How will they know that population growth rate is declining?

Dear insansapinas,

photocredit: 
1.The main reason for pushing the Reproductive Health Bill to become a law is to reduce the  population growth rate. 


Sec. 26
The reporting requirements state:

Before the end of April of each year, the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall provide a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of its programs and those of other Government agencies and instrumentalities, civil society and the private sector and recommend appropriate priorities for executive and legislative actions.

HOW WILL THEY KNOW THE EFFECT ON THE POPULATION GROWTH RATE after a Year when census is taken every ten years? The growth rates in the Statistics are merely extrapolations and or are estimations based on the past data. 


2. Infant's deaths fall it is the life expectancy that rises. Does it mean that a bill limiting the life span is also needed to reduce the growth rate of population. Ayaw ng mga gumagawa ng gamot niyan.


3.  NEWS in the US which could happen in the Philippines - Social Security and Medicare -- the country's two biggest entitlement programs -- will run dry earlier than expected, according a report Friday from the programs' trustee. Two reasons were given:


a.  lower birth rates will slow growth in the number of workers paying into the system. 
b.  The program's costs have been outpacing its non-interest income since 2005.


In my opinion, except for the procurement of the contraceptives for give-away to the poor (which again may be overpriced or maybe ghost-purchased) this RH Bill when approved will join the many  laws which often are "bungi." Toothless.


How would you explain that despite the Minimum Wage Law, there 
are still workers who do not receive the required rate?
There are also many employees who do not remit to the Social Security the SSS taxes. All the government does is to declare amnesty to force these employers to cover the employees with SSS and Medicare. May nakulong pa?


 In this RH Bill, the employer id enjoined to provide availability of health facilities for workers.
 Sec. 21.c

Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure that they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that the pregnant employee is employed in their company or organization. 

NORA AUNOR and Her Leading Men-From Forgettable to Classic Movies Part 1

 Dear insansapinas,
May 20 is the birthday of Nora Aunor, the only Superstar of the Philippine Movies. The husband of my friend was die-hard Nora Aunor. He was the BONA personified in the life of the multi-awarded actress. He would skip his classes and hung out with other Noranians and followed their idol wherever she went. His father was forced to send him to the province to keep him away from Nora. He finished College, pursued his masteral and doctorate but he never forgot about Nora. He married my friend and they had two children-one of whom is my goddaughter. This blog is dedicated to him. He passed away due to aneurysm.


In the first few movies of Nora Aunor, she was just a bit player without love partner except being in the company of other dakilang extras in the likes of Boy Alano and German Moreno. These are chopsuey type of movies with a little action, romance, music with the ending in beaches or swimming pools with all the cast dancing as if celebrating a movie that was finished in a matter of days.

1967 Sitting in the Park - Blanca Gomez and other Sampaguita contract stars, Nora Aunor, German Moreno


1967 Pogi - Eddie Gutierrez, Vilma Valera, Nora Aunor, Boy Alano 1967 Ang Pangarap Ko'y Ikaw- Susan Roces, Eddie Gutierrez, Nora Aunor
1967 All Over the World - Eddie Gutierrez, Josephine Estrada, Nora Aunor, Boy Alano 1967 Way Out in the Country- Vilma Valera, Bert Leroy, Ricky Belmonte, Nora Aunor, Boy Alano, German Moreno
1967 Cinderella -a-go-go- Rosemarie Sonora, Ricky Belmonte, Nora Aunor
1968 May Tampuhan, Paminsan-minsan- Gina Pareno, Ricky Belmonte, Nora Aunor
1968 Dobol Wedding - Juvy Cachola and other Sampaguita stars, Nora Aunor
1968 Bahay Kubo, Kahit Munti- Rosemaries Sonora and other Sampaguita stars, Nora Aunor
1969 Pabandying-bandying- Chiquito, Pilita Corrales, Nora Aunor
1969   9 Teeners- Sampaguita stars, Nora Aunor, German Moreno




In 1969, Tirso Cruz III was cast as her love interest. 

1969 Young Girl - Ricky Belmonte, Jeanne Young, Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III
1969 Ye Ye Generation - Rosemarie Sonora and other Sampaguita Stars, Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III
1969 Teenage Escapades - Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III
1969 Oh Delilah- Ricky Belmonte, Pilar Pilapil, Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III
She must be so popular that even the karate-type movies cast her along with Tirso Cruz III and another Tawag ng Tanghalan champion, Edgar Mortiz.
1969 Karate Showdown- Roberto Gonzales, Rosanna Ortiz,  Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz
 1969 Fiesta Extravaganza-Lito Legazpi, Rebecca,  Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz, Manny de Leon

Tower Productions owned by Maria Victoria and Director Temyong Marquez, the father of Melanie Marquez and Joey Marquez recognized the box-office potential of Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III love team.  
1969- Halina Neneg Ko - Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III, Eddie Peregrina, Manny de Leon
1969 The D-Musical Teenage Idols- Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III
1970 Orang - Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz IIi
1970 Nora Mahal Kita- Tirso Cruz III
1970 Nasaan Ka Inay,- Nora Anor, Tirso Cruz III
1970 I Dream of Nora- Nora Aunor, Tirso Cruz III


Artemio Marquez also introduced a new leading man for Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon.

