My BIrthday - 28 December 2014

Birthdays are days to say Thank You, God
Thank You for Your Blessings and Graces
Thank You for my friends and loved ones

There were my friends from Sampaloc, Israel and Efren
My sibs Jonas and Yet (with daughter Patti)

Alice and Manny, Amihan, Boboy and Amy, Jerry, Paeng, Dale, and a surprise - Gorbo
Clarits and Annabel, and Khristian

I had fewer guests this year because i thought i was going to be sick
and worried about managing my guests

But all was well, and we had a nice get-together.

pics to follow

A Goodreads quote - seems perfect for this Season

It is our purpose in life - to give meaning to our existence.  I once read a poem in an olde M&B book ... it goes 

what is this life if full of care, we have no time to sit nor stare....
so sitting and staring is part of our lives, to think, and meditate...

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other? 

George Eliot

George Eliot (died December 22, 1880) was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, author of classics like Middlemarch. For twenty years she lived with her lover, the philosopher George Henry Lewes, and her pen name was a tribute to him. Eliot was code for the phrase: "To L - I owe it."

A GoodReads quote -

The power of the mind is truly amazing.  So keep thinking positive. Have good thoughts and may good prevail .... Keep the light in your spirit aglow

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.. 

John Milton

When John Milton (born December 9, 1608) wrote Paradise Lost, he was blind and nearly impoverished. The epic poem took six years to write and he sold the publications rights for just £5—not a large amount even in 1667.

PALAWAN TRIP -

It was my first trip to Puerto Princesa.

and it was a huey

here are the pics, the story to follow

at the airport

in the plane

Island hopping

Manny, Evelyn, me, Alice

Ka Lui food - really good food

A meeting with friends and officemates

last December 6, the OEVP-Operations

in no particular order

Mamu (Emily Ferrer) with Papu, Hermie Bungay, Ging de la Paz, Tina Sampang, Clarits Vidal, Anabel, Ranil and family

Noel Trinidad had to drive his mom to the province, and Rey Oriel had Lion guests

We trooped over to the Shrine of Santo Nino de Providencia, which was a few meters away from the ancestral home of HT Templo in Las Pinas. We were first-time visitors to the shrine so we were given info and pamphlets and novenas.  We stayed there a while to pray, to ask for blessings and peace in our lives.

Kuya Pat, Ht's man-about-the-house maintains the house and gardens and indeed, they are well-maintained.  I especially took a gander around the gardens, and checked out the flora.  The plants were pretty, and specially the flowering plants.  Horace was very knowledgeable about his plants, but i guess you would too, if you were the person who got the plants and had it planted in the first place.

And the food.  Oh glorious food.  Seafood mainly although there was liempo and the ubiquitous chicken.  I loved the crabs, and the sugpo, and the fish!  i also drank some red wine ....

I had brought over salad greens, and the ladies set about to preparing it.  Ht said there were lots of onions and i had to say mea culpa because i particularly like the sweetness of the onions - they were the red onions.  i also bought over my favorite sesame dressing - because i didnt have time to mix my own.  my friend Alice says she likes my salad dressings .....

Curiosity prompted me to examine his oven, and he willing explained the conceptualization and implementation of the brick oven.  The food was cooked very nicely, that we will all attest to....

Pictures to follow .....

A Viral Post on Malts - drinks, anyone?

Single Malts.  it isnt quite appropriate to say yum, but .... wellllll....

it goes down well .... it also looks quite spectaculat

take a look-see. click here

A GoodReads quote - the Inner you

Your soul - keep it yours.... do not give up a part of it for the Darkness - for any price.

That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality–your soul, if you will–is as bright and shining as any that has ever been....Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly. 

George Saunders

Happy 56th birthday, George Saunders! The big-hearted American writer's short stories concentrate on the beautiful, the weird, and the profound. He is the recipient of a MacArthur "Genius" grant.

A Goodreads quote on Seeing.....

Vison.  To see what is not there.  To see with the mind, or the heart, or the spirit, or all of them.
To be now what is the future.

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible. 

Jonathan Swift

Satirist Jonathan Swift (born November 30, 1667), author of Gulliver's Travels, was a founding member of the Scriblerus Club, along with fellow wit Alexander Pope. This literary society's sole aim was to ridicule scholarly pretension.

P.E.S.O. FUND START POSTPONED

This is just to relay the news that the SSS PESO Fund start will be next year, not DEC 1 as initially announced.

more to shop with???

A Viral Post - Mistresses

powerful women in history who were mistresses of men in power

take a look see.  Obviously Liz Taylor does not look like Cleopatra but she certainly looks very regal, and very beaufiful ..... wasnt she also reputed to be a mistress, or at the very least a friend  to King Solomon - of King Solomon's mines......


click here to read about the mistreses

Attention: Gawad Kalinga

Another look-see. Simpler, less costly, but just as private.
I hope this reaches someone or an organization who might want to think on this.
It could also work for those flood-prone areas.

click on this link to see

Friday nights: At Ba Nois and Bonfire, a little spot by the Riverbanks...

It isnt so much Sabado Nights (i still remember that San Miguel ad....) but Friday nights that are popular with us.  Why?  Really quite simple.  Easier to sleep in on a Saturday morning as there is Sunday worship....

anyways. it is always easier to catch me when i am already out of the house...than to invite when i am already at home.  simple physics at work - Newton's law if you remember about a body at rest ....

anyway, Ba Nois.  It is a Vietnamese resto found at the ground floor at the UP Town Center.  We spent over 4K pesos. Food galore for 4 people- batch 75 classmates.  Alice Sibal-Lim, the birthday celebrant, Manny Lim, her hubby, me, and Joey Dumandan.  Others were either out of the country (Benita), out of town (Amihan) or had previous commitments.

