I was hoping to find the online version of the article so I can put a link here but it is not yet available, apparently.  I will post the link as soon as it becomes available.

“The challenge for us is to leave behind our old ways of being apathetic and indifferent to politics in our country.  If we want a new Philippines and if we want a better future for all of us, then we have to become new Filipinos as well…”

- Harvey S. Keh on Filofax, Manila Bulletin, Jan 4 (page K-4)

To those who feel the same way, a very easy way to give back is to find a cause you support and send them a donation.   It is so easy you can do it in no more than five minutes while comfortably seated in front of an Internet-connected computer during your coffee break.  Surely anybody can do this, even a corporate slave glued to his work desk like me.

There is also no scarcity of causes that need support and donations.  Last year I supported Greenpeace, The World Organizations of the Scouting Movement (WOSM), The Red Cross, and Pondong Pinoy, all simply through Internet or SMS.  I am mentioning these previous donations I made only to underscore the fact that there are a lot of donation opportunities out there and that it is so easy to make a donation.  And you do not have to donate a lot, too.  Pondong Pinoy, for instance, only asks for as little as one peso a day.  Most international NGO’s (like WOSM) would usually accept as little as USD10.

For this particular donation I chose Wikipedia.  If you have not yet chosen a particular cause to donate to I invite you to join me in supporting Wikipedia. Click on the image to get started with your donation.

Why Wikipedia?  As a voracious reader and a chromic researcher (of all sorts of things) I fully support the democratization of information.  The Internet is doing this in a huge way which is already changing the way we look for information.  The problem with information on the Internet per se is that it is not organized and you don’t really know which information you can trust.

Founded by Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia is ”a multilingual, Web-based, free-content encyclopedia project… written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world.”

If, like me, you are old enough to remember the volumes of huge and heavy encyclopedia books that your parents would even forbade you to touch (because they were so expensive and you may just ruin them), then you would fully appreciate the value of the Internet — and Wikipedia — as a source of information.

Click on the play button or the link below to launch video clip.

ATM in India

Please take note that you should have Windows Media Player, QuickTime, VLC or any other standard media player on your computer to be able to download and launch the video clip.

By posting it also here in my blog I risk being ridiculed by hard-core bloggers who would probably say that I lack originality.  Never mind.  First of all I am not a hard-core blogger so why should I care?  Second, and more importantly, I blog to share things I find wonderful and this is definitely one of them.

I’m Yours

I told you she’s wonderful, haven’t I?  And I don’t even know her name.  She has, however, several other beautiful video clips on You Tube.  I’ve already watched most if not all of them and they are all very good.  Here are a few I like a lot just like the one above.

Kiss Me

Killing Me Softly

Only Hope

I DELIBERATELY RESISTED the urge to send SMS greetings last Christmas and New Year.

It does not mean that I did not want to send my best wishes to the people who have touched my life in one way or another.  Neither does it mean that I ignored those who made the effort to send me their messages of hope and prosperity for the coming year.

Truth is, I do appreciate a lot the SMS messages I received and I thank those who sent them from the bottom of my heart.  To most of them my “no reply” didn’t mean anything and may have simply shrugged it off.  For those who thought otherwise, my apologies.  The only explanation I can offer is the truth — that I waged a personal battle with my dependency and addiction on my techno-gadgets.

On one hand I feel victorious.  I did it.  I was able to resist the urge to use my techno-gadgets during the extended holidays (okay, just a little bit).

On the other hand, I feel guilty for not sending my SMS best wishes (as I’ve always done), and for not acknowledging those I received (as I’ve always done). 

As my feeble attempt at restitution, I am posting here all the SMS greetings I received for Christmas and New Year.

December 24, 2008

Burt Gabot:  “With today’s technology, Christmas SMSs are cliche, I guess keeping it simple’s best:  a wonderful and meaningful Christmas to you and your loved ones - Burt!”

Allen Rulloda:  “CHRISTMAS is abt loving, giving, 4giving n tnxgiving.  Bcoz of God’s love 2 us, Christ is given so dat we can b 4given&saved, Jn3:16 Merry Christmas! God Bless.”

Sheila:  “Merry Christmas to you and to ur family!  God bless!”

April:  _”.meri x’Mas pOh..Ü”

Benedict Gomorera:  “Meri Xmas sir! May ur home filled with joy and laughter dis Xmas and throughout New year! Cheers!”

Malou Patdu:  “Meri xmas 2 u nd ur family.  Thank you for the gift of friendship.  God bless.”

Mark Obra:  “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and to your family.”

