Say Goodbye to Neck Pains and Back Pains

 

 

SAY GOODBYE TO NECK PAINS AND BACK PAINS

HELLO BLOGGERS  and TECHYS out there spending at least 2 to 3 hours on the computer. I have 2 questions for you. 1. Do you experience neck pains and back pains after spending some time typing on your computer? And. 2. Do you have unused encyclopedias on your library shelf that is just gaining dusts because of years of unuse? Well if you answered yes to both questions. Then it is high time you use these encylopedias into good use to get rid of tiring back and neck pains. 

Yes encyclopedias are fast becoming an endangered species now a days because kids today do not use them any more for research. They go the easy way now they go to Mr. Google for information. Not unlike in our times in the pre-google era where we rely too much on actual libraries and books to look for information. Now encyclopedias are not very popular anymore, so they are left dusting on the shelves of homes and libraries.

How can you put these prehistoric encyclopedias into good use...well search no more. As a teacher, I have experienced a lot of back pains and neck pains so many times whenever I am using the computer in typing test papers for exams. Which leaves me exhausted and irritated after only a few hours of typing. Until a cousin of mine, Marissa Montero Osmena, suggested to lift the computer screen higher to eye level. I said hey "why not!". But how can I increase the screen to a higher level? Should I get a higher computer table? Or should I get a lower seat? that's ridiculous! so I thought of putting stack of books under the screen to making it higher. And "BOOM" encyclopedias are the best candidate for that purpose. (see photo)

Now I can type much easier...no more back pains and neck pains. Just pure pleasure and fun. I don't feel exhausted anymore. PLUS: I even put my old encyclopedias into good use. Great idea hah? Try it!!!!

In the next photo as you can see I used 6 encyclopedias. because I am almost 6 feet tall. You can use lesser...depending on your eye level. I think 6 books is the highest. if you go higher than that the screen will be in danger of falling. So enjoy typing with no pain!

Of course you can only use this tip on flatscreen LCD. The big CRT oldschool computer screen is not applicable for this tip. If you find this tip useful. Use it. Please comment. I would appreciate it.

Happy New Year Philippines

Happy New Year.

What is so Happy with the New Year? Well a lot of things to be happy about. First it is NEW. Everything new we receive we should be happy about it. Like a new pair of shoes, new clothes, new bag. Be happy when its new. YEAR! The year 2013...wow NEW YEAR! Again!! I haven't gotten over with 2012 yet, and here comes another NEW YEAR? 2012 good bye...HELLO 2013!

Time really flies so fast! it seems like yesterday we are celebrating the incoming new year 2012...and now just 4 days to go 2012 is about to bid its goodbye...and we are welcoming another New Year! 2013. What is in store for us this 2013?

Here are my hopes for this NEW YEAR.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas

FOR OUR COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES. May 2013 be a more positive year for us Filipinos. We all know that 2012 has brought a lot of bad things for this country. Like typhoons here and there. Tremendous number of people died because of unpreparedness. May our country excel more in terms of the economy. May the Filipino people especially my poor countrymen will finally feel the booming economy everyone is talking about and have a better and prosperous life this coming year. May we be more prepared for more calamities to come, and may our government be more responsive to the needs of the people. May the coming elections this May 2013 be a peaceful and less corrupt. May our COMELEC be more efficient in administering this year's election. May we see the day that corruption in the government will be truly eradicated or lessened in the years ro come. (Now that will be the day.) May we have honest politicians and government officials. If I am not asking too much. And for our President Noy-Noy Aquino...may he have the strength and wisdom to accomplish all his plans for this country, all his aspirations and ambitions. May he stand on his principles and be not discouraged for his failures and continue to move forward for the betterment of this country and the Filipino people.

The happy face of a Filipino child

FOR THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. May 2013 be a better year for all of us Filipinos. May we have more successes this 2013 than failures. May we be more ready for all the challenges that are about to come. Ready to resist poverty and be more productive. Ready to face failures and be more resilient. Ready to resist corruption and be more vigilant. Ready to resist deaths due to natural calamities and be more prepared. Ready to resist laziness and be more industrious. I wish for a better Filipino people this year. A people who knows what we want and go for it. A people who is always ready and willing for the success of many not just individually. A people who share and give than always waiting for help. 

More success this year.