4 dishes were really outstanding.  i dont remember their names but i can certainly remember their taste and their image so though i can point to you the dish, i cant say the name.

Joey Dumandan cooks (he used to have a resto in Tacloban - before Yolanda or Haiyan) and i told him to try putting the red chile (and grinding it down) in one of the sauces to make one of the dishes a lot more delicious.  The food itself was bland so the sauce had to do double time to make the food great.  when done, so it was much better.

the fried thingamajig was better than the fresh one, and they had this thing about wrapping lettuce over the viand....   one thing though, i learnt a new sauce ad i wil be trying it out soon.

later on we went to Bonfire, by Marikina's riverbanks.  We had expected the band to be able to sing Skylight Pigeon... but they couldnt so it appears we have to go back on a Sunday for the band who can.
Food was okay, btw.

A Viral Post - Creatures of the Mind

this is interesting ... do you have your own mind creatures?

click here to see the mind creatures

Magical places via viral

do look

click here for truly magical places

A Colossal pic ... worthy of Van Gogh

This is located along a bike path and partly named after Van Gogh.
Gorgeous, isnt it?  Here's a sample pic so you'd be encourage to click some mor below.













click to see more pics

A Goodreads quote on Life and Love and Living

Life is indeed simple.  We stand up for what we believe, and show support for those we love.  Do you do the same?  Or does something prevent you...

. . . when it comes down to it, that’s what life is all about: showing up for the people you love, again and again, until you can’t show up anymore. 

Rebecca Walker

Happy 45th birthday, Rebecca Walker! The influential journalist introduced the concept of Third Wave Feminism in an article for Ms. magazine when she was just 22 years old. Walker's mother is Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple.

New SSS website

Because the new SSS is up, please be informed that i shall be fixing the forms links in each of my SSS posts.  This will take sometime -

Actually, i am disappointed that the links were not maintained, as this is possible.  *sigh*

oops, i forgot to put the link for the new sss website although it is still accessible by using the same
here is the link to the sss website

A GoodReads quote on TRUTH

This quote is about justice to me.  Truth shall break free and woe to you who hide behind those in current power thinking your evil deeds will never come to light.  Some blindly follow people in power, thinking that some things are small evil.  But dear readers, there is NO such thing as a little evil.  Evil is Evil.  There is nothing ever small about it.

This is not to say that Jefferson was evil.  He had slaves, all inherited if memory serves - he manumitted some of them, at different times in his life.  He is of course, best known for writing the Declaration of Independence.  It is a most inspiring piece of work.

Quite as inspiring as Lincoln's Gettysburg address.

Truth crushed to earth shall rise again. 

William Cullen Bryant

Influential poet and newspaper editor William Cullen Bryant (born November 3, 1794) had his first poem in print at age 13—it was an attack of Thomas Jefferson's political philosophy. Later, he delivered the introduction for Abraham Lincoln at the famed Cooper Union Speech, which secured Lincoln's nomination for presidency.

Thank you for the prayers

This is for all my friends and relatives who prayed with and for me before, during, and after my hospitalization at NKTI last week.

I know who you all of you are, and you know who you are.

I also thank my doc, Dr. Benita Santos Padilla, her partner in the procedure, Dr. Morabe and Benita's doc friends, her discussants (discussing my case)

My most heartfelt thank yous to all of you.

P. E. S. O. FUND - update

I got a few additional requirements for the PESO fund

first, you must open a bank account, and the peso fund starts DEC 1
i hope to have further updates for you - like the actual procedure before then....

also, a financial sample so you can see some of the products available in the market today

Sunday, 19 October

Paeng's birthday.
so Sakonit trouped over there for lunch .... and we found Butch with  his wife Josie (met her for the first time) and Jerry O discussing things over what seemed like "done lunch"

Alice, Manny, and I arrived together (they gave me a ride!) and proceeded to have lunch.  I remember having a bit of rice, karekare, chicken, lumpiang shanghai.  i had a tinny bit of beer, and a tinny bit of scotch.

Amihan was not free to join us, neither was Dale, or Boboy.  Joey arrived, but sooooo late - but we did have a chance to gab part of the afternoon away.

Mama, Paeng's mom was asleep though Li-Anne assured that she was strong, only that her sleeping habits have changed.  Mama is 97.  Marianne, Paeng's daughter is now 3rd year - at the College of the Holy Spirit (yes, over there in Mendiola), taking psychology.

Butch is a chemical engineer, and he had a fascinating discussion on coffee - decaff that is, and 3-in-1 things.
I will no longer take decaff, not after he explained the process and the chemicals that removes caffeine from the coffee beans.  The chemical that removes the caffeine is similar to the paint remover you use when you redo the house.  So ugh.

Jerry did give away so many dvds.  Alice said i should give the titles of those i want so she could save them for me.....

a rest day - and splitting a bedroom, or better yet, 2 bedrooms

normally, Saturdays are domestic catch-up days
this is when i fix my cabinets so that the clothes look nice through the glass
and generally fix my bedroom  -
since i have a lumbar concern, my doc said i should try to relocate downstairs

but i am not fully acclimatized to sleeping downstairs so what i have done essentially
is to continue to split the my stuff into two (2) bedrooms
i have clothes (from top to bottom) for home and external use
i have meds, vatious ointments and stuff in both rooms

the thing is, insects bother me very much
so this, too, i must watch out for - in both rooms

so i had my Wilkins deliverd - and man, it is already 150 bucks/5 gallons
and had my 2nd floor bedroom a/c checked - to find out it will cost about 5k to get it going
*sigh*

and then i really rested... slept the afternoon away, actually

Office Companions meet .... after times apart

it is always nice to touch base(s) with companions after a spell of distance of time and space

Last Friday, 17 October
At Sambokojin West - the following gathered to catch up with news about each other
Emily and Chito; Tina; Ging, Paulie, and Justine; Clare and Annabel; Hermie; Aris and family;
Fred; Albert; and the man-of-the-hour who handled the bill, Horace; and me

Albert was off farming, HT was working with an HMO in Makati (near STI where i used to work!), Fred was relaxing (nice to be retired), Emily and Chito were recharging, and Aris shared a bit of news about GSIS (he still has to share some more); and the rest were still with the same agency they were with, but perhaps with some changes.... in their lives.

