God, Happiness and Life

Part of our Christmas living room. Angels, candles, family pictures and snow globes, arranged differently every year. Our small Christmas dining area. Dining table, not in the photo. My niece and the gift she got from my daughter. Wow! What a smile. Our Christmas tree in Manhattan.

Special people that makes our Christmas celebration this year even better. What a lovely day. And there were very thoughtful gifts too. Thank you for the blessing of having you in our life.

More than the gift, it is always the message that counts. From my partner of more than 27 years came this message: Dearest Mahal, Financially, we are on the threshhold of doing better, even better tha our highest point. Emotionally, psychologically, and physically, we are better than ever before. We have survived and have proven our love is strong and resilient. I love you very much. Yor own, 'G'

The San Mateo gang is an ever loyal bunch of people in our partnership. Whether we are financially okey or in a money pit, they are always there to support, if not in real financial terms, but through words of encouragement and the essence hope. My Mama, my brothers, nephews and nieces, and also my SIL, they will be around to stand by me, in good times and most so during bad. What a blessing! And so on this hopeful ocassion allow me to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Love, Peace and Goodwill to all Mankind!!! Cheers.

It is Jordan's birthday. This year might not be as noisy for him, as the previous years because of financial concerns. Nevertheless, it remains as one of the four most important days in my life. He may have perceived things about me that hurt and made him sad, but that neither 'words' and 'actions' from my end were meant to cause pain. This year was a struggle for this son of mine, personally and and also his work. His path seems unclear. But I could be wrong. There were so many times in the past that I was, only to find myself regretting I did not trust him fully well. And so, this message is aimed at assuring my son that I will try to be a better Mom to you by not "questioning your every move or action". I will put my faith in the thought that as an adult you know very well what is good for you and your future. Happy Birthday Jigs! I LOVE You! Cheers! Get those beer bottles chilled :-)

It is my son's 26th birthday today. He is my youngest and somehow proven to be the mischievous one. I was talking to him last night and happy to know that he did will during his training. He says that if he really makes the grade in this company, there's a chance he might have the opportunity to do further training in Canada. He likes the product, but it's gonna be tough, by his own admission. I loved that enthusiasm. He said a learned a few things when he was out of work - money, disbelief that he didn't make it at stellar, how the mistakes were not even smart mistakes during the finals, how bad he felt disappointing his two favorite trainors, etc. Thus, the self-imposed isolation. That's all in the past now. As always, the learning is the better part of that experience. I just told him that perhaps, it was not meant to be and that he was destined for something greater. No one is perfect. Certainly, not this youngest of my brood. But I love him. We all love and ...

Today is a special day for Myles and Nigel. For the both of them, it is the end of 'me' and in its place, the beginning of 'us'. More than that, it is the start of a new life filled with love, honesty and fidelity. Nigel is my partner's son. Truly, a hunk of a man, with good looks and a lot of matter between the ears, I know he will make not only a responsible but a fine husband and father as well. Myles, is a pretty girl who blossomed as a woman when she met Nigel. We were briefly a witness to that. She worked abroad for three years (and still will be) and her marriage to Nigel today is a culmination of that blossoming process. We have all come to love and care for Myles very much. Not only because she is smart, intelligent, but most of all because she is caring and very thoughtful. I am a hundred percent sure she'd make a good wife and mother. With distance and all, I guess when Myles leave to continue her work abroad, both their continued nurturing for each...

There now exist a renewed feeling of togetherness resolved by some physical and systemic change. from this fact, I realized more than ever that relationships naturally come with highs and lows. It is naive to expect otherwise. And love will always make things right. Cheers!

Humans are social beings. We certainly need to know our lineage, and our origins. After all, as people we need to belong, to a nation, a community and most definitely, a family history. Needless, to say where without, we are isolated like an inhabited island. Useless, barren and bearing no future. One way of classifying one's lineage is through surnames and coat of arms . From Wikipedia, 'surnames are names added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases a surname is a family name; the family-name meaning first appeared in 1375. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name". It is also known as a "last name" In some cultures, the surname may be a patronymic or matronymic. In some cultures, the surname comes first, followed by the given name(s) ; this is the case in Hungary, as well as China and other countries in the Far East. Japanese names are always in this order, although the Japanese commonly will revers...

My journal or of memories, usually keep me up when I am down and keep me more upbeat when I am happy. And on being Happy: "People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost." - H. Jackson Browne "We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." - Frederick Keonig "There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness." = Carl Jung "For everything there is a season, And a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break do...

