HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR SON

This afternoon, Jashkah presented me with a couple of forms from school that he said, I needed to sign. One of which is an application form for McDonald's. As in McDonald's the globalised fast food franchise.

I knew my son's 14th birthday is coming up, but I didn't realise part-autonomy, independence and self-sufficiency comes with it. It bothered me a lot, because I've always told my self I will never send my son to work while he's still in school. I will never allow him to experience the satisfaction of earning meagre amount of money because he might think it can readily sustain him for the rest of his life. I wanted him to finish school and get the education that he so rightfully deserve. Education was prime and foremost. Money later.

I decided back then that I will bear all cost and provide him with every single thing he may one day need and want for as long as he's in school. When he's done with his schooling, then he can work and earn his own sweat.

That was my principle...back then.

Then along comes the realisation that part of that education is how you earn your own money, because what comes with it is the learning of the value of your own hard work.

So now, I am in a quagmire of ambiguity. I've been debating and arguing with my self for the last 6 hours since he came home from school. He recently told me that I am 'OVER PROTECTIVE', and that I should let him out a bit...I am lost here. Am I the only mother being accused of being over protective?

But then again...he is now in fact a 14 year old MAN.

I do realise I need to allow him space for some decision-making in his life. It's the only way for him to experience the facts of life.

Back to his overture...more like argument and rationalisation as to why he should work: we are going to Philippines this December for a holiday. He needs spending money.

My argument is: he's got $25.00 allowance every week, therefore he will have spending money if he knows how to save.

His rebuttal: It's not enough.

Mine: Clean up my car and the house every weekend and I'll pay extra.

He, no doubt, wasn't happy with how that ended. As usual, I had the last say...So should all mothers;=)

But it doesn't mean mothers should always win. We should all open our minds and consider their arguments and all avenues. I might sound like a condescending mum, but I am usually a very broad minded mum. I allow reasoning and contemplate on it. And I do not make decisions simply to demonstrate my power. I make my decisions based on arguments presented to me...PLUS...logic.

I haven't made my decision yet, but my son does not know that. He probably thinks that was the end of the discussion.

It really is not easy to be a mum...a mum of a teenager at that. But I am glad that he is now exercising his self-reliance and individuality. It may be too hard to admit, but he is starting to grow his own wings...and I have the responsibility to show him how to make use of those wings and fly...and SOAR HIGH gracefully like a falcon.

So, SOAR HIGH MY DEAR SON...

You will only understand a parent's love once you are one yourself.

Happy birthday Jashkah. I love you so much.

A MOTHERS LOVE

Today I thank my Mum

She who nurtured me

who protected me.

I thank her for loving me then and forever.

I thank the woman

who defied the impossible,

wo made sacrifices

beyond the neeless anxiety

Thank you so much Mum.

I love you forever...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

THONGS AND THONGS

I am currently stuck with so much to blog about but so little time to do it. From the Easter Egg Hunting that we did for the kids, which was the other weekend, to the lakwatsa that we did over the weekend that's just gone.

I am, however, more excited to show you first what we, Tres Amigas, did last Saturday...

Anyway, last Friday, Cat got her DHL box from Pinas. It's got her late pasalubong for us from her holiday back home. She's got me a bag, some knick knacks, a shirt and some pinoy seasonings (I left it back at her place-Actually, I think someone's pinched it off my bag...Jehehehe).

But the feature pasalubongs are: JARRRRAAAANNNGGG!!!

HAVAIANAS!!!

It's brought the number of my HAV thongs to five. Had two from my sis and my cousin Bing. Another two from Cat, and one from....guess who!

PAPA E!

Thank you very much Papa E.

Papa E is Cat's beau...Actually, boyfriend...No, fiancee na pala. He's also given Mona a pair of Havaianas. I don't think he's just trying to suck up on Cat's friends here in Darwin. I think he's just a genuinely nice, thoughtful, caring, worthy, congenial, admirable, responsible, favorable, amiable, agreeable (huff. huff), commendable, sociable, affable, amicable, distinguishable (huff. huff) gentleman...any other adjectives you can add? I'm hoping that every adjective will be converted to a pair of Havaianas when Cat goes back to Pinas...very soon!!! Yehey! Another pair...Bait bait ni Papa E. Sabi ni Mona you're now one of her official sponsors...I-endorse ka daw nya palagi...

