YANO YAN AY! - FEATURE Articles How Binay became the surprise of the 2010 electionsBy ELLEN TORDESILLAS (VERA FILES) and YOUTHVOTEPHILIPPINES Whatever the final outcome of the tightly contested vice presidential race, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has made history by being the first local official to be possibly catapulted to a top national position, just a breath away from the presidency. Unlike another former mayor, Joseph Estrada, Binay bypassed Congress in his quest for a top post.But Binay’s journey from being a far third at the start of the campaign to becoming the frontrunner in the national canvassing does not surprise fellow mayors and other local executives who say he prepared for it long ago. The Makati mayor made smart use of vast resources and backed these up with an underground operation that included an in-your-face infiltration of a rival political organization.The latest count by the Senate and House of Representatives acting as National Board of Canvassers shows the Liberal Party’s Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III with a commanding lead of 5.5 million votes over former president Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. But the vice presidential race is still too close to call with the PMP’s Binay posting 14,084,879 votes against the 13,440,127 votes of LP’s Manuel “Mar" Roxas.Binay leads by 644,752 with some 1.4 million votes still to be canvassed.This cliffhanger finale to the 2010 elections was unthinkable at the start of the campaign period when Aquino and Roxas topped the Social Weather Stations’ December 2009 survey with 40-percent of respondents’ approval. Loren Legarda of the Nacionalista Party was a distant second with 32 percent, and Binay trailed far behind with 10 percent.But research by VERA Files reveal Binay is now merely reaping the rewards of a nationwide network laid out nearly two decades ago when he launched a sister-city program linking Makati with other local government units.With a P12-billion annual budget, Binay’s Makati could afford to be generous. Since the early 1990s, Makati has forged sisterhood ties with more than 200 municipalities and cities all over the country, advising them on public management, subsidizing computerization training of municipal government employees, providing computer equipment, giving scholarships to poor students from the provinces in Makati City schools, and making available the city’s modern medical facilities.Binay is also known to be quick in giving at least P50 million in financial assistance to a sister municipality in need, such as in times of calamity.In his visit to Catbalogan, Samar in March 2009, Binay told reporters that Makati’s sisterhood program had nothing to do with his announced plan to run for president. “Aside from extending assistance and goodwill to other cities and municipalities, the sisterhood is also a good way for LGUs to exchange ideas and best practices on governance," he said.Binay had initially aimed for the presidency, refusing invitations from the Liberal Party to join its senatorial ticket, saying that his expertise is as an executive and not as a legislator. He only slid down to the vice-presidency when Estrada decided to run for president.The Makati mayor gained valuable exposure to the masses in provincial sorties with the popular Estrada. Sources knowledgeable about the Estrada campaign said Binay underwrote the bulk of the PMP campaign expenses.Binay solidified his linkages with LGUs with his friendship with 78 other city mayors who compose the League of Cities of the Philippines. This is best shown in Metro Manila’s results where the winning team was Aquino-Binay.The SWS exit poll showed Binay’s support cutting across party lines. The majority of supporters of NP’s Manuel Villar, Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s Gilbert Teodoro and other presidential candidates had him as vice president.A source close to one of the Metro Manila mayors said Binay campaigned only for himself with his fellow city mayors, telling them he understood their commitment to another presidential candidate. Estrada showed his displeasure by leaving blank the slot for vice president in his ballot, which was captured on camera on May 10. Another national organization that Binay cultivated through the years was the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and its allied fraternity, the Alpha Phi Omega.People made fun of the diminutive mayor looking like an over-aged boy in his Boy Scout uniform. But what many didn’t realize was that whenever Binay donned those khaki shorts, he was re-affirming his ties with the 3.5 million members of the organization and establishing a connection with their parents and other family members.While Binay’s low-key building of national networks would make a good study of effective campaign strategy, his masterstroke was the infiltration of Aquino’s campaign organization.“There’s no way that Mar (Roxas) could have won with the betrayal from within their campaign organization," a veteran journalist remarked, sharing his conversation with Aquino’s campaign manager Florencio “Butch" Abad, who was concerned about the activities of the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement. NAPM is headed by Ed Roces, son of the late Joaquin “Chino" Roces, founder and publisher of The Manila Times who was responsible for convincing the late Cory Aquino to challenge Ferdinand Marcos for the presidency in 1986.Abad, the journalist source said, was disturbed that NAPM was campaigning for a Noynoy-Binay ticket from its campaign headquarters in Parc House Building along EDSA, just two floors above the LP office. It was not only NAPM that was campaigning for a Noy-Bi ticket among Aquino’s supporters. There was the “Yellow Force" reportedly headed by Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, daughter of Aquino’s brother Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, the gay organization “Ang Ladlad," the People’s Patriotic Movement, and Council for Philippine Affairs.Friends of COPA leader Pastor “Boy" Saycon speak of a roomful of Noy-Bi materials when visiting his Makati office. COPA includes Peping Cojuangco and his wife, Margarita, and Philippine Star columnist Billy Esposo.Other Aquino relatives campaigning for Noy-Bi were Jose Maria “Boy" Montelibano and his wife Maria, who headed Radio-TV Malacañang when Cory Aquino was president and who was active in Noynoy’s presidential campaign.Boy Montelibano, in his column in Inquirer online, said Roxas has only himself to blame for his defeat: “It (a Binay victory) has caused allegedly well-bred people to cross lines of decency and engage in gutter behavior in blaming others for what cannot be but a serious error of the core of Mar Roxas’s campaign. For a candidate to lose a lead of over 30 percent in three months without realizing it until the last moment is a classic case of political ineptness. The inept, therefore, have to put the blame on others, a usual human tendency. “Campaign strategist Malou Tiquia of Publicus, who helped Roxas’ senatorial campaign in 2004, has a similar observation, although put in gentler terms. “Mar was too complacent. This is not the Mar of 2004 who was well-prepared with a good message, organized ground troops and an air war with a storyline strategy."“My reading of him was he was too burned-out after sliding down to number two, and my sense was he was banking on the ‘sacrifice’ to get the home run," Tiquia added. Roxas, who had been nurturing his own presidential ambition for years, gave way so that Noynoy could become LP standard-bearer, amid the public clamor in the weeks after Cory’s death in August. Tiquia noted that Roxas’s ads did not “embrace" Aquino’s anti-corruption theme and that he was not able to communicate what a vice president can do. “He was more of Mr. Palengke than a partner of Noy," she said.Since sliding down to vice president, Roxas had consistently maintained a commanding lead over his then closest rival, Legarda, until polls showed Binay catching up in April. And then there was Sen. Francis “Chiz" Escudero who withdrew from the presidential race in November 2009 and then announced he would be supporting Binay for vice president. Escudero and Binay worked together in Fernando Poe Jr.’s presidential campaign in 2004. Escudero did not immediately announce whom he was supporting for president.In February, when Aquino’s rating was declining and Villar was catching up with him, Aquino revamped his campaign organization and brought in Escudero, whose team handled media operations. They are believed responsible for the exposés against Villar that paved the way for an Aquino surge. In April, Escudero, while managing the Aquino campaign’s media operations, came out with TV ads endorsing Binay for vice president. The next surveys after the endorsement had Binay slightly ahead of Roxas.Tiquia does not credit Binay’s surge to Escuderos’ endorsement. “Binay was already on the rise when it came out," she said. “What it perhaps did was to raise the ante. The timing of the endorsement created that kick to the end game." University of the Philippines political science professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer agreed with Tiquia. “The vaunted appeal of ‘NoyBi’ is a myth. Let’s not give too much credit to Chiz Escudero, Ang Ladlad, and the faction of the Coryistas who supported Binay," she said. Ferrer did an analysis of votes based on figures from the electronic data maps prepared by Cybersoft GeoInfomatics for the Philippine Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting. The running tallies were computed from about 90 percent of election returns. “Aquino and Roxas dominated all other tandems in terms of sheer number of votes," said Ferrer. “NoyBi is leading in eight or majority of the regions, but contrary to what most people think, Binay benefitted primarily from being Estrada’s running mate and only in a small way from the NoyBi vote configuration." Ferrer pointed out that Aquino and Roxas led the race in Western and Central Visayas and the Caraga regions, while Estrada and Binay prevailed in Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Socsksargen. “Assuming all Erap supporters also voted for Binay, about 8.7 million of his votes can be accounted for. But he has about five million more votes than Erap," she said. Ferrer said the gap between the votes of Teodoro and his running mate, Eduardo Manzano, was a possible source for about 2.9 million votes for Binay. “A secondary source is the 1.2 million more people who voted for Villar but not for Loren," she said“Binay should thank Gibo’s and Villar’s supporters instead," Ferrer said. What makes this year’s intrigue-ridden vice presidential race interesting, however, goes beyond the results of this election. It could be a preview of the 2016 presidential contest. - VERA Files(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look into current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.") More than survey figures STRAWS IN THE WIND By Eladio Dioko - April 08, 2010As the day of political reckoning nears survey outfits are churning out more frequently the outcomes of their alleged studies. I said alleged because some of these entities have been identified with certain presidentiables, which explains why their figures could be tainted with subjectivity. Besides, to conduct an honest-to-goodness opinionaire is expensive, and