A GIRL LIKE THAT

living the story book life

2011-06-24T03:47:00.000-07:00

How do you expect kids to listen to their parents when
Tarzan lives half naked,
Cinderella comes home at midnight,
Pinocchio lies all the time,
Aladdin is the king of thieves,
Batman drives at 200 mph,
Sleeping Beauty is lazy,
and Snow White lives with 7 guys.

We shouldn't be surprised when kids misbehave,
they get it from their story book!

- Copied from somewhere in the net

shooting the shooter

2011-03-12T23:58:00.000-08:00

I almost always prefer being behind the camera
than in front of it. Except when Mike is taking the shot.

the ant philosophy

2011-02-08T20:43:00.001-08:00

Over the years I've been teaching children about a simple but powerful concept - the ant philosophy. I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and the first part is: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them; they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer. An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer." Why do we need that advice? Because it is important to be realistic. In the summer, you've got to think storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun. Think ahead.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long; we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy.

Lessons from the ant: never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.

By Jim Rohn

back to disney's magic

2011-02-01T03:32:00.000-08:00

I See the Light
From Tangled

All those days
Watching from the windows
All those years
Outside looking in
All that time
Never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been

Now I’m here
Blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here
Suddenly I see
Standing here
It’s oh, so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be

And at last, I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once
Everything looks different
Now that I see you

All those days
Chasing down a daydream
All those years
Living in a blur
All that time
Never truly seeing
Things the way they were
Now she’s here
Shining in the starlight
Now she’s here
Suddenly I know
If she’s here
It’s crystal clear
I’m where I’m meant to go

And at last, I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new

And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once
Everything is different
Now that I see you
Now that I see you

this is the 2011 girl

2011-01-04T22:53:00.000-08:00

Everything can be found on the net. Nothing, absolutely nothing, escapes it. Somewhere, even in a decrepit room in the darkest alley of an obscure city, someone is writing an article. And, together with all the others like me who think that their blog must contain a new year's entry, whatever comes out from a few clicks on the keyboard ends up on the screen of the rest of the world.

Everything can be found on the net. And if you cannot in your pretty life think of what resolutions you should tackle this year 2011, the web has the answers for you. There is even a ranking of resolutions and among the top ten, I hit five. Which are -

1. Learn Something New.
2. Get Organized.
3. Enjoy Life More.
4. Tame the Bulge.
5. Fit in Fitness.

That's why I have this fresh shot with the treadmill. Smile. It's the closest I could get to using it.

On how to fulfill those resolutions, the web will still have the answers. I'm sure.

between the old and new year

2010-12-31T05:45:00.000-08:00

bring out the old, bring in the new
a midnight wish to share with you
your lips are warm, my head is light
were we in love before tonight?

i don't need a crowded ballroom
everything i want is here
if you're with me
next year will be the perfect year

before we play some dangerous game
before we fan some harmless flame
we have to ask if this is wise
and if the game is worth the prize
with this wine and with this music
how can anything be clear?
let's wait and see
it may just be the perfect year

it's new year's eve, and hopes are high
dance one year in, kiss one good-bye
another chance, another start
so many dreams to tease the heart

we don't need a crowded ballroom
everything we want is here
and face to face
we will embrace the perfect year

we don't need a crowded ballroom
everything we want is here
and face to face
we will embrace the perfect year

- The Perfect Year from Sunset Boulevard

x marks the holiday

2010-12-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

I've been reading up on people complaining about the removal of Jesus Christ from Christmas and calling the holiday Xmas instead. One woman at the Farm Town market was even huffing and puffing about it and was calling expletives at other players who disagree with her.

Oh that's my world now, in the interactive scenes of an online game.

But back to that letter of the alphabet. The family has a friend named Christopher, and his nickname is actually X. I originally thought this was hip and catchy, since yes, Christmas at times is Xmas to some.

With this divide on the shortening of the Christmas word these days, especially to accommodate cellular phone messages and cool holiday cards, About.com has this to say:

Question: Why Is There an X in Xmas? Some Christians complain that the abbreviation Xmas for Christmas is part of a move to secularize the holiday, to take the Christ out of Christmas, but this isn't really justified.

Answer: It is said that when the Emperor Constantine had his great vision that caused him to convert to Christianity, he saw the Greek letters Chi and Rho intertwined. Chi is written as an 'X' and Rho is written as a 'P', but they are the first two letters of the Greek word Christ 'savior'. 'XP' is sometimes used to stand for Christ. Sometimes X is used alone. This is the case in the Chi (X) abbreviation for Christ in Xmas. Thus, Xmas is not directly a way of secularizing the holiday, but since 'X' is not Chi in English, we read the word as X-mas and see no connection with Christ.

Now that is a relief to know.

Why is There an X in Xmas?

what's in the ipod shuffle?

2010-09-27T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here's what I have.

Videos:
Father of the Bride 1
Father of the Bride 2
Gladiator
Roman Holiday
Sleepless in Seattle
The Proposal

Albums:
Barbra Streisand's Back to Broadway
VST and Company's Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko
Bic Runga's Beautiful Collision
Bic Runga's Birds
Bic Runga's Drive
Craig David's Slicker Than Your Average
Craig David's The Story Goes
Fr. Arnel dC Aquino's Lauds I
Fr. Arnel dC Aquino's Lauds II
Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D.
Celtic Woman's Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman's A New Journey
Daughtry's Daughtry
The Pussycat Dolls' Doll Domination 2.0
Pet Shop Boys' Greatest Hits 2
Lifehouse's Lifehouse
Lifehouse's Stanley Climbfall
Lifehouse's No Name Face
Lifehouse's Who We Are
Marek Lutonsky's ML
Boys II Men's Motown Hitsville USA
Igor Krutoi's Without Words

What about yours?

pursuing prakarsa

2010-09-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

Malasag Hill, Cagayan de Oro City

September 19 2010
Photography by Mike Mendoza

training the trainers

2010-08-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

The LINC-EG Project continued its involvement in the streamlining the business and permitting and licensing (BPLS) program of the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) by providing technical and material support to the training of trainers (TOT) Workshop for DILG and DTI personnel in Mindanao held in Cagayan de Oro City last August 16 to 18, 2010.

The program seeks to reduce the cost and shorten the processing time of getting local business permits and licenses to encourage more investment in local communities nationwide.

The 38 DTI and DILG personnel trained during the 3-day TOT workshop will guide the personnel of local government units (LGUs) in Northern Mindanao establish streamlined business permitting and licensing systems (BPLS) in the participating LGUs.

The BPLS they are to help establish will use one single unified form for new applications and renewals; reduce the number of signatures and steps to 5; and limit the processing time to a maximum of 10 days from the date of the submission of the application form for new applications and 5 days for renewal as required under the provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007.

The workshop included discussions of the process of establishing the reformed BPLSs as well as simulations of the coaching sessions to be conducted by the DTI and DILG personnel for their LGU counterparts.

LINC-EG provided for the resource persons who conducted the training, the training venue, and the accommodations for the participants, resource persons and support staff.

A second TOT in Mindanao, this time for DTI and DILG personnel in Southern Mindanao, will be held 7-9 September in Davao City. LINC-EG will again support this initiative.

- From the LINC-EG Highlights for the Month, August 2010

a mantangale birthday

2010-08-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Mantangale Alibuag Dive Resort

Balingoan, Misamis Oriental
August 21-22 2010

the people at work

2010-08-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

I love the rush you get in firing people. But that would make for another story. Because I like hiring people too, when the slate is still freshly white clean and anything is possible and they can still have the chance to impress me.

Scouring all the materials available on how to better manage the people, I found this printed on a piece of paper, folded three times. I cannot remember exactly how I got this, but it may be one of those inspired and guided moments –

How to Properly Place New Employees
(or re-assign old ones needing that extra umph)

Put 400 bricks in a closed room.
Put your employees in the room and close the door.
Leave them alone and come back after four hours (you must or else lunch will be due).
Then analyze the situation:

If they are counting the bricks, put them in Accounting.
If they are recounting the bricks, put them in Auditing.
If they have messed the whole place with the bricks, put them in Engineering.
If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order, put them in Planning.
If they are throwing bricks at each other, put them in Operations.
If they are sleeping, put them in Security.
If they have broken the bricks into pieces, put them in IT.
If they are sitting idle, put them in Human Resources.
If they say they have tried different combinations, and they are looking for more, put them in Sales.
If they have already left for the day, put them in Marketing.
If they are staring out of the window, put them in Strategic Planning.
If they are talking to each other, and not a single brick has been moved, put them in Management Group.
Finally, if they have surrounded themselves with bricks in such a way that they an neither be seen nor heard from, (they should not be in your company), for they belong in Government.

Hire away!

butuan city and its potentials

2010-08-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

In one voice, the government and business leaders of this northeastern city of the Agusan Valley of Mindanao expressed their vision for a more competitive Butuan.

In a meeting with the representatives from USAID Philippines and the policy-reform project LINC-EG or Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth, Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. and Agusan del Norte Governor Erlpe John Amante presented the plans for reforms of the local government that the newly-inaugurated officials will pursue to make Butuan City a business-friendly environment for investors.

In a separate meeting, DTI Caraga Regional Director Brielgo Pagaran enumerated mining, wood and agri-aquaculture as the winning products of the area. He says that with a renewed strength, Butuan City can draw on its attractive industries as it pushes through with its agenda of becoming one of Mindanao’s progressive cities.

The same optimism was shared by Butuan City Chamber of Commerce President Engineer Alan Silor. Expressing his high hopes for better management of the local government, he confirmed the private sector’s willingness to partner with the government to improve basic services that will encourage more economic activity in the city.

In agreement, the leaders named some of the crucial features to make their city competitive – streamlined government processes, proper implementation of priorities, and transparent and accountable leadership.

They expressed to John Avila, representative of USAID Philippines, their continuing interest and commitment to the various projects of the USAID in the city.

LINC-EG organized the meetings last July with the Butuan City leaders to explore the possibilities of partnership in their various projects. Chief of Party Alid Camara, whose mandate is to bring the policy-reform project to the main cities in Mindanao, is confident that with the right attitude and effective implementation of reforms, Butuan City will soon realize its competitiveness potential.

back to the bible

2010-07-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

You would be amazed at the new things you'd learn if you help your children with their school work and assignments they bring home. Yes they fret about the things that their teachers ask them to look up, read about and write on paper and submit.. a few hours after they told you about it and not a minute later.

But in that funny rhythm I also learned to like it, since for the past month alone I've read and expanded my world to include music beats and time signatures, the works of Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, the route of the trip Around the World in Eighty Days, basic advertising for tourism spots in the country, types of personalities, types of flames, components of physical fitness, and now, the Bible.

The nuns of my primary and secondary education and the priests of my university education will surely give me a boink on the head if I forget my Bible basics, but it's very interesting to discover other facts about the best-selling book in the world.

I grew up seeing the Bible as a big, long and epic story that stretches from the creation of the world in the first page to the scary last page of the end of the world. But this quick homework research tells me that the Bible is better appreciated when the books are read by themes.

The Old Testament has 17 Historical, 5 Poetical, and 17 Prophetic books in it. The 17 Historical Books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. The 5 Poetical Books are: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. The 17 Prophetic Books are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

The New Testament has 4 Gospels, Acts, 21 Epistles, and Revelation in it. The 4 Gospels are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The 21 Epistles are: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.

Then there are the Deuterocanonicals, seven books present in Catholic bibles but missing in Protestant bibles.

Furthermore, the Bible was written over a 1500 year span (from 1400 B.C to A.D. 100), through over 40 generations, by over 40 authors from many walks of life (kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, scholars),in different places (wilderness, dungeon, palaces), at different times (war, peace), in different moods (heights of joy, depths of despair), on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) and in three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek).

Yes, there will always be lots of background information and quick facts about the first book ever printed. Yet I think everyone will agree that what matters at the end will be the good news we get from inside its pages.

the lightning collection

2010-07-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Topaz

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=topaz

Amethyst
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=amethyst

Turquoise
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=turquoise

Diamond
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=diamond

Emerald
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=emerald

Ruby
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=ruby

power problems of mindanao

2010-07-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

An article is now being circulated and shared among Mindanaoans regarding the power problem. Starting early this year, Mindanao has been a victim of scheduled and rotating power outages, and even if the blackouts are gone, the power bills have steadily increased that now it's almost a 100% increase from the usual monthly figure, mine included.

Written by Engr. David Tauli, Senior Vice President of the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (CEPALCO), everyone is invited to read and ponder on the ideas he presented in his paper, a portion of which is below:

1. The Short Term Power Supply Problem

As of July 2010 there are two critical short-term power supply problems in Mindanao:

(1) Unwillingness and inability of NPC to meet their obligations to Mindanao customers under existing Contracts for the Supply of Electricity; and
(2) Extremely high rates for Ancillary Services charged by the NGCP in the transmission services bills to power customers for the months of April and May 2010, which will continue for a year if the application for the NGCP-TMI Ancillary Service Procurement Agreement (ASPA) is given final approval by the ERC.

