Sir Ken Robinson on Changing Education Paradigm

I found this talk immensely interesting hence I decided to post this one.
Lots of food for thought among of which: ADHD epidemic being fictitious; the ARTS suffering from anaesthesizing our kids; creativity being the process of having original ideas that have value. I disagree somewhat with kids being grouped together by age. Some schools try not to follow this. I for one graduated with kids older than me.

wedding gown designs

Finally, I had my wedding gown designs!! These are by Patricia Ortega-Torres. When I saw her creations on the internet, I fell in love with them. And when I met her, the two of us just hit it off; the two of us instantly connected and established rapport. That connection turned out to be priceless I guess; I tried to contact 2 other designers but I lost heart to them because they didn't have the professionalism, bubble and openness that Richie had with me.

Help me out on the decision-making, will you? (Click on the picture to go to Picasa and then click zoom to view gown detail)

Gown choice A (front):

Gown choice A (back):

Image of the sheer-style shoulder of Gown A:

Gown choice B (front):

Gown choice B (back):

Lovely aren't they?

TIME's Top 50 Websites for 2010

Time Magazine issued their Top 50 list of the Web's best sites for the year 2010. I wonder though why it was released in August. One would surmise lists like this are issued at the end of the year haha. In any case, to each his own and deviants are always welcome.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2012721,00.html

Among those listed above, I only regularly visit 4 haha; although at least I know the existence of Sesam Street and National Geographic albeit I just don't visit them sites.

Included in the list is TED. TIME's feature on TED highlighted a couple of its best talks, which includes Elizabeth Gilbert's (author of Eat, Pray, Love - a book which I loved!) talk on creativity. And I couldn't agree more! This talk was really good! One of my favorite among my favorites. Currenlty, Liz Gilbert's talk has already 33 laguanges available for subtitles! Filipino is not yet available though and an idea has just taken fruit - I got excited with the prospect of translating! Can't wait to get started on this project! =D

severe repercussions

I had a number of errands to attend to late this afternoon (I already have my international driving license yey!) hence it was only after talking with Cashiew that I learned about the grim news of an ex-police officer who took the passengers of a tourist bus on hostage.

I believe Mendoza has his issues and his problems. But his problems had clouded his better judgment hence he acted dumbly, clearly not thinking of the severe repercussions his action will do to the Philippines and his countrymen.

Right now, all key words relating to the incident are trending in Twitter. I have read about a lot of people from other countries blaming and damning Filipinos and our country; collectively judging us because of the dimwitted action of one man. Right now, Hongkong Security Bureau has issued an "Avoid All Travel" to Philippines because of "severe threat".
http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/index.htm

I bleed for my country. I bleed on how we are wrongly judged now. I bleed for those who died on this incident. I bleed on how this will lower down our tourism business and possible investments hence worsening our current economic plight. Yet most of all, although this may sound a bit selfish, I bleed and worry on how this incident might affect my dream wedding - a wedding where my loved ones and the family of my fiance would gather to witness the union between me and my betrothed. I fear that this may not come to pass anymore because of fears in security of our family...

driver's license

Got my Driver's license today, yey!

Had the written exam, got 37 out of 40. haha! Should have had made it perfect though. =D
Anyways, international license is on the way as well. Excited, excited.

how cruel can it be

I took the day off from work last Friday - had to undergo drug test for my driver's license and I had to go to the bank for my bank certificate. Late that afternoon, I went to the office to meet with the groupmates and together, go to Jom's place for his farewell party before he flies to Singapore next week and lead a new life.

While we were having our dinner, I casually asked Kristine on the latest news in the office, thinking she would just update me on another funny yet mundane happening. And so I totally wasn't prepared to hear the news she told me - that 4 JGC managers working for IGD Pj were killed in a road accident in Abu Dhabi. My eyes must have been as big as saucers as I exclaimed "WHAAAAT??! HOW? WHEN? WHY??!!". My heart sank as I hear more of the story and yet my mind still can't comprehend what happened and why it happened. As talk went to the subject of overspeeding in the Middle East, I thought of the possibility that my special someone would get to be assigned at site every now and then and my heart was gripped with fear. Worry now settled in as well as I thought about what he must have felt about the incident.

Of course, like a lot of people, I'm angry with the truck driver who was so reckless that he didn't check any oncoming traffic thus killing 5 people. But foremost in my thoughts was how unprepared those 5 must have been with their deaths. They were not able to say goodbye to their loved ones, were not able to say their farewells and to express their thoughts and feelings to the people who are important to them. Their dreams and aspirations just cut off, with nary a warning. It was such a tragedy.