FOR MY FAMILY, THE MONTERO FAMILY. I am aspiring for a more productive 2013 for my family. May our school Psalmshill Christian Learning Center will be more successful this 2013. Success in terms of our application for recognition with DepEd. Success in terms of number of new students. Success for our students specially the graduating grade six pupils this year.  May they be successful in their highschool level in their chosen schools. I wish them to be excellent in all of their studies and endeavors. Good luck and God bless you my grade six pupils. May this 2013 our family will be more as one. One in ideals. One in faith. One in prayers. One in our relationship with God. 

I want a laptop.

FOR MYSELF. I am hoping this 2013 will bring success for me in terms of health. I wish to slim down a bit. this year. I am getting big. I wish to have a more fit and healthy body. I hope to continue exercising a lot. I am also hoping to take the Teacher's Board Exam this year 2013. I hope there will be no problem with the accomplishing of the requirements of DepEd for my board exams. I also hope this year I will be a better teacher than I use to be. I hope to reach down to the needs of my pupils more than my needs. I hope to be more creative in my teaching skills. So I can translate all the lessons to my students according to their level. Not my level. I hope to be more patient and understanding to non-excelling pupils. And be more helpful to them than being unkind and uncaring. And when it comes to WANTS... I badly need a laptop. yes I have been praying for a laptop computer ever since the world began....but it seems God is not giving it to me yet. I don't know why. But I deserve to have a laptop computer. Please Lord answer this persistent prayer of mine. I want to buy one but my salary cannot afford it. I do not have a credit card so i cannot do that. If I will save for it it might take years before I get one. God is rich. He can give me one if he wants to. Yes Lord according to your will. Oh Lord. According to your will. In Your time Lord. Not my time.

OVERALL.  I hope and pray 2013 will be a better year for all of us. Who doesn't? All we have to do is to really want it. And pray for it. Let God guide us in every step of the way. In every single day that will pass by this 2013 let God be our leader in everything that we do. And if God is with us who can be against us. Success is sure if God is always in the middle of everything that we do. Specially in helping others. 

So let us all look forward to a brighter and successful year 2013!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR...indeed.


MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!
LONG LIVE THE PHILIPPINES

Pinoy Christmas, Still The Best Christmas Ever!

I am writing this on the last day of November. I still do not have any idea for a topic for my blog. And it just dawned on me. Its December 01 tomorrow why not write something about Christmas. And not just about any Christmas but THE PINOY CHRISTMAS!!! And my creative writing  juices just kept on flowing afterwards.

Yes the Pinoy Christmas! Christmas here in the Philippines is incomparable in this world. Nothing can match the spirit of Christmas here in the Philippines to any Christmas in any countries in the world. So let us look at how the world celebrate Christmas first before we go to the Pinoy Christmas.

CHINA. In China Christmas is not an official holiday so most schools, offices and shops remain open on Christmas day. Most Chinese do not honor the religious roots of Christmas, being the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. This is understandable because China is not a Christ believing nation. But statistics shows that there are 16 million Chinese Christians in China in year 2005, and this Christian minority do go to Church services on Christmas day.

MALAYSIA. Celebration of Christmas in Malaysia is strictly commercial in nature. Christian overtones of the celebrations are not allowed. The national government strictly do not allow Christian symbols and songs that mention Jesus Christ.

ISRAEL. Israeli Arabs and Muslims do not celebrate Christmas. Ironically Israel is the birthplace of of our Lord Jesus Christ but it is the same country who dishonors our Lord Jesus. 

UNITED STATES. In the US they call Christmas Eve as "The Night Before Christmas". Most of Americans believe in Santa Claus. He is said to be visiting homes leaving gifts while children are asleep during the night before Christmas. Christmas stockings are hanged around the house. And traditionally children leaves a glass of milk and a plate of cookies beside the Christmas tree for Santa.

GERMANY. In Germany, Germans celebrate St. Nicholas' Day on December 6th. It is believed that it is Santa who puts goodies in children's shoes. Santa can also be seen on that day to be visiting kindergarten schools all over Germany. For the kids to get candies and gifts they have to sing a song for Santa first.

