Busy...Busy...Busy

Yes, I am alive! I have been so busy these past few weeks as I am sorting out things for our relocation to Queensland, Australia. It is indeed a very big decision since we've been here for 6 years in the UK. I have had many sleepless nights over this particular issue. Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages. And with constant prayers, the decision of moving overrides everything. Another chapter of my life, together with my son Arjo. Life goes on! There are alot of things to thank for. I have been blessed so much. I would like to thank God for everything. There had been a turmoil in my life before. But the most important thing is that I was able to stand up and conquer the storms in my life. I am looking forward to start a new and better life in Australia. Wish me luck!

Book of Love

Here's my recent photo entry taken while relaxing yesterday in my bed. I saw a book and deeply inspired by the song called the "Book of Love" . I've seen the movie "Shall We Dance" (with Richard Gere and Jenifer Lopez) and I love the song featured in that movie. Eventually, I came up with a concept based on the title itself.

An Answered Prayer

It has been a while since I updated my blog. So many things are goin on in my life. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank my family, relatives and friends who helped me in their own way through prayers. God has answered our prayers! Thank you God for everything!!! Amen.

Susan Boyle's Incredible Performance on Britain's Got Talent

... Susan Boyle, 47 year-old, never been married, from West Lothian stunned the judges on Britain's Got Talent. Listen to her as she sings 'I Dreamed A Dream' from Les Miserables. Even Hollywood star Demi Moore has reportedly revealed that she cried watching Susan Boyle's audition on the said talent show contest. The video has grown to become an overnight internet sensation with over 33 million hits on YouTube....and still counting.

Following her performance on Britain's Got Talent, Boyle was a guest on STV's The Five Thirty Show. She was interviewed via satellite on CBS's Early Show and ABC's Good Morning America and via a telephone interview on FOX's America's Newsroom. In an interview, Simon Cowell said Boyle had received an invitation to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show and predicted that if she did appear "there's every chance Susan Boyle will have the number one album in America".

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
Uploaded by dwarthy

My 365 Days Project

I am officially commencing my 365 days project in Flickr. A self portrait challenge! This is my "Day 1" entry. I'm pretty much excited about it and hope I can keep up with it. ;) This is something I could look forward to for a long exciting year. With any luck, 365 days will fly by quickly! tee-hee..

Easter Eggs

Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime. The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth or start of new life.

The oldest tradition is to use dyed or painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute chocolate eggs, or plastic eggs filled with confectionery such as jelly beans. These eggs are often hidden, allegedly by the Easter Bunny, for children to find on Easter morning. Otherwise, they are generally put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird's nest.
Egg hunt is a game during which decorated eggs, real hard-boiled ones or artificial, filled with or made of chocolate candies, of various sizes, are hidden for children to find, both indoors and outdoors.

When the hunt is over, prizes may be given for the largest number of eggs collected, for the largest or the smallest egg.

***********************************

photo credit: wikipedia

The Power of Prayer

"The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully! " (http://www.allaboutprayer.org/power-of-prayer.htm)

...Personally speaking, I truly believe in the power of prayer. In everything that I do I always say a little prayer for His guidance. It is one way of communicating with God. It gives us new ways of seeing life and relationships, of understanding work and the cost of growing. God calls us to pray and through our prayer, God empowers us and gives us strength.

Special Day

I won't let the day pass without greeting two members of my family. These are my lovely niece Latrisha and my big brother Kuya Jojo. Trisha graduated from Prep 1 at St. Agustine International School in the Philippines. She is a dote! Love her. Here are few photos of her and during the graduation. Congratulations, Trisha!




Trisha with Leonard (Trisha's Dad), Malou (my twin sis, Trisha's Mom), Mom, and Auntie Osing (NY)

..And it's Kuya's 43rd birthday. Happy birthday to you. Love you, big bro!

...Kuya when he went to Dubai

Wanna Taste Garlic Shrimp?

Ingredients:

1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 to 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 to 6 medium cloves garlic, crushed and minced
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
salt, to taste

Preparation:

In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat until butter stops foaming, about 30 to 45 seconds. Add the shrimp and garlic and sauté over medium heat, turning frequently until the shrimp just turn pink, about 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the parsley, lemon juice, and salt; stir well. Remove the pan from the heat and serve immediately, with rice or a salad. Serves 4.

