Flesh-Eating Disease? Who has it?

Last night, I woke up to a sad story from Facebook. It was a post about the mysterious so-called 'flesh eating' disease in Pangasinan, a province of the Philippines.

According to Philnews, it was Monday, February 24th when Bandila (local news program) reported a said- to-be spreading case in two remote areas in the said province, which alarmed residences and everyone who has heard of it. The 21-yr old woman named Claire is suffering from an unknown disease that causes her skin to detoriate and ants and worms to come out of her decaying flesh.

It became more controversial because it allegedly coincides with a recent prophecy. It was said to have come from an Indian prophet who appeared in April 2013 at the Cuneta Astrodome during the 24th National Prayer Gathering. He prophesied that a grievous disease will spread and consume the flesh of men and will pierce through the bones. He claimed that this disease will begin from Pangasinan, Philippines.

Various reactions spread all over the different forms of media, especially Facebook. While I understand and respect everyone's opinion and understand the signs of the times, I am most upset by those who are indifferent of what the victims are actually going through.

Did you get to see the video? Did you see how much suffering the victims are going through? Would you want your skin to suffer from the same disease?

We are so busy worried about our own salvation, our Christianity, our purity, and our fears for ourselves, and the people we love, that we forget to even be human and compassionate of our brethren. When Jesus was here, thousands of years ago, He was busy comforting those who suffer, praying for the healing of the sick, feeding the hungry, while a lot of the Pharisees are busy protecting their salvation and their images.

Pray for the healing of the victims instead of saying 'yuck'. Imagine what they go through every single day. Imagine the pain and suffering their mothers go through. It could be psoriasis, necrotizing fasciitis, or leprosy. I bet not knowing must have doubled their sorrow.

I am furious by how people can be insensitive. These two victims of this so-called flesh-eating disease could actually be more human than a lot of us with fair and clear skin but have rotting characters.


Sources:

http://philnews.ph/2014/02/25/flesh-eating-disease-spreading-in-pangasinan-video/

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CthXIWKdW0o (Note: The video does not have english translation)

http://www.thesummitexpress.com/2014/02/mysterious-disease-in-pangasinan-coincides-with-sadhu-sundar-selvaraj-prophecy-bandila-video.html

Photo Credit: A screenshot of the ABS-CBN Video. LInk is shown above.

Why I No Longer Fall for Flowers

I initially planned to post this last Valentine's Day but thought of moving it to today just so it doesn't get drowned by all the love waves of the day.

First of all, let me make myself clear. I have high respect for men who take the time to buy their women flowers and chocolates. Any woman who receives a gift will surely appreciate the gift and the giver.This post is just to explain that some women may already be looking for something more than what everybody else is doing, myself included.

I no longer fall for flowers because:

1. I have seen the act since childhood.

When I was kid, my father gave my mother flowers on different occasions. It was sweet of him. However, my mindset changed when he gave her a bouquet of flowers made of plastic material. At first, we all laughed at the idea. But when the days passed, we got the point. A lot of things have already happened and the flowers are still there. We’d, sometimes, even joke about it. “Baka mabasag iyong regalo ni Nepo kay Dolores.” (Careful not to break Nepo’s gift to Dolores).

We got the point. It stays longer, thus, it reminds longer.

2. I have already experienced it.

I have received flowers from relationships I have been. Thank you, gentlemen! It was sweet of you, but I was already swept away by a man I know since I was born. My father was the first man who has ever given me flowers for an occasion I could no longer remember. He gave me one rose he got from somewhere.

I remember Pastor Paolo Punzalan of Victory Fort when he preached and advised the fathers of the church to give flowers to their daughters and sweep them off their feet, so when the right time comes and a guy does it for them, they already know better. They will know that merely receiving flowers from a man does not say equal love and that there are more important things that a girl should look for in a man.

When I was a high school teacher for seven long years and for every occasion I can think of, I’d bring home bunch of flowers. I got used to it. To me, it became the easiest way to please a lady. I appreciated it but I will not fall for it.

3.I want something else.

The best gifts I got (whether from a romantic or friendly relationship) are those that are well-thought of. I got a view of a lagoon, a second-hand cassette tape of a favorite rock band (yes, tape!), a compilation of my favorite songs produced in the same year, a ticket to NU 107 Rock Awards, a ticket to a concert, a red lamp that matches my red room, a McDonalds breakfast inside a car parked in a spot overlooking a city at night, a set of sexy undergarments, an artistic photo of me, and a lot more interesting ones that I will intentionally not mention here for a reason.

