•          There is a new chismis circulating these days…that the bar results will come out in March 16 already.  Again, i refuse to believe because my sources aren’t saying anything about it.  Useless worrying will just make me less productive.  I resolve to start panicking only by mid-March.

•          I went to a Globe Business Center last night to fix some papers with regard to my/papa’s post paid line.  Haaaay, i just don’t get why Globe can be so unreasonably stiff with their “rules” that adherence to them would obviously result to absurdity!  I’d get back on this in October, when everything would hopefully be settled by then.

•          My unsolicited credit cards are not expiring anytime this year; yet, i received some replacement cards yesterday (with no letter attached explaining why).  Gosh, what shall i do with all these cards (overall, XXX has sent me seven cards already)?!  Upon verification, a XXX phone banker explained that the bank merely changed the look of the present cards; thus, even though my ‘old’ ones aren’t expired yet, i should cut them up and start using the new ones (as if).  Aaaaah, hooookay.

•          I would like to quote this paragraph from the SCAD I’m reading  (PJI v. Thoenen, GR 143372, December 13, 2005). “Not all speech is protected. According to Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568, 62 Ct. 766, 86 L.Ed. 1031: The right of free speech is not absolute at all times and under all circumstances.  There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which has never been thought to raise any Constitutional problem.  These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or ‘fighting’ words — those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of peace.  It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.’

•          The new computer in the office gave me a scare today.  It initially did not want to open the case file I’ve been working on the past week.  Gosh!  I should stop tinkering kasi with it (I’m just curious with its specs and programs etc), hehehe.  Pero naman kasi, the default/bundled program is not Microsoft Office, rather OpenOffice.org.  The latter is basically very similar to the former; but of course there are some changes that i want to be familiar with, ergo the ‘tinkering.’ Hehehe, palusot pa!

OH YES, THIS ONE IS FOR REAL! IF ONLY ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WOULD TAKE THIS TO HEART, MIND, AND PRACTICE….

Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno

Ako’y kawani ng Gobyerno,

Tungkulin ko ang maglingkod nang tapat at mahusay.

Dahil dito:

Ako’y papasok nang maaga at magtatrabaho nang lampas sa takdang oras kung kinakailangan;

Magsisilbi ako nang magalang at mabilis sa lahat ng nangangailangan;

Pangangalagaan ko ang mga gamit, kasangkapan at iba pang pag-aari ng pamahalaan;

Magiging pantay at makatarungan ang pakikitungo ko sa mga lumalapit sa aming tanggapan;

Magsasalita ako laban sa latiwalian at pagsasamantala;

Hindi ko gagamitn ang aking panunungkulan

Hindi ako hihingi o tatanggap ng suhol;

Sisikapin kong madagdagan ang aking talino at kakayahan upang ang antas ng paglilingkod sa bayan ay patuloy na maitaas.

Sapagkat ako’y kawani ng gobyerno at tungkulin ko ang mag-lingkod nang tapat at mahusay sa bayan ko at sa panahong it;

Ako at ang aking mga kapwa kawani ay kailangan tungo sa isang maunlad, masagana at mapayapang Pilipinas.

Sa harap ninyong lahat, ako’y taos-pusong nanunumpa

·         I seem to have a sleeping problem. Ehehehe, I’m always sleepy!

·         Betty complained she saw a cockroach atop Freidamay (name of her car kasi according to Toyota, the car’s color is Freedom White).  I told her I saw one INSIDE Wudju (papa’s car) last month!  She said, I need to have the car detailed to get rid of the lone cockroach.  She theorized that the said cockroach might have built a colony inside the seats, the trunk, or inside the ceiling padding already.  Eeeew.  Can’t I do the exterminating myself especially since I’m broke? She said, the padding and seats need to be taken out by professionals.  Sigh.

·         Ehehehe, the line “I’m broke” seems to be my answer to most invitations (lunch out, movies, spa, dinners) this 2006.  Another quarterly payment for the house is due this March kasi eh.  Kooooooonti na lang!  The sudden increase in fuel products last weekend does not help either (no warning pa whatsoever)!  Also, I remember complaining about the price of LPG jumping to P540 per cylinder a couple of months ago. Well, this month, our cylinder refill was already P560! Gosh! 

