Friday, February 25, 2005

I watched GMA7's Debate's episode: Diborsyo sa Pilipinas, uubra nga ba? And here are the interesting surveys conducted in 2003 by Social Weather Station:

Eighty per cent (86%) of those interviewed were not contented with their family life.

Thirty six per cent (36%) of the respondents believed Divorce will best resolve unhappy marriages.

I voted YES in their online poll but, wish to add a comment that Divorce Law will only succeed if Lawyers will reduce their legal fees and implementation of its laws will be respected by both parties. At present, broken marriages abound yet the children couldn't have the support they expect from both parents. Either the father abandoned his responsibilities and started a new family in another city without looking back to his first family. More or less, the wife will do the same thing without formally filing for legal separation thus having double standard in marriages to the extent both will get married again without seeking annulment of the first marriage and/or they will just have a second family without the blessings of marriage. Who suffers? The children. Any children born out of wedlock must follow the family name of the mother IF the biological father does not permit the child to carry his name. Come to think of it, too many Filipino children didn't carry the correct family names lately. How they are going to trace their family roots someday if parents are so selfish to go on with their lives unplanned?

Anyway, I am in favor of legalization of Divorce Law in the Philippines. My children are victims of a broken family but, I did my best to cover the shortcomings of their biological father. It's been almost twenty years now that he neglected his children yet our lives are definitely better without him.

In the Philippines, Divorce is prohibited. However, Article 36 of the Family Code provides that a marriage can be voided if one of the contracting parties is psychologically incapacitated to perform the essential marital obligations, even if this incapacity surfaces only after the marriage is contracted. A divorce decree obtained in another country, on the initiative of a Philippine citizen, is not recognized or considered valid in the Philippines. On the other hand, the Family Code provides that an alien spouse may procure a divorce outside the Philippines, which will be recognized in the Philippines. Source: Morley and Trager

The Catholic priests believed that I was living in sin (and so were my kids) since I had a civil marriage and never wed in the church yet. Whether I can still correct my life or not, only the Almighty God knows the answer!

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Are you prepared with the consequences of getting older?

I hate to admit it but some white hair are now proudly growing along with my silky black hair. Excess weight is inevitable. Just last week, I had swollen gums and a severe toothache. My vision is impaired that I had my eyes checked today when I accompanied my mother to have new reading glasses.

These are the results:
Distance: OD - 0.25 OS - 0.75 ADD OU + 1.75
Reading: Right eye + 1.50 and left eye + 1.00

Too much computer stuffs and inactivity resulted in an unhealthy me. It's time for you to have a look at a mirror and see if you are still the same person long before you became addicted online.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

My brother finally had radioactive iodine treatment this afternoon, along with many patients suffering the same toxic goiter.

Details will be posted more later.

The simultaneous Valentine Day's bombings in Makati, General Santos and Davao Cities that claimed innocent lives and damage to properties, in my opinion, has a deeper meaning...

Photos are desktop captures from GMA7's 24 Oras Evening News

It's 'Business As Usual' for the powerful personalities who didn't respect lives of those ordinary people. Even if the Abu Sayyaf claimed ownership of the recent bombings, I didn't buy it, just like millions of Filipinos.

I'm watching the news, anyway...

• RP, US officials in talks for new defense treaty
• National ID plan costs P1.6 B
• RP-US Balikatan starts
• Are Filipinos ready for Charter Change?

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Congratulations to the B$15T eBay Auction winners:

• dingobill99 for winning B$5T, Item number: 5166070585, US $65.01
• npsantos_pt for winning B$5T, Item number: 5166071021, US $50.00
• dingobill99 for winning B$5T, Item number: 5166071489, US $79.00

B$ 16T and 10K chips had been transferred to RWO to pay the above generous bidders and the rest as Randy's incentives for being supportive all the way. Here is my current portfolio after the auction:

Proceeds of the US $194.01 (less eBay and e-transfer fees) will be used for Nasser's iodine treatment on Tuesday. May God bless those who bid in our auction a thousand-fold in return and my greatest appreciation goes to Randy and his family for being supportive.

Thank you, BlogShares!

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Since my brother arrived from Taiwan this month, they advised me not to see him yet because his condition was very bad. He's too weak to visit us because he cannot go up to the 4th floor where we live as we had no elevator in the building. He looks older, has abnormal heartbeat, got insomnia, hair loss, trembles when he speaks, kept losing weight, and bulging eyes.

  

My sister sent me these photos to show how my brother looks like these days. His iodine scan this Wednesday shows his toxic goiter is 61%. Operation is not advisable but to have radioactive iodine treatment on Tuesday, February 22nd at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Hospital. He will have the same treatment after 3 months.

