My Avalon.ph Contest Entry

Avalon.ph is having another contest (click this link for the details) to continue celebrating their 10th year online. This time, the price is a signed hardbound copy of Interworld by Neil Gaiman.

Since Jasper (owner of avalon.ph) already used my favorite quote as an example in his blog, I'm using my second favorite Neil Gaiman quote as my entry:

"The bonds of family bind both ways. They bind us up, support us, help us. And they are also a bond from which it is difficult, perhaps impossible to extricate oneself." - Desire to the crowd gathered for Morpheus' wake, from The Sandman Volume 10 (The Wake)

Although Desire was quite sarcastic when he/she said this, I liked it coz it made sense. And because I totally agree. I love that I have close family ties. But then there are moments and people in both my father's and mother's side of the family that make those ties a noose around our relative necks. And we can't really do anything coz they're of our blood.

I'm at a loss at how to respond

So a friend texted me yesterday, asking for financial help. She said it was for her mom. My first thought was that her mom might be ill, and they were having trouble finding money for the treatment. I'm happy to learn that this wasn't the case, but at the same time her reason for asking her financial help from me (who technically isn't a close friend of hers at all) made me reel just a bit.

She said her mom's in trouble coz their business isn't doing well. They're having trouble keeping it afloat, they don't have anything to pay their employees... stuff like that. The way she termed it, "...kasi di ba yung mom ko..." which would hint to me knowing about their business before, which I really have no idea about, just really had me raising my eyebrows in confusion.


Just a reality check here, dear:

I don't have that kind of money; not the amount that would help save a dying business like the one you mentioned. My parents may have it, but they don't know you enough to withdraw from their savings to bail out your mom from her bad business decisions. I have relatives from both sides of my parentage who'd probably wring my neck if I asked my parents to help you first before they do those of their blood.

From what you texted me, I understand that your mom made wrong decisions about her business. It happens.

The entire WORLD is in recession.

Although it breaks my heart to know you're in such straights, I cannot help. I don't have the capacity to. I want to though, but I just cannot.

This is what I want to tell her. I've yet to text her back. I don't know how to reply though.

Twilight Series

So I finally managed to finish reading and/or listening to the Twilight series, and must say I'm content with the ending. A happy ending for practically everyone important to the main character *shrug* how can I complain about that?

It's not something I'd want to read again though. Once was enough, thank you very much. But I'm quite thankful I read it coz it was really a no-brainer to read. No offense, but I quite agree with Stephen King, I've read better fanfiction and unpublished original work on FictionPress that are written light years better than Twilight. But then I don't think the Twilight series is something anyone should take seriously. And I guess that's the secret to enjoying the entire series... try to suspend all your pre-conceived notions of practically everything, try not to die from complications of diabetes from all the gooey-mushy-corny stuff whenever Bella so much as thinks about how perfect Edward is, and just enjoy it for what it is: a story.

Must admit though that it's mostly because of Jacob Black that I even continued reading. I'm not a big fan of Edward Cullen. Sorry. He's alright. But he just doesn't get me laughing like Jacob does. And I absolutely loved the Jacob POV chapters in Breaking Dawn. Never mind how serious the plot was, I just liked the interactions between the wolves. *shrug* I like dogs. Go figure.

Well that's done. Am now moving on to the other books on my reading list for this year.

Break Through

Got this from Jazz Stiletto’s LJ. She tagged anyone who wanted to “make patol” so I’m making patol hahahhah!!!

1. Put your iPod on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
4. Tag friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from.
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Carla Bruni – Raphael

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Howl’s Moving Castle OST Track 05 – Witch of the Wasteland

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Glay - Mermaid

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Escaflowne the Movie - Prologue1Earth 07 - The Red Distant Sun
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Shamrock - Sana

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Berserk - Forces

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Sarah Brightman and Enya – Deliver Me

WHAT IS 2+2?
Please Save My Earth OST - An Innocent Knock

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Chae Yeon – The Two of Us

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Angela Aki – Kiss From a Rose

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Elliot Yamin – One Word

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Kitchie Nadal - Fire

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Shadow Skill – Solid Desire

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Vampire Knight Guilty OST Track 22 - Ominous Feeling

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Gensoumaden Saiyuki OST 1 Track 09 - Ano Oka no Mukou ni

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Blind Guardian – Fiddler on the Green

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Escaflowne the Movie - Prologue1Earth Track 10 - Hand in Hand

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Michelle Branch - Drop in the ocean

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Loveless OST – Track 02 - Fidelity ~Soubi~

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Final Fantasy VII – Track 61 - The Forested Temple

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Enya - Storms in Africa

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Macross 7 OST – Planet Dance

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
The Corrs - When the Stars Go Blue

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
SailorMoon SuperS OST - Morning Moon Deaimashou

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Meteor Garden - by myself - tsi you(live) … … … typical

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
S.H.E. – Don’t Say I’m Sorry

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Ore Ska Band - Pinocho

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
My Name Is Kim Sam Soon OST - She is by Clazziquai

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Metallica - The Struggle Within

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Gravitation OST - Break Through

I'm going to Australia.