You Are 52% Happy You're definitely a happy person, even though you have your down moments. You tend to get the most out of life, though there's always some more happiness to be squeezed. How Happy Are You?

A wonderful belated birthday gift to me is gaining back a very pleasurable indulgence which I thought I lost. I was very sure it was going to be something permanent. But again, I am wrong. Thank the heavens above, it is definitely back. I could not really provide the details :-) Suffice it to say, that the life in me is back. It happened this morning. And I loved it.

I sent this short message to someone who is celebrating her birthday. Hi! Today is your special day and I take the time to celebrate the occasion of having had the pleasure of knowing you as a person who in your own way touched me and my humble life. Cheers! Happy, happy birthday! Godspeed Always. I miss this sweet person.

Flowers from Melody and her presence, spaghetti, Pistachio flavored ice cream from partner, Lloyd's oranges, apples, grapes, a greeting from Lorraine, Jigs, Dash, Mama, brother, nephews and niece, sms from Joanne, and call from Dolly and Chi. Life is short. Forgive. Give more. Expect less.

What does Lloyd mean? According to blogthings Lloyd means Thoughtful but slow. Your name also says you are: Moral but jealous Perceptive but paranoid Shrewd but overbearing. As your Mom, I say: Thoughtful, yes. Slow, yes. Moral, yes. Jealous, no. Perceptive, no. Paranoid, no. Shrewd, no. Overberain, no. "It is often said that With Age Comes Wisdom and you're One Of The Wisest People I Know! But then again Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself. Which is more appropriate to you? You decide". I love you Lloyd. Happy, happy birthday, Son.

It had not been easy taking an unannounced blogging hiatus. Unexpectedly, I had to take a month long absence from the blogging world. But I am determined to be finally back. So what caused my sudden disappearance? We moved our home. Golly, we are now 1000 meters away from our former place. Difficult is an understatement. Six pleasant years at the 'old' place caused all of us countless sleepless nights prior to THE day. First, getting our new place was a definite stroke of luck and grace from God. I had barely a week to look around. We were praying that we get a place within the same subdivision, mainly because we have come to love the secured ambiance. Why did we move? That house was beginning to 'crumble'. There were leaks all over due to a damaged roofing system. Talk about the floor tiles which were breaking one after the other. And it looked like there was no letting up? Never mind the ghosts inhabiting the place. No kidding. They were definitely non-living...

My daughter's stuffed toys had to go as well. I don't think she'd have time to play with all these toys, unless she brings it to school for her students to enjoy. But that's a far off idea.

These are my sons' books we had to give up to save space for our new place. It includes their Nursery Rhymes book, my children used to love reading and blurting out from time to time. I hope it's new owners will take the time to read. Otherwise, the purpose would have been defeated.

Parenting can not be compressed into six years. Let the lying stop. Here. Now. Do what is needed to be done so a response could be attempted. Everything's become too much to bear. Stop the anguish. Let the bleeding stop. No more hurt. No more misery.Heal the pain.

The natural process of life is to be born, live and then die. In between these three processes and for most, lie the consequential aspects of living: and again by choice - - study, work, marry, and have children. Between living and dying, there's, continue to work, become a grandparent, retire, age and then the end game - die. As mentioned one of the most crucial aspects of a person's life is to become a parent. Parenting is a huge responsibility. It requires being tough, dedication and character that is built from sturdy moral fibers. Children, and not by their own making are born of parents. What they become is mostly the consequence of their experiences as a child. They are the products of what they see from their environment and what their parents teach or fail to teach them. Parenting is being responsible for another individual - his needs, his development. But how can a person achieve this if she fail at being responsible herself? To me as a mom, responsibility ...

Joy is a nurse. She has been based in the United States for the longest time. This photo was taken after she passed the Board and we went to Makati now a city to gallivant or hangout, as they say today :-) That's what we usually do when we were bored stiff with life. Oh those were so fun days, unfortunately (for me), cut off when Joy went abroad to seek and fulfill her dream to be rich. And fulfill she did. She married a rich Jew businessman and they lived where Michael Jordan used to have a house. We were writing each other then. But, time somehow forgot that we were still around, but far from where we started. There was a year she came back as a Balikbayan (return home citizen) and I am glad there was an effort to reach out. I was happy to see her and I think she was too. I would have loved to reminisce the good old days, but she seemed uninterested and instead, talked about all her travel vacations in different parts of the world, non-stop. It was good. And then she had to ...