·         Congratulations and Welcome to the institution, Jove!  Wow, same work place na tayo!  Ang saya!  Domination of Ateneans na! Abel, try out ka na rin kasi! J 

·         A new computer on my office desk. Naks! Gosh, I have asset accountability na!

·         What’s with the shabu market demolition by Mayor Eusebio?! Destruction of evidence is more like it. 

·         I watched a tagalog flick a while ago.  Good acting, bad storyline — as expected.  The unexpected parts were the crappy ones: 1) the G4 movie theater we went into was full of litter!  I can’t believe how irresponsible the people who previously watched were to leave behind their trash everywhere.  I can’t believe also that no one maintains the cinemas clean after a movie. 2) mobile phones sounding off during the film [hey, c’mon, some courtesy to others who are watching!] 3) noisy people in the theater.  Yes, there is normal reacting; but there is a clear line to being over reacting! Oh, and there are other venues and time to hold loud discussions — outside the theater and after the movie!

·         I’ve been meaning to get a new CTC in Parañaque since January.  Unfortunately, the barangay hall is closed before I head for work and by the time I get home.  One time, I left the office early and drove faster than usual to catch the bgy hall open; alas, “naubusan daw sila ng CTC booklet.”  The other day, I again hurried home to get that coveted CTC. Dang, the bgy hall was closed….no, I made it before the usual closing time; unfortunately they told me it’s Parañaque day, thus it’s a non-working local holiday. Nyargs! Then, yesterday, the person who issues CTCs went home already by the time I got at the bgy hall.  Dang it!  And so, I was told by the bgy secretary to just leave my details and let ‘my maid’ claim my CTC the next day.  I retorted, wala akong maid (how presumptuous) and how come when my friend tried to get one for me, he wasn’t allowed to do so.  Now, they will accommodate any representative of mine…but then again, no one in the house knows how to go to the bgy hall.  And my friend already got his CTC (what an inconvenience naman that he’d go back just for me when he is done with such errand for himself).  Why is it hard to comply and be a good tax paying citizen/resident of Parañaque?

·         I heard from one of my best friends in law school the other day.  Super happy that her ‘situation’ is normalizing already.  I’m so glad she can soon put this over-a-year-episode of her life in the past. Can’t wait to see and catch up with you, ***!  Super miss ka na namin!

·         Allan asked me yesterday, through SMS, if I heard the sad news about Michelle Kwan (figure skater). Oblivious; thus I hurried and read the newspapers.  Sigh, because of an injury, Kwan pulled out from the USA Olympics Team — consequently ending her decade-old dream to get a gold (she had two groin injuries within a month and she’s 29 years old already).  I earlier mentioned that I’m not really a fanatic about ice-skating (well, not in the caliber of Allan anyway); but I watch so every now and then on TV.  Back in college, I really root for Todd Eldredge, Michelle Kwan, and Dominique Moceanu — even though many others are better than them (yes, like Tara Lipinski etc.).  Favoritism lang talaga.  As for Michelle Kwan, I’m super sad for her.  I texted Allan nga that her perseverance really deserves an Olympic gold; but then, such isn’t enough and the Olympics gold must not really be meant for her (ouch).  Another example that the saying, “kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga,” isn’t true all the time.  Since Kwan’s life seems to have some parallelism with the movie The Cutting Edge, maybe she has a chance if she goes for mixed doubles!  However, I think the extent of her injuries won’t allow her to even have any figure skating career at all.  Sooo sad.

·         Another hallmark holiday: Valentine’s day — where everyone’s sappy, flowers are exorbitantly priced (stores/streets), love quotes fly by sms, and everywhere is decorated with red hearts.  Hahaha, no, I am not bitter nor am I ‘alone’ today.  I just think it’s just weird that we overrate February 14.  For me, this day means the birthday of my late Lola Bets, one of my uncles in Melbourne, and a sister of Kris.  Happy birthday! But what the heck, happy valentine’s day to all as well!