The second problem resulted from the first, but it has taken on a life of its own and, consequently, needs to be addressed separately.

1.1 Unwillingness and Inability of NPC to Meet Their Obligations to Mindanao Customers

In the period February to June 2010, the National Power Corporation(NPC) was not able to supply to their customers in Mindanao (distribution utility companies and directly connected industries) the amount of power and energy that were contracted from them under Contracts for the Supply of Electric Energy (CSEE). The NPC contracted to supply a total of around 1,350 megawatts to Mindanao customers, but were able to provide just 50% to 80% of the requirements of their customers during these months, resulting in brownouts in the franchise areas of distribution utilities that lasted two to eight hours daily and shutdown of operations of the industrial customers. Economic losses by NPC customers in Mindanao due to the massive power shortages have been estimated to be in excess of one billion pesos per month for all the months in which extensive brownouts occurred.

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Corp (PSALM, owners of NPC) and the NPC have been blaming El Niño for their inability to provide the requirements of their Mindanao customers, but it has been shown conclusively that the main cause of the power shortages was the heavy drawdown by NPC of the water stored in Lake Lanao during the last quarter of 2009, resulting in year-end water surface elevation that was about one meter lower than the lowest year-end elevation of Lake Lanao in the previous decade. This one meter of depletion in the stored water would have been sufficient to supply the requirements of Mindanao customers over the dry period from January to May (along with the generation from the non-hydro plants owned or controlled by NPC operating at their normal levels for the dry period). Because of the low year-end water surface elevation, the hydro plants on the Agus River produced only from 100 to 300 MW in the first half of 2010, while they had been capable in previous years of producing in excess of 500 MW during the dry period from January to May.

1.2 Extremely high rates for Ancillary Services charged by the NGCP in the months of April and May 2010

In April and May 2010 the bill of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to their customers included charges for Ancillary Services at the rates of 560.44 pesos per kilowatt and 606.88 pesos per kW, respectively. This can be compared with the average Ancillary Service charges of 49.76 pesos per kW per month in the year 2009, showing that the rates in April and May were more than ten times the average rates last year.

Despite objections by NGCP customers to the extreme rate shocks due to the AS charges, it is expected that the NGCP will continue to charge these exorbitant rates because of the Provisional Approval given by the Energy Regulatory Commission(ERC) to the AS Procurement Agreement between NGCP and TMI. Hearings at the ERC are being conducted as of this writing, and it is the hope of the Mindanao customers that what has been considered as both exorbitant and illegal AS charges will be disapproved by the ERC, and the amounts collected by NGCP (and passed on by the distribution utility companies to their customers) will be refunded to the customers.

2. The Long Term Power Supply Problem

Large power plants in Mindanao are estimated to have total dependable capacity of 1,600 megawatts, while total peak demand prior to the power shortages in 2010 was approaching 1,400 MW. Growth in power requirements throughout Mindanao have been projected to be in the vicinity of five percent per year. Large power plants need to be constructed in Mindanao to meet demand in the coming years. There have been proposals from the private sector for the construction of enough power plants to meet the expected growth in demand, but to date none of the proposed projects has been able to aggregate enough power purchase agreements (PPAs) to commence project implementation.

The main reason for the unwillingness of the electric cooperatives to enter into PPA’s with prospective power plants is that the price being quoted is five pesos per kilowatt-hour or more for long-term power supply, while the customers of NPC are purchasing their bulk power at around three pesos per kWh. This problem in perception would not exist if the NPC had unbundled their bulk power rates into hydro and non-hydro components, so that customers could see that the actual rates are at most two pesos per kWh for generation from the hydro plants on the Agus and Pulangi rivers, and at least four pesos per kWh for generation from the non-hydro plants. Further unbundling of the rates would show that the rates are in excess of eight pesos per kWh for the oil-fueled plants, but this may introduce administrative problems in the billings by NPC. Moreover, the two-component unbundling would show that the low average rates are due to existing hydro power plants that have a limited dependable capacity of around 800 MW only. Power customers could see that no more low-cost power is available in Mindanao, and should readily enter into contracts for the relatively expensive generation of all types of large power plants that are being proposed for Mindanao by the private sector.

Hence, the long-term power problem is basically a price-perception problem that could be addressed by the PSALM and NPC through: (a) unbundling their rates, (b) entering into long-term contracts (CSEEs) with Mindanao customers for the generation of the existing NPC-owned hydro plants, and (c) entering into CSEEs with their customers for the generation of non-hydro power plants that is still owned or controlled by NPC. However, the PSALM and NPC have been making unreasonable excuses for not unbundling their rates and contracting out the generation of their power plants, their main excuse being the privatization of NPC generating assets that is being carried out by the PSALM. But this is really an unacceptable excuse, which the PSALM and NPC will not be able to invoke when Congress passes a resolution that will extend indefinitely (beyond the year 2011) the non-privatization of the Agus and Pulangi hydro plants that is mandated in the EPIRA.

This last point underlines the urgency for Mindanao power customers to work on the non-privatization of the Agus and Pulangi hydro plants, not only to prevent an increase in rates of electricity in Mindanao, but also to move the electric cooperatives to enter into long-term power purchase agreements with prospective power plant projects.

building a beehive

2010-07-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

Links for completed beehives:
SEND BEEHIVE BEE
ASK FOR BEEHIVE BEE

Links for the beehive building materials:
SEND SMOKER
ASK FOR SMOKER

SEND BEESWAX
ASK FOR BEESWAX

SEND BRICK
ASK FOR BRICK

SEND NAIL
ASK FOR NAIL

SEND WOODEN BOARD
ASK FOR WOODEN BOARD

Bee photo by Simon Figg

a photographer's portrait

2010-07-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Mike is my photography mentor. And aside from being his lens-swapping and often-complaining number two camera, I am also his number one fan, inspiration, critic, model, and partner.

I may not follow everything he says, but I listen:

"Your hand will shake so always use the tripod when you shoot macro. It's not the expensive gadget that would make the difference, it's the eye. I should first know and imagine the picture I want to make, then I shoot it. We must start investing in filters. I want to be a good landscape photographer - I want to be better than George Tapan. Let us target one big photo vacation every year. It's time to upgrade our tripods. Remember we are not doing this for the money. Avoid over-saturated colors. I can make an ordinary picture great. What you just need is confidence. Babe, what do you think of this shot?"

I tell him.

Mike's exceptional works in his Flickr page
Mike's photo here : Cebu Sinulog 2010, this girl

this bedroom scene turns

2010-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

.. I threw away the comforter
because I feel so warm.

Because I feel so warm
I turned on the airconditioning.

Because I turned on the airconditioning
the room has turned cold.

Because the room has turned cold
I bring the comforter up to my chin.

Because I bring the comforter up to my chin
I feel so warm.

Then..

happy birthday, mama precy

2010-07-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

you're celebrating. must so as you turn sixty-nine
still can remember last year.. exactly to the day
you told me you're 68 but still active and sexy
of course i agree.. i'm becoming everyday.. like you!

you've taken up a lot of clubs.. keep you moving 'round
acquaintances to enjoy your leadership.. and laughter
you are always with the kindness that heals..
but with the girlish streak.. and so many stories

it must be a circle.. daughters become mothers..
i used to defy your rules.. now i see the glint in my girls' eyes
yet the one holding the comb gets combed.. sweetly..
oh daughters sometimes mother their mothers too!

may each day you come home.. refresh you
a little house filled with memories of a loving man
and children.. all grown now.. but well-taught..
raised, guided and loved so dearly by you!

happy happy birthday, darling mother!

the supermodel in you

2010-07-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

I read this material from Instyle.com and before I altogether lose it, I decided to reprint the best points here. I think I need to come back to numbers 3 and 6 and work harder on number 8!

1. Don't Be Impulsive When It Comes to Your Hair
have a signature style.. make subtle changes - moving the part, letting it grow past shoulders, or adding fringe - but nothing so drastic that anyone would notice a big difference.. it's all about keeping it fresh

2. Power Walk in Stilettos
.. tensing the muscles in your calves provides more balance so you can walk, not wobble, in even the most towering heels..

3. Skip Makeup - But Never Leave Home Without Sunglasses
.. just slip on a big pair of shades.. they hide tired eyes and allow you to get ready in a more peaceful environment..

4. Drink Your Way to Good Skin
.. lots of creams will make your skin look and feel nice.. but drinking at least a liter of water and several cups of peppermint tea a day is the easiest way to make your skin glow

5. Be Your Own Seamstress
.. become very good at dealing with clothing disasters.. carry two sizes of safety pins in your handbag: big ones to fix rips and smaller ones for broken straps or hems

6. Switch Your Scent Midday
.. have a fragrance wardrobe.. in the morning, apply which is very fresh and green and makes you feel like you've really woken up.. in the afternoon, switch to sophisticated florals

7. Leave Your Hair Slightly Damp
.. to enhance hair's natural texture and to make a blow-dry more interesting, you should never dry it 100 percent..

8. Pose For Pictures Like a Pro
.. relax your muscles from head to toe.. when you are tense, your shoulders go up, which is not flattering.. turn on an angle.. whether you are standing or sitting, never have your knees directly facing the camera.. choose your smile.. two classic smiles every woman should know are Marilyn Monroe's big laugh and Anita Ekberg's subtle grin..

9. Skip Foundation - Use Three Concealers Instead
.. get a more natural finish by skipping foundation and applying concealer only where needed.. buy three shades and use the darkest on cheeks and forehead, and the lightest under eyes

10. Travel With Healthy Snacks
.. brown-rice crackers and a packet of dry miso soup make for a really delicious energy boost that you can eat anywhere -all you need is a cup of hot water..

Illustration courtesy of wallcoo.net

the smiles of july

2010-07-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

Photos courtesy of Mike and Nika Mendoza

one-stop shop installed

2010-06-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula opened last June 28 the newly-installed Business One-Stop-Shop (BOSS) that will deliver efficient business permitting and licensing activities in the city.

Present to witness the simple rites were officers and members of the Promote CDO Foundation, the Oro Chamber of Commerce, the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, representatives of various business sectors, and the Business Permitting and Licensing System (BPLS) Streamlining project partner, Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG).

The project, among other things, will reduce the process steps of securing a mayor’s permit to operate a business and provide the center where all activities will be concentrated under one roof. The project shall also collaborate with other government regulatory office to ensure timely processing of permits for fire, building occupancy and sanitation.

Two days shy of handing over the seat as the city’s local chief executive, Mayor Jaraula was pleased to present the facility to the public. As a major part of the BPLS Streamlining project, it shall be turned over to mayor-elect Vice Mayor Vicente Emano within the first week of July for his support.

“I see a smooth transition and continuation of this LINC-EG-assisted project and I look forward to further strengthening it during the term of Mayor Emano. In fact, since 2006, streamlining the city hall processes of starting a business has already been in the plans between the city government and the local business stakeholders," said Mr. Ruben Vegafria, president of the Promote CDO Foundation.

"Mayor Emano has been wanting to improve the status of the city in the competitiveness surveys and this BPLS Streamlining project is the answer. I am sure he will readily support it,” he added. The private sector group is set to meet with the newly sworn-in mayor by the first working week of July.

Photo courtesy of the City Information Office

that nightclubbing girl

2010-06-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

No matter what is said, I love my Nightclub City game. It's done in entirely black and silver motif, and the music ranges from pop, hiphop, and indie electro. I take pride in the house club mix, but we also do mean mashups. Welcome to the club!

private sector speaks up

2010-06-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

Cagayan de Oro City – Capitol University released last June 19 2010 the results of its survey on the impact of the city’s licensing processes to the business community.

Dr. Numeriano G. Escalante, the Director of the Research and Extension Office of the university, presented to the officers and employees of the city hall the partial results of a study that involved interviews, focus group discussions and survey among Cagayan de Oro business establishments.

The respondents from the private sector related their experiences with business permitting processes, whether they are registering for the first time, renewing their registration, on the process of registering, or have not accomplished their registration.

The survey was conducted through a purposive sampling among owners, managers and bookkeepers of local business establishments. The survey findings included feedback, among others, on the existing process of securing a business permit, the most difficult requirement to comply with and the time associated with that requirement, the assessment mechanism for business renewals, and the length of time in the issuance of the business permit.

The survey showed that the barangay clearance and the fire safety certificate are two of the most difficult business permit pre-application requirements to secure. On the other hand, the assessment portion was reported as the most difficult step in the business licensing process.

The partial results of the survey were presented during the local government unit’s business permit and licensing system (BPLS) streamlining workshop last week. Acknowledging the difficulties in the system as experienced and narrated by the various private sector survey respondents, city hall officers and employees shall use the results as a guide in the ongoing project of BPLS streamlining.

Reacting to the survey, the local government officers agreed that shortening the permitting process into three steps only and further professionalizing the delivery of services shall improve the satisfaction level of the business community and entice more establishments to register.

The survey was conducted by Capitol University with the support of the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG), a USAID-funded policy reform and implementation project.