Jesus, Take the Wheel

sang by Carrie Underwood

Ave Maria

Simple Things

Life is made up of small pleasures.

Happiness is made up of those tiny successes.

The big ones come too infrequently.

And if you don't collect all these tiny successes,

the big ones don't really mean anything.

by:Norman Lear (1922)

Just Another Ordinary Miracle Today

A beautiful song called "Ordinary Miracle" by Sarah Mc Lachlan.

video credit: etslee

Do You Know About MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for difficult-to-treat infections in humans. It may also be referred to as multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA). MRSA is by definition a strain of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to a large group of antibiotics called the beta- lactams, which include the penicillins and the cephalosporins.

In hospitals, patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk for infection than the general public. Hospital staff who do not follow proper sanitary procedures may transfer bacteria from patient to patient. Visitors to patients with MRSA infections or MRSA colonization are advised to follow hospital isolation protocol by using the provided gloves, gowns, and masks if indicated. Visitors who do not follow such protocols are capable of spreading the bacteria to cafeterias, bathrooms, and elevators.

Check this informative video about MRSA.

video credits: medifix

Signs You Are Living Beyond Your Means

Dwindling savings mean that global households are taking on more debt and are less able to absorb a financial blow like the loss of a job or a downturn in the economy.

If you are concerned that your finances could be in danger, there is a way to tell whether you're in over your head. Answer 'yes' to any of these questions and you could be living beyond your means.

1. You do not have a budget.
2. You rely on your bank account’s overdraft to cover monthly expenses.
3. Clothes in your closet still have the price tags on them.
4. The saleslady knows you by name.
5. You have become a preferred customer.
6. You rarely spend time in the kitchen.
7. The man at the coffee shop asks if you will be having 'the usual.'
8. Your hair costs you half of what you pay for rent.
9. The cab company is on your speed-dial.
10. You lie about what you have spent.

As a nation, we are digging ourselves ever deeper into debt. To avoid becoming part of the gloomy bankruptcy and foreclosure statistics, it's important to measure your financial health regularly.

Philippine Delicacies ("Food Trip")

... I missed our very own food delicacies. I have seen this brave traveller named Andrew Zimmern. He travels around the globe to try various delicacies. In these videos, he visited the Philippines and there it reminds me our yummy foods. ;) Check this out!

Some Rambling Thoughts...in Nursing

I returned to work yesterday from almost two months of leave. It was such a great feeling knowing that I have been missed by my colleagues. They are such cool buddies! As usual the hospital ward is still as chaotic as before mainly because of understaffing (like any hospital wards in the gIobe!). I am very much thankful with the foundation that I developed throughout my early years of Nursing in the Philippines. I just put into practice everything here in the UK. You have to deal with it squarely. I admit Nursing is such a very stressfull and also an exciting profession. It's both rewarding and frustrating, utterly fascinating and dull as tombs at times. However, "someone has to do it!". The weapons we have during stressfull situation is to have a presence of mind....and a very good sense of humour. "It's either we laugh or cry". Which one is better? Of course, the laughter. The longer you are a nurse the more warped your sense of humour becomes. No one outside the field appreciates gross stuff the way we do, especially when it's discussed at the dinner table! ;)

The Golden Rule applies to any situation at any instances. That is exactly how I feel about treating other people. Treat them just like you want to be treated. It is very simple. It's written in the bible. Almost every human being responds to kindness and respect. However, not everyone would respond the same. But that's life! Personally speaking, nursing gives us a different outlook on everything. It helps us grow, deal with things that most people avoid, somethings not fun at all. We see the goodness, the badness, the ugly and the beautiful too.

Five or ten minutes of our time can go a long long way to a patient. Sometimes they just want to talk to us or simply wants to know if somebody is still there when they need help. Imagine them sitting or lying in bed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 days a month. What would be your outlook then? I could hardly be settled if it was me. Patients deserve to be given the utmost care they need.

So many lessons. So many opportunities to grow in compassion and wisdom. And that I thank Nursing!

In Memory of My Dad..

Daddy passed away 5 years ago (24th of March 2004). I have never realized it's five years already. All I could recall are the good times we had. He was such a cool Dad! When things went wrong for me he reminded me that everything would always be all right. He would cracked a joke and for a split second my outlook would be totally different. I have missed that!