My mother and I will probably visit him on Monday once Tintin will have her day off. Tintin is the wife of my eldest son who is currently working in Saudi Arabia. She comes to visit us every two weeks to accompany me for grocery shopping.

I received today a scroll...

Thursday, February 17, 2005

FIRST PRIZE: B$1 Trillion, PREMIUM UPGRADE/RENEWAL (or chips equivalent) PLUS MISSION POT

CONSOLATION PRIZE: B$ 500 Billion per entry

MECHANICS:
Review my blog and post them in your legitimate blog on or before Wednesday, 15th of March 2005.

Additional B$ 500B will be given to those who can design me a new background image (I prefer the same background color with flowers and butterfly) and/or suggest a better layout and category.

All entries should link to my blog and submit the link of your entries here to qualify.

This contest is open to all BlogShares players. Good luck.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Millions of Filipino people are falling in love once again with this new Korean soap opera, Stairway To Heaven, starring Kwon Sang Woo as Cholo and Choi Ji woo as Jodie/Jenna. As much as possible, I didn't like to post any photos but due to many messages I received lately, I hope these photos I collected for tonight's episode will make all those fans happy.

Krystal created a very nice site for Stairway To Heaven. Please visit the episode guides and synopsis of the story, OST - soundtrack and the The Casts of Stairway To Heaven.

And to those who are looking for the lyrics of Stairway To Heaven Tagalog opening theme song, 'Pag-Ibig Ko'y Pansinin', here it is... enjoy!

Pag-Ibig Ko'y Pansinin

By Carmela "Faith" Cuneta
(Stairway To Heaven Tagalog opening theme song)
Words by Romer N. Timbreza
Music and Arrangement by Elmer Blancaflor

(Stanza 1)
Narito ang pag-ibig ko,
Ibibigay nang buong-buo.
Nangangarap nang mag-isa,
Umaasa na makapiling ka.

(Stanza 2)
Narito ang buhay ko,
Nakalaan para sa iyo.
Naghihintay ng pag-asa
Na sana ay iyong madama.

(Chorus)
Langit ka, (at) lupa ako.
Hanggang tanaw na lang ba tayo?
Mahal kita, mahal mo ba ako?
Hanggang pangarap na lang ba ito?
Kaya kong gawin nguni't di kayang sabihin...
Ang pag-ibig ko sana'y mapansin.

(Stanza 3)
Narito ang awit ko,
Ang himig nitong puso.
Naglalarawan ng pagsinta,
Nagbibigay ng sigla't saya.

(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
Ang pagtingin mo't pagmamahal
Damdaming iingatan nang kay tagal.

(Repeat Chorus)

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Randy put up another Fifteen Trillion BlogShares Dollars (B$ 15T) eBay auction today in my behalf:

• Item number: 5166070585
• Item number: 5166071021
• Item number: 5166071489

Proceeds of the auction will go to hospital expense of my brother, Nasser, who arrived on February 5th, Saturday, along with his employer (who is a Saudi diplomat) from Taiwan. He's working for him for about 4 months now but his health was deteriorating. He was very healthy and passed all general medical examinations when he left the country. As soon as he arrived in Manila, he couldn't walk the next day. We found out that he has reactive toxic hyperthyroid today and if he will not have laser treatment within this month, we might lose my brother. His heartbeat is no longer normal.

Unfortunately, his employer was unkind to shoulder any medical expenses unless he will go back with him to Taiwan. My brother's so skinny and very weak yet, his employer wanted him to continue working for him. He threatened to blacklist him in all countries if he will pursue asking for medical help before he left the country on February 13th...

I wish to save some money to buy a new PC to keep a harmonious environment with the kids but, my brother needs some financial help...

Monday, February 14, 2005

Happy Valentine's Day to all who are madly in love until now. I was planning to go online on webcam but I had influenza.

I'm still loveless on this special day and yet, there's a song kept playing in my thoughts...

Just Another Woman In Love

I'm strong, I'm sure, I'm in control, a lady with a plan
Believing that life is a neat little package I hold in my hand
I've got it together, they call me "the girl who knows just what to say and do"
Still I fumble and fall, run into the wall, 'cause when it comes to you, I'm

CHORUS

Just another woman in love, a kid out of school
A fire out of control, just another fool
You touch me and I'm weak, I'm a feather in the wind
And I can't wait to feel you touching me again
With you I'm just another woman, just another woman in love

So pardon me if I should stare and tremble like a child
That "wanting you" look all over your face is driving me wild
I'm just what you make me, can't wait 'till you take me and set all my feelin's free
I know that you can, so come be my man, tonight I wanna be

CHORUS X 2 with FADE in middle of the second

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Once House Bill 3555 or VAT Restructuring Act is implemented, 2% VAT hike will raise cost of household expenditures by 1.4%. What is 10% or 12% VAT can do to the economy of the Philippines if tax collection is weak? If they failed with 10%, what the poor filipino families expect with 12%? While 12% VAT is definitely a burden to all and Juan dela Cruz will be taxed for the goods, what is the guarantee that those taxes already been paid will go straight to the government in due time?

