Anythin Goes

105 lbs

2010-02-23T17:36:00.002+08:00

Since I hit 110 lbs, I've been scared that it will go up again.

It's been 3 months.

My current weight now swings between 103 - 108 lbs.

I've been loving the "new" me.

I can now fit to my old clothes...the ones that I can barely get into....now fits perfectly. (I kept the small ones...but when I hit 110lbs, I gave away the big clothes right away.)

I've bought some new slacks....size XS...go figure!!!

But then again, it's only been 3 months. I continue to pray that I don't go over 110 lbs till I die.

Just like addicts and alcoholics, I believe that I will always be in a state of recovering...never cured. Only God's grace will enable me to maintain my weight healthily.

:-D

I Lost 10 lbs...then 5....then another 5

2009-10-09T18:35:00.004+08:00

The 'last' time I weighed-in was on June 8/9. I was 130+ lbs.

The next time was sometime Aug 5. I was 120lbs. I couldn't believe my eyes. On the 3rd day (Aug 8) that the scale pointer stayed at 120lbs, I tried some of my 'old', 'small' clothes. Lo and behold! I comfortably fit into those clothes. I couldn't believe that 10lbs would make such a difference.

By Aug 31, I was 115lbs.

Last Sep 25 until today: 110lbs.

I shared this weight loss through Facebook. When I was asked what I did...My response were the obvious things that I've been doing: walking the dog for at least 45minutes 3 to 4 times a week, minimized on rice during dinner, minimized on fatty foods and sweets, drinking a lot of water. (I've minimize drinking soda since sometime 2002.)

While sharing these, something was bothering me. I've been doing these already...why was it easier to do this time around such that I really lost the weight I wanted to lose. Then I remembered...and I almost tried to deny it...but suddenly I recalled the whole 'event'.

Starting the first week of May until July, I managed to have a regular prayer time at 5:30AM. Everyday. Sundays were irregular in May and June. In the first week of May, one of my prayers was to be 110lbs by the end of September 2009. I even outlined how many pounds I would lose per month starting at the end of June.

In June, we were to go to Cebu for my father and mother-in-law's birthdays. I wanted to be 'slimmer' by the time we are in Cebu. I asked to be slimmer....that is why I distinctly remember weighing in June 8/9. Seeing that I was still 130lbs, I gave up. I said something like "it's up to you Lord. anyway, our agreement was starting end of June...". And I stopped weighing....until Aug 5.

I really believe the whole thing had divine intervention. This is not my first time in prayer that I asked the Lord something and outlined a plan...and things actually come about according to the plan. The first time it happened, it made me very scared of asking the Lord anything in prayer for about 8 years. Now, when it happened again, I almost tried not to give Him credit for his part in my weight loss.

He made it easy. I didn't even realize what was happening until I saw that I lost the first 10lbs.

The second dog, a Belgian Shepherd, came to us in May 23. Since our 1st dog is a Pitbull, my hubby wanted to make both dogs get to know each other before bringing the 2nd dog into our gates. To do that, we walked both dogs together. It was only in June 8 that the Belgian Shepherd finally stayed with us. During this time, I did not find it difficult to have dinner with less or no rice at all. And the rest is history.

It wasn't easy going from 120 lbs to 115 lbs as I was already conscious of the whole thing.

More so going from 115 lbs to 110 lbs. In fact, what's interesting was I was already hitting 110 lbs since the beginning of September. I weigh before eating breakfast. I will be 110 lbs; after breakfast it will go back to 115!!! But that's the truth.

Since the rains, we haven't been walking the dogs that much. I am actually 'scared' of gaining back the pounds. So what I do now is to eat oatmeal at least once a day. Specifically during dinner (Thanks Chona for the tip).

With God's grace, I will be able to maintain 110 lbs till the day I die.

Which Bible?

2009-03-24T14:04:00.004+08:00

Yes, there is a difference between the Catholic and the non-Catholic Christian Bibles.