The full survey results shall be presented to the incoming mayor, Hon. Vicente Emano, for his appreciation.

biz permitting in 3 steps

2010-06-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Cagayan de Oro City – Members of various offices of the city hall gathered together June 17-18 2010 for a two-day workshop to develop an effective business processing and licensing system (BPLS) model in the city.

Participating in the activity were the City Treasurer’s Office, Business Licensing Division of the Mayor’s Office, City Administrator’s Office, City Planning Office, City Building Official, City Health Office, City Fire Marshall, City Information Office and the Human Resource Management Office.

As part of the Streamlining BPLS Project, an ongoing endeavor of the local government unit, the workshop participants discussed and agreed on the streamlined process of processing business registrations which reduced the steps into only three: validation of application, payment, and receipt of permit to operate.

The workshop, which was also joined and supported by the Misamis Oriental provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the Promote CDO Foundation, put together the plan of institutionalizing the Business Processing and Licensing Office (BPLO) which shall be the overseer of the BPLS operations and its continuous improvement at the city hall.

Aside from the planned changes in the business permitting process, the city hall group also looked at the clearances and permits required prior to the application for business permits, and identified future partnerships with the concerned government agencies and offices to further improve client servicing.

The preliminary study for the BPLS streamlining project started during the term of the former chief executive Hon. Constantino Jaraula, but the full plan will be submitted to the incoming mayor, Hon. Vicente Emano, for his approval and support and the plan’s eventual implementation.

Aimed to improve the Cagayan de Oro system to exemplify the established national standards and encourage business investments into the city, the BPLS streamlining project is a collaboration with the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG), a USAID-funded policy reform and implementation project. LINC-EG works with government and private sector to improve governance of the business environment leading to more investments, fiscal responsibility and economic growth.

the city of cebu

2010-06-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

with my airline official seatmate, angela

silent city hall in a non-working holiday

the family that poses together, stays together

four glorious jumps in historic fort san pedro

wedding at tuscany

2010-05-30T02:48:00.000-07:00

TRUFFLES
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=tw_truffle

OLIVES
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=tw_olive

GOATS MILK
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=tw_goat_milk

EGGS
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=tw_egg

around batanes islands

2010-05-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

All photos courtesy of Mike Mendoza.

expanding the stable

2010-05-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Below are the 5 links to send out the items:

nail
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=nail

horseshoe
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=horseshoe

harness
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=harness

woodenboard
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=woodenboard

brick
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=brick

taking travel portraits

2010-05-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

Packing for travel is a never-ending thing for me until the last minute that I get on the car and drive to the airport. Make that almost an impossible task this time when I have to discuss and argue and cajole with my husband who will share one luggage with me because we plan to travel light. We are bound for the Batanes Islands tomorrow.

We planned to make this vacation just to shoot the place. So add to the packing nightmare the equally scary 11th hour lessons on how to use the Canon 40D, since we just decided that I must outgrow the Canon 1000D for this trip.

I have tucked my camera bag in the dusty part of our room for more than four months already. And I was amazed how the mind forgets. I couldn't set the proper ISO. I even forgot how to view and move from one image to the other!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Getting off from my online games, I brought to the table all the magazines and photography books from the shelves for a quick scan.

At the end, I decided on settle on a few notes from Manny Librodo on taking travel portraits:

1. interact with the subject

2. get close with the subject

3. set the stage, then be spontaneous

4. look for a face with character

5. watch out for light and shadow

6. train your eyes to see colors

7. tell a story

I haven't even started on how to shoot landscapes!

Yes, the single luggage will be crammed. The photography tips are in a jumble in my head. But the heart beats with anticipation. Vacation and photography with the best man in the world - I am a lucky woman!

photo: it's about the hat

the botanical garden

2010-04-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

the floral bracket
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=floralbracket

the white trellis
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=steelbeam

the irrigation pipe
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=irrigationpipe

the glass sheet
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=glasssheet

the green beam
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=greenpillar

logistics study completed

2010-04-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

To support local exporters and establish an updated document on the state of competitiveness of transporting key commodities of Northern Mindanao, the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Region 10 Chapter, Inc. (PhilExport-10A) recently completed its study entitled “Shipping Cost and Competitiveness in Northern Mindanao – A Closer View on Northern Mindanao’s State of Competitiveness”.

The focus of the study is the Cagayan de Oro base port and the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), being Mindanao’s strategically-located gateways. Aside from referencing with government offices, the study team of Mr. Noel Tan and Mr. Mike Ignacio conducted a survey among shippers, truckers, shipping lines, cargo handlers and importers within Northern Mindanao.

With the data gathered, the study tried to identify present and pressing transport-related issues detrimental to Northern Mindanao’s competitiveness of selected export and import commodities. The study also showcased the best practices done on the different segments on the logistics chain, aimed at reducing costs and maximizing efficiency. Finally, the study attempted to provide recommendations which would lead to policy changes in the ports, shipping and infrastructure at all levels of government.

Among the study results, it was discovered that exporters are raising the issue of double charges when shipping their goods. An examination of the costs of shipping would illustrate that an exporter has to pay terminal handling charges (THC) to the shipping line aside from paying the port charges to the port operator for the same activities on the ground. Aside from that, another pressing issue is the difficulty in procedures as a result from policy disconnects. Initiatives from the central offices of the national government agencies do not easily translate to areas like Cagayan de Oro. Laws which were passed in order to simplify procedures for exporters are also not strictly implemented.

Nevertheless it was also learned that both ports have accommodated the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for free in their respective areas, which resulted to the BOC’s non-charging of inspection site fees and to comparably low charges for importers. The bureau also ensures that all new exporters undergo a full inspection before given the clearance to send their products overseas. Perhaps one best practice that shows the initiative of the local stakeholders is the setting up of a vessel tracking system for the whole Macajalar Bay. The system utilizes the tower and radar system of the MCT, enabling the Coast Guard to monitor all incoming and outgoing vessels within the stretch of the bay.

While it can be summed up in the study that Northern Mindanao is a competitive place due to the presence of fair roads and infrastructure facilities as well as comparably low trucking and handling rates, results also show that exporters and other stakeholders are endorsing for the full compliance of EO 554, which orders the appropriate agencies to improve the competitiveness of the country’s export sector by simplifying exporting procedures and documentation or cutting down the fees of such requirements. It was noted that while other regional offices of national government agencies complied with the directive, other offices have not.

If the EO 554 shall be fully implemented, PhilExport 10-A, through the study, sees that the establishment of One-Stop-Shop facilities within the ports can be made possible. An improved system that can issue exporters their commodity clearance at a shorter period and enable the transport of their goods on time is expected to further enhance the competitiveness of Northern Mindanao.

The study highlights and draft report was presented last April 23 to representatives of the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) program and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which facilitated and funded the study.

Mindanao's distance to the traditional markets and exports is a major competitiveness issue since logistics costs are deemed higher in terms of freight and associated costs. Mr. Wilson C. Amad, PhilExport-10A President, looks forward to using its recently concluded logistics study to push for the economic growth and development of its members and other players in the export business.

the nursery barn

2010-04-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Ecco i link per farvi inviare i materiali!!!

Biberon (Bottle)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=bottle&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Coperta (Blanket)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=blanket&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Chiodo (Nail)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=nail&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Mattone (Brick)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=brick&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Tavola (Wooden Board)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=woodenboard&view=farmville&ref=tab&

reforming a bpl system

2010-03-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Department heads of the Cagayan de Oro City government office, together with representatives from the business community, translated lessons from their March 4-5 2010 benchmarking activity in the cities of Lapu-lapu and Cebu into strategies for the improvement of the existing business processing and licensing system (BPLS) in the city.

As part of the streamlining project of Cagayan de Oro, the post-benchmarking workshop was held at the Conference Room of the Mayor’s Office last March 8 2010 where participants evaluated the two areas for improvement in the BPLS – the process and technology of the system, and the inspection component.

Among the major strategies identified were the institutionalization of the streamlined BPLS process, the establishment of a year-long Business One-Stop-Shop, the development of the Citizen’s Charter of the city, the creation of its MIS department, the amendment of present ordinances on validity periods of permits, and the establishment of a monitoring scheme through a Joint Inspection Team composed of the regulatory agencies like the city building, fire and health offices.

These strategies were ascertained after the team, under the leadership of the project Management Committee Chair and Promote CdO Foundation President Ruben Vegafria, evaluated the existing BPLS practices of Cagayan de Oro against those observed in the cities of Lapu-lapu and Cebu during the benchmarking activity. Also using the BPLS National Standard as point of reference, the group identified gaps, the areas for reforms and the proposed strategies for these reforms.

The strategy identification is marked as one of the milestones in the BPLS project that the local government unit (LGU) is undertaking and it will soon be followed by the setting up of an action plan that will ultimately recognize and implement the official streamlined BPLS process in the city.

The BPLS enhancement project is executed by a three-party group composed of the LGU of Cagayan de Oro, Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Oriental Office, and the Promote CDO Foundation. This project, which officially started last February 5 2010, is aimed to simplify business licensing and encourage the entry of business in the city. As Technical Assistance Package (TAP) 1.2 of the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) Project, it is implemented with the support of USAID.

building a stable

2010-02-05T14:38:00.000-08:00

To all Farm Ville players who want a home for their horses! Below are the links to each of the stable requirements. Lots of help for specific gifting to friends.

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=nail

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=horseshoe

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=woodenboard

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=harness

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=brick

planning for agribiz and mining

2010-01-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Mindanao business practitioners named projects and programs that can help improve the island’s opportunities in two priority sectors – agribusiness and mining – in a forum conducted at Davao City last January 26.

Action agenda seen to address identified concerns and improve the sectors’ performance were submitted to the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) during their jointly-organized business forum.

Dubbed “The Global Financial Crisis, A Year After: Addressing Challenges and Increasing Competitiveness in Mindanao”, the forum presented three studies made by the Center for Research and Communications (CRC). Visiting CRC consultants discussed how Mindanao can address the negative impacts of the international financial crisis and increase the island region’s competitiveness as it emerges from the said crisis.

Coming from five administrative regions of Mindanao, business representatives gathered in the one-day forum which the MEDCo Chairman Virgilio L. Leyretana considered as an opportune activity for the area. In his message, Usec Leyretana conveyed that Mindanao has to address competitiveness and governance issues that have challenged business, investment and trade in the island. He added that the MEDCo, which is now in the process of preparing the Mindanao 2020 Plan, shall consider the results of the forum as an input to the development and peace framework plan for Mindanao.

Lending support to the activity is the USAID, which was represented by Mr. John Avila, who emphasized that he looks forward to seeing Mindanao catch up with mainstream national development and at the same time, to the whole nation waking up and getting competitive along with its Asian neighbors.

Among the specific agenda identified, the participants highlighted the need for the creation of a responsive minerals protocol, a certification system for small-scale mining standards compliance, refocusing of Mindanao priority agricultural product from rice to other high-value crops through market development and funding support, as well as easier access to short-term financing for seaweeds farmers and long-term financing for coconut farmers.

Showing optimism in the forum was Atty. Daniel Fitzpatrick, Chief of Party of the LINC-EG, who indicated that the policy-reform program is willing to work with the business leaders and business support organizations in their projects that will push for Mindanao’s development.

no! november

2009-11-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

I love mornings like this - the kind that promises a cold day. And cold days are the best days to drive to work. When the temperature outside is exactly the same as the air conditioning inside.

Wrapped in the black and white coat that was a big splurge at the time I bought it in Japan, I eased into traffic and listened closely to my enclosed cozy world. And I wonder who I am in all these. Am I the little fall of rain that tries to wet the windshield? Am I the wiper that persists to clean them off? Am I the little tin ball that keeps on hitting the cup holder? Or am I Bach's Minuet that plays so softly, highlighting the flute once in a while?

I think I am all these. And most of all, I want to be that - the enveloping gray that as it hits the concrete in the morning light it's almost white. I embrace November.

a morning

2009-10-30T01:45:00.000-07:00

One of these days, if I have the luxury for it, I shall go and photograph people going about their life on a regular day. I wonder, if there's a giant invisible camera out there, what point in my morning would it capture:

Hear the incorrectly-set alarm go off. Kick the sheets because the alarm went off. Attempt going back to sleep. Sleep walk to the family room. Cross to the girls' bedroom and caress their hair and faces. Check my accounts in Flickr, Twitter, Blogspot, Geni and Facebook. Prepare a photo for posting in Flickr. Check my Inbox in Yahoo and Hotmail. Peek at Gmail. Play the GAMES! Try to move the red little weights. Disregard the dumbbells. Go back to bed. Stand up since can't sleep. Go to the garden. Say hi to Coal, the black Lab. Visit the vegetable patch. Convince the vegetables to grow well. Supervise the breakfast menu. Think of new little house projects to give to the carpenter. Turn on the control for hot water. Check the wardrobe. Realize there is nothing to wear! Drive away the girls from the television room. Ready the hamper of soiled clothes. Convince Nika and Gela to go to the table. Call Mike three times. Eat breakfast. Mix my Ovaltine drink. Try to forget taking my vitamins. Take my vitamins. Prepare for office. Drive to work. Start the day of a regular girl.

