaut ug  prayer. more power to all of us. If GOD is with us who can be against us.

Yes, mao jud, Ma'am. Amen! Amen!

hehe, wa pa Bem. 4 more years, pero I will not count my eggs yet. The hurdle that I am going to start is already beginning to pound my chest. I am scared, and very nervous, but we must always place our TRUST in Christ Jesus. The Lord Almighty.

My only advice to those who are studying right now and having similar feelings is this:
Even if you have fear, doubts and questions, on your ability or on your path. Never ever forget your faith. When everything goes against you, or when things aren't going as planned. Always shoulder your trust to Him. I have have spent hours crying whenever research didn't go according to plan, when I had difficulty in understanding concepts--hours were spent trying to understand. Always ask for confidence, perseverance, and HOPE. Never loose hope. And he will not abandon us. Always he is there, all we have to do is but call HIM.

I cannot offer any greater advice than that.


Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done.

Quote from: simplylee on April 29, 2008, 01:14:55 PM
daghan salamat, mao lagi ganahan man jud siya ug computer science. bisan karon maoy iyang gibuhat naghimo siya sa ilang yearbook gamit ang computer. puro scientist man pod ning akong mga kauban dire gud ako ray dili  gusto kuno siya mahimong programmer. lain pay ato congratulation pod nimo Lorenz ha grabe jud kaayo imong accomplishment. bilib ko nimo bisan sa imong mga thread maila jud

Your daughter is going into a good and prospering field, Ma'am Lee. Computer Science, IT industrial financing and the like is becoming very marketable in the Philippines. I pray that your daughter continues to bring happiness and pride to her mother and family. I can't even begin to imagine how proud you must be of your daughter to graduate as Valedictorian of her class. I know that the valedictorian of my high school was exceedingly smart, I was like a bag of potatoe compared to her. To be # 1 in any class is always a blessing. It defines one's character, and one's upbringing.

God Bless you and your family, Ma'am Lee.

All the Best,
Bran Lorenzo

Yep, lol.

Bryan and JC, my house-mates, were shouting earlier after this game.

Amen! With God nothing is impossible.

My salutations and congratulations goes to your daughter.
To be a Valedictorian is an honor

Is she proceeding into computer science, Ms. Simplylee?

He is missed every year.

He revitalized Roman Catholicism when he sat on Peter's Chair.


The Philippines comes out to greet the Holy Father when he visited in 1981.


back in 1995

John Paul II visited the Philippines twice:

    1) In 1981, when the pope was said to have made the lifting of Martial Law a precondition for his visit; and
    2) In 1995, when the pope said Mass for more than 4 million people, the largest-ever crowd for a World Youth Day gathering, if not for any gathering. The heir of St. Peter, the first apostle, came to the Philippines twice.

John Paul II was very critical towards the Soviet Union. Wherever he went, he raised the masses and the faith. Remember when he visited Poland during the 80s? Despite the USSR's anti-religious stance, when the Pope came to visit, there were over 2 million Polish who came to visit. 2 years after his visit, the USSR fell.
He was a Holy Man. And God was With Him.

Concerning the Philippines, John Paul II was always against Marcos. He was said to have personally talked to Marcos about telling him about the evils of Martial Law and official killings. Marcos didn't know how to respond to it.
5 years after his visit, Marcos' regime fell. Democracy came back.

Quote from: grazie7y on April 29, 2008, 07:34:19 AM
Dong, those pictures are so beautiful.  Nature jud kaayo!  Do you go for a walk in that trail, Dong?

Yes, 'te. Guapo kaayo ning trail during this time of the year. The best time to go jud is in the brisk morning. Right after sunrise. Kai tugnaw-tugnaw bitaw? Lami i-jogg-on.

Quote from: ms da binsi on April 29, 2008, 07:36:24 AM
i can hear the sound of the river Dodong! i love that place! aguy ka nindot diha!

Oo, you would love it, 'te kai perting daghana ug birds diri. Naay pood daghang blue jays diri, woodpeckers ug hawks. Sige, I'll try to capture some through a picture for you, ha?

Quote from: kiamoy` on April 29, 2008, 07:56:32 AM

ako manghud..  ewww kaayu!! hahaha

Kuyawa pood ni uy! Isug man imoong igsoon, Bem, dili diay siya ma hadlok sa crocodile/alligator?

Quote from: ms da binsi on April 29, 2008, 05:28:02 AM
ay nia diay kuy karaan, 2004 pa, ulaw kay naka LV! ngek! hilasan naman ko ana Oi!

What a very Filipino picture

God Bless the Filipino Medical Professional!

This picture illustrates American Medical Health Care perfectly. In that healthcare is dominated by Filipinos.

The best of the best nurses, doctors, pharmacists, physical therapist, nurse aides are Filipinos.

Ate Belle, the entire staff is Filipino? lol

I salute you guys!

haha, they have the English version of this song as well, Ms. Orchids.

There is a beautiful universal trait in this song that transcends nationality, ethnicity.

This song is very human.

The Japanese version is also very beautiful. The Japanese singer sings it with human compassion--similar to the Filipino Version. Guapo kaayo ning kantaha.

Have you ever been charged with a job to do? A calling in a particular field by an entity above you?
Yes, I would like to engage in dialogue with readers in here about the concept of work. Holy Work.
In fact, as we all are engaged in our professional callings, whatever it may be, there is a sense of purpose. There is a reason for it. There is always a vision, that Christ Jesus instills in all of us. Either we choose to accept that vision or not, it is there. For there is no one who is rejected by the Holy Spirit, who lives in all of us. Our Loving Father does not reject us, he accepts all of us--from the sinner to the pious priest. It is up to the individual to accept the Lord or Not.
That is Grace. The Power of Grace. And I know some of you are personal about this, but just take this in--think about it. Please share pood your own words as I would like to hear it, and am sure all of us would love to read about it. We are all in a journey, in this Earthly life--which is our Earthly Pilgrimage. Let us all help each other bear each other's burden. In the end, we all go to the same cross. In search of the Same Lord.

So, it goes back to concept of a job. The charge we were given. The responsibilities we are given is no more different to that Simon Peter was given by Christ Jesus.


And Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?

But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Matt 16:13-19