who do you think are the possible source of funds?Even assuming that the survey proponent is unbiased there's no guarantee that the results are acceptable. Anyone with a modicum of schooling knows that acceptability of survey can be affected by faulty sampling of respondents. If, for example, the number of people asked in selected age brackets is not evenly distributed, the outcome can be skewed. Or if there are differences in the occupational distribution of respondents the same faulty data can be arrived at.Sampling is only one aspect that can affect an opinion study. Other factors such as the way the questions were stated, the manner these were asked, the occasion when inquiries were made, the reputation of the target individuals, and the like can also influence the reliability and validity of a study.This is not to say that poll surveys are unreliable. To a certain extent they do show the status of one's candidacy. But winning or losing in an election can also be traced to factors other than survey profiles.One such factor is the support of local power wielders such as barangay captains, ward leaders, heads of socio-civic and religious bodies, proprietors of commercial or industrial entities, and even the hilots. On top of these are of course the town mayors and the members of the sangguniang bayan each of whom is an authority figure in his own bailiwick. These people actually call the shots on election day, more so with regard to the rank and file electors.Here's the usual scenario: A day or two before election ward leaders (usually known as coordinators) and supporters meet with the barangay captain to plot out their moves. In this gathering envelopes containing the "pahalipay" from the party are given out, the amount depending upon the option of the party leadership and the probity of the barangay head. If the latter is a fair-minded guy the giveaway would be substantial, otherwise only a pittance would be left for distribution.Nevertheless, allegiance is unaffected because other benefits such as a free lunch and transport services to and from the precincts are provided for. More than these there's the jovial fellowship among peers as they party on balbacua, lechon or kalderita made more appetizing with tuba or beer. One solid klatch of voters - to whom will their votes go but to their amo's candidates?Vote buying? Some call it so. But the Filipino is not selling his vote. He is just trying to please his amo and his cohorts of friends and neighbors. Their acceptance of his person is crucial to keeping his ego intact. Besides, when election fever is over, whom would he run to for help in times of crisis but to his authority figure and barkadas?Some observers say all you have to do to win a Filipino's option is dangle a few bills before his eyes. Actually, it's not as simple as that. One has to befriend him first or at least get himself accepted by him before his money will work. A neophyte of a candidate for congress tried this once and ended up frustrated. What happened was that on election day he shelled out millions of pesos to wow the voters to his cause. Thousands did open their palms but when the votes were counted only a few hundreds got chalked under his name. Kopras is the name of the game here. Money is offered and accepted, but the voter's choice remains unchanged.No siree, the Filipino, no matter how poor he is, is not without pride. One can't buy his conscience just like that and get away with it. Material goods are important, but more important is his sense of personhood.Give him both and you get his vote, survey or no survey.* Pacquiao marches on as true star of boxingBy Tim Dahlberg, AP Sports Columnist ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—The fight was long over and most of the biggest crowd to see a fight in the U.S. in 17 years had found their way out of massive Cowboys Stadium. Manny Pacquiao was in the shower, where one member of his entourage surely was in charge of selecting his shampoo while another had the task of making sure the towels were just right.Pacquiao had easily disposed of a timid Joshua Clottey, and now he had a concert to perform. He finally emerged in an argyle sweater that would have looked better on the golf course and sunglasses more suited for the beach, with the entourage swelling about him, each jockeying for position in case he could be the lucky one chosen to fluff Pacman’s rice for him. There was only a few minutes to talk about Floyd Mayweather Jr. and next month’s run for congress in the Philippines. The postfight party awaited, and once more the star was ready to perform. “The first song I’m going to sing is `La Bamba,”’ Pacquiao said. It’s a good time to be Manny Pacquiao, and Texas proved to be a good host to the hottest fighter around. Nearly 51,000 made their way into the edifice built by Jerry Jones to watch him fight Saturday night and few seemed to leave disappointed, even if Clottey’s reluctance to mix it up deprived them of a spectacular fight. The win was about as easy as they come, with Pacquiao capturing every round on one judge’s scorecard and all but one on the other two. By the time they count all the pay-per-view receipts he’ll probably head home at least $15 million richer, and he didn’t have to put up with Mayweather’s antics to make another huge payday. The fight that never was may still happen, perhaps in November, perhaps at Cowboys Stadium. Pacquiao made it clear he still wants it, and both his trainer and promoter seem to want it even more badly than the fighter himself. “We will crush him,” trainer Freddie Roach said. It wasn’t an idle boast, and it wasn’t a way to hype the fight because it doesn’t need hyping. Before it fell apart over Mayweather’s insistence on blood testing, the bout was supposed to have taken place Saturday night and likely would have been the richest ever in boxing.But Mayweather must first now get past a fight of his own, a May 1 bout against Shane Mosley that may be his toughest yet. And promoter Bob Arum made it clear that there will be no negotiations this time around about any sort of blood testing no matter how much Mayweather might try to raise the point. “That was a stupid mistake I made by playing Neville Chamberlain and negotiating this issue,” Arum said, drawing an analogy that only a boxing promoter could. “You don’t negotiate. You don’t appease. Chamberlain negotiated with Hitler on Munich and look what happened.”History lesson aside, there clearly isn’t any need for Pacquiao’s camp to bend on the issue. Any thought that Mayweather diminished his popularity when he insinuated Pacquiao must be juiced to have won titles from 112 to 147 pounds evaporated when they opened the doors at Cowboys Stadium and throngs of people poured in hours early for the party. And a party was what it was, despite Clottey’s attempt to preserve his boxing future by spending long stretches of time in the ring holding his gloves in a peek-a-boo style to avoid getting hit. Pacquiao did the best he could to force the issue, throwing punch after punch after punch—more than 1,200 in all — but if a fighter goes into the ring just to survive the odds are good he will do just that. Someone who managed to get a microphone at the postfight press conference congratulated Clottey for making it through 12 rounds, and asked him what his secret for success was.“Manny Pacquiao is beating everybody,” Clottey said. “He’s knocking them out. I have to do what I can and I think I did my best.” Arum didn’t seem to mind that he had just paid someone $2 million to go into a shell. This was a party, after all, and the fight was secondary. `What was he supposed to do?” Arum said. “If he played offense he’d get knocked out.”This was a freebie for Pacquiao, and one he had probably earned. It’s hard to blame him for having an opponent just trying to stay upright, not after what he did to Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in his previous three fights. This, apparently, is what it has come to with Pacman. No longer just content to beat fighters he’s now a 145 3/4 pounds of sheer intimidation, kind of a junior Mike Tyson who takes on his business with a smile instead of a scowl. He’s so good that a very good and veteran practicer of the sweet science decided that it was better to survive intact than go down in a blaze of glory. So good that there wouldn’t be any question about his place on boxing’s hierarchy if there wasn’t this annoyance named Floyd Mayweather. So good that the only worry in his camp is that he will actually win a seat in congress back home and not fight anymore. “He’s probably going to win the election,” Arum said. “But that’s all right because if their congress is anything like ours, they don’t do anything anyway.” The glow of his latest win had even his tough guy trainer speaking fondly about the fighter he has helped transform a tough sport. “I’m just happy to be a part of Manny Pacquiao’s life,” Roach said. He’s not alone. Just ask the guy lucky enough to be chosen to fluff his rice. Tim Dahlberg is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at tdahlberg(at)ap.org Maybe ... Maybe. . .we were supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.*Maybe . . . when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but, often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don’t even see the new one which has been opened for us.*Maybe . . . it is true that we don’t know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don’t know what we have been missing until it arrives.*Maybe . . . the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.*Maybe . . . the brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; after all, you can’t go on successfully in life until you let go of your past mistakes, failures and heartaches.*Maybe . . . you should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of, and want to do.*Maybe . . . there are moments in life when you miss someone — a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child — so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real, so that once they are around you appreciate them more.*Maybe . . . the best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you’ve ever had.*Maybe . . you should always try to put yourself in others’ shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.Maybe . . you should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.*Maybe . . . giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don’t expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn’t, be content that it grew in yours.*Maybe . . . happiness waits for all those who cry, all those who hurt, all those who have searched, and all those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of all the people who have touched their lives.*Maybe . . . you shouldn’t go for looks; they can deceive; don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.*Maybe . . you should hope for enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy.*Maybe . . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.*Maybe . . . you could send this message to those people who mean something to you, to those who have touched your life, to those who can and do make you smile when you really need it, to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down, and to all those whom you want to know that you appreciate them and their friendship.And if you don’t, don’t worry; nothing bad will happen to you.© Author Unknown