And yes, how sad and cruel it is to die without even saying goodbye to those dearest to you...

This tragedy has a lot of effects in a lot of facets with big resulting complications. I can only hope that their deaths will bring about good changes in Abu Dhabi's traffic laws. In that way, their deaths won't be in vain.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/4-japanese-among-5-killed-in-traffic-accident-in-abu-dhabi

This reminds me yet again though, to tell your loved ones, everyday, as often as you can, how special they are to you.

driving lessons day 1

I know I'm a bit old for this. But ey, each in his own time, right?

I was late on day 1 actually. I woke up with very bad colds and I was debating whether I should go or not. But cancelling the lessons on the actual day itself is not excusable; it's already considered as rendered service by the instructor hence I had no choice but to go still despite my bad condition.

And am glad I did! Well actually, I was surprised when my instructor just pulled at the side of the road and said we exchange seats - that I take the driver seat now. And I was like, what? here? now? I thought we will have our first lessons on a big parking lot. But no, it was on METROCOR; albeit an area with very low traffic but still HAS some traffic. The moment he told me to turn on the ignition, my foot was full on the break pedal (haha!) making it sure that the car won't go any further.

I got some high later on though when I finally got the courage to put on gas. I put on gas so much so that my instructor told me to put on some brakes else we'll speed up (to heaven..haha!) It was exhilirating! Reminds me of skiing. There were tight situations though where my heart stopped - situations where there were cars both on my left and right. But other than that, it was swell.

I thought as well that parking, both on the front and on reverse, would be very difficult. But, judging from my instructor's reaction, I think I aced it. hehe!

Looking forward to the next session and mastering driving some more.

Vietnam

Vietnam, here we come!! ^_^

I hope soon I can update this blog more often and blog more about my travels. I still haven't done my reviews on the hotels we stayed at in Italy. Even the top 10 must-do in Korea. (Top 10 in Italy is veeeery hard to do. A lot of stuff can be tied on a number of positions haha).

In any case, I hope we'll come upon good food in Vietnam for more entries on my goodfoodblog.

Anyways, the place and food is secondary. Foremost is the company you're with. ^_^

photog

For a professional photographer or even an amateur at that who has had a number of accolades, this may not be something. But for me who ranks photography as probably among the lower top 6 in my hobbies/interests (and hence is not really all that skilled), to have found below site was inspiring for me.

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/boatride,yanagawa/Interesting

These were a couple of the pictures I took when we went to Kyushu, on a boatride in Yanagawa.
~grin~ "The world's best photos of boatride and Yanagawa" it says...~grin~
and, well, it was tagged as "interesting".

I should really get a real camera (and not just phone camera) for my goodfoodblogs.

a link in the chain

One of my school projects that I am most proud of was entitled "Rebecca: A Link in the Chain".

It was for a Theology Class we had back in second year in University. We were asked to pick an Old Testament Biblical character to feature on our end-of-term paper. Problem is, we have to think of a character real fast before somebody else gets to the teacher first with the same character you have in mind which meant that you have to think of another Biblical character which by then the only choices left to you would only have to be the obscure ones.

One thing I'm proud of: I acted on a whim. I was among the first FIVE to submit (out of almost 40 I think). And yet I didn't choose the most prominent of them Biblical characters - the Patriarchs and Prophets. I chose a Matriarch - Rebecca who didn't get that much "air time" I think. And yet I don't want to feature anybody else other than her. I still have no idea in mind how to present my paper but I was set on her. Sooo set on her.

Second thing I'm proud of: coining the "link in the chain" title. Haha, silly yes, but I actually thought I was very original with it. I haven't read the phrase anywhere yet, nor heard it. I just know that you need to "connect" something together for it to become a chain. And I thought "link" is the best word. I asked two of my most brilliant classmates what do you call "that" word which "connects" things to make a chain - no answer. But I was dead set convinced on "link". It is funny and amazing how now, 12 years after, (and it is only now that ) I seem to be reading quite a lot of the very same phrase, "link in the chain". Great thing about it is that I only get to read it among my really good reads and great literature.

Oh by the way, I got a 98% for that paper and it was modeled around by my teacher for the other classes to see. ^___^

Sometimes, acting out on a whim really does me good. And oh, I pray a lot whilst being whimsical by the way. =P

music is medicine

I had goosebumps when Gupta talked about the schizophrenic musician...
Yes, music does affect us profoundly so I am really thankful for all those gifted ones who give us beautiful music.