I had cooked and eaten shrimps, loved the wrapped asparagus and mushrooms, enjoyed the fresh salad, and of course, the miso soup and the tempura.  Ging got a huge vat of ice cream that she shared.  That was the only sweet i got.  Good eats.

Payment time, 6 of us had discounts - Fred, Albert, Emily and Chito, HT, and I (i am a PWD, the rest were seniors) so a 20% discount for 6 wasnt bad at all....

pics to follow

The Price of a Soul

in this age of selfies, wars, and unstable sits
i was wondering ... what price a soul?

i always thought that the price of a soul was really horrendous - the life, say of a child or a loved one
or the safety of a nation or .... roaring success

but guess what
in a little city in the philippines
i found someone whose price is dirt cheap -
the price of her soul .... a promotion to an assistant vice president position

once you let evil in ......

note:
sits is an abbreviation for situations
.....
and there is no such thing as a little evil

Alfarsi - a Maginhawa place, with persian flavors

Alfarsi.
a small place near Savemore Anonas
persian food, it said in its small literature

Manny, Alice, and I decided to taste their persian food last Monday 13 October
mostly ground beef.  we liked the keema pie, and the wraps, and falafel was good
the place was small - it would fit about 7-10 small groups

good eats, i thought.  will eat there again, or perhaps have something delivered

Dong Juan - a Mother Ignacia place

i was off on forced leave Monday 13 October ....
so after Alfarsi, the three of us --- Manny, Alice, and I - proceeded to Dong Juan
she said the dessert was very good .......

as this picture will show -
i found a drink called Happy Bong whose details read .... a larger drink than your Happy Drink
so i ordered the 99-peso Happy Drink..... it was an alcoholic drink with orange slices and marashino cherries

indeed.  a happy drink.  i will try to recreate it with a bit of bourbon and the oranges and the cherries this coming weekend - any suggestion for the bourbon>

my happy drink, some free peanuts, and Alice's coffee ... i also ordered fries but it hadnt arrived yet

my happy drink, the dessert, the fries, and Alice's coffee

From double 10 in '64 to double 10 in 2014, 50 years in Kamias

50 years.  Golden Times.
To live, laugh, love, and cry.  Good times through Bad times and Best Times.

Lovely people who have gone ahead, have stayed with me
People who stayed true.  Judas kissers.

i love being home.

i love cooking, especially for other people.

food, glorious food.

i ordered turkey, pancit luglug, lengua estofado ... in white sauce, fish fillet
i cooked roast beef (medium rare), roast duck, embo-cheat style, and wrapped ground beef, mechado (which didnt get to the table, fresh veggie salad, green peas with quail eggs in butter (yum), and i tested a cheat style-pancit luglug.  i know how to make the old style difficult luglug.

guests who came -
my sibs-jonas with jap and yet with patti, patrick and dino, cousins grace and bert, mario and minda, israel and efren, officemates - ging, paulie, clarits, annabel, kat, win with marver, classmates and schoolmates - alice, manny, jerry, amihan with jimmy, dale, babie, tylette, and my aksitants - cha and jie

i had lots of guests who werent able to make it ... and here's to name a few of them, officemates - mamu and chito, rey and candy, ranil, aris and classmates - benits, joey, paeng, boboy ....

pics to follow

A Goodreads from the Wiz of Oz author for Oct 9

hemmed in? frustrated beyond all reasonableness?

take heart.  wait for the heart, just like the lion.

Never give up...No one knows what's going to happen next. 

L. Frank Baum

October 9, 1899: L. Frank Baum finished writing his beloved classic, The Wonderful World of Oz. It was originally titled The Emerald City.

teachers ....

i was remembering my teachers and i thought of Mrs. Helen P. Ladera, and i googled
lo.... here's a website that mentions her writing a book with some other teachers\\

it is amazing

tbc

Reading Manga

Manga.  What comes to mind is the most delicious fruit in the world.... the Philippine golden manga.
there is nothing there to compare to its lush sweetness.... and if you like the green ones ....
it also makes the perfect sour fruit - with bagoong!
but no, not this delectable fruit... something else...

Before the Anime channel in Cable TV, I was a purist book reader - with the slight exception of reading Wakasan Comics.  My parents thought we should read Tagalog and not just English materials, and before, it was mainly English/American literature.

Then came Anime....and because there was nothing to watch - this, despite all the cable channels - i started watching Anime.  Got to like stuff like Minekura's Saiyuki - a take on Journey to the West, and started to know about Sutras, and the like.  Got to watch KKM - and i learned what a Maou was.

and then there was Bleach, with Ichigo, the unexpected reaper.  Reapers are a scary bunch for me because of the classic image in my mind.  you know, with or without a skull, in those dark robes and a scythe - to cut the lifeline of any and all..... But Ichigo, he was nice.

For a while i resisted watching Naruto - for the simple reason that i did not like the Tagalog dubbing.
I hate to say this but the dubbing was really poor.   The dubbing was done in a monotone, which irked me.

Then i fouind out that these things were based on the manga .... so i started reading manga, and they are  fascinating.....

****
and so, Manga.

One thing about most mangas is that they showcase the Japanese love of stylized fighting.  Who can forget Shintaro the Swordsman (well, at least those who have seen it - like my batchmates) - such swift and elegant swordplay.. much, much better than the European foils.

havent you noticed .. how determined most Japanese heroes are.  Fascinating.