It was such a great privilege that I have known the story of his life before he passed away. I made a journal for my family. He lived a colorful and exciting life in the Airforce. It was cut short because of politically motivated instances. He shifted and became a commercial pilot. Everything changed when he fell in love with Mom. Because his flight routes were far from my Mom he resigned to stay near Mom's place. He said he didn't want to lose the opportunity to be with my Mom always. He then became a self defense instructor in NAPOLCOM. They got married and the rest is history.;) I am truly proud of him. Love you, Dad!

Let Us Ride a Vinta

The vinta ( locally known as lepa-lepa or sakayan) is a traditional boat found in the Philippine island of Mindanao. The bamboo amas extend forward of the main hull.These boats are made by Bajau (indigenous ethnic group in Southern Philippines) and Moros (a name given to Muslim Filipinos, a collection of several multilingual ethnic groups, the largest mainly non-Christian lining in the Sulu Archipelago). It has a sail with assorted vertical colors that represents the colorful culture and history of the Muslim community. These boats are used for inter-island transport of people and goods. Zamboanga City is known for these vessels.

photo credits: http://www.pacific-tall-ships.com/Vinta.htm

: Bishop Museum Occasional Papers Vol XXIV

The T'boli Tribe of Mindanao

I am proud to be a "Dabawenya". I grew up in Southern Mindanao (Philippines), a very diverse place to live. Davao is rich with its own cultures, arts and history. It is one of the progressive cities in the country. Tourists and the locals started to appreciate my hometown when the peace and order has been continously secured by Mayor Duterte. Metro Davao was also ranked among the 20 Most Livable Cities in Asia by the Asiaweek. However, the modernization didn't affect the local tribes. The "Lumad" is a term being used to denote a group of indigenous peoples of the southern Philippines.

One of the most recognized tribes are the T'bolis. From the body of ethnographic and linguistic literature on Mindanao they are variously known as Toboli, T'boli, Tböli, Tiboli, Tibole, Tagabili, Tagabeli, and Tagabulu. They term themselves Tboli or T'boli. who are the inhabitants of the Tiruray highlands, southwest of Mindanao, are known for their colorful body ornaments consisting of earrings, lush necklaces, and handcrafted bracelets. They wear a unique outfit called t’nalak, made from woven abaca, which turned out a beautiful mixture of red, brown and beige designs- an extra ordinary work of art that attracted people from all over the world. They are one of those many tribes that have maintained and evolved an artistically rich cultural practices evidently shown in their musical performances. Bamboo tubes, wooden guitar-like instruments, mouth harps, bronze gongs, drums and many more are some of their wide array of musical intruments made out of their own wood products. They are remarkable balladeers singing about their lives and legends, and dance is an essential part of their festivities.

An interesting video I came across in You Tube called "Tboli Weavers and Dancers" by Jerontv. Check this out.

photo credit: wikipedia

Are You Feeling Low?

Are you feeling low? Try to grab a few squares of dark chocolate to boost your mood and energy level. Chocolate can affect the amount of serotonin in the brain. This chemical is known for having an effect on mood, and is regulated by many anti depressants.

One of the substances that makes unsweetened chocolate so bitter, theobromine, is similar to caffeine and theophylline. It, like those substances, is a stimulant. That means that consuming it could make you feel more alert and energetic, resulting in greater feelings of happiness. This chemical was first discovered in cacao beans in 1841 by a Russian chemist, but it wasn t until 1878 that it was isolated from those beans.

However, let us just forget all the scientific basis for a moment. Some things in life we don't need a scientific basis for. Eating chocolate is one of those times. If it tastes good and makes us feel good then enjoy munching chocolate!...... It always works for me!;)

Are You A Victim of Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. Ever. Period. But it does - and when it does, there is help. Maybe you have lived with abuse, maybe it happened just once; maybe you work or live next to someone who is being abused right now.

Domestic violence and emotional abuse are behaviors used by one person in a relationship to control the other. Partners may be married or not married; heterosexual, gay, or lesbian; living together, separated or dating.