Homesickness

Manila Bulletin - Saturday, August 22 (Shared by Pinky Mendoza)
Filipinos are everywhere. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are treading on as much earth as they can in their professional pursuits abroad. Take our family for instance. Among its six members, four have been OFWs. A common concern among OFWs is homesickness but there are ways to address it. A person's emotional state affects his/her performance at work. So if you wish to keep your job for your family's sake and your sanity for everyone's sake, try these recipes for survival.

Network. Meet fellow OFWs, especially those who have arrived there long before you did. They are a good source of tips and information since they are familiar with the company, the customs, the dos and the don'ts, the directions, the bargain stores and practically everything that you'll be going through as they were once a newbie like you. They're going to be your transition guides. They could cushion you from culture shock. Stay close to these people and you'd feel right at home with their adobo and karaoke. Then again, don't limit your network to your countrymen. Meet other expatriates and locals. You will improve your knowledge of and sensitivity to other cultures and have a broader view of the world when you meet people from different backgrounds and races.

Entertain Yourself. Start a hobby or continue your hobby. Being in a different place doesn't mean you're a different person. In my case, I checked with our Human Resources for existing clubs in the company and found one that combined my passion for writing speeches and public speaking. I attended a club meeting of Toastmasters International and met people who were fueled by the same passions. There were other clubs within the company catering to the different interests of employees. There was a basketball team and a badminton team. You could join an existing club or start and lead a new group. It's an excellent way to meet new friends, socialize, hone your leadership skills and make use of your free time.

Work it! Some companies have a gym within the premises of their corporate offices to promote and maintain their workforce's physical well-being. They invest on it knowing that they will reap more rewards with less sick leaves and higher productivity. I used to visit our company's gym after work and saved money from paying membership fees outside. You are bound to meet fellow expatriates who are too busy working and earning that they neglect exercise. That's not a very smart way to work because if they get sick for neglecting their health, then they will waste all that hard-earned money regaining their lost health. Learn from this irony of life and make time for exercise.

Free Your Mind and the Rest Will Follow. Do yoga, meditation, brisk walk or jog. They are great activities to clear your mind of all the clutter at the end of the day. You will face the next day's challenges with renewed spirit and recharged energy. Plus, you are less likely to experience burnout. It was a big help that in the place where I worked, gridlock and pollution were simply unheard of. Cyberjaya is a self-contained intelligent city, considered to be the Silicon Valley of Malaysia. There are 28 multinational companies in the city. Yet, it is a place where man, nature and technology co-exist in harmony. If your profession is the type that's needed in several countries or cities, then choose well. Don't just consider the pay, but also the company and the location. They should reflect your values and priorities.

Constant Communication. There are so many ways to keep in touch with the family and friends you've left behind. Social networking sites like facebook have already replaced emails. You can make free calls through skype and instant messaging. Use the webcam so you can talk to each other face to face. Keep them updated by sharing your photos and informing them "what you're doing" in twitter.

Learn Language Lessons. Contact the Consulate as this may be offered for free. You can also do language exchange program with a local. Filipinos are well-versed in the English language. Proof to that, Filipinos teach English to native Americans in a growing number of American states. You can teach English in exchange for learning their language. When you learn their native language, your employer will perceive it well as a sign of interest to know their culture and to work there on a long-term basis. In Europe, not a lot of people speak English so it would work to your advantage if you speak any of the European languages. It will help you get around with ease. You are also less likely to feel alone in a strange place filled with strangers speaking a strange language.

Learn and Earn. Get yourself and your mind busy and you're bound to entertain less of those sad thoughts and useless worries. Make yourself productive by learning other things apart from language that will boost your personal and professional growth. My staff Ben learned yoga while in Malaysia. He compared the rates of learning it there versus in Manila and saved big time! His instructors were also either from China or India. He was on his way to becoming a certified yoga instructor. He planned to set up yoga classes when he gets back. I've met Filipino teachers in the US who learned how to drive since cars are a necessity there. On their way to work, they took in some Filipinos as passengers so they saved on gas and even earned money. Those who are already well adjusted to their work and life abroad, either engage in a legitimate business like selling mobile cards or do odd jobs and freelance work. Learning something doesn't always equate to earning. My flatmate taught me how to cook, which I didn't know before I left. My mistake. Working abroad taught me how to live independently.

Your room is not your cell. Don't Lock Yourself Up. Go out and explore. In fact, I wouldn't suggest buying unnecessary or too sophisticated audio video equipments and gadgets for yourself and your temporary shelter because not only does technology change in a flash, they may also be expensive to ship back home when your contract ends. Your "virtual" world may also stop you from enjoying the "real" world. Get to know your neighborhood. Who knows, your next-door neighbor might be a fellow Filipino. The residents at Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, where I stayed, would hardly hang outside. The mostly expatriate residents valued their privacy. Little did I know that the guy next door was not just a Filipino but was in fact an officemate. I learned about it only during our lunch at the office.

Weekend Getaway. What's good about most OFWs is their employer already paid for the airfare so that means all they need to worry about is the bus fare. If you could invite fellow expatriates or officemates, then you could even get discounts. The more, the merrier still applies here. Travel around the country or among neighboring countries. During the time of my Dad, the OFWs were mostly married men and women who wanted to send remittance and support their families. Nowadays, the OFWs are getting younger and a lot are still single. While the salary remains to be a big motivation because of the salary difference in the Philippines and abroad, some OFWs are not breadwinners. They end up enjoying their stay because they get to combine work and travel.

Pay It Forward. Once you've settled in your new life and work, extend help to other Filipinos planning to move or work there and to those who have just arrived. Pay it forward by sharing your experiences and pieces of valuable information, which will not just help them transition to their new lives but also cope with homesickness. What can make your life more meaningful there is not what you receive but what you give or give back.

There are no signs of labor demand for Filipinos slowing down. But even if there are many opportunities abroad, being an OFW is not for everyone. Before you hand over your resume to a placement agency, consider what you're getting into and condition your mind. If you do get there - after the rigorous selection process, the often hefty placement fees, the tedious acquisition of documents - make a promise to yourself to enjoy what you've been praying and hoping for.

Katherine Hepburn in Love Affair said, "The trick in life isn't getting what you want, my dear, it's wanting it after you get it."
              **
Mother’s Day is peace day


Did you know that Mother’s Day originated as a peace day? In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, an American social activist and poet, wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation that was a passionate plea for peace. She published it after witnessing the devastation of the American Civil War and to protest the Franco-Prussian War. During the Civil War, Howe cared for soldiers’ grieving widows and orphaned children.

Her proclamation begins, "Arise, then, women of this day!" Howe hoped to mobilize women to renounce war and work together for non-violent conflict resolution. She appealed for disarmament and wrote:
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel …

To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Howe’s Mother’s Day proclamation still resonates.
   ......................................

      Here is the original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870,
         followed by a bit of history (or should I say "herstory"):

       Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of
peace.

Julia Ward Howe
Boston 1870

FOR LOVE OF MONEY

For love of money, so much is done in this world, both good and bad.

For love of money people kill each other, love each other, help each other, hate each other, work with each other, leave each other and just about anything else you can think off.

For the love of money countries go to war and families that grew together fight and hate each other.

But money really does not care about you in any way shape or form. It doesn’t care if you are tall, thin, Chinese, jealous, happy, sad, successful or anything else.

Money is just paper and is an inert object and actually has no value other than the value that you give it and it has no feelings about what it is.

It has no power by itself and can do nothing unless you allow it to do something.

