The Beauty of Baler

Baler, Aurora is located on the southeastern part of the island of Luzon, around 230 kilometers (143 miles) from Manila. Accessible by land through zigzagging mountain roads, with travel time lasting 5-6 hours. The province of Aurora was named after the wife of President Manuel Quezon. It is a go-to destination for nature lovers because the province is 70% forest cover. It is also gaining popularity among surfers, and the best time for riding the waves are during the months of September to March.  

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Last summer, my son Aton's best buddy Mikey came home for a vacation. He's been staying in Canada for the past two years where his parents live. They were inseparable the entire time Mikey was here! Why wouldn't they? It was just like they were "brothers born of a different mother and father."

"Surprise, Aton! I'm back!!!" - Mikey

They planned a trip to #Baler, Aurora together with their closest buddies from the UST Yellow Jackets. It was their first time to go there which added to the fun and adventure. They hiked, trekked, took a dip in the cool waters of a river next to a waterfall. They went to the beach and tried surfing when the waves picked up. Gauging from their photos, they did have a good time. Oh, the things you can do when you're young and fit. (a bit jealous here. haha)

The UST Yellow Jackets

Time to explore that big Banyan tree

Conquering the roots of the tree

Practically "inside" the tree

Those tree roots are huge!

That's Aton and his girlfriend, Marga

The lovely waterfall

Taking a dip in the cool waters of the river 

Photo-op while taking a break from hiking

That's Aton and Marga

Another photo-op break

Mikey taking a breather on the river banks

Marga and Mikey

The coastline of Baler

First time to try surfing!

Mikey's send off party at Garahe 25 Bar and Resto. Best buddies for life!

I am happy my children know the value of friendship and how to treasure them. It may be a few more years before Mikey comes back for another visit, but who knows? It may be Aton who will visit him in Canada. :)

Why Eagles Never Die

I spent two years of my life in a foreign country, earning my keep to send my children through school. The homesickness was unbearable, and sore muscles and tears were part of my daily existence. To alleviate the longing for home, I pinned pictures of my children and immediate family on the inside of my closet, together with a newspaper clipping of a poem by the late Vice President of the Philippines, Salvador Laurel.

This poem gave me strength to go on each day. It speaks of perseverance, hard work and family. Let me share it with you.

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Why Eages Never Die

-by Salvador "Doy" Laurel

November 18, 2002

I've been watching eagles all my life; 

I've seen them soar and swoop in strife;

Gliding with grace against wind and sky,

But I've yet to see an eagle falter or die.

They all look alike up in the sky,

Strong and daring in their quest up high;

They only rest when the day is done,

To perch and care for a little one.

They sally forth each day without thought

Of wounds or flops, or yesterday's drought;

They care not for the past or the morrow,

They know the only time they have is now.

And when 'tis time to go, they never tarry;

They leave the world without being sorry;

To some forgotten cliffs they simply hie,

So mortals never see them ail or die.

In Perfect Harmony

Haven't we had enough? 

Famine, disease, war.

Senseless killing of the innocents.

Violence against women and children.

Lust for power.

Child trafficking.

Corruption.

Lies.

Greed.

Wake up, world!

I saw this video on youtube. The song sounded very familiar and then I remembered that this was the song for a Coke commercial way back in the 70s. The message is simple - spread love and peace. I am sharing it with you today.

I'd Like to Build the World A Home

Performed by The New Seekers

Songwriters: B.Backer, B. Davis, R. Cook, R. Greenway

I'd like to build a world a home

and furnish it with love

Grow apple trees and honey bees

and snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing

in perfect harmony

I'd  like to hold it in my hands

and keep it company.

I'd like to see the world for once

all standing hand in hand

and hear them echo through the hills

for peace throughout the land.

Its the real thing

what the worlds wants today

That's the way it'll stay

with the real thing

I'd like to teach the world to sing

in perfect harmony.

A song of peace that echoes on

and never goes away.

Put your hand in my hand

Let's begin today

With your hand in my hand

help me find a way

I'd like to see the world for once

all standing hand in hand.