RUSSIA. In Russia, Russians celebrate Christmas day on January 7th than on December 25th. This is due to the 13 day difference between the Gregorian calendar and the Julian Calendars. Christmas eves are celebrated with long Church services, including the Royal Hours and vespers combined with the divine liturgy. After the long service the family returns home and consumes the Christmas Meal "The Holy Supper", which consist of 12 dishes each dish in honor of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.

So that's how the world (well some of it) celebrate Christmas. What have you noticed with the celebrations? Mostly NOT FUN at all. And at a glance you could see how totally distinct Christmas is celebrated here in the Philippines. Here are the reasons why The Filipino Christmas is the most unique Christmas ever!

PHILIPPINES. Christmas is the biggest holiday celebration in the Philippines. The Philippines holds the title of having the longest Christmas celebration in the world! Christmas songs can be heard on radios as early as September 01. Which is the start of the "BER" months. Meaning months ending in "ber". Namely September, October, November and December. Its like a monthly countdown to December which is the Christmas month.

WHY IS CHRISTMAS IN THE PHILIPPINES SO UNIQUE? Here are the wonderful reasons, read on.

KAROLING. This is the local version of Christmas Caroling in the states. A group of children come together as a group. They will get bottlecaps or "tanzans" and flatten them string it on a piece of wire and they have an instant tamborine. If they are creative enough they will get an empty can of milk punch a hole on the middle top of the can then put small stones in it and a stick to cover the hole and they have a maracas. This karoling activity is the signal that Christmas is around the corner. Kids usually start their karoling at the last week of November. These kids can be quite annoying at first since sometimes they sing out of tune and most of the time they just blur the forgotten  lyrics just to finish the song. And they are not just singing they are also shouting at the top of their voice! And their most favorite song are Jingle Bells (pronounced as jingambells) and their favorite finale song is  this...TENKYU, THENKYU ANG BABAIT NINYO, TENKYU! (meaning: thank you you are all so kind) but if they were pissed by the homeowner by shoving them away without giving them any money they will get back to them by singing...TENKYU, TENKYU, ANG BABARAT NINYO TENKYU (meaning: thank you you are all stingy!). Then they runaway fast while laughing and do the same routine to the next house. Annoying (sometimes) but cute.

SIMBANG GABI. Or Midnight Mass. This is a Filipino catholic tradition that started way back during the Spanish era in the Philippines. In Spanish it is called "Misa De Gallo" or Rooster's Mass or "Misas de Aguinaldo" or Gift Masses. Simbang Gabi is a nine day dawn or early morning masses.  Usually the mass starts at 5:00 am and ends at 6:00 am. Simbang gabi starts on December 16 and ends on Christmas eve. Simbang Gabi is mostly said in the Tagalog language. Why does the Simbang gabi a favorite among the Filipinos. Traditionally they say if a mass goer goes to every dawn mass for nine days straight without fail or absent the mass goer will receive a gift or a wish long wanted will be granted on Christmas eve. This is also a favorite excuse for young lovers to meet in church for a secret date for 9 days without suspicion from the strict parents. That is simbang gabi.

PUTO BUMBONG. One reason why mass goers come to simbang gabi it is because of this favorite Filipino delicacy most popular only during Christmas Season it is the PUTO BUMBONG. Puto Bumbong is a rice cake (puto) steamed in tubes (bumbong) over stove top steamers or sometimes sellers use the traditional kalan na de uling or charcoal heated stove to cook these yummy treat. The aroma of these puto bumbong are so delicious that church goers are distracted by it. They could hardly concentrate on the mass because of the aroma lingering from the outside the church. These delicacies are served with hot tea and usually butter is spread over the cake. Taste like a piece of heaven.

BIBINGKA. Here is another favorite Filipino dish best consumed during Christmas time. This is the BIBINGKA! This is also a rice cake best cooked / baked in hot charcoal. One of the most unique features of bibingka is on how they traditionally cook this. The bibinka is actually ground rice in liquid form. They will pour a scoop of the liquid in a clay pan with a banana leaf liner. Then the clay pan will be placed over a clay stove with hot charcoals in it and on top of the pan a sheet of flat iron with burning charcoal on it is placed over the clay pan. This is for even cooking from top to bottom. Bibingka is best eaten with hot chocolate on the side, butter spread on top of the bibingka and shreded coconut is sprinkled generously over it. There are some varieties for the bibinka and among them is my favorite the Bibingkang Galapong. It's made of liquified ground rice and served hot with sliced salted eggs on top of the cake. Taste like heaven

