My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

Cravings

I really enjoy food!!! I have to admit I may overindulge a bit. In a small city such as Ormoc, there isn't really a lot of choices for the adventuruos palate. And so with very few places to go to, kh1d and I picked out a couple of restaurants we enjoy going back to.

When we are pressed for time during lunch breaks we usually head off to eat some greasy fastfood stuff. And in Ormoc that usually means Jollibee. We enjoy the usual fares of spicy fried chicken and spaghetti and if we're really hungry, we eat a cup of steamed rice with it. Wash it down with a regular Coke and then nibble on some french fries. Yum yum...

Sometimes, when we have the luxury of time, we often go and grab something to eat in our favorite native restaurant. We always have the chicken Inato and the pancit Macao. What I like about this place is that, it's seldom crowded, so you get your food ASAP, and the place has a nice ambience to it.
Oh yeah, before I forget, another thing I like most in Milagrina, is because I get to quench my thirst with fresh coconut water (buko juice)... so refreshing!!!

Foooood....

Chi really loves making yummy stuff....

She can cook and bake. *whisper* Just don't ask her to do the laundry *whisper*

Last Saturday while I was watching TV in their living room, Chi was kinda busy whisking something in the kitchen and I can smell chocolates... yum yum...

After a while she appeared, holding something...

Knowing Chi, I know what her response would be when I asked the name of that pastry.

It sure was yummy, but it had to be refrigerated first.


And, after all that mixing and whisking...

Good Night Chi. :D

Eleksyon 2007 Volunteers

Last May 14, 2007 I led 7 students to participate in GMA7-AMA Eleksyon 2007 Quikcount in Brgy. Ipil Elementary School.

I have been exposed to these kinds of situations for the past 2 national elections as part of the Media Crew where I was one of the members of Ormoc Cable Technical Crew and was also one of the planners of the group. I always work as a member, not a team leader.

Assigned to lead my students to perform what's been asked, ahem... precinct coordinator, this was the first time I was assigned to lead people.

Knowing what could happen during the day, I instructed my students to be polite and be extra careful and never to start unwanted incidents. With this, I can be assured that my members will be able to do their duties hassle-free.

And being a part a huge activity does not guarantee a "smooth-sailing" operation. Why? Well, there must be something that has been neglected or someone may have forgotten to consider a small but important detail.

I will not claim that I am a good leader, but having good members will make a better team. And Kudos to all my members:
Geraldine Alarde, Renante Balasabas, Maria Luz Pilos, Nathaniel Ramos, Joana Marie Sacay, Jessie Bejoc and the "ever active" and the "most responsive" member... NOT!!! Brian Nabre, thank you.

We all learned something in everything that we do...

"Whatever the shortcomings... its best to do what we can before we complain."

Renante, Nathaniel and I shared the same view:
"We have to do what was asked"

On Movies and Inspiration

Movies are a great past time for me. And there are some that I cannot just get enough of. I am moved by movies which are inspirational and I am touched by simple yet profound themes.

Take for instance, the movie, Dead Poet's Society (1989). I've seen this movie countlesss times yet, I still am stirred by the poignance of how Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) tried to express his wish to become an actor, when his parents only wanted him to be a doctor. To find the courage to face the crowd and conquer ones fear was a dominant theme in the film. Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke) was too timid to speak his mind and be heard by all, yet through the extraordianry tutelage and motivation of John Keating (Robin Williams), the shy student was able to find his voice and learned to speak his mind.


Another movie, which also has a similar theme is Mona Lisa Smile (2003) . Starred by Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, Kirsten Dunst and many others. This is a story about brilliant women students who were born at time when carreer women were frowned upon. They were schooled in good universities yet were expected to get married, be a good wife and servant if I may say so. In this film Katherine Anne Watson played by Roberts, inspired her students to defy convention and explore the possibilities of being a woman who managed have a career other than baking pastries or making doilies at home.

Computer Hardware Installation Competition

With the fast growing technological advancement, and wave after wave of information and the rapid growth of youngsters wanting to join the computing world it would be best to expose them with the basics rather than teaching them with the current technology, the Hardware Installation and Troubleshooting.

During our school's 2nd Foundation Anniversary, I spearheaded a competition intended test my students' computer skills. This
type of competition is not new in the computer world but it’s the first time here in our school. So, basically its "the fastest PC hardware installer wins" competition. Of course the "fully installed PC" must boot and work properly.

The winner clocked 8 minutes and some seconds (i forgot) less than 2 minutes longer than the National PC Hardware Installation Champion.

Hopefully, this activity will continue...

On Acceptance and Success

Success, if I were to define it, does not rely on a person’s social status, nor is it his educational background, but relies mostly on his ability to adapt to the changes in his environment. Of course, no man dreams to be a failure. One thrives to be “successful” as it is dictated by society.

It is then his failure to comprehend the changes around him that makes him become unable to progress. The only way a person can become more in tuned with his surroundings and become adaptable to these changes is to be mindful to what is being said and being done by the majority of the people around him.

Whether we like it or not, we as human beings thrive on social acceptance and to be “socially acceptable” we observe, consult, and follow what is being said and done by the people directly or indirectly within our social circle. Whether intentionally or subconsciously our decisions and our actions are the result of other people’s guidance. And the people we usually approach for help or advice, are the people whom we wish to invoke acceptance or approval from.

