Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all of you

I spent the Holy Week resting my back since it was ache-y.
I went to Sampaloc, Manila last Good Friday for healing
and and i very glad to say that i was able to go to Mass Easter Sunday -
i was  a tad worried i might not be able to go because of the heat but i made it.
nice one.

It is terribly terribly hot here in Manila.

Remembering Erpats

Today is the birthday of my Dad, or as Kuys and his friends and brods coined it, Erpats from the Latin word Pater, meaning Father. i miss my Dad.  he wasnt given to much words, but he was deeply caring man.  his word was his honor, and he taught us that honor was one of the most important things a person owns.

Dad graduated from the Philippine Military Academy, and as they say, he was muy pogi (very handsome) and girls were very attracted to him.  (well, my mom was gorgeous so Dad went loco over her)

He was very disciplined, and had, as they say, a mole near the sole of his foot - an indication that he loved to travel.  Oh he did.  He traveled a lot.  Part of the travel was during his army days.  And when he retired, and had gone to the USA (being there helped his asthma) he traveled a lot, too. he didnt drive, but since he was a senior, he had a discounted RTD bus pass and went to all the beaches ... i think, in California.

i only hit a few beaches there .... Long Beach, Venice Beach, and Huntington Beach, to name a few but he went to a lot of beaches and even did some fishing.  i would have wanted to try fishing  but we couldnt find common down time to go fishing....

he loved to tease my mom, who was a bit pikon - perhaps the easiest English translation is .... not teasable?  but he was very very supportive, in all my endeavors.  one of the things he taught me is to finish things that i start.  he said to leave nothing pending.  one might not finish things at once, but once started, must be finished.  i still honor this teaching to this day.

Dad was a strong person, usually quite quiet, and had a wonderful control of his temper.  His kids, that is, us - the family - will always remember his words of wisdom that he imparted to us

Less talk, less error.  No talk, no error.

perhaps not original, but definitely true.  What he really meant was, you just dont blurt out what you think, it has to go through a thinking process, an evaluation, you might say.

Especially true when one is angry, and apt to say things that might be later wished unsaid, but what is said, cannot be unsaid.  Said things are like blossoms in the air, when good ... and stink bombs when not.

HTT's 22 March post

Ah, pensions.
i dont know enough of the clergy rules to know if all those in the clergy, priests, brothers, and nuns have social security.  i do know that some of them pay social security out of the parish collection, and this is of course known by the parish council.  i dont know what happens for the secular order.  The pope, of course, belongs to the monastic order, and is of course provided with a pension. 

Do you read Robert Ludlum?  You might remember Matt Damon portraying Jason Bourne. Ludlum wrote about the pope in The Road to Gandolfo.  BUT i digress.

HTT talks about the calvary of getting your benefits, especially pensions in this time of ACOP.  Surely there must be an easier way - like GSIS, or perhaps SSS utilizing the barangay - this may not be easy also.

Perhaps it is time for a fresh look at procedures and an even fresher look at the front line personnel - those who directly transact with members.... Perhaps.  Members do not always complain to SSS.  They grin and bear it.

but read HTT's words, not just my meandering comments ...

Manila Standard - 2013/03/22- A Certain tenderness in pension administration

quote from Goodread's selection

i happen to agree ... scintillating minds sparkle in conversations involving mind play.
fascinating, Spock would say....

Surely only boring people went in for conversations consisting of questions and answers. The art of true conversation consisted in the play of minds. 


Ved Mehta
March 21, 1934: Born in Lahore when it was still under British rule, writer Ved Mehta made his way to the U.S. and became a New Yorker staffer. Happy 79th birthday

Quote - Goodreads selection

All happiness depends on courage and work.


Honoré de Balzac
March 19, 1842: French writer Honoré de Balzac was always up for a get-rich-quick scheme. Hoping to drum up some buzz for his latest play, he spread a rumor that it was sold out. It opened 171 years ago today, to an empty theater.

Quote as rec by Goodreads

My friend and doctor has always said, no food is taboo, but remember, everything in moderation.
Besides even the Bible has intimated that Jesus died for us that we may have life, and have it abundantly -
having fun is part of God's plan for His people.  But as you all know, this is clean fun.

Fun like splashing water in a pool or by the sea, or having contests - cerebral or otherwise.

I have never been convinced there's anything inherently wrong in having fun.

George Plimpton
March 18, 1927: A contender for the title of Most Interesting Man in the World, writer George Plimpton wrestled Sirhan Sirhan to the ground when Robert Kennedy was assassinated and once got into the ring with boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. He was born 86 years ago today.

a New Pope

Catholics, like yours truly, have a new leader
it feels good
i hope the prophecies arent ........ right, after all, prayer changes things.