Farewell thee, my clothes

I've been told time and again that I have quite a LOT of clothes. Even a special friend told me I shouldn't get fat since I have quite a number of clothes and all those clothes would go off-spec if I ever get fat. Well if truth be told, I am having a hard time now in organizing my clothes in my cabinet since clearly there's not enough space anymore. Although I think it's not because I really have innumerable clothes in store. I think it's more like I have difficulty in parting with my old clothes and I hesitate in giving them away. It's not out of selfishness that I don't want to share clothes which I don't use a lot anymore and that I don't give it away to those who need it much more than I would. It's just that those clothes has been part of me for a long time already, has been with me in moments in the past and are parts of my memories. They contain a part of me. And that's the difficult part. Parting with something precious to me because it's been a part of me.

But then again, since I haven't worn some of the clothes already or that some of them haven't even been aired out for some time now, some of them are already discolored. Some of them may go to waste already if not remedied asap. When I saw some discolored clothes, somewhere inside me twinged because those clothes could have been put into use, if not by me, but by someone else who needs it more. And surely you would feel bad right if "a part of you" would just rot away?

So rather than keep those little mementos of me in the cabinet where they will just rot their while away, I think it would be better to give them away and share them. At least, they'd be made more special if they can be put to use. If those "little mementos" of me can be of help to others, then it'd be better.

Kiss From A Rose (my cover)

para sa imo

3 decades!!

And I've finally made the crossover.

It's been three decades full of blessings and love. So thankful, very thankful!

And in the next three decades or so, this I cling on:
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

plans

My birthday is up in 9 days! Will have the great crossover then - the great crossover when I'll be leaving the 20s. Have no specific plans yet. But am excited about it already!

My cover on "Soulmate"

was bored hence I decided to record my cover of Natasha Beddingfield's "Soulmate"

dessert!

I just had a session with my dentist for my monthly orthodontics check-up hence I was in the lookout for soft food -- my newly adjusted braces is just killing me and my teeth from the pain.

Hence, I opted for Pizza Hut for their Lasagna. It was good, although I still think Greenwich' lasagna tastes waaaaay better.

But what made me happy with my lunch at Pizza Hut was my Mango Panna Cotta.

Panna Cotta is basically an Italian dessert which literally means "cooked cream". It is made by cooking slowly together milk, cream, sugar and gelatin just below boiling point.

Pizza Hut's Panna Cotta is set amidst rich mango puree with sweet real mango slices and a cherry on top. Although I would have preferred the "cooked cream" to be aesthetically more velvety smooth as you cut a slice into it, the taste was just velvety smooth though. The mango flavor blended right with the panna cotta flavor that it was just a riot of pleasant flavors in my palate.

Yum indeed!

(this post is also posted in my goodfoodhunt.wordpress.com foodblog site)

relaxin'

In crowded Metro Manila where a nice, peaceful park is such a rare find, I found my haven this afternoon. Been looking for a place for the longest time now where I can enjoy the lovely late afternoon sun, blue sky and refreshing wind. And I finally found it this afternoon at the rooftop of Gloria Jeans Coffee Shop in Commercial Avenue, Alabang.

My chai tea latte and the lovely blue sky. The sunset this afternoon was a warm orange glow; warms the heart as well.

A HERO!

Kat brought this news, a train incident in Koenji Station in Tokyo, to my awareness this evening. And I can't stop but be in awe with the hero, be immensely amazed with the man in the story who saved the woman's life by his bravery and quick thinking. WOW, WOW - is all I can say.

She owes her second lease to life to this young man. And I can only hope there would be more men like him in this world.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/man-saves-drunk-woman-from-oncoming-train-after-she-falls-onto-tracks

seesaws and swings

I never did like the seesaw when I was a kid. Of course any other kid would want to be on the "up" side. But then much of your happiness on being on the "up" side depends on the kid on the other end of the seesaw. It was not only the being up and down that is dependent on the other kid. The rythmn as well as the speed of being on the up and down was dependent on your playmate as well. I remember making a number of strategies, sort of cheating, yes, just so I would always be on top or at least just be on the same level with the other kid - if I can't be on top then the other kid can't be on top as well. Hence, I cunningly adjust my seating position from the central axis depending on the weight of the kid on the other end. Hence, it was not always a fun game.

I liked the swing better, even up to now (although my liking it up to now has a bit of the romantic in me working). I think why I liked it better as a kid was that you can be happy on your own. If you want to be as high and as "up" as you want to be you can just propel yourself as hard as you can. If you want to slow things down, you can just use your feet as break and you're swinging in slow motion already. You can be up whenever you like. And when you want to slow things down, it will also be at your own pace. I loved it.

