On Our Own at Last!

I found our new apartment at Sta. Cruz, Manila and it rocks! Yeah. Not only that it was near to SM San Lazaro where my kids used to stay during the warm afternoon but it was also adjacent to ALPS bus terminal were my sister was in the habit of sending some valuables from Oriental Mindoro. My schedule changed since I do not wake up as early as 3:30 a.m. just what I did in Navotas.

Found a New Apartment

Finally, after 5 years(?) of living with my parents in-law we will have the courage to transfer to our new apartment at Kalimbas, Manila, Philippines. I (with my wife) have been searching for a better place to live since my daughter Helena wakes up at 3:00 a.m. just to go to school. So we will finally leave Navotas and will look for better or should I say greener pasture there.

BTW, I found the new place quiet and serene. It's near to Helena's school too so I wouldn't wake up at 3:30 a.m. just to accompany her to the school.

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'Have been addicted to Farmville for 2 straight weeks now.. I hope my chess games won't suffer. I am now on Level 18.

Chess Invitations

I got invitations to play in a chess team tournament from two teams. I'm having a hard time to choose. Hopefully it would be settled right away.

By the way I would like to congratulate Super GM Wesley So for beating the mighty Super GM Vassily Ivanchuk during their Round 2 chess encounter in the World Cup.

There are too many heroes in the Philippines today. Congrats.

To follow the World Cup games please click this link Chess in Khanty-Mansiysk

New Website for IMCS

I just finished 3 web pages of IMCS new site. Hopefully it will be over this week. I used weebly.com as suggested by one of my sensei's from Okinawa.

By the way this is our new site http://imcs.weebly.com

Feel free to make suggestions and comments. The IMCS site is still under construction, though.

Regards to all.

National Anthem Wrongfully Sang

I am attending a workshop at RELC-NCR Marikina and doing my usual morning routine when I overhead the singing of the national anthem from a nearby secondary school. Mind you, the singing is led by one male student who misses three lines of the song. Everybody is shouting and laughing. Moral of the story: learn the lyrics of the song and be confident in singing.

Pacquiao Annihilates Cotto

Photo Credit: Internet (I forgot the site)
How nice to see my countryman Manny Pacquiao annihilating (sorry for the word) the equally talented Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. I am so nervous during the first round as both players exchange hard punches. Every time Manny gets hit I felt the pain inside me. As the game progresses the excitement continuously grow. Come Round 3 and a wicked right cross (is that really a right cross?) from Pacquiao decked Cotto to the canvas.

I jumped. No. Everybody watching jumped as we exchanged high fives at the RELC-NCR in Marikina. Wow. Manny's punch was indeed extraordinary.

The game ended with a TKO during the final round. As Manny gave a 3-punch combo Bayless immediately stopped the fight probably to protect Cotto from further injuries.

Congrats Manny! You made us Filipinos great again.

Helena's Birthday

We celebrated the birthday of my daughter Helena Beatrice at Chef d' Angelo at SM San Lazaro. What made the day interesting was that we ate for free. It was Helena's prize during the costume party days ago at the same mall. Whattaday!

Fun After Weeks of Work

After series of sleepless nights our group from SoftDev't KCTC, once again reunited at Pizza Hut @ Robinsons Galleria to enjoy the evening we rightfully deserve.

Halloween Show at SM San Lazaro

I went to SM Manila to witness the 2009 Halloween Costume Party, it so happened that my two kids were also participants. I enjoyed the party of course. BTW here are the pictures...

My Computer Crashed

I was about to finish my database when suddenly my computer crashed. Whew... I have been working on my database for weeks now and all my efforts went to naught.

Unanswered Prayer...

Two days after I got a "your wish is granted" comment from my parish priest, here I am too lonely to hear the "declined remarks" to join the Japanese Scholarship from my superiors. I felt so low. I thought I was a little form surrounded by the head and foot of a parenthesis.

Prophecy

My lofty ambition was really intensified by the remarks I've got from the following: 1)a friend from Caloocan, told me that he could still foresee another scholarship for me; 2) my daughter Helena always include me on her prayers and have been seeing how many toys she could have once I'm there; and then my parish priest told me two days ago that my wish will be granted (I requested for the scholarship). None of these happened, err... maybe in the future, who knows?