Kiding aside, thank you very much Papa E, from the bottom of our bottom...este hearts pala ni Mona.

No need to impress us. We know you're highly capable of looking after our friend.

Anyway, last Saturday, Cat, Mona and I went to this Bra and Knicker sale at the Darwin Show Grounds. Cat's bought gazillions of lingerie and Dolce and Gabbana thongs- getting ready for the big event huh Cat?

Mona was just happy to try every single kinky outfit that she saw and pause for the camera. She ended up buying a D&G thong as well...Wanna bet? That g-string you bought will just end up as Xander's sling shot! I bet my butt crack that Thong won't see the light of day. Baka ipapa frame pa nya yan together with the Havaianas that Papa E gave her...

I was not able to get anything for myself because I'm a Jammy kind of gal. I love my pyjamas and I can't stand G-strings. PERIOD.

However, I got that black leather kinky outfit that Mona's trying on above. Nope, not for myself but for a photo shoot that I am still trying to negotiate with these two sexy ladies. I also got these really cute thongs for my sister. I'm hoping she'll wear them cuz she loves wearing sexy low cut jeans. These thongs will be good to look at just in case her butt crack accidentally pops out of her jeans.

She's slim and athletic, so I think these will really look good on her. Warning though...these pretty thongs can cause you to be a bit of an exhibitionist sis.

But that's okey 'cuz I'm sure her butt won't look like this butt...like mine would .....

Uhhhgghh.

No that's not me...and that's not mine down under. It's some unfortunate soul we've spotted at McDonald's. Very good example of why we have to be very careful and make sure that even our undies are sexy and nice just in case it pops out, right?

Shocks...I think I really look like this...

OH MY LORD. THIS IS WHO?

OMG! OMG! Look at what I've chanced upon this morning in YouTube...

That garage door looks incredibly familiar!!!

HAPPY EASTER

(Some of our Easter Eggs for egg hunting tonight)

Peace and happiness is what we need today. May you feel His presence as He who has risen will never forsake. Rekindle your faith for His triumph is all ours to own and appreciate. A blessed Easter to you all.

-Cheryl and Family

SALT SUGAR RICE AND WATER

• Don't get injured during Good Fridays, or it won't get healed.
• Don't have sex during Good Fridays, the penis will get stuck inside the vagina forever.
• Don't sleep with your feet directly facing the door or else you will die.
• When you are pregnant, you should not eat a Siamese banana or else you will also have a Siamese twin.
• On the very first menstruation, girls should jump three steps in a stair way. Not sure what the reason was for this.
• They should also wipe their bloodied knickers on their faces to prevent pimples from appearing.
• When you get lost, turn your shirt back to front, then you will find the way.
• You are inviting bad luck if you sweep the floor at night time.
• Don't cut your finger nails at night time or you'll constantly fight with your parents.
• If you dream of someone dying, go bite a tree to prevent it from happening.
• When you go past a big tree or a dark place, you have to say "Tabi Apo" to warn spirits you are going through their territory, thus avoid bumping into them and making them angry.
• When you hear someone gritting their teeth while asleep, smack their face with a rubber thong to prevent bad luck then chuck that thong out through a window...Geees, I wish there is a Scientific explanation to this. Would give me lots of excuses to smack my hubby's face!

These are just a few of the many superstitions I've grown to hear during my younger years. Some Filipinos bring these weird and funny beliefs even here in Australia. Some superstitions have gone up to a different and 'higher' level...the Feng Shui.

My friend, Mona and her family moved into their newly bought house today. Advices came flocking in with regards to when/how they should move in. The one that probably reverberated the most was about what they should first bring into the house. Salt, sugar, rice and water. Apparently, this is also supported by the Feng Shui studies(is it even a study or an art?)