Marquez must have noticed that the name Nora attracted moviegoers, so the title of the movie always included the name of Nora.


1969 Nora (Single Girl) Nora Aunor, Many de Leon
1970 Three for the Road-- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon, German Moreno
1970 The Singers and the Bouncer- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon, Dante Varona
1970 Golden Voice- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon, Rolly Villa
1970 Tell Nora, Ilove Her- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon
1970 Munting Santa- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon
1970 Around Asia with Nora- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon
1970 Nora in Wonderland- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon
1970 Hey There Lonely Girl, Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon
1970 Darling- Nora Aunor, Manny de Leon


Rolly Villa

She was also paired with Rolly Villa. Rolly Villa who?
1970 Tomboy Nora- Nora Aunor, Rolly Villa
1970 Anna Victoria-Nora Aunor, Rolly Villa
Edgar Mortiz

Then to Edgar Mortiz who became the off and onscreen sweetheart of Vilma Santos, the governor of Batangas.


My Beloved - Nora Aunor, Edgar Mortiz

SALNs and Weighing Scales-Tinimbang ka Kulang pa rin

Dear insansapinas,

SALNS
The government employees must have submitted their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth for the year 2010 as of this date. Deadline was April 30. The President himself submitted his but I have not seen a copy yet. Only an explanation why his networth increased by Php 4 million.  Based on the complaints of some investigative journalists, asking for copies of SALNs is like asking for the Holy Grail to be exhibited for public view.
The SALns of the senators disclosed their networth.



Senator Manuel “Manny” Villar is still the richest among his peers with a net worth of P725.2 million in 2010.
Villar, who lost to former senator Benigno Aquino III in the last presidential elections, is known for his businesses in the real estate industry.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is still the poorest with P3.8 million.
The others are:

• Ralph Recto, P418.5 million
• Ferdinand Marcos Jr., P311.5 million
• Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., P125.7 million
• Juan Ponce Enrile, P116 million
• Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, P93.5 million
• Sergio Osmeña, P82.3 million
• Pia Cayetano, unchanged from the previous year at P75.85 million
• Teofisto Guingona III, P73.9 million
• Edgardo Angara, P70 million
• Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, P48.9 million
• Loren Legarda, P45.5 million
• Juan Miguel Zubiri, P41.2 million
• Miriam Defensor Santiago, P40.3 million
• Franklin Drilon, P33.4 million
• Panfilo Lacson, P24.7 million
• Gregorio Honasan, P19.3 million
• Manuel “Lito” Lapid, 18.9 million
• Alan Peter Cayetano, P15.9 million
• Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, 12.4 million
• Joker Arroyo, P11 million
• Francis Joseph Escudero, P8 million 

Frankly, I believe that SALNs are only useful if the declarant is honest. A government official who has a lot of assets illegaly procured will not declare these assets in SALN. It is easy to put the ownership to a trusted relative, friend and more than friends. Take for instance the case of Mikey Arroyo. He did not declare the house and lot in Foster City claiming that it is owned by a holding company where he owned a minority share. 


The same is true for glass mansion allegedly owned by a Malacanan official who also denied ownership and instead pointed a holding company to have owned the house.

Ads, Book Shelves and Cats

Dear insansapinas,
I am overloaded with the news about showbiz and politics. So what if Prince William and HRH Catherine are going to their honeymoon. Sobra na sila. Tseh. I better find other stuff. 


Web Stuff shared by my brother.


A for Ads
I hate that ad of a car where one of the car owners is a "living dead" who drops some of his body parts around. Eww. What is the message of the ad? Can't get it. 


There were ads several decades ago which can be banned today because of the changing norms in the society.

In hospitals, there are posters which illustrate how a second hand smoke can harm the non-smokers. 
This ad was promoting it then.

Try posting the ad below and wait for the feminist movements to declare war to make it disappear.

See more creative ads that are no longer acceptable in the modern times here.
http://www.wildfiremarketinggroup.com/40-vintage-ads-that-would-be-banned-today/

B for Book Shelves
We got book shelves. The ones that are assemble-it-yourself- type bought from IKEA and mail order catalogues.  

Naah, Virginia, the shelf is not broken. It is an insane design. Just don't invite a person with OCD in your house. He will try to fix it up.

Another creative design is the shelf below.

It is ideal for those who are lazy to stand up to get the book from the shelves. I wonder, what holds the books from falling. 
You can see more book shelves here.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/melismashable/20-insanely-creative-bookshelves

C for Cats
 It was in the news that a dog was used in the covert operation that killed Bin Laden. How come, they don't use cats? The following are just photo illustrations:

Why not? . They can climb trees (but they need firefighters to bring them down) to serve as "eyes" for the troops. They can leap across buildings and gather intelligence as long as there are no mice no distract their attention.

