Ondoy: my thoughts and prayers

People drowning. People crying. People needing help. People wanting help. People desperate. People who are missing. People who are missing them. People who needs to be rescued. People who rescue.

This is the scene in the Philippines. This is what we need to focus on. People. Lives. Humans. It is more important than anything. Than TVs, cars, PSPs and other things that you can think of that is lost in this great tragedy. We must remember that these people need us and we must do all that we can to help them.

I am frustrated. All I could do is call and text my help. All I could do is pray. All I could do is give a little of what I have for them.

I feel guilty sitting here on my computer. I want to be there to help, but I know that if I go there, I could be another problem. So lets continue with our vigil in prayer, and continue to give what we can now to the people who needs them

This is a shout out to all who can and has the capacity to help. If you can, let us save these people in need. Particularly in Cainta, Marikina Area. Our fellowmen need us. If only I can, I would be there as well...

It was annoying that it came so sudden. NO WARNING. Don't we have a weather bureau? why arent we warned? Why are we caught unprepared? PLEASE TELL ME. PLEASE TELL ME. I do not understand why our government didnt tell us to warn us.

Thank GOD that Filipinos have natural adaptivity and the Bayanihan system. Thank God for people who are helping. Thank God for the media. Thank God for everyone who helps. Thank God for the rescue team. May He bless them with more strength.

This is the time we need to unite. This is the time we have to show our being PINOY


PLEASE PRAY FOR EVERYONE IN NEED OF RESCUE RIGHT NOW.
PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY.

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Adventures in Real Estate: Terror Tenant

One day a realtor woke up early in the morning to the sound of Rain and thunder. It was dark outside. VERY DARK because the big storm ONDOY was plauging her town. However, she had to work that day - being that it was the day that Ms. T was moving in to the palace that she had rented out.

She was ready. everything was set, except, the big storm came and flooded everything! The streets were gone, and everything was almost like a sea. Ms. T kept on calling, demanding the poor little realtor to give her the keys to the palace - NO MATTER WHAT. The little realtor did everything in her power to get to her to no avail

The storm was still raging and the little realtor was in tears. She knew that Ms. T would turn into a witch if she didnt get the keys. So she was afraid -- she begged and begged for Ms. T to forgive her and understand her - but Ms T had no heart. She had no plans of stopping her demands and this left the little realtor desolate and in despair.

It was flooding everywhere! Ms. Realtor was trapped. She couldnt give the key to Ms T. And now she knows she will suffer a curse if she could not deliver the key to Ms. T the next day. Hopefully the storm has passed and waters are gone or else, Ms. T will curse her forever.

(... to be continued )

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Pink Roses : Love is not INSTANT

I got pink roses the other day. 15 long stems of gorgeous pink roses from a mystery person ( who turned out to be not so mysterious). I was flattered, I was flabbergasted that someone would spend at least PHP 3,000.00 on flowers that would wilt, wither and die to win my heart.

The card only said...

How about this?

No name, no address, no clue. Not even a single piece of evidence about the guy who sent it. It was fun thinking that it may be from a certain Prince. But possibilities ran endless. Though, admittedly, I was inwardly thrilled. I just didn't like the stares, intrigue and the person who sent it.

The person soon called and I learned who it was from. I didnt like him. I only liked him as a friend and I would never think in a million years of dating this person. So the flowers lost their appeal the moment I learned who it was from. I got worried that people may think I like him. Blah, blah, blah... I thanked him for the present and insisted then that we just be friends. Yet, he insisted that he wanted a relationship.

In my blog Secreat Admirers, you could read about my thoughts on these guys who send mystery gifts. It may be flattering but it could be also a waste of time. You could also be spending money on a lost cause, so boys, maybe next time, try talking to her first -- diba? but if you just really want to show your appreciation. By all means, Give! GIVE! GIVE!

On another note, is it just me or boys could be so impatient lately. Where are the gentlemen? The kariñoso boys that would woo you and wait? Now, it seems to be all instant. There's no more courting. No more going to the house and trying to win her heart. Everything is done through text. Through phone. INSTANTLY. Everything is just like 3-in-1 coffee. JUST ADD WATER.

I know of couples who just met one day, dated and became a couple the day after. Is that really love? or pure lust? Or maybe desperation? If it works out, then thats amazing and great. If not, could that really be considered a relationship?

*sigh* maybe I'm thinking too much about this. But call me old fashioned, but I like the old way of courtship. I think its sweeter, its nicer and its more reason to be sure to have less heartaches. Right? Plus, if you do so, it could be cheaper too. ahahah!!

Kudos!!