For love of money we spend virtually all our lives chasing it and loving it and yet it doesn’t care about us.

It will leave you in an instant and go to someone else like a broken lover without any regret or remorse and has no bad feeling for you or good feeling for the person it is going to.

It doesn’t care if you give it away, swap it for something else, leave it in a bank or under the bed, it will just be there waiting.

Money can be acquired by anyone no matter what background, education, social class or indeed any other physical, spiritual, emotion quality you care to
name.

Difference between http & https.
                                             A MUST read!!!
                                                                   (Thanks to Obet Torres for sharing this)


FIRST, MANY PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF:
The main difference between http:// and https:// <HTTPS:///> is.
It's all about keeping you secure

HTTP stands for HyperText Transport Protocol, which is just a fancy way of saying it's a protocol (a language, in a manner of speaking) for information to be passed back and forth between web servers and clients.

The important thing is the letter S which makes the difference between HTTP and HTTPS.

The S (big surprise) stands for "Secure".If you visit a website or webpage, and look at the address in the web browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://.

This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language.

In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website.

If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.

This is why you never ever enteryour credit card number in an http website!

But, if the web address begins with https:// <HTTPS:///>, that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on.

You understand why this is so important, right?

If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to seeif the web address begins with https:// <HTTPS:///> .

If it doesn't, there's no wayyou're going to enter sensitive information like a credit card number.

C

A SOLITARY LIFE

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace.. This Man never went to colleg
e or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held public office And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.

While He was still a young man, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His "friends" ran away.. He was tuned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth- the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

But three days later this Man arose from the dead - living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior Whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of e

very week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and His resurrection. . His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death. This one Man's life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in Honor of this One Who gave His life for us.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever existed, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.

Christmas in the Philippines

(Thanks to Mando Lacar for sharing this very timely article)

SIMBANG GABI is one of the longest and most popular among the Filipino traditions in the country. It is when Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi mass.
Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother. The novena begins December 16 as early as 4 in the morning and culminates with the "Misa de Gallo" on Christmas Eve to welcome the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. In some churches, the panuluyan is reenacted showing the effort of Joseph and Mary to find a suitable birthplace.

ORIGIN
Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico when, in 1587, the Pope granted the petition of Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, to hold Christmas mass outdoors because the Church could not accommodate the huge number of people attending the evening mass.

During the old times, the pre-dawn mass is announced by the ringing of the church bells. In some rural areas, an hour before the start of Simbang Gabi, a brass band plays Christmas music all over the town. It is also believed that parish priests would go far knocking on doors to wake and gather the faithful to attend the misa de gallo. Farmers as well as fishermen wake up early to hear the Gospel before going to their work and ask for the grace of good harvest.

SIMBANG GABI NOW AND THEN
The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi although it is celebrated in new ways. Still, the tradition of Simbang Gabi continues. Part of it are the colorful lights and lanterns that fill every streets. Beautiful parols are hung in every window. Songs of the season are played everywhere to warm the hearts. Families, friends and even individuals find its way going to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena. Shortly after the misa de gallo, families gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena and feasted on various delicacies like queso de bola, bibingka, puto bungbong, or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

SIGNIFICANCE
Simbang Gabi has become one of the most popular traditions in the country. But it is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so.
It is a significant moment not only because it strengthens relationships among family members but also because it is the time where our faith is intensified. This is the time where we mostly feel the presence of the Lord because it is the spiritual preparation for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.
It does not matter if one has the stamina to complete the novena or not, what really matters is what is inside the heart. The blessing does not depend on the number of mass attended, but what is important is the disposition of the person who receives the Lord’s blessing.

Misa de Gallo (Dec. 16-24)
Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. Known as the Misa de Gallo (Rooster's
Mass) in the traditional Spanish, and these masses are also more popularly known in Filipino as Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass". The Simbang Gabi is the most important Filipino Christmas tradition.

These nine dawn Masses are also considered as a Novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithfuls. This refers to the Roman Catholic and Aglipayan practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces.

In some parishes, the Simbang gabi begins as early as four in the morning. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer's devotion to his faith and heighten anticipation for the Nativity of the Lord. In traditional Filipino belief, however, completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee's special wish or favor.

After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmas delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church, where they are sold. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top and under), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and coconut shavings as condiments), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa).

==

Christmas Eve
For Filipinos, Christmas Eve on ("Disperas ng Pasko") December 24 is the much-anticipated Noche Buena -- the traditional Christmas Eve feast after the midnight mass. Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare, which includes: queso de bola (Span. literally "ball of cheese"; edam cheese), "Tsokolate" (hot chocolate drink) and hamon (Christmas ham), and some would open presents at this time.

In different provinces and schools throughout the Philippines , Catholic devotees also reenact the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary in search of lodging for the soon-to-be born Jesus Christ. This is the traditional Panunuluyan, also called Pananawagan and Pananapatan.

This street pageant is performed after dark on Christmas Eve, with the actors portraying Joseph and Mary going to pre-designated houses. They chant wika wika bang bang, a traditional folksong that is meant to wake up the owner of the house as the actors ask for lodging. But the couple (actors) are turned away by the owners, also through a song. Finally, Joseph and Mary make their way to the parish church where a simulated manger has been set up. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at midnight with the Misa de Gallo, together with hallelujahs and Christmas carols.
Everybody celebrates this tradition happily yet solemnly.

Christmas Day
Christmas Day in The Philippines is primarily a family affair. Prior to the ticking of 12 midnight on 25 December, Misa de Aguinaldo is being celebrated. It is usually attended by the whole family. Misa de Aguinaldo is the Holy Mass celebrated to signify the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic Church and Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) in the Philippines ' main means of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth.

Misa de Aguinaldo is also celebrated at dawn or in the morning immediately after sunrise before 10 AM, this schedule is preferred by Filipinos who choose to celebrate Christmas Eve with a night-long celebration of Noche Buena.

Preferably in the morning, Filipino families visit members of the extended family, notably the elders in order to pay their respect. This custom has been an age-old tradition in the Philippines called Pagmamano, this is done by touching one's forehead to the elder's hand saying Mano Po. The elder then blesses the person who paid respect. Aguinaldo or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after the Pagmamano, most usually to younger children.

A Christmas Lunch usually follows after the Pagmamano.
The lunch is heavily dependent upon the finances of the family. Rich families tend to prepare grand and glorious feasts that consist of Jamon de Bola, Queso de Bola, Lechon and other Filipino delicacies. Some poor families choose to cook simple meals, nevertheless still special. When the family is settled after the lunch, the exchange of gifts is usually done. Godparents are expected to give gifts or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.

When nightime falls, members of the family usually take part in family talks while listening to favorite Christmas carols. Some may opt to have a glorious Christmas feast for dinner.

"

ALIN BA ANG TOTOO?
ni noli o. caña

ANG NAWAWALANG BIGAS

            Sa ating bansa sa kasalukuyang panahon, kulang ang butil ng bigas sa ating populasyon upang makakain ng wasto at mabusog. Subalit nasaan ba ang mga bigas na hinahangad ng ating mamamayan?

            Sang-ayon sa pamahalaan, sapat ang imbak na bigas sa ating mga bodega upang makaraos sa tatlong beses na pagkain ng kanin ang buong pamayanan. Nang dumaang anihan, namili sila upang lalong madagdagan ang nasa imbakan. Upang lubos na mawala ang agam-agam, nag-angkat pa ng karagdagang tone-tonelada ng bigas sa ibang bansa lalung-lalo na sa mga suking binibilhan ng nagdaang mga panahon. Naglaan ng milyun-milyong pondo upang mamili at makatulong sa pagkakaroon ng mga makabago at mahimalang paraan sa pagsasaka sa ating mga magsasaka.

            Kaalinsabay naman nito ang pagpila ng mamamayan upang makabili ng murang bigas sa ahensiyang nangangasiwa ng butil ng bigas. Sa ibang panig ng ating bansa, may mga pangyayaring umaabot sa halos kalahating araw upang makabili lamang ng ilang kilo ng bigas. Ang mga mayayaman ang maaaring sapat at hindi nakakaranas ng hirap sa pagkuha ng bigas. Saku-sako sila kung bumili at mag-imbak sa kanilang mga lalagyan .