If there is a producer out there reading it, how about showing Shintaro again in a cable channel.
i'll enthuse about it...

SALIENT POINTS OF THE SSS P.E.S.O. FUND

Items in blue are MY personal remarks and comments.

MEMBERSHIP

• All employees, self-employed (SE), voluntary members (VM), and OFWs who have not reached 55 years old and have not filed any final claim under the regular SSS program may enroll in the SSS PESO Fund. 
• For SE, VM and OFW members, they must be paying at the Maximum Salary Credit (MSC) for at least six consecutive months during the last 12 months immediately prior to the month of enrollment. 
• Membership in the SSS PESO Fund begins from the first contribution.
• Interested and qualified SSS members can enroll in the program through over-the-counter in any SSS branch. Online enrollment to the SSS PESO Fund will be announced soon.

CONTRIBUTIONS

• Each SSS PESO Fund member is allowed a maximum contribution of P100,000.00 per annum and minimum of P1,000.00 per contribution. Any amount below the minimum shall not earn interest and shall be subject to automatic refund. However, maximum and minimum amount of contributions may change upon determination of the Social Security Commission.
• Contributions may be made anytime, provided that for SE, VM and OFW members, such PF contribution has a corresponding SS contribution based on the maximum Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) on the month of contribution. 
• SSS PESO Fund contributions are allocated in three accounts: retirement/total disability (65%), medical (25%), and General Purpose (10%). 

GUARANTEED RATES AND INSURANCE

• SSS PESO Fund offers guaranteed rates for the various accounts. Guaranteed rate for retirement or total disability is based on the Five (5)-year T-bond, while medical and general purpose is based on the 364-day T-bill rates. 
• The monthly crediting of the guaranteed rate is based on the average of the past three (3) months. Crediting of actual earnings in excess of the guaranteed rate shall be made at the end of the year.

BENEFITS

• SSS PESO is a tax-free fund. 
• Members have the option to receive retirement or total disability benefit either through monthly pension, lump sum, or a combination of monthly pension and lump sum. 
• Effectivity of retirement/total disability is the same as the effectivity of retirement/total disability under the regular SSS Program. 
• Death benefit for beneficiaries of SSS PESO Fund members will be paid in lump sum. 
• In case the SSS PESO Fund member dies prior to the expiration of the pension period, his beneficiaries will be paid the remaining balance of his fund in lump sum.

FINANCIAL REPORT

• SSS PESO Fund members will receive a Statement of Account every month through electronic mail and may be viewed in their web account via My. SSS.

OPTION TO WITHDRAW                                            

• No withdrawals from the retirement account of the SSS PESO Fund are allowed. 
• Withdrawals on SSS PESO Fund are only allowed from the Medical (25%) and General Purpose (10%) accounts but corresponding penalty and service fees will be charged if the contributions are retained for less than 5 years. Penalty and service fees depend on the number of years the contributions are retained in the SSS PESO Fund as shown on the table below: 

FAQS

Can my SSS PESO Fund contribution vary every year? Yes. For example, you can place P100,000 in 2015 and P20,000 in 2016. This is a savings mechanism so it is up to you to save more so you can add on your SSS PESO fund.

Is there a difference between depositing my money in a savings account and putting it in the SSS PESO Fund? Yes.

A savings account earns minimal interest, usually about 1-4% annually. That much is pretty small potatoes for investment.  Also under PDIC, monies in a savings account are protected until half-a-million.  The Peso Fund carries a Sovereign Guaranty for the entire, by virtue of the SSS Law.

I am employed but I am not paying at the Maximum Salary Credit (MSC). Can I contribute P100,000 in my SSS PESO fund? Yes. The SSS PESO fund is a savings mechanism for those who have other sources of income so they can plan better for retirement.

UPDATE:  2015.07.07 

As a young person, you can start small, and make it bigger as you earn more.

If you are a voluntary member, then you are NOT allowed unless you are paying the maximum. or have paid the maximum 6 months prior to your enrollment.  Sorry, this is the biased portion i was referring to ---

Are my contributions in the SSS PESO fund taxed?

No. Both contributions and income from your SSS PESO Fund are tax free because your contributions had already been taxed from your salary.  Remember, we have the gross taxation scheme, a scheme guaranteed to bleed the blood out of its middle-class citizenry.

How are earnings credited?

Guaranteed earnings are credited monthly. Excess earnings, if any, are distributed at the end of the year.

Putting on my SSS member hat, I can see some inequities in this plan.  Can you spot them?  

There seems to be a bias against Voluntary and Self-Employed Members.

I will let you read, and let you know.  

Also, there are no instructions yet - on how to be a member. 

In the meantime, i will try and get the Pag-ibig proposal out here as well so we can evaluate things together.  

Goodreads quote: indeed, it would. it could

Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth. 

William Faulkner

When William Faulkner (born September 25, 1927) won the Nobel Prize, he donated part of the award money to establish a fund encouraging young writers, which became the PEN/Faulkner award, and the rest to a scholarship for black teachers as a Mississipi university.

are you an OFW or know someone who is

well, SSS has these services for OFWs

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will have a  newly created OFW Contact Center Unit (OFW-CSU) to service their requirements - such as dedicated email responses and calls from 6am-10pm weekdays, starting October 2014.


OFWs and their families in the Philippines can reach the OFW-CSU by e-mail at ofw.relations@sss.gov.ph 


or through their service hotlines, 
(02) 364-7796 and (02) 374-7798

P.E.S.O. - FUND; AN SSS ANNOUNCEMENT

SSS announced today the launching of its Personal Equity and Savings Option (PESO) -fund.  It is similar to the OFW's flexi-fund, with similar provisions.

It is voluntary, and is open to members who are below 55 and are paying the maximum contribution for SSS for SEVMs and OFWs. Employed members may join even if they are not at the maximum levels.