And hear them echo through the hills

for peace throughout the land.

I'd like to teach the world to sing

in perfect harmony.

A song of peace that echoes on

and never goes away.

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Break down the barriers of race, color, and religion.

We are all brothers.

That's all we need to believe.

12 Quirky Kitchen Gadgets For The Curious Homemaker

In this fast paced world, innovators have discovered ways and means to create gadgets that would make tasks or chores easier - specially in the kitchen. Some of these inventions are useful and has been widely sold worldwide. Others are just downright weird, but kinda fun.

Let us delve into the world of weird and quirky kitchen gadgets.

The Banana Slicer

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A knife would have served the same purpose. I wonder if anybody ever bought this product? 

The Egg Separator

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Baking always entails separating the egg yolks from the egg whites. This task requires skill and patience. Egg separators have been in the market for a long time and comes in all shapes and sizes. This one however, makes the task look really gross. 

The Knife Block

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A majority of homemakers keep their knives in a drawer after use. However, this may dull the knife quickly, so it is recommended that knives be kept in a knife block after use. This knife block however, is ultra scary! I would have a freak out experience going in the kitchen at night if I had this thing sitting in my counter. I would go for the standard wooden, rectangular knife block. 

The Self Stirring Mug

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No need for teaspoons! This self stirring mug has a small whirring disc at the bottom that stirs and froths your cup of coffee at the push of a button. Uses 2 AA batteries. The best gift for a lazy friend! Honestly, I still prefer using a stirrer or a spoon when I make my coffee. I'd use the money I would spend for batteries on something else.

The Hillary Nutcracker

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Like egg separators, nutcrackers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I found this unique nutcracker on the web and it is called "The Hillary Nutcracker." I have nothing else to say.

The Drink Caddy

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This contraption was designed to make dispensing drinks a lot easier. It does work, mind you, but come to think of it, do you really need this? 

The Onion Goggles

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Chopping onions can end up in a tear-fest. The sulfuric compounds in the onion are released when cut. To avoid this, I usually cut/chop onions maintaining a distance from them, keeping my eyes away from the direct line of fire from these sulfuric compounds. In short, I don't bend over my chopping board when I cut or chop onions. Another life hack to avoid tearing is to freeze or refrigerate the onions before use. Onion Goggles would guarantee "no tears" when chopping onions but for $20? I don't think so.

The Egg Cuber

Vanity kills, my friends. Why would you want to distort the shape of a perfectly boiled egg? Would it even matter?

The Butter Spreader

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Unless you'd be having corn on the cob everyday for the rest of your life, then this gadget would benefit you immensely. However, frugal little me would use my trusty butter knife instead. 

The Twirling Spaghetti Fork

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Eating spaghetti can sometimes be messy, however, if we learn to use the fork properly, we get to enjoy our pasta dish even more. Another quirky kitchen invention is this Twirling Spaghetti Fork. It is battery operated and twirls your spaghetti perfectly around the prongs of the fork. My dear mommies (and daddys), it would not be difficult to teach your child to use the fork properly, right? The money you'd have to spend for batteries could be spent for an extra carton of milk. Think about it.

The Finger Fork

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Worn on the pointer finger and used to pick up small portions of food. It would come in handy in informal gatherings or when the party host does not have enough silverware. I actually think this is practical to have during camping trips and picnics. It would also be great for bar chow. 

The Toilet Coffee Cup

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I honestly would want one of these. It is indeed quirky but I absolutely find it unique. I can just picture in my mind the looks on the faces of people seeing me drink coffee from a mug that looks like this. That would be so much fun!

To conclude, I know that these gadgets do serve their purpose for some people. To speak of the truth, I only have very few gadgets in my kitchen. I have a cleaver, an all purpose kitchen knife, a paring knife, a peeler, a bottle opener and a can opener. I also have a mortar and pestle and a manual (coil-spring) chopper. I guess that is all I need for now. My family never complains about my cooking so I guess I am good for now.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a blessed week ahead. 