THE BELEN. Another reason why Pinoy Christmas is so unique is because of how we celebrate it. We give great importance to the reason for the season. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Every Filipino knows if asked why we celebrate Christmas and the automatic answer you will get is "Kasi bertday ni Jesus!".  That is why we have belens at home. Belens are the miniaturized statues of the Nativity. Where the main cast of this is the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. If a family will be elaborate enough this will include the angel, the shepherds, some barn animals, and the three wise men. I remember when I was still a kid my family and I used to enjoy taking out our belen  and finding the perfect spot to place our belen. Our belen gives us comfort that we are on the right track in celebrating Christmas because we commemorate this by remembering the real reason for celebrating Christmas...it is because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

PAROL. What makes Christmas in Philippines so colorful it is because of the Parol or Christmas Lantern. This is a unique Filipino Christmas decoration. Usually made of bamboo sticks shaped into a star and covered and decorated  with colorful Japanese paper as we call it. Some variety are wrapped in colorful plastic and foils. Pampanga, in Central Luzon, Philippines (my hometown) is best known for making beautiful parols. They can go as elaborate as possible with psychedelic lights and instead of paper or plastic they used flattened sea shells for  beautiful coverings. Here we have a festival called Ligligan Parol where the best parols are showcased and displayed in town and judged and the winner with the most beautiful parol will get a generous cash prize. Such fun.

NOCHE BUENA. What is most fun in Pinoy Christmas is the FOOD! On Christmas eve we have a Christmas dinner called Noche Buena. This dinner is consumed at the strike of 12 midnight Christmas eve. With the loud shout of "Merry Christmas!!!" The Noche Buena is the most prepared meal of the year because of Christmas. Foods like Lechon, Pancit, Fried chicken and Kalamay are the favorite staple of the dinner. Aside from the heavy meals is the favorite dessert of the Filipinos, the Fruit Salad. It is a mixed of cocktail fruits like pineapple sliced, apples, cherries, and papaya mixed with milk and sugar and frozen to perfection just in time for the Christmas dinner. Noche Buena is usually the prelude to the opening of gifts. And Noche Buena is exclusively celebrated by immediate family members only.

HAMON AT QUESO DE BOLA. What is Noche Buena without the star of the Noche buena, "The Hamon at Queso de Bola" or Ham and Cheese. This is a traditional dishes passed on by the Spaniards in the colonization era of the Philippines. We don't use just any ham or cheese. We prefer the expensive smoked hams and the cheese, the edam cheese of Spain, shaped like a ball. Noche Buena is more rich in tradition if these two foods are served during the celebrations. Plus if it is served with punch...juice with a dash of liquor...superb combination. These are what we call finger foods but in the Philippines there is no such thing as finger food everything is eaten with RICE. Rice and more rice. A meal in the Philippines is nothing if we do not have rice.

FAMILY REUNIONS. And the best reason of all why Pinoy Christmas is the best in the world is because of this. The celebrations are mostly centered in Family Reunions. Filipino Families take advantage of the Christmas time to come together and have fun together. We love to celebrate and give thanks for all the graces and blessing the family received in the year that is about to end. We love to exchange stories of our happy past when we were still kids in the old house. We love to laugh together. Cry together, And most especially sing together. And family reunions are not complete without the kids. The children who gives joy to the celebration. And they get to be the richest too because it is in these reunions they get lots of gifts and aguinaldos from their moms and dads and uncles and aunties. And most especially the Lolos and Lolas. It is also during these family reunions that we not only honor and thank God for everything it is also the perfect time to honor our parents. By giving them gifts and thanking them for all their hardships in bringing us all up even in the hardest times. That is why Family reunions are the best in the Philippines.

Those, my friends, are the reasons why The Pinoy Christmas is the best in the world. It is warm. Happy. Joyful. Fun. I hope your Christmas will be as fun as our Pinoy Christmas.

SO, HERE IS TO A MERRY PINOY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. 