These four items signify the most basic needs in living, and should therefore be taken into the house before anything else so the household will have abundant supply of the basic commodities. I admit, I have also fallen victim into this folklore when we first moved in our house. With the number of people telling me this is what we should do, then I thought it might be disrespectful to those who wished us good. So I dutifully brought all these items in before anything else. I laid them to their respective spots because that's where they're meant to multiply.

Surprisingly, only after that was dramatised did I truly appreciate and vanquished on the realisation that we have finally bought our first home. I could easily compare the feeling when I first conquered the top of Musuan Peak. Then I had calls from friends asking whether we have brought the salt, sugar, rice and water in...I felt I wanted to say, "THE EAGLE HAS LANDED" to be even more dramatic. When I went back to the kitchen, I got the shock of my life when I saw it was raining with rice inside the freaking house! My husband was throwing the rice by a handful (each time) in all corners of the house like a priest blessing the bloody house!!!

I screamed like a wounded witch who was about to pounce on a trespasser in my domain! I think my husband wished he said 'Tabi Apo' right that minute. I asked him what the hell was he doing...He said, "Isn't that what we're supposed to do to have a prosperous life?"...Then I saw bunch of coins spread out in the four main corners of the damned house!

Oh My Lord. A variation of the superstition I've been told. Well, apparently these superstitions vary in all the different regions in the Philippines, and from the sounds of it, it also evolves.

Well, when my friend, Mona, moved into their new house this afternoon, she's done the same thing I did, but the Monaliza way. Her timing is apparently better because the full moon is up today (or tomorrow?), which is said to be another magnet for good luck and prosperity.

I know there is no scientific truths to any of these, but what's our loss if we follow? I did it to make everyone happy, and because of the fact that it's already part of our custom. I've always believed in preserving customs and traditions (only the good ones)we have inherited from our forefathers. Besides, it's fun having to do some kind of ritual during big occasions in your life, such us moving to your newly bought house.

What the hell...I need all the lucks in the world I can get in paying back the mortgage, I might as well do all the rituals even if it means I need to chop off a chicken's head!

The salt, sugar, rice and water ? We still run out of them from time to time. Could it be because I vacuumed all the rice from the floor? When you throw away food, you're meant to say "Porya Gaba"...Oh my...I didn't say that. I'm cursed! That's probably why they don't get automatically replenished...

UNVEILING TALIBAN'S SHARIA LAW BRUTALITY

I have finished reading 'A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS' last night and I found it very disturbing. I thought I've seen very backward places and met too many ignorant people, but nothing's compelled me to swear like I could kill with my mouth, as much as these atrocities did.

I searched You Tube if this fictional plot lays even half the truth of what's happened in Afghanistan during the reign of the Talibans. Whala! I found thousands of videos showing the injustices these Mother F*****s have done on the face of the earth. I have never been so ashamed of a fellow specie like I am now. How can these self righteous, sanctimonious bastards be classified as human beings? They are nothing but PIGS! PIGS-pretending to be so divine and better than the rest...

Religion does not do this...It's the society who allows this to happen. Yet they claim to be civilised! Hah! Children are meant to be protected, not abused. Where is civility in that? Women are supposed to be cherished and respected. Where's decency in that?

Fuck Talibans and fuck the men who do this! The world can do without your kind. It will be a much better place without you animals!

Women flogged for showing an ankle, hair, face? Kiss my big fat ass all you defective crap of a human being that you are!!! Women are not possessions, we are human beings too, just like men. But hey there might not even be any use in writing more about how sick these monsters are because they probably can't read anyway. As illiterate as they are.

I've heard a lot about gender apartheid but I've never personally searched you tube for violence in any way, shape or form. Now it's suddenly become all too real.

I've never wished for anyone to die in my whole life. But I do now...Die all you coward women-oppressors!

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini-worth every time in the world.

"The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race." —Susan B. Anthony

KABUL BEAUTY SCHOOL

Bravo to Deborah Rodriguez, the author as well as the first person of the book. This is by far the best book I have read this year. Yes, I have fallen so blindly in love with Twilight. It was some kind of a mental refuge to venture towards the fictional world for which I have always painted in my mind to be the ideal reality I want to be a part of. But no matter what we do, Twilight will remain a mere fantasy.