It used to be that you can tell which one is Catholic by the 'presence' of an "Imprimatur" near the inside cover or within the 1st 3 pages. These days, with mass production, and different publishers, it's not that easy to know.

An indication, that your Bible or the Bible you intend to own, is Catholic: the Old Testament has 46 books. Up until the 1800s (Reformation/Protestant Movement) there was ONLY ONE version of the Bible. However, due to the issues at that time....Martin Luther decided to drop the 7 books from the Old Testament; and, change or drop some words in the New Testament.

The seven books are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include sections in the Books of Esther and Daniel which are not found in non-Catholic Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books.

Another complexity, some non-Catholics have already decided to include the 7 books. Is there still a difference?

Yes. Another 'test' is to check the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 1. Mary should be referred to as a "virgin". Not (young) maiden. Not young woman. Not young lady. Virgin.

I am not an apologetic (the branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines), however, I have read the reasons behind these and believe in it. If you need to be convinced or argue on these, you may use Google, or other search engines, and look for the relevant sites and, there, present any issues that you may have.

Thai?

2008-11-13T17:22:00.005+08:00

My hubby had a reunion of sorts last Saturday with work collegues from his previous employer. The invitation was open to the collegues' partners and kids (if they still go with their parents) or grandkids whichever is applicable. One of the kids was african-american.

Breakfast the following morning, my mother-in-law asked my hubby: "katong itom nga bata...Thai?" (was the black kid Thai?)

We looked at her...I asked: "mommy...Thai as in Thailand?"
Her reply: "yes"

"Asa ka kita ug Thai nga itom" (where have you seen a Thai who was black?)

"Kita ko katong didto ta sa Bangkok." (I saw one when we were in Bangkok.)

My hubbby said: "puede ka diay modagan ug vice-president" (then you are qualified to run for vice president)

Another First!

2008-10-27T10:56:00.040+08:00

Disclaimer: This 'publication' has not been approved nor seen by anybody from the Lopez group prior to posting. In other words, some of the comments may just be from the writers perception.

IN SYNC

Living excellence & social responsibility

The Lopez Way

Something New

A business conference with a Twist

October 21-22, 2008, Eugenio Lopez Center, Antipolo, Rizal

On his 10th year with the Lopez Group, Rene Jueco Mayol, with his Business Excellence Team and the Lopez Group Foundation, pulled another first!

A business conference for the Lopez companies' to share their respective best practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and activities.

The CSR programs and activities presented were those that have been awarded by external bodies; while the best business practices were the recipients of the Lopez Achievement Award (LAA) and the Oscar M.Lopez Award for Performance Excellence (Oscars).

The conference initially had a target of 50 participants. This was adjusted to 200 when the companies started asking for participant allocations. When pre-registration closed at the end-of-business on Friday, 17 October, there were 298 on the list! This number did NOT include the 79 moderators, facilitators, and speakers.

By the 2nd day of the conference, net of the no-shows, there was a total of 305 participants!!! There was 1 no-show speaker...the company sent a replacement.

For the breakdown:

Day 1: 10:05AM - 211 pax have signed in.
Day 2: 09:20AM - 200 pax were seated in plenary.
All breakout sessions were either SRO or filled to seating capacity. The 3 breakout rooms used have the following seating capacity: 66 (+15 seats added - Mini Theatre), 60 seats (Lecture/Meeting room 1 & 2)

The participants truly and actively participated! They attended the plenary and breakout sessions; and as appropriate, they asked questions, gave their opinions, gave suggestions. It was an resounding and unprecedented SUCCESS!!!

Mr Oscar Lopez, Chairman of the Lopez Group, stayed for the 2 day conference; joined and actively participated in some of the breakout sessions. Mr Manolo Lopez, Chairman of MERALCO, stayed for the morning of the 2nd day. Mr Gabby Lopez, Chairman and CEO of ABS-CBN arrived at noon of the 2nd day and stayed until his slot at 4:45PM. These are currently the 3 pillars of the group of companies. They are sometimes called 'The 3 Kings', 'The 3 Dons', and 'The Trinity'.