And I remember. Nobody ever wanted to be called regular.

the first sentences

2009-09-24T02:15:00.000-07:00

Out of the hundreds of books available in a bookstore, I admit I get attracted first to the one with the most intriguing title. And then the cover design helps. Then add the testimonies on the first and last flaps of the book.

But if I should salute the authors that I had read, I believe I shall do it on the account of their first sentences. I know that the first sentence is a delicate dish that each writer takes the most care in cooking, spicing up, garnishing and serving out. The first sentence must be interesting, significant, witty, and touching enough to let the reader decide that this must be a good read.

I'd like to go back to some of the books I have in the family room shelves and pick a few first sentences that caught my attention. At the end of this collection I shall poke some of my buddies and ask them to collect their own favorite intros as well.

"It may be that I am growing old in this world and have used up more than my share of allotted words and eager audiences."
- The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

"In the last days of Narnia, far up to the west beyond Lantern Waste and close beside the great waterfall, there lived an Ape."
- The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

"Manhattan, island of glittering dreams, slept in the predawn darkness."
- The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith

"It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love."
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"Money talks, but you may think that the conversation of a little old ten-dollar bill in New York would be nothing more than a whisper."
- The Tale of a Tainted Tenner by O. Henry

"The jury was ready."
- The Appeal by John Grisham

"By human standards it could not possibly have been artificial: It was the size of a world."
- Contact by Carl Sagan

"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975."
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

photo warrior of the week

2009-08-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

When did you start with photography?
I was already interested since I was in university. But my husband bought me a camera last September 2008 and it has been 392 Flickr shots ago.

Is photography your hobby or employment?
It’s a hobby. Nobody ever paid me yet for my photos!

Your equipment?
Canon EOS 1000D Canon 100mm
Canon EFS 17-85mm Canon 70-300mm
Canon 50mm Canon 10-22mm

Have you ever used a film camera?
Yes a Nikon film camera way back in university – capturing school snapshots for the yearbook.

What do you prefer – film or digital – why?
Most have gone digital already so I think I would prefer that. Easier, faster and more economical. And with photo editing available, shooting with digital gives you a full range of opportunities.

What do you usally make with your photos when uploaded to your computer?
My photos start as raw files. So the best one gets picked. Processed. Then uploaded to Flickr.

Are you making a lot of reprints of your photos?
No. But I did a black and white series in Flickr and out of that collection, I printed some and placed them in frames and displayed them in my area in the family corporation’s office. You would not think it’s the space of the Finance Manager!

What is your favorite object of photography?
Nothing in particular. But if I have my way, my daughters, Annika and Angela. I could just be taking photos of them. But they’re real impatient.

What does inspire you?
A sunrise or a sunset. The music or the poem I hear when I see a photo I make. And most of all, my husband Mike. He does terrific work with his photographs!

Do you have another artistic hobby?
I keep a blog in case I want to write. But I have skipped it for the past months. I've already used my Flickr photo stream to express what I feel.

What would you like to show or say with your photography?
That the ordinary can be beautiful. I promised my mother I won’t take ugly pictures. I can let others do that.

Some tricks and tips?
Sometimes the photo speaks to you. Sometimes you first have to breathe life into it before it gets to talk. So do whatever you want to do. There are no rules. And don’t go around copying other people’s styles. I've made it a point to avoid it. It will just scare - discourage - anger - drag you down and dry you up.

Your photography dream that has not been fulfilled yet?
Doing a bit of photo journalism. Or getting commissioned to do a thematic coffee table book.

Is there something more you would like to tell us?
I do not shoot a photograph. I make it. And I think all photographers, in a way, are artists. So I hate it if people ask me if I use photo enhancement softwares or not. This is the product I want you to see. So you are most welcome to enjoy this work. No questions.

click here to go to the feature and to leave your comments:
Photo Warrior of the Week

landing on front page

2009-08-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

Mike said that my photo will be included in Flickr Explore. I didn't believe him then - but it really did. And I only learned about it being in Explore when I got informed that it landed on the Explore Front Page too. What a very pleasing thing to happen to one's work!

What is Explore Front Page?
Explore is a Flickr feature which discovers and showcases some of the most awesome photos on Flickr. Explore Front Page is a common phrase used by Flickr users to indicate the home page of Explore.

What does it mean to have photo(s) on the Front Page?
A score of people use Explore to find new photos on Flickr everyday. When a photo is on the Front Page, it is exposed to a huge audience of photo enthusiasts around the world. So, being on Explore Front Page is like being featured on the front page of a popular newspaper - your work gets noticed, people add you as their contact etc. You become famous overnight :)

What is FP?
FP is an alias for Explore Front Page. It's commonly used in photo descriptions, comments and tags by Flickr users.

What is Archivr?
Archivr is a third party application that tracks the photos displayed on Front Page. Using Archivr's search feature, users can find out if or how many of their photos have been on Front Page.

To view the photo here: The Life I Know

a new beginning

2009-08-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

USAID Philippines is implementing a 4-year policy reform project, aptly named LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH or LINC-EG. With the aim to effectively assist local stakeholders, particularly in Mindanao in their respective efforts to increase investments, expand business activities, create more jobs and alleviate poverty, a Mindanao Field Office has been established here in Cagayan de Oro City.

As we explore potential partnerships with the staunch movers for Mindanao, we are seeking your presence and participation during the

LAUNCH OF LINC-EG FIELD OFFICE
August 20 2009 Thursday 8:30am
Door #7 JSJ Townhouse, Molawan Street, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City.

We are also pleased to invite you to witness a forging of partnership between the LINC-EG Project and the Cagayan de Oro City Government and prospected partner organizations as we all seek to streamline Business Permitting and Licensing (BP&L) in the city.

HANDSHAKE CEREMONY BETWEEN THE LINC-EG PROJECT
AND THE PROPONENTS OF THE CITY BP&L STREAMLINING PROJECT
August 20 Thursday 10:30am
Dynasty Court Hotel, Tiano Street, Cagayan de Oro City.

A Press Conference will immediately follow to enable us to define and showcase to the public the LINC-EG Project and the emerging cooperation with the local stakeholders.

i am mary magdalene

2009-07-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

Once, some few years back, somebody commented that with the way I carry myself, the way I go headlong into what I do and the attention I am getting from many people (yes, especially from the opposite sex) - if I were in the Bible I would be Mary Magdalene.

That she was a bad woman is the misconception that I grew up with. Maybe because the statues in churches depicting her are garbed with a red long dress adorned with jewels, with long curly red hair and sometimes even wearing a pair of gaudy dangling earrings which must be donated by a well-meaning lady of the parish. This of course is a major contradiction to the gentle blue-and-white gowned statues of Mary, Mother of God.

Well, in an interesting way I like being Mary Magdalene. I think that with the various theories and discussions regarding her so-called secrets and the debates on her character assassination in the holy book, I would like to think that if indeed I were in those times, I would work and study hard as Mary Magdalene did so she will be one of the learned disciples, compared to those who didn't have a whit of what they were actually doing as they follow this man who claimed to save the nations.

Oh yes. The demons and the sin worthy of wearing the scarlet letter. Well she was healed by no less than Christ himself and if ever the reputation was true, she was the most famous of all those who were repentant. Not bad enough.

Now that I am a grown woman, I would want to pay my respects to Mary Magdalene. She anointed Jesus. She was at the foot of the cross as he was dying, which is much to say since the male apostles were nowhere to be seen because of fear. And the best gift of all, which others fail to see as the most important part in the Bible because of blinding prejudice - she was the one who tended Jesus in the tomb and in so doing, was the first person to discover that Jesus has resurrected. He appeared to her first! Top that!

More importantly, to all the women like me who love their careers, Mary Magdalene's major work started where Jesus' had ended. She rounded up the followers during their lowest point and it was her word - and I bet she had the best of public speaking skills and the strongest convincing powers - that made them realize and accept that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead as he has promised and that they need to continue to spread his message.

Yes, the lady has a very colorful curriculum vitae. I don't mind being her at all. A girl like that.

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
Feast Day: July 22

crazy at the farm

2009-06-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from blogging and there's only one reason for that. I have taken to Farm Town hook, line and sinker. Yes I know, I miss hours of sleep just to tend to the grapes that shall become ready for harvest in four hour intervals.

I don't mind asking in the marketplace for work. If it works, then be it.
I made a worksheet for all crops to identify which are most profitable.
I cried when a whole harvest of forgotten potatoes went to waste.
I try to harmonize trees to be laden with fruits for a one-time harvest.

Yes I'm working for that mansion. And when I finally get to Level 34, I shall put down the hoe and stop plowing and planting. I shall convert the property into a national park, and just let the trees bring in the income. So I'd appreciate it if you could send in tree gifts!

Esta Menina is Mrs. Boss of Arcadia and she lives in Blue Gables.
I must wear this button: "Don't laugh but I'm famous in Farm Town".

the name of mendoza

2009-05-19T20:39:00.001-07:00

Mendoza

Spanish Origin

Noble surnames, such as Mendoza, evoke images of the ancient homeland of the Spanish people. The original bearer of the name Mendoza, which is a local surname, once lived, held land, or was born in the beautiful region of Spain. The Mendoza family originally lived in the place named Mendoza, which is the province of Alava. This place-name was originally derived from the Basque word mendi, which means mountain and otz, which means cold.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mendoza, de Mendoza, Mendozo, Mendosa, de Mendosa, Mendoso and many more.

First found in Castile, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Among the early travellers to the New World was Antonio de Mendoza, the first Viceroy of New Spain (1535). He founded a university and established a printing press. He died in Lima, Peru in 1552. Also of note was Alfonso de Mendoza, who accompanied Hernn Corts to Mexico. He later voyaged to Peru, and in 1548 he founded the city of La Paz, Bolivia. Perhaps the most famous family member to reach the New World was Pedro de Mendoza, courtier to King Carlos V, Knight of the Orders of Alcntara and Santiago. In 1534 he set out for the Ro de la Plata region, where two years later he founded the city of Buenos Aires. At least four other family members held important military or administrative offices during the early years of conquest and discovery. Other early migrants to the New World bearing this surname included Cristbal de Mendoza, who sailed to America in 1511.

Coat of Arms

A red shield with five silver leaves.

the name of pulido

2009-05-19T20:31:00.001-07:00

Pulido

Spanish Origin

The Pulido surname comes from the Spanish word "pulido" meaning "polished," "neat" or "handsome;" as such, this surname is thought to have evolved from a nickname.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pulida, Pulido, Polido and others.

First found in the mountains of Burgos, in Northern Spain. The City of Burgos was the capital of the kingdom of Castile in the 11th century.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francisco Polido, who settled in Guatemala in 1538; Maria Pulida, who arrived in New Spain in 1594; Juan Pulido, who came to Peru in 1565; Alonso Martin Pulido, who came to Ecuador in 1577.

Coat of Arms

A red shield with a gold lion rampant, within a gold border, charged with eight serpent heads.

this mother's day

2009-05-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

When I came home in the rain,
my brother asked, "Why didn't you take an umbrella?"

My sister advised, "Why didn't you wait till the rain stopped?"

Father angrily warned, "You will realize only after you get a cold!"

But Mother, while drying my hair, said, "Stupid rain! Couldn't it wait, till my child gets home?"

Now that's a MOM!

featuring a day's life

2009-04-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Just a few preliminary attempts of the photographers of OPS.

the fuss with chicken

2009-04-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

Why are chickens afraid of the day after Thursday?
Because it's Fried Day.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
I still have to see them race.

Why did the chicken cross the road?
This chicken was like any other chicken. When it was still a very young chick it was full of ambitions and it was enthusiastic and this chick's parents were so proud you see. And while growing up the chick was with a dozen other siblings in that brood. And the chick knew it must be different and do something different. So this chick went to grade school and had a great time. Its favorite of all in the campus grounds was this swing. The chick would swing and make all the plans it wanted to do when it was already a fully-grown chicken. The chick grew healthy of mind and heart and when it reached high school it also suffered all the angst related with that age, see. When the chick enrolled in university it was sure it will enroll in Engineering. Upon graduating the five-year course, the chick, now a chicken, knew it isn't contented with that so it also pursued a course in Laws. The world will always have one more place for a lawyer, not matter how many the jokes they came up about lawyers. When finally the chicken accepted that it must live the rest of its life with the rooster of its dreams, the chicken finally realized that it must cross the road because the rooster is on the other side. And so the chicken did.

reasons, seasons, lifetimes

2009-04-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

I am not for forwarding emails. But Coco somehow in a way tagged me and challenged me to spread the material below. For what, I don't know. It's all in the dare I guess. So here goes.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real, but only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

Photo: "This Time and Tide" by This Girl

when the heart is full

2009-04-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

January 4 1997
Sunday

It's a Sunday afternoon...
and as the post-Christmas sun blazes outside,
I sit on our bed
and contemplate on how blessed I am...
with my husband sleeping at my left...
and my baby daughter in her crib at my right...
perhaps nothing, almost nothing,
could get better than this.