I found this very, very old photograph of my grandfather. If I remember correctly this was taken in our house many, many years ago in 1970. (On the background is our stereo set which my father himself assembled with his own two hands). My grandad was a classic old schooled man. He was served, literally by everyone: my grandmother, his daughters, his sons, including us the grandchildren. His word was the law. No one dared disobey his wishes. That was his role in our patriarchal clan. The thing is all the men in this family acted like kings in a fiefdom, expecting everyone serving at their pleasure. I believe this mentality is now a thing of the past. Though, I am not really sure. Is it? I don't know if this is good or what. The system of change has changed. My grandfather's era was contrived. Nothing was spontaneous. Expectations were clear and expected to be fulfilled. You are told to do something? There is no way you will not acquiesce. My father's was that caught be...

Hi Arlene, Wherever you are I miss you. I know you are somewhere in Australia. The last time you were here brought back feelings of deep friendship that not even time could erase. But why did we loose track of each other? I am not sure if you still are in the nursing profession which I know you love doing so much. By now, I guess your children are all grown as well. Mine are. If only, we can share again a few minutes of those happy times with Marlyn and Jens. And you know what, your best friend Vicky is just around the corner. I am also dying to know how Jens is. Please tell her I also miss her very much. I hope to see you soon.

This friend, I haven't seen for a long, long time. I hope that before I die (which I hope is not soon), I must see. E is the godmother of one of my sons. We were initially office mates but soon became very good pals. We shared a lot of wicked secrets. I hold some of the most intimate details of her life. Secrets that must remain sealed up to this moment. Me? I don't have any secrets. My life is an open book. What you see is what you get. I am glad all my secrets were revealed in the 1990's. And I don't intend to have anymore, anytime soon or ever. I am posting this photograph of her and her son, hoping someone she or someone who knows her would see. I am optimistic she will make contact.

This is my partner's claim to an Italian bloodline. he!he! A Marche saint through and through, San Nicola da Tolentino was born at Sant'Angelo in Pontano near Fermo in 1245. He became a friar in the Order of St Augustine and in 1275 entered the monastery at Tolentino where he died in 1305. Although a noted preacher and pastoral worker, his fame rests on the numerous miracles attributed to his intercession. History was made in 1797 at Palazzo Parisani-Bezzi in Via della Pace when Napoleon Bonaparte forced Pope Pius VI to sign the Peace of Tolentino in the wake of his successful invasion of the Papal States. If you enjoy riddles, make for the splendid central Piazza della Liberta' to figure out the multiple clock faces on one of the Marches' oddest Medieval clock towers, including one for the phases of the moon. If the draw of flying saints, Bonaparte and chronological puzzles are not enough, Tolentino boasts The International Museum of Caricature and Humour in Art in it...

It is your birthday today son. Unfortunately, we could not prepare a grand celebration because of you know why. As I mentioned to you the other day, I think it has been the story of your birth date. Nevertheless, I am here to tell you it won't pass unnoticed. It's just that the grand celebration will have to wait. I love you my son and allow me this opportunity to express my thanks to you and for everything you have done for us, for our family. You are a responsible and caring person. In so many ways, you have assisted us during those crucial and countless times. I will never forget them anak. Thank you for the understanding; thank you for your support and thank you for being my son. I love you very much. Please take care of your health. I worry about you, about the sleep deprivation. I know, that's the nature of your work. And again, I ask myself, why can't you just get a day job? (There goes the nag?) I thank God again for you, the happiness and the pride you give me...

It hasn't been easy the past year or so. I realize we all are having a difficult time. Sometimes, it seems there's no letting up. But I know deep within me that this is really just temporary, just like the old times, right? What's more important i s, we remain happy despite the setbacks. I understand you and you seem to be aware of what I am going through right now. Let's keep it that way. But then again, you know what needs to be done next, di ba? So ilabas mo na Asti and the chili crabs together with the relyenong bangus. I am hungry na.

That is as far as my youngest son is concerned. Melody used to be the girl in his life. When she was introduced to us, we instantly like her because she looked amiable, and sincere. She had an open face. My partner and I used to discuss this perception about people having open face. We have always felt that an open face is a happy face, someone trustworthy. What is an open face? I don't exactly know. Is there a technical definition at all? Maybe I should Google it. According to this book I found a person can have an open face by, "raising your eyebrows, creating horizontal lines on your forehead, and holding the position for a short time". Moreover, an open face says, "I care" or "I want us to understand each other". Cool! Wow I didn't know that, but it is actually very near our idea of what the term means. Back to Melody. She was just here recently. Although, she and my son are no longer together, she never stopped communicating with us,...