Benefits  and Income are tax-free because this is earmarked for a retirement fund.  CONTRIBUTIONS to the fund are NOT tax-free, unlike the PERA fund discussed a few years, but never flew.

Income is guaranteed because it is pegged to the T-bill rate, same as the flexi-fund.

Details will follow at a later post.
If readers will remember, Pag-ibig also announced a similar, if smaller program that may appeal to the smaller-income would-be investor.  The Pag-ibig offer is also less restrictive.  However, I have yet to compare possible incomes and growth of fund.

A comparative post of the Flexi-fund, P.E.S.O. - Fund, Pag-ibig, and  PERA fund will follow at a later date.

If you read about it, and have questions. You can ask on this post.

NOTE:  RIGHT NOW I AM SEEING CERTAIN DISCREPANCIES IN THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT.  HENCE, I AM GIVING TIME TO CHANGE CERTAIN ITEMS BEFORE I START THE DISCUSSION.

RS5 and R5 --- SSS will still accept these forms until further announcement

I had earlier announced the imminent dropping of these 2 forms from the SSS rolls ... of forms
these 2 forms are payment forms and are thus important forms that you use to make contribution payments

well, these forms will still be accepted beyond the previous announcement day.
Before SSS has said that a payment form, called appropriately enought, a PAYMENT FORM will be used in lieu of these 2 forms.

So, payors - dont sweat it, these forms are still acceptable.
and make sure your copy is kept safe.  it is YOUR proof of payment.

*** note: SSS IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING THIS FORM.
PLEASE USE THE CONTRIBUTION PAYMENT FORM

Goodreads quote - everything ends.... the good, the bad, the ugly...

Ah. i remember the movie The Scarlet Pimpernel ... in one of those matinee shows
It had Stewart Granger playing the lead role,,,,, 
ah, those were the late afternoons then
When one enjoyed afternoons by the telly ..... 
and movies made sense, not violence

The weariest nights, the longest days, sooner or later must perforce come to an end. 

Emmuska Orczy

Hungarian born author Emmuska Orczy (born September 23, 1865) is best known for her Scarlet Pimpernel series about a British aristocrat who dashes in to rescue his fellow noblemen during the French Revolution.

Are you with Personnel or Human Resources Unit?

... or any other unit that handles transactions with the Social Security System or other government office?
For example, are you the company representative to SSS?

If you are responsible for SSS transactions, may i advise you to undergo a seminar with SSS so that you are aware of the conditions and requirements regarding eligibility and payment of claims, including application of such claims?

This is to prevent possible denial of your co-employee claims with the Social Security System.  Do not jeopardize your co-employee rights and privileges.

Hope this helps you and the employees of your company.

Just got this in the mail - and wanted to share

i have forgotten how i got to know Su Blackwell's art.  
She lives miles and miles away from me -- but i have gotten to love her work

Remember Art must strike your heart, and click with your passions for it to stay with you
Evermore, as the Raven said ...

Click here for a look-see at her art

and to encourage you to click here's  a pic to spur your curiousity

A Goodreads quote from one of my fave authors - Tolkien

This verse is attributed to Aragorn of Arathorn, Strider as he was called as a Ranger, and King Elessar ... there at the end......  

Not all those who wander are lost. 

J.R.R. Tolkien

Happy birthday, Bilbo Baggins! The Fellowship of the Ring opens with a celebration of the hobbit's special day. September 22 is also Frodo's birthday and the America Tolkien society proclaimed it Hobbit Day.

Click here for the complete Aragorn quote

or if you are lazy to click, below is the quote ...

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

the take is - and to use another quote - do not judge a book by its cover ...

take the time to know ....

Asking questions. Read BEFORE you ask

Some of the readers indiscriminately ask questions.

I request that before you ask questions to read items already previously asked, because most likely, your question has already been covered.  If you read the responses to these questions, you can better phrase your own question and ask a clarification instead of a generic question.

also, those of you in HR ... please be aware of the functions of your department or unit because HR is usually responsible for some of these issues.  So you MUST what you are responsible for.

On Filing for anything in a government institution

Just a precaution.

It seems government offices have a precluvity to lose documents.
I can give you a million examples but the main thing to remember

Murphy's Law reigns supreme.

You dont want Murphy's Law to apply to you so ...
when you transact with a government office,

make copies of your documentation (that you will submit to the government office) and have that stamped received by .... with date and all.  that is your documentation backup.

If you dont know Murphy's law ....

click here for Murphy's Laws

Reading habits ... what do you read?

What do you read?
You dont read?  what!!!
Of course you do, you got to this blog, didnt you....

maybe the question is, how many hours do you spend reading?

It takes a special interest for me to read non-fiction, that is, biographies and other historical ones.  The lives of the Kennedys - for example.  My mom adored Jackie O. so we bought all sorts of stuff for her on Jackie O. - magazines, books, fanzines, photobooks.  I moved beyond that and read not only about her life, but also of the Kennedys.  That was a very interesting read.

Then, there are the technical books.  Having a Master's degree in Finance and almost master's degree in Mathematics (i was shy 9 units to a master's degree) meant tons of books in Finance, lots of Accounting books, lots of Mathematics and Statistical books (yeah, i had a Bachelor's degree in Stat).  I also read books on computers (i was in IT for a lot of years, and i am a very good analyst, if i do say so myself.).  The technical books can be fun, if you will still use it.  I especially like security features, because i love hackers.

I also read historical stuff - on say the gold rush to the West.  The Oklahoma homestead rush.  Fascinating times.  And let us not miss historical stuff on Europe.

Makes for nice background when one starts reading fiction. You can feel the background when you say read a Regency Romance  or say a Highland story.... if have a feel of the background.  Lots of women read Romance - we all start early .... in High School.