I'm undergoing a three month training at IL Institute so I could work and study in Australia. Work is at an aged care facility, and study would be at the Lifetime International Training College (LITC). I've gone through two weeks (out of 12) of training at IL being part of the 4th Manila Batch. Practicum will be in April, and after that (God-willing and once all my documents are ready) I'll be going to Australia by May or June of this year.

Once I've adjusted to life there, I also plan to take up the bridging course for nursing and later take the Queensland nursing board exam so I could practice my nursing profession there. So, I'll probably stay for a minimum of three years. Then once my studies are over, have my papers processed for permanent residency.

I do plan to go back to the Philippines, this is my home and my parents are here after all. Then again, I could probably just ask them to stay with me in Australia once I get permanent residency there. Whichever works.

So please wish me luck ^_^

First post of the year!

So I missed saying Happy New Year in this blog (and in Multiply since it's linked to the posts here), so...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

At least I'm not late for the Chinese New Year, am I? ^__^

Got news: not definite yet (but I'd like to believe it is so and am putting my mindset into the idea), but I will be going to Australia for work mid-2009. I'll be staying there for around 3 years. Hope it pushes through! *so excited!* I'll go through training here in the Philippines first, while my documents are being processed, but I'll be going after the training. *crosses fingers and toes*

Please pray for me na matuloy? ^_^

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I know I'm a day late in giving my greetings, but hey, like gifts, it's the thought that counts, ne?

Sooo...

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! ^__^

Quiz Time!

I remember taking this quiz before a few years back and getting a different result. Anyways...

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test


Okay... Level 3? Totally understandable. I am a foodie after all. Level 8 is also high coz I answered I believed some people like Nostradamus saw the future?! Ah well. But my result's the purgatory; not too bad.

BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

Okay, give me a moment:

*rolls on the floor while laughing her lungs off*

Ahem.

Have you guys seen the Philippine Daily Inquirer today? Heheh... there's an article there next to Pacquiao's picture titled: "Stranded in Bangkok? Housewife from Apalit, Pampanga, enjoyed it"

*snicker*

Hahahahahahhahahahha!!! Now I really will never believe what that newspaper says. Well, granted Ate Gloria did enjoy her stay in Bangkok but they weren't exactly there for vacation. They were supposed to fetch Kuya Felirey home coz he didn't have a permanent teaching job there as he was promised he would. But then, when Ate Gloria and Ate Glenda got there he changed his mind and is working as an English tutor for some high school students. Lola Ising was complaining to us some days before this that the airlines were uncooperative with Ate Gloria and Ate Glenda and were refusing to help them look for a hotel. Guess in the end they found one through the TAT and ended up having a grand time weheheheh ^_^0

Just never figured she'd be interviewed and in a national broadsheet's frontpage LOLz

Crosspost from my LJ account

We live in uncertain times. Earthquakes, hurricanes, the ever-present threat of zombies—do you have a disaster plan ready in case one of these things happens to you?

Hahah, just thought answering this would be fun (since I cant seem to fall asleep again):

Hmmm... right now my brilliant disaster plan in ready would have to be relying on sheer blind luck hahahahhaha!!! No, seriously. I'm pretty much versed on first aid and what to do to help during disasters and accidents so I'll just hope for now that it doesn't and will never strike anywhere near me and those I love (again) and pray that if it does whatever resources and help I can come up with at the time would suffice.

Funny thing though, just yesterday we were talking about something like this during dinner. Mom commented that there seems to be more accidents, wars, natural disasters, etc happening around the world now than during her time; Lola Ising then commented that although all of these are happening our hometown seems to be one of the few that has escaped near disasters. We have a river running across the town but it hasn't overflown yet that it caused floods, and when Mt. Pinatubo erupted we escaped unscathed with just some ashfall. In the years that she's been alive, Lola hasn't heard of any major disasters happening in our town, and whether or not you believe her explanation it still gave me goosebumps when she said it's coz Apong Iro (St. Peter the Apostle) was the one guarding our town. It wasn't a bad feeling, you know... the feeling that gave me goosebumps. More on a feeling of awe; that after she said that something clicked in my mind and I knew I agreed. *shrug*

Well, anyways, I've gone off topic. And I'm yawning. I'll try to get back to sleep now.