The Conference

While there was a 7-point objective for the conference that was published in its posters, invitations, and souvenir handouts, this event is aligned with the Malcolm Baldridge business excellence model - the sharing of best practices that enabled to companies to be recipients of the LAA and the Oscars.

The event also had top leaders of the Lopez Group as presentors or speakers. This partially fulfills the Leadership and Knowledge Sharing categories of the business excellence model.

The Program

The Nay-Sayers

No activity is without its detractors.

At the outset, when the conference was first presented as a proposal, 2 VPs were unanimous in saying "who's going to be attending your conference?" (sino'ng aatend sa conference mo?). When the plans were underway and the announcements were released "napaka-gastos mo talaga". At the end of Day 1: "ang laki ng gastos mo".

The only rebuttal of note: at least when I spend the company's money, I show results! (at least kung ako ang gumagastos, me results!).

The Accolades

"....I've never seen this many people..." - Mr Oscar M. Lopez

"as many of you know, I've planned for election campaigns, both national and local...akala ko ang galing-galing ko na...every 15 minutes, this activity....me mas magaling pa pala sa akin. I congratulate the organizers of this conference..." - Mr Paul Aquino, President and CEO of Energy Develpment Corporation (EDC)

A number of "CONGRATULATIONS" from peers, partners, customers from the group of companies.

The Core Teams

The Business Excellence Team: Rene Mayol, Maribel Relatado-Rubia, Roel Espinoza, Glenn Perez, Amy Agaton. Mr. Ben Liboro, Director.

The CSR Team from the Lopez Group Foundation Inc: Dulce Festin-Baybay, Diane Miñon, Julie Cuevas, Vanessa Suquila, Benjo Sandoval. Mr Raffy Alunan, Executive Director.

With: Ritzi Ronquillo (MERALCO), Rosan Cruz (Benpres PR)

and, TEAM ASIA.

Other "Firsts" from RJM

Upon joining the Lopez Group, Rene developed the ESH-Management Assessment Rating System (MARS) a rating system and subsequent award levels of Chairman, President, and Founders. This eventually evolved to the EHS-Business Assessment Rating System (BARS). Both of these are based on the ISO Environment, Safety and Health standards...the latter incorporated business excellence.

US Open 2008

2008-09-16T13:06:00.006+08:00

I've become a fan (duh!)

Roger Federer won the US Open for the 5th consecutive time.

I also like his opponent this time around. Andy Murray.

I agree with the reviews and write-ups regarding Andy Murray.

He will win one, if not all, of the grand slams.

Hopefully by that time, Roger Federer has already decided to retire. (hehe)

Some of Roger Federer's stats:

the only player to win 5 consecutive times in 2 grand slams: Wimbledon, US Open
237 consecutive weeks as No. 1 (record; next is Connors at 160 consecutive weeks) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ATP_number_1_ranked_players#Year-end_number_1]

Cycle of Life

2008-09-16T12:53:00.005+08:00

A few years ago while preparing for the mass as Lector/Commentator, I happen to look up and look at the church entrance. There, I saw, coming inside the church an old lady being pushed in her wheelchair and a toddler being pushed in his stroller. It struck me, then, we're given a few years to use our legs then, when we can still get up, we're back to a wheeled contraption.

It struck me then, and it struck me again more recently.

My hubby and I were travelling with my mother-in-law. We have already started requesting a wheelchair for her. As we were about to board, we happen to be at the start of the line....and following us were babies and toddlers in strollers.

Wimbledon 2008

2008-07-07T22:04:00.009+08:00

Watched the Gentlemen's Finals.

Great game!

I was rooting for Federer to get his 6th title.

It wasn't meant to be......

Pictures courtesy of the Wimbledon webpage.... (http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html)

GLOBELINES Pre-sales Service SUCKS!!!!