Live. Pray. Practice Charity. Stay Happy.

10 Big Hollywood Stars' Pictures Before They Became Famous

I was sitting in front of the computer earlier at noon. Just browsing, checking mail, searching for writing jobs. Then I had this thought... What did my favorite movie stars look like when they were kids? And so I started my search. Are you ready for this?

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He played the part of Randy in "Dallas," Peter in "21 Jump Street," Billy Clanton in the movie "Too Young to Die" Paul McClean in "A River Runs Through It," and Tristan Ludlow in "Legends of the Fall." He starred in the movies "Troy," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "World War Z." 

You guessed right. It is BRAD PITT.  

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He was cast in the TV series "ER," "Hotel," "Facts of Life," "The Golden Girls," "Roseanne," "Bodies of Evidence" and "Friends," among others. He starred in the movies "Three Kings," "Spy Kids," "Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen." He starred together with Sandra Bullock in the movie "Gravity."

Who is it? It is GEORGE CLOONEY.

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He was in "Saturday Night Live," the teen movie "Chances Are," the TV series "Ally McBeal." He starred in the movie "Sherlock Holmes." He plays the role of Tony Stark in the movie "Iron Man" and "The Avengers."

Correct! He is ROBERT DOWNEY JR. 

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I started noticing this actor for his film "Taxi Driver," followed by a lot of box office films namely "Raging Bull," "The Deer Hunter," "Ronin," and "The Godfather Series." Recently he did some comedy films - "Meet the Fockers" and "Little Fockers." You now know who this guy is?

He is ROBERT DE NIRO.

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He played college football as a quarterback for the UCLA. When he started in show business, he was doing guest appearances on TV series like "The Love Boat," "Flamingo Road" and "Laverne and Shirley." He landed the part of Dr. Caldwell in the TV series "St. Elsewhere." He took on another role of a doctor, Dr. Jack McNeil in the series "Chicago Hope." He is very passionate about his hobby, woodworking. He is currently playing the role of Jethro Leroy Gibbs in the crime series "NCIS."

That's MARK HARMON.

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He was chosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in Film history. When his first showbiz endeavors turned out to be unsuccessful, he went on a hiatus for 4 years and went into carpentry, a hobby he keeps up to this day. For those who are about the same age as me, you'd remember him through his films "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones." More recent films were "Air Force One," "The Expendables 3," "Cowboys and Aliens."

The charmer is the picture is HARRISON FORD. 

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Born in Sherman Oaks, California. She started her professional training in the New York Academy of Performing Arts. She was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine. She appeared in the movie Ferris Bueller in 1990. She landed a role in the TV series "Friends" where she gained a lot of popularity. Although she is of Greek ancestry, she prefers Mexican food over Greek. One of her famous personal quotes is "Don't make plans. Make options."

She is no other than JENNIFER ANISTON.

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London-born and of Canadian descent, this little cutie is the son of showbiz couple. He has 6 names although he only uses the first one professionally. He started to get noticed when he played the part of Ace Merrill in the movie, "Stand By Me." Another movie he starred in was the suspense hit, "The Lost Boys." Later on in his career, he did a lot of TV series, most popular of which was "24." The most recent TV series he starred in was "Touch," followed by "24: Live Another Day."

The blonde haired, blue eyed little cutie in the photo is KIEFER SUTHERLAND (Full name: Kiefer Williams Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland)

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This adorable little girl grew up to be known as "The Girl Next Door." She was included in the list of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People Magazine. At certain times in her young life, she lived in Germany and Austria. She was a cheerleader in high school and worked as a waitress in New York after college. I loved her role in the movie "While You Were Sleeping" and "Miss Congeniality" Her latest movie is "Gravity"

She is the ever-smiling SANDRA BULLOCK.

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Born into a family of show business people, this adorable little girl was destined to have the acting bug. She was such a darling, when at 5 years old, she played the part of Gertie in the Steven Spielberg blockbuster movie, "E.T." She was the youngest TV show host at 7 years old, when she did "Saturday Night Live." At 9 years old, she did "Firestarter." In her career as an adult, she did "Charlie's Angels," "50 First Dates," "The Wedding Singer," "Home Fries." By now, you have already guessed who this adorable little girl is.