I also read philosophical stuff - you know,  Confucious, Sun Tzu (Art of War) - my Chinese guys, 

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Euclid  - (i call 'em my Greek guys), 

Rene Descartes, Blaise Pascal (also a Math guy), Jean-Paul Sartre (who i associate with one of my good friends who has passed away) ... my French guys.  

My American guys are younger like Bertrand Russell, America being much younger.  

and many more books (i come from a family of readers - both maternal and paternal sides)

And i read fun things (dont you?).  One of my sisters read Tintin... and well, i have little to poor resistance reading comics or cartoons so i went on and read them.  I read Johnny Hart (BC) and Charles Schultz (Peanuts), then i added Tintin and the Captain, and the colatura singer whose name escapres me at the moment ... and the parrot's "Blistering Barnacles" recital.  Then she - my sister brought home a Calvin and Hobbes and i now have the Complete Calvin and Hobbes. It makes for wonderful reading, and if one is feeling a little down, a few pages of Calvin will do the trick and uplift one's spirits. My mom liked Archie comics so we had that too.  Also on Casper, Wendy, Spooky (the ghost with the doiby) and Poil, and Hot Stuff. 

For scary, well - enough authors do the scary ..... Kay Hooper has a bunch of them, and we (well, some of my books belong to the family) well, have the Russia's best Ghost Stories.  There is the graphic novels of  John Constantine (no, not the Keanu Reeves version, but the Brit guy who sells parts of his soul to the guy downstairs). There are other scary books but i normally reserve reading them in daylight.

Then there is science fiction and fantasy.

I think i read all the TOS books until the Vulcan stories, including those adapted by James Blish (adapted from the episodes, that is), the Log series.  I have read a few of Picard's adventures but most of them copy TOS adventures so i simply got tired of reading them.  I read a few Star Wars.  Then all of Isaac Asimov's books, which includes the Robot and Foundation series.... and tons more.  If you have one you want to recommend, lemme know.

Then fantasy.  There's Tolkien who i love.  I mean how could you not love someone who developed the Elven and Dwarven languages.... the guy who wrote the epic Silmarillion - of Turin and the dark blade.  The Sundering of the Elves.  Such drama! 

There is Neil Gaiman - who wrote about the Endless ... including Dream, or ... the Sandman and Death, the goth girl.  The Price (my favortie short story)

I like Anne Bishop - who wrote about the Jewels and the Others

And then there are detective stories.  I like Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey - and i have read all i can get my hands on.  I have read all of Dame Agatha Christie's books (and i also like the Doc Who story about her) and of course, Sir Conan Doyle's Complete Sherlock Holmes. I can still name the title of the story or tell the story given the title......

and tons more......contemporary authors .... 

if you have a suggestion, do comment and let me know

or simply, if you want to discuss a book, comment away

yes, you guessed it.  i read very fast. indeed. 

SSS Announcement imminent - wait for it on September 25

I got word that SSS will be announcing something important by 25 September
i just want to let readers know to watch out for it.

i will comment on the announcemnent - it is a program - after the announcement.

i was going to do the robot act on the old Lost in Space ... but it isnt a danger nor a warning .. just an alert

Saturday evening, the 13th of September - 2 Maginhawa restos

I had gone to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute when the laboratory opened. to have blood extracted. so when i got home, i hit the bed for some more Zzzs.

At about lunch, my friend Alice texted me to ask if I was inclined to go out for dinner.  So i said yes, but i would sleep first.

I had to have my car wipers repaired so i asked the mechanic to drop by (it was most likely a replacement), and get the wipers so he can buy the correct one.  Alice and Manny are so nice that they asked me if i was attached to the car, and if i wasnt, to just sell it and borrow theirs (they have 2) when i needed one.  Really wonderful people, dont you agree.

Anyway, we went off to Maginhawa - supposedly to Black Bean and Soup place.  We all have been there before, when we had an Arts and Friends exhibit.  We were meeting another school mate, Joey, or Dr. Joel.  Alas, Black Bean was closed and they started thinking of the resto right beside it, which was Van Gogh is Bipolar.... however, we didnt have Robert (of Papemelroti) so we decided to try the nearby Jeepney Stop.

Interesting Place. We got the Ayala Special - that was good for 2-4 people. We were at 2 tables that were joined so they divided the viands into 2.  It was alright, but the chicken ass could have been better.
See, the thing is, Joel and I cook quite extensively so we tend to be a tad more critical.... so we were slower to eat.  And well, yes, Joel and I could have cooked better .... but like i said, it was alright

they didnt have coffee and dessert so we hied ourself to Cool Beans, a library cafe.
The library part did not register with me .... see, a library to me means books can be borrowed and taken out, it was more like a reading room - that means  you can only read in the room, right?
See, they brag that they are the only library cafe .... hmmm, not quite - unless i was wrong and you can take books home (i dont think i am wrong because people returned books to the shelves).

The Sweet Spot also has books.  The ambiance in Sweet Spot is more my thing.  See, no one complains if the groups are a little loud.  If I am with a group, the automatically, this is a social event, and social events tend to make me behave noisily, laugh loudly, and talk loud, expecially if there is big table between us.  So, I got shushed.  Mea Culpa indeed, but to me, a coffee place and a group is about talking and laughing, and NOT being shused.  I was shused for talking too loud .... but like i said, a social place, a social outing, makes for noise.  So i doubt if i will bring myself and my friends there again.

If you are alone, and want to read - this is a good place to be.  But no pika-pika food, just pastries - and of course, coffee.  In Sweet Spot you can order tiny burgers and fries (pika- food!)  So maybe no also.  I wouldnt read or study in a social place.  And if no one buys food and drinks, how long do you think this place will last?