2008-02-20T10:24:00.012+08:00

GLOBELINES pre-sales service SUCKS!!!

Specifically their coordination with their installation contractor.

I am a Globe subscriber for 80-something months already. With 3 accounts subscribed in my name - inclusive of 1 Visibility account. I am extremely happy with the services that Globe has shown me. Making me a promoter (http://www.netpromoter.com/netpromoter/index.php) and a gung-ho customer.

Unfortunately, the service I have been exposed to is not systemic to the Globe organization. (http://speechless-so-i-blog.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html, http://speechless-so-i-blog.blogspot.com/2007/03/visibility-plan-2.html, http://speechless-so-i-blog.blogspot.com/2007/06/visibility-plan-3-more-3g-sites.html)

GLOBELINES pre-sales service SUCKS!!!

I submitted the complete documents for the broadband-telephone wired application on 06 February, Wednesday. By Saturday, 09 February, at approximately 9:30am, I received a call informing me that my wired broadband-telephone will be installed the following day, Sunday, and when is it convenient to me for them to do the install? We agreed that their contractor can come around from 3pm onwards to do the installation.

Sunday, 11am, while we were on the way to mass, the contractor called saying that they are going to do the install NOW! Upon learning that the agreed time for them to do the install was 3pm...he insisted and said "aba ma'am, di na namin magawa yan. malayo na kami sa oras na iyan". [ma'am, we will not be able to install today. we will be very far from your place at that time.] I said that if it will not be done by 3pm, never mind.

At 11:20 am, I called customer service (919 8888). I relayed my issue. During the conversation with the customer service person, I realized that their customer service facility is NOT connected with the new customer group (or its equivalent, if they even have one). In other words, that transaction was inutile. It did not and will not in any way help out.

I still gave them a chance.

Upon reaching home that night, I sent an email through their customer service address (customercare@innove.com.ph). Did they care? Well, let's just say that I did not get any response or acknowledgement to that email.

Wednesday, 13 February, I received a call from Globelines. According to him, the contractor gave feedback that they are unable to locate our place. Well, I said: "it appears to me that your contractor is not interested in your getting customers. Because if they are, they had ample time from 11am to 3pm to find my house". We came to another agreement for the installation: Monday, 18 February, 2pm onwards.

Monday, 18 February, 11am. I received a call confirming that indeed the installation is going to happen that afternoon. I gave them a known address in their system where they can connect a cable to enable me to have the line (yes, I gave them this information).

I never heard from them again.

As of today, 20 February, I still do not have a Globelines wired broadband-telephone connected to my home.

GLOBELINES pre-sales service SUCKS!!!

Baguio...

2008-01-09T13:59:00.000+08:00

1st out of town trip 2008.
We went to Baguio. For the nth time :-)
Strangely...it was our first time to visit the pink sisters convent.

We went to some of our usual stops when in Baguio: Cathedral (attended 1st Saturday mass at 12:15pm), Mines View (but only to the shops),

Good Shepherd (bought Ube Jam - duh), Lourdes Grotto, and lastly, via Kennon Rd, the Lion.

And, we stopped by Manaoag....

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!

2008-01-07T10:47:00.000+08:00

He was 23

2007-11-27T19:27:00.001+08:00

He was a son of an officemate. Sometime in October, we heard that lumps were found in his liver. The prognosis was not good. However, they did not tell him how bad it was. We're not sure if he knew, on his own, that he wasn't going to last or that he was finally told in his last few hours.

He still underwent chemotherapy. When he was checked-in at the hospital last Nov 16, the doctors informed the parent that they will no longer operate. In fact, the ammonia in his bloodstream was already at a high level and that it has reached the brain....

He died last Friday, 23 November 2007.

When he was born (7months, 4 lbs, weak lungs), it took 3 months before he was taken home. When he died, he had to stay a day in the morgue as there was no available space in the funeral home.

Toots

2007-11-08T16:09:00.000+08:00

I've always known her as Toots. It was only last Sunday that I learned her full name: Celia Viray. At her funeral. She was 47.

