Saturday, February 14, 2009
How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?
For me, it is just an ordinary day. And, being true to yourself is I think enough to feel the essence of the day. Everyday should be a Love Day.
You can celebrate over a cup of coffee? Be with your wife and children. Be with friends or a special someone. Tell them you care. Most of all care for yourself first and you know what i mean.
Be healthy to face everyday of your life. Be simple and most of all do not harm others lest they harm you in return.
Love should be above all things. Simple ways are small beginnings of a wider and safer place you are living in.
Give aid to those in need. Help those who suffer and call the rest to your assistance. By this deed, you can celebrate whatever occasion the world could offer.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Why is Illiteracy a threat?
The gap that separates the segments of society should be narrowed in order to balance the utilization of nature. And, to narrow down the edge, illiteracy should be eliminated, if not, minimized. This simply means that EDUCATION is the answer.
Illiteracy could widen the gap and should be cured, the earliest possible time. By the way, the learned have been diagnosing this matter for quite a long time and continued doing the same until now. If there were solutions before, the same were not sustained, maybe for lack of the needed support.
Again, who will do the curative effort? This question should be answered by governments all over the world. We educate even the least of our brothers and sisters. There should be support on education because illiteracy is a threat to society more than terrorism.
Financial freedom should be on top when talking about education. More schools, more good and dedicated teachers, more books, more computers and other educational paraphernalia for the less fortunate. There should be no boundaries, no colors, no religion and no bias when subjecting peoples to basic and useful information.
Education should focus on family, government, health and morality. Is this doable? The answer is simple, YES!
It follows that children, who should be educated, are well-fed! There is no proper education when stomachs are empty. There is no learning when the brains are dry. A hungry child learns only how to look for food, the simple need to exist and survive.
Again, illiteracy can topple down governments. Remember that!
Friday, January 23, 2009
The 44th President of the USA-His Excellency Barack Hussein Obama!
Full transcript as prepared for delivery of President Barack Obama's inaugural remarks on Jan. 20, 2009, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.
They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.
We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Rainy days are here again in paradise!

Living is unpredictable. Sometimes things are deceptive. People change minds and the world is getting older. Are we?
The cycle must continue and the environment is so. Fashion is so unbelievable but it keeps coming back! What a world!
When it rains, we feel graces are pouring upon us. We enjoy every bit of drops that fall because it means life. It helps the plant grow and it nourishes the thirst of mankind.
Yet, somewhere in paradise, people and the unfortunates experienced "iron rain". Do you get what I mean? It means pain and death. It means the cries and shouts of grief all over. They experience the wrath of bloodshed and human cruelty. The rain of war devastates what nature is used to be. It is man-made. We are fortunates but who knows?
By the way, excessive flow of rain water is devastating too. Floods, landslides and deaths occur.
Plants and creatures destroyed!
Which do you prefer? You know, I like peace of mind and I pray that rain that comes gently falls.
Rain should be a promise of life and not a promise of chaos! The world should live as ONE!
Monday, January 5, 2009
War in GAZA!

The invasion of Gaza by Israel is creating a humanitarian crises. More than 500 people have been killed in the week long air strikes and the ground fighting that began over the weekend.
The 1.5 million people of Gaza have been cut off from food and water supplies. Medicine is running out in the poorly equipped and poorly supplied hospitals in the strip. As in any war, it is the civilians who greatly suffer.
If the Israelis think the present offensive is going to be a walk in park, like the Six-Day War in 1967, they are gravely mistaken. The Hamas are experienced and well-trained, have sophisticated weapons and are strongly motivated to defend their territory. So, it looks now that the present conflict will be a long-drawn out one.
The rising death toll and the looming humanitarian crisis have aroused outrage from countries and peoples all over the world. Calls for a ceasefire have been made by, among other countries, France and the United Kingdom. But at the UN Security Council, the United States has blocked approval of a statement proposed by Arab countries calling for an immediate ceasefire.
As for Israel, ultimately it may win the conflict even if it has to engage in house-to- house fighting, but does it have an exit strategy?
Israel would be well reminded, as some analysts and commentators have said that there can be no lasting solution to the situation in Gaza unless there is a coherent and mutually acceptable Palestine peace plan. (Editorial, Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 6, 2009).
It sadden me a lot and my heart aches for the plight of the children. It is my call to all concerned peoples of the world for help, if help can be an option for peace.!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
My Thoughts as the Year 2008 ends
2008 is a very busy year for me. Just like you all out there, you are also busy doing sorts of things. I just hope you are all fine and we will face together the challenges in 2009.
Who knows, by the way, 2009 will be our year and our thoughts are focused on things we usually crave for.
To all your family and friends, let me greet all of you a happy new year.
Let the graces pour upon us and good tidings, too! Big Boooooooooooooooom!
Always keep safe and live clean folks!
Monday, October 27, 2008
The place called Helgoland
The clean waters, white sand and the soothing breeze could be savored when you are in the Holy land in Germany- the Helgoland.
I was there, too. We went there by boat and indeed experienced the waves. Whew!
My grandchildren could just imagine. It is a clean place with only 1,600 + population.
What a sight!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Zurich When I came!