My father would have been 85 years old last April. He could have been very old, perhaps his back almost hunched, maybe still tinkering around. But I am sure where ever he is, he's happy, settled and enjoying the company of the rest of our relatives who's passed on to the next life. But on Father's Day, 2008, I remember the man who gave me half of my life. On the occasion of honoring all fathers this year I would have dreamed of giving him a complete darkroom facility. A place where would continue to dabble in black and white photography. Yes my father was some sort of an 'expert' in black and white photo development. This in fact was a favorite subject and though unschooled in this area, managed to wow me. In fact he took so many pictures of us his kids, developed and printed them. I still have some of those pictures and somehow, soon will be able to put it in this blog. Taking our photos meant that he would need to develop the pictures. The dark room of the Phili...

I am reposting this because I wrote it initially in 2006. And because I consider Ayat not only my friend but part of my family, she is here:-) . According to the Wikipedia: >Ayah (آية ʾāyatun, plural Ayat آيات ʾāyātun) is the >Arabic > word for >sign > or >miracle >. It usually refers to the 6236 verses found in the >Qur'an >. Muslims regard each verse of the Qur'an as a sign from >Allah >. At the end of each verse, the verse number and a symbol denoting the end of the verse are usually written. This symbol is ۝۝, end of Ayah. Its >Unicode > number is U+06DD. It also conincides with surahs. >

Ayat's been more than a friend to me. She was more like a younger sibling. We talked about life, our families and we supported each other in times of need. At the software company where I met her, se a competent accounting person. Fought for what she believe is right. Never backing down for a single moment. What I like about her is her frankness. She didn't mince with her words. That is why she is trustworthy and our friendship thrived on that. A year after I left that company, Ayat did too. She transferred to a telco. At the same time she put up a small business together with some cousins. With a lot of adventure in her system, Ayat went to Dubai to seek another kind of life. She was here last month. And writing this now makes me miss her.

Ayat was ba ck in the Philippines for 2 weeks. Ayat is a friend from way, way back. We shared so ma ny things, little financial secrets, and she sharing bf things. We have not seen each other since 5 years ago. So, I get excited every time she announces that she's coming home. There's a chance, we can get together. Unfortunately, again this time, she headed straight home to her town in Roxas City. Anyway, I am still thankful that she managed to give me a landline phone call.

This is my son's high school batch mate. He was so proud to tell and show me how talented a dancer Byron is. I am sure you'd agree with him.

I think I have mentioned elsewhere that when I was much younger, my mother and I had ambivalent feelings toward each other. I found her too domineering, to the point of ignoring any reason from my end. On the other hand, she found me stubborn, too smart for my own comfort. She demanded an unquestioning loyalty from me and the rest of my siblings particularly when she and my father decided to part ways. Through all those years, I harbored ill feelings especially those times when she proved herself unyielding, lacking of grace and understanding. But all that is changed now. Looking at her now, I think life's recent blows of up's and downs, have turned her to be more sacrificing and devoted to all her children. I have come to come to terms with who she is, and why she did the things she did. It is very clear to me now that my mo ther just wanted to be a good person. She, being an orphan at a very young age, and herself lacking parental affection set her mind to bring up he...

One of my sons is in Bombay,India and attending a three-week technical training for a networking product. He recently moved from a customer related service job from a large telco to this company which is into network software product marketing and support. Before his move, he mentioned about feeling his career was not getting anywhere because his job at that time although it paid well, kept him stagnant for almost a year. He waited but whatever it was, never came. And so he decided to move on. All I advised him before he made the switch was, "wherever you feel happy and comfortable, that's where you should be. That is all that matters". Before he left, he seemed enthusiastic about the job, beaming with pride that he was selected as one of the trainees. I am praying that he is finally where he deserves to be.

This is another place I dream of visiting. Actually, the photo bears the replica of the Eiffel Tower. It's a souvenir item given by a friend who was there recently. She tells me that specially at night, this amazing man-made structure oozes with life and light and when you're there on top, gives a fantastic and surreal feeling of giddiness. I can only imagine.