Examples of abuse include:
-name-calling or putdowns
-keeping a partner from contacting their family or friends
-withholding money
-stopping a partner from getting or keeping a job
-actual or threatened physical harm
-sexual assault
-stalking
-intimidation

- controlling what the victim can and cannot do

Violence can be criminal and includes physical assault (hitting, pushing, shoving, etc.), sexual abuse (unwanted or forced sexual activity), and stalking. Although emotional, psychological and financial abuse are not criminal behaviors, they are forms of abuse and can lead to criminal violence.Women who are being emotionally abused often feel as if they do not own themselves; rather, they may feel that their significant other has nearly total control over them. Women undergoing emotional abuse often suffer from depression, which puts them at increased risk for suicide, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse.

The cycle can happen hundreds of times in an abusive relationship. Each stage lasts a different amount of time in a relationship. The total cycle can take anywhere from a few hours to a year or more to complete. It is important to remember that not all domestic violence relationships fit the cycle. Often, as time goes on, the 'making-up' and 'calm' stages disappear.

What can you do?

- CALL THE POLICE if you feel you are in danger from your abuser at any time.

- Get support from friends and family.

- Find a safe place

-Get medical help.

- Get a personal protection order.

- Make a safety plan.

Your life and your safety are most important. Trying to bring your children with you is important. Everything else is secondary.

.....If you are being abused, REMEMBER:

• You are not alone!
• It is not your fault !
• Help is available!

****************************

http://www.domesticviolence.org/

Life Metaphors

What are your metaphors? This is not usually straightforward. We have to stand back a long way to see the pattern in our lives. Some people see life as a battle. Every encounter is a struggle, and if they don't win, they feel like they have lost... Others view life as a mountain climb, it consists of hierarchies and they are always climbing the corporate ladder... Or people see life as a race. They always finding the fastest route, "keeping up with the Jonses." "They have this new expensive car, we should have one too!"... Or some people see life as a prison. Feeling like we don't have choices, like others have all the power...These are just a few of the life metaphors that run people's lives.

At this point of my life, I see life as an adventure. A new day brings new opportunities to explore. If something goes badly today, there's always tomorrow. And whatever the case in point, the fact that "it didn't work last time has nothing to do with next time!".

.... What metaphor(s) fit your life?

Thank You, Lord

Honk If You Love Bacon!... Bacon Can Cause Cancer

Typical English breakfast usually consists of bacon, sausages and eggs. Guess what? Study reveals that eating processed meats such as bacon and ham causes cancer, according to a new landmark study. Both red and processed meat were "convincing" causes of bowel cancer. Bacon, like other cured (or pickled) meats such as ham, corned beef, frankfurters and salami, contain nitrite. Nitrite, and sometimes nitrate, both of which occur naturally, are used to produce the characteristic colour, flavour and texture of these products and also aid their preservation. The use of nitrite and nitrate can, under some circumstances, result in the formation of substances called nitrosamines. Nitrosamines can cause cancer in laboratory animals and they may have the same potential in humans. Scary, isn't it? Better think twice now.

But the researchers found that non-starchy vegetables including green leafy varieties, spinach, broccoli, and aubergine, "probably" offered protection against cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, oesophagus and stomach.

The Red Ripe Strawberry

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Who likes strawberry? Strawberries are not common in my hometown (Davao City). The fruit is difficult to grow in a tropical hot weather. I have learned to eat strawberry when I live here in the UK. You could see it everywhere whatever season we have. And for some reason, it becomes one of my favourite subjects in photography. I like the colour and the uniqueness of the fruit itself. Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. It is awesome! Different angle could be interjected and you create interesting shots.

***Strawberry Facts:

• Strawberries are low fat, low calorie; high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, potassium.
• Strawberries, as part of a 5 a day fruit & vegetable program, can help reduce the risk of cancer & heart attacks.
• Over 53 percent of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit.
• The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
• In France, Strawberries were thought to be an aphrodisiac. A soup made of strawberries, thinned sour cream, borage, & powered sugar was served to newlyweds.
  

...(using macro lens)

..Looks yummy, huh! I prepared this for you. Wanna bite?

Its Not About Me

(ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

It's all about you, Jesus

And all this is for you

For your glory and your faith.

It's not about me

As If you should do things my way.

You alone our God

And I surrender to your ways!

***********

I went through some rough times lately. It had been on a whirlwind of a journey and went through some rough patches in life. The only thing that holds me is my faith in God. Faith in God is from the heart. It is not merely intellectual. It is spiritual.... And God, I surrender to your ways!