Sophie Castillo:  “May we feel the real meaning of Christmas and be a blessing to others always… Enjoy and God Bless you and your Family… Merry Christmas and a bountiful New Year…”

Syd Castillo:  “with atomic force and meteoric regards, my volcanic greetings are seismologically conveyed to send a catastrophic magnitude of  thunderous MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Ray-An Gatchalian:  “I want to greet u and ur family a very merry christmas..  may you spend this season with much love and peace.. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!”

December 25, 2008

Cate Magallon-Abenoja:  “May your heart be filled with Days of Christmas thru out your lyf. May God’s graces be upon u & ur family always.  MERRY CHRISTMAS! Cate of Timberland Club”

Howard Manalastas:  “merry xmas po!  i hope ul hav a good one!”

Jolan Coronel:  “Merry Christmas and All d Best for d coming year…”

Clarissa Rivero:  “Merry Christmas to your family and a blessed new year, too.  Enjoy the holidays. X clarisa”

Tin Jean Jaquet:  “BLESSED MERRY CHRISTMAS TO U & UR FAMILY …”

Ramil Vargas:  “Merry Christmas!  Good health and peace to you and your family.”

Rolly and Muriel:  “Maraming salamat sa iyong mensahe sa dami ng kainan at regalo sana’y wag natin kalimutan ang 2nay n may bertdey.  Naway patuloy tayong patnubayan ng Poong maykapal.  Maligayang pasko sa iyo at inyong minamahal! P.S. Mahaba pala tlg pag Tagalog :-)”

Menea:  “Maligayang Pasko po!  Menea fr0m aig”

Richard Ali:  “CHRISTMAS is. a time to love | a time to celebr8 life | a time to give & forgive& | a time to say a prayer for 1 who touched our lives | Happy Holidays!

Jojit Balingit:  “Merry Christmas!!!”

Jayson Gungon:  “Wishing yöu änd yöur fämily äll thè bèst this Christmäs.. Mèrry Christmäs & ä HäpPy Nèw Yèär.”

Ket:  “May this beautiful day create within u a quiet place where God speaks His promises of peace & love! May u alwaysstay happy! MERRY CHRISTMAS to u nd ur family!”

Dyk Raymundo:  “Hope u all had a wonderful, nd a blessed merry Christmas. ü”

December 30, 2008

Bambit Hidalgo:  “><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:-> ><(((:->   Eight Golden fishes to wish you Prosperity, Wealth, Good Health, Peace, Luck, Longevity, Long Lasting Love & Hapiness.  To you and your family a wonderfully blessed New Year! - Rey, Bambit, Keech, Via & Alex”

December 31, 2008

Mark Obra:  ”Greet n me mamaya busy n mga telco… Sir Happy New Year to you and to your family… Bang… boom… plok…”

Sophie Castillo:  ”My family sends the warm greetings of joy, love & peace!  Let JEsus, JOseph & MARy continue 2 reign in our hearts in 2009!  HAPPY NEW YEAR PO.”

Cate Magallon-Abenoja:  ”All the best of the coming year & beyond to you and your loved ones.  Blessings to all of us.  Happy New Year!  CATE of Timberland Club”

Howard Manalastas:  ”happy new year!”

Jozel Santos:  ”Buong litson sana ang aking ipadadala, mayroong hamon de bola pang kasama, subalit kalusugan mo ang aking inaalala, kayat isang taimtim na pagbati na lang ang ipauubaya! libre na, cholesterol free pa.  Isang maligaya at malusog na bagong taon ang dasal ko para sa iyo at iyong mga mahal sa buhay, kaibigan!”

Ford Ordonez:  ”Happy New Yeat to everyone from Ordonez Family.”

Jayson Gungon:  ”May the good Lordshowers blessings, good health, wisdom ur entire family dis coming year through…happy new year..”

Rodel Gallega:  “Happy New Year! - rodel and ana”

Rio Jara:  ”Prayer is my gift to u and ur family wrapped with faith, hope and sent with love.  May God bless u & ur family this year & beyond! Hav a bountiful NEW YEAR!!!”

Richard Ali:  “Ystrday s a mem0ry. 2morw s a visi0n. live well 2day andmake evry yestrday a joyful mem0ry nd evry 2m0row a visi0n full of hope.hapi new year 2 u nd ur family. ü”

Kuyang Bong Renales:  ”Hapi new year!”

Jojit Balingit:  ”Wishing u all d TIMELESS TREASURES of d world.. the LOVE OF GOD, the WARMTH of Home, the LOVE of Family & the COMPANY of GOOD FRIENDS.  Happy New year!”

Gines Cipriano:  ”In spite of the ups & downs in our life this year, there is still a lot of blessings to thank for.  May the New year ahead be filled with God’s blessings.  Merry New Year to you & to your family!”