As they both sleep,
I offer a silent prayer of praise and thanksgiving
to the Lord who made all this possible.

- a little note I found when cleaning out some old boxes

fly, mama fely, fly

2009-03-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

“The closest bonds we will ever know are the bonds of grief. The deepest community is one of sorrow.” We are sad, yes indeed. But even in this time of sorrow, my family is grateful. And gratitude is a higher tribute than grief.

We are gathered this beautiful morning for Felicitas Tabil Mendoza. Each one of us is here because somehow, in one way or another, she has touched our lives. And to us her family, she was and will always be a beloved wife, mother and grandmother. We are so proud of her being our mother. And we ask ourselves - How did we get so lucky?

Mom's beginnings were modest. It all started 69 years ago, in a small barrio called Macabayao, Misamis Occidental. Born to Crisanta and Marcos Tabil, she was named Felicitas, meaning happiness in Spanish. My mother belonged to a brood of seven children, and she was the second to the youngest.

Mom and her sisters, Aunt Lising and Aunt Baby, were so very close that they were like triplets of different ages. Sharing everything sisters share and loving each other so completely, their bond remained throughout life and it has never been broken, much more now that they have all passed away.

Papa met my mom in her office, where she worked as the pretty and efficient secretary of a person who would later be one of Cagayan de Oro's mayors. On January 7, forty-two years ago, my mom and dad got married. While growing up and now that I am a married man myself, Mama and Papa showed me a kind of love that is unconditional and the eternal type that poets write about and regular folks hope to attain someday. Once my mom had focused on the family business, she was always where Papa is, and it was a relationship of love, work and fun and supporting each other. It was a joint apostolate for the “Let There Be Light” Community and the God the Father Community for them.

What Mom offered to her family and friends is a love so earnest and unending that absolutely nothing could shake its tenacity or endurance. I know that even if Mom didn't like something that we did, it meant nothing compared to how much she loved us. She was the center of our home, and she was a pillar for her relatives and close friends. The power of that love overcame any kind of adversity, thus letting us know we mattered more than everything and anything else.

I can especially remember my sister Magi and I struggling in our early grades, and Mom helped us with constant patience until we understood Math, English, and eventually everything else; I don't know what I would have done without her quiet and graceful intelligence.

Even during my teens and early 20's life, my friends were always welcome in the house and they knew it. My mother would make us snacks and we'd hang out watching TV, playing basketball, or listening to records. Mom's love for us extended to our friends and then eventually to when in-laws came into the family.

Mom always opened that umbrella of love for them; and Papa Jun, Mama Precy, Hans and Helen were never considered anything but part of the family, and it was well reciprocated. Her love for my wife, Heidi was so seamless and Mom loved her as if she was her own daughter. When we had Annika and Angela, Mom was thrilled to become a grandma, and she cherished that role very much and she doted on Nika and Gela and marveled at everything that they did.

Mom had been sickly, but she was completely unafraid, often radiant with happiness, beaming at all the people she loved. At whatever state her heart was in, she used every last bit of her strength so we could be together and be with her just a bit longer.

There is much more I could talk about Mom, but none of it would be enough to capture her amazing zest for life and immense capacity to love. She was struck with thyroid problem that weakened her heart and she was a diabetic. Increasingly weakened by the disease, Mom never let that stop her from loving us, cooking or overseeing meals for our Sunday lunch and dinner, being a part of the planning sessions for our family business, or giving us that smile when we needed it.

We all know how much pain she endured, but we also are buoyed by the spirit of her love and faith in us despite the odds against her. She was there for us whenever we needed to talk, to get a hug, or to just be together. Whenever we had a problem, Magi and I knew Mom would listen and give us the best advice. Now we feel a great void with her gone, but I know she can still be there for us if we shut our eyes and remember that she is with us always.

Mom, I love you and miss you but your smile is burned into my heart and soul. Papa, Magi, Heidi, your grand daughters, Annika Michelle and Angela Marionne and the rest of your family and friends are all so fortunate to have had you in their lives and your impact on us and the strength of your love will never be forgotten.

The last days with Mom in the hospital taught me so many lessons and made me aware of so many things that to the last moment, I know that Mom is ever there, guiding me. And now, I truly believe that my mom is in a better place free from all her pain and struggles. I wish her peace and happiness until we will all meet again one day.

To all of you, our relatives, friends, acquaintances and partners - Thank you all for your comfort and support, we greatly appreciate it. It truly warms our hearts to know we have each other for Mama.

Mama, go with God. Fly, Mom, fly!

________________________________
Eulogy for Felicitas T. Mendoza
offered by Al Michael T. Mendoza
March 27 2009, Greenhills Memorial Park
Cagayan de Oro City

photos in explore

2009-03-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

Flickr labs have been hard at work creating a way to show some of the most awesome content on Flickr. It is called interestingness.

Besides being a five syllable word suitable for tongue twisters, it is also an amazing new Flickr Feature.

There are lots of elements that make something 'interesting' (or not) on Flickr. Where the clickthroughs are coming from; who comments on it and when; who marks it as a favorite; its tags and many more things which are constantly changing. Interestingness changes over time, as more and more fantastic content and stories are added to Flickr.

Interestingness is what Flickr calls the criteria used for selecting which photos are shown in Explore. All photos are given an Interestingness "score" that can also be used to sort any image search on Flickr. The top 500 photos ranked by Interestingness are shown in Explore. Interestingness rankings are calculated automatically by a secret computer algorithm. The algorithm is often referred to by name as the Interestingness algorithm.

Although the algorithm is secret, Flickr has stated that many factors go into calculating Interestingness including: a photo's tags, how many groups the photo is in, views, favorites, where click-throughs are coming from, who comments on a photo and when, and more. The velocity of any of those components is a key factor. For example, getting 20 comments in an hour counts much higher than getting 20 comments in a week.

Here are my 21 photos that made it to Explore so far.

1. kiss me in the rain 2. when seeds fall to the ground 3. get well soon mama fely 4. reach for the light 5. mas azul que esto 6. this knotted preview 7. on my way to you 8. yellow for this valentine 9. day 12: limited prospects 10. day 05: banished light 11. alphabetic collection - W 12. alphabetic collection - U 13. alphabetic collection - I 14. all is said and done 15. alphabetic collection - C 16. colors of the season 17. happy birthday annika 18. the heart is resilient 19. one day i'll fly away 20. ablazed this way 21. or so it seems

time for smart blah blah

2009-03-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's a long time I've read or heard something like this. Thank you, Mike Banos. Never realized that I crave some mind tickles. Prepare to leap when you face the sarchasm!

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words.

1. Coffee (n), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj), describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n), (back by popular demand) The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are this year's winners:

1. Bozone (n): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
3. Cashtration (n): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease.
9. Karmageddon (n): it’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
13. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
14. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

"Heidi's Drive" Photo by Mike Mendoza

when females fight

2009-03-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

The simple title is very graphic. But let me explain.

Females like me are done with the ritual of looking up through lashes and whispering behind fans with other lady friends. As a matter of fact, I don't like sharing stories with the so-called girlfriends. And I don't like going into the powder room with other ladies. At all.

Hugh Jackman can lasso and Christian Bale can scream. But us females - we have a whole lot of other things in our own world. And it's not a totally friendly world at all.

Start with the boutique. You come in and you set your sights on a fetching red number hanging on an unassuming rod. You pick it up and you to try it on. As you go inside the fitting room, two women will be staring at you and the dress.

It's as if like, what am I thinking? When you emerge from the cramped space and you are returning the dress, another woman will snatch it from you and try it on herself. And if you end up buying it, another female will ask for that same blouse from the sales assistant.

And the mirrors in those boutiques! They are very cruel if they happen to be a big one by the wall. Never stand before a mirror! Or else you'll only end up either scrutinized by the bombshell at your left, or sneered at by the heavyweight at your right.

I used to spend two nights in a week dancing in the sports center nearest the house. But the gym has closed those dance sessions, so I proposed to a former acquaintance that we pursue our dance nights at the gym located in the commercial district instead. She voted no immediately.

She told me that the other women in that facility will gauge you by the brand of shoes or dance apparel you wear or the bottled water you drink or the gym bag you lug around. Heaven forbid if they categorize you by the sweat you manage to muster, not because of the exercise but because of the self-consciousness you try to hide.

And again! The gym mirrors! They are the most unforgiving of all! They could almost see your soul in there!

Whenever I go to salons for a hair trim, I often pick the corner seats to avoid the dames who feel like divas entering the place. You'd know them when you smell them, because you can sniff them the moment the door would open six meters away from you. Then they would drop their signature bags on the cozy chairs as they ask for their regular hair color.

Whenever I go to the grocery, I try to memorize the items I need to get and pick them as fast as possible. You don't want to reach out to your box of cereals with your chipped nails, while the woman beside you contemplate on the benefits of green tea and black tea and advises you that your preference for strawberry flavor is very juvenile.

Oh yes. It's played in a subtle fashion. But it's actually a bitch versus bitch world out there. Men no longer have the monopoly of complaining that it's such a competition and the next guy is out for your neck.

So let's bring the animosity to the highway. Driving comfortably in my 60km per hour speed, I look down upon female drivers who cannot decide on which lane to take. Following a car one day, I thought it was high time I play my own battle and I honked.

She was swerving left and right at the merciful speed of 30, and cannot even keep an intersection open! When the lights were green, she stopped to let people cross the street and the red light caught us. I honked again in desperation.

Then I maneuvered my SUV beside her car and I looked at her the way my first grade teacher had looked at me when I couldn't spell the word "happy". If looks could kill. Then I tossed my hair at her and I put on my big sunglasses.

Ah, I fight too. Without claws for the meantime.

the early mornings

2009-02-13T02:22:00.000-08:00

The idea came from Mike. He wants to avoid crowds of the "gathered faithful" on Sundays. And he wants to avoid priests with bad homilies who run a speech like a political rally.

But I laid down the rule that our family must get to church once a week. So as if inspired by an original intervention, he woke us up early one Saturday morning and we attended the Holy Mass in the Xavier University Chapel.

And thus began our very own family tradition. We all loved it. I love the idea of waking up and really seeing the morning and starting it with the family walking together to the chapel. The girls are also excited because Saturday mornings after the Mass mean a breakfast in any of the restaurants or hotels around the city that are awake to offer a meal.

And Mike gets his solemn Mass celebrated with a handful of people in a familiar chapel, in the campus of his boyhood, a priest who is from the not so young breed of beating-around-the-bush orators and also from the not so old breed of holier than thou clerics, and a quick straight-to-its-business liturgy since there are no out-of-tune choirs that disrupt the prayers with their songs.

Oh I've stopped being righteous about the reasons of the family and I've stopped being defensive about not really attending the Sunday Mass - but the schedule works for us - it brings us together - the time and the place give us the needed experience of the sacred and the holy - and we've actually looked forward to doing it every Saturday. I think those simple considerations matter most to me.

And I've started working on a little project to celebrate our Saturdays - with the permission of Fr. Nil Guillemette, the Jesuit presider of these Eucharistic celebrations, I am posting his homily reflections in a simple blog -

The Early Mornings

as a token of my appreciation and my own way of celebration of what it all means to me.

http://theearlymornings.blogspot.com/

gloomy days

2009-01-17T02:13:00.000-08:00

Photo by Mike Mendoza

raining. pouring. persisting.

2009-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mike and I shot the ominous black clouds hanging over Malasag Hill last January 2. We never had an inkling it would lead to torrential rains for days and for displacing families when the water level rose and flooded houses in some areas of the city.

Mike and I again went out into the night last January 10, watching and waiting for the moon, purported to be on its brightest and biggest that night. After two hours of wondering if the clouds covering it would give us a lucid window, the moon shone above our heads and Mike and I snapped our pictures. But only for a very few minutes, for clouds once again covered the moon as fast as it let us into an opportunity to click. We also didn't have an idea that this would lead into another series of heavy rain and strong winds all over the city and its environs!

Three days into the torrents and here is the Philippines:

Where are Mindanao and the Visayas islands? Incredible! For the first time in my twelve years in Cagayan de Oro, I am seeing powerful winds sway the branches of the mango trees in our garden and rattle the french windows from their hinges.

Hand in hand with blasting radio commentators are my mother's invitation for the family to spend the next few days in Davao City, where the rains are not as bad. Some friends losing their houses AND some friends working on relief operations to assist those affected by the disaster all around. Private sector organizations rounding up donations AND politicians trying to be visible for election points.

Students preparing for major examinations AND students glad to stay at home because of the rain. People scaring each other with calamity stories growing bigger by the minute AND communication companies enjoying the endless forwarding of messages all over the country. Worrying over the family pet getting wet in his doghouse from the rain shower AND dead farm animals floating along the town streets.