            Ang mga mangangalakal naman ay walang masabi - maliban sa galit na panghimasukan ang imbak nilang bigas sa kanilang mga bodega at pagbintangang nagsasabotahe ng ekonomiya ng bansa dahil sa illegal na pag-iimbak ng bigas. Hindi nila masabi kung sapat o kulang ang ating bigas. Nariyan ang bigas, bastat may pera. Sagana sa pamilihan, sagad lamang ang presyo.

            Sang-ayon sa ilang mapagmasid, tubong lugaw ang pangangalakal ng bigas. Sapat lamang ang pondo mo, mamili ka ng palay sa panahon pa lamang ng pagtatanim at ayos - pagdating nang anihan, patung-patong na tubo ang babalik sa iyong kaban. Kasama na rin ang mga negosyante ng mga abono, pataba, punla, teknolohiya, mga kagamitang pang-bukid at patubig. Sila ang mga buwitreng sumisila sa ating mga pangkaraniwang magsasaka.

            Ang mga magsasaka ang higit na kawawa. Sila halos ang kinukulang sa biyaya ng lupa upang ilagay sa kanilang hapag-kainan. Nag-aararo pa lamang o nagtatalok ay nangungutang na ng pagkain. Habang naghihintay ng anihan, ang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ay nanggagaling na sa mga mangangalakal ng bigas, mga neyosyante at kung susuwertehin sa ilang pulitiko ng ating bayan. Pagdating ng anihan, ang presyo ng itinanim na butil at iba-pang pananim ay idinidikta ng mga pinagkakautangan. Ito ang umiikot na buhay ng mga magsasaka. Alam ito ng ating pamahalaan.Sa di magkasyang pamumuhay, paliit na nang paliit ang bilang ng mga magsasaka. Humahanap sila ng ibang mapagkakakitaan sa ibang larangan o panig ng mundo.

            Ang ating lupain ay biniyayaan ng napakagandang kalupaan na angkop sa pagsasaka. Kaakibat pa nito ang katamtamang panahon na akma rin sa malusog na pagtubo ng ating mga halamanan. Subalit sa pagdami ng mga tao sa ating bansa, nilalamong unti-unti ng mga pangangailan ng mga makabagong naninirahan tulad ng kalsada, kabahayan, bayan, lungsod, pabrika, piknikan, naglalakihang gusali, parking, atbp. ang ating mga palayan at halamanan. Ang ilan naming bahagi ng kalupaan ay nagiging tiwangwang… kugonan o damuhan – at hindi nagiging produktibo sa pamayanan. Idagdag pa dito ang mga tiwaling pamamahala sa pamamalakad ng agrayo at malalarawan na ang salamin ng buhay sa pagsasaka.

            Ang mga tao sa pamayanan ay naninirahan sang-ayon sa dogma ng lipunang ginagalawan. Ang wastong pag-uugali ay hinuhubog ng mga magulang sa simula pa lamang ng kamusmusan. Maraming haka-haka na kung ang bawat pilipino lamang ay maalam ng wastong pagsisinop sa pagkain lalung-lao na sa kanin ay hindi tayo kakapusin ng maisusubo. Kung tayo lamang ay mapagkalinga sa mga butil ng palay, bigas, o kanin, ang mga maralitang nasa ibabang tangkay ng lipunan ay mababawasan. Ang disiplina ng lipunan ay hindi pinipili,, ito’y manapa’y ginagawa nang lahat upang maging makabuluhan.

            NASAAN ANG MGA BUTIL NG BIGAS? ……………………….



SAAN PATUTUNGO?

Ni noli o. caña

ANG BUHAY SA SIMULA ……. Kamuwangan
SA PAGLAGAS NG PANAHON……..

Pakikihamok

SAAN……… Tunggalian ng pamumuhay?
                   Pakikidigma sa karupukan?
                   Pagsama sa agos ng lipunan?

ANG PAGGALAW NGA BA AY DAHIL SA PAG-IBIG …….
                   ………SALAPI, KAMUNDUHAN, KARANGYAAN
                   AT KAPANGYARIHAN, KATANYAGAN,
                   KARUNUNGAN, KASAGANAAN?

ANO PA ANG GUSTONG NASAIN?
PAANO ANG KALUNGKUTAN, PAGKABAGOT, PAG-IISA,
                   PAGDARAMDAM, PAGKABIGO, PAGDADALAMHATI?

ANO ANG PAGMAMAHAL, PAG-UNAWA, PAG-ALO, PAGDAMAY,
                   PAGBIBIGAY, PAG-ASAM?

SAAN PATUTUNGO………………………………………

T A G U B I L I N

ni Manuel "Noli" Caña

            SA LAHAT: MARAMING SALAMAT !!!

        Sa mga kabutihang idinulot at mga kanais-nais na karanasang        ibinigay sa akin….

         PAUMANHIN !!!

          Sa mga di magagandang pangyayaring naidulot ko sa tao at mundo….

Ang paninirahan sa daigdig na ito ay isang pakikitalad at pakikipamuhay sa mga tao, hayop at kalikasan. Anumang hakbang ang gawin ay may katumbas na pagbabago sa makakatagpo o masasalubong ng landasing tinatahak. Kaakibat nito ang ilan pang mga masalimuot na hindi maipaliwanag na kaganapan sa takbo ng pag-ikot ng buhay ng bawat nilalang. Sa pagtahak ng landas ng buhay, hindi maiwasan ang pagkakamit ng tagumpay, kaligayahan, karangalan, pag-unlad ng pamumuhay at higit sa lahat – karunungan. Subalit kasabay nito ay mayroon ding kabiguan, pagdadalamhati, pagkalugmok, pighati o di kaya’y pagkalugami at higit - ang pagpanaw.

Sa simula ng pagsilang ay may kasama nang mga biyaya ang natanggap at nakalinga buhat sa mga magulang. Pinayabong pa ito sa bawat araw na dumaraan. Natikman ang aruga at pagmamahal na dulot ng walang katapusang pagsasabog ng sinag ng biyaya mula sa Maykapal. Kasama rin dito ang natural na pagtataglay ng kakayahan upang masalunga ang anumang darating na pakikihamok. Sa yugto ring ito ng buhay natutuhan ang maagang pakikitalamitam sa mga iba’t ibang uri ng pagkataong nakakasalamuha at nakakaugnayan. Utay-utay ring nakakaunawa sa mga paglilimi ng mga katuwiran at paglilikom ng mga karapatdapat na pamantayan sa paglalagom.

Sa kalagitnaan ng landasin ng pakikitalad sa pag-inog ng daigdig, umuusbong ang kakayahang pisikal at natutuhan nang gamitin sa ilang kaparaanan tungo sa nais na patutunguhan. Bagama’t sa kabila ng kahandaang ito, ang mga tumpak na kaisipan ay dahan-dahan lamang umuugma sa pakikipagkapwa. Malayulayong tahakin ng pagpapakadalubhasa ng isipan ang nagagamit upang lubos na makamtan at mahasa sa pagkakaroon ng mga lohikong pangangatuwiran at pagkilala sa kawastuhan. Ang interes sa kabilang kasarian ay nabubuksan at dito rin sa yugtong ito nasusunod ang salin-lahing henerasyon ng mga tao. Ang pagdagdag na kaalaman sa pamilya at lipunan gayundin ng komunidad ay lalong lumalawak at nagbibigay ng gabay sa tamang pakikipagugnayan sa mga uri ng mga gumagalaw sa kalipunan ng mga tao at lahi sa buong bayan at sandaigdigan. Ito ang pinakamabilis na pagdaloy ng buhay, hindi namamalayan ang pagdaan ng oras at panahon. Ang pagkukumahog at pagnanais na umunlad pa ang buhay ang nauunang napagtutuunan ng pansin. Ang nararanasang kasaganaan o pagdadahop ang siyang nagiging pamantayan ng pamumuhay. Nakikintal sa kaisipan ang kaganapan na siyang ginagawang batayan ng pedestal na ipinamamana sa lahi at angkan. Ito ang krusiyal na bahagi ng pakikitalad sapagkat ito ang badya ng kahihinatnan sa darating na panahon. Ang pagpili ng landasin ay nasa sariling pagpapasiya at pag-unawa.