Conflict

I prepared for this chance to compete with the best in the bureaucracy and it's a gauge on how far I could go. But I was literally shot before I could start.

Strange Feeling

Perhaps the happiest person now should she receive this information would be my wife. She really dislikes me to leave.

Home Anew!

I went to my hometown yesterday, in haste, to see once again the festive celebration at Barcenaga, Oriental Mindoro. I immediately ordered my wife and kids to go to the JAM bus station for a long drive to Batangas Pier. We missed the 12:00 midnight Ro-Ro ride though due to slow driving mode of the bus driver, instead we catched the 2:00 a.m. ride. Every one felt haggard and wasted because of the long trip.

It's been a long time since I last set foot at our island. I couldn't barely notice the young people I confronted with. The youngsters were very tall I supposed. I came here for two reasons: first, to attend our town fiesta and second, to seek for spiritual blessing from my parish priest regarding my quest for scholarship. I been a fan of spiritual blessing since I got it from a priest at Baybay, Leyte. There was an international conference that time and I was about to take the examination for teachers. The blessing was very effective since I passed the examination now I'm hoping that this request would still be an effective one. I hope that my superiors would let me join and compete in the Japanese scholarship.

As usual, the fiesta celebration had been attended by various people from different places and the extravagant and lavish food were visible all over households. When I was younger I remembered that during fiestas there where shed of blood that arised because of drunkness, well this one is not different. It just came to my knowledge that series of fights happened near our place and one of the victims was at ICU.

Speaking of my visit, I ate several sets of food prepared by my sisters and enjoyed my experienced here. My ageing mother is still on her good mood and what touched me most was when I overheard her saying, "I am happy because everyone comes but what would make me sad is when all of you leave." Whew...

I played chess with my colleagues from the Calapan Chess Club and visited "peryahan" and "tianggehan".

I offered a mass (8:00 a.m.) delivered by the provincial bishop. I have been searching for him for guidance but instead saw my town priest.

Tomorrow we would leave for Manila after enjoying two-day stay.

Family Prayer

I was really stunned to hear the prayer request of my daughter Helena yesterday. Know what? She petitioned for the approval of my scholarship to Japan, new house, etc. For her age I really couldn't believe she would say that.

Words of Encouragement

I received a text from someone regarding my application for scholarship in Japan. Her help was kind of moving me to another level. Imagine, I don't even know her yet she gave me some tips and encouragement.

Though I knew my success is no longer in my hands am so happy to receive such gesture.


>>>>>>>>>>>>

For the past weeks I have been working on my office database but wasn't able to finish it due to Ondoy and Pepeng's wrath. Classes were canceled and suspended most of the time.

Grand Prix Executive Chess

I participated in the 2009 Grand Prix Executive Chess at the Department of Agrarian Reform for the month of October and sad to note that I was totally outclassed by my opponents. It seemed that my line for King's Indian (Saemich Variation) was outdated as I was beaten blue on the opening stage of my Game 1. Game 2 was a drawn game but I pushed harder to win then ended up losing. I won both Games 3 & 4 and I was so happy to show the real me by providing by-the-book moves. Unfortunately, Game 5 was so frustrating. I used Caro Kann but my opponent knew this variation better. I ended up going home empty-handed but full of lessons learned due to experience.

I Will Persist Until I Succeed (by Og Mandino)

I was not delivered unto this World in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I will hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. The slaughterhouse of failure is not my destiny.

The prizes of life are at the end of each journey, not near the beginning; and it is not given to me to know how many steps are necessary in order to reach my goal. Failure I may still encounter at the thousandth step, yet success hides behind the next bend in the road. Never will I know how close it lies unless I turn the corner.

I will be likened to the rain drop which washes away the mountain, the ant who devours a tiger, the star which brightens the earth, the slave who builds a pyramid. I will build my castle one brick at a time for I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking. I will persist until I succeed.

I will never consider defeat and I will remove from my vocabulary such words and phrases as quit, cannot, unable, impossible, out of the question, improbable, failure, unworkable, hopeless, and retreat. I will avoid despair but if this disease of the mind should infect me then I will work on in despair. I will toil and I will endure.