Death is nature's way of telling you to slow down. -A.E. Newman Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other. -Francis Bacon Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. -Bishop Hall Sleep is a death; oh, make me try By sleeping what it is to die, And as gently lay my head On my grave as now my bed! -Sir Thomas Browne O eloquent, just, and mightie Death! whom none could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hath dared. -Sir Walter Raleigh Tis after death that we measure men. --James Barron Hope Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives. --A. Sachs Men fear death, as if unquestionably the greatest evil, and yet no man knows that it may not be the greatest good. --William Mitford Death--the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening. --Walter Scott To ...

My Uncle was buried yesterday, Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon, local date and time. His funeral rite was administered by someone who is called a deacon. A deacon is: " a clergyman who assists the bishop and priests. He is ordained, not to the priesthood but to service. He has a three-fold role of service: - Charity in which he is of service to the community. - Word in which he proclaims the Gospel and preaches. - Liturgy in which he assists at Mass, is an ordinary minister of the Eucharist and baptism, witnesses marriages, leads the community in prayer, especially funeral services and the Liturgy of the Hours. The deacon finds his identity not in what he does, but in who he is. Deacons minister in many different settings from the traditional parish to prisons, ...

My Uncle Tilyo who was stricken with Cancer died last Tuesday at 10:00 in the morning, local time. I saw him on Monday and I could not hold my tears when I saw him in the hospital. I whispered into his ear that if he wanted to rest, I thought and along with every member of his family, that he must lean on the Lord to guide and be with him at the end of his road. I told him that my father, his brother-in-law, along with the rest of siblings, an elder sister and a younger brother and other deceased relatives, will all be there at the gates of Heaven to welcome him. Later, his children decided to bring him home because the doctors thought it would be best. What's sad was his determination to reject even the dextrose :-( And so we went home and put him on his bed. He had already began to wither aggressively away. In my mind, it would not take long, from the looks of him, it would not take 72 hours he finally expires. In the afternoon of that same Monday, my son who was with me at the...

She is such a sweet and pretty girl. he was my youngest son's girlfriend for a time. She texted me the other day promising to see and take me out somewhere. I thought perhaps, she already got herself a job. But she just graduated last April 4. One ti me she passed by bringing me these very lovely flowers, which I was able to keep for almost two weeks. When all the flowers wilted, I thought of her and the happy times she spent with us when they were still together. I could not help but feel sad:-( There was a twitch in my heart. I liked the girl very much. For awhile I put the flowers on a nice vase and there it was.I didn't realize I also captured a family photo.

Wedding Paintings from a bygone era. Can you guess the paintings' names and their artists? Thanks are in order to the respective sites where these images were lifted.

No other social practice is bound by custom and tradition than a wedding ceremony. Weddings have been part and parcel of a society's cultural heritage. Regardless of religion and nationality, weddings serve as a memorable occasion meant to be spent in jubilation. It is supposed to be a happy event where every bride and groom pledge to love and cherish each other for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do they part. Oh yes, I have been invited to lots of wedding ceremonies before -- traditional Catholic, Christian, beach, chinese, ibanag, ilocano and visayan, etc. One thing seemed to be in common, there was so much anxiety, you can turn into a nervous wreck if you spent another day in it. The kind of wed dings they do these days are usually reflective of the kind of lifestyle the future married couple eagerly awaits. Large Cathedral weddings have a hodge podge of politicians as sponsors. Small town weddings have the mayors, or maybe Congress people, celeb...

My son's godmother and one of my dearest friends, came over recently to visit. It's been awhile. Lots of things happened in her life. Some good, others not that good. I learned she'd been shuttling to the U.S. for the last year or so. Because, first, her marriage unexpectedly, nosedived. Good there are no children :-( Or is that the reason why the marriage went bad? I don't know. Second, her father was diagnosed with colon cancer last year. Recently, both her mom and dad decided to go back here to spend his remaining time with old friends and relatives and a couple of children and grandchildren. Most of the family is in America, you see. It is so depressing. My friend's dad is a quiet and dignified person possessing an aura of respectability. Kind and gentle, he always was a cool dad, easy to please and chummy to all his children's friends. Why do the good one's seem to go ahead first? Early this month, my own uncle was also diagnosed with lung and liver...

Easter holidays to others is really Holy Week for us this part of the world. Especially to the mature and the elders, Holy Week is a solemn observance of the Passion of Jesus Christ and and His ultimate death on the cross. Throughout the Christian world, today Christ is alive again from the dead. He was crucified , on a Good Friday so God's children shall all be saved. I personally, remember Holy Week through Jesus Christ's Superstar , a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It was adapted for the film with the same title in 1973. To me it is the most contemporary interpretation of man's questioning attitude or doubt if you may towards Jesus, the son of God. Anachronistic as it seems, the opera gives an interpretative accounting of Jesus' last moments on earth.

