Living in the City

I am back . And I thank God! There are so many things I would like to post about. Unable to blog for more than a month, eagerly gives me the momentum to lividly talk about the lessons I learned from moving our home. But, perhaps, I'd like to reserve that for the coming days since I would like to stay in the path of positivity. And so, I am going to just say that I heard: our City's former mayor, Bayani Fernando plans to run for Philippine President. Hep Hep Hooray! Yes! Yes, And Yes! I shall sign up to become one of BF's volunteers if indeed he makes his crucial and final decision to try his luck in the 2010 Philippine Presidential elections. Cheers!

Have you seen the latest video recording gadget? It is called the Flip. Yes, I am flipping over it. Flip Mino is touted to be "the smallest, sleekest camcorder. Mino combines remarkable video quality and pocket-sized design so you can tell your stories wherever you go." The thing is this cool gadget is so simple even a 10 year old can use it. Mino promises fun never experienced before from a video gadget through the following features: * Sleek, pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording * Built- in flash memory holds up to 60 minutes of high-quality video * Rechargeable lithium ion battery power – charges by connecting to your USB port or using the op tional Flip Video Power Adapter (sold separately). 4+ hours of recording per charge. * Start recording within 3 seconds of power-up * Advanced playback features including pause and fast forward/rewind * "Child Safe" mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips * Fast lens for gre...

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the world number two, beat Swiss Roger Federer in five sets today. Federer, the official number one lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10) and 9-7. Nadal won the Wimbledon tennis Open, the third Grand Slam of the season. It was also the longest final in history (4 hours and 50 minutes) at the All England. The 22-year-old Mallorcan, Multipletime champion of Roland Garros, became the first tennis player to achieve the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double since Bjorn Borg in 1980. In addition he dethroned Federer, who had won the last five times and was unbeaten on grass since 2002, with 65 consecutive victories. Nadal is the first Spaniard to win at Wimbledon in the Open era (1968) and second in the history of the tournament since Manuel Santana in 1966. "It's a dream to win here," said Nadal thrilled at the end of the meeting. Immediately afterwards, he thanked the Prince of Asturias for witnessing the decisive clash. He also had praise for Federer, his riva...

Communities are of varied temperaments much like the people who inhabit them. Where we are right now, I must admit, I am not too happy. No offense meant to the patron saint of the place, people here seem not to care for each other. Absolutely, lacking is the warmth, that most villages like this are expected to exude. A lone neighbor however, seems to be too friendly for comfort. When we just moved here, and those were the last quarter of that year, a couple of lay people made their best effort to invite us for church activities. Unfortunately, the timing was a little off. Almost six years later, this year, I kind of regret not having shared and welcomed that invitation. Or do I? Because I found out that the reason why there seems to be no fun at all among neighbors, is the fact that, there are three home owners associations around --- and they are all fighting with each other. Each to his own :-( Anyway, when days seem lonely and whenever I find myself alone, I sit by my fa...

From white boxing pants that turned slowly to crimson, Diaz looked almost like he didn't know what hit him. He is the beaten man and Manny Pacquiao reigned supreme. I am not much of a boxing fan. I find it too gruesome, violent and sadistic. Imagine having fun watching a person get hurt. And Diaz got hurt . Really bad. I salute Manny Pacquiao for the kind but unlikely gesture of wanting to bring Diaz up when the former 'signalled for help' while he was down on the floor. His magnanimity in defeat is further proven when news reports indicated, that during the few moments before the fight ended, he was already trying to tell the referee, that Diaz might not be able to handle it any longer. I am not sure of the actual words spoken and this is pure speculation on my part, but I believe that at one point he slowed down to soften the blows directed at his opponent. For this instinctive gestures alone, I salute Manny Pacquiao. An illuminating fighter, a real champion , a t...

Life is never easy in the city. The rising cost of living due to the escalating price of oil is making everybody feel hell is right here, now on earth. Hell it is, if we live without the usual utilities. How do I blog without the laptop or the desktops? How do I cook our favorite dishes? How do I get to watch my favorite celebrity chefs and celebrity travelers on TV? Oooohhh. That would be oh so not fun. ( Spoken like a true blue Gossip Girl fan) :-) I am thinking silly. Life is more than all these things combined, right. Oh yeah? Wrong! So when life wears me down, I look outside my side of the bedroom window and this is what I see. Having to gaze at all these inanimate and seemingly cold rooftops, electrical wirings, and lording it over them makes me feel bigger than how I feel at that precise moment. I grow, believe you me, relaxed somehow, in complete control. I realize that city living has taught me to stare at rooftops, to while away th...

My financial life is marked with ups and downs. Early on, while business was very good, I had been privileged to smell the roses, so to speak. Yes, but as expected, nothing lasts forever. The 'wild abandon' years went by, so fast, the consequential thorns made my hands bleed. So how do you deal with the prospect of a gloomy and financially cash-strapped retirement? I hate to speculate, but this early, I could already smell the loneliness enveloping the air. It would be in appropriate for me to talk about the details. Suffice it to say, that money is not everything, yes, but it sure is wise to save up some. For the rainy days, to have something when you get sick and perhaps, if it wouldn't be much to ask, to enjoy retireme nt . I say, while there is time, study your options. Seek trustworthy assistance. Plan your financial future, not tomorrow, not next month, not when you receive a substantial amount of income, nor cash but NOW!!!. There is no better gift you can giv...