However we did meet a fellow Sayans grad, her name is Glo, lives 2 blocks away from me, and is the third batch to graduate from Philippine Science High School.  That was good.

I also discovered there that i can no longer read Avengers and FF4 and the like.  Too much violence,  See, i was able to read the early stuff, and no way was it this way.  Poor Logan looked bestial, and this should not be the case.  what with his healing power, why would he look bestial. Yuck.  Probaby I am just a purist.

So, Jeepney stop rates a 5 for me, Cool Beans - for the loner,

but hey if you want to study there, your pwers of concentration should be excellent.  I have that kind of concentration from youth (my lola used to get angry at me for not hearing her when she would call me for lunch and i was right beside her, yet i would not here)

So Cool Beans - for the food 6, for the books - 8  (the graphic novels are plentiful... but i have my own, for those i like), for the shushing - 3 --- they should call themselves a Cafe Library.  Because food seems to be incidental.  Would i recommend Cool Beans, maybe for the loner - like Glo was, and that guy who was studying -

I always study at home - except the group work for my Master's -

Incidentally - I'd rate Sweet Spot higher than Cool Beans because there is nothing better than reading and eating, unless it be eating and reading (see a previous post)

Goodreads quote - want to know someone intimately? look at his library

this says much.  to know someone intimately, 
you must know how he thinks
to know how he thinks, you must know his mind
to know his mind, 
      ... read on below

For to know a man's library is, in some measure, to know his mind. 

Geraldine Brooks

Happy 59th birthday, Geraldine Brooks! The Australian-born novelist is best known for March, which imagines the wartime service of the March sisters' father in Little Women.

Do read this Manila Standard article by Horace T. Templo

The article talks about several interesting bills that are .... shall we say, laying about Congress

Several bills are on increasing retirement pensions ....
   such as those seeking to raise the SSS minimum from  1,200 to 1,300 then to 3,000, and further to 5,000
of course i have my eyebrows on stun (like Spock's, i mean)
nice bills, but like he says also, sort of doomed to linger .....

there is a similar one for the government employees - which is to use the last pay as basis - same as the Armed Forces.  I just want to say that soldiers have more risks than the usual government employee so i dont think that is exactly kosher .....

The plans for the senior citizens ... housing etc... is similar to the US Federal grant for seniors, there is special housing for seniors, but one has to queue for it.  i've seen some of these residences in the US, and the well-run ones are certainly very nice.

i do miss though plans for the disabled, i am of course, one of them.
and i have gone on small rants in this bkig about broken promises from P-Noy about this.
So much for equal opportunity for the disabled  ....  there is not even a tax break for the disabled, there should be - to encourage the disabled to work, and not wait for hand-outs.  i think the disabled should be granted double the exemptions of regular people -

paging P-Noy and his supporters, or has he lost a lot of them already?

Do read  Horace's article to see what i mean

Click here to read HTT's article "most-worthy-pending-bill"

A Goodreads quote - a question, and an answer?

Have you always known what you want to do?  Steered toward it unerringly?
Has your journey been wild and precious?

My journey has indeed been wild, and strange, and well, hard and fun.
I have met strangers who became friends, and learnt about life in various milieu

I have enjoyed bus rides, talked with my designated drivers, and found friends in my constant companions on the same rides.  

One, who participates in the Boston Marathon, and paints, was like Nick Nolte in Pat Conroy's Prince of Tides.  And I had the idiocy to watch the movic with him.  

I was also with a group waiting for a connecting bus to another county in Brea  Mall - where the wind chill factor was ..., in a word, Brrr. An Irishman, an Indian, a Kenyan, and a Filipino.  We shared our cultures and became friends.  Too bad that distance cant always survive friendships ...

so wild and precious.  Wild. Precious.  I hope you have yours.

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life? 

Mary Oliver

Happy 79th birthday, Mary Oliver! The Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's daily walks in the woods and wetlands of Provincetown are a central inspiration for her work.

A Goodreads quote

It seems serendipitous that the quote comes from James Hilton because this year gives back to teachers, and to my mind Mr. Chips (along with Robin Williams in .....Dead Poets Society) is one of the good examples of a teacher.  

In Philippine Science High School, our class - batch 75 - was priviliged to know many wonderful teachers - and in no particular order .........
Agnes Vea (English), Helen Ladera (English, History), Evaline Gerochi (my first homeroom advisor), Nita Alfonso (Filipino), Ms Alfonso (bio), Vicenta Reyes (bio), Rosita Sta. Maria (bio), Cesar Brillantes, Mr. Arboleda (i cant remember his first name)........

People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little. 

James Hilton

Novelist James Hilton (born September 9, 1900) wrote Goodbye, Mr. Chips for The Atlantic magazine, where it first appeared as an article before being published as a book. It was inspired by Hilton's father, who worked as a school headmaster.

Being a child

Two quotes for  today because i was out of the nets for 3 days.

I belive that one should be a child forever,  This is not to say to behave as a child, but to retain the wonder of a child.... and that this should be forever.  

I think you should be a child for as long as you can. I have been successful for 74 years being able to do that. 

Bob Newhart

Happy 85th birthday, Bob Newhart! The famously deadpan comedian wrote a characteristically titled autobiography: I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This.

Remember i posted before on living - here is a goodreads quote that says the same

The balance of living and dying.  Plan as if you would live forever, but live as if you only have today.  

If I am not mistaken - this is what i said before.

One must live as if it would be forever, and as if one might die each moment. Always both at once. 

Mary Renault

Mary Renault (born September 4, 1905) was known for her historical novels set in ancient Greece and her contemporary novels exploring homosexual relationships.

