My Socially Constructed Reality

A lot of thoughts ran through my mind while I was reading Mitch Albom's latest book, FOR ONE MORE DAY. First, I thought of Mr. Wilson Solis, my former thesis adviser who passed away a couple of years ago. I thought of him because I knew in my heart that he was the person I regret not being able to talk to before he died. The last time I saw him was during AUF Kampus Kapihan. He was just outside the venue. He looked through the glass door and he saw me. I also saw him and I wanted so much to leave the kapihan and talk to him. But I said to myself, " Mamaya na lang ." I never knew that would be the last time that I would see him alive . I was all alone when I went to his funeral. That was where I got a chance to talk to him -- I believed he would hear me. Then I got a chance to talk to his mom and sister -- that made me realize how precious he was as a son to his mom and as a brother to his sister. If only they knew how precious Sir Solis was to me--- Second, I thought of m...

There are 94 social issues mentioned at http://www.txtmania.com/index.php . When I read about all of them, I realized that all those issues are familiar – those are the same issues covered by the Philippine press in various media – TV, newspapers, radio, etc. It’s hard to deny that life in the Philippines, indeed, is not hassle-free. Everywhere you look, problems abound. Now, the question most people ask is, who should start the change? The government or the people? I actually don’t see any reason to ask who should act first because if we are to give solutions to social problems, then we should all act now. Let me recommend top ten solutions to these problems. 1. Acknowledge that there is a huge problem that has to be solved. Don’t say “there is no problem” when you know something is wrong somewhere. Just this morning, the Phil Daily Inquirer came up with a news story that says the Team Unity urges the Opposition and election watchdogs to “show proof of cheating in Maguindanao.” It’s a...

It's 4:59 pm. I'm finally done. I was oblivious of the whole world while I was compiling all the documents I needed. It's done. I can relax for a while. Finally.

by Kevien P. Cabarrubias , Aileen C. Mendoza , Gina G. Perez , Enrique D. Tacbad and Virginia B. Bautista Bishop asks Comelec, watchdog to probe Pampanga vote-buying Central Luzon DeskLast updated 01:02am (Mla time) 05/02/2007 Vote-buying rampant; costs from P50 to P1,500 InquirerLast updated 11:04pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007 Vote buying reported rampant in Albay, Catanduanes, Quezon Southern Luzon BureauLast updated 08:38pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007 Fears of cheating, vote-buying raised in Visayas InquirerLast updated 07:47pm (Mla time) 05/14/2007 NGO verifies SMS reports on vote-buying By Lawrence CasirayaINQUIRER.netLast updated 08:33pm (Mla time) 05/15/2007 Ex-mayor linked to vote buying; disqualification sought By Sun.Star Reportorial Team ***************************************************************** INCIDENTS of vote-buying were reported on every newspaper, on radio stations, on TV networks, and even on the Internet. In fact, even before the May-14 election, the public had already an...

Helps me rediscover myself; Inspires me to read more and know more so that I'll have more to say in my blog; Relieves me from stress; Can sometimes make me do things i don't usually do; Makes me do multi-tasking more often; Will help you remember me when I die.

I love writing. This is the fastest way for me to "connect " to my friends who are in other parts of the globe. I want to preserve good memories. I know I can use it as a tool in letting people know how I feel about them. I'd like to share my thoughts and opinion about current issues. I also enjoy reading other people's blog. It serves as a therapy for me -- writing is my way to relieve stress. I believe I have interesting stories to tell. I want the whole world to know that I have a wonderful family, a challenging job and a sweet baby. You read my posts :-)

This is not the second time around but the nth time that I read a novel written by one of my favorite novelists -- Mary Higgins Clark. Check out an interview with her on this site . SECOND TIME AROUND is a perfectly-crafted fiction that could make you think and feel at the same time. The novel involves a lot of characters who have their own stories to tell. But the main character is Carley, a reporter /writer who is writing about the real story about a man named NICHOLAS SPENCER. He was declared missing after the plane supposedly crashed. However, Spencer's body was not recovered so many believed that he was still alive and was just hiding. In fact, some claimed to see him with his secretary (?) . Mr. Spencer is very important in the story. He didn't appear in the novel but everything happened because of him -- or because of his mysterious disappearance. He was expecting to "receive the blessing of the Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine that would both e...

THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that in China, where abortion is legal, it is not unusual to find a young girl who had 5 or 6 abortions. Jim Yardley's article titled Face of Abortion in China: A Young, Single Woman discusses the implication among teenagers that abortion has brought about. The article pointed out that although abortion's legality was intended to help married women comply with its one-child policy, the Chinese teenagers these days are making abortion a contraception method. In fact, the article mentioned "private clinics distribute fliers on university campuses, even offering student discounts." I think this is the most absurd discount I ever heard of. Who would be proud to avail of this kind of offer? Here's a picture from the NYT which shows an operating room in public hospitals that allows several operations to be done at the same time. pix by Mimi Miranda Kuo for the NEW YORK TIMES If normal child birth is painful (really painful!), then how can y...