Wintery Spring...and Stormy

Last night was a horrible one. Who thinks that a storm would hit us at this time of year? I've been here for long but I've never experienced such a weird weather before. It must be due to the climate change. You could literally hear the strong wind and rain pouring outside the house. For some reason, I am scared of strong wind and rain. The chilling temperature outside could be mistaken for winter season. Plus, the quick presence of snow earlier coincides the cold freezy day. Hope it settles a bit soon.

Maybe it is time to have a cup of coffee first! ;) Have a lovely Sunday!

**********

"When you arise in the morning,

give thanks for the morning light.

Give thanks for your life and strength.

Give thanks for the joy of living.

And if perchance you see no

reason for giving thanks,

rest assured the fault is in yourself!"

Enduring Words

I've been a book lover ever since I was a child. Most probably I have gotten the interest from my Mom and Dad. Back home in the Philippines Mom has a wide collection of inspirational books and cooking magazines. I tend to read her books as my pastime. Just earlier I went to shop around and bought this book called "Enduring Words for Everyday Living" compiled by Margaret Miller. It is filled with inspirational quotations we all could learn from. Indeed a very interesting book!

As quoted, In the rush of modern life, too many of us are existing rather than living. Our lives often consist of work schedules, appointments, hastily snatched meals, and an evening in front of the television. It is important to stop to "smell the roses", to enjoy life to the fullest.

Some of life's greatest wonders are the simplest, most common place things like summer's morning, shady trees, or birds twittering at dusk. And many of its pleasures are equally ordinary: arranging a bowl of flowers from the garden, going for a solitary walk, or chatting with friends. And yet, how often do we stop to think about, and appreciate, those experiences? The passages in this endearing anthology help us to look at life with fresh eyes, to "seize the day", and to reflect on what is important. By its very nature, life is full of change, and new challenges constantly come our way.

Here's one of my favourite quotes in the book.

"Ask not what tomorow may bring, but count as blessing every day that Fate allows you"

-by Horace, 65-8 BC.

Have Faith in HIM

Let me share to you this inspirational verses I randomly picked last night before I went to sleep. I browsed my Ipod Touch and look for an e-book to read. There I've seen the Holy Bible. I feel good when I read inspirational words. I browsed on the book of PSALM Chapter 37 verses 3-5.

"Have faith in the Lord, and do good; be at rest in the land, and go for righteousness. So will your delight be in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in Him and He will do it."

"Menudo": the 80's era

(they sang the hit song "Explosion")

...Who could forget these five popular good-looking Puerto Rican singers in the 80's? They were Robbie Rosa, Ricky Martin, Charlie, Roy Rosello and Ray Reyes, They called themselves, Menudo. Menudo was a monster hit in the Philippines in the early 80's. Menudo Mania was hot all over the world. Menudo was in Manila in 1983, 1984 and 1985. I admit I myself was an avid fan of the group. Where in fact me together with my 3 cousins and my twin sister formed our own group. We sang and performed in the television locally in the Philippines following the Menudo's songs (of course, with our matching colorful outfits!). We were so young then. It was absolutely fun! We were called the MENUDA then and later on named the Thunderbirds. We perfected all the songs (even Spanish songs) and the dance choreography of Menudo. It brings back good and fun-filled memories! It just too bad I left our photos in the Philippines. ;)

..Look at Ricky Martin here. ;) He sang "Rayo de Luna".

"Fingerprint", Charice Pempengco's First Single

She performed at "After Oscar's Party". Congratulations, Charice! You make us proud again!

After Short Hiatus

My apologies for my absence. It has been a mad week for me. I got my Queensland Nursing Council registration (Australia) and I am presently working on our visa application. Still have to undergo the medical examination. I have been through the same situation years ago to get to work here in the UK (2003).

Now, why Australia? I believe that there are wider options for my son out there. Their outdoor lifestyle and the diversity. That's the most important thing for me. If it all go through rightly I will be working in one of the big hospitals in Queensland. I hope things will go smoothly, fingers crossed. Will keep you all updated. Have a lovely Saturday!

Let's Talk about Philippine Culture

Wealth and Beauty

The belief that white is beautiful is held by many Filipino women, leading them to stay out of the sun to keep their skin from getting dark. Even at a young age, children are taught and practice this belief. Furthermore, many of these women use bleaching or whitening skin products to keep their skin white, and also use anti pimple or anti blackhead products. This bias towards favoring white skin came from the influential behaviours of the Spanish, and the American during the colonial period, and continues to be used among many Filipinos to this day.