Wedding Dresses, Couturiers, Off-the Rack Wedding Gowns

Dear insansapinas,

photocredit
My friend's bride will be wearing a Vera Wang wedding gown. Naah, she is not here in the US. She's in the Philippines. She did not see Vera Wang personally to have her gown designed. Vera Wang has stores for her wedding gown collection. Kung baga, off the rack.My friend's sister bought it for her. 


 Kaya yong mga napabulalas ng Wow, wedding gown  ni R regalo  ni V, gawa ni Vera Wang.  Hush my dear, pumunta lang si V sa store  ni  Wang at pumili ng size ng biriterang singer. The prices range from $ 600 up. (tseh)


If you are a reader of fashion pulis, you must have read this article entitled, Letter From a Reader: Bride to Wed in RTW Gown Because of Missing Designer


People who have been reading (sabi nga ni Mommy Dionisia, Hello my Fans, hehehehe, sa akin naman kasi marami ring nagbabasa kahit hindi nila gusto ang blog ko para lang malaman kung humihinga pa ako particularly yong mga inis sa akin. Nwahaha.) my blog know that I have worked with a fashion designer when I was in my tween. So I am aware of the practices of these couturiers especially during months of Wedding--May and June.


First, my reaction on the attitude towards RTW. As I have written in my intro, even Vera Wang's wedding gowns are RTW. They just do not call them Ready-to-wear. For designers, the gowns are termed as collections. (Sabay angat ang kaliwang eyebrow). Off-the-rack is another term for ready-to-wear na pumalit naman sa dating term na ginagamit nila na Hecho derecho. (Sabay igkas ng small finger. Ayaw kasing tumaas ang right eyebrow, sabay tumataas ang left. *heh*)


Now let's go to the complaints of the bride who was charged Php 60,000 for the wedding entourage including the tux for the groom. I agree with some of the comments that the amount was cheap. If they're quality workmanships, Php 60,000 hardly pays for the labor and the materials with some decent profits left.


So these are my assumptions, given that there was a wedding gown and tux produced:


1. The designer is badly in need of money. So sunggab na lang siya at offer pa ng discount, makuha lang ang pera.
2. Most designers do not know how to cost a particular project. For them the receipts are already equal to income.
3. The designer is cash- strapped that he can not maintain and pay high calibre sewers and beaders. So probably, the sewers came and went and he had to hire whoever was available.


The fact that the wedding gown was dirty; it goes to show that many people had worked on the gown. Papalit-palit and the designer is not strict enough to advise them to wash their hands before handling a white material.


That's what is sad with the lives of the gay designers, They are always looking for love. They equate attention and money to love. They are cognizant of the facts that no men will love them if they do not shower them with money. Worse is there are so many men who extort money from gay designers by emotionally blackmailing them. 


Makita lang ninyo ang mga lalaking ito na pag tanggap ng pera ng designer, nakasahod din ang kanilang kamay.


The day does not start until 9:00 pm when the gay designers are out in the bars or some watering holes in Ermita. Some are looking for adventures; some merely drink to drown their loneliness. 


My fashion designer-boss did not use drugs. He also did not give money to his "boy" for him to spend. He gave the money to the family for his "boyfriend's education. But then, he was also out every night with other baklas.


Many a time, he was short of money that he can not pay the salaries of the seamstresses and the cutter. Even his rent for the shop.


But whenever, he could collect, he paid them promptly. 


Some make installments for salaries of their workers. So the workers leave them and work for other designers. Some can not pay the rent. Nagtatago. 


I've got a friend who was the receptionist (may secretary pa siya)  who was used to lying whenever the collector, the landlord and creditors came to look for her boss. SABI niya, WALA PO RAW SIYA RITO.

Big Bad Blogger Revisited

Dear insansapinas,

Updated

When the issue about big bad blogger rocked the blogosphere some months ago, the usual suspects skirted the issue by denying they're paid hacks.

When the noise subsided, they were back again to being "tourists" or people who love to travel and in the process, they come to find good places, good products and good restaurants/hotels. Some of these hotels/lodging inns do not come at par with the article of endorsement they wrote in exchange of all expenses paid travels (kunwari pleasure trips lang nila) and money remuneration. 

Marketman has an article entitled  Still Had Doubts if Companies Really Paid for Blog Exposure???  He published the invitation of the pr firm to join an all-expense paid trip to promote a certain product.

Mother and Daughter Celebrities for Mother's Day

Dear insansapinas,
Special para sa Mother's Day ang mga movie celebrities na mga mothers na kasama ang kanilang mga anak na mga mothers na rin.


Nora Aunor, Lotlot de Leon

Lotlot de Leon is an adoptive daughter of Nora Aunor, the superstar. She made it big in showbiz before she married Ramon Christopher, the son of Pilita Corrales, a popular singer and Eddie Gutierrez, the current husband of Annabelle Rama. 


After separating from Ramon Christopher, she started being active in showbiz again. She took care of her other siblings, the other adoptees of Nora Aunor. 