Kabul Beauty School is reality. A reality we can all be a part of if we choose to and if given the chance. It is a true account of the author's experiences in Kabul.

Last month (March) was Women's Awareness month. It's good that I've read the book last week, which was still March. It reminded me of women's rights, issues, struggles, success and future.

For most modern women, myself included, we have come a long way. From the afflictions that our gender had gone through, to the beginning of the women's suffrage movement in 1848...then now. What rights we enjoy at present are products of the egalitarian spirits of women who fought for social reforms. It is however very unfortunate that this crusade did not slither successfully towards the East, Afghanistan specially.

With Taliban gaining power in 1996, complete ban of education for girls was imposed in adherence to a very strict Sharia law (Islamic Law). This marked the beginning of the end of women's rights and protection in Afghanistan.

Women get stoned to death if they are as much as accused to be committing adultery. Yes, in all forms of morality adultery is considered foul, but we don't get stoned to death in public for this. We don't get sent to jail because someone raped us. We do not get beaten because we've shown our face to someone outside the family. We do not get sold by our fathers to supplement their needs. We are not forced to marry at the age of 12 to a 45 year old man so our family can collect dowry. We don't have to hide inside the house and inside the burka when we're outside the house because the Taliban's might grab us off the streets...

When NATO Forces started occupying Afghanistan in October 2001 in response to the 9/11 attack, Afghan women started seeing hopes again. Part of these optimisms are caused by the arrival of the many NGOs in Afghanistan to help rebuild the country and the people. Deborah Rodriguez went to rebuild the spirits of women.

The burka clad women have been locked away for so long in these outfits which we, westernised women might consider a jail cell. For them, it is a protection. It's their hiding place from being seen by Taliban extremists.

Debbie Rodriguez is a hair dresser and a beautician. How in the world did a beautician help women in a world where not even a strand of woman's hair is to be seen by the public? Teaching people how to be beautiful in a place where beauty is not visualised is like teaching a bunch of people with amputated arms to paint.

She started a beauty school which clearly stepped over the cultural divide. The school hatched a number of (now)successful women entrepreneurs. But her journey was not without tears...lots of it. This is not to say that there was no laughter and fun though. Her book illustrated several comedic experiences. One instance was when her best Afghan friend, Roshanna, got married.

Roshanna is no longer a virgin (she was raped during a previous engagement). If you are a single Afghan woman and is no longer a virgin, the odds of you getting chosen as a first wife is dire. Her fiancee, whom she hasn't seen before does not know this. They have this consummation ceremony after the wedding, where the couple are meant to make love over a white handkerchief for the first time while the mother of the bride stands guard outside the door. The bride then hands over the white handkerchief (stained with blood) to her mother so she can proclaim and prove that her daughter is a 'wholesome-respectable virgin'.

In Roshanna's case, it was impossible to produce a bloody handkerchief. Roshanna and her husband tried several times, but Roshanna always ends up pushing her husband away. When the husband was about to give up, Debbie stepped in between coaching time and love making time. She clipped her fingernails too short so she cuts her flesh and spilled blood for Roshanna. She drained and wiped all the blood she could possibly force out into the handkerchief and handed it back to Roshanna and said..."Here's your virginity!" . They hid the handkerchief underneath the pillow before another love-making trial session... After a few minutes, off went Roshanna's mum screaming, "VIRGIN! VIRGIN!"

Her beating the odds in reshaping the outlook of women is perhaps the sweetest success the female population in Afghanistan has achieved in decades.

Afghan women have a long way to thread through, but there is always a start. The Kabul beauty school started and ignited the influx of self sufficient and independent Afghan women. Most of the graduates are now earning more than what Doctors in Kabul earn. Doctors generally charge 10 Afghani per visit, where beauticians charge up to 300 Afghani to do a bridal make-up.

She currently lives in California. It is very unfortunate that Debbie Rodriguez could not return to Kabul just yet. There had been many accusations and threats against her. The school was accused as a brothel. She'd been accused of so many things but a true emancipator of the long suffering women of Kabul.