She is DREW BARRYMORE. 

It amazes me to read about how these big stars started on their career. Some were just ordinary folks who just dreamed of making it big, while some had their careers laid out for them even before they could understand what the industry was all about.

I hope you enjoyed viewing their pictures and learning a little bit about their lives before they because famous. I did. 

The Miracle of the Rose Petals: The Batangas Chronicles Part 2

The Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel sits in a quiet part of Lipa City, 83 kilometers from Manila. After the war, the Carmelite nuns relocated to this place from Manila. The church and convent was completed in 1946. Two years after it was built, a Marian Apparition happened in this place. A young novitiate named Teresita Castillo was praying in the convent garden when a vine started to shake. The voice of Our Lady requested her to kiss the earth and return to the same spot for the next 15 days. The apparition was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mediatrix of All Grace. Teresita was witness to all 19 apparitions.

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There were a lot of things that happened after that including the shower of rose petals that had images of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. The church investigators ruled negatively and ordered all things related to the apparition to be burned and destroyed. The statue of the Blessed Virgin was also ordered to be destroyed but the nuns wrapped it in rags and kept it to avoid being destoyed. The convent was ordered closed with no contact with anyone outside of it.

In 1951, the veneration of Our Lady Mediatrix of all Grace was allowed, however, the Philippine Church Heirarchy declared that "there was no supernatural intervention in the extraordinary happenings including the shower of rose petals in Lipa." This decision was affirmed by the Vatican in 2010.

I was born and raised a Catholic. I have experienced a miracle when I was a child. I experienced the power of prayer, if spoken from the heart, is indeed heard and answered. My mother fondly remembers this event in Lipa. She was born and reared in the town.

The picture below shows the original vine where Our Lady appeared to Teresita Castillo. It is still intact and can be viewed once you visit the Church and convent in Lipa.

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Here is a picture of one of the rose petals that fell on the church garden.

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I do not care whether some look at this as a hoax. The message is plain and simple. We should practice humility, penance and offer prayers for the clergy, the Pope, for the world and to pray the Rosary. The world in its current state is in turmoil. Prayers, with childlike confidence is our only hope.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Further readings: 
1. http://www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/unapproved_apparitions/lipa/
2. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/miracle-rose-petals-revisited-000512658.html

The Rights Of A Child

It is alarming how children around the world have fallen victim to violence, hunger, disease, and trafficking. I am appalled to read about these things in the news. The children are the future of our world and they deserve every bit of love, respect and attention.

I write today because I feel that there is a need to increase awareness and to remind the world on the Rights Of The Child.

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD

(Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1386 (XIV) 10 December 1959)

1. The child shall enjoy all the rights set forth in this declaration. Every child, without any exception whatsoever, shall be entitled to these rights, without distinction or discrimination on account of race,color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, whether of himself or of his family.

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2. The child shall enjoy special protection, and shall be given opportunities and facilities, by law and by other means, to enable him to develop physically, morally, mentally, spiritually and socially, in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity. In the enactment of laws for this purpose, the best interests of the child will be the paramount consideration

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3. The child shall be entitled at birth to a name and nationality

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4. The child shall enjoy the benefits of social security. He shall be entitled to grow and develop in health; to this end, special care and protection shall be provided both to him and to his mother, including adequate prenatal and post natal care. The child shall have the right to adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and medical services.

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5. The child who is physically, mentally or socially handicapped shall be given the special treatment, education and care required by his particular condition.

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6. The child, for the full and harmonious development of his personality, needs love and understanding. He shall, wherever possible, grow up in the care and under the responsibility of his parents, and, in any case, in an atmosphere of affection and of moral and material security; a child of tender years shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, be separated from his mother. Society and public authorities shall have the duty to extend particular care to children without a family and to those without adequate means of support. Payment of State and other assistance towards maintenance of children of large families is desirable.