Pagdating ng takpsilim mababanaag na ang matibay na paninindigan at malalim na pag-arok ng bawat suliraning kinakaharap kaalinsabay ang paglikha ng moog ng mga atituntuning gumagabay sa bawat maingat na paghakbang. Ang padalusdalos na pagpapasiya ay napapalitan ng mapanuring pag-aaral ng bawat detalye ng mga datos na nasa mga kamay. Ang mga desisyon ay batay sa mga mapagtimbang na kalakaran ng walang bahid na pagkiling sa di tamang pagbalanse ng pagsusuri. Ang pag-usbong ng tiwaling adhikain ay napipigilan sa damdamin dala ng mga nagdaang karanasan. Subali’t hindi lahat ay natututo, may mga piling indibiduwal na ang karanasan ay nagiging salamin ng pag-iimbot, panlalamang at pagiging tuso sa kahinaan ng iba. Malimit keysa sa hindi, ang mga ito ang nagiging bikig sa lipunan at kinakailangang gabayan sa pamamagitan ng kaparusahan o pagbibigay ng karampatang pagkakataon upang magbago.

Sa paglipas ng panahon, mapapansin na rin ang panghihina ng pisikal na pangangatawan, nagpapahiwatig na rin ang mga pagkawala ng dahan-dahan ng talas ng isipan. Nagiging malilimutin, nawawala ang sarili sa gitna ng mga pag-uusap at nag-aasal ng muling pagbata. Ito na ang panahon ng pagkamatampuhin, maramdamin, mainggitin, at higit sa lahat ang pagiging laging palaawa sa sarili. Ang mga nagdaang kanaranasan sa paninirahan sa sandaigdigan ay magiging dahan-dahang mapapawi sa pahina ng kasaysayan. Sa abo nanggaling – sa abo rin magbabalik.

Maraming-maraming salamat at paumanhin sa inyong lahat.

Imagine a world without Filipinos

(Shared by Dodo Avila - Toronto)

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and retur ning home. He says: "When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite."

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. "There is no comparison between Filipinos and others," he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers - 1,019,577 - outside the Philippines . In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world's seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical trai ning they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized trai ning institutes in the Philippines , including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This trai ning background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines , we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world's total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US , the UK , Saudi Arabia , the United Arab Emirates , Kuwait and Singapore .

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore , said she does not feel homesick abroad because "I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere." Ann thinks that early trai ning allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started lear ning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. "She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather's blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections," she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without lear ning anything except boredom.

The Philippines , which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by lear ning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as plan ning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

Take a 5 min break and ponder on this article :

"Sulat ni Tatay at Nanay sa Atin"

Mahal kong anak,

Sa aking pagtanda, unawain mo sana ako at pagpasensiyahan.

Kapag dala ng kalabuan ng mata ay nakabasag ako ng pinggan o nakatapon ng sabaw sa hapag kainan, huwag mo sana akong kagagalitan. Maramdamin ang isang matanda. Nagse-self-pity ako sa
tuwing sinisigawan mo ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tenga ko at hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, huwag mo naman sana akong sabihan ng "binge!" paki-ulit nalang ang sinabi mo o pakisulat nalang. Pasensya ka na, anak. Matanda na talaga ako.

Kapag mahina na ang tuhod ko, pagtiyagaan mo sana akong tulungang tumayo, katulad ng pag-aalalay ko sa iyo noong nag-aaral ka pa lamang lumakad.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana ako kung ako man ay nagiging makulit at paulit-ulit na parang sirang
plaka. Basta pakinggan mo nalang ako. Huwag mo sana akong Pagtatawanan o pagsasawaang pakinggan.

Natatandaan mo anak noong bata ka pa? kapag gusto mo ng lobo, paulit-ulit mo 'yong sasabihin,
maghapon kang mangungulit hangga't hindi mo nakukuha ang gusto mo.
Pinagtyagaan ko ang kakulitan mo.

Pagpasensyahan mo na rin sana ang aking amoy. Amoy matanda, amoy lupa. Huwag mo sana akong piliting maligo. Mahina na ang katawan ko. Madaling magkasakit kapag nalamigan, huwag mo sana
akong pandirihan.

Natatandaan mo noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kitang habulin Sa ilalim ng kama kapag ayaw mong maligo.

Pagpasensyahan mo sana kung madalas, ako'y masungit, Dala na marahil ito ng katandaan. Pagtanda mo, maiintindihan mo rin.

Kapag may konti kang panahon, magkwentuhan naman tayo, kahit sandali lang. Inip na ako sa bahay, maghapong nag-iisa. Walang kausap.

Alam kong busy ka sa trabaho, subalit nais kong malaman mo na sabik na sabik na akong makakwentuhan ka, kahit alam kong hindi ka interesado sa mga kwento ko.

Natatandaan mo anak, noong bata ka pa? Pinagtyagaan kong pakinggan at intindihin ang pautal-utal mong kwento tungkol sa iyong teddy bear.

At kapag dumating ang sandali na ako'y magkakasakit at maratay sa banig ng karamdaman,
huwag mo sana akong pagsawaang alagaan.

Pagpasensyahan mo na sana kung ako man ay maihi o madumi sa higaan, pagtyagaan mo sana akong alagaan sa mga huling sandali ng aking buhay. Tutal hindi na naman ako magtatagal.

Kapag dumating ang sandali ng aking pagpanaw, hawakan mo sana ang aking kamay at bigyan mo ako ng lakas ng loob na harapin ang kamatayan.

At huwag kang mag-alala, kapag kaharap ko na ang Diyos na lumikha, ibubulong ko sa kanya na pagpalain ka sana ....

Dahil naging mapagmahal ka sa iyong ama't ina...

Written by Rev. Fr. Ariel F. Robles
CWL Spiritual Director
St. Augustine Parish
Baliuag, Bulacan

A Full Night's Sleep? Everyone Needs It

The truism that all adults need at least eight hours of sleep a night for good health should be put to rest by mounting evidence that less may be better, a leading sleep scientist says.

People who sleep about seven hours a night live the longest, three huge studies have found, the newest out in the February issue of the journal SLEEP.

Still, many sleep experts say lots of adults get too little rest, and that can lead to dangerous health problems.

In the latest report from Japanese researchers, 104,010 adults were followed for about 10 years. At the start, the participants answered questionnaires about their sleep patterns, and about their health, mental health and lifestyle habits, which also can affect survival.

After accounting for all of these factors, adults getting an average of seven hours had the lowest death rates. Surprisingly, less sleep, even as little as four hours a night, didn't significantly increase deaths for men and only lowered survival for women if they averaged less than four hours. But adults who slept longer than seven hours, particularly women, were more likely to die during the 10 years.

Two other major published studies and a dozen smaller ones came to similar conclusions, says psychiatrist Daniel Kripke, a sleep researcher at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine.

Doctors shouldn't tell all of their patients to get at least eight hours of sleep, he says in an editorial in the journal.

Hormonal changes triggered by darkness or other unknown biological effects from long sleep could be affecting survival, Kripke says.

But short sleepers may suffer other bad effects. In his brief studies, those sleeping four to 5 hours did poorly on tests that measure memory, clear thinking and the ability to pay attention, ''and they did progressively worse as the week went on,'' says David Dinges of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Adults who slept about seven hours performed best, he says.

Dinges uses monitors in his studies to determine exactly how much people are sleeping; the larger studies rely on personal estimates, and there's evidence these may not be accurate, Dinges says.

Other small studies have found adults who sleep less than six hours may be at higher risk for diabetes and obesity. And sleep deprivation also causes car crashes, Dinges says.

''People should get as many hours sleep as they need to feel rested,'' Kripke says, adding that there's no proof that shortening sleep will lengthen life. Sleep need is partly genetic and may be determined by other factors that also influence life span, he says.