Thinking that the people behind the miserable drainage system of the city must be damned AND relieved that the non-locals who barraged into the city and set up settlements in areas beside rivers must finally decide to go back where they came from so the city will be cleaned. (I so totally avoid starting on those denuded forests AND irresponsibility of corporations.)

Finally - I worry that I just am not able to capture rain perfectly in my camera AND praying that this rain will grow silent soon so life will return to normal.

Image from Google Earth

theater by the harbor

2009-01-08T16:14:00.000-08:00

Oh what a delight it is to know that one of my photos has been selected for inclusion in the newly released sixth edition of the Schmap Sydney Guide! Taken during my Australian trip last 2006, I never had any indication that a few years after, that shot will return to that country continent to grace one of its city guides.

Sydney Opera House Opera Theatre

Seating 1,547, this is home of the renowned Opera Australia and Australian Ballet. With an outstanding repertoire of both new and old, both companies stage several productions, running on consecutive night, around four times per year. The theater has a wooden ceiling, which enhances the acoustics. It has a proscenium stage and a screen above it onto which English subtitles can be projected for performances sung in their original language.

Here is that page:

www.schmap.com/sydney/entertainment_opera/p=38556/i=38556_21.jpg

This shot was taken during a walk with the city mayor of Cagayan de Oro and other local officials and business leaders when we went to Australia and New Zealand for a trade mission. It was one of those days when the sun was kind to tourists like us.

I entitled this photo "It Stands There."

Flickr Photo by This Girl

landing on the moon

2009-01-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

I admit that I have been remiss of my blogging for a while. I was even afraid that like the past year, my zeal for doing this online journal has died too. But I think I am ready now to start 2009 with a little bit of good news.

A story came out in PC World online and one of my photos was featured.

Fantastic Flickr Photographers

Millions of photographs are posted on the photography site Flickr, but a small subset of them demonstrate a leap of technique and imagination. We showcase some of these interesting artists.

by Kathleen Cullen, PC World

The page where my photo above is featured is here:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/155808-12/fantastic_flickr_photographers.html

The photo, "Wish Someone Could", is my shot of a morning moon and a bird flying by, camera settings with the help of Mike. And for its post-processing, I used some of the free textures available in the Internet to create the picture I have imagined. As taking photos and processing them is a pleasure in itself, this opportunity to be noticed and invited into articles like this is indeed a feather in the cap.

Flickr Photo by This Girl

year-end family holiday

2008-12-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

Three smiles.

Three reasons.

Why it has been a very good year.

Photos by This Girl

wedding bliss

2008-12-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Wedding Anniversary, Babe! Hey it's been twelve years!

And yet to hear a husband's I LOVE YOU is as thrilling as ever! To take matters on a light note - here are some stuff (some edited) I've gathered from my emails - to celebrate husbands, the married quirks, and that banter and laughter shared just by two people.

***

One day my housework-challenge husband decided to wash his
sweat-shirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, 'What setting do I use on the washing machine?'
'It depends,' I replied. 'What does it say on your shirt?'
He yelled back, ' University of Oklahoma.'

***

Q: What do you call an intelligent, good looking, sensitive man?
A: A rumor.

***

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom to understand my man,
love to forgive him, and patience for his moods.
Because Lord, if I pray for strength, I'll beat him to death.
Amen.

***

Q: Why do little boys whine?
A: They are practicing to be men.

***

Q: What does it mean when a man is in your bed gasping for breath and calling out your name?
A: You did not hold the pillow down long enough.

Image from Glitter Graphics

merry christmas

2008-12-25T01:23:00.000-08:00

Photo by This Girl

christmas eve

2008-12-24T20:57:00.000-08:00

a tree covered in lights and tassels and decorations..
christmas gifts wrapped and boxed scattered at its foot..
whew! it had been a race to finish the
tree and those gifts the whole afternoon!

the refrigerator carrying the simple fare..
but of course the preparation had been not so easy..
cooking is not really a strength, you might say..
but there's spaghetti, and fruit salad..
a healthy vegetable salad with italian dressing too..
and the fruits! apples and grapes and oranges..

the table.. aahh the table! it's a masterpiece..
with the red mantle and the red candles now lit..

the house scrubbed and cleaned..
the people important to the heart had arrived..

.. but where is everyone?
locked up in rooms and jailed inside their angry hearts?
.. screaming silently and crying unshed tears?

the candles flutter in the soft wind from the windows..
the tiny lights continue to illuminate softly..

.. and silence

somewhere..
this is christmas eve for someone..

season's greetings!

2008-12-20T00:11:00.000-08:00

list #02 so plugged in

2008-12-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

Except for that incident a long time ago when my younger sister Helen was still small and one inconsequential day dared to poke the wall socket with a pin and she got a mild shock and I got my first scare with plugs and electricity I am really awed by the inspired creativity and genius of engineers and creators who spewed out all kinds of appliances and gadgets that by putting negative and positive together they can make aluminum and tin and metal go whirl, burn, scream, illuminate, flow, whizz, turn and kaplunk. Breathe.

Imagine

multi laser disc player attached to the telly
dvd player attached to the telly
decoder attached to the telly
5-speaker system and subwoofer attached to the telly
this telly attached to the automatic voltage regulator
the automatic voltage regulator to the wall of the tv room

d2360 deskjet printer attached to the laptop
external hard disk drive attached to the laptop
2-speaker system attached to the laptop
ipod nano attached to the laptop
wireless cardbus adapter attached to the laptop
this laptop attached to the wall of the family room

5550 deskjet printer attached to the desktop
altec lansing 2-speaker system & subwoofer attached to the desktop
scanner attached to the desktop
wireless broadband router attached to the desktop
lcd monitor attached to the desktop
keyboard attached to the desktop
mouse attached to the desktop
this desktop attached to the automatic voltage regulator
the automatic voltage regulator to the wall of the family room

60gb ipod attached to the speaker system
altec lansing 2-speaker system & subwoofer attached to the telly
dvd player attached to the telly
this telly attached to the wall of the bedroom

I cannot go to the dining area yet as I don't even want to start looking at the knick-knacks on the sink off the sink and around the sink because naturally they are all there with some of them just humming twenty-four hours a day to keep the household alive and not only that but if you throw in the fish tank for measure then that's another community of wires and plugs and speaking of plugs so many toys are needing to be charged at the end or the start of the day with each one in the house owning a minimum of one mobile telephone unit so can you imagine now not only here in this house but also in yours! Breathe.

gem in the dark

2008-12-11T19:00:00.000-08:00

I choose to love you fiercely
even if it means I must take the risk

that you will not understand it.

Photo by This Girl

in no less degree

2008-12-09T02:20:00.000-08:00

I've seen women handle themselves in various ways.

Some clutch on the trendiest bags and maintain a regular schedule with their dermatologist and hair stylist. Some look at the soft glowing advertisement on the glossy magazine - ready to buy that pack of cigarette which will bring any woman to that fancy place she deserves. Some leave the one they love and choose to be with the one who will take care of them. Some survive through the day with smiles and face their nightmares alone at dawn. Some knit.

I don't know what I'd do if I ran for Vice President, have the whole world pick on my family and wardrobe, and then actually not put me in that office at all.

I don't know what I'd do if all my nightmares came true.

I do not know how to knit.

Photo by This Girl

world of fun

2008-12-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

Three weekends ago, Gela went on her first malling expedition with friends from school, so I dragged Nika and myself along with her.

There were more than a dozen girls in the group, of varying ages. It was the birthday of one of the younger girls, and they have created this new party of sorts by just hanging around the mall for hours and doing the cool mall things. Gela and Nika were ecstatic with this new development.

We started by waiting. There must be a proponent somewhere who will pass a motion that all girls around the world be enjoined to be patient with each other especially when one is ahead and the other is late in arriving at a designated meeting place. I want to discuss that one first though.

So we had pizza and pasta. It seemed like my daughters were skimming over that lunch, as everyone's heart were pounding for the main agenda of this adventure inside an air-conditioned mall.

Everyone was really holding her breath for this - the World of Fun. The end wing on the second floor of the mall filled with whizzing sounds and frenzied children. We needed to buy tokens. And armed with the tokens - we hit the games! The girls suddenly had this dazed passionate looks on their faces and and almost trembled while running to the game booths.

Then I started using my tokens and my own fun began. It was a feast that I cannot tell which to play and where to begin. And judging from my few tokens at hand, I knew I must choose the games where I would not end up like a fool.

But blimey! Gela clamped out two stuffed things I cannot name from Toy Story. We cannot understand the mechanics of King's Castle. An old man was hogging the SlamaWinner. And there was Jungle Jive and Dreamy Falls and Pirate's Gold and Sharp Shooter. I even saw an acquaintance sitting down over at a betting table. She said she was waiting for her son.

The objective of the place was for players to collect tickets from all the game booths. And later exchange those tickets for toys and cool stuff and what not's in the Prizes counter. But my aim was to have fun. And to be in a place where it's acceptable to scream.

I followed Nika to the Mini Basketball booth. There was a swirling goal and you have to shoot balls. You get a ticket for each ball going down the ring. But I also gave a whoop each time I would make a hoop! This made Nika irritated. And to my dismay, she spanked me in the hand for a few times and quite frankly told me to go away farther from her. The mom is embarrassing the child.

That was not nice I guess and it clouded the whole experience for me. So I gave my last tokens to her and I chose to sit down and read a book. In the middle of the world of fun.

But a plan is brewing. I'm gonna go back here. Bring a lot of tokens and play alone. And I will scream all I want. And collect those silly tickets. And claim a sillier prize at the end of the day.

I think that would be my revenge.

But I don't think that would be fun at all.

holidays a'commin'

2008-11-27T13:00:00.000-08:00

Carmen Marc Valvo

Gold Cotton-Silk Metal Beaded Dress

Vera Wang
Red Silk Square Neck Belted Dress

Cynthia Rowley
Blue Gold Silk Brocade Strapless Dress

Designer Short Evening Dresses from Bluefly

goodbye for now

2008-11-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that you're really gone now
Seems like it's all just a dream
How can it be that the world will go on
When something has died within me?

Leaves will turn, my heart will burn with colors of you
Snow will fall but I'll recall your warmth
Summer wind breathing in your memory
I'll miss you

But there will be a time when I'll see your face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye for now

I can't imagine my life without you
You've held a place all your own
Just knowing you were beneath the same sky
Oh, what a joy I have known

On rainy days, in many ways, you'll water my heart
On starry nights I'll glimpse the light of your smile
Never far from my heart you'll stay with me
So I'll just wait

'Cause there will be a time when I'll see your face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye for now

But there will be a time when I'll see that face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye just for now

Goodbye for now

how much is 2 cents?

2008-11-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

I am suddenly interested with this amount as I happen to get advices all the time. For what's the worth of a friendly word or reminder?

In my Nokia Inbox:

"Don't let someone become a priority in your life when you are just an option in theirs. Relationships work best when they are balanced."

"Value yourself. Sometimes your very existence gives hope to others."

In my Yahoo Inbox:

"Angels exist, only sometimes they haven't got wings and we call them friends."

"Control your emotions. You should also know and realize that the people who make your day bad are jewels because you need them for you to mature."

In my Hotmail Inbox:

"Take the domestic flight of Vietnam Airline from HCM city to Hue at the earliest time, depart at 7:00 and arrive Hue at 8:20 am. In Hue, you book the Saigon Morin Hotel that has a good view by the river."

"Pour water directly into the vase to provide moisture for the plant."

In my Flickr Inbox:

"I presume the photo was taken in the afternoon. You can lower your ISO to say 120, apperture to 7, speed to say below 100 to give you a not so saturated shot."

"Pay very close attention to the reflections & lighting behind you - and any shadows. Eliminate them whenever possible."

HERE ARE MY TWO CENTS.

Meaning: An individual's opinion. Origin: "My two cents' worth" (or "two bits' worth") implies that, in order to express and opinion, a small charge is levied. This could well be a simple notional charge and not related to any actual payment. It has been suggested that "two cents" was the minimum wager required of a new player in order to enter poker games. There's no documentary evidence to support that idea. The US version of the phrase is pre-dated by the British "two-penneth" and there's little reason to believe "two cents' worth" to be anything other than a US translation of that. The card-playing origin of the phrase could just as well apply to the British version but, without evidence, that's merely speculation. [The Phrase Finder]

"My two cents" and its longer version "put my two cents in" is an American idiomatic expression, taken from the original British idiom expression: to put in "my two pennies worth" or "my tuppence worth". It used to preface the tentative stating of one’s opinion. By deprecating the opinion to follow — suggesting its value is only two cents, a very small amount — the user of the phrase hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement, showing politeness and humility. However, it is also sometimes used with irony when expressing a strongly felt opinion. The phrase is also used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions. [Wikipedia]

list #01 of harry and hangers

2008-11-19T07:10:00.000-08:00

Though I've never indulged in them yet, I love lists. Just like the way I love to make sure that the spaces on the left side and the right side of a book laid down on a table are equal.

