I don’t understand why they didn’t win.

Yesterday, all over the news (and before I saw it on TV, I heard about it from Twitter) was suspected mastermind of the Ampatuan Massacre, former Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. He was being transferred (from prison) to a military hospital because of shingles or Herpes Zoster (I’m not sure, but I think it looks a lot like eczema). What they didn’t say is that the shingles is highly transmittable (airborne), so moving him is more about keeping the other prisoners safe from the disease than taking care of him. Haha.

And what photos did I use? Those from our Safari adventure!

(This video I just uploaded doesn’t look good! It’s all pixellated. I’m going to try again and then re-upload.)

No, we didn’t go to Africa for this, nor did we drive out to Subic to experience their Zoobic Safari. This is the Safari display of stuffed animals at the SM Sky Garden, at SM City North Edsa. It’s still there until now, if I’m not mistaken.



Ugh, I think my dad chose the hottest day this summer to take the kids there. Or not. Maybe it just felt like the hottest day for me because

1. I just came off a 12-hour shift.
2. It was freezing cold inside the office.
3. I was quite sleepy; and,
4. I was wearing heels.

You know, I’m not sure if they asked me to come along because they needed another chaperone (Mom couldn’t join them because she had a meeting), or they really needed a photographer. Hmmm.

The kids were all willing subjects, okay maybe with the exception of Adam who doesn’t always feel like smiling at the camera, but they all were very eager to post in front of the stuffed animals. I, however, was one frustrated photographer. I wasn’t dressed appropriately. And because of my weight, I wasn’t willing to kneel or able to sit on the floor to get better angles. Tsk. I gotta do something about that. Hehe.

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite photos:

I’m confused, what happened to Quinn and Puck? I haven’t seen last week’s episode (I’m still waiting for the video to load) so maybe I’ll get a better idea then for what’s up with this song.

I’m kinda happy that Santana is getting more songs

Happy Music Monday!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

I missed Idol last week, but thanks to a friend on FB, I get to listen to Lee’s wonderful rendition of You’re Still The One. Could be better than the original It’s the same feeling I got when I heard David Cook’s Always Be My Baby.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
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Had I known that this series has been out since 2008, I’d have looked all over the net to watch it. I was finally able to watch the catch-up marathon at the Sci-Fi Channel the day after Christmas. My dad suffered through the day watching with me, LoL.

The series is loosely based on “The Sword of Truth” series by Terry Goodkind. This series is one of two epic fantasy series that my brother and I followed through the years, the other one being “The Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan. I used the word loosely because they didn’t strictly adhere to the books for the serialized TV version. Once you reconcile yourself with that, a true fan would be able to sit back and enjoy the shows. Of course, I’d still would prefer the original, but it isn’t so bad really.

Seeing this fantasy world on-screen made me want to reread the books. I haven’t even read Phantom and Confessor, the last two books, partly because I don’t really want the epic to end yet. Haha. My brother lent the first book, Wizard’s First Rule, to a friend and I don’t think we got it back so if I want to read them again I’d actually have to make another purchase. I wouldn’t mind that. Perhaps I’ll try looking for it in second hand bookshops

Anyway, I can’t get enough of Bridget Regan; I love Kahlan, even when I’d much prefer to pronounce her name as Kah-lan, rather than Khay-lan as they do. They picked the perfect actress. I might just go ahead name a future daughter after her.

Here’s another fan-made vid:

Last week I had a conversation with office mates on how we value the medical benefits we get from work. I am reminded of this yet again because there just seems to be a lot of people getting sick recently. I know three people recently confined to the same hospital for dengue (not all at the same time though). Then there are the agents missing work because of acute upper respiratory tract infection. And not to go far, there’s me with my allergic rhinitis and my recurring migraines (which are back, now that the 3-month medication is over and done with).

So with the year ending, and a lot of whining on how much tax has been deducted from our income this year, I guess I can just think of it as money spent on health care. For those who don’t get as good a health care coverage as we do at work, you should really consider getting even cheap health insurance. It will definitely give you peace of mind.

Ketsana and Parma – these are the international names of the two typhoons that recently hit the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries. In the Philippines, they are known as Ondoy and Pepeng respectively.

Ondoy hit Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Central Luzon and  Southern Tagalog. Pepeng spared the metro but unleashed its wrath on Northern Luzon. Both have been merciless, taking lives and claiming properties and livelihood.

I feel bad that I have neither donated nor volunteered my time and efforts into any of the many relief operations that are out there. While hundreds have been mobilized to repack donations and bring them to disaster-struck areas, I have remained home pondering on the brain scans I have had done, and my tummy that’s been unwell since the floods.

To comfort myself, I’ve been telling myself that we are survivors of the flood too and my family and relatives also need my time and material donations (if I can afford any). We are the type of people who don’t normally receive any relief goods or help from government or socio-civic organizations. We just don’t fit their profiles. But this time, some relief goods found their way to 99 19th Street. These came mainly from our church. Some politicians, campaigning early, also sent us a few food items. All are much appreciated.

What we really needed though, and I am sure that many others still do too, are helping hands for the cleanup and rebuilding.

Manpower is what will be needed most in Northern Luzon so they can rebuild their homes and recover their livelihood. For sure, there will be an outpouring of dry clothes, medicines, and food. But let’s not forget that they need help with the cleanup as well. My mom told me today that one of the projects they were discussing was to mobilize young people who are here studying in Manila, due for a break after the school year’s first semester, and take them back to NL where they can help out.

If you personally know someone who was affected by the back-to-back disasters, volunteer to be with them. Help them clean up. They wouldn’t ask it of you, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to show up on their doorstep and spend time with them. If you don’t have the means to donate goods, this is the best thing you can offer.

Many organizations who responded to calls for help still have ongoing operations. From Ondoy relief, I am sure they will continue further operating to help the victims of Pepeng. There is a comprehensive list of contacts here: http://www.google.com/landing/typhoon-ondoy.html

If you want your donations to go directly to children, here’s a site that will welcome your donations. I found about them just yesterday: http://littlerescue.wordpress.com/

As for my own Ondoy experience, I guess I’ve grown a little tired of retelling the story. I started it last week here in my blog, but didn’t quite have the energy to continue. I have posted some pictures on my FB which I will slowly share on my photo blog. So please do visit my Digital Memories if you wish to see my photos of Ondoy’s visit to my home. I so far only have three posts there pertaining to the typhoon, but there soon will be more.

With all the deaths, and the illnesses that the two typhoons left in its wake, I wonder what kind of life many of our fellow Filipinos face in their future. Do they, like me, have the privilege of holding comprehensive health plans that will cover their medical bills? Did those who pass away invest in term insurance quotes, are they covered with life insurance that will allow their families to receive some amount to help them rebuild their lives? Have we learned any lesson from all this?

I pray that they all still look forward to a bright future, despite of what has happened.

In one of the scenes, Stella (Vilma’s character) brought a group of her friends home to their hacienda for a vacation. The girls were chatting in the living room, then suddenly there was guitar music and here come the boys, singing. Then one of the girls take up the lead vocals, and eventually everyone just sings. I know it was normal in Philippine movies to have song and dance numbers, but this one didn’t look so contrived. It’s seemed like the most natural type of thing to do. To break out in song with your friends. Jamming. Haha

I remembered mentioning this to Alfred on Saturday: don’t we have friends anymore who we could just hang out and jam with? I missed that from high school when Jo and I, or some other high school friends, would just hang out with our guitars and songhits. Strumming away and singing. How many hours had we spent doing these?

Take me back.