But in a way, it is lonely. You are enjoying it, alone.

The seesaw would be good now. As long as you don't mind being on the downside sometimes just so your partner can be on the up side. This would be okay as long as your partner would also be happy to have you on the up side for as long as you want to. You can keep the seesaw going for as long as you and your partner wants. There would be no cheating now. It should be a matter of give and take. Being mindful of your partner's happiness as your partner is mindful of yours. Give and take.

HVD

A happy Valentine's Day to one and all! =)

Spread a little love around. Spread happiness around.

Milkshakes (Before Sunrise)

I super like the "Milkshakes" poem in the movie "Before Sunrise" :
Daydream delusion
Limousine eyelash
Oh, baby with your pretty face
Drop a tear on my wineglass
Look at those big eyes
See what you mean to me
Sweet cakes and milkshakes
I am a delusion angel
I am a fantasy parade
I want you to know what I think
Don't want you to guess anymore
You have no idea where I came from
We have no idea where we're going
Launched in life
Like branches in the river
Flowing downstream
Caught in the current
I'll carry you. You'll carry me
That's how it could be
Don't you know me?
Don't you know me by now?



(credit to Onipsi for uploading)

you'll be blessed

My friend is now currently assigned overseas at site office hence he wouldn't be with his ladylove this Valentine's. Thoughtful as he is, he thought of ideas on how to surprise her on lovers' day which of course included asking favors from friends. I was tasked to buy flowers and chocolates.

The flowers were easy as they can be delivered to the office tomorrow by Designer's Bloom. the chocolates were a problem. I need to wrap them. Gift-wrapping section (with pay) in SM is already closed for the day and the only other open service is exclusive for those "Premium" card holders only. I didn't bother to apply for a shopper's card so I don't have that. Hence I can't avail their free gift-wrapping service. My dilemma is that I really suck with gift-wrapping. I can sing, I can dance, I can even do voice-over acting. And I'll write. But anything related to handicrafts, anything related to arts crafted by my hand is a total disaster - even as simple as gift-wrapping. So giving my friend's ladylove a chocolate giftwrapped by me was worrisome.

My dilemma must have been written all over my face that the clerk in the gift-wrapping section offered to wrap my gift for me, for free, using their resources (he even asked me to choose what wrapper would I like! and of course it wasn't illegal since I also bought the chocolates on the same store) and even wrapping it with such careful and artful detail that I can't help but deeply thank him and give him a really big smile while saying an incredibly genuine "you'll be blessed!".

I wanted to give him a tip but he wouldn't accept as (he said) they are forbidden to receive tips from shoppers and customers. Now THAT's great customer service. Bless him.

H2S and Benzene

I got really angry with this conversation. But since I was the only one who felt most passionate with it and i'm the youngest to boot at that, having the youngest experience at site, and we were really talking with one of the higher ups, I just held my peace during the meeting. But really....!!

This was during a meeting after we just got back from our site walk-through:

Us: We were not able to thoroughly check those areas which were strictly marked as H2S and Benzene areas since we don't have the required PPE and detectors.
Boss: But were there any evacuations that occurred at that time because of some leak? There were none? So it was safe.

I was definitely fuming with that. I wanted to retort and tell him to go to site himself and check on the place without the necessary PPE and detectors. With the kind of mentality he has, let's see if he'll come out alive. I want to shove to him the news about the death at that particular site just two years ago because of H2S related death.

I am most definitely not gonna risk my life just for that!!!! Grrrr!

troubling yet moving

There's much work to be done. And not many too willing to do it. How can I be of help..?
Was struck most with the image in 9:18min.
"He literally had nothing. He was a virtual skeleton, yet he could still summon the courage and the will to move. He had not given up, and if he didn't give up, how could anyone in the outside world ever dream of losing hope?"
Yes, how dare we indeed.

musings

If people can write songs, make books and movies about it, then probably, maybe, at least for some, if not most, it does exist...and lasts.

my cover on Yuki no Hana

hello world!
i'm sharing with you my incomplete (and yet to be perfected) cover of Mika Nakashima's beautiful "Yuki no Hana"

new years and fave songs

A Happy and Blessed New Year to one and all!!! =)

And how else to start a new year (aside from having quality time with family and loved ones) but with good songs! Sungha Jung's version of one one my favorite Japanese songs, "Yuki no Hana" is just lovely.



credit to jwcfree for uploading