I can't remember when we last saw each other but I first met her some time in 1989/90. She was always full of life. Last December 2006, she wrote an article for their college batch webpage entitled The Story of My Life.

How did she die? I've never really gotten what the doctor finally put in as cause of death but this is how it was told to us: on 29 Oct, she had chills and she was sweating profusely. On the 30th, she had fever the whole day. By the 31st, it still did not look good so they decided to check her in to the hospital. In the meantime, while they were still at home, her sister tried to take her bloodpressure. The equipment showed 'error' when it was being used on her. So, they tried to take her blood pressure manually (non-electronic equipment). Her sister cannot get a pulse (Ate, wala akong marinig [Sister, I cannot hear anything]). Even Toots said "Ako rin, walang maramdaman. Buhay pa naman ako di ba?" [I also cannot feel anything. I am still alive, right?]. In the hospital, her hearbeat reached 150...there were indications that she was having a heart attack. They thought about someting like angioplasty...however, upon checking, everything was clear. Still her hearbeat was racing. By about 9pm, she was having difficulty breathing. She lapsed into semi-consciousness....they gave her extreme unction...she was still able to take communion. By 1am, she joined her maker.

One of her wishes after seeing her cousin 'suffer' before eventually dying (coma, respirator, etc) was that when her time comes, she hoped that the good Lord will not make her suffer for long. That's the consolation that her sister held on to when we talked with her last Sunday. Toots did not suffer. At least not for long.

She was interred yesterday, 07 November. She left behind her only daughter, father, only sister, brothers, nephews and nieces....

She will always be remembered with fondness.

With the God's grace, her family will be able to come to terms with her demise.

Goodbye Toots....

Questions

2007-11-03T07:03:00.000+08:00

When does a company's retention program start? Is it the moment the potential employee is (1) invited for interview, (2) when s/he already signs the employment contract, (3) when she starts the new employee orientation, or (4) when s/he starts working?

---------------------------------------------

When does one become family? That is, when you marry into a family, when do you actually become accepted as one of the family. You see, long after you're married your still referred to as 'the other side'. If you don't believe, check it out when the estate is being talked about or being handed out.

Rain...

2007-10-24T06:57:00.000+08:00

It's been raining since yesterday. It's not the downpour that alarms nor depresses you. It's simply continous and persistent. One that makes you want to stay in bed the whole day. I take it like some kind of cleansing.

Being Catholic

2007-09-27T16:57:00.000+08:00

From Katerina Marie

Life on Hold

2007-08-31T19:32:00.000+08:00

My father-in-law passed away at the age of exactly 79 years and 10 months.

It wasn't as devastating as it is normally expected.

As I explained to my son, it is because about 3 years ago, Daddy has had 2 close calls. In effect, if the children have not made peace then, it was their loss. It so happened, my husband has made his peace.

In fact, Daddy also, in his own way, have made peace with his own mortality. He made some effort to put his estate in order. He had plans on how he was going to give away his inherited lands to his children. He was not planning on giving his lands equally. He wanted to give it to whoever he pleases (just like how his mother did it).

It wasn't meant to be. He passed away, technically of unknown causes. It was officially put down as myocardial infarction. He did not suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, or any known sicknesses that are common nowadays. He did not complain of any pain. Nothing. It was just his time to go, I guess. (He died much younger than his mom did. Lola Manding died at 92 years.)

The atmosphere at the wake was neither morose, depressing, nor sad. Everyone pitched in during the 9 day wake. Some took turns in doing the cooking, buying items, preserving memories, and whatever is required to be done. The grandchildren were charged with distributing the food after the nightly prayers and mass.

Seven (7) siblings took turns in leading the novena prayers. One (1), who is now of a different religion, also had their church have a vigil service. In effect, 3 of the eldest grandchildren were also able to lead the novena prayers. A mass is celebrated after the novena prayers. On the last wake night, more of the grandchildren were assigned to do the readings and prayers of the faithful for the mass.