KC Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta

KC Concepcion, one of the daughters of Gabby Concepcion to the megastar Sharon Cuneta is not only a singer but also a model and an actress. 

Ruffa Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama

As if you do not know. Ruffa Gutierrez is the daughter of Annabelle Rama, a former B movie actress and Eddie Gutierrez, a Sampaguita matinee idol.  She is also now a mother to her two daughters who are planning to join the showbiz when they grow up. She is estranged from her husband. She is a model, a TV host and an actress. 

Snooky and Mila Ocampo

Liezl and Amalia Fuentes

Liezl with husband Albert Martinez

Maritess Gutierrez and Gloria Romero

Maritess Gutierrez is the daughter of Gloria Romero, once the Queen of the Philippines Movies and a popular matinee idol Juancho Gutierrez. Her career in the showbiz was brief. She has a son who is pursuing his career in the movie industry-Chris Gutierrez She works as a chef. 

Cherie Gil and Rosemarie Gil

Cherie Gil is noted for villainess roles. She is the daughter of Rosemarie Gil, also a movie actress who married Eddie Mesa, a popular singer in the 50's. He was the Elvis Presley of the Philippines.


Cherie is also a mother of grown- up children with her estranged Israeli husband, the famous violinist.  Her brothers are also in the show business and have children who are currently active in TV and movie industries.
They are Mark Gil and Michael de Mesa.  Michael de Mesa used to be married to another actress, Gina Alajar. 


Danica Sotto and Dina Bonnevie

Danica Sotto is the daughter of Dina Bonnevie and Vic Sotto. She is the sister of Oyoboy Sotto. She is now married to Marc Pingris.

Lilia Dizon with daughters Pinky de Leon and Melissa de Leon

Lilia Dizon was a popular movie star in the 40's. She married another movie actor and director, Gil de Leon.
Together, they have three children who all joined the show business; Pinky de Leon, Lara Melissa de Leon and Christopher de Leon.
Pinky's son was among those freed together with Hubert Webb in the Vizconde massacre. Christopher de Leon was formerly married to the superstar, to whom he has a son, Ian de Leon. He has several children with Sandy Andolong, his present wife.

Beverly Vergel and Alicia Vergel

MANNY PACQUIAO IS STILL THE CHAMPION

Dear insansapinas,

photocredit:Gettyimages

Pagkatapos ng urong-sulong ni Mosley, at pagtulak kay Manny Paquiao sa ika 11 round, CHAMPION pa rin si MANNY PACQUIAO.


Nakayellow gloves nga si Manny pero pagkatapos nagsuot siya ng blue na T-shirt.


Sinong mas maganda si Bella, ang nobya ni Mosley o si Jinkee?


Pinaysaamerika

Flowers for the Heart

Dear insansapinas,
Ito ang flowers na pinadala ng aking mga tsikiting gubat.

Ngayon ko lang nailabas sa kaniyang lalagyan. Siguro, hindi na sila makahinga at panay ang sigaw ng palabasin mo na kami.

O pinalabas. Nahulog ang card.


Ito, pasensiya kayo talagang pinalabo ko dahil malabo rin ang aking mata. Makisama kayo. Hmmm, kasama ang pangalan ng boypreng Filam ni tsikiting gubat. Magaling talaga siyang sumipsip. mwehehehe

Hoy mga TSIKITING GUBAT, ang sukli ko ibalik ninyo. BWAHAHAHA.
Sa totoo lang, iba-ibang kulay ang roses.Wala bang lollipop?

Happy Mother's Day din sa lahat ng mothers, magiging mothers, at mga grandmothers, stepmothers at nagmamader-maderan.

Pinaysaamerika

Mga Tanong

Dear insansapinas,

Papunta ako sa ospital ngayon kaya maikli lang ang aking post. Maikli talaga.

May nagtanong sa akin. 
Tanong How does a a guardian angel help us?


Sagot: Maraming paraan. Nandiyan ang paggawa ng decision. Kaya nga meron tayong dalawang angel in mind. Isa nasa kanan at isa nasa kabila. Huwag kang mag-expect na mag-aaway sila para iinsist ang kanilang advice. Dahil sa free will, tayo pa rin ang huling gagawa ng decision, right or wrong.


Pero maasahan mo sila kung kailangan mo ng tulong halimbawa wala kang masakyan at hatinggabi na. Wala ng maliligaw na taxi sa lugar na yon.


Ang mother ko at kapatid ko ay galing sa prusisyon ng Naxareno sa Quiapo. Hatinggabi na nang sila ay makauwi. Wala ng tricycle sa Tandang Sora. Nagwish sila na sana may maligaw. Maya-maya ay may dumating na tricycle na nagkuwento na nakahiga na siya pero may makulit na bumubulong sa kaniya na lumabas.


