Remembering Shiela Marie Advincula

I was multi-tasking this morning (like I normally do)---cooking breakfast and surfing the web---when out of curiosity I had this narcissistic urge to Google my name.  Well, most of the hits pointed me to my blog site but there was this site, melanieuchi.multiply.com, that apparently mentioned my name.  Apparently, it was a rollcall of sorts with a bunch of other names (a couple of which were officemates) and then I realized that it was the blog site of the aunt of a former officemate's nephew who had bone cancer.  She made a blog to thank those who contributed for her niece's chemotherapy way back in 2007. 

Her last post was dated November 26, 2007 and I wanted to think that the date did not mean the worst of thoughts.  Unfortunately, it was.  Her name was Sheila Marie Advincula---SM for short---and she was 10 years old when God took her to become one of His angels.

The blog site contained  pictures of SM during the various stages of her treatment and I found it ironic that there's this little girl suffering from a debilitating form of cancer still able to smile while other people sulk and curse with their petty problems. 

Sheila Marie may not have lived to enjoy a full life but she left us with a lifetime lesson that our existence is how we choose it to be and no matter the circumstance that we find ourselves in---it's all a matter of how we want to deal with it.  Life is a CHOICE.   

May eternal light shine upon our beloved SM oh Lord and may she rest in peace.

It's a wonder how SM can still smile given her situation...

Are you Getting the Right Caffeine Fix?

My craving for java is stemmed by the need to be awake durng those unholy hours which for me is around 7am when I settle my sweet ass on my office chair and around 2pm in the afternoon when all logic seem to leave my mental processes and I go into crash mode.  Thanks to Standard Chartered I usually get a free large gourmet cup in the morning on my way to work.  In the afternoon, I'd get my caffeine fix at the office pantry or if the state of my wallet permits, from a nearby Starbucks outlet. 

Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant which temporarily wards off drowsiness and restore alertness. Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance which maybe the reason why gourmet coffee shops has become a booming business venture.  Technically, they are legal drug dens.  Of course, coffee is not cocaine, cannabis or LSD.

Anyway, given the end in mind and after reading Starbucks' Nutrition by the Cup brochure, I have come to realize that I'm ordering the wrong drink.  Normally, I 'd vary my order from a Caramel Macchiato or Caffe Mocca but based on the brochure I can only get a maximum of 180mg of caffeine in a venti size order.  Funny thing is I thought that going venti will actually give me extra caffeine---WRONG!  You still get the same two espresso shot whether it's a grande or a venti.  The additional 4oz is milk.  That would just be like additional cream to the standard two packet order.  No wonder the price difference is but a couple of pesos only!  Ingenious strategy to upsize I should say.  So I suggest that unless you want to pay P10 more for additional cream on a Venti Caramel Macchiato go grande instead and just get additional cream packets from the condiments table.

Now, if it's a wake up jolt you want ,order for a brewed coffee where you can get up to 400mg caffeine trip guaranteed to give you four hours of mental alertness.  Naturally, it does not have the same creaminess and flavoring of a Caramel Macchiato but it does gives you the necessary kick to survive the rest of the afternoon. 

Danica Patrick: Bodacious Race Girl

If cars and beautiful women can marry, they would be a perfect match---NASCAR racer Danica Patrick posing with a slick hot rod.

Java Trippin' at Starbucks

I took the wife for a coffee fix this afternoon at Starbucks SM Fairview. They had a new store at the third level and got the chance to enjoy a relaxing slow day (the Annex branch was packed when we stopped there). We got the chance to seat on cushioned seats and savor the lingering smell of freshly cut plyboard and paint but no matter---the place was devoid of the buzz and chaos that would make up for a gratifying java experience.

I ordered for a Grande Cocoa Cappucino and a Grande Caramel Frappucino for the wife. "Can I take your name sir?" asks the friendly barrista to which I answer with gusto: "Nonoy." I had to articulate that clearly since most people would always miss it as NOYNOY. Personally, I'd rather be called DICK. Anyway...

"One Grande Cocoa Cappucino and one Grande Caramel Frappucino for Nonoy please," relayed the friendly barrista. I pay up and since I was in a mood for chocolate chip cookies went out to buy Chips Ahoy---perfect for coffee! Yum! Yum! I leave my wife to fetch our drinks and when I come back she told me an interesting story.