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Diet Dilemma

I say this everyday. "MAGDIDIET NA TALAGA AKO! DI NA AKO MAGKASYA SA UNIFORM KO!" Everyday, I recite the mantra. "I will go on a diet today. I will lose serious weight." over and over and over. I groan each time I see look in the mirror. I cry whenever I cant fit into my favorite clothes. I sigh everytime I shop and see that I have to buy a size bigger - I get frustrated, mad, angry, depressed, sad and annoyed.

I know what I must do. I understand the need for me to lose weight. I understand that I must discipline myself to do it. BUT WHY IS IT SO DAMN HARD?

I mean, I'm not that big. My friends tell me that I'm just right. I'm not that big, that I look fine. But I am not happy with myself, I feel lousy. I just feel big. So it's really something that I need to do.

Last year, I succeeded to lose at least 15 lbs. I lost 5 inches off my waist. My goal now is to maintain this and lose at least one or two more. How did I do that last year? EFFORT, Serious discipline and effort - and the fact that I got really really really sick after practically starving myself for at least three months.

I told myself, I could do it back then, why not now? Maybe last year, I was pressured to. I was really really chubby back then and I really felt bad. Maybe last year, I had more focus to do it, but now... Well, now, Im stressed out (I tend to binge eat and want my endorphins, i.e. CHOCOLATE) I tend to be more tired and hungry - because of more work. I just tend to feel that whenever I need the energy, I eat. I JUST EAT.

Plus add to that the following factors that make me NOT lose weight:

1. This office has a constant, abundant and very free flowing supply of food and CHOCOLATES in the office coming from seafarers coming in from different ports almost daily.
   
2. Seafarers often treat us to big lunches in yummy restaurants.
3. Stress. You get stressed you eat.
   
4. Boredom. You get bored you eat.
5. Recently, the messman cooks awesome food. So I eat.
   

I guess It's ME who needs to discipline herself. I guess that I need to keep myself reasonably fit. Sleep early, TRY to exercise, and keep myself from binge eating. I should eat more fruits, keep myself disciplined in eating the right amount of food.

I have to try. Once more, to be disciplined as I was before. I swear, I'll lose weight before Christmas parties begin. I swear....

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T-Shirt Designs for LSGH

It's actually been a while since I last designed something. Vectoring is not really a forte but it can be done. A friend of mine asked me to design a couple of shirts for his son's family day affair for La Salle Greenhills. Here are some of the designs I came up with:

Theme 1: 4 Pabor Reuse. Reduce. Recycle

They actually come in different colors check them out HERE

Theme 2: 4 A BETTER WORLD


Cute ba? Let me know what you guys think. I can designs shirt if you want just let me know what you guys want. ehehe ( Plugging)

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09-09-09

This Calendrical Anomaly amuses me. Just as 08-08-08 did and the starting of the Beijing Olympics. I believe that 09-09-09 is special

Here are some things that make the day so odd:

• This coming September 9, 2009, is the 252nd day of the year, 252 adds to 9, and 09-09-09 = 27.
  

• 09-09-09 is also the last of the single-digits dates for quite a while - 92 years to be precise.

• It is also the upside-down number of "the beast" - satan = 666, of course.

• The day itself falls on a Wednesday and both Wednesday & September have 9 letters.
• Apple Ipod has an event that is related to it. :P
  

(source: wikianswers)

Yahoo says:

Have special plans this 09/09/09?

Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.

In Florida, at least one county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99. The rarity of this Sept. 9 hasn't been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date. Focus Features is releasing their new film "9," an animated tale about the apocalypse, on the 9th.

Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.

Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.

For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.

Math magic

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.

Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.

"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.

As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.

Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...

Loving 9

Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.

marikit says:

It could be a lucky day as I believe it is. :) I just enjoy the fact that this would be the last of its kind for a while. 92 years? How many people can say that theyve lived through this? I can! :0 so lets enjoy 09-09-09!! And if I were you, I'll try the LOTTO today. hahahahah!! Swerte daw eh! <3

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Adventures in Real Estate: Couple Dynamics

I dealt with two different sets of couples today when I went out to bring my clients on site tripping. I was highly amused at them and learned a lot about couple dynamics while selling.

Note: Both men were seafarers whose wives work here in the Philippines.

The first couple, the Engineer, were an older couple who was looking for an investment in Manila and a place to stay whenever they are around town. The man was a 2nd Engineer who earned quite a hefty sum. They were looking for at least a 2 Bedroom ( but ideally 3BR) around Bacoor/Imus area. Now, I brought them to Crown Asia properties and watched as the woman bounced and oohed and ahhed around the properties wanting for more. The man held back, watched and looked at the furnishings as well as asked for specifications of lot plans, and other material details. He was more into quality rather than quantity -and seemed intent to find a place that would make his wife happy.