Minsan naman ay nasiraan ang aking kotse sa Roxas Boulevard. Hatinggabi na rin yon dahil galing ako sa isang kasayahan. Wala nang mga dumaraang mga sasakyan ay kung may dumaan man ay hindi sila makakatulong. Bigla may isang dirver ng truck ang lumapit, Kahit takot ako ay pinatingnan ko. Sabi niya ay maari pa ring i-drive ang kotse pagnakastart ang engine pero hindi puwedeng huminto. Sus, ginoo, ang daming dadaanan naming traffic light. Sabi niya, mauuna siya at aalalay.


Inistart ng aking driver. Umistart naman. Drive siya. Wala na yong truck. Ang taksil, iniwanan kami. Ang kataka-taka, lahat ng traffic lights na daanan namin ay green. O di va. Nakarating kami sa bahay na halos hindi ako humihinga, Pinadala ko mekaniko ang kotse kinabukasan.

Tanong: Ang mga psychic ba alam kung kailan sila mamatay?

My Angel for the Day, Planner, Post-it Notes

Dear insansapinas,

Early morning, sabi ng aking brother may package daw ako na iniwan sa office ng Building Administration ng UPS. May hinala na ako na galing sa mga tsikiting gubat ko para sa Mother's Day. Pero balak ko kunin bukas on my way to the hospital.


Pero hindi naalis ang kati at hapdi ng mata ko kaya nagdecide akong pumunta sa malapit ng pharmacy. 
Hirap akong maglakad kaya dahan-dahan lang ang aking paghakbang. Parang one minute per step. bwahaha. Mauuna pa ang pagong sa akin at nakatulog na siya bago ako makarating sa finish line. Papunta sa pharmacy, dadaanan ang paborito kong bookstore. Bigla akong lumakas. Pero hinawakan ko ang aking bulsa. Tiyak paglabas ko may bitbit na naman akong libro. Hindi ko namalayan matagal din pala ako sa loob. Wow, may bagong novel si James Patterson. 10 ang title. Kababasa ko lang ng 9. Walang paperback. Kaya ang bigat ng clothbound, mabigat din ang presyo. Hinawakan ko ulit ang aking pitaka. Sabi ko huwag siyang bubukas. Naku, may bago ring nobela sa David Balducci (author ng Absolute Power). At meron ding nobela si Stuart Woods, ang paborito kong lawyer. Kumakawala ang aking pitaka. *heh*


Paglabas ko, may dala akong dalawang items lang. Haaa, hinga. May babayaran pa kasi ako sa latest procedure na ginawa sa akin. Yan nga ba ang sinasabi na pag bata ka pa nagtatrabaho ka para pagtanda mo may gagastusin ka sa pagpapagamot. Saklap ng buhay.


Bumili ako ng isang planner. Mayo na ngayon lang ako nagplanner. Baligtad kasi ako, sinusulat ko pag tapos na ang aking mga schedules. In the meantime, nasa post-its ko ang mga appointments ko. 


Naalala ko kailangan ko pala ng photo para sa pass sa aming swimming pool. Pero hindi naman ako naliligo sa pool. Takot ko lang. So scratch.


Uwi na ako. Daan ako sa Office . Kinuha ko ang package. Uhmm bulaklak. Saka na ang picture. Magaan nga pero mahaba naman. May dala pa akong libro. Malayo pa ang bahay. Pagod na ako. Parang hindi na ako makalakad.


Biglang apir ang isang bata pang lalaki. Palagay ko sa maintenance siya. Nag-oofer siyang tulungan ako. Mukha naman siyang mabait kaya nagpatulong na ako sa kaniya. Kung loloko-loko siya, bigla kong isusubo ang bato ni Darna. Toinkkk.

From Switzerland with Love

Dear insansapinas,
Naah, hindi ito novel. Tapos ko ng basahin ang Postcard Killers ni James Patterson at ngayon binabasa ko ang The Silent Sea ni Clive Cussler. Kung di lang malabo ang mata ko, madali ko itong matatapos. 


Historia de un amor ito ng aking MIL (biyenan) dahil ngayon ang month anniversary ng kaniyang kamatayan, six years ago at siyempre mother's day.


Hindi ko lang siya biyenan, kaibigan pa at katsismisan.


Bakit Switzerland? Kasi taga roon and mother niya habang ang kaniyang ama ay taga Germany. Doon siya nag-aral sa isang boarding school noong namatay ang kaniyang mother.


Ang mother niya ay isang modelo. Napakaganda. Ang father naman niya ay businessman na kung saan-saan nakakarating. Sa edad na apat na taon, namatay ang kaniyang mother. Hindi pa man nakakalipas ang isang taon, nag-asawa kaagad ang kaniyang ama at dinala siya sa Espana. OO Virginia, magaling siyang magsalita ng Espanol at alam niya ang mga santo at santa ng Romano Katoliko kahit na siya ay agnostic. Ang palagi niyang pasalubong sa akin noon ay religious article kagaya ng special key chain na may retrato ng Santo na hindi ko nga kilala nang minsang dumalaw siya sa dati niyang tirahan sa Espanya at isang maliit na glass Sto. Nino noong pumunta siya sa Prague.