MALIGAYANG PASKONG PINOY SA INYONG LAHAT!

facebook is the best

I cannot describe to you how happy I feel right now. I feel happy. Happy because I am so fulfilled with my life right now. At work as a teacher, I think I am doing a great job in teaching my pupils. My only gauge for that is that they enjoy learning the lessons I am giving them. That is more than enough for me. In my personal life, I am happy as a single person. I am contented that I am happy even if I do not have a so called "PARTNER" in life. I never felt I am alone. My family is always there to support me. And most especially my God, our Lord Jesus, is always there to support me and He will never leave me or forsake me. That alone is more than enough for me.

Another reason I am happy right now is the thing everyone is going crazy about. The one we always check everyday. I am talking about the current trend in communication now a days. Social Media. I am happy about FACEBOOK! Yes Facebook! I am so loving it. I am so addicted by it. FACEBOOK IS THE BEST! I've had other social media accounts in the past. I had friendster, Myspace, Tagged, twitter, Google Plus, Name it. I had them. But I never enjoyed social media in my life as FACEBOOK. I think this is the last social medium account I will ever had. Right now I cannot think of myself living without THE FACEBOOK!

How can you not enjoy facebook. This account of mine, my original account since 2009 (yes I have only one facebook account for three years now) once I open it everyday its like opening MY WORLD. Its like knowing whats happening with my world around me with my friends and the things that I want to know everyday is in facebook. With facebook I got to be acquainted with friends I have not seen in ages! like my classmates in grade one. Grade ONE! They still know me. Aside from friends, I enjoy connecting with family members I never thought were part of the family tree. Even distant relatives from both Mom and Dad. I got to know them in facebook. Isn't that amazing?? Another beautiful feature of facebook is the real time chat. If my friends are online I could chat with them as if they are just there beside you talking with each other.Now facebook chat has webcam chat! Even better right?  Also at facebook you could share just about everything. From what you ate at breakfast this morning to recent updates on the world economy. And whats more satisfying when friends got to read your post and liked it. You can share photos of anything happening in your world. And see photos of whats happening in your friend's world. Facebook is truly an effective way to share your life with others and the people you know of. 

No wonder millions of people are hooked with facebook because it gives us the power to share. I am hooked! So much hooked! Facebook gave me a voice. A venue to show and tell who I am and the world that I revolve in. Facebook gave me the chance to share my faith in God. and be connected with people who share my faith.

I remember the time during my teen years back in the 80's and early 90's there is no such thing as facebook. As a young man back then I have so much to say but I don't have a venue where people will listen. That made me self conscious that no one wants to listen to me. Nobody cares of what I am going to say. It is so hard to express yourself back then. Well back then, in the 80's, for a youth like me to express ourselves you can do two things. Join the school paper which comes out once every three months, Or join a rally which doesn't happen a lot. so the chance of self-expression is so rare. All you can do is just write in your diary where nobody reads it but you. Such a lonely thought isn't it?

The Youth of today are so lucky because they have the internet and they have FACEBOOK. Thank you Mark Zuckerberg. for inventing this very simple yet very powerful tool of self-expression. Thank you for sharing to us facebook. because of this social medium the world has become one big community where we can see each other everyday and make this world a better place to live in.

Here is my facebook account link. add me up okay --->https://www.facebook.com/thevanmont

A BIG THANK YOU FACEBOOK!

We live and breathe freedom

Here is the song "Bayan Ko" as performed by 
Miss Leah Salonga lipsynched by the vanmont. 
Click this first before you proceed reading the 
blog post.

BAYAN KO. I love this song so much. This song became famous in 1986 during the EDSA Revolution here in the Phlippines. Ask any Filipino if they know how to sing this song they can sing it from the heart. I know the lyrics of this song and I can sing it without any copy infront of me. That is how ingrained the song is to me. That is how I really know the song. From the heart.

What is the song all about? Just in case you didn't know. "Bayan Ko" is a patriotic song of the Filipino people. In only three stanzas and one chorus/refrain the writer of the song has already described the history of the Philippines. This song is considered the unofficial second National Anthem of the Philippines. Bayan Ko is written, originally in spanish by the late Jose Alejandrino. Its original title in Spanish is "Nuestra Patria". The first stanza of the song tells about the beauty of the Philippines likened to a Filipino Woman. 