The funeral procession stopped by the house he built. The funeral mass was celebrated in the church he helped build approximately 40 years ago. Relatives, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances came and gave their respects. A number followed the procession until the cemetery. Somebody made a count, there were 45 cars in all that joined the procession until the cemetery. That count excluded the 2 buses that were also full of neighbors and friends.

Finally, Daddy was laid to rest.

Daddy is survived by Mommy, his 9 children, 19 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

Hmmm....52% Male

2007-07-13T11:26:00.000+08:00

Your Driving Is is: 52% Male, 48% Female

According to studies, you drive both like a guy and a girl.
This means you're a pretty average driver, with typical quirks.
Occasionally you're frustrated and or a little reckless, but that's the exception - not the norm.

Do You Drive Like a Guy or a Girl?

Topics to write about

2007-07-02T23:18:00.000+08:00

The following are some topics of interest that I would like to write about but have no time at the moment. But will do so sometime....

Free Will: The most awesome gift
Travelling and Time Zones
Frogs: croaking sounds during the rainy season
Ethics (again)
Authority: under whose authority are you under?
Challenges or Learnings: SME implementation of a management system and/or business excellence
Privileges: upgraded to Platinum, Gold, Prestige
Endorse/Detract? : the Chowking Story, Chowking Customer Service, Globe Customer Service, Digitel Service, Citibank Customer Service

These will be written. But not necessarily all in this blogspot. I have 3 others depending on topic: religion/beliefs/life values, 20-years-of-marriage, and what-i-really-think.

The MB C-class

2007-06-21T22:38:00.000+08:00

My life partner got an invitation to the launching of the Mercedes Benz C-class tonight at the 1 Esplanade (near Mall of Asia). Needless to say we were there.

The program overall was nice. The organizers hired Ballet Philippines to do the dance which they interfaced with their video before finally driving the cars in....

Since I'm not a car buff, all I can say is that it is a great car. It came in 2 variants: Elegance and Avantgarde. However, life partner is more interested in their SLK model - which is not on exhibit. He's okay with a pre-owned model. So, if anyone out there has one and would like to unload it....feel free to leave a comment.

My interest was more on getting proof that we were there. Unfortunately, that's limited to me taking the pictures....

The food was also good. What I took note on food area were the chocolate fondue. They had 2 kinds...dark and white chocolate.

What's up with 3G?

2007-06-16T00:16:00.000+08:00

Well it's actually now at 3.5G (Samsung Z560, Nokia 95, O2 XDA Atom Life, Motorola V6). This technology enables you to have broadband internet on the go and video cellphone calls. In addition to being able to view live video/video feeds (multimedia streaming).

What's cooler: it used to be that when you go to Japan or Korea, you need to have a different cellphone than what you normally use anywhere in Asia, US, or Europe. With a 3G phone, that's all you need! I have tried it when I stopped-over in Japan on the way to the US last May'07. This is what made me all the more ga-ga about this technology.

Oh, and by the way....3G is not yet available in the US of A. At least not in Detroit, Chicago, El Paso, San Antonio, Scottsdale and Phoenix, and Minneapolis. I was surprised since we have had this technology for more or less 2 years now in Asia. I verified with my friend's friend in Globe. True enough, as of May 2007, 3G is not yet in the USA. According to the same friend, the US is preparing to introduce this technology and thereby is causing more brain drain in Asia as the US is getting engineers who has this experience....I guess that's a sort of trade-off to the callcenter jobs that has been moved to the region (not a fair comparison, i know, but a comparison just the same).

Courtesy of the Globe Visibility website (http://www.betterthan3g.com/g35g/), below is a graph comparing the broadband signal using the 3G datacard with other methods:

My other blogs related to this blog:
Visibility Plan 3: MORE 3G Sites
Visibility Plan 2
Visibility Plan

Tagged

2007-06-11T21:51:00.000+08:00

INSTRUCTIONS: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.