·         Why do we celebrate valentine’s day anyway:

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine’s Day.  Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity.  He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries.  Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".  Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius.  Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him.  In 496 A.D.  Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers.

http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm

• wow, Smart innovation (pun intended).  in an ad today, i saw that Smart Telecom’s cellphone credit will no longer expire after a certain number of days from loading.  great; after all, nabayaran na yung load tapos mawawala rin kung hindi man nagamit agad.  e paano kung nag-load lang for emergency purposes (to be able to place a call when necessary)?  sayang naman talaga and kawawa naman yung taong nag-load kung mapapasawala rin makalipas lang nang ilang araw.  e paano na kung yung emergency call is needed the day after mag-expire yung load; patay na! (note: i’m actually a subscriber of two other mobile telecoms; but great moves for like this for consumers deserve to be given credit. kudos to Smart!)
• sa mga nag-tatanong and mag-tatanong ng contact numbers ng ateneo, check this out: http://www2.ateneo.edu/directory.php
• question 1: ang allopurinol tablets (for gout) ba work like antihistamine (for allergies) or like antibiotics (for infection prevention)? Meaning, take after eating uric acid-rich foods to prevent uric acid build-up?  Or they should be taken once a day for a certain number of period to complete a cycle?
• question 2: totoo bang one consumes less fuel (unleaded/diesel) when the car aircon is turned off?
• dang, bets and i are so doggone tired and dugyot!  cleaned cars on a sunday morning with a jog around the village as warm up exercise.  sigh, monday na naman bukas. 
• one weekend down sa medical board exams.  one weekend to go!  then after a week, results na (buti pa sila, less agony time)! 
• speaking of results, sigh, i am so getting tensed na for ours.  everyone has this ‘chismis’ that they are gonna come out na this feb etc.  I know hindi pa talaga; but the thought that we’re nearing the actual date of their release, nakakakaba na rin.  on the one hand, hoping for the best.  on the other hand,  fearing the worst — i’ve got so much to lose kasi compared to kris and others.  it’s tough to be confident and be totally positive (heck, i even encouraged photo-ops and all the prayer pilgrims with my friends with all belief na, "once lang naman tayo").  i’ve tried that path; obviously didn’t work.  but, entertaining the other end of the spectrum might generate negative energies naman and thus mapasama pa ang results.  so what now?
• happy birthday, aze!

·        I like this SMS quote from ARR:

“If people talk negatively about you, live in such a way that no one will believe them.”

·        Grrr, Kris.  90.7 Love Radio? C’mon!

·        Wow, jeepney transport groups will give a 50-cents discount on the Jeepney week!

·        For those who are asking and are saying different chismis, ang alam ko, May 09, 2006 ang tentative date ng Oath-Taking ng new members of the bar.  Believe me, very reliable sources ko. J

·        In the meantime, Med Ops muna sa U.E. on February 11-12 and 18-19.

·        I swear, I barf at this “alliance of Erap, Susan Roces, Franklin Drillon, and Cory Aquino!” These people gathered to celebrate a mass in thanksgiving for Erap’s successful eye surgery.  Prayer and gathering lang daw…e bakit may closed-door meeting pa?  Excuse me (especially to Aquino loyalists), but I now view Cory as a hypocrite.  I super don’t like her fronting ‘prayer gatherings’ to what are actually politically-related meetings.

·        “The New World” is excruciatingly long (without the unnecessary scenes, it can be done in 1.5 hours sana)! Parang poetry reading yung buong film.  Also, parang trying hard maging art film, has lots of dragging moments, abrupt ending and end credits, weird cinematography, and lousy music. Dang, marami nga umalis in the middle of the film.

·         Ang happy.  Mane visited us at work this morning J

·         Finally, I submitted my week-old work assignment this afternoon.  Moving on now to the next one piled on my desk.  No rest for the weary cerebrum/cortex. To think I have a ton of SCADS I’ve been meaning to read.

