Let There Be Light

To those who are checking this humble blog sorry if I've been remiss in my postings. Our country just had another typhoon last Thursday and Metro Manila (our capital) suffered a direct hit. Good thing my boss told me not to go to work that day since it was already announced that the typhoon will make a direct hit by lunchtime. True enough cause a few hours later we were battered by winds so strong that branches of the santol tree in our neighors house came flying by narrowly missing my window. Then a tree in front of our house began swaying, and we started predicting if it will hit our house or the one next to us. It ended up in between, with some branches resting on one of our bedroom window.

Two days after, the tree is still left uncut, we have no telephone service, an erratic water supply and no electricity until Monday. OMG!!! I'm going nuts!!!

All condotels, apartelles and hotels near us are fully booked so we have no choice but stay home. We are back to using flashlights and candles at night and with no means of passing time but by listening to music using a battery operated radio. I haven't got a decent sleep for 3 days now and I don't know how can I bear it for two more days.

Even the business district where my office is located was not spared. Traffic was so heavy because there were a lot of fallen trees and other debris along the road. The building is using a generator so we are left with just one elevator working. The power supply was so erratic I can't barely go online. I just hope they can restore the power by Monday.

Thank God that a part of a mall here in Makati had their power restored this afternoon so I'm taking advantage of their free aircon. How I wish I can stay here overnight.....

"Lobat" Filipino Word Of The Year

Declared "Word of the Year" at the annual language conference Sawikaan 2006 sponsored last month by the Filipinas Institute of Translation (FIT), Blas F. Ople Foundation and the NCCA was "lobat." It won over four other finalists chosen by the conferees: "botox," "toxic," "spa," and "orocan."

"‘Lobat’ made it as top choice because of its interesting and relevant review of literature, clear presentation, and the startling conclusion that Filipinos nowadays are much like cellular phones – the ubiquitous machines that symbolize modernity – that rely so much on the mini-batteries that discharge energy in no time. Filipinos go ‘lobat’ because of personal, social, and global pressure.

Now this is really interesting since I do use "lobat" to refer to my state of mind especially after being "toxic" with work and whatever is happening around me.

link:http://www.philstar.com/philstar/lifestyle200609220501.htm

Thought For The Day #1

"It's funny how we set qualifications for the right person to love,
when at the back of our minds,
we know that the person we truly love will always be an exception."

Remembering 9/11

I just arrived home on that faithful day (it was 9pm Manila time) and decided to switch on the tube and started channel surfing while having dinner. Suddenly I paused after reaching channel 28 (CNN). The first plane just struck one of the towers of the World Trade Center. Immediately I called my boss and asked her to tune in. She's got a lot of relatives and friends in New York and we have business associates who are also holding office nearby. I stayed glued to the screen praying and hoping that casualties will be minimal. Then the second plane strucked and it became clear that it was an act of terrorism. Pentagon followed soon and last was the flight that was supposed to be bound for the White House.

Dinner forgotten, I found myself crying as scenes of people falling from the building were being caught by the camera. Of wounded people walking aimlessly in the street. The hours ticked by but sleep is far from my mind, I'm haunted by what I saw and the realization that the world is not as safe as I assumed sinked in. As the world grieved for those who lost their love ones, consoled those who are still looking for people dear to them and rejoiced whenever a body is recovered alive, we suddenly found ourselves evaluating our priorities in life and making changes on what we thought should be corrected.

Five years later as we remember that faithful day, let us look back and say our prayers for the countless souls who perished that day and count our blessings that we are still here healthy and able. May we find our purpose in life and live it to the fullest.

A Gem Taken From My Inbox

SLOW DANCE


Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?









You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?



You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see her sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"

You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.



Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

All In The Past, What Matters Is The Present

We all go through our daily life meeting people and making mental notes of the impressions they leave on us. And at times impressions can be made because of opinions shared by others. Some good others leave something to be desired. But first impressions change as we take the effort to know the person better. Again some for the worst but there are those who become welcome surprises. Ultimately it’s up to US to take RESPONSIBILITY for our ACTIONS. Reach out and make an effort. At the end of the day ~ that person may end up as someone special or will just be an acquaintance. But never ever put the blame on others on why we missed a chance in finding a diamond amongst the rubble that is LIFE.

The Devil Wears Prada

Yesterday was another movie date for my daughter and I and our pick was the Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway film “The Devil Wears Prada” based on a book written of the same title by Lauren Weisberger. It was a unanimous choice for us because I happen to love Meryl Streep and my daughter has dreams of working for a fashion magazine someday. The movie started with Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a small-town girl fresh out of college, applying for a job that "a million girls would die for." – 2nd assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile editor of Runway magazine. Her motivation? A recommendation from Miranda can guarantee her an entry to any respectable publishing house and pursue her dreams of becoming a journalist. She got the position to the utter amazement of everyone working there because the girl has NO fashion sense at all. Miranda only hired her because she’s had it with fashionable but incompetent assistants, and is hoping that the brainy newcomer will prove to be a less irritating and more resourceful. Andrea is sorely tested each and every day--and even late into the night with orders barked over the phone. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, like getting the manuscript for a still unpublished Harry Potter book in just 6 hours. As expected her relationship with her friends and boyfriend suffered as Andrea started to be absorbed with her work and without realizing she is slowly becoming as cunning as her boss. In the end she has to decide if her job is worth sacrificing her life and dreams. As expected Meryl Streep was awesome playing the role of Miranda Priestly. She doesn’t need to shout and bark her orders. Her look alone is enough to make you cower in fear. I enjoyed the transformation of Andrea from a dorky dresser to a fashion plate worthy of being featured in their own magazine.
Acting wise she is good but it’s hard to outshine or even be at par with Meryl. Overall it’s a good movie that I would love to watch again on DVD. I’m buying the book just to compare and will let you know if the movie came close.