Like her, I have this ardent wish to be able to do something big. I've always thought that if I'm able to change a life or two for the better in this lifetime, then I have not lived a meaningless life.

I have yet to fulfill that wish. Right now, I am in search of that path.

This book reaffirmed my belief that anyone can make a change. Specially a woman.

WELL DONE! VERY INSPIRING!!!

Photo of the burka clad women from this site:
http://www.afghaninjustice.com/articles.htm
Photo of Deborah Rodriguez from this site:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2007-04-11-kabul-beauty-school_N.htm

MORE BOOKS FOR THE WEEKEND

Another glorious day done and gone. Another week completed. Three books read and two to go for the weekend. This week was a quiet one. I spent more time reading than anything else other than working.

So far, I could say only 'THE KITE RUNNER' was worth talking about. The other two I've read wasn't as interesting. James Patterson's Double Cross was ok. However, my reading of the book was more of a thrill induced rather than a curiousity ilicited fixation . There wasn't much of a substance to it. Unlike The Kite Runner, you learn about another culture, place and dogmas. Usually, when it's thrill induced, you sort of know the ending even when you're still in the middle of the book.

The view right now from our bedroom window

Yearning for a more daedal anthology (probably due to my inability to withdraw totally from Twilight), I rang my sister for more book recommendations, and she said '...find Kabul Beauty School and A thousand Splendid Suns'. So off I went and got the two books at $24.99 each.

I got told by the sales lady that she's seen the documentary of the Kabul Beauty School and she said it's awesome...So I've decided to read Kabul Beauty School first.

I can feel a migraine looming over the weekend, so I'm hoping I can get through before I get totally debilitated by the resounding-throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound. Yes, I'm one of 'em unlucky ones...

Anyway, I hope you all have a fun weekend. Enjoy and be safe.

THE KITE RUNNER

My sister sent me a book by Khaled Hosseini, which I got last week through Kuya Boy. Most of you may have already heard of it because it's been produced as a motion picture by Dreamworks. I haven't. I only read it over the weekend, and boy was it an awakening weekend. The title of the book is 'THE KITE RUNNER'.

Afghanistan- First thing that comes to mind is: Al Qaeda...War...Terrorists.

This book gives out a different picture, a smoother backdrop, a more ethnic awareness and even the point of humour from a country now so perceived as riddled with evil and inhuman acts. This is a book about the Afghanistan before the Russian Invasion, the aftermath, and the present Afghanistan.

It's about the humanity in Afghanistan and the culture within back when freedom was not an exorbitant commodity but rather a conventional bystander, one , which was often taken for granted. Now an impossible dream.

I don't want to impart much of the plot because some of my friends already expressed interest in reading the book. I'd rather they read the book and perceive their own natural conjectures based on the status quo of Afghanistan. Midway of reading, I am sure they're in for an educational awakening.

My sister's also sending me a DVD copy of the movie. I just hope it'll get here as quick as my patience can hold, because right now, I am so wanting to go to Video Ezy to rent a copy of the DVD.

Thanks sis.

PROCRASTINATING TO THE MAX

It's now Sunday afternoon. My procrastinating days are over. I'm due back to work tomorrow and I do expect a busy week ahead. But with the full intention of making the most of my time off from work, I wasted no time in wasting all of it in gallivanting around with my hubby and friends.

This car goes well with this booty

Most of Saturday was spent in my car driving around for garage sales to looking for Cat's prospective car-to-be then test driving a V8 Holden Statesman, to ransacking a Filipino Farm in the rural area half an hour drive from my house-well, really, about 3 hours drive wasted on looking for the right way after getting lost several times. Thanks to the GPS in my Nokia N95/8G, we found the right farm and our way out.


Mona got dropped off by her husband here at my place about 7:00AM. Cat arrived shortly after with her laptop on tow (not intending to let Papa Eric miss out a bit of her day-owwwsssweeeet), then we had breakfast before we started the never-ending drive.