Close-mindedness and failure to be guided by what others believe to be the right direction you should take, therefore not only results to the inability to progress, but also greatly affects how you are perceived to be in the society. Thus leads to your social accountability, in which case you are driven to ask, “Are my decisions fair? Is it socially and lawfully admissible?”. These are just a few questions we could ask ourselves, if it is in the event that we make or do actions without consulting other people. But even then, we are guided by our sense of what others would think. We are no longer bound by what we should do, but by what we can do in order to succeed, and how others can help us become successful in whatever feat we wish to pursue.

Tongue-Tied...

Hmmm...not for lack of things to say but for flexing my tongue in every imaginable way just to imitate Mandarin sounds as closely as possible. Watching all these Asian Dramas makes me want to learn a a new language, particularly Chinese. Not that I'm making any progress though...

Lately, I've been listening to Jolin Tsai, Rainie Yang, David Tao and some other Chinese singers whose name I cannot even pronounce much less understand what they're singing about...but I'm enjoying it a great deal.

Yeah, I could either be losing my mind or just way too bored (I hope it's the latter) In fact I find this new "hobby" amusing. Surprisingly, I can even understand some words now, well at least be able to distinguish sounds...

So what's the point of all these??!! Nothing really...well, actually, It's just a warning.. if you do give me a call and you hear me say "Wei" instead of the usual "Hello", dont freak out and hang up...you've reached the right number!!

Zai jian!

Dry-Eyed?@?!!

Ok, so while waiting for my next online class, I figured i'd better get something scribbled in these boring blog page of mine. Lately, I've been feeling a bit down under the weather. A few weeks past, I lost my voice oh and yeah, did I mention I'm a teacher?!!?!! I recovered but still have some hoarseness left in these vocal cords, Well, my voice is my bread and butter so...i needed it back badly! After a fit of coughing and awfully bad sounding voice, my concerned boss asked me to try the Chinese way of treating cough and so...thanks to Pei Pa Koa I got better more quickly than I thought..

And so now I got over that and now am feeling better...or am I? NOT!!@@!! I've been having some dizzy spells and getting lightheaded ever so often...so i thought..hmmm could I have hypertension for eating too much lechon? BP test results indicates otherwise..so what can it be?!! My eyes, I guess...so I went to see an opthalmologist...after all the tests he concludes I have Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome...what?!!! Not to worry...he says, "it can be treated" just drop these vials of liquid in your eyes and should be back to normal in 6 months or so...heck, had I known he wanted me to cry, I could have recalled every episode of One Liter of Tears (Ichi Rittoru no Namida) so I could have shed some more tears and filled that tear strip!

Well, that's not really all of my health worries! To top it all off...i have an icky zit near my hairline and I've accidentally run my comb into it a gazillion times and now it looks like one disgusting boil!!!

Had I not been watching the Japanese drama I mentioned above, I would have said more about such a mundane health issue, but my life has been touched by an incredibly brave girl who faced a most difficult challenge...living a life knowing and feeling that everyday life seems to ebb away...

Bohol Escapade

Finally! After 5 years of planning I finally set foot in Bohol. This really spectacular island has a lot to offer. I was indeed spellbound by the Chocolate Hills. I did not realize that there were over a thousand of those almost perfectly similar mounds scattered around. It looked a bit surreal to me as if the hills just leaped out from our Social Studies book.

The close encounter with the tarsier was also something I really enjoyed. Looking at those very huge glassy eyes made me realize it wasn't really such a wonder why these creatures are nocturnal. They looked so docile perched on the trees and I had the distinct feeling of almost seeing a baby curiously looking around a new and unchartered territory.

Loboc river cruise was also a new experience for me. With the countless rivers in the Philippines, and even in Ormoc, I had to venture to Bohol in order to have my first taste of what it's like to be cruising the riverbanks. We paid Php280.00 each and it included a sumptuous meal albeit not the one you'd get from fine-dining restaurants, still it was most filling. Along with the meal we were also serenaded by the on-board singer. Upon reaching the end of the tour, there were make-shift nipahuts / boats where children danced and sang to their hearts' content enticing tourists to hand out donations. I was deeply touched by the children's talents. So young and innocent, yet so passionate about music, armed only with their voices and ukeleles. It was indeed a touching scene. Lulled by the music and the gentle river current, it was the most relaxing lunch I've ever had.

The visit to Hinagdanan Cave was also a first for me. Spelunking can be a real challenge, however, I think perhaps this is the easiest cave to explore. There were already steps where we can easily use to access the inside of the cave. It wasn't an overly large cave, but still it was enough to accommodate a lot of people. There was a pool inside it, and there were even some people who could not resist taking a dip as it was really stifling hot underground.

Although, we did not enjoy the sand and sea in Panglao, we were also offered a piece of white sand haven in the municipality of Anda. The resort wasn't really the best in the area, but still, it wasn't that bad. We had a spectacular view and we were away from the hustle and bustle of city life and tourists.
Bohol really has a lot to offer and its tranquility surely can soothe the most stressful mind. My trip was very short, and so it did not really "quench my thirst" for the many things this island has to offer. And so, with a smile in my heart, I said to myself, "this time was only the first time". I'll definitely be back for more!

-chi-