Christopher Hitchens thinks "GOD IS NOT GREAT." Check out his interesting and controversial insights here . Hitchens, who was interviewed at FoxNews regarding his book, would definitely make you think -- 77 times before believing in what many of us call GOD.

Today's been a long day . My busy day started with a breakfast with my mom, Peter (a Canadian), and Celsa at Jollibee. My mom and I asked about how I could possibly migrate to Canada with my family. He told me a lot of possibilities. I could go there first and work for two years. After a couple of years, he said I could sponsor my whole family. He said the first two years would definitely be difficult but after that, he assured me that life will be a lot better because I will have a chance to get whatever work I want. And he said that in Canada, "kids take care of themselves " -- financially. That's because there is free education, free medical services, etc. The thing is, I think I can't live even for a single day without my kids, esp. my babyluvs. But I am not dismissing the idea that someday, somehow, my family and I will be able to migrate to Canada or to UK. While taking our order at Jollibee, my mom received a text message that said "Mom is celebrating ...

When I arrived in class this morning, my classmates and my professor were talking about election which is going to happen this Monday. It made me think why I never vote. Then, here's my professor telling the class that voting now is just a matter of "choosing the lesser evil." This implies that the choices are all evil. This is the primary reason why I never vote -- never and never planned to. I don't want to "choose between evils." For me, voting is just a waste of time. I am not going out on election day to write any candidate's name on a ballot. Experience tells me that whoever gets elected, our lives would still depend on us. No matter how good the government is, if the Filipinos would not work hard, life would be miserable. The same way, no matter how hard the Filipinos work, if the government makes poor economic and political decisions, then life in the Philippines would remain pathetic. Also, no matter how educated or how uneducated the politici...

Parable Of The Pencil The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.“There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. O...

Amy is an amicable girl who lives in an alley nearby. One day, Amy saw scaly alligators all over the altar. Amy immediately called her only brother, Alex. Alex absent-mindedly pulled the scaly alligators’ tails. But the alligators were too many to be killed by one man. So Alex and Amy called their neighbors, Aries and Apple. Together, Amy, Alex, Aries and Apple forcefully slew the alligators. “Hurray!” said the neighbors. “Hurray for the alligator slayers in the neighborhood!” **************** Aaron, Archie, Angelo, Andrew or Aubrey? Who owns the castle near the old oak tree? Brandon, Brendan, Brent, Bruce or Boris? Who needs to see the owner of the castle near the old oak tree? Charles, Chester, Clarence, Claud or Clinton? Who knows the person who needs to see the owner of the castle near the old oak tree? Tell me, oh please, tell me! I need to see the person who knows the person who needs to see the owner of the castle near the old oak tree. ******************

Tnx to www.snapshirts.com for this word cloud.

Before I was a Mom… I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone. Before I was a Mom… I slept as late as I wanted. And never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth every day. Before I was a Mom… I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom… I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunisations. Before I was Mom… I had never been puked on, Pooped on, Spat on, Chewed on, Peed on, Or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom… I had complete control of my mind, My thoughts. My body, And my time. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom… I never held down a screaming child, So that doctors could do tests, Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night Watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom… I never held a sleeping baby just b...

We waited for May 1 to come. Yap, but not because we would go out and join the rally of KMU but because my kids were excited to see SPIDER-MAN 3. This day is truly a DAY-OFF for me. Finally, I'm off today -- no students, no paperworks, no parents, no undesirable elements. At least for a day :-) I wanted to eat at KFC but my daughter said "SBARRO please!" She won. All right. Here's Stef & her Tita smiling in front of oversized pizza :-) Charles loves the smell of pizza at SBARRO! My favorite : LASAGNA with garlic bread Don't forget the pop corn! Oooppsss... I shot this photo but the lady in the cinema said NO PICTURE-TAKING ALLOWED inside -- Vei and Stef: Smile pa rin kahit bawal magpapicture sa loob! Our first stop before watching SPIDER-MAN 3: COFFEE SHOP This is not Venom :-)

I love everything about SPIDER-MAN 3! It has all the elements that would make it a big hit. This 500-million-dollar (according to this site ) movie is worth our hundred bucks each. We've had a two-hour full entertainment. The movie has everything a viewer could ever ask for: lovely story, fantastic visual effects, moral lesson and entertainment value. I think this is the best sequel for the movie SPIDER-MAN. I didn't expect the movie to be really great. Usually, sequels are lousy because, well, I thought producers just produce for the sake of profit. But SPIDER-MAN 3 was definitely an exception. I love the visual effects, the concepts, the sub-plots. Sandman and Venom are two powerful villains who, at the end of the story, felt they also have weaknesses. Even Spider-man realized in the end that he has to forgive because even he had committed mistakes in the past. Plus, the movie was unpredictable. Who would ever thought that Harry Osborn would, in the end of the story, become S...