Negotiation Skills at its best comparable to that of a Hostage Negotiator

We went to some garage sales looking for essentials to furnish Mona and Allan's newly bought house (another hang-out-to-be). Although it was not as productive as we hoped, we somehow saw an area just right along Stuart hi-way full of private vehicles for sale. Cat is currently looking for a new car because her Emina is already starting to falter on her. She's only had one look at this V8 Holden Statesman and she's fallen in love with it. So typical of her. So Cat and my husband joined forces with their negotiation skills...in translation, BARATAN talents...the Statesman was being sold for $22,000.00. Cat managed to get it down to $19,000.00...But my husband has an unbeaten talent in BARATAN, he got it down to $17,000.00.

Cat: Yes! This is better than any man!!!

Mona: Buti pa to pati upuan leather.

They arranged to meet with the owner, then we went ahead and pursued another garage sale in one of the rural communities here in Darwin. Again, without any luck, we decided to go to Kuya Leo's farm (a Filipino Farmer here in Darwin).


We've been to his farm so many times before (specially during Mango season), but amazingly, just one missed turn then we were lost. Anyway, yes we found the farm and raided from it cooking bananas (Saba), pumpkins (lots of it), kalamansi and banana blossoms, which Cat later on cooked with Gata (Grabe Sarap! Swerte ni Papa E).

The Banana Plantation

Mona will never survive in a farm... She stayed most of the time inside the car, scared of such a gentle creature...Earth Worm. Snakes are rampant in the farm, but she wasn't scared of that, she was scared of Earth Worms. She'd probably kill an Earth Worm with a full Magazine of UZI if given the chance. For some strange reasons...she loathes these creature with the absolute degree of loathing.

We came back to Palmerston and headed straight to McDonald's McCafe for some very refreshing Frappe. In the afternoon we test-drove the V8, Cat falling in love with it more, but hated the owner for being such a DH. So she decided to give it a miss. Geees, she would have bought it had he given her extra attention. Looking back, I think she made the right decision anyway. A V8 is so costly in fuel consumption, plus the fact that it runs like a wheeled missile...Not a good choice for someone with 4 little kids. The sound of the car alone sounds so intimidating.
Pumpkins and bananas for the matatakaw.
We spent the rest of the day cooking and eating here in the house...and oh, consoling Ate Luz with her love problems. She came here late at night in tears, so being the good friends that we are, we had to lend our ears. But like most marriage problems, friends can only listen and give assurances

By 10:00PM we've all fallen asleep in my family room, probably due to exhaustion...
Xander up in a mango tree-braver than his mum
Ate Luz having a nightmare while Cat is in la-la land


Well, that's how my cookie crumbled on Saturday....

Early this morning, we decided to go to the Sunday Rapid Creek Market, bought food then went to the Nightcliff Jetty for some fresh Air. It probably did good in Ate Luz's system because she started smiling and laughing again. We've made bets on the odds of 'someone' either coming back to Darwin this week or not. Unfortunately, shortly after we've closed the deal, we found out the answer...my group lost. So we have to shout the other group a lunch at the Sky City Casino next week.

The showbiz mother and son

Cat in la-la land again

So there goes the finale of my week off from work...Exhausting but good. Productive? Not really. But that was the intention for taking this time off from work...rest and cruise around.

Who's taking who to lunch again? I think I said he's coming back....

I'm now looking forward to the April holy week long weekend....Ang sarap pala ng walang ginagawa kundi lakwatsa ng lakwatsa....

3 DAYS PRINGLES BINGE

It's been a while since I've last eaten Pringles. Although it used to be my favorite past time junk food, I must've had too much of this at one point years ago, that I simply got too sick of it.

But long time ago... My sister used to get a lot of Pringles from her suitors, boyfriends and admirers. Back in Pinas way back when dagohoy ruled, Pringles was so expensive, so it really is a treat having this junk food. My Mum never wasted money on junk foods, so Pringles came few and far between. I only depended...well, prayed so often that my sister will have more rich admirers so I can have more Pringles. The richer the admirer is, the more pringles she gets. Not that she gave me often...I'd have to beg for it...to the extent of even stealing inch thick worth of Pringles each time from her bed room where she keept all the goodies from her admirers.