I sometimes wonder whether this VAT increase is PGMA's some kind of incentive to the business community? Who is the greatest beneficiary of this VAT Restructuring Act?

Guess who are paying the correct taxes? The regular employees who are receiving daily wage and their income taxes are withheld automatically every payday. Aren't the biggest companies VAT-exempted? Instead of implementing VAT hike to all goods, why not let those exempted companies pay 10% VAT instead?

This country is going nowhere...

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Exploring and playing Neopets games had taken most of my free time lately and tonight, I was so excited when I almost hit the 2144824 Neopoints Jackpot at Black Pawkeet Slots! I knew I would win it because I kept winning 5 jewels, rubies, tankard, and grog but, my connection to Neopets server kept dropping until Shockwave Director had an error and my Mozilla browser crashed.

When I signed up last month, I was given 250 Neopoints (NPs). Neopoints (NP) is the local currency in Neopian World as BlogShares Dollars (B$) is the local currency in BlogShares.

Upon signing, I fed my pet which made her bloated and I didn't know I have to send her to a training school. I went immediately to the Game Room and tried my luck/chance at Scorchy Slots. It costs 5NP for every spin until I burned all my 250NP. Bankrupt, I patiently grabbed anything from the money tree but it someone got the item before me and/or the wandering ghost had taken all the items!

Anyway, Judy, the daughter of Randy, assisted me on how to gain NP. Both Judy, Deb (BS player), and Rose (the wife of Randy) gifted me items which I auctioned few of them and I collected over 200000 NP. I didn't know then it wasn't easy to earn NP. I mishandled my neopoints and burned them all in Bruce B and Black Pawkeet Slots!

Too excited to explore the game, I spinned Wheel of Excitement but got mystery price and my pet had neopox. I visited Faerieland Healing Springs to heal my pet. I also tried my luck with Wheel of Monotony which took about 4 hours spinning before it finally stopped. Guess what I got? A gray stone which hit the health points of my pet down to 3/8! I never spin that wheel ever again.

How to play Neopets? I'm still a newbie until now and can earn neopoints between 10000-15000 NP a day. By playing puzzle and action games, each score has equivalent neopoints and have to send NP to collect it but limited to 3 scores per game daily.

I was upset when my pet got stuck in a Mystery Island Training School. It says I haven't paid yet her Level 3 course and my VO codestone as payment remained there and got stuck too.

If you wish to sign up, click here and let them know I referred you!

Friday, February 11, 2005

Vernabela posted a message about my Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) entry and in my willingness to share Wow Philippines website to her, I found out that today, we have this event:

Thursday, February 10, 2005

CLOSEUP ADS: "Everyone's kissing this Valentine's season! When that moment comes, be ready..."

Want to join Valentine Parties happening on February 12, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in four key cities:

*Baywalk, Manila
*MacArthur Highway, Pampanga
*Ayala Center, Cebu
*Matina, Davao

NOTE: I won't go there, anyway, unless someone invited me :-)

Saturday, February 05, 2005

After 5 days of imprisonment, Kuya Boyet, my brother-in-law and husband of my sister Ate Neth was released this afternoon. The bond was twelve thousand pesos, the money my sister was saving for the payment of their utilities.

My sister is a battered wife. While Kuya Boyet was in prison, their house was so quiet and her children asked their mother not to release their father so soon to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere at home but my sister naturally has a compassionate heart. She fixed all the papers necessary to bail him out.

The crime he committed? Nothing. He's drunk and had been sleeping in their home when all of of a sudden, he went in Kamuning Barangay Hall upon a pickup girl's call who sought assistance from him to get her out from police custody. Kuya Boyet has many connections with the police force but the fact he claimed he's a policeman placed him in jail when he failed to show any proof of identification and badge that he's one.

After Ate Neth released him, she sent me couple of text messages about how she felt when no one among us help her release her husband.

I'm a jobless single parent of three kids. I fully paid the tuition fee of Sweety Pearl this Thursday only and I have to pay for Paul Denise' tuition fee on Monday, too. Do I have to help everyone while I cannot even help myself?

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

So many things had happened... will post them here soon...