Fatness was once associated with wealth, while being too skinny, on the other hand, a sign of poverty. Nowadays, being slim has become a trend not only among the young but also among the older generations.

Rebonding, and hair relaxing are popular among teenagers. Spa treatments are also famous. Indulging in various salon treatments is a common activity among well-off Filipinos which helps the rising popularity of many salons.

Try Bulad/ Daing/ Dried Fish of the Pinoys

Bulad ("boo-lahd"- for Visayans) or Daing (for Luzonians) : Dried, salted fish. Foreigners not usually like the smell of frying bulad which penetrates deep into the nostrils, but many Cebuanos and Mindanaoans can't get through the day without their plateful of fried bulad and rice. I have seen and tasted the best "bulad" when I went to Cebu City (Philippines). They are the top producers of the delicacy.

Like many other provincial residents, they love their dried fish. Millions of fishes are caught, split open and de-gutted, liberally sprinkled with salt and left out to dry in the hot sun. These fishes are laid on screens so that the process of air and sun drying can occur faster. Used of salt is compulsory to prevent deadly bacteria from forming on the surface of the fish. Once the fish are dry enough, they can be stored for months without risk of deterioration.

My favorite is the boneless danggit . Large or small, the bones had been extracted and the stuff fried up nice and crisp. At least 5 kilos of live danggit to make a kilo of boneless dried fish. I can sit happily at breakfast with several fried bulad na danggit, a sawsawan (dip) of spicy vinegar, a large plate of steaming rice and a fried egg or two mixed in. This is the ultimate comfort food and there is nothing anywhere in the world that comes close to it.

Welcome to Belfast Castle in Northern Ireland

Yesterday morning was a terrific day in Belfast. I had a chance to take some photos again with my favourite castle of all, the Belfast castle. I like the architecture and the great history of the castle. The original Belfast Castle, built in the late 12th century by the Normans, was located in the town itself, flanked by the modern day High Street, Castle Place and Donegal Place in what is now Belfast City Centre.

This was the home of Sir Arthur Chichester, baron of Belfast but was burned down in 1708, leaving only street names to mark the site. Rather than rebuild on the original site, the Chichesters decided to build a new residence in the city's suburbs, today's Belfast Castle emerging as a result. The building that stands today was completed in 1870 by 2nd Marquess of Donegall, and was designed by Charles Lanyon and his son in the Scottish baronial style. After Donegall's death and the family's financial demise, the 8th Earl of Shaftesbury completed the house.

It was his son, the 9th Earl of Shaftesbury, who presented the castle to the City of Belfast in 1934. In 1978 Belfast City Council began a major refurbishment over a period of ten years at a cost of over two million pounds. The architect was the Hewitt and Haslam Partnership. The building officially re-opened to the public on 11 November 1988.

The castle hosts an antiques shop, a restaurant and visitors centre and it is a popular venue for conferences, private dining and wedding receptions.

text source:wikipedia

photography: me (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

My Mission: Make People Smile...in my own little way!

As define in physiology, a smile is a facial expression formed by flexing those muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth. When we think of smiling, we think of the mouth, but the eyes may actually be more essential to a warm, genuine smile. It is customarily an expression denoting pleasure, happiness, or amusement. What do you feel when you see somebody smiling? Is it contagiously affecting your feelings? Yes, it does work for me! A smile can light up a room that full of sorrow. It is also an antidote to language barrier if you simply put it like that. As the old saying goes, "Smile and the whole world smiles with you!"

So don’t hesitate to smile often, even if you don’t have a perfect teeth or a nice gum’s the important thing is you have a nice heart that you can share to the world.

“A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home”

“Always remember to be happy because you never know who’s falling in love with your smile”

***********************

(Arjo )

*************************

Count Your Blessings!
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

My Lucky Escape

I've never celebrated the V-day the traditional way for over a decade now. I always believe that everyday is a special day for me. There were several occasions wherein my life was put into tests (literally between life and death situations).