Here is the first stanza:

In the first stanza the composer is telling us how beautiful the Philippines is. It is a Land of Gold and beautiful flowers that offered beauty and splendor to the Filipino people. Wow. I have lived in this country all my life and I never thought this same Philippines that Jose (the composer) described is the same Philippines that I've known. I never thought of it as a land of Gold. Flowers yes but, gold? Where? Can I have some so I will be rich! Well it is that way that Filipinos think of our country. We are clueless of how beautiful our country is! Only tourist from other countries know of the beauty of the Philippines because they have the money to travel around the country. The Philippines is so beautiful! It has wonderful beaches. Paradise as they always say. We have so many natural resources and natural scenic places that are to die for. This country has so much riches and they may not be physical riches like gold but treasures of good and hospitable people! I think that is what Jose is trying to say. Then in that case I am the treasure of this country so is the millions of Filipinos living here and all the Filipinos around the world.

Here is the second verse:

In the second verse it becomes a little bit dark and sad. because it is in this verse that the composer tells of the sad part of the country's history. The almost 400 years of slavery brought about by the meanest colonizers of this country, The Spaniards. The song says: Because of her refinement and beauty foreigners (the spanish colonizers) were enticed. My country thou wast enslaved, mired in suffering. Oh were we enslaved! The Spaniards did not only took the dignity of the Filipino people then but they also destroyed everything that is Filipino in us. They made the the Filipinos slaves in our own country. How cruel is that. not just for a couple of years or ten years but almost 400 years. And whats worse not only the spaniards were our colonizers but also the Japanese and the Americans. The Japanese were the second most cruel colonizers of the country. They burned the Philippines down to ashes. Raped the Filipino Women and killed the children and the men. It was one of the most painful part of history in the Philippines. But the Japanese were not the end. Here comes the Americans. We thought they were our savior. Our knights in shinning armour. But lo and behold, they helped us cast away the evil Japanese colonizers, but with a price. They saved with a malicious motive. Last thing we know they are our new colonizers. But among the three colonizers were the most convincing because during that time, the americans showered us with chocolates and US made food and clothing. They introduced the American style of Education. Their music. Their culture. Their dances. Their movies. Everything is American. Suddenly we are Americanized!

Everything we knew about ourselves then is that the Americans were our friends. Because of the good things they gave to us. American culture became our culture then. From games. They taught us how to play basketball. From dances. We knew how to dance the boogie. To movies. We were aware of the latest movies of Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor and almost all American actors. To music. We knew of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe and the gang! To education. They taught us the proper way of going to school. They trained Filipino teachers the American Style of Education. Thus the Teacher's camp in Baguio City was built for these teachers, Filipinos and Americans. The good thing about these American Colonizers is that they gave back the Philippines to the Filipinos. And just in 1991 when Mount Pinatubo erupted the last straw of the American presence here in the Philippines was finally pulled. The American Bases here, Clark Air base in Pampanga and Subic Naval Base in Olongapo were pulled out because of the threat of destruction.

Here is the third stanza:

The song is getting deeper here because the composer likened the country to a bird who was caged and wanted to be free. It says that even birds that are used to flying free if you cage them they will cry for freedom. What more a country so beautiful would she yearn to be free. So true. A bird who has only instinct in mind but no intelligence at all would think of freedom when captivated, how much more a people who are freedom lovers would we not shout for freedom? Yes of course! We want our freedom. No dictator or foreigner will ever take away our freedom. That is why in 1986 the People power erupted in the streets of EDSA is because we had enough of colonizers. we had enough of dictators who steal from us. It is enough! We want our freedom back. So we toppled the Marcos rule by a People Power. No bloodshed. Just pure People Power. That was one of the momentous event in modern day Philippines.1986. I am in college then so I was there before, during and after it happened. I am alive now to tell the story. Thank you God!

And here is the last verse:

Now in the last verse of the song the composer ends it by saying how sad he is that his dear country is suffering from these cruel colonizers. And his only dream and aspiration to see the Philippines truly free!

That is also my dream. Which drives me to the question: Is my country and my fellow countrymen really and truly FREE in this day and age? Yes we do not have foreign colonizers anymore. But are we truly free? Well that depends on how each and everyone thinks what is freedom. For me Freedom can only be achieved if each and every Filipino really wants it so badly and work on it 24/7. Just like what we did in EDSA 1986. We wanted it so badly then. We joined together. We united. We faced the odds together. We faced the danger together. WE want it so badly then that God gave it to us. And we got it. That is true freedom.