I'm telling yah, desperate need means desperate measures. It's like Mission Impossible having to bribe a cousin as a lookout in exchange for a couple of chips of Pringles, or any quid pro quo. It was like the most precious 'caviar' while living in CMU.

When I came to Australia, I had such a bender, over indulging in Pringles. That's how my revulsion came about. One day, I hated Pringles so much. I could not even stand the smell of it at one point. I was sick sick sick as in sick as a goat with Pringles.

Anyway, I've taken three days off from work starting yesterday (I am due to go back on Monday). So last Tuesday, I went to buy some groceries intending not to leave the house but stay home and rest/procrastinate/watch TV/read books/listen to music/surf the net/eat-all five days, weekend included.

Guess what I found. Yes a SIX-PACKER of Pringles. I don't know what made me do it but I bought it anyway....

Believe it or not, I am back binging again. My hubby even got surprised when he saw this box and asked me, "How come you bought Pringles?"

Well, maybe I'm having this 'BACK TO THE FUTURE' moment.

It's still the same yummy old crispy Pringles that has, no doubt, a lot of MSG.

OH MY LORD, three more to go....

Please note, all photos are mine, modelled by my friend Cat. It's not an AD from Pringles.

GREATNESS AND TALENT

Maybe I'm just really one of the less endowed population in the world who are unlucky enough not to possess any talents at all.

One of my friends told me recently that when I want something, I tend to obsess about it. Her words were, 'KINA-CAREER'. She's right, you know. I often find my self totally engrossed in things that I find interesting. And guess what! I find it so hard and long to get over these things. When I like something, my focus gets out of balance. It's like loosing my periphery on my whole personal entity and social life.


Notwithstanding my dedication and perseverance, I still fail to deliver brilliance in anything I put my hands, mind and heart into. I'm now starting to think I really have no artistic inclinations nor have I managed throughout the years to circumscribe my self into any creative forte.


I've tried sports (tennis) during my younger years...Don't ask me about it. I sucked so bad!!! It felt like having two arms and two legs but attached to the wrong side of my torso.

I've tried the literary gridiron during my high school years...It's never receptive to a mediocre intelligence like mine.

I joined a cultural dance troupe in college, but managed, once, without great effort to bring down the group into a comedic parody in a concert that was meant to be a portrayal of a Bukidnon legend.

I tried cake decorating, which I really enjoyed the first few steps of the way but rendered me despondent towards the end.

Now, I'm laying my hand on photography, and I've not been thinking of anything else the last few weeks, but concentrating earnestly on getting a compelling subject. Yet, I feel I am failing to deliver...Again.

What is so wrong with me???


What am I really destined to be? What am I good at? I know for a fact that what I do for a living right now, is not a pursuit I'm hoping to ascend upon and look back to when I'm 65 years old and could honestly cerebrate and possibly say, "Wow, I did good in something I truly loved doing". Yes. I will forever be grateful for such a blessing. God bestowed me such a decent, respectable and a relatively easy job. It can be stressful sometimes, but overall, it's not something that consumes me and my life. I will forever be thankful for having been given the opportunity to do public service.


Behind all gratitude, contentment and comfort, there is that incite that keeps on prodding in my being to do better. To reach the zenith of my capabilities. To do something grand. Not for financial bliss but more so an act of mental, emotional and social dissection. Testing my own yardstick, so to speak.


Unfortunately, it looks bleak right now. It seems that the benchmark I've so far established is not that eminent just yet.


But I have recently realised that the criterion for greatness is not relative to the perception of others, rather, it is the act of seeking greatness. It is the acknowledgement of the fact that individuals can take on anything yet fail on everything, but realising that testing oneself is greatness in itself.


Life is too short, if I don't put my toes in any murky waters, I'll never know what and how it would feel on my skin. I will continue to be scared of failure and be forever entombed in a small narrow world.


So now, I've decided I will not question my ability. Instead, I will go on and explore this vast macrocosm, the many possibilities, appreciate the beauty of the diverse humanity and never be scared to test any waters.


Come my deathbed, I can say, " I tried that, I failed...I tried those, I failed...But at least I know what they are, because I've tried them."