The bedroom of Nika and Gela is the best way to start my list mania. They've left for school, and without argue, they also left a trail behind them. Scattered together with the sheets and pillows on the still unmade beds, sprawled on the floor carpet, under the side tables, in a jumble on top of these side tables, taped on the wall, and hanging from the cabinet handles.

9-year old dirty-gray shirted plush puppy toy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hard-bound
damp pink terry towel
damp yellow terry towel
St. Mary's School necktie
half-opened blue umbrella
list to bring to school on Wednesday, November 19
Speedo Smoke/Titanium Rapide Junior Goggles
a plastic bottle half-filled with stones
green pants hanger
pink blouse hanger
9-year old neck-injured dirty-yellow plush giraffe toy
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You
little pink heart note sheets
red tomato-designed pin cushion
My Scene yet unopened Chelsea Sailor Sweeties doll
a plastic organizer half-filled with sea shells
The Labrador Retriever, a Terra-Nova book
Card Captor Sakura picture cut out from a poster
bubble gum wrapper
purple colored pen
YSL Baby Doll Eau de Toilette pink box (where's the bottle?)
YSL Baby Doll Eau de Toilette blue box (where's the bottle?)
an unfinished "Bayanihan sa Pamayanan" homework
a blue comb with a lost tooth
Tinker Bell wallet
socks, socks, socks, socks

What can I say -
this bedroom bedlam is a fantastic way to start a list series!

when i play secretary

2008-11-16T02:45:00.000-08:00

After three years of being the Secretary General of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, I hung my performing hat and bag of tricks, signifying the end of being the eyes, ears and hands of an organization.

A few weeks after leaving the chamber, the family business worked on its incorporation and I was automatically named Corporate Secretary. I think it was expected. The rest of the family must think I am so attached and friendly and familiar with papers and records.

My photography group, the Oro Photographic Society, recently elected its officers and hands-down, I was named Secretary. Maybe because I'm the sole female member, and maybe also because that was the guys' plan all along.

Being the Secretary is a boon and a bane. You know everything, and having access to the information gives you a central role to the organization. But it's just like being a bridesmaid too - you are so there in the altar among the officers, yet you are not actually the bride wearing the gown of power.

I have always dawdled and put off the preparation of the papers of the corporation I'm organizing. Should be the best time to finish it and for a change - be the President!

how to be a teacher

2008-11-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

After a complete week of classes, I was already armed with the first paper submissions of the 170 students enrolled in the Business Management subject that I teach.

Angela, my undeniably 9-year old Mini Me, was reading the papers and checking out which one she would like. After picking up one with a respectable cover and with more features than the rest - because she said this one had a goal, and she liked that - Angela has lined up for me the Do's and Do Not's of teaching.

She was at it a good deal of the day so I asked her to write them on paper so I won't forget. Here are the seven points she laid down for me:

1. Once you get inside the classroom say "Good morning" or "Good afternoon".

2. Bad posture is bad so make sure they are seated properly. If they are not, say "Please sit properly: back straight and feet on the ground".

3. If you are discussing and you notice your students are not listening, call their attention for a "quiz" to check if they were listening.

4. Once you told them that you are having a "quiz", tell them you will only say the question 2 times.

5. If they talk to you not in English, do not entertain them.

6. If you want your class to enjoy, have fun or make fun with them at the end of your class.

7. Once you say goodbye, tell them to wait for their next teacher.

P.S. When they ask you why you are so strict or how did you get these ideas tell them: "You will/shall learn the basics in college if you want to be a teacher." Don't tell them your daughter (me) taught you.

The view from a grade school girl! My work load is just two hours a day. But oh boy. My business students will get a surprise next week!

Angela's photo by Mike Mendoza

these precious moments

2008-11-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Fifth photo walk with Mike today.

Destination: Camp Phillips, Bukidnon
Time start: 05.30am
Time end: 09.30am

cold relaxed drive
flower-lined lanes
proud pine trees
smell of a new day
dew on the grasses
shy sun through the trees
quaint houses in a line
people slowly walking to church
men jogging in the soccer field
a grandpa leading a young boy
pausing to take photos
confirmation in a touch
the search for breakfast
a sweet weekend morning

wonderful moments to make beautiful memories

Photo by Mike Mendoza
My 5th photo walk photos here

renewing vows

2008-11-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

I love weddings. Whether they hired a professional organizer or not. I always hold my breath for the what is for me the most important thing.. that bride's walk to the altar. It's the clincher to the entourage. It's the choir's dream song. It's the grand entrance. It's the close-up moment.

We attended a wedding ceremony today. Curious to check out the motif and flowers. Time to listen to cheers and advices for couples - be they newlyweds or not. And to play dress up with the man who waited for me at the foot of the altar almost twelve years ago.

Photos by Mike Mendoza

some classes to teach

2008-11-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

Course Number:
BM12

Course Title:
Business Research

Course Description:
The course affords the student a look into the factors that make a business enterprise successful. The student realizes that a business entity is not put up overnight but that a thorough research into demand analysis, production, finance, marketing and economics is needed. Business research aims at maintaining competitive advantage and attaining organizational objectives efficiently.

General Objective:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to submit a business plan and to defend the plan before a panel.

Specific Objectives:
1. To introduce the student to the world of business research.
2. To illustrate how a thorough business research can aid in the formulation of a business plan.
3. To illustrate how a thorough business research increases the feasibility of a business plan.
4. To involve the student in the actual planning, organizing and strategizing for a business enterprise that they will actually be implementing.

a wife's life

2008-11-04T00:27:00.001-08:00

What the!?!

That is not just a question anymore. It has evolved into a full-pledged expression of its own too. Of surprise and astonishment, anger and rage, surrender and capitulation.

I am not sure if wives know it, but their lives are a big WHAT THE!?!

You pick up after,
wake up before,
carry a name owned by,
make meals for,
sleep fitfully beside,
get glamorous around,
tighten your resolve about,
ride the emotional roller-coaster games with,
pound sense into,
receive endless excuses from,
work really hard to truly see through..

him.

Wives deserve ten stars.

Photo of this wife by Mike Mendoza

those photographs

2008-10-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Since getting the Canon EOS 1000D camera, I've had some good times clicking away, capturing the photos in raw format and processing them in Photoshop. Usually I chose one good shot out of the dozen I would usually take.

Most of these picks end up in my Flickr photostream. But sometimes, a photo doesn't make it. Maybe because Mike doesn't like it when I show it to him. Maybe because the photo lacks something. I don't know what, but it just comes up lacking.

Into the Water

I guess we go through lives making pictures out of the moments of our every day. Some come in dazzling colors, others better if just in simple black and white. Some we highlight with a frame, others are just there to fill a space or add to the numbers in the whole collection.

But as the photographer, like in our lives, we make sure that we click away. And we give everything to the shots we take. And though there will be photos we will never be able to capture, it's a big beautiful thought that we always gave our best to the ones we took.

in papa's memory

2008-10-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

papa
it has been seven years..

seven years since we've propped that photo
of 3-year old annika and 2-year old angela
beside your bed so you can look at it from time to time..
you've reached for it before you went to that endless sleep..
you said "i love you" to the girls in the photo..

i was holding your hand
i was sitting down close to the floor..
at your lower left side with my head on the bed
while you slept.. breathing heavily into the tubes..

then you started to become peaceful..
.. slowly you drifted.. softly into silence..

your hand i was holding.. it used to carry me i know..
you used to say you'd let me stand up
when i was still an infant as you hold my two feet..
and i tried to keep my balance..

i guess my life is an endless battle for balance, papa.

when everyone in the room started to panic
i whispered "i love you"

they say the last sense to leave you
as you die is your sense of hearing.
i know you heard me..

your hand started to get cold..
and gingerly i removed the wedding ring that
you were still wearing.
i told mama that i wanted to keep it.
i still have it now..

i had been difficult for you..
during my college years
you used to write me letters
telling me what i did that upset you.

when i was younger than that,
i used to go to your wardrobe
and embraced your smell that comes from the shirts.

i have your nose, you know.
and i guess i have your complexion too.
these past years i guess i'm having your impatience..
and i don't mind becoming a little like you

i grew up trying to make you happy.
i have always wanted to make you proud.
tendencies of first-borns, i guess..
and that challenge of having your family name..

you were the man i wanted to please
when i was a little girl.
and now as a woman,
i'm married to the man i wanted to please the most..

it's not an easy road though,
not very different when i was a teenager
and i would see you watching my moves..

if you are still watching me
i hope i've become a better person..

i guess my life is an endless battle for balance, papa.

time blurs the edges of the moments of our lives..
but it also highlights those we want to keep in our memory..

i may still cry when i remember you..
but those tears are warm and comforting.

this was the sun that was waking up when mike and i
went to offer a holy mass for you this morning.
i guess it's a lovely way to remember you
as you had been my sun..

i love you always

finding yourself

2008-10-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am not having one of those attacks of existential angst, and I think I am much more aware now of who and where I am. But finding yourself is a little bit of fun too, especially when you search for yourself in the world wide web.

So I typed Heidi Grace Mendoza in various websites and I came up with these interesting results:

Yahoo - 225,000
The first two entries are for my LinkedIn data and the third one is this blog. They weren't talking about me anymore by the 21st entry though.

Google - 540,000
Surprisingly, the first on the list is the link to the photo of Annika Michelle which I posted on my Flickr account and as a part of the pool of The Portrait Group . The entries on the first page of the results are all related to the press releases regarding my work with the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce.

Flickr - 84 results matching Heidi and Grace and Mendoza
These showed the photos I posted in my photo stream.

My search returned zero results in the various social networks like Facebook or Friendster or Multiply or anything whatever resembling such a site as I am a proud unbeliever of those. But I was directed to my own accounts when I searched in Geni and Shelfari.

More importantly though, I think the place where I want to end up finding my name is Amazon dot com. So.. I guess I have to write-publish-sell that book!

Photo by This Girl

mutually exclusive at most

2008-10-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

When I was still working for a government agency, I was going around the region and seeing all these wonderful places. I've been into these long drives. And since the journey is as important as the destination, I remember my favorite game on the road.

A simple question. Can be silly even. You choose one over the other. Simple as that. Or you can delve deeper into the answer, understand the reasons why that choice was made.

A good conversation starter. And the list can go on.

Run or fight?
Hot or cold?
Red Porsche or black stallion?
Up or down?

Baby pink or dark pink?
Half-full or half-empty?
Curse or praise?
Slow motion or fast forward?

Give or take?
Keep or discard?
Scream or whimper?
Chocolate or vanilla?

Love now or love forever?
Demand or enjoin?
Barbie or Bratz?
Wait or leave?

Photo by This Girl

this depth of field

2008-10-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

My mobile phone buzzed. It's a note from Jennifer, an acquaintance from MBA school who never misses sending her daily inspirational messages.

"Morning is a sign of God's great love for us, let us be thankful that we are given a new day to share His love with special people in our hearts. Good morning."

I placed the gadget in my bag and smiled at the man driving beside me. We are on our way to Manolo Fortich.

Mike and I are on our third photo walk this very sunny morning and we have images in our minds.. photos of golden sunflowers, distinct clouds in azure skies, interesting plants, the Macajalar Bay as seen from the rise, and even a cow grazing in green fields.

Mike had called us a photography tandem. Hhmm, I like that. These walks are precious to me. I think sharing the love of photography with the person you love is simply picture-perfect.

I reached out to touch him. Mike smiled. It's a bright sun-shiny day.

Photo by Mike Mendoza
My 3rd photo walk photos here

down side up

2008-10-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

If you pick up a book to read it but you plug in to your iPod to listen to an audio book, can you add an audio book to the list of the books you've read?

If someone has hurt you and you've made your effort to discuss and clear the issue, how much time does it take to heal? And must you make all the reaching out when you are the one aggrieved?

The rain falls too often these days. And though that means a little bit of work to clean up the veranda, that is good for the flowers. Rain either beats on your back, or refreshes your soul.

I live here on my knees as I try to make you see that you're everything I think I need here on the ground. But you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you go. The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down.*

* Gravity by Sara Bareilles

Photo by This Girl

it's alright to cry

2008-10-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

I never thought I am capable of doing it again. Crying from your stomach.. when your breathing stops and you feel a long pause.. no scream, no sob, no sound.. just a long extended cry from the very depths of where you exist.. desperate, bringing with its nothingness and silence all the pain you feel and you want to throw away.. or think can be blotted out with this one painful cry.

Like when Papa died.

I wish there was no need to discover I am capable of it again.

But today I learned. That I am.

through my daughters' eyes

2008-10-04T18:16:00.000-07:00

I was mad earlier today. Instead of using their bathroom, they were in mine. That was fine until they went out forty-five minutes later. All the rolled up clean towels were wet. My sink-side book was wet. Actually, everything was wet - wall cabinets, perfume bottles, everything.

At first instinct, I was mad like any other mom. But at second thought, I paused and laughed like anyone who harbors a pixie in her heart. They were playing of course. And that was fun and I must not deny them that.