I will remember, the ancient law of averages and I will bend it to my good. Each frown I meet only prepares me for the smile to come. Each misfortune I encounter I will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. I must have the night to appreciate the day. I must fail often to succeed only once. I will persist until I succeed.

Never will I allow any day to end with a failure. Thus I will plant the seed of tomorrow's success and gain an insurmountable advance over those who cease their labor at a prescribed time. When others cease their struggle, then mine will begin, and my harvest will be full.

Nor will I allow yesterday's success to lull me into today's complacency, for this is the greatest foundation of failure. I will forget the happenings of the day that is gone, whether they were good or bad, and greet the new sun with confidence that this will be the best day of my life.

So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For I know one of the principles of success - if I persist long enough I will win.

I will persist! I will win!

Wishful Thinking...

Barely three days to go and my application for JICE scholarship will be forfeited. I have been waiting, longing, and praying that my request for a nomination from my Director be granted. Time was against me. Two weeks were wasted by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng now I have nothing to blame but my self. How I wished I prepared my papers long time ago. How I wish I talked to my superiors before. How...

Letter to a Friend

I have been consistently writing a letter to my friend for almost 4 years now and I haven't got a response. It seems that I was forgotten. Yesterday I sent her my last mail.

Missing Japan

I been missing Japan. I hope I could still study there.

New Computer Course for Me

Whew!

I stopped, one day, at the Strata Building near Ortigas and watched the courses offered for IT enthusiasts. I noted that it was free once you passed the examination they would give. I looked at my watch to see if there was still time left for me to take the test. It was 5 p.m. I immediately went to the 18th floor and talked to the one in-charge of Software Development class. She asked some personal information and hastily gave an oral examination. I won't discussed it here so that others wouldn't know the answers. It was about logic dude! Maybe I don't have it that time hahaha. To make the long story short, I was given a chance to be included in the shortlist of wannabe students.

The subjects that were given include: "Java, HTML, Dreamweaver, MySQL, etc. I have had knowledge on HTML and Dreamweaver because I studied it in one of my trainings in Japan but I don't have idea with the rest of the subjects. So I felt very excited to know more programming languages. As the course progressed the degree of difficulty have continuously bothered me. Hmmmp... Why didn't I learn these stuffs when I was younger.

2009 Sportsfest at DepEd

Whattaday!

I had the chance to witness the wonderful activities this morning. However, I wasn't able to participate actively due to various assignments at the office. The employees at DepEd have had their talents and skills exerted during the event. I'm so happy to be able to have a photo opportunity with the future Senator of the Philippines, DepEd Secretary, Jesli A. Lapus.




To see more pics please click this >>>link<<<

A Creed to Live By

"Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special."

"Don't set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you."

"Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless."

"Don't let life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life."

"Don't give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

"Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave."

"Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love, the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly and the best way to keep love is to give it wings."

"Don't dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope, and to be without hope is to be without purpose."

"Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been but also where you are going. Life is not a race but a journey to be savored each step of the way."

- author unknown

Dismal Performance on My Chess Tournament Competitions

After a long layoff on over the board (OTB) chess competition I found this signage at Hulong Duhat Court in Malabon that says "There will be a chess tournament on August 30, 2009." So I immediately joined the competition without preparation (again). The good thing about this tournament was that my twin brother (who's in Makati for a training) joined me. You must know how it felt to play with someone who's giving some motivation. I was also appeased with the support I got from my wife and kids who stayed in the tournament hall to give me some energy and needs.

The first challenge was the simultaneous event that fitted IM Barlow Nadera against 22 players. I joined that event. I had a good position and had been thinking that I could at least salvage a draw. But I missed strong lines after I succumb to follow his fast moves (I suffered that sad fate also in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur when I found out that my opponent [Basilio Pandan] had 1 minute left on his time clock. A lesson I didn't learn, err...