DICTIONARY OF FILIPINO STREET FOOD

Abnoy - unhatched incubated duck egg or bugok which is mixed with flour and water and cooked like pancakes
Adidas - chicken feet, marinated and grilled or cooked adobo style
Arroz caldo - rice porridge or congee cooked with chicken and kasubha; see also Lugaw
Atay - grilled chicken liver
Baga - pig's or cow's lungs grilled or deep-fried and served with barbeque condiments
Balat ng manok - see Chicken skin and Chicharon manok
Balun-balunan - grilled chicken gizzard
Balut - hard-boiled duck egg with fetus
Banana cue - deep-fried saba (banana) covered with caramelized brown sugar
Barbeque - marinated pork or chickenpieces grilled on skewers
Batchoy - miki noodle soup garnished with pork innards (liver, kidney and heart), chicharon (pork skin cracklings), chicken breast, vegetables and topped with a raw egg; origin traced to La Paz, Iloilo
Betamax - curdled chicken or pork blood, cubed and grilled
Bibingka - glutinous rice flour pancakes grilled with charcoal above and below in a special clay pot
Biko (also Bico) - glutinous rice cake with grated coconut topping
Binatog - boiled white corn kernels, sugar, grated coconut and milk
Bopis - minced pig's heart and lungs sauteed with garlic and onion and seasoned with laurel, oregano, bell pepper and vinegar
Botsi - chicken esophagus, deep-fried or grilled
Calamares - deep-fried squid in batter
Calamay (also Kalamay) - glutinous rice cakes; varieties all over the country
Camote cue - deep-fried camote (sweet potato) covered with caramelized brown sugar
Carioca (also Karyoka, Karioka) - deep-fried glutinous rice flour cakes served on skewers
Cheese sticks - deep-fried cheese wrapped in lumpia (spring roll) wrapper
Chicharon baboy - pork skin cracklings, made from pork rind boiled and seasoned, sun-dried and deep-fried
Chicharon bituka - pork or chicken intestine boiled, seasoned and deep-fried
Chicharon bulaklak - pork omentum boiled, seasoned and deep-fried
Chicharon manok - chicken skin cracklings
Chicken balls - balls made with chicken meat, deep fried and served in skewers with a sweet, sour or spicy sauce
Chicken skin - chicken skin battered and deep fried
Cutchinta - see Kutsinta
Day-old chicks - literally day-old chicks deep-fried to a crisp, served with sauce or vinegar
Empanada (Batac) - pork longganiza, egg and grated green papaya in a rice flour shell, deep-fried and served with vinegar
Fishballs - balls made with fish meat, most often from pollock, deep fried and served in skewers with a sweet, sour or spicy sauce
Goto - rice porridge or congee cooked with beef tripe
Halo-halo - translated as "a mix of many things" or "an assortment," it is a dessert topped with shaved ice that may contain sweetened saba (banana), camote, macapuno (young coconut), kaong, nata de coco, pinipig (rice crispies), gulaman (agar), sago (tapioca balls), brown and white beans, garbanzos, ube (purple yam), and leche flan (creme brulee), with milk and sugar; Pampanga has three popular versions in Guagua, Arayat and Angeles which may include pastillas, crushed white beans and corn
Helmet - grilled chicken head
Hepalog (also Toknonong) - hard-boiled duck eggs dipped in orange batter and deep-fried
Isaw - collective term for different types of grilled chicken and pork innards; varieties include isaw manok, isaw baboy, atay, goto, botsi, balun-balunan, and tenga ng baboy
Isaw baboy - grilled or deep-fried pork intestines on a skewer, served with sweet, sour or spicy sauce
Isaw manok (aslo IUD) - grilled or deep-fried chicken intestines on a skewer, served with sweet, sour or spicy sauce; also referred to as IUD because it resembles an intra-uterine device
Iskrambol (also Scrambol) - frostees; shaved ice, diced gulaman, sago and condensed milk
IUD - see Isaw manok
Kakanin - collective term for snacks made with kanin (rice), particularly malagkit (glutinous) rice; varieties include puto, kutsinta, calamay, sapin-sapin, suman, palitaw, biko or sinukmani, and espasol among many others
Kalamay - see Kalamay
Kamote cue - see Camote cue
Kikiam - the special ones are made of ground pork and vegetables wrapped in bean curd sheets, deep-fried and served with sweet, sour or spicy sauce; those in the street are seafood-based, usually made of fish meat and cuttlefish
Kudil - deep-fried pork skin
Kutsinta - steamed bahaw (boiled rice) with lye and brown sugar; has a gelatinous consistency
Kwek kwek - see Quek quek
Lomi - noodle soup made with thick fresh egg noodles or lomi
Longganiza - pork sausage grilled or fried on a skewer
Lugaw - rice porridge or congee; varieties include arroz caldo (with chicken and kasubha) and goto (with beef tripe)
Lumpia - spring rolls; varieties include lumpiang basa; lumpiang hubad - fresh spring rolls wothout the wrapper; lumpiang prito; lumpiang sariwa - fresh srping rolls; lumpiang shanghai; lumpiang ubod; and turon
Mais - boiled sweet corn seasoned with salt, butter or margarine
Mais con yelo - sweet corn, milk and sugar topped with shaved ice
Mami - noodle soup
Manggang hilaw - green mango served with bagoong (shrimp paste)
Mani - peanuts either boiled, roasted or deep-fried and seasoned with garlic and salt
Maruya - banana fritters
Nilupak - mashed kamoteng kahoy (cassava) or kamote (sweet potato) with brown sugar and served with butter or margarine
Palitaw - glutinous rice flour pancakes topped with grated young coconut, sugar and roasted sesame seeds
Panara - deep-fried crab and grated green papaya empanda sold in Pampanga during Christmas season
Pancit - noodles; varieties are batchoy (Iloilo) - see Batchoy; batil patung (Tuguegarao) - local noodles topped with hot dogs, chicharon, ground meat, fried egg, and vegetables; pancit bihon;pancit canton - a kind of pancit guisado flavored with ginger and soy sauce; pancit guisado, pancit habhab (Lucban) - sautéed miki noodles served on and eaten straight from banana leaf sans utensils; pancit lomi - see Lomi; pansit luglog (Pampanga and Tagalog Region) - it has a distinct orange shrimp-achuete sauce and is topped with chicharon, tinapa, wansoy and shrimp; pancit malabon (Malabon) - made with thick rice noodles tossed in shrimp-achuete oil topped with shelled oysters, squid rings, suaje or hipong puti and wansoy; pancit molo (Iloilo) - clear chicken broth with wonton, garlic and crushed chorizo; pancit palabok; pancit puti (Manila); and pancit sotanghon among many others
Pandesal (also Pan de sal) - breakfast roll; rounded bread
Pares - translated as "pair," means the pairing of rice with beef; beef pares is characterized by very tender meat, usually with a lot of litid (ligaments)
Penoy - hard-boiled duck egg without fetus
Proven - hard portion of chicken entrails that is either marinated and grilled, battered and fried or cooked adobo style
Pusit - squid grilled on skewer
Puto - steamed rice cake
Puto bumbong - purple glutinous rice snack cooked in a special steamer
Quikiam - see Kikiam
Quek quek (also Toknanay) - hard boiled chicken eggs dipped in orange batterand deep-fried; also used for quail eggs but some say the correct term for the quail egg version is tokneneng; the balut version is sometimes referred to as hepalog
Sapin-sapin - layered glutinous rice and coconut milk cake usually topped with grated coconut and latik (residue from coconut oil extraction); different flavor per layer such as ube (purple yam), macapuno (young coconut), kutsinta and langka (jackfruit)
Scrambol - see Iskrambol
Sinukmani - see Biko
Siomai - steamed pork dumplings
Siopao - steamed pork buns
Sisig - roasted pig's head, chicken liver, onions and chili, chopped and flavored with calamansi served on a hot metal plate
Sorbetes (also Dirty ice cream) - street ice cream made with local fruits and ingredients; common flavors include ube (purple yam), mango, avocado, queso (cheese), chocolate, langka (jackfruit), buko or macapuno (coconut); strawberry is common in Baguio City
Squid balls - balls made with squid or cuttlefish meat, deep fried and served in skewers with a sweet, sour or spicy sauce
Suman - glutinous rice snack steamed in banana or coconut leaves; varieties include binagol (Leyte) made with glutinous rice, gabi (taro), coconut milk and chocolate; budbod sa kabog (Tanjay, Negros Oriental) which uses millet instead of glutinous rice; Taho - bean curd snack topped with arnibal (liquefied raw sugar similar to molasses) and sago (tapioca balls)
Tenga ng baboy (also Walkman) - marinated pig's ears grilled on skewers; see also Kudil
Toknanay - see Quek quek
Tokneneng - hard boiled quail eggs dipped in orange batterand deep-fried; also called kwek kwek by others
Toknonong - see Hepalog
Tupig (also Itemtem) - glutinous rice, grated mature coconut, coconut milk and molasses rolled in banana leaves and grilled; varieties in Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte (Batac) and Isabela
Turon - saba (banana) with with sugar and sometimes langka (jackfruit) wrapped in lumpia (spring roll) wrapper and deep-fried
Walkman - see Tenga ng Baboy

Note: From the province of Quezon, it's very clear that Pancit Habhab is a street food. We also have Panadita. these are small empanada shaped pie but with sweet camote filling. Our Maruya is ground rice galapong mixed with shredded young coconut meat, sugar, baking powder and cooked in pans like hotcakes. Parirutong, viloet rice cooked the same way as maruya. The versatile saba comes to life in Quezon towns as "binanging saging" (inihaw) in barbecue sticks every day in front of churches and outside schools.

oor.