Well I know for a fact that doctors have bad handwritings but thanks to pharmacists they are able to make sense of what's written on the prescription pad. Unfortunately, there's no such equivalent for barristas or should I say...well you be the judge. Apparently, my name was misread as HENRY and when my order was up the poor girl was calling for Henry. A few moments pass and no one was laying a claim of the java. Fortunately, the wife had the good sense of approaching the counter and straighten things out. So I check out the cup and low and behold---I read NONOY. Check out the picture below and tell me how you read it.

Japan, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis

While we in the other parts of the world worry and pray for the safety of family and friends living in Japan, the Japanese are have actually accepted earthquakes as part of their day to day event. 

Japan sits in what is called the Pacific Ring of Fire along with other countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, United States, Chile, Mexico, and New Zealand.  The Ring of Fire is that area in the world where 90% of the world's largest earthquakes and 80% of the world's biggest volcanic eruptions occur.  It is where 75% of the world's active volcanoes can be found (10% of which are in Japan).

 

Japan's location happens to be in the area where there is much crustial instability.  As many as 1,500 earthquakes are recorded yearly where magnitude 4-6 on the Richter scale a normal occurence.  Minor tremors occur daily in various parts of the country.  Major earthquakes happen infrequently.  The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, where 130,000 perished, the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, which claimed 6,434 lives, and the one which rocked the country yesterday measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale occured in the 20th century. 

Underwater earthquakes also exposes Japan to tsunamis or tidal waves.  One hundred ninety five events has been recorded over the last 1,313 years until 1997 which happens to be the most in the world---no wonder the Japanese coined the word "tsunami" roughly transalted into English as "harbor wave".

Earthquakes and tsunamis are basically a Japanese event.  You'll know who is not Japanese when such event happen---they are the ones who are running around in panic.  My apologies, just making light the situation worrying about friends and relatives in Japan.  Praying for their safety.

Ramblings

What can I say---I'm bummed!

I have a foot plagued by gouty arthritis.  I have a team working on a project and I can't do anything to contribute other than my e-mail ang text discourse.  Being in a tight squeez you can't help but worry.  It's like a championship game and I'm in my street clothes cheering.  Yeah, real bummer!

Anyway, I do have a good team and I hope I was able to spur them to step up and meet the deadline.  I'm putting in a dose of prayer to give them the extra boost. 

Now let me move on to other things to keep me from worrying.

Prescription for condom purchase.  What the ...?!  What were they thinking?  Barangay Ayala Alabang officials said that condoms and other contraceptives cause abortion.  Apparently they are pro-life advocates.  Personally, I'm all for life.  Abortion is definitely not a Christian advocacy.  However, will this deter pre-marital sex?  I don't think so.  On the other hand, it will only compound this moral dilemma, expose the unscrupulous to unprotected sex and in the process increase the risk of early pregnancy, single motherhood, and abortion.  This ordinance also bars teachers and reproductive health advocates and social workers from conducting sex education activities in the barangay.  For me, an ignorant individual is more susceptible to make the wrong choices than an educated one.

SALN for private citizens.  SALN stands for Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net worth. 

When this BIR mandate hit the news last Monday, it was met with sarcasm and utmost disbelief.  This new ruling is supposed to lower the budget deficit from P 314B last year to P 290B this year by targetting individuals whose annual income is P 500K and above and making sure that the proper tax is collected.  Well, this is added admin on our part to accomplish but I guess if you don't have anything to hide there's no harm in complying.  However, do you get a tax reprieve if you actually have more liabilities than assests?

All these issues are making me sleepy...I'm going to hit the sack for a much needed siesta!  Bye y'all!