Dahil pabiyahe-biyahe ang kaniyang ama at wala namang concern ang kaniyang stepmother sa kaniya, pinadala siya sa boarding school sa Switzerland. Aside from social graces and etiquette, nagpakadalubhasa siya sa Photography. Kaya ang  mga retratong kinukuha niya ay parang mga postcards.


Dahil sa giyera, nagmigrate sila ng kaniyang ama sa US. Sa San Francisco sila napadpad. May nakilala siyang isang lalaki na kaniyang pinakasalan at diniborsiyo kaagad nang matuklasan niyang isa siyang closet queen. Tuwing kinukuwento niya sa akin ito na sabay ng hampas sa aking kamay, sabay ang tawa niya. I was so young then, sabi niya.


Minsan ay mas dumaong na Navy Ship sa pantalan ng San Fran. May nakilala siyang batang-batang doktor na kagagraduate lang sa Harvard at nagseserbisyo sa US Navy. Alam niyang taga Boston siya. Hindi na sila nagkitang muli nang naglayag na ang barko. Inabang-abangan niya ulit ang pagdating at para makita kung may barkong nakadaong ay pumupunta siya sa Twin Peaks (isa ito sa pinakamataas na bahagi ng San Francisco na madalas ay pasyalan ng mga lovers). Naalala ko ang isa kong katrabaho na Latina. Sabi niya, Dios mio, that's where I got pregnant. hehehe.


Minsan may nakita siyang libro. Pinadala niya sa doctor via sa US Navy with the hope na matanggap niya. Natanggap nga. Lumabas na pala ito sa serbisyo at nagpapakadalubhasa sa specialization niya.


Hindi nagtagal ay nagpakasal sila. Walang dumating na mga kamag-anak ng doctor. Hindi siya kapamilya. Hindi siya Hudyo.  Tumira sila sa Boston at nagtiyaga siyang maging stay-at-home mom habang tinatapos ng kaniyang asawang doctor ang kaniyang specialization; Cold shoulder treatment siya ng mga in-laws.(Talagang ang in-laws problems ay universal);


Nang imbitahin ang doctor sa San Fran ng dati niyang professor sa Harvard para tulungan siyang pasimulan ang isang department sa isang ospital, hindi sila nagdalawang -isip.


Habang nagpaparactice ng kaniyang profession ang asawa, si MIL naman ay nagtayo ng isang art gallery.


At dahil sa she can speak seven languages, naging volunteer docent din siya sa museum.


Kapag sila ay libre, nagtatravel sila around the world. Kasama na rito ang Pilipinas kung saan naging guest siya sa UST.

Navy Seals, Demi Moore, Executive Chef and Import-Export

Dear insansapinas,

Currently reading, Navy Seals, the Complete History. Nasa cover pa lang ako. hahaha.
Sa totoo lang peyborit ko kasi all about novels and films na may action. Walang masyadong dialogue pero ha*yup sa bakbakan. I can't kill a fly so my violent streak must be inside me. Di ba noon may binugbog nga akong snatcher. Duguan--ang kamay ko.


I love GI Jane movie. First, I like Demi Moore. Then Anne Bancroft and Viggo Mortensen. Ridley Scott is the director who also directed several action films like The Gladiator of Russell Crowe. Now he is directing my favorite TV series, The Good Wife. GI Jane is about  the first woman to survive the Navy Seals rigorous training. Syempre pelikula lang yon, noh. 


The book is "heavy reading". Bigat  kasi ang kapal ng libro. Toinkk.  Divided into three sections; the early years. the vietnam war and the post-vietnam war. Light reading ko lang ang mga novel kagaya ni Clive Cussler kung saan may mga tao pala na directa lang ang report sa President. (may ganon?).


Lately, pansin ko yong mga CIA-inspired TV series ay cancelled. Dahil siguro, lumalabas doon ang mga special gadgets at equipment ng mga military kagaya ng mga helicopters na hindi nasasagap ng radar. Ulk.


Sabi ko nga di ko pa nasimulan ang libro. Binabasa ko ngayon ang fiction ng mga nagtatrabaho sa White House kung saan ang bida ay ang Executive Chef na Paras ang apelyido pero hindi naman sinasabing Filipina. O di va.


Kaya ko lang binabanggit ito kasi narealize ko na kahit pala sa ganitong mga lugar (even if it is fiction, at least it resembles real situations) ay maraming intriga. So ang aking mga mambabasa na career ladies ay makakarelate o kahit din naman ang mga lalaki. Lalo na ang mga nasa gobyerno at may bagong administration.


So ang scenario ay bago ang presidente, na may dalawang anak. Bilang Exec. chef, may tenure siya. Sabi nga presidents come and go but not the staff not unless, ayaw na ng First Family ang luto niya pero kailangan pa rin ang experience niya paghanda ng mga dinner sa foreign guests.


Ano ang pakiramdam ninyo kung hindi nga kayo inalis pero naglagay naman kanilang sariling tao. Kahit na ba under sa kaniya. Pakiramdam niya, kumukuha lang ng experience at pagkatapos saka siya sisipain.


Nakaranas na ba kayo ng ganiyan?