May freedom be our main intention in everything that we do. Freedom from sin. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from Poverty. Freedom from corruption. FREEDOM. 

Let us live and breath Freedom.

makie's dream

Tell me your dreams and I will tell you who you are. Well just today my 7 Grade five pupils did told me their dreams. I told them yesterday, as an assignment in Pilipino, to write their dreams or in the vernacular their "Pangarap sa Buhay". And today I told them to pass it. I was expecting them to tell me dreams of toys, clothes, shoes or gadgets. But I was so surprised with what they wrote. Well almost all of them wrote what they want to be when they grow up. Like a Doctor, a chef and even a fashion designer. To a Pilot and a teacher and an accountant. I said those are very good dreams. But one of my pupil touched me so much that it nearly made my tears fall. The pupil was Mariano or Makie for short. He is one of the most malikot and playful of the bunch. He always tease his girl classmates  and punch his boy classmates. I never thought he would have a SERIOUS vein in his body until I heard him recite his Pangarap this afternoon in class. Here is his dream. I typed it so you can understand it. Here it is in the photo below. Just click the photo to make it bigger.

What can you say about it? Isn't it touching. All he ever needs is his Father in Japan and his family to be together. So sad that he has to live 6 years of his life away from his father just because his father have to work abroad for a better life. Which reflects most of the Filipino children in the Philippines who has a parent working abroad for greener pastures. Worst, both parents are away while the kids stays here. Lucky for Makie he occassionally sees his father when he goes in a vacation in the Philippines for a month or two. But most OFW parents cannot have the luxury of a regular vacation trip home. So that leaves the kids going through life without their complete parents beside them. How sad. But that is the life they choose and I am sure the kids will understand. But for how long? I do not know. 

Thank God we have the internet at least they can talk through it regularly and see each other virtually, at least. But can the internet recreate the touch of the loving hand of a father. it cannot. Can it duplicate the warm hugs? The embrace? The sweet kisses? The playful tickle on the sides? The disciplining hands? The warm pinch on the cheeks? The pat on the back for every success the child makes? The ruffling of the hair? The playtime? The basketball games on the plaza court? The pillow fights in bed? The dinner together? The sleeping on the father's lap while watching TV? The wrestling match in the living room? The reading of stories before they sleep? The gardening on a hot sunny day? The bathing in the cold rain? The cheer on the boy's game day! The presence. The memories. Well no matter how high-tech our gadgets may be they cannot duplicate all that. Everything the child misses. Years went by and they have no dad. Or Mom beside them. So sad. Isn't it?

Makie's dream inspired me to write this blog entry today. Makie's dream, nearly, yes just nearly,  moved me into tears. But I did not show my sadness to my class. Because I don't want them to feel sad too. So I just simply wiped the moist in the corner of my eyes and proceeded with today's lesson. I thanked them for a wonderful recitation and I said I hope all their dreams will come true. To dream will not cost you a centavo, I said. So keep on dreaming and praying even if your former dreams and prayers  did not come true. Dream more! And pray even some more. Do not stop dreaming. Believe in dreams and the power of God to fulfill it.

Yes! The Philippines Is Ready for the Next Level!

The infectious smiles of the Filipino People.

I am so happy I went to Church at Victory Christian Fellowship Angeles City, Pampanga today. Today was a happy day for me because of our Pastor's preaching about Nehemiah. The Pastor compared what happened to Nehemiah in Jerusalem with what is happening to our country, The Philippines. If you are going to read the book of Nehemiah, he, Nehemiah, have this burden to restore Jerusalem because his hometown went through a major disaster. Walls are torn down. All the houses were burned because of a war. There was major destruction in this city. And you all know what happened next. He asked the king of Persia, Nehemiah's boss, if he will let him go back to Jerusalem. Surprisingly the king allowed him to go back to help in restoring the city of Jerusalem. The king even sent men and construction materials with Nehemiah as a way of helping Nehemiah fulfill his desire to restore Jerusalem. 

The comparison of our Pastor to what happened in Jerusalem and to what is happening to the Philippines was strikingly familiar.