1) Shelli’s Sentiments
2) Curiosity Killer
3) Chrissy
4) Kim
5) Anythin Goes

Next select five people to tag: (if you haven’t done it already)

Julianna
Angel
Aleli
Lynnette
Malou

What were you doing 10 years ago?

What were you doing 1 year ago?

Joined a call center, became an assessor for the Philippine Quality Award care of the Department of Trade and Industry Center (DTI)/Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). Left the call center and joined a non-government organization (NGO) project managed by the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) - the project ends end-of-business (EOB) June 2007.
Five snacks you enjoy

Binignit (a Visayan delicacy very similar to the Tagalog's Guinatan Halo-halo)
Boiled Banana with used oil and salt (the type of banana used is very similar to plantain)
Potato chips (any brand including home cooked)
Pistachios
Peanuts

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics:

Anima Christi
MIDES Song (in Spanish ca 1978)
Our Father (English and Tagalog)
Hail Mary
As the Deer

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire:

Ensure that the money will not run out (bank, invest, trustfund) at least for as long as I live and then a little beyond...
Continue to contribute to charity or religious institution
Regularly tithe (by that time I should be contributing already based on gross rather than net)
Visit all the places I want to go to
Share the blessings with friends, relatives, strangers on a case to case basis

Five bad habits:

Eating as a past time
Shopping as a past time (when I'm actually buying)
Changing cellphones as soon as the lock-in period is up....sometimes sooner
Doing too much at anything: e.g. tv watching, reading
Procrastinating

Five things you like doing:

Travelling with cross-country or interstate driving
Reading
Watching TV
Sea bathing
Bringing visitors to places of interest including eating places

Five things you would never wear again:

midriff
the reyna elena gown or dress/gown made of the same material
short-shorts
mini-skirt/dress

My 5 favorite toys:

cellphones (currently these are Samsung Z560 and O2 Mini)
personal Laptop with the 3.5G data card
the TV remote control
my TY stuffed toys
current car

My Visual DNA

2007-06-11T14:26:00.000+08:00

Get your own VisualDNA™

Visibility Plan 3: MORE 3G Sites!!!!

2007-06-02T07:44:00.000+08:00

3G is now in Roces/Tomas Morato area!!!!

This is really GREAT! I've been going to Roces/Tomas Morato, almost regularly since the last week of February 2007. Needless to say, I tried connecting using visibility since March. From that time, till the week of May 21, the signal I get in that area was purely GPRS/Edge. In fact the week of May 21, the signals everywhere, even 3G in the Ortigas area, was very erratic. But the downtime, though undesirable, was good when I learned that 3G is now in more areas!!! Especially in the area I just mentioned. (3G in our home area, Cainta, is now on maximum. Awesome!!!!)

I am still very much a Globe Promoter to this day.

(see the following to get an explanation on what the Promoter comment means: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Promoter_Score and http://www.netpromoter.com/calculate/nps.php)

HAPPY HAPPY EASTER!!!!

2007-04-08T23:42:00.000+08:00

I would like to share with all of you....this has been the best Holy Week and Easter Celebration that I've had in a long long time.

God is never outdone in generosity. Praise Him!

God bless us all! :-)

It is DONE!

2007-04-01T02:19:00.000+08:00

DONE!!!! Finir! Kesudahan! Human na! Tapos na! DONE!!!!
Finally, I am done with the eLearning that I have been doing!!!!
Such a long time huh....several reasons one already mentioned in previous blog. Anyway, here's the laundry list:

no prior training for the content expert (me) on how to use the html editor
the html editor was not user friendly
unclear instructions on how to upload text (1 instruction: cut and paste to note pad and cut and paste from notepad to editor; another instruction: you can save file in html and upload). duh! these instructions were followed to the letter.....without any background on htmls, it never worked
graphics too large....optimize...how?....use adobe?.....how?.....once again, no training. double duh!
and there are more: like internet connection not working (yes, editing can only be done online), laptop memory not enough...the list goes on

Oh well, anyway it is done. I dont want to see it again.