Noong nahire akong chief accountant sa murang edad (lima singko, bwahaha), nangyari rin ito. Nagkakaproblema ako noon sa mga letters of credit, importation at warehousing.storage ng kumpaniya. Masyadong matagal ang pagdating ng mga imported drugs kaya kung minsan nag-eexpire ang LC lalo pag hindi na extend. Ang warehousing-storage namin ay malaki dahil sa matagal mailabas sa customs ang items.
So naghanap ako ng makakaibigan sa banko na siyang nagturo sa akin ng import-export at ang mga documentation. Sandali ko lang maipalabas ang mga original documents na galing sa exporter kasi tinuturuan ko rin ang aming foreign suppliers para mabilis silang makasingil sa banko nila. Kumuha din ako ng Customs broker na kilala ko na pwedeng ilabas ang goods (legal ha) in a matter of hours. Refrigerated kasi yon kaya mataas ang singil.

Liver Transplant

Dear insansapinas,

I have just finished watching The Good Wife, a TV series which is about the stay-at-home-wife-lawyer who went back to lawyering when she caught  her husband, the elected US District Attorney with mistresses.


But the story is more on case handled by the law firm where the Good Wife is a partner.  It is very informative series that I thought, I might become a good lawyer when I grow up. theeheheh.


The story today is close to home. It is about a young mother who has a liver cancer and has been waiting for two years to have a liver transplant, only to find out that she was stricken from the list where she is already in the top list. She sued the hospital. The next patient who is due for liver transplant is a CEO of an internet company. (Parang inspired ni Steve Jobs na nagkaroon ng liver transplant, noh?) The donor is a brain dead patient whose family does not want him remove from respirator until the brother comes back from Iraq.


In the deliberation which was conducted in the hospital room, the patient has only three weeks to live. 
The defense of the hospital is that the rate of survival of the patient is very low inasmuch as her cancer is already in a very advanced stage.


Some points brought out  by the prosecutors are:
1. The CEO Internet was given priority because he donated a large sum of money to the hospital.
2. The patient was subjected to a lot of unnecessary CT scans by the doctor.
3. The patient was discriminated because of her social status. She was tattoos and her past lifestyle contributed to her illness--booze and drugs.


The ending of the story showed that she was being wheeled out from the hospital room and there were only three hours left for her to get the operation.


The subplot was that of her lady lawyer who was fired out by the law firm (not the good wife) because she is pregnant. She threatened her law firm for class suit action from pregnant women. She was hired back with additional benefits.

My Ghost Story

Dear insansapinas,

Hindi ko ghost story yan, Virginia. Dahil kung ikukuwento ko ang mga ghost stories ko, isang Linggo akong magsusulat. Isa itong programa sa TV, kasama ang Paranormal State. Hindi ako nanonood ng Ghost Hunters o Ghost Adventures. Panay lang naman sila, night light na nagbibigay ng eerie pictures at mga usapan nilang  Who is that, did you hear that? Wala naman silang maipakitang ebidensiya ng ghosts.


Nagkainterest ako sa Paranormal State kasi may question doon ang isang babae kung ang multo daw sa bahay nila ay DALA ng bago niyang boyfriend o iniwan ng kaniyang ex-boyfriend. 


Unang step ng grupo ay interview ng isang psychologist sa mga tao sa bahay kung saan may ghost haunting. (take note DSWD, may interview muna bago sila magbibigay ng evaluation). Inaalam nila kung ang mga tao doon ay nagsasuffer ng schizophrenia o may mga paranoia.


Saka lang sila magsisimula ng kanilang physical investigation. 


Sa isang episode naman sa My Ghost Story, marami silang mga nawawalang bagay na lumalabas din pero nasa ibang parte na ng bahay. Parang kagaya sa bahay ko sa San Fran. Yong nanay ng aking kahousemate ay madalas hinahanap ang mga binitiwan niyang bagay na nawawala at pagkatapos ay lalabas din pagkalipas ng ilang oras. Sa bahay ko rin sa Pinas ay ganoon din. Minsan alahas ko ang nawawala. Tapos lalabas din. Ako lang naman ang may alam kung saan ko inilalagay.


Isang video ang nakuha sa isang bed na parang tumatalon-talon  ang isang bagay na nagpapalundo sa bed pero wala namang tao.


Ang multo ay sinasabing between two worlds, spirit world at ang mundo. Ang spirit ay nakarating na sa spirit world at kaya lang bumabalik ay kung may mensahe o gustong tulungan ang minamahal sa buhay.


Karamihan sa mga multo ay hindi makaalis sa lugar na kanilang kinasadlakan dahil walang tumulong sa kanila.
Meron namang mga multong nakikihitch (ano yan jeep) lalo na pag ang taong napunta sa isang lugar ay walang proteksiyon o talagang sadyang lapitin ng mga ganoong klaseng nilalang.


Kaya ako takot na pumunta sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan ng mga ghost hunters kagaya ng mga bilibid, mga ospital dahil mamaya may kumabit at sumama pauwi. Ngiiii. 