Our country has gone through a lot of disasters in the past few years. May it be natural disasters or man-made disasters name it we all went through it. Typhoons and the equally disastrous Monsoon Rains we just experienced last month was one of the worst. And Just days ago an earthquake just hit the eastern side of the Philippines. And tsunami alerts were raised. But thank God no one was hurt and no much damage was reported. So the tsunami danger did not happen. Thank You God! But these calamities and disasters have created destruction to our country. Most especially to the less fortunate citizens of the Philippines, they are the ones always badly hit. People who have weak houses and those who are living along the water ways were the most number of destruction had occurred. 

The recent monsoon rains has caused disastrous floods in
many places in the country

But after all these calamities and disasters happening in our country still the Philippines is alive and kicking, The Filipinos are always ready to stand and rebuild again from scratch what was left from these disasters. Like Nehemiah we are always ready to rebuild and restore our life. We are always relying on God's plan. Knowing that God is always in control of our country. Knowing that God will not give us these challenges for us to have pity and be ashamed of ourselves but to be stronger and become more wiser and ready. The Filipino people are very resilient there is no problem or calamities that we cannot face. And after these calamities we are always ready to pick ourselves up and start again. 

Yes the Philippines is ready! The Philippines is ready to fight again. The Philippines is ready for the future! The Philippines is ready to win the battle against poverty and corruption! The Philippines is ready!

The readiness of the Philippines is very evident in the country's economic performance. Let us all appreciate this.

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY BOOM!

According to international standards like World Bank and the CIA Fact book and I quote "The economy of the Philippines is the 43rd largest in the world. The estimated 2011 Gross Domestic Product (purchasing power) was $389.8 billion (2011 est.). The Goldman Sachs estimates that by year 2050, the Philippines will be the 14th largest economy in the world and one in its lists of the Next Eleven economies. HSBC projects the Philippine economy to become the 16th largest economy in the world, 5th largest economy in Asia region by 2050. As a newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. The Philippines is one of the Tiger Cub Economies in Southeast Asia together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

But wait there's more!!!

The Philippine economy grew in the first quarter of the year, creating 1.1 million jobs and making it Asia's second fastest-growing economy after China. Within Asean, the Philippines' economic performance was above the region's average of 6.7 percent, growing faster than Indonesia (6.3%), Vietnam (4%), Singapore (1.6%) and Thailand (0.3%). Growth in other Asian countries likewise was slower: India (5.3%), Hong Kong (0.4%), Republic of Korea (2.8%), and Japan (2.8%) (Source: Interaksyon Ngayon)

And there is more good news!!!

THE CALL CENTER BOOM!

The call centers has contributed $5.5 billion 
in the country's economy 

According to Business in Asia.com, "A report from IBM released in October 2011 said the Philippines had this year passed India as the global leader in business process outsourcing (BPO) in terms of the number of people each country employed in the sector. The Philippines has taken over the lead in the global ranking from India, after having challenged the top position for several years. The head of the government's information technology commission, Mr. Ivan Uy, said the Philippines had definitely bypassed India in call center revenues with $5.5 billion last year compared with India's $5.3 billion...The Philippines had more than half a million people working in call center and related services compared with 330,000 in India.

THE BLOOMBERG REPORT

Yes! The Bloomberg Report! An American multinational mass media corporattion based in New York City has reported just this January of 2012 that the Philippines is the Leading Asian Tiger Economy of the world and CNBC included it as one of the top 12 countries to invest in long term. Here is the video that says it all. Please view it. Well the reporter just said that the Philippines is the leading economy in Asia NOW! That there is growing confidence on the part of the investors on the Philippines for long term investments. We all know that if there is investments there is economic growth. And isn't that a way to start the year 2012.

IT IS MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

SO with all these good things happening in our country right now I can say with pride and joy that truly it is GREAT to be a FILIPINO again living in the PHILIPPINES right now. It is good that I have not abandoned this great nation in times of troubles and calamities. Sure there are bad times, but the GOOD TIMES are the best. I am just saddened that Migrant Filipino Workers abroad are not here to experience this, I am sure they have their reasons, but It is good to be home while the good things are happening. Surely it is more fun in the Philippines!

Thank You Lord for blessing this country of ours. Thank You God for continuously restoring this great nation the way you restored Jerusalem with the leadership of Nehemiah. Thank You God for taking control of our country and its people. Thank You God for making me a Filipino.

Lord God, continuously bless the Philippines!