Justin & Eden:  ”HAPPY  NEW YEAR!”

Liezel Gerada:  “Many people will walk in and out of ur lyf, but only true friends will leave footprints in ur heart.  Happy New Year.”

January 1, 2009

Ray-An Gatchalian:  “Happy New Year to you and your family..  More blessings to come..  Wishing you all the best in coming year.”

Dharl:  “A blessing bcomes a blessing when spoken.  So I declare that YOUA RE blessed w/a loving family, good health, faith, favor, promotion&provision.  A BLESSED 2009 to Ü!”

Boom and Thrina:  “Let this looming global crisis be but another challenge for us to conquer and defeat!  It all starts in our minds.  May you have a positive outlook this year! And may you win all your goals and aspirations from hereon forward!  Have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!”

Ket:  “Wishing u d fun of Living, d joy of Loving, d wonder of Sharing, d gift of Faith & d serenity of a Contented heart.  Have a great 2009! =)

-o0o-

AT LEAST five people sent me obscenely naughty SMS greetings.  You know who you are guys.  I decided not to include your messages in this post for obvious reasons.  It doesn’t mean I resent them, though.  In fact, I enjoyed them a lot and I actually featured (some of) them on a separate blog post, LOL.  Believe me, I can’t wish for anything less for you than your obscene wishes for me.

There are a few other messages that might have been inadvertently deleted by my pamangkins who borrowed my iPhone and Treo [ I swear it wasn't me ].  To those whose messages I lost, please forgive me.

Happy New Year!

I have no particular reason for choosing the Dutch translation of ‘Happy New Year’ as my blog entry’s title.  It seems cool, that’s all.

I can greet you ‘Happy New Year’ in most any other language or dialect you wish, if you want.  Or better yet, go look up the translation yourself.  There are several Websites out there that will give you the translation of ‘Happy New Year’ and several other common expressions, greetings and phrases in different languages.

Click the photo image to visit one of these sites:

I RECEIVED

At the end of the screening and filtering process I ended up with only two.  Here they are:

(1) 

Starting January 1, may you be as handsome as your mother thinks, as rich as your child believes, and may you have as many women as your wife suspects! ;->

(2)

I wish that you may have…

the courage of David,

the meekness of Joseph,

the faithfulness of Moses,

the obedience of Abraham,

the wisdom of Solomon,

and the penis of Goliath!

I am not in the habit of eavesdropping on other people’s conversations especially in a public place such as Starbucks, although I admit to spying on the occasional hot chics on perilously undersized garments.  But I couldn’t help eavesdropping on this particular group because they are talking as if they are the only ones in the place.

And how do I know that they are 50-year-olds?  That’s easy.  They said so, at some point in their animated and quite loud conversations.

What intrigued me about their conversations are the topics they are talking about.  With their topics you may mistake them for a bunch of teenagers except that their voices are a giveaway on their real age even if they did not announce that they are 50-year-olds.

Theirs is an immensely entertaining conversation.  Here’s a ’slice’ of it:

50-year-old lady no. 1:  Let’s not talk about <name> (another 50-year-old guy who is not presently with the group) because he is not here.

50-year-old guy no. 1:  Ok, so let’s talk about you (referring to 50-year-old lady no. 1).  Are you and <name>  (same 50-year-old guy referred to by 50-year-old lady no. 1 above) going steady?

50-year-old lady no. 1:  (blushed.. really blushed) Ahh… hmm… Err…

50-year-old lady no. 2:  Omigod!  You and <name> are…?  Omigod!

50-year-old lady no. 3:  This is all news to me!  Is it true?  Is it true?

50-year-old lady no. 1:  (Apparently feeling she has been cornered) Ahh… well… you better ask him (pointing to 50-year-old guy no. 2).  He is my lawyer?

50-year-old guy no. 2:  Hey what does my being your lawyer… ? (not able to finish what he was about to say)

50-year-old lady no. 1:  (continuing where she left off before 50-year-old guy no. 2 interjected) And he is <name>’s friend.

50-year-old guy no. 2:  (Addressing 50-year-old lady no. 1)  Are you sure you want me to tell them…?

50-year-old lady no. 2:  Omigod, this is sooo good!

50-year-old lady no.1:  Okay, okay… there’s nothing to it.  We are just what you call ‘MU.’

50-year-old lady no. 3:  (giggles.  No, make that GIGGLES)

50-year-old lady no. 2:  (squirms in her seat as if ready to pee)  O-MI-GOD!

50-year-old guy no. 1:  (Addressing 50-year-old lady no. 1) Well, you better act now.

50-year-old lady no. 1:  What?  What do you mean?