I suddenly remembered my Bangkok trip a week ago. After a long time, I found red luscious "makopa" and I made sure I have a bag in the bar in my hotel room. It was a pleasing experience in Thailand munching on the beloved food of my youth while soaking in a warm bath in the tub.

Remembering a few things of that childhood.

Ganging up with other children in the street where we lived, climbing guava trees, staging shadow movies inside the cramped tool cabinet of the family living in the apartment above ours, stealing grapes from another neighbor, humming "Sing a Song" off-key while walking to my school, and running like mad when the geese would come out and chase me.

A water battle is not so bad. Most of all if it is done in one's mother's bathroom.

a bangkok photo diary

2008-10-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

September 24 International Symposium on Heritage Tourism
with Sally, Mike and Melissa

September 24 Thailand Ministry of Tourism & Sports Welcome Dinner
with Girard

September 25 Bangkok Street Walks
and the tuktuk

September 25 Tourism Authority of Thailand Luncheon Cruise
along Chao Phraya River

September 26 Heritage Tourism Symposium Plenary Chairmanship
at the Prince Damrong Auditorium

September 26 Rose Garden Floating Market
during the field trip

September 27 7th Thailand Tourism Awards
at the Bangkok Convention Centre

September 27 Shopping and Dining
at the Bangkok Convention Centre

secure connection failed

2008-09-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

I really tried more than three times to make a photo collage entry for Blogspot on my recent Bangkok trip but Google would not let me.

An error occurred during a connection to www.google.com.
Peer received a valid certificate, but access was denied.
(Error code: ssl_error_access_denied_alert)

The page you are trying to view can not be shown because the authenticity of the received data could not be verified. Please contact the web site owners to inform them of this problem.

And just how would I do that?

tentative topics of the 1mrc-ict

2008-09-21T01:00:00.000-07:00

Two weeks before the 1st Mindanao Resources Conference on ICT, and the preparations have reached a high pitch. The most important thing we're looking into right now is the program, and for the two-day event, here are the topics lined up subject to the availability and confirmation of the invited speakers:

Intervention for Mindanao ICT: Going the Needed Extra Mile
- Commission on Information & Communications Technology

The Report Card on Mindanao ICT Human Resources
- Commission on Higher Education

Bringing Viable Infrastructure and Services to Mindanao
- National Telecommunications Commission

Investors and Players in the Philippine ICT Industry
- Department of Trade and Industry

Mindanao as the Next Generation ICT Hub
- Cyber Services Group

ICT 101: Human Resource Supply and Demand in Mindanao
- Philippine Call Centers Alliance Inc.

The Current Issues Facing the BPO Industry
- SITEL Philippines Corporation

Growing and Preparing the ICT Youth
- Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology

Iligan ICT Reinforces Excellence in Education
- Iligan City ICT Council

Taking Specific Steps in Fueling the Growth of Davao ICT
- ICT Davao Inc.

The Enthusiasm and the Work Behind General Santos ICT
- ICT Solutions Association of Region 12 - General Santos City

Panning for the Best Find in the Cagayan de Oro ICT Goldmine
- DTI Misamis Oriental

Impact of Research and Development in Resource Availability
- Advanced Science and Technology Institute

Roadmap for a Government, Academe & Industry Linkage Program
- Technical Committee on TC GAIL Program

The Service Science, Management and Engineering Initiative
- IBM Philippines

The Challenges from Preparation to Recruitment
- Ateneo de Davao University

Our Human Resources: How Do they Fare and Where Do They Go?
- Synnex-Concentrix Corporation

The Right Mix of Hardware, Software and Peopleware
- Syntactics Inc.

Nurturing Small & Medium Information Technology Enterprises
- Office of the President MSME Program

Update on the Major Policy Resolutions for Mindanao ICT Development
- USAID Growth for Equity in Mindanao

I just hope that with the discussions in store, ICT stakeholders will attend the conference and take this invitation to assess, intervene for and monitor the industry.

getting dressed for speaking

2008-09-20T01:45:00.000-07:00

Time to start packing for Bangkok.

Canon camera - check.
Speech in Word file - check.
Powerpoint presentation - check.

Sunscreen - check.
The right suit - check?

Liz Claiborne has the answer.

Smart style you can count on- it's a philosophy we take pretty seriously. That's why we've conjured up the perfect wear-to-work essential that's not only versatile, but ultra-flattering too.

Jacket: Liz Claiborne Perfect Blazer
Color Grotto Blue
It's the return of refined dressing, so we've added iconic touches to this wear-to-work favorite such as crisp pinstripes, bias framing around the collar, princess seams and a curved hem for more of a tailored, feminine look. Crafted in crisp cotton twill. Finished with grosgrain accents and piped detailing.

Dress Pants: Liz Claiborne Perfect Pinstripe Trousers
Color Grotto Blue
Trousers feature a classic straight leg, no-gap pockets and a curtain waistband, which resists stretching for unbeatable shape retention and a superb fit. Compact twill fibers offer a refined finish and are ideal for seasonless wear.

Classics from Liz Claiborne

tutorial on lens flare

2008-09-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Oro Photographic Society will embark on a photo walk Saturday evening for the weekend Night Cafe of the city at Divisoria. That means I must prepare.. and I must study on how to avoid lens flare in my night shots.

Here are the notes I've gathered:

What is Lens Flare: Lens flare is created when non-image forming light enters the lens and subsequently hits the camera's film or digital sensor. This often appears as a characteristic polygonal shape, with sides which depend on the shape of the lens diaphragm. It can lower the overall contrast of a photograph significantly and is often an undesired artifact, however some types of flare may actually enhance the artistic meaning of a photo. Understanding lens flare can help you use it - or avoid it - in a way which best suits how you wish to portray the final image.

Minimizing Flare Through a Lens Hood: A good lens hood can nearly eliminate flare caused by stray light from outside the angle of view. Ensure that this hood has a completely non-reflective inner surface, such as felt, and that there are no regions which have rubbed off. Although using a lens hood may appear to be a simple solution, in reality most lens hoods do not extend far enough to block all stray light. This is particularly problematic when using 35 mm lenses on a digital SLR camera with a "crop factor," because these lens hoods were made for the greater angle of view. In addition, hoods for zoom lenses can only be designed to block all stray light at the widest focal length.

Minimizing Flare Through Composition: Flare is thus ultimately under the control of the photographer, based on where the lens is pointed and what is included within the frame. Although photographers never like to compromise their artistic flexibility for technical reasons, certain compositions can be very effective at minimizing flare. The best solutions are those where both artistic intent and technical quality coexist.

One effective technique is to place objects within your image such that they partially or completely obstruct any flare-inducing light sources. Even if the problematic light source is not located within the image, photographing from a position where that source is obstructed can also reduce flare. The best approach is to of course shoot with the problematic light source to your back, although this is usually either too limiting to the composition or not possible. Even changing the angle of the lens slightly can still at least change the appearance and position of the flare.

The basics from Understanding Camera Lens Flare

Photo by Marcelo Alves

garden greens

2008-09-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

I think I'm starting to live the life I like.

I get to prepare in early mornings the sandwiches for my girls, I can drive over to my husband's office to bring him a vegetable salad, I am doing a little research work to keep the juices flowing, I have the time to fold the ironed drapes and bed linens and arrange them in the cabinet, I am encouraged to feed my passion for photography, I have WiFi Internet connection at home to stay online for friends, the treadmill is working again, and yes.. I am starting my garden.

And I am recently filled to the brim with this organizing work for the ICT sector of the city. At home. Where should I take a break.. I go out into the yard and take snapshots of my plants. Fab.

Photo by This Girl

museum of three cultures

2008-09-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, for our weekend together time, I brought Annika and Angela to Capitol University for a visit to the Museum of Three Cultures.

It is an institution within the organization of Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City. From its main academic base, the Museum of Three Cultures houses galleries of the three rich intermingling cultures present in Cagayan de Oro City – the migrant lowland cultures of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City and the province of Bukidnon.. the indigenous peoples of Northern Mindanao.. and the Muslim M’ranao of Marawi.

This new tourism site in Cagayan de Oro City is a special dedication of Madame Laureana San Pedro Rosales, founder of the Capitol System of Schools, who started her educational apostolate in Mindanao in 1951 and served the three distinct culture groups of Mindanao. Thus, the museum traverses the three cultures to reach a concert of unity.

We began with the Prehistoric Gallery displaying a rare collection of artifacts of Cagayan de Oro and a collection of Chinese tradeware porcelain and pottery from Butuan City's archaeological sites. The collection of stones and bones and pottery were fascinating. And the girls were so happy to see the story of the "balanghai" and its role in the early trade - a familiar lesson in Philippine history.

The Kasaysayan Gallery houses a mixed and multi-disciplinary collection of historical and ethnological objects. Its main collection consists of rare period photographs of Cagayan de Misamis and North Mindanao, many of which date back to the Hispanic era and to the American era.

At this point, we were joined by Dr. Antonio J. Montalvan II, the Museum Curator and Director, who kindly involved himself into a short conversation with the girls. Annika and Angela discussed with him about knowing Juan Luna and studying about his famous paintings in their Civics class in St. Mary's School.

The Lumad Gallery shows ethnic crafts from the indigenous people of Bukidnon - basketry, jewelry and accessories, weaponry and musical instruments. Photos of the daily routine of the Higaonons were on display.

The center of the museum is the Posaka M'ranao Gallery which houses the personal collection of Madame Rosales. It showcases antique M'ranao brasswares, weaponry, ceremonial crafts, jewelry, wooden crafts, implements and musical instruments, and textiles. This collection is the most extensive in the entire Mindanao. Annika took to the intricate art in the brasswares, while Angela noted the chest laden with mother of pearls so similar to the one at home.

We spent a good time in Galerie Rawari, the girls interpreting the works of local budding artists of the area. Then we ended up visiting the Archive and office, where again Dr. Montalvan so generously shared the photos featured here.

Indeed, aside from being a great way to spend time with two enthusiastic and appreciative daughters, the Museum of Three Cultures now stands as a new place not only to tell the story of its founder's cultural biography, but also to show the dialogical kinship between the three cultures in Cagayan de Oro City.. and more importantly, to preserve the heritage of its people.

Material from the Brochure of the Museum of Three Cultures
Photos from the Collection of the Museum of Three Cultures

available in stands near you

2008-09-15T03:14:00.000-07:00

Ms. Myra, thanks for the tip!
Magazine Cover: MagMyPic

my canon 1000d project #1

2008-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Clouds, At All

One Sunday Sunrise

Early Morning Dig

Project #1: Sunrise
Site: Villa Ernesto Phase II Beach Line
Date and Time: September 14 2008 5:30am-6:30am

Photos by This Girl

confirm after reading

2008-09-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Cagayan de Oro City has been initiating various activities to develop the ICT sector, not only in the city and the region, but for Mindanao as a whole. One of its strong collaborations for this year is the hosting of the Cagayan de Oro ICT Business Council, with the RITECC of Region 10, of the

1st MINDANAO RESOURCES CONFERENCE
ON INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
October 2-3 2008 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant,
Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City

As we continue the efforts in bringing investments and jobs to our area in the country, we constantly face the challenge of equipping ourselves with competitive and efficient telecommunication infrastructure, and adequate pool of skills and talents from our human resource.

This Mindanao-wide conference is called to focus on these resources and see how Mindanao and its cities and other major areas would fare and continually prepare for this rapidly expanding global economy. We shall not only look at benchmarks, but we shall work on a road map that will help secure the needed human and technical resources.

We believe that you and your organization want to share in this goal. We are inviting you to be a part in the gathering of ICT stakeholders, business companies, government agencies, academic institutions and committed individuals eager to work together for ICT development.

You are warmly invited to participate in this two-day event. Coincidentally, the 1st Mindanao Resources Conference on ICT (1MRCi) is one of the major events of the 2nd Cagayan de Oro Business Enterprises, Services and Trade Exposition (Oro BEST Expo 2008) of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, Inc. For a minimal registration fee of One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1,500) per participant for the 1MRCi, you will find it most advantageous to your company as you can maximize your investment with the other related events.

We look forward to seeing you as we line up opportunities in the ICT sector. Join us as we AIM FOR ICT! Assessment, Intervention and Monitoring for Mindanao ICT Resources.

For your confirmation or inquiries, please contact the 1MRCi Secretariat c/o Ms. Cheche Seronay at the Oro Chamber Business Development Centre, President Macapagal Drive, Cagayan de Oro City through telephones (088) 859-1426, 859-2911 and 309-0044 or drop an email to orochamber@gmail.com.

a bug's life

2008-09-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mike Mendoza

things we can't learn in school

2008-09-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Ms. Ela! Thanks so much for this very interesting material - I'm keeping a copy for present and future use! But it's not from Bill Gates as purported around in the web. The original eleven rules are from a book not written by him. I just care for the ten though. So how are you? Tell me what you've been doing! Keep in touch!

Rule 1:
Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2:
The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3:
You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4:
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5:
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6:
If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7:
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8:
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9:
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10:
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.