Black Saturday is the day Jesus God is dead. He's been taken down from the Cross after his crucifixion on Good Friday. He shall rest today. So keep quiet. That's how I remember my childhood's holy week. It is always good to remember for in remembering everything comes to life again. My young and termagant of a mother, my father who loves to tease and cajole my mom every time she spends so much time in Church. He wasn't a good Catholic either. And remembering that brings a smile to my lips and yet I feel a lump on my throat, a tear fell. God Bless My Father. I know he is heaven. It used to be watching penitents, today it's Black Saturday and I blog. My, times have really changed.

For Christians or Catholics like myself, this is the day Jesus Christ died on the cross to save mankind from eternal death. It's been a while that I have practiced the rituals of the Holy Week. Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, The Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday, The Way of the Cross on Good Friday. Black Saturday in Church, with the Lord Jesus wrapped in velvet cloth because he was dead and finally, the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Holy Week is really the continuing story of Jesus' sacrifice, HIS death and HIS Resurrection. Truly a remarkable story of a remarkable God made man. My mother used to tell us that the Holy Week is so sacred that we are not allowed to talk loud, make noise, nor take a bath :-) on Good Friday. That we should make little sacrifices to commiserate with Jesus as he hang out there saying HIS seven last words. I remember, one summer, in Sta Rosa, Nueva Ecija where my father comes from and where I witnessed penitents flagging themselves till their b...

What is it like having a narcissist in your life? Why do you think I ask such question? It is said that narcissism is an illness - starts during childhood or early adolescence where the narcissist suffered from abuse as a child, or traumatized by either parents, authority figures or peers. Narcissistic tendencies are classified as cerebral, that which comes from possessing intelligence or from being endowed with scholarly achievements or it could be somatic, a condition resulting from superior physical countenance or sexual conquests from sexual prowess. Seventy-five percent of those who suffer from narcissism are men. Now, why am I not surprised to see that medical fact? If you want to find out if there are narcissists around you check these out. Five of these conditions confirm that. Good luck. I hope you do not have the misfortune of knowing one. 1. Does the person feel self-important? Does he or she exaggerate his achievements or his talents to the point t...

Last month my cousin's husband died at a ripe age of 49. Stroke. Last week. another cousin informed me her father, my uncle was found to have tumors in his lungs. One is 7 cm in size and there's 10 more smaller ones. This is so depressing. It's been quite... how shall I say it - discomfitting. My cousin died with breast cancer last year. Her husband earlier suffered a stroke and died. Within the same year, another aunt also died of a heart ailment. The other day, I was informed one more aunt suffered a mild stroke. It affected her facial features. It's good that the doctor confirms that it can still be rehabilitated. Whew! And just this morning, THAT uncle with tumor in his lungs now also have it in his liver. Oh GOD! This afternoon my Mom called to tell me she dreamed that we were attending some sort of a big celebration with THAT uncle looking so happy, lots flowers and lots of people in attendance wearing just white and black. This is not good. She insisted that...

I feel for this girl. All the time before the announcement was made on who's going first from the top 12, Ramiel could not contain her seeming insecurity. Her body language reveals that she's about ready to go. What? Without putting up a fight. Girl you have great voice. But be mindful of the songs you choose and the arrangements that is compatible with your true style and voice range. Do not be afraid. You have gotten this far, haven't you? Realistically however, I don't think they will really allow you to win. American citizenship and all, but you are not white, my dear. So, do I detect cynicism here? That's for them to judge :-) Go Ramiel!

Yes, Ryan Se acrest said Ramiel Malubay 's legs are short. Arrggghh. So what? What she lacks in height , she makes up with that great voice and cute demeanor. Okey? Actually, I didn't like what she said the very first time she was chosen to become Top 25. She mentioned about being Asian American not Fil-Am. The fact is she is pure Filipino by blood but American by virtue of being a citizen. Duh! But that's okey because the next chance she got she corrected herself. I hope she lands in the top 5 at least because I think she is good. Better than Jasmine Trias and also more perky. (Although I doubt it. She will I think be one of the first to go Sigh!) Nuff said. Ramiele Malubay's moment in last week's 'American Idol'. (Photo courtesy 'American Idol' website) Here's one news item I like about her joining the Top 12: Fil-Am Malubay Lands In 'American Idol's' Top 12 Guam - Filipino-American Ramiel Malubay made it as one of the ...