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This one naman from the Philippines, hindi talaga kasali. Pero panalo ito sa katipiran. No fuel except damo (not marijuana) pakain sa kalabaw. No pollution.

The unique history of the Barong Tagalog: a symbol of colonial resistance

barong origin During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines (over 300 years from 1561-1889) the barong tagalog was required by the Spanish government for Filipinos (indios) to be worn at most times to show the difference between the rich and the poor. the poor who serve the rich must always be in uniform.

Take their chauffeurs, maids, and employees as examples. They are in uniform to immediately distinguish them from the employers. When the Spaniards colonized the Filipinos, they had to make it abundantly clear who the boss was through the imposition of a dress code. Men were not allowed to tuck their shirttails in. That was the mark of his inferior status.

Second, the cloth material should be transparent so that he could not conceal any weapon that could be used against the masters. Third, as a precaution on thievery, pockets are not allowed on the shirt.

By the turn of the century a new middle class began to emerge among the Filipinos. These were known as the principalia. They have mastered Spanish laws and were able to obtain title to lands. They became successful in business and agriculture and sent their sons to be educated abroad. They were privileged to build their houses in the poblacion around the plaza near the seats of power.

Only a member of the principalia could be addressed by the title DON, and only they were allowed to vote. They had all the trappings of power and status, but for one undeniable fact: they still had to wear their shirttails out, if only to remind them that they were still Indios.

What the Spanish authorities did not smother out was the Filipino’s will power and dermination to psychologically conquer their colonial masters, through improvisation and reinterpretation. The Filipino’s stylistic bongga (flashy dresser) was a reaction against the overt discrimination and insensitive oppression of the Spaniards.

barongdetail For example, Filipinos were forbidden to use imported silk and fabrics for their Barong, so they ingeniously used pineapple leaves to weave the pinya jusi cloth of the barong, turning the outfit into such delicate material, of luminous silky rich mixture much finer than silk. And to add insult to injury, they hand- embroidered the front with such exquisite abandon: Calado and hand- work all over.

Palgrave, the ethnographer noted, “The capitan’s shirt was the native barong, of fine and delicate fiber, embroidered and frilled; it was light and cool and not tucked in the trousers”. (Corpuz, 74)

The Barong Tagalog gained its power, prestige, and status when President Quezon, the first Filipino president, declared it the National dress. The status of the lowly inferior Barong thus became another symbol of Filipinos’ resistance to colonization.

After World War II, Philippine presidents began wearing the Barong Tagalog at their installation into office and on every formal state occasion. In contemporary times the Barong Tagalog is the power dress. As an abogado de campanilla, you cannot afford not to wear the Barong Tagalog when arguing a case in Philippine courts.

Today, every visitor and foreign dignitary invited to a Malacanang Palace state function must, by necessity, and dictated by protocol, be dressed to the nines in a Barong Tagalog. The invitations specifically say come in “Barong” instead of the traditional “Coat and Tie”. Thus, every one invited to dinner at the Presidential Palace and in many
Filipino homes will unknowingly and unwittingly have to experience directly, what it feels to have to wear his shirttails out, to suffer the indignity of having the material of his barong transparent so that he can not conceal any weapon; and horrors, to be accused directly of incipient thievery by having no pockets in his barong to put the silver. So, when El Señor Spanish Ambassador is invited to a state dinner, you can say, “Ah, what sweet revenge!” (buti nga!!! )

Key to longer life: 'Don't Worry Be Happy' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjnvSQuv-H4

MyHomeTown

CALAUAG

Radio Philippines

FEATURE Articles

How Binay became the surprise of the 2010 elections

Pacquiao marches on as true star of boxing

Maybe ...

Many would agree that time is the most valuable thing on earth. You could have delicious foods, designer clothing, fabulous homes and cars and even have all you want, but if you do not have time – you have nothing.

Time could also be our greatest lost. When we waste our time, we also let go of the opportunities that could give us the things we want in life. When we lost our time, it’s gone forever. You can never take it back.

And sadly, the most squandered thing on earth is time.

Below is an article circulating in the internet.

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with P86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every centavos, of course!

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".

You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

Lighter side of politics

How politicians can become Youtube sensations

What I miss about the Philippines—and not

oor.

Hanggang dito na lang ang mga tsekot

This one naman from the Philippines, hindi talaga kasali. Pero panalo ito sa katipiran. No fuel except damo (not marijuana) pakain sa kalabaw. No pollution.

The unique history of the Barong Tagalog: a symbol of colonial resistance

Aspiring centenarians may want to take a look at their attitude, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

A person's outlook on life may not only improve longevity but quality of life, according to researchers. Optimists are said to experience a higher level of both physical and mental functioning than their pessimist counterparts.

Further, optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by a full 50 per cent compared to those who were more pessimistic.

"The wellness of being is not just physical, but attitudinal," said Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, principal author of the study. "How you perceive what goes on around you and how you interpret it may have an impact on your longevity, and it could affect the quality of your later years."

Ideas about the associations of personality and health are not new, but have their roots in the bodily humors of ancient Greece.

"Yet another possibility could be more directly biological, like changes in the immune system," he adds.

Researchers found that pessimists scored below the national average on physical functioning, bodily pain, perception of general health, vitality, mental health, and social functioning.

Besides looking at the world through rosier-colored glasses, living a long and healthy life may also mean paying attention to friends and family.

Here are other steps you can take to live longer:

2. Stick to a low-calorie diet. A recent study by the National Institute on Aging found that a calorie-restricted diet led to decreased insulin levels and body temperature, both considered signs of longevity. A diet low in calories but high in nutrients also led to a drop in DNA damage.

MyHomeTown

CALAUAG

Radio Philippines

FEATURE Articles

How Binay became the surprise of the 2010 elections

Pacquiao marches on as true star of boxing

Maybe ...

Many would agree that time is the most valuable thing on earth. You could have delicious foods, designer clothing, fabulous homes and cars and even have all you want, but if you do not have time – you have nothing.

Time could also be our greatest lost. When we waste our time, we also let go of the opportunities that could give us the things we want in life. When we lost our time, it’s gone forever. You can never take it back.

And sadly, the most squandered thing on earth is time.

Below is an article circulating in the internet.

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with P86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every centavos, of course!

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the "tomorrow".

You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

Lighter side of politics

How politicians can become Youtube sensations

What I miss about the Philippines—and not

oor. Hanggang dito na lang ang mga tsekotThis one naman from the Philippines, hindi talaga kasali. Pero panalo ito sa katipiran. No fuel except damo (not marijuana) pakain sa kalabaw. No pollution.

The unique history of the Barong Tagalog: a symbol of colonial resistance

Aspiring centenarians may want to take a look at their attitude, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

A person's outlook on life may not only improve longevity but quality of life, according to researchers. Optimists are said to experience a higher level of both physical and mental functioning than their pessimist counterparts.

Further, optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by a full 50 per cent compared to those who were more pessimistic.

"The wellness of being is not just physical, but attitudinal," said Dr. Toshihiko Maruta, principal author of the study. "How you perceive what goes on around you and how you interpret it may have an impact on your longevity, and it could affect the quality of your later years."

Ideas about the associations of personality and health are not new, but have their roots in the bodily humors of ancient Greece.

"Yet another possibility could be more directly biological, like changes in the immune system," he adds.

Researchers found that pessimists scored below the national average on physical functioning, bodily pain, perception of general health, vitality, mental health, and social functioning.

Besides looking at the world through rosier-colored glasses, living a long and healthy life may also mean paying attention to friends and family.

Here are other steps you can take to live longer:

2. Stick to a low-calorie diet. A recent study by the National Institute on Aging found that a calorie-restricted diet led to decreased insulin levels and body temperature, both considered signs of longevity. A diet low in calories but high in nutrients also led to a drop in DNA damage.

oor.

Hanggang dito na lang ang mga tsekot

This one naman from the Philippines, hindi talaga kasali. Pero panalo ito sa katipiran. No fuel except damo (not marijuana) pakain sa kalabaw. No pollution.