50-year-old guy no. 1:  You better act now, is what I mean.

50-year-old lady no. 1:  But I don’t get it…

50-year-old guy no. 1:  I mean you and <name> should decide soon on what you want to make of your relationship.

50-year-old lady no. 1:  (with a sincerely innocent look in her face):  But why?

50-year-old guy no. 1:  Hello?!  It’s not like we are still in college, you know.  We are like at least 35 years since college.

This particular topic went on for several more minutes but I am sure you already have a good idea why I find the conversation intriguing and amusing. :->

Click here to launch the video clip.

I’VE BEEN getting these weekly e-mailers from Digital World for several months already.  I am not sure how I got included into their mailing list.  It’s possible that they just got my e-mail address from some forms I absentmindedly filled up, or I may have subscribed to their weekly digest of news and tips.  It’s most probably the latter.

Anyway, I was ready to unsubscribe when I got this e-mailer from Digital World entitled, “Turn Your Photos Into a Calendar” by Dave Johnson.  I decided to postpone my “to unsubscribe or not to unsubscribe” decision ’til January.

For those of you who — like me — are interested to work on a 2009 Calendar Project, I summarized Dave’s article below.  If you want to read the original article I am sure you can find it somewhere in the WWW by simply googling the article’s title and/or the name “Dave Johnson.”

Turn Your Photos Into a Calendar

(Summarized)

• Search for photo sharing sites that let you create a custom photo calendar.
  • most photo printing and sharing sites have some sort of calendar creation feature.
  • Try Costco Photo Center, Kodak Gallery, Lulu, Shutterfly and, Snapfish

• Choose Your Pictures
  • Some calendar templates force you to use one picture per month, so you should have 12 or 13 unique images for a basic calendar.
  • With a more flexible template, you may create a collage of photos on some pages, so you might want to have several dozen photos ready to go.
  • In general, it’s a good idea to edit your photos first — straighten crooked photos; crop for maximum impact; adjust colors and sharpness.

• Make Sure Your Photos Are Big Enough
  • If you try to use tiny, 1-megapixel camera phone photos on a wall calendar, you won’t like the results.
  • Any digital camera capable of capturing 3 megapixels or more should give you great results.
  • Since most calendars feature pictures that are around 8 by 10 inches, your photos should be at least 1600 by 2000 pixels.

• After your photos are organized, upload them to your favorite photo printing site and use the Web site’s tools to lay out the calendar. If you have the option, customize the calendar with important dates (birthdays, anniversaries, and so on). Then print enough copies for everyone on your holiday shopping list.

There you go.  I am actually not sure if I will have the time to work on this 2009 calendar project.  And that is why I am posting this on my blog.  Maybe, just maybe, one of you may find the time to work on this project.  Please print an extra copy of your 2009 calendar and send it to me.  Happy New Year, everyone!

The article reminded me of a trip that me and my ex-girlfriend have long wished for but haven’t found the time to do yet.

Batanes is a place I have always wanted to visit.  Even when I was still a teenager I already wanted to go to Batanes.  I’ve met some really nice people from Batanes in the Science Fairs and Journalism competitions that I used to join when I was a high school student in Isabela (Region 2).  Their stories about their clean and peaceful province have already caught my fancy way back then.

The PhilStar feature story on Batanes mentioned that 2009 has been declared as “Visit Batanes Year.”  Perhaps I should take that admonition personally and therefore seriously plan for that Batanes visit next year. :->  

Here are the first few paragraphs of the PhilStar article:

Batanes: Where the winds blow 
By Julie Cabatit-Alegre Updated December 21, 2008 12:00 AM

It would rate between 6 and 7 on the Beaufort Scale, used to estimate wind strengths, where 6 is described as a “strong breeze” and “umbrellas are used with difficulty” while 7 means a “moderate gale” and “inconvenience in walking against the wind.” At Rakuh a’ Payaman in Batanes, “inconvenience” would be a mild word. 

Working your way up the promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you can easily be gripped by a sudden fear of being blown away, literally. Figuratively speaking, the astonishing view that greets you can do that as well. On one side, the mountain gently slopes down to meet the waves breaking fiercely from the sea, while on the other side is a wide expanse of undulating grassy terrain. This is your quintessential snapshot of Batanes, the country’s northernmost province, closer to Taiwan than to the Luzon mainland.

Two great bodies of water, the Pacific Ocean in the east and the South China Sea in the west, batter its shores. Only three of its 11 islands are inhabited — Batan, with the provincial capital Basco; Itbayat, the largest island, north of Batan; and Sabtang, the smaller island, to the south. Total population is about 16,000.

Click here to view the complete article in PhilStar.