During my stay in Germany, I was able to travel by car to Zurich, Switzerland. I was able to go along with a German family, my host, to cross the border of Germany to Switzerland.
What an experience when we were stopped at the border by border police of both countries. Good that my papers were in order.
I was, by the way, buying some items there, a swiss knife and some foodstuff. My host family were so kind that they guided me all throughout the trip.
It was cold, snow is all over. Of course, with my jacket and boots plus my cap and scarf, I survived the experience.
Have you gone there? Try someday!
This is one experience that I will not forget to tell my grandchildren.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Unheard birthday wishes?

I have my adsense account for only $30.62 as of today. I have my paypal account but nothing in it. I have my Union Bank Account, HSBC Bank and Citibank accounts but I could not celebrate my 51st birthday on October 4 the way I like it.
Yesterday, i went mall hopping just to satisfy my eyes and savor the coolness of the place. I envy those who shop cellphones. They choose Nokia, Ericksons, Voda Phones, ZTE phones, Alcatel phones, Motorolas. Others kept upgrading. I only have my old 3210 Nokia cell in my pocket.
Others were busy buying Smart and Globe Cell Cards to keep their phones loaded. Hahahaha! What a busy day.
Then I wish I could have a laptop. A simple and powerful laptop. I am a blogger and I love to blog.
I saw Apple Laptops, Bravia, Sonny, Asus, HPs , Neo , Toshiba. Just a wish. I hope I could have one of those.
You know, I am not the only one hoping for a birthday gift. I want to give myself something for me. A simple me.
I hope my other wishes will come true.
Wish also something for yourself, anyway, and be happy!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
When I was in France!

My stay in Germany was very fruitful. Why? I was able to be in France.
That was a Wednesday when our group of students went to a travel agency. There, we were able to avail of a promo. I was really amazed of the opportunity to be in a place so popular in the world.
Preparations were made. Provisions ready and we were scheduled to be there by bus.
Passing through the BENELUX countries, we reached France as planned.
Tears of joy dropped from my eyes in amazement. I touched the Eiffel Tower! Have you?
My relatives could just imagine how fortunate I am!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Have you gone to the Munich Olympic Stadium?

I am one of the fortunate few who was able to set foot inside this very historical Olympic stadium.
You just imagine the years that passed and the developments time created for the new generations.
Look at the architecture, look at the design and imagine how many people converge during the Munich Olympics. Again, this site is in Germany.
Have you remembered what happened during the Olympics? It was gruesome that I will no longer reiterate. Just try to do some research what really transpired thereat.
I am very proud to have captured pictures inside it and carried them with me during my lifetime. I will never forget the time when I ran around its oval with some of my friends.
Achtung! Alles Gute in Deutschland! Try to be there and feel the difference!
Friday, September 19, 2008
I came, I saw and touched the Brandenburger Tur!

Sometime in l990, I stayed for one (1) year in Germany. Not all people can actually come, see and enjoy the bounty of tourism. Money talks anyway!
I was sent there to study on a study grant. How fortunate! And, during my stay, I was able to roam around, did some leisure trips and bumped into the Brandenburger Tur. This is one of the famous landmarks in Germany.
Truly, I was really amazed on the sight of its splendor. It is standing tall, telling some hidden secrets on what did happen there. I could feel the pride to have seen and touched it.
I did capture the sight. And, also did my homework and researched.
If you have some friends who would like to visit Germany, tell them not to miss and see the Tur.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
What is the feeling to have a grandson?

It all started with friendship. I got engaged, continued discovering, adjusting and ended up into marriage.
Three children came into the scene. Now, they finished school but me, am 50. You know what? I have a grandson.
My first grandson is from the my eldest son who finished BS Biology, got married to a registered nurse.
At first, I had mixed feelings on having a grandson. They said it is lucky to have a boy for a grandson. It shows the grandpa is strong. I could not until now dig it.
It came into me that feeling of longing for that baby sense 25 years ago. It came back. The more we evade cuddling babies, the sleepless nights and the rest of the tender caring, it really is unavoidable. You really have to face the truth and fact that grandchildren are the jewels of the elderly.
You will experience that too. I really miss my grandson who is now in the United States.
Will he still remember us? He is a Gonzales anyway! He will look for his grandpa!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Masao Beach- What a splendor!
Last September 4, I was with my friends for an important mission to Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines. We left Davao City at 6 am for a 165 kilometer ride to Mati City and it took us 3 hours to reach the place.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Christmas is for you, too!