Gentlemen, am not saying that you stop giving flowers. Am just saying that you get to know your lady more. You will be surprised by how much she will fall for it.

As for me, an edible flower will do. Just like one of the flowers you can see from my photo.

Happy Valentine's Day, all!

It Could Be Me

Photo taken in HK in August of 2009.

Last February 7, a devastating vehicular accident happened involving one of the buses of Florida Transport on a newly-opened route to Bontoc in the Mountain Province.

The tragedy had taken lives including a famous local artist and comedian Arvin "Tado" Jimenez, and a Dutch traveler named Anne van de Ven.

According to GMA News, the 26-yo Dutch planned two-month stay in the Philippines. She quit her job as a primary school teacher to devote her time traveling the world. She had traveled to South America, China, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Indonesia, and was set to go to Australia after the Philippines.

When I first found out about the accident, about Tado, Anne van de Ven, and the other travelers and artists who were there when it happened, one thing went to my head, "It could be me."

I travel a lot and every single time I leave my home and pack my bag and step on that bus or plane, it always crosses my mind that it could be my last.

Every day, for every single thing we do in life, we actually surrender to the possibility of it being our last. So, like what I always, always say:

...so short a life, so many things to do, so many people to meet and love and hug, so many food to taste, so many places to explore, so many experiences to learn from, and so much of God's love around, I can't waste time.

And to the wanderlust in Anne van de Ven, in me, and all the passionate travelers in the world, everything is an adventure. Even death may not be an end.

Let me end this writing with a quote from Anne, which I got from the same source (GMA News),

"I walk around the globe, visit exotic places, meet new people, different cultures and live my own vision of freedom. I chose to be a professional dreamer," she wrote last Christmas. "And when I lie awake at night and think about all the misery in the world, I try to think of what I do like, because my sense says that it could go either way."

Pinoy 101: Po and Opo

Filipinos are known for being very polite. This is very evident in the way most of us communicate. Our upbringing taught us to recognize age, hierarchy, order in the family, title, and job position, when communicating. Our voice tone varies and depends on who we are talking to. The tone of voice and loudness may be low when talking to someone we should be respectful of.

A Pinoy may talk to his Nanay (mother) using an entirely different tone from when talking to a friend. A confident and loud voice may be seen as disrespect.

Aside from the tone of voice, we also consciously add the term Po at the end of our sentences. Examples are, “Excuse me, po.” or “Thank you, po.”

Po is a polite expression. We have been taught by our parents to use it when we talk to someone older, stronger, or more powerful than us. We also use Opo, which is equivalent to ‘Yes”, when answering. A person, especially a kid or someone young, who answers a plain Oo (another term for Yes) may be seen as disrespectful and has not been properly trained by the parents.

Even when we get older, we still feel the need to talk with Po and Opo, so don’t be surprised if you hear a Filipino end a sentence with Po or answer you with Opo. We just want to show our respect.

You may also find this entry from this link.

Today, I Bought Maps

Today, work drained the energy I got left for the day. I can sense my brain shutting down.

So I bought maps.
Yes, a World Map and a Philippine map.

I have always wanted one on my wall but didn't find one that's affordable for me, but today, I settled for a cheaper version and I didn't mind.

I posted it on my wall and started mapping the international travels I've already done with a brown thread and red one for the upcoming. I'd have to decide on what color to use for my dream destinations.

It's nice to see the world from the top view in a totally different perspective. I will travel until my last breath and until there's none to go to and no one to meet. I wish to see the world this way - from above, whether am in heaven or an airplane; from below, whether or not I know how to swim; from land, whether or not it's familiar.

Come away with me.
All you need is time.
And a map.

PINOY 101: Pinoy

Pinoy is a colloquial term for a Filipino. For the gender sensitive and those who want to be politically correct, we use Pinoy for the male and Pinay for the female.

It is derived from the last two syllables of Filipino added with a -y, which is very common in Filipino nicknames, thus, explains President Benigno Aquino’s campaign title, P-Noy, which was derived from his nickname, Noynoy, and the word Pinoy.

It was said that Pinoy initially used to distinguish the Filipino-Americans who migrated to the US. It was later widely accepted by many Filipinos and eventually used to refer to all with Filipino descent.

It was made even more popular by media through slogans and campaigns, shows, music, and the likes. Examples are folk song, Tayo’y Mga Pinoy (We are Pinoys), late Pinoy rapper Francism shirts, songs and stickers, terms like Pinoy Rock and OPM (Original Pinoy/Pilipino Music) and a lot more.