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7. The child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at least in the elementary stages. He shall be given an education that will promote his general culture, and enable him, on the basis of of equal opportunity to develop his abilities, his individual judgement, and his sense of social and moral responsibility, and to become a useful member of society.

The best interests of the child shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his education and guidance; that responsibility lies in the first place with his parents.

The child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation, which should be directed to the same purposes as education; society and the public authorities shall be endeavor to promote the enjoyment of this right.

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8. The child shall in all circumstances, be the among the first to receive protection and relief.

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9. The child shall be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation. He shall not be the subject of traffic, in any form.

The child shall not be admitted to employment before an appropriate minimum age; he shall in no case, be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment which would prejudice his health or education, or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.

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10. The child shall be protected from practices which may foster racial, religious and any form of discrimination. He shall be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace and universal brotherhood, and in full consciousness that his energy and talents should be devoted to the service of his fellowmen.

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The bottom line is that no child should know of war, injustice, hunger, racism and violence. We owe it to them to make the world a place where they can grow up to be free, healthy and happy. These children will take over from where we left off. What future would they have if we, the adults they look up to continue to dwell on differences and greed and rob them of a beautiful tomorrow?

Peace, Love and Charity. Start putting these three little things in our lives today. Do it now. Do it for the children.

Wishing all of us a meaningful week ahead.

Please watch this short video:

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmy9MpwyKnQ

Smart Entrepreneurship

Establishing a retail business is a good fall back option after retirement. It is easy to manage and does not require a lot of capital. A small stall in a high traffic area would ensure a steady influx of customers.

A clothing and accessories shop is one kind of retail business that always promises a good return of investment. Entrepreneurs should, however, be very careful in selecting the goods they put up for retail. Wholesale stores and websites provide competitive pricing, however, if you want your business to thrive, you should also go for quality. ShopForBags.com is a company that lives up to your expectations. You can purchase wholesale clothing from here. They have a wide selection of items like clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories. The designs are unique which would appeal to the taste of buying public. 

The company also offers free shipping for orders over $350, which is a big help for small scale clothing shops. For those who are dreaming of putting an end to being a corporate slave, the retail business would be your best option. Check the site out and do your research. Live your dream and start being your own boss.

On Learning To Love Growing Old

You start growing gray hair, your skin is not as supple as it used to be. Your vision turns bad, your hearing is not that good anymore. You are growing old. So what? No big deal. Growing old has other "perks." Here are 8 of them.

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1. You gain increased independence coupled with decreased mobility. When you were young, all you wanted to be was to grow up to gain independence. Now that you have the independence, you can't get to places you want to be because of obligations and responsibilities, topped with decreased joint mobility.

2. You learn to love sleeping. Remember how much you hated it when your mother forced you to take an afternoon nap? If you had known then that you would be sleep-deprived in adulthood, you would have taken a century worth of sleep when you were a child.

3. You become aware of unseen body parts that were unknown to you as a child. As an adult, your knowledge of human anatomy has gone beyond "head, shoulders, knees and toes." You now know that you have all sorts of glands, most of which go crazy and cause your current health issues.

4. You now can be proud to have a richer vocabulary. Words now have more than one meaning. For example, "Lumps" as a child meant you had a bad fall. "Lumps" in an adult can mean something else. 

5. You get to have in-depth knowledge of the word "Ache." As a child, the only "aches" you knew of were tummy ache and toothache. As an adult, you get to experience headache, heartache, joint ache, back ache and a whole lot of aches.

6. Excellence is something you try to stay away from. As a child, bagging an academic excellence award means a new toy, a new dress, monetary rewards, a dream vacation or a family dinner in a fancy restaurant. In adulthood, excellence at work would mean promotion, which means you will be given more work.

7. You look forward to retirement. It amuses you to watch young adults scrambling to land their dream job and make a mark. You shake your head and mutter to yourself, "Been there. Done that."

8. The best part of growing old is not counting how many years you have been alive. It is in collecting, treasuring and reminiscing all the good times and life lessons you had along the way. 

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