After the Beijing Olympics, the flame has died down and comes September. This is the start of the Christmas breeze feeling. Time is always catching up on us friends. The big world celebration is coming, thus, the start of so many preparations.
Are we all for the same tide? Maybe yes maybe not!
The music is there, the bells start to ring, children are ever expecting. Where are the gifts?
The usual yearly merriment ever. Why? Can we save and at the same time celebrate?
Yes we can. My advise ( unsolicited) is to spend wisely during Christmas and spare some for the rest of the coming Christmas celebrations in the coming future.
Just give love on Christmas and have peace for all the peoples!
Monday, August 25, 2008
After the Beijing Olympics- What now?

Imagine the money spent for the lavish sports event shared by the world. The preparations, the advertisements, the fame-hungry countries and the delegations.
Were they for that real purpose? or were they on long vacation all accommodations paid?
Can we imagine corruption? The different trails to Beijing are amazing. Some got there on the right track, others because they were disqualified, went there on their own. Others made it by volunteering. What an event!
Olympics is the time of triumphs and the time to cry. For what? For pride? For the round metals?
The purpose is noble but others rode on it otherwise. Now comes London! Again it is all about MONEY!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Why start a War?

Who is interested, by the way? Only those who are desperately engrossed in conflicts could start an episode of war.
If we recall the years of turmoil, we could see progress anywhere. That is the possible result that we will experience in our times. The price of trouble.
But, why should this happen this way? Are there no other solutions to progress? Or is it because of greed for power?
It is very clear and so clear that the children of yesteryears were made to suffer so children of today could reap the fruits of fear, confusion, distress, hunger and death.
What a mess for modernization. Or is it a curse?
I could not understand why there seems to be a cycle. Or it is just a force to balance?
Little by little some areas in the world are starting to escalate trouble that could bloom into a gruesome war. I hope we will not experience one before the century ends.
Who by the way could live a life up to 200 years?
Was there a plan for war before creation?
Please help me think about it. Start a war within yourself and experience pain. Ponder the meaning of good and evil.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
How to recycle plastics at home and earn

Look at the garbage bin and you will find a lot of plastic bottles, wrappers, broken plastic furnitures, containers, toys and the like. They are,as we all think, useless. But, discarded plastics can be recycled into useful pieces of art and can be a business at home.
Difficulty: Challenging
Things You’ll Need:
- Gathered discarded plastic containers, bottles-all sorts, metal containment for boiling, burner, match, open air barn or garage, long-handled metal dipper,water, blower/cooler and various molds
Step1
Gather all kinds of discarded plastics at home, clean them up with water and soap and let dry. Segregate these items, sort them out and categorize as to colors.
Step2
Prepare a plan on what to do with the plastics you would like to recycle.
Your intentions may be for Art, Kitchen tools, toys etc., if so, prepare various molds and see to it that these molds are ready during the process.
Be sure to think also of the color combinations you like to appear after the recycling process.
Step3
Get ready with your mounted burner, powerful enough to hold a metal containment full of plastics for melting. Place plastics inside the metal containment and start the fire burning. Melt the plastics and be ready with the metal dipper.
Step4
For safety, use of heavy duty gloves, goggles, long-sleeved shirts and apron is highly recommended.
The designed molds must be flat ready for the transfer of boiling plastics.
Step5
When ready, dip the metal dipper slowly into the boiling containment and transfer the boiling plastics into the molds carefully in order to avoid wastage. Let the molds dry and continue with other designs you like.
Step6
The newly molded plastics when dry and cold could now be taken out from the format and make some finishing touches. If the desired output is not met, just throw these molded plastics again to the boiling containment. So on and so forth.
Step7
Now, you can have beads, toys of sorts, knife handles, key holders, images, decorative designs like frames etc. Is it not challenging? It just needs sorts of wild imaginations.
Tips & Warnings
- For designs, you have to prepare a catalog and the materials needed in order not to consume time and your work goes smoothly.
- Do not waste every material
- Encourage neighbors to do the same
- Fumes could be dangerous if inhaled
- Keep away from children
- Smoke could pollute
- After the process, clean up the area and put off fire
Sunday, August 3, 2008
What happens on Sundays?

For me the best time to maximize my day is on Sundays. This is the only day that I could relax. I could sleep well, clean the house and attend to my garden.
Sundays for me are bonding days. We attend mass, go to the market and go malling. Sundays are good for picnics and beach activities.
I blog on Sundays, too. How about you? Are you a home body during Sundays?
Share some tips on what to do during this special day. Joy riding? Motocross?
Parlor is also a good destination. But, i prefer blogging.
Regain lost energies and do it on Sundays.
Monday, July 28, 2008
How STRESS affects you?

When you wake up every morning try to find yourself in front of the mirror and take a glimpse of how you have grown.
Aha! wrinkles ? white hair? unclear visions?Memory loss? etc.
These worries are clear indications that you are getting older everyday.
What do you think is the greatest factor why you age so fast? It is STRESS!
Don't let stress take you down!
Keep your poise, keep your beauty, be strong, budget your worries and don't let problems overtake your age.
That is the best advise i could give you. Don't worry, be happy!
ENJOY WHILE YOU WORK, WORK WHILE YOU ENJOY!