·         Poor Betty.  The traffic along service road (flushing out towards SalesBridge) is so heavy every morning the past weeks. Dang. That’s why I always take Roxas Boulevard instead.  Sad for her ‘coz my route is so far from Makati City!

·         I just mailed my letter to PGMA, informing her of papa’s death almost 3 years ago.  Naks!

·         I forgot to mention, I heard mass last Friday.  Incidentally, it was the feast of St. Blaise.* Saint who?  Yeah, ignoramous me, I didn’t know who St. Blaise was.  Anyway, after the mass, we were told to form two lines for the blessing of the Th***.  Blessing of the what?  And so I approached one usher to asked what was gonna be blessed.  Blessing of the throats daw.  Throat (sabay hawak sa leeg)? Yes, throats.  Thus, I fell in queue and had my throat blessed.  Ang weird.  Siempre, when I got home to tell the housemates about the mass, they were familiar with St. Blaise and the blessing of the throats. 

*St. Blaise, Feastday: February 3, Patron of Throat Illnesses

Many Catholics might remember Saint Blaise’s feast day because of the Blessing of the Throats that took place on this day. Two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as the blessing is said. Saint Blaise’s protection of those with throat troubles apparently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when Saint Blaise healed him.

Very few facts are known about Saint Blaise. We believe he was a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia who was martyred under the reign of Licinius in the early fourth century.

The legend of his life that sprang up in the eighth century tell us that he was born in to a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian. After becoming a bishop, a new persecution of Christians began. He received a message from God to go into the hills to escape persecution. Men hunting in the mountains discovered a cave surrounded by wild animals who were sick. Among them Blaise walked unafraid, curing them of their illnesses. Recognizing Blaise as a bishop, they captured him to take him back for trial. On the way back, he talked a wolf into releasing a pig that belonged to a poor woman. When Blaise was sentenced to be starved to death, the woman, in gratitude, sneaked into the prison with food and candles. Finally Blaise was killed by the governor.

Blaise is the patron saint of wild animals because of his care for them and of those with throat maladies.

In His Footsteps: Take time as Saint Blaise did to find out how you can help wild animals. Find out what is being done to support and protect the wildlife in your area. There is wildlife everywhere, even in cities. Even a birdfeeder can help God’s creatures survive.

Prayer: Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from illnesses of the throat and pray that all who are suffering be healed by God’s love. Amen

Copyright 1996-2000 by Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved, http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=28

• how come, for the longest time, i don’t see cerelac in grocery stores anymore? did they phase this out already?  dang, i’ve been longing to eat wheat cerelac!  yes, i still ate cerelac beyond my infancy years (so i know that tastes yummy).  no, i am not regressing.  i just wanna eat cerelac wheat. sigh.
• for abs-cbn, wowowee, willie revillame thoughts: see all of kris’ discussion in his blog — i totally agree with some additional comments. it truly angers me to jot down here what i have in mind about the three. 
• tough times talaga!  before, i panic when the fuel tanks of the cars are not full (papa’s panic buying).  now, i panic if i still have enough fuel to bring me to the next gas station.  hay, i can’t wait ’til all payables are over and done with!  yes, pa, God will provide…
• good luck in your upcoming med board exams, mel and jae!
• unfortunately and ignorantly, i am not familiar with johnny cash.  ergo, the movie was just too long for me.
• yehey, malapit na ang new season ng original CSI (Las Vegas). February 15 na at AXN.

·        An SMS conversation

Mel:       May colored pencils ka?

Ria:        (in mind — meron but unsharpened and part of collection. and suddenly remembers a set for actual usage).  Yeah, andun sa book shelf drawer ko; left side.

Mel:       OMG! I used to have like these.

Ria:        I think those are ka-batchmate of what you used to have.  I was just able to preserve mine.  (in mind — gosh, gradeschool or at the least high school era pa mga yun).

·        Goodness.  Wowowee is set to do a show at the ULTRA today. Revillame was said to be giving out a lot of prizes (money, jeepney, house and lot, etc.).  Troves of people went.  Nagka-stampede.  As of this writing, 70 people are already dead!