The next challenge was the tournament. My first game ended in a draw, though I could have won it, rustiness took its toll against me. I felt my old form during the 2nd and 3rd games, I demolished my opponents convincingly. It was unfortunate to lose a drawish position on my 4th game, I'm so sad to experience that (but I felt the joy in losing, that I always wanted to come back and win). I won the 5th game in a controversial manner. I was about to move when a sudden push at my back got me conscious. I didn't know that my opponent left his Queen en prise, so I immediately took it and my opponent hastily resigned after saying words that I got help from my colleague. But the truth, I was just galloping for moves and my first choice was the rook move and not the Queen takes. Games 6 and 7 ended in fighting draws. Though in game 6 I could have won had not I hesitated to dare in making a very simple but effective move. Game 7 was a very difficult game, at stake on this game was the "Top Navotas Player" award. My opponent kept seeing good move after good move. We were down to the last 1 1/2 minutes of time control and I spotted a drawing chances and I grabbed it. What a relief! A very nice feeling, really. Though, I missed the award I obtained a personal victory of not stumbling during tough games.

My score was a modest 4.5/7 on 2 wins, 3 draws, and a solitary loss.

Travel to Iloilo City

Had my trip to Iloilo City and stayed there for 3 long days. I worked with my colleagues from DepEd and had a great time dealing with teachers, principals, and supervisors. Our group was tasked to search for potential textbook evaluators on MSEP, EPP, TLE, Filipino, and Values Education subjects.

I returned to Manila at about 4:30 this afternoon and after taking my things at the baggage carousel I immediately went out of the NAIA Airport only to be stalled by long lines at the gate. So, I fall in line using the first queue but this certain group (with some tools) from the 2nd line encroached on our path so I told myself "why the guard inspected their baggage(s) first" which one of them overheard. So a little confrontation ensued and of course I stood firm and told this guy who confronted me that they came from the 2nd line, etc. Hmnn...I wasted my 10 precious minutes there.

Please press this link for the pictures...

Travel to DepEd RELC-San Fernando, La Union

I had a worthy experiences at San Fernando City. I met so many interesting people. La Union was a very important place for me. I will not forget that special incident some years ago. The people at DepEd regional office had been very helpful in transmitting some important documents to JICA Office that helped me in getting an international scholarship.

This week's visit wasn't different I really felt that I have never been away from home and I enjoyed every minute of my stay here.

To see some highlights of the activities please press this link >>>

The English Language

Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?
Let's face it
English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught.
If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!
English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)
That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.

- adapted (author unknown)

Travel to DepEd RELC-Tuguegarao City

July 27, 2009
Rode in a Victory Liner and had a 12-hour trip from Manila to Tuguegarao City to conduct a Regional Screening of Potential Textbook Evaluator

July 28, 2009
Had an orientation, examination, and interview sessions with the participants.

July 29, 2009
Continuation of interview and examination sessions

July 30, 2009
Finalization of output

July 31, 2009
Arrived from Tuguegarao City from a 10-hour trip through Florida Transport, Inc.

Press this to see pictures

DVD Marathon

I don't have office work today so I watched various DVD tapes. I almost had an eyesore. I watched the following movies: Mr. Bean series, The Grinch, and Diamonds are Forever (James Bond)

Stranded in Navotas

It was 4:30 a.m. when I heard Sec. Jesli Lapus announced on a radio station that there will be no classes for pre-school and elementary pupils today. That means I won't accompany my daughter to her school. I immediately rushed to do my usual morning routine before going to my place of work. Conspicuous was the high water level in the streets before I rode a tricycle. After reaching Hulong Duhat, I transferred to a jeepney only to be stalled to a nearby street due to flash flood. I alighted the vehicle and went back home the hard way (walking through deep water).

I again took a bath and after that made a short nap. After gaining some strength I opened my PC and played some chess games online then I searched for some DVD tapes and watched movies like "Sinjuku Incident," "Bente," and "Fast and the Furious 4."

Sad Fate

Whew...

I just came from witnessing the funeral of my new born niece Ayessa at Ibaan, Batangas. I felt the pain being experienced by my twin brother Noel and his wife Amor. During the first wake, tears were unassumingly longer than usual, sadness were all over the place, and everybody felt wasted. It was good that during the next day everyone recovered on time.

Best regards to both of you Bro. Noel and Amor. Take care always.

English Language Review

I spent the last four days of the week reviewing IELTS with my favorite mentors at Quezon City. I learned a lot from this semi-workshop and mind you our mentors were so generous for providing us with kits and food as well. Our group from IMCS asked our instructors regarding the fees we would pay, however, we were told that everything would be gratis. Instead, we bought a presenter and audio system for them. I was so grateful to see their Mom too who cooked sumptuous dinner and lunch for us. Thank you so much.