One unforgettable day was when my twin sister and I got almost killed when 3 grenades exploded inside the church back home in the Philippines (1990's). It was a regular Sunday mass filled with hundreds and hundreds of devotees. We always had a favourite spot to stay inside the church. For some reason, minutes before the blasts both of us decided not to finish the mass because we had a very eerrie feeling and all the songs sang were really solemn and it was like singing in a funeral (not the usual jolly songs in that time of the day). We walked out the church and went home. We never realized that 3 grenades were thrown and 1 of which exploded at the same spot we were both standing few minutes ago. We just realized the incident happened when we reached home because my family and relatives knew that we were there at the mass. The look of relief on their faces said it all. I was trully shocked and it was indeed a lucky escape! God saved us!

I haven't slept yet the night before the incident since I was working on night shift at the hospital. Still contemplating on eveything that had happened, few hours later, I got a phone call from my Senior nurse that I had to go to the hospital to help them since there were hundreds of victims from the grenade blasts that need to be treated. We were running out of hospital staff. I did go even though I hadn't slept for 24 hours already. I had to stay in the hospital ward for another 12 hours. There was no way I could feel the lacked of sleep mode that time.

I literally saw the physical and psychological damages of the grenade victims had to go through. The broken bones, amputated limbs, embedded shrapnels to be operated, the crying and shouting of the victims and families, body counting, etc. The parking area was transformed into a hospital ward. It was like in the war zone! Thinking I would had been there getting the treatment or even counted as one of the bodies inside the body bags.

From then on I just live my life in a day to day basis. Maybe I still have a mission in life. Thats what I've learned from the incident. It was a life changing experience. Always say " I LOVE YOU" to the person you love. Make them feel special all the time. Not just on special occasions. We will never know what lies ahead of us. Just enjoy your life to the fullest. Life is too short to be wasted!

The Heart

"Araw ng mga Puso" or Valentine's Day, February 14th, is a day that traditionally evokes feelings of the heart -- of flowers, chocolates, candle-lit dinner, romance and marriage proposals. But this Valentine's Day, many people are thinking about their hearts in a far more serious way. They're learning that a healthful low-fat diet, getting good sleep, a regular exercise program, shed extra pounds, quit smoking, and finding ways to deal with life's stresses boost heart health.Your heart is an important muscle in your body. Its job is to pump blood and oxygen to all the organs in your body. That is why keeping your heart strong and healthy is so important.

....Don't forget to take care of your heart or it will stop taking care of you!

Staying Positive in Life

Is it an overrated statement? Not at all. Personally speaking, it will make a big difference in a person's life when you remain to be positive. Thought is creative. All thought, good and bad, is creative and tends to become a material thing. That is why we must learn to be more positive. Our environment and all the experiences in our life are the result of our habitual and predominant thoughts. Accept things as they occur, as no force can change what’s intended to happen. During that period you must try to be neutral about the events happening and stay on the positive side. Be calm and composed in facing the situation you are in. This will in turn produce positive results

Negative thoughts can tell us about something that needs our attention. Our job is to discover what needs to be done and take care of it. Many people fail to see a negative occurrence as a learning experience and continue to feel victimized and helpless, ultimately blaming others for what they drew to themselves.You are not alone. You are not hopeless. You are alive, and you are your own person.

Fish Ball Kayo Riyan!

(uncooked)

I miss the fishballs in the Philippines! Fish balls as the name suggests, the ball is made of fish meat that has been finely pulverized. Gourmet fish balls are pulverized by hand. The most commonly eaten type of fish balls is colloquially known simply as fishballs. It is somewhat round in shape and served with a sweet and spicy sauce or with a thick black sweet and sour sauce.
Fish balls in the Philippines are sold by street vendors pushing wooden deep frying carts. The balls are served skewered, offered with a choice of three kinds of dipping sauces: Sour (pale orange colored) - vinegar, water, diced onions and garlic, Sweet (brown gravy colored) - corn starch, banana ketchup, sugar and salt, and Hot/Sour (amber or deeper orange colored) - the sweet variety with lots of small hot chilis added. Dark sauces are rare as these are soy sauce based and soy sauce is expensive in terms of food cost for street food. The latest iteration in the Philippine fishball industry is the introduction of 'ball' varieties: chicken, squid (cuttlefish actually), and kekiam.

....Would you like to try this?

Quote of the Day

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

- by Theodore Hesburgh

A Lesson in Life

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.

If someone hurts you, betrays you , or breaks you heart, forgive them. For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it.