Kasi ako noon naniniwala na bitbit ko ang multo kahit saan ako pumunta. May mga bahay kasi akong tinirhan na wala naman daw multo silang nakikita pero pagdating ko ay may nagpaparamdam na.


Sa series, sabi noong psychic, iniwan daw iyon ng ex-boyfriend niya dahil galit nang umalis. Tinawag  yata sa kadiliman at pinapunta doon.


Sa aking parte naman nang nagkonsulta ako sa isang psychic din. Sinabi sa akin na hindi ko dala ang multo lalo na yong mga violente. OO, Virginia, may mga multo na nararamdaman kong sinasakal ako sa gabi. Meron ngang isa ang lakas pa nang sinabi ng tinabig ang aking paa. HABI nga diyan. (Sa Pinas ito). 

Welcome Party in Hell, Costs of Weddings and ETC

Dear insansapinas,

Nahh, Virginia, I am not talking about a party that was a disaster. I am talking about the pit with live coals and smokes not coming from dry ice. I am talking about HELL. The welcome party is for OSAMA (there I got it right) BIN LADEN given by his fellow criminals who killed a lot of people in their lifetime. Do you see, Hitler? what about Saddam Hussein? The Nazi War criminals? And many others. Ang mga hinayupak na ito. Sa mansion pala lahat sila tumira habang ang kanilang mga followers ay naghihirap. Tse.


Costs of Regular and Royal Weddings
Forwarded sa akin ng brother ko. Estimated cost of regular wedding in the US is $ 24,000 while royal weddng was estimated to have costed 16 million. Actually it was more--$ 32 million. Could be the cost of beefing up security which is estimated to be from 5 to 30 million. 


My friend who is going to marry this coming June is already complaining. They overshoot the budget. Mahirap daw palang magpakasal. Sa Pilipinas Kay Gandah ko kasi Lalaki ang gumagastos.


Alam ba ninyong may share ang Middleton Family sa Royal Wedding? Si Prince William naman kasi ay walang allowance mula sa government kasi kasama siya sa kaniyang father who is earning at least 28 million dollars pre tax. Although he is exempted from paying income tax, he opted to pay 40 per cent. Hindi allowance sa gobyerno yon kung hindi kita ng Cornwall sa mga organic foods na pinoproduce nila. Next week nga nandito siya sa DC, speaker sa Georgetown University tungkol sa sustainable agriculture.


ETC
So Bin Laden was found thru the calls made by the courier. Promise hindi na ako tatawag sa telepono. Rinnggggg. Sandali ito na lang isang ito. Hilew.

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD

 Dear insansapinas,

AT LAST, OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD. 
According to the news:

 In an address to the nation Sunday night, U.S. President Barack Obama called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda."
"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."

Read the details how Osama Bin Laden was killed by the American operative.

Should I expect Donald Trump to ask for death certificate?


Pinaysaamerika

Fairy Tale Stories Part 2

Dear insansapinas,
Fairy Tail Part 1
Isa pang anak ni Queen Elizabeth ay si Prince Andrew.


Siya ay next in succession sa throne kay Prince Charles bago ipinanganak sina Prince William at Prince Harry. Ngayon, ikaapat na lang siya. Siya ang asawa ng controversial na si Duchess of York Sara Ferguson na nawala ang pagkaprincesa ng nagdiborsiyo sila ni Prince Andrew.

Sarah Ferguson

Sila ang parents ng dalawang prinsesa, Princess Beatrice, ang prinsesang dala ang isang picture frame sa kaniyang ulo noong kasal ni Prince William at Duchess Kate; Princess Eugenie na ang suot namang hat ay parang pinagkalipunpunan ng balahibong galing sa dressed chichen.  Nasaan ba si Lee na expert sa fashion?

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice

photocredit

Pinakasalan niya si Sarah Ferguson noong 1986 na nagkaroon ng title na Her Royal Highness, Duchess of York. Sila ay naghiwalay noong 1992 pero opisyal na nagdiborsiyo noong 1996 . Madalas raw kasing mahuli ang Duchess na nagtataksil.


Despite sa mga endorsements niya kagaya ng Weight Watchers, Avon at iba pang produkto, nabaon pa rin siya sa utang. Ang kaniyang asawang si Prince Andrew,  kahit hiwalay na ay hinayaan siyang tumira pa rin sa bahay nila hanggang 2004. 


Nahuli siya noon ng media na naniningil ng 500,000 pounds para doon sa gustong makalapit kay Prince Andrew. Kahit na ganoon ang ginawa niya, nabalitaang tinulungan pa rin indirectly ni Prince Andrew si Sarah para makabayad ng utang.


Sweet.

Pinaysaamerika

Unbelieberable-Justin Bieber got egged

Dear insansapinas,


Just like in our community where egg hunting was postponed last Friday, April 29 from April 24, Justin Bieber got his eggs late.



He was attacked with eggs while performing in Sydney Australia.


Nine million beliebers are furious.


Pinaysaamerika