Other terms are Noypi (reversed version of Pinoy), Kabayan (refers to a fellow Filipino seen outside the Philippines), Kababayan (more formal term of Kabayan), or Juan Dela Cruz (the counterpart of Uncle Sam).

We, Pinoys, are proud of our culture and heritage. It’s called Pinoy Pride.

This post can also be found from this link.

Stay In It: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I bought a Canon EOS500D in February of 2010. Since then I ventured into photography. I went inside a different world. My fingers slowly learned to play with manual mode. My eyes began to see things in a different perspective, and wished they could take pictures.

Two years ago, I stopped. I wrapped my gear with a cloth bag and kept it inside my cabinet. It has been there ever since. For some reason, unknown to me then, I stopped. I traveled to so many places without it. I settled with a mobile phone that could take pictures. I have experienced so many things, tried so many adventures, tasted so many foods, and ventured so many roads without my camera.

I felt bad. I felt like I have let so many good photo opportunities pass by, like I failed to capture them. Until I saw this movie I have been waiting for. A scene from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty made me understood myself.

I won't give much details about the movie and I will go straight to that favorite conversation.

Start

Walter Mitty found Sean O'Connell in the Himalayas trying to photograph a rare snow animal. Sean is a photojournalist for LIFE magazine both work for. When the animal suddenly appeared before Sean's camera and their very eyes, Walter asked,

Walter Mitty: When are you going to take it?

Sean O'Connell: Sometimes I don't. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.

Walter Mitty: Stay in it?

Sean O'Connell: Yeah. Right there. Right here.

End.

Now I understood why I stopped taking photos for a while. For a moment, maybe it was because I didn't want to be all consumed more by how beautiful my photo will turn than actually seeing the real beauty of that picture perfect moment. Maybe, I didn't want to miss it. For some moments, I'd get frustrated that the camera could not depict the real beauty I was seeing. That's why I just let my eyes take the photo and my mind to keep it. Like what's mentioned in the movie, "beautiful things don't ask for attention."

Am sure I'll use my gear again. Maybe, I won't. For now, let me stay in it. Right there, right here.

My First Dog Love

Saw this kid in Pangasinan while I was on the bus to Manila. He was eating a biscuit and was sharing bits and pieces of it to the dog beside whose tail is wagging endlessly.

My first dog's name is Magic. He was the one and only dog my family took care of. When a younger brother (third) came to the family, we didn't get another. It only took Magic to make me understand what I understood then and what I understand now - just one dog to make me love all the dogs in the world.

He was my first dog love.

Parents, teach your kids to make good friendships, so that when they get old, they will not depart from it.

This post can also be found from this.  

TRAVEL SNIPPETS: Selfie with Jake

Jake is a 12-yo kid who works at the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad, PH. He goes to the farm every weekend to lend a hand and get paid. This helps him help his parents bring him to school. He will be in high school very soon. You could see his excitement when how his eyes lights up when talking about high school.

He works with a ready smile all the time. He ends his sentences with a “po” (a word in the Filipino language that expresses courtesy) always. When he felt comfortable talking to me, he shared stories of the people he met at the farm. You could say he was proud of the friendships he made. I’d like to think he was happy and proud to meet me, too.

He wants to become a teacher.

It was a short encounter but it was meaningful.

Thank you, Jake, for this wonderful chance to have a photo with you. I hope that you reach your dreams. Hope to see you again soon.

You Still Have the Candy

Am out of town with friends this weekend. Yesterday, while we were waiting for the rest of the group to get ready for dinner, some of us decided to turn on the tv and catch whatever we can.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on! I've seen this twice and it never ceases to capture me. Today, another line hit me.

SPOILER ALERT

Willy Wonka, the owner of the reopened chocolate factory, has released an invitation to five lucky kids who will find the Golden Ticket from five of his many chocolate bars released to the public, to visit the factory.

Charlie, a kid from a very poor yet loving family, dreams of getting one of the tickets but knows that his chance is slim, almost none. His loving parents (and bedridden grandparents) wanted to support his dream. On his birthday, they bought a chocolate bar hoping he would find a ticket. His dad just lost his job so buying the chocolate also means they have given up the money they would have used for food.

When Charlie's father handed over their gift to him, the whole family was happy to see a Willy Wonka's chocolate bar. His father said, "Whatever happens, you still have the candy."

End.

When we don't get what we want, the tendency is to ignore what was given instead. Whatever happens, you still have the candy. You always have a candy.

Photo: Hot chocolate from Gloria Jean's