The man was quiet, watching his wife and asking practical questions such as: "What kind of material is used on the walls? How safe is the area? How far is it from the main road?" Etc. Etc. While the wife asked more on how big the rooms are, what kind of motif it was and she looked at location, ambiance and was easily impressed by beautiful interiors.

I brought them around,watching their reactions as we went from site to site checking out each model home. Finally, we brought them to Amara, a Ready for Occupancy unit near the entrance of Ponticelli, corner lot and near the guard house. It was valued at around 5million. The woman looked like she struck gold and kept on saying how much she loved the location and how much she loved the layout and the structure of the house.

The man checked out the windows, the sockets the walls, everything. He seemed to like the property as well - but as it is well over his budget, he abstained. The woman kept on making comments on how easy it is to find, how accessible and how safe the area was. He didnt even look at her. It was like he really didn't want to be there -yet he was there and he was really interested in looking for property. (Lets hope he really is)

They were a little more aloof, more like "Tourist buyers" and I think since they have the means to buy, theyre not really in a hurry to do so. I let them leave with only a hope that one of the properties interested them.

The second couple, the Oilers were a younger couple who was looking for a low cost home to restart their life in. This time, there was no haggling or talking to needed, just a little persuasion. They have researched their options very well, they know their budget and they know exactly where they want to live ( My ideal kind of clients). They also needed this house urgently as they wanted to stop renting the house they were living in.

We met and we began our search. Now, the first project we went to was a Camella Project with a few different options - a duplex, single detached, and more. so we checked out each model and found the duplex very appealing.

The man was just like Mr. Engineer who checked out the technicalities, while wife - was very interested in layout, practicality, ambiance, accessibility and design. It was actually more fun talking to them. They were asking more serious payment questions as they were seriously going to buy.

Our friendly site manager, was pleased with their decisiveness and urged us to get going to the office to make a reservation. We almost did. Until I stopped and turned around to tell them to weigh their options before making an impulse buy. We turned around and checked out the Profriends project nearby (their first choice) and found several open units we liked.

The first was lovely, it was near the farm and was a corner lot, the rest were mid-lots but had space. They were mostly impressed by the home layout and the rooms. Plus, since the price was just right, they decided that this was it. Now, we are just hoping for a close within the week. :)

With this couple, it was apparent that they knew what they wanted. The man kept on asking the wife if this is what she really wanted. She was going to make the final decision, though the man was firm that budget-wise, there was a limit. It was only a matter of choosing the right lot for them. They joked, made fun and talked. I had fun watching them as they toured their new home.

I think with these two the similarities stopped at being seafarers and both needing to seek approval from their wives for the property. Meanwhile, Mrs. Engineer was more pushy --while Mrs. Oiler was more decisive and firm. It was easy to sell to both - though :) of course , its all up to them now.

I had a good day on the site. Im hoping for a better one soon!

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Beware: the EVIL Plot Bunnies

I have serious plot bunnies in my head. I need to sort them all out before I start my NaNoWriMo ( National Novel Writing Month) planning this month. I have all kinds of bunnies - I have Psycho bunnies, romance bunnies, crazy bunnies, emo bunnies. murderous bunnies, good bunnies, bad bunnies - name it, i have it! And they are very EVIL. SRSLY.

Some of you maybe asking. WTF is a PLOT BUNNY? Are they cute? Are they the ones that hop around and eat carrots? Do they have a wriggly pink nose? Do they have bushy tails?

PLOT BUNNY (from URBAN DICTIONARY) - An idea for a story that gnaws at the brain until written.

Plot bunnies are nice when you need inspiration. But not when you need to sleep or work. ( Like Right now!) They nag you and nag you until you give in and sit up at 3 am on your computer typing or writing furiously until they make you stop or you just drop from exhaustion. Plot bunnies are demanding little critters that hop around your brain - making you do things. :)

They could make you cry, fall in love, go insane, make you murderous, make your characters go psycho - make you psycho. Theyre the little voices in your head that create characters. Theyre annoying muses that wants to play or be written.

You have no choice as a writer but to follow. You can't hate them. You have to love them. No matter how demandingly annoying they are. You have no choice. I have tried many times to lock them up and/or send them via Fed-Ex to Antartica but to no avail. They escape from the box or come back with a fury -- with more annoying plots that fill up your brain.

I have to tame them before NANOWRIMO comes. If anyone has any ideas how, let me know... :) Id be grateful.

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Dreams of a Simple Life

I dreamt about a simple life last night. A three bedroom house in suburbia, with a kid or two and a loving husband who dotes on me. My business was flourishing. I was relaxed, I wasn't running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I wasn't on the phone 24/7. I was happy. I was contented and satisfied. If that is my future, then I would work hard to get there. Because what I dreamt of was the ideal.