I don't want to become like this flower that holds no memory of what it once was...



So for my 'pangangareer' in anything that fascinates me...onward I go. I say, bring it on!


What's next? Maybe write a book???? Oh-oh

HAPPY VALENTINES

Happy Valentines day everyone!!!

Hope this day brings a lot of love and romance in your life. Enjoy.

THE AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT AMIDST THE FIRE

The embers still glowing, smoke rising and fire surging. The bushfire in Victoria has stupefied the whole nation. Families torn. Houses destroyed. People died and some dying. Identities erased. Personal belongings charred.

It is hard to understand the intensity of this catastrophe when you're merely hearing it from the news. Although bushfires are fairly common here in Australia, nothing has prepared anyone to this severity. Brought about by changing weather, several heat waves whipped across Victoria and Adelaide the last few weeks. The actual mass fatality from burning and smoke inhalation was precedented by deaths from exhaustion and dehydration due to the rise of temperature down south. It's alarming when you see articles in the news saying Northern Territory is the coolest place in Australia nowadays, when Northern Territory should be the hottest this time of the year.

Bushfire warnings were issued as experts anticipated these kind of occurrence during bushfire seasons. But the breach between warnings and apprehensions has proven to be as devastating as it is when Tsunami hits a shore. No one can ever predict the fervor of any calamities irrespective of any forecasts.

The death toll stood at 181 this afternoon but experts warned it can go up to 250, as the search goes on for the 80 who are missing. There were reports that dead people were found inside cars trying to get away from the fires but got caught

in the deluge of blazes. Those who escaped compared the torrent of fire to that of a tsunami, which was impossible to outrun.

One town with 200 inhabitants lost 15% of it's population to the fire. In my almost 15 years of residency here in Australia, I've witnessed cyclones, floods and bushfires. However, they are nothing near in comparison to this. This is by far the biggest devastation I have ever witnessed since I came here. I am not in Victoria but I can feel the percussion this bushfire has befallen in every Australian.

A politician here in the NT, one who witnessed cyclone Tracey as well as this bushfire, said she'd rather relive Cyclone Tracy than this.

It started over the weekend when an arsonist started the Gippsland fires which somehow spread across the state. Coupled with strong winds and extremely high temperatures, it was the perfect concoction for a super bushfire.

There are photos surfacing of people deliberately lighting fires around bushfire prone areas. You sort of wonder what are in the minds of these people. What do they expect? What do they get out of it? Do they have some kind of fantasy to get burned? Why?

What we know is that this act is nothing short of MURDER, worst than murder. It's mass murder. I strongly suggest that the arsonist responsible for this bushfire should be burned to death. When I saw the desolation the victims were going through, looking for loved ones and trying so desperately to salvage anything from the ruins that may help them prove who they are at the very least...I thought to my self, why am I complaining about my old, atrocious and faded quilt cover?

Although we get a lot of rain here in the Northern Territory, we also have the dry season, which can also lead to bushfires. These photos I've posted are actual bushfires that happened in front of our house last year after we've just come back from holiday. It's the area where I took the sunset photo, which I've posted previously. It may look safe because you could actually see a fire truck containing the lit area. But it still looked and felt scary because I can physically feel the heat and hear the creaking sounds even when I was several meters away from the fire.

In times like this, you can really see the Australian spirits trying to surge amidst devastation. You can also see in them the 'bayanihan' spirit that we, Filipinos, so nurture within our society. It's this spirit that made them survive Cyclone Tracy, the Bali bombing and the Port Arthur massacre.

Estranging my self from my roots and culture is virtually impossible. I even make sure that my son knows and understands more of it than he's meaning to take on. But in tragedies like this, I am very appreciative of the fact I am also an Australian. An Australian who feels the pain that the whole nation is feeling right now. How the nation stands so dignified after the many catharses it's gone over and around throughout it's young history is a classic example of real Aussie vitality. Something to get inspiration from, and something to learn from.

Filipinos might say, " mabuhay ang Pilipino!!!"

Aussies go, "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI! OI! OI!"

More better, "NO WORRIES MATE!"