JUST A THOUGHT: Where Did It All Go?

Isn't it a big slap in your face when you have done a lot of sacrifices in your life for the person you loved and he never appreciated even a single thing you have done to him? What about the time when your life was about to go downhill? When you had nothing to prove then. It wasn't an issue before. Who tried to lift you up from there? Where's the respect and trust you used to have? The God-fearing person you seemed to be? Where did it all go? It's so sad that things change when you are brought to a different environment and situation. You are now out of reach! Maybe because of the wrong set of friends, allure of money, the freedom, infidelity, changes of plans, etc. Nobody knows! I just hope people will realise where their roots are. What sort of person were you long before you have these materially evolved- life at present? Now I believe, money is the root of all evil! Money is indeed important, but it is not everything! Just keep in mind, it might be hard to get out of the deep shithole again when no one else is around to help you.

Yes, I did good and bad decisions in life but I have never regretted any of them. I stand by it! I don't blame other person for my own mistakes. In fact, I have learned from them. Lastly, I know I am not a perfect person. But who is perfect, anyway? At least, I am trying to be the best person in my son's eyes. And the rest will follow.

Snowy White

At long last, we finally get snow! The mainland always get a lot of snow this season. First thing that comes into my mind is......where's my camera? :) That's an anticipated instinct of a photographer. I grab my baby and I take some shots outside. Never mind the chilling temperature goes right into my bones. I love the snow but oftentimes I will have to content myself with sitting indoors with a hot milky coffee looking out at it. But that goes after the photo shoot, of course. tee-hee!

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

...my backyard





....my neighborhood

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is Mom's 72nd birthday! This photo was taken (2007) after we watched the musical play "Ms Saigon" at the Grand Opera House in Belfast. At home now, she has a celebration with my family, Auntie's and cousins. I am certain they're having a great time. More birthdays to come, Mommy. Cheers! I love you.....Miss you

Get Support- QUIT SMOKING

A great video about smoking and what it does to you. Quit.... before it's too late!

video: http://www.finallyquitsmoking.net

Try Our "Ulster Fry" Meal

(photo credit: wikipedia)

Never miss a chance to try the Northern Ireland's traditonal cooked meal, the "Ulster Fry". I have been living here for quite some time and this is a common ordered meal from a restaurant.

An Ulster (Irish) Fry is a dish of fried food that is popular throughout Northern Ireland and the three counties of Ulster which lie in the Republic of Ireland (Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal). The Ulster fry is similar to the Irish fry.

A traditional Ulster fry consists of bacon, eggs, sausages (either pork or beef), the farl form ofsoda bread (the farl split in half crossways to expose the inner bread and then fried with the exposed side down),potato bread and tomatoes. Other common components include mushrooms, wheaten bread or pancakes. All this is traditionally fried in lard.

The Ulster Fry is not considered solely a breakfast dish as it is often served for lunch and dinner in households and cafés around the province. Emigrants have also popularised the serving of an Ulster Fry outside Northern Ireland.

Another Filipino "You Tube" Sensation- RIN ON THE ROX

Have you heard "Rin on the Rox" singing? I am truly impressed with their brilliant singing voices. Another Filipino talents this time from California soaring high in You Tube and will soon be known in the US or even worldwide. Just to recap, Arnel Pineda (the main vocalist) of the famous group "the Journey" and Charice Pempengco (handled by no other than Mr. David Foster in USA) were both discovered in You Tube when a fan downloaded their videos. Both Arnel and Charice were seen and invited in the show by the famous Ellen Degeneres and the rest is history. And now the talented duo, "Rin on the Rox"! What really amazes me are their beautiful voices. What makes it even more interesting is that they are both singing in the bathroom!!! It is awesome. Just recently they were seen by Ms. Ellen Degeneres and they're also invited to guest in her show. Well done, girls! Thumbs up!

Rin on the Rox- http://uk.youtube.com/user/hiphoprox

Arnel Pineda -

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pE4DzxvEYCo&feature=related

Charice Pempengco-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K_kJ-i_nqYo&feature=related

US Octuplets Born Today

I haven't handled an octuplets born in my entire nursing career. This must be amazing!

A mother in Southern California has given birth to eight babies, becoming just the second person recorded to deliver a set of living octuplets.

Medics from the Kaiser Permanante Hospital in California said the delivery was a success. Well done!