The Philippine Science Homecoming. 6 September 2014 - Saturday

It was a wonderful night

For our batch - Batch 1975 - the following people were able to come ....
pictures to follow when i get my copy

in relative order of appearance
(1) - Xen Yazon, (2) - Bobby R. Reyes, (3) - Sandy Sales, (4) - Beth San Agustin- Yazon, (5) - Manny Lim, (6) - Alice Sibal-Lim  and (7) - I - Guia Ongchangco , (8) - Lito Sibayan, our defacto leader,  (9) - Sonch Asuncion, (10) - Droo Dimacali, MD - a pathologist (denizens of the morgue at PGH would certainly know him), (11) - Benjy Catajoy, (12) Gardee Estacio, MD - ortho  (havent seen him for the longest time so it was good to see him), (13) - Fr. Ces Magsino, (14) Lerma Aguda - ooops, i forgot her married name (15) - Benita Padilla MD nephrologist, (16) - Joey Dumandan, MD - reconstructive surgeon (he's from Tacloban)

not a bad showing since we werent the Jubilarian batch, although we made an effort for Sayans's GOLD
we will be one of the Jubilarian batch next year

some were not able to show up -  Amihan -  her Dad, Tito Billy Abueva was in NKTI, so was Kay Uichanco's mom

Lito asked our batch to go onstage since the batch had an announcent for next year -
made a report as to how much had been raised for the teachers (Per Lito, who has all the paperwork, 1.25M has already been raised) wow, ha.  And he was saying that he hoped the group wont mind if the batch will have 2 music numbers for each million raised, and not to worry, we would have professionals to back us up. Ahhhhhh, we still have lots of stars in our eyes - performing stars, that is . :)

****

Batch 74 had a sexy dance number - I was immediately able to identify Helen Lagmay (i dont remember her married name), and Ching Ilao, i think - was the one with the blond wig.   I couldnt remember the other sexy dancer.

The other dancers were pretty good - there was a boy group who danced to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and they were pretty good, except they omitted the moon-walk part.

another group of dancers wore golden pants (ala Olivia Newton-John in Grease) but the music they danced to was something else.

someone danced to the Macarena -- too bad they didnt have the noodles dancing in the background... i would have

*****

someone said that all the grads have the same DNA.  now, now, being a Sayans grad, we all know that is ... certainly not true.  what we have the same are those embedded in our school hymn -
 and here again is a copy of original hymn

and it is the reaching

THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL HYMN

ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION 

BY MARIO TAQUIWALO

Philippine Science High

Thou stands above with thy thoughts that lift

And fit all thy sons with wings

To lend us flight in the sowing of our gifts

Oh, Philippine Science High,

Thy wisdom arms our youth

As we reach for our dreams, as we strive for our goals

As we seach for the untarnished truth 

Philippine Science High,

The PSHS in us will grow

And go as we wander o’er

The crests and troughs of the sea of life that flows

Oh Philippine Science High

Thy light our beacon be

In our path through the world, in our fight for the right

In pursuit of a glorious thee

Then, Secretary of DOTC gave his cp for any and all questions we - all grads - would have.
i was curious, is there a Sayans grad who is working in the Civil Service.
we have questions to ask ....

picture (s)

me (no, i didnt drink too much, and no, i wasnt sleepy...yet). Alice, Lerma, bobby, Gardee, Sandy, Jiben, Xen
standing:  Manny, Joel, Benita, Lito, Beth

Public Service

Have you ever watched the people serving the public?  what institutions call the front-line people?

Have you noticed that celebs, people of power, politicians and their adjuncts, get the best service around?
Some of them have been heard to say. "XXXXX (a senior official in an institution) is my personal friend, can you prioritize this?".... You arent one of these, are you?   or sometimes they throw the names of media personnel.    I generally do NOT like people like this.  They throw reflected power around.  Generally, I like people of power who do NOT misuse their power.

The media, by the very nature of things, generally get good service.

Why?  Easy.  Like He-Man and She-Ra, they have the powers of the universe.  They have the clout to abuse, disabuse, harangue, and praise the institution and the way the institution serves the public.

And they can do something, of course, but some media personnel grab and highlight issues also because highlighting certain issues can cover and hide other issues.

People who are poor and desperately need the services of the institution toil desperately; treated badly and rudely, and some are callously told, "wala nang pag-asa ito",  or, "hanapin nyo muna ito" ..... or words that further drive simple persons further into desperation.  I detest those people who do this to the underprivileged.  I believe they morally sin. If i were in charge, i would do something about this - but alas, i am not.

Actually i hve contempt for people who ....

i think this is a good place to stop.  Will continue when i have the time, and have gone back to the Enterprise for a bit of recharging .... or maybe the Tardis?

A Colossal view - The Apocalypse

See these pictures and get an early view of the Apocalypse in an Industrial setting
i just hope i am no longer around when this comes to pass .........


to encourage you to click -- here's a sample of what you will see when you do click the link below ----

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/08/paintings-by-michael-kerbow-warn-of-dire-consequences-for-current-actions/?mc_cid=930f54cb18&mc_eid=3406ccddf9

A Goodreads quote .... do you want to live forever?

Well do you?  There are ways to do so

you can mutate into Wolverine - and have fantastic healing powers such that aging is not a problem

imagine those telomeres ....... really fantastic

You cant mutate into a Time Lord, so if you have any ambitions about being Doc ...(insert number here), the first you have to find where they hid their planet.  It wasnt destroyed after all.... or was it.

the other way, more simple - at least to my mind - is to write - and leave footprints in the ether of digital wizardly.  i have bits and pieces scattered in the internet.

i already have a published poem in the Library of Congress - and unless an entity bombs the repository, that's like living forever, ..... aint it?  And i want to write more

There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches. 

Ray Bradbury

September 2, 1932: Science fiction master Ray Bradbury was a 12-year-old boy when he walked into a carnival tent and met Mr. Electrico—a moment that he credits with making him want to be a writer. The performer tapped him with an electrified sword and shouted: "Live forever!"