Season, Reason, or Lifetime

2007-03-30T09:20:00.000+08:00

I received this through email a long time ago. From then on I forward this to people I meet...when the time is right. It is not all people and timing is very subjective. Today, I am sharing this here and in my spaces blog spot too. God bless!

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die ... sometimes they walk away ... sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real!

But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life.....

Visibility Plan 2

2007-03-13T05:43:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, 12 Mar, between 8 and 10pm, I hit a download rate of 2Mbps on a 1bar 3G connection!!!! Isn't that great! :-)

Visibility Plan

2007-02-27T04:38:00.000+08:00

2 days before Christmas 2006 I got a Globe Visibility Plan. 1st of all, the SIM got activated under 24 hours. Unfortunately the Taiwan earthquake happened causing the internet connections to be erratic soon after Christmas....before I proceed with more details, what I really would like to say is that

I AM VERY VERY HAPPY with this tool. Just a few minutes ago I hit a download high of 1.3Mbps!!!! From the Cainta area too! (specifically in Greenwoods Executive Village) It is awesome! With what I have been able to use it for in the last few weeks anywhere between Cainta, Pasig, Ortigas, and Makati, Php2,000/month is looking like a bargain. [lowest broadband rates from either PLDT or Globelines is in the range of Php 880-999 for a maximum download speed of around 385kbps...but you only get that connection when you are at your residence or wherever you decided to have the broadband connection installed]

There were also some rough spots. By default, the connection type settings are put on "3G Preferred". However, in the last few weeks I discovered that if you have 3G connection at all in your area, the connection is much much faster if this setting is put on "3G Only". A one (1) bar 3G connection has a download frequency higher than a full bar GPRS connection! After I have discovered this, everything is a breeze!!! [my son's 'proof' that connection is fast indeed is that he's been able to play online games at gaming cafe speed!!!]

A few glitches here and there but my overall impressions is that I will and do recommend becoming a Globe subscriber to anyone!!!

:-)

Simon

2007-02-22T21:20:00.000+08:00

I'm refering to Simon Cowell of American Idol.

I am watching American Idol while taking a break from the eLearning development (yup! not done yet). I'm just really amazed at Simon's comments. Where does he get those ideas???!!!! The thing is, it all comes so naturally to him.

He's more nasty than usual this season so far - more so since the contestants are now down to 24. He's nasty in giving criticisms as well as the compliments.

It works for him....Go Simon! :-)

Why not?

2007-02-21T19:45:00.000+08:00

I made a commitment to finish my part of the eLearning today. To do that, I have to consciously stop doing 'enhancements' as I put in the text. Unfortunately, I am not able to do that. I still do the formats. It just does not work that way. That is, it goes contrary to my nature. However, I still need to finish the thingy before tomorrow comes (isn't that a title of a book???).

I believe it is doable. In the process, I am once again going to test my theory. That is, the eLearning will still be complete if I do the development offline using an HTML editor (I have downloaded PageBreeze - I will still be within the EULA since I am using the 'product' in a non-profit project)...and upload as is. With the things that I want in it....like links and the like.

I should be able to get a way with it. If not, then the (re)development will be up to them. They deserve to do it then...half-confirmed rumor has it that they were paid 90,000 Euros to do the project. And Lo and Behold, who do you think is doing the contents. Actually that's beside the point for me. They can wallow in the money if they like (it is supposedly gone already). I'm getting my satisfaction in what I have done. However, there will be trade-off if they will put a pressure on me.

Maiden Voyage

2007-02-15T12:48:00.000+08:00

Hello World! Well, well, well....I just created the account and would like to see how my posting would look like. Hmmmm.....till next time then. (Btw, in case you're wondering: yes! the stuffed toys are mine. I like buying TY whenever I travel...and since I am rarely traveling lately, I have taken to buying these locally.)