I think, what my dream meant was that I really need to simplify my life. There are things in life that could make you happy that are not so complicated. That doesn't require money or much effort. I believe it's that complications in life that makes you stressed and unhappy. :(

My dream was bliss. PURE BLISS the only thing that was extraordinary about my dream was the simplicity of it. There were no adventurous lines, not even romance or mystery. It was simply ordinary. Like it was meant to happen. Maybe, my dream is showing me what I could have.

I wish I could fast forward time or jump into my dream. I really need that simplicity in my helter skelter life right now.

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A Box of Curly Tops: Some Tough Lessons Learned

I am downing a whole box of chocolate curly tops at the moment. Im not supposed to because I have sworn it off because I am on a diet. So, Yes, I am depressed. Why? Well because SMART decided to say that I have to SETTLE AGAIN my payment because they are dumb and they lost my payment. I decided never to trust machines again and decided to pay always in a Bayad Center or through Cashier. If only I did not need this line. If only my business didn't depend on this cellphone, I would cut it and settle for prepaid.

But, alas! I need the line. It is my money maker. All my clients, contacts and my LIFE is in that phone. So I have to bite it and just take the blow. I know it will come back to me a thousand fold or more.

Shit. Thank god for Endorphins. Thank God for chocolates, thank God for curly tops. Though it ruins my diet, I, at least feel a little better. At least, I think that there is a lesson learned that never trust machines too much. Always double check everything. Do not be too complacent. Maybe it's my fault for being stupid and careless.

Lets just pray that this good feeling lasts. Because I know I am about to cry. Its still hard earned money lost.

But aside from that, at least I have my chocolate. And At least, I have something sweet and tasty and good to make me smile...

:(

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SMART's Not So SMART Move.

I am NOT amused. I do not think that SMART Telecom is too smart. In fact, I think that there is something going on within the branch/payment area. You see, I was totally happy with my new SMART GOLD PLAN 800 - up until last Sunday. When some idiot from SMART called me and told me that my payment envelope was empty and there was NO MONEY inside the envelope. My reaction, IMPOSSIBLE.

1. There was money inside the envelope. I carefully counted it out, put it inside the envelope and was thinking if I was doing the right thing of putting some advance payment along with my current bill payment. ( OF COURSE, INSTINCT WAS RIGHT and I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED - I shouldnt have paid in advance).

2. I missed precious lunch break chika with my girls for it. I missed LUNCH period. Though there are no complaints in the Diet department there, I could have just gabbed away and not stressed waiting in line and going through the hot Manila sun to get to Rob Ermita to get scammed.

I was shocked. More than shocked. I was furious. I was worried and annoyed. I got paranoid even to the point that I kept on rethinking the events of the day.

What happened?

I went to SMART Telecom Rob Ermita Wireless Center to get my SMART MONEY card. I was told I was going to pay PHP30.00 for the processing fee. I decide that it was a good chance to pay my bill as well. So, I wait. I fix the envelope and wait. I count out my Money, I put it in the envelope, seal it and watch the screen for my number.

I was number 5018. I got called. I come up to the counter and this thin girl with glasses didnt even greet me. So I gave her my PHP30.00 Payment and ask her nicely if she could process my payment as well, since I was already at the counter. She said "Kiosk nalang po, Ma'am." I ask her again. She repeated the answer. She said "Medyo matagal po ang ating resibo magbayad po muna kayo."

I, being the obedient one, obeyed and followed instructions. The Kiosk was easy. I keyed in all necessary information. I submitted my payment and I put the envelope in the slot, got my receipt watched as my envelope fell into the slot and then turned to go to the window to get my receipt from the glasses girl. She gave me the receipt asked me to sign and off I went thinking and feeling accomplished that I have finished paying my bills and had advanced payments so I wouldnt think about SMART for a while.

WRONG. VERY WRONG. Come, Sunday, they called me and annoyed me. I called them several times to follow up. I almost cried in anger because they kept saying they couldn't do anything for me after all the explanation.

THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME.

I was supposed to swallow it all up and pay them again. Me, being an entrepreneur, it takes a lot for me to dig into my wallet and SPEND my hard earned money. I hold myself back. I want to save. I need money for more important things like my VAT registration, my future office, materials, etc, etc. But smart doesn't care. It's got a MONEY EATING MONSTER inside that steals the hard earned cash of the people.

To top it all off, I know they are lying. Because the first person I talked to said that the envelope was there and there was NO MONEY in it. The second person said that there was NO ENVELOPE. PERIOD. Which do I believe? I think they're bluffing.

THEY STOLE MY MONEY. THEY ARE GOING TO PAY.

I dont know what to do. I dont have that much money to pay again. I don't even know where to go. I want to see what they are going to do. Maybe I could go to the NTC. Maybe I should report them. What do you guys suggest I do?

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