Have a good weekend folks.

Goodreads quote for Tuesday 12 March 2013

You're alive only once, as far as we know, and what could be worse than getting to the end of your life and realizing you hadn't lived it?

Edward Albee

Click on Edward Albee for the complete Goodreads thought

March Birthdays

March 6       - John Anthony F. Ongchangco
                      Benita S. Padilla, MD - Sayans classmate and nephro doc
March 10     - Jonas O. Ongchangco
March 11     - Ernie Uson - STI friend
March 13     - Eriene Lao - STI friend

Hope your birthdays are/were wonderful.
               

Saying goodbye to Edwin del Valle

*

Edwin del Valle of the Social Security System, lately assigned off-SSS, passed away Sunday morning, the 10th of  March 2013.  He was young, but i do not know  his exact age. 

I last saw him at the Trellis restaurant located at the corner of Matalino and Kalayaan. 
He looked okay, but was very thin. It was an accidental meeting, a friend and I were having lunch, and while chatting and eating an appetizer, we were also looking around, and we simultaneously saw him.  We both sent off a little wave, as we had no chance to talk - they left earlier than we did.  And that was my last view of him.

Edwin was a nice guy, and he had depth.
those who know me will know what i mean.

He is with his Creator. Do remember him with joy.

Everyone makes a mistake

I was going over some computations made in a bill issued by someone in SSS.

As with any computation, i always seek to determine the rationale behind it.

For example, if there is a penalty charge, what is the penalty charge for, and what was the basis for the penalty.  why the bill? ah, well - the computation had to do with contributions made vs. contributions due, 2 things that are NOT the same - and, when the contributions were made, and when they were due.  see, prior to 1998 (that is, prior to  the implementation of RA 8282), SSS charged penalties for contributions made by SEs (self-employed) .

and well, the review had to do with a retirement application.. my doctor (but not my nephro doc) is already 72.

why was i reviewing the computation?  well, okay, so my doctor didnt understand and wanted me to explain.
so to be able to explain, i had to understand.....

based on what i know, and i did check, i think there were some errors.

i just wanted to let everyone know that there is nothing wrong with asking people to explain their computations.  everyone makes a mistake.  the person i asked was not angry, as yes, everyone makes a mistake.

so SSS members, when you are being charged with something you dont understand, ASK.
but do not be angry, okay.

everyone makes a mistake.   even you. even SSS. and sure, even me.
that is why it is imperative that one ASKS.

an Easter thought

Early Easter thoughts.
Easter. A time for transformation, or, to use a favorite word i found in Calvin and Hobbes, transmogrification.

A slow process, this time of change, and the picture says it all for me.

Click here for an imaginative Easter picture

The SSS Gallery

Did you know that SSS has a Gallery - and this features various artists
So if you are looking for art, try dropping by the SSS Gallery

the SSS Gallery can be found on the 2nd floor of the Main Building of the Social Security System
East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
There is a current exhibit until Holy Week.
At this very moment, i cant remember the artist.
Will update this post as soon as i remember........

do you need directions to SSS?  No?  okay.

a real 150-Carat diamond ring

 it is the ring to end all engagement rings.  the cost? a paltry 70MUS$.  *coughs*

and the entire ring is carved from a diamond, not a diamond stone and metal

beats the diamond Richard Burton (+)  gave  Elizabeth Taylor (+)

click here to see the world's best and most expensive diamond ring

Food Trip at Maginhawa - Quezon

my friends like eating out.  actually, who doesnt?
they met me at a place called Quezon.  and this place is also along Maginhawa .....
more or less near Bayantel.

i love the stuff you can eat there, plus, what you can take home - products from Quezon actually.

i liked the dried tapa.  Just the thing for breakfast.  only. dont overdo it.

What? Wicked people dont read?

i just had to share this.  i was going over my list of wicked people - that is, the truly wicked, or the now turned wicked and i find that indeed, they have lost their time for reading.  So, think about the people you know - at least those you find wicked, and well, do they still have time for reading?

i thought about the quote, maybe it is because people who have no time to read also have no time to reflect - on their actions - and without an examination of the things we've done, well .... we would have the tendency to backslide ... and think ... it is such a little sin.  unfortunately, there is no such thing as a little sin.

remember, even what we say .... but that quote is for another day.  *smile*

you will live longer. 

Wicked people never have time for reading. 
It's one of the reasons for their wickedness. 


Lemony Snicket
February 28, 1970: A most unfortunate day. Novelist Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, was once born in the benighted city of San Francisco and is now a dismal 43 years old.