4-day vacation

It's a long weekend because on Monday (August 30) will be an official holiday.  During the first day, my wife and I went to a tripping to find our permanent residence, however, what we found were too expensive and not within our budget. 

We planned to go to Baguio City or somewhere else but we decided not to push through due to Helena's final review day of the MTAP,  Her education is much more important than our travel, you know.  I hope that she will be selected and be given an opportunity to be in the elite group. 

Hopefully, this afternoon or tomorrow we could go somewhere else to see different places and again experience our family bonding.  

Major Major Comments from Ms. Universe Candidate

I have been watching the Miss Universe beauty pageant and have been praying desperately that Miss Philippines would get the coveted title.  Guess what?  She got a pretty easy question from Mr. Baldwin.  But her major major answer seemed to be unusual for the judges.  You see, before going to the pageant she encountered problems on her documents, moreso, with her nationality issue which created problems (challenges) that almost caused her to being dislodged as a Philippine candidate to that prestigious event.  Isn't that a major issue? Perhaps, the judges perceived her answer, though unnatural, to be dishonest.

She had had all the chance to answer beautifully and indeed she bought time when she told one of the judges "thank you sir, blah...blah...blah...) but she blew it!

Missed opportunity for my bet.  Anyway, Ms. Raj is still young and in fact her answer is not that bad, however, in a pageant there are no wrong answers --- only good and better ones.

God is so Good

Yeheey!  I just claimed my brand new iPod nano 8gb as my prize yesterday.  I would like to thank Rexona and all its staff who are behind this promotion.  BTW, what I bought was a Rexona spray for men worth P150.00 but I got a prize worth P8,500.00 (check the price dude!)  I am so excited, and I can't hide it.  God is soooooooo good really! Here are the pictures of my latest winning...

Lucky Me!

Guys, you may not believe it!

I was on my way out at Watson's, after buying some vitamins and medical stuff,  located at SM San Lazaro Branch, Manila when, suddenly, I was blocked by this beautiful saleslady who offered me to buy Rexona products.  She was so inviting so I indulged to buy (sorry I forgot to ask her name).  I didn't know that there were some perks after buying that thing.

Here was the catch.  That saleslady made me stood about 4 steps from the cabinet purposely-prepared for Rexona's promo.  She instructed me to throw a ball at a 9-hole mold and I unintentionally made a shot at the right corner hole.  Then the saleslady shouted, "Oh man, you got the iPod!"  I shouted back "What?"  She handed me the ball I used then asked me to shoot again.  So I tried very hard to put the ball in the hole I shot earlier, but I missed. I got the lowest hole at the right corner instead.  I was told that I got a key chain.  I was waiting for further instructions when the saleslady, after searching at the room near the cashier's place, told me that her manager was not there so I could pick the iPod nano tomorrow (actually it is today).  She made me sign a receipt and asked me to return at 1 p.m.

I believe I am so blessed because God made me  a shot I didn't know what's at stake. Need I say more?

Reminiscing the Past

I have been thinking of my past struggles, especially my deepest frustration due to the death of my first-born child. It happened years ago but the emptiness still lingers within me.

I still remember that I didn't have the financial capacity to pay for my son's hospital bills that ballooned to P375,000.00. I even asked the help of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the senators. I was so lucky that the former shared a hand.

What a shame! I have been crying most of the time for I couldn't take the body of my child from the hospital (who was frozen) because, again, I couldn't pay. Sorry my baby. Not until I pawned the title of my land (from the province) to the hospital that I got my kid (or else he'll stay there 'til eternity).

Paalam Aking Mahal

Joselito Asi (c) 8 Agosto 2010

 

Akala ko’y tuluyan ka nang nawaglit

Sa isip at puso ko’y ikaw’y tinikis

Lahat ng nangyari’y pilit na inalis

‘Pagkat walang magandang bunga ang maling pag-ibig.

Ngunit ang tadhana’y sadyang mapaglaro

Nakita kang minsang walang kibo

Iiwasan ka sana’t agad akong lalayo.

Ngunit tumimbuwang nadagil ang pinto.

Halakhakan ay di magkamayaw,

Munting pagkakamali ko’y agad sinumbatan

Ngunit nang tingnan ka sa dakong likuran

Kamay mo’y inabot, hiya ko’y naparam

Puso ko’y walang tigil sa pagpintig

Kapag kasama kita’y lagi nang may kilig

Ngunit batid kong mali’t di dapat ipilit

Dahil ikakasal ka na sa kaibigang matalik.

At tayo nga ay nagka’walay

Luha ko kanina’y ngayo’y hikbi naman

Kabiguang dulot tila magpakailanman

Kawangis ng kandila sa init ay nalulusaw.

Agad akong umuwi’t kumuha ng punyal

Isang saksak agad kong iniunday

Sa puso kong bigo sakit ay ninamnam

Buhay kong ito’y akin nang wawakasan

Ngunit bago ako lumisan

Sana'y marinig mo aking hirang

Paalam, paalam

Paalam aking mahal.

IMCS Workshop on Developing Textbooks

Alas, the three-day workshop on Developing Textbook and Teacher's Manuals for Public Secondary Schools was over. The workshop was well attended and our participants were publishers, authors, editors, book designers, and teachers coming from the National Capital Region.  IMCS was able to invite Mr. Antonio Calipjo Go, a long time critic of sick books, who presented his vast array of findings (error-filled books).  Not that I depend Department of Education (which caters to public schools textbooks at this time) but most of Go's findings were on private schools textbooks.  I have been waiting for him to reveal how he was able to get all those findings, what method did he use, etc. because his topic covers research too.  Ah... maybe because of the limited time given to him. 

At one point, a heated argument ensued after topic on tools and minerals were discussed but that was just part of intellectual discussion.  What interest me most was the argument on the word 'observe' wherein one participant stated that, in science, this word is all-encompassing.  Meaning, if you use the word 'observe' it would not only mean to use the sense of sight but the other senses as well. 

BTW, I acted as emcee during the closing ceremony and I was able to make  ad lib(s)

I would like to thank everyone who, in one way or another, helped in making this worthwhile activity a success.

First day at the workshop

Just attended an Orientation Workshop on Developing Textbooks and Teacher's Manuals at Development Academy of the Philippines.  I introduced one of the speakers and I have been busy assisting some of Department of Education's participants.  I was the technical guy this morning and am so proud of it.