Mocha Uson on Breast Cancer

I just watched Mocha Uson guest on Mo Twister's podcast.  Their topic was breast cancer awareness with Dr. Gan.  I don't know how to make of it---it's either that doctor is one lucky dude or a dead dude!  Watch this video and decide for yourself.  To do what he did, awesome!  But for his wife to see that, well, we can only leave to imagination!  Man!  Can't blame the man for having a hard on---even if you're a doctor!

http://mocha.com.ph/2011/03/07/love-me-hate-me/

First Friday Mass @ CKMS Mission House-March 4, 2011

                      "It's better to have a good and happy lay person
than to have a bad and unhappy priest."
---Fr. Mike Padua

When we left the seminary it did not mean that we are less blessed than those who pursued the priesthood. Rather, we were chosen to lead a life of good outside of the seminary, influence others based on the foundation of the SVD formation and be the cornerstones of a good citizenry.

The event was a homecoming of sort as me and my batchmate, Rey, got to meet the older XVDs, talk about the state of the SVD vocation, reminice on the good times of being in the confines of seminary, and touch base in terms of the upcoming XVD homecoming which is being organized by HS batch '85.  Mark the date:  August 20, 2011.

Fr. Mike Padua graced the occasion with his presence and co-celebrated the First Friday Mass together with Fr. Tony (who is currently on vacation from his mission in Papua New Guinea).

Special thanks to our classmate Anthony Lapuz for financing the food for this event.

Of Free Loaders and Eunuchs

People who lack the necessary competencies in a job of position usually free load ideas from others. These people rose from the ranks due to office politics more than merit. Usually they act as the lap dogs of the Alpha. They are the type who does not question the one in authority---they just follow. They don’t have their own disposition and just echoes the wishes of the King. These are the people who need to name drop to get things done by their subordinates. Many of their directives always start with the phrase “SABI NI…” These are the people who, when asked about their value to the company, will go on a nonsensical monologue of phantom accomplishments that would just leave you dazed and confused. In the vernacular, these are the people “NA WALANG BAYAG”. In English, they are EUNUCHS.

Eunuchs are castrated human males. Normally, it would only involve the removal of the testes but in some instances would also include the removal of the penis in a process called penectomy.

The word eunuch comes from the Greek word “eunu” which means BED and “ekhein” which means TO KEEP. Together, this means BED KEEPER. This suggests the eunuch’s traditional role as the keeper of the ruler’s harem. Fully castrated eunuchs were reliable gate keepers since they are “harmless” in the presence of women.

Free loading employees are a bane to any company. They are a waste of resource, an unnecessary expense, and a scourge to office morale (especially to his subordinates). Let us pray that these people see the fault of their ways and change. Otherwise, let HR do their job and purge them leeches from the fold.

The Virtue of Patience

Experience told me not to expect all the good in life.  Personal and financial issues will always be there separately, or, if you're really down on your luck, simultaneously.  The acceptance of this fact is something that we need to embrace otherwise it will be a life of misery.   

Just recently I've had a couple of individuals talk to me about their desire to be promoted.  Promotion is a reward tool for a company to bestow upon high performing individuals.  It is merit based and justified by quantitative measurement (at least that is what we were told it to be).  Fortunate are those who got promoted due to allegiance alone; but beware: people will see you for what's your worth and you will not get the respect needed to lead.  Well, I would like to believe that people get promoted due to merit so let's just leave it at that.

As Vince Lombardi would say, "The only place where SUCCESS comes before WORK is in the dictionary."  Bottomline is that work needs to be done and then some.  Actually, the real question is "What  value do I give to the company?"  However, to expect a promotion is counter productive.  It corrodes moral and deteriorates your work.  My suggestion is JUST DO YOUR JOB WELL, PROVIDE VALUE TO YOUR WORK, FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BUILDING A CASTLE(not just a brick layer), and PRAY.  God will give this to you in due time. 

Good things come to those who wait.

The Incredible Hotness of Stacy Keibler

Let's face it, other than the acrobatic moves, the good and the bad drama, and the colorful characters, another undeniable magnet to watch the WWE are those skimpily clad lady wrestlers that occasionally doses the program with some sexy time events such as mud and strip wrestling!  Oh the glory of it all!  Anyway, my favorite among these wrestling babes happen to be Stacy Keibler.  Well, aside from her bombshell looks, she is the girl next door type in contrast to the other ladies that are more aggressive looking---that is until she strips down to her thong bikinis! 

I have outgrown the scripted drama of watching WWE but I definitely still got the hots for Stacy Keibler.  Sharing with you the latest pictures I found of her courtesy of Esquire magazine.  Enjoy!