D A N T H O L O G I E S

Count, share your blessings

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:54:00 +0000

We made some rounds yesterday in Marikina, Pasig and Rizal to check out and bring some assistance to our colleagues who are affected by floods brought by Ondoy.

The sight (and smell) was really depressing. Paano na kaya ang nararamdaman ng mismong mga residente dun? Nakakaawa talaga.

Who would have thought that the furniture you dusted, electric appliances you used and books you just read last Friday would turn to garbage the next day?

Maswerte ang karamihan sa atin na nakaligtas sa perwisyo at nasa kabilang side ng pangyayaring ito. Mas mabuti na ang makasama sa mga tumutulong kaysa sa isa ka sa mga nanghihingi nito. Dahil sabi nga ng isa kong ka-opisina, hindi lang sa ari-arian ikaw dapat makarekober, kundi pati rin sa trauma na naranasan.

Malakas na naman ang ulan sa labas.

Ingat na lang sa ating lahat.

Belated Happy 3 Years, Happyslip!

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:42:00 +0000

Showing the best during the worst of times

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Nabigo ako sa pangako ko, nag-hibernate mode na naman ako for more than a month. Kung kelan may internet na ako sa bahay, lalo pang dumalang ang pagbisita ko dito. Oh well.

Maraming naganap, maraming nawala, maraming dumating sa loob lamang ng isang buwan.

If my blog is a pet, it could have left me to find a new master. Hiatus = neglect.

Last weekend, as we all know, was another replay lesson for all of us: Mother Nature has its own way of exacting revenge to those who abuse her. We had no other way out emotionally and physically but to call it a day, learn from it and hope for the best.

I won't share na my own stories that day, besides it's way nothing compared to what are being shown in the news.

Sa mga hindi naapektuhan, reach out, help out in any way possible and be thankful for having your properties and your family spared from this very unfortunate event.

Lately kahit papaano napalitan ng mga kwento tungkol sa tulungan at damayan ang mga balita ng sisihan, trayduran at siraan. Nakakalungkot lang at kailangan pa ng matinding dagok sa iba para lang manahimik ang mga taong ito.

Kaya natin ito. Makakaraos din tayo.

Narinig ko kanina sa FX habang nasa byahe kami ng mahal ko papuntang ofc, and I thought napapanahon ito.

Ngiti Lang - KC Concepcion

"Don’t take it as a career, Take it as a calling"

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:23:00 +0000

“That’s the great part of it. I don’t take it as a career, I take it as a calling,” White House chef Fil-Am Cristeta Pasia Comerford said to Inquirer.net on her role in the US First Family's home.

Sarap pakinggan; sana it applies to everybody. Sana masabi ko rin yun sa trabaho ko. Hayz.

I've been contemplating lately about my job. Though relatively it pays well (just exclude the loan deductions) and sure most of the people outside the three corners of my cubicle (pader kasi yung likuran ko) are nice, friendly creatures. What I mean is my work routine. My task. My role.

I still have pending documents to write and my accomplishment so far is staring at my online references for almost a week. The goal is there as well as the deadline; I have enough resources and I'm pretty much interested to do it. One thing is missing: I'm lacking motivation and I don't know where to get enough of it.

Isa pa, I did expect that being part of the project management team, payment follow ups from suppliers and partners are nothing but normal. But it's getting extra phenomenal if it squeezes out your creative juices to give highly believable reasons to them just saying that they will not get what they want. Worse, you do the same thing the next day. So ito pa lang, drained na energy mo sa isang araw.

So what's it gonna be today?

****

Balita muna:

Day off proposed for employees to register

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 21:03:00 08/24/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Employees should be given one day off with pay to allow them to register for the May 2010 election, a party list lawmaker proposed on Monday.

Kabataan Representative Raymond Palatino said there is a need for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to encourage more new voters to register given the low turnout of registrants.

Of its three million target, only 821,200 have so far registered, Palatino said, quoting figures from the poll body.

Palatino filed House Resolution 1336 asking the Department of Labor and Employment to direct public and private companies to implement a one-day off with pay to encourage their employees to register.

Deadline for registration is on October 30 this year.

The congressman said that employees often do not have time to register because by the time their shift ends, registration offices have already closed.

“It is the responsibility of the DOLE to ensure that employees nationwide not be disenfranchised in the coming 2010 election because of this limitation,” he said.

Palatino cited the 100 percent employee voters registration program of Nexus, a business process outsourcing firm, as an example of such initiative. Nexus, he said, gave free tickets to Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds for the first fifty employees who submit their official voter registration documents to its human resource department.

Happy Three Months, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:33:00 +0000

Regalo namin ni mahal sa kanya? Si Tita Angie (mag aalaga muna sa kanya), yehey!!!

Self serving na magulang, hehe. Love u baby!

Katawang laman

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:59:00 +0000

"Nothing to worry," says doc after reading the result of Mahal's biopsy. A big sigh of relief and bigger reason to thank Him (not the doc) for hearing our devotional prayers.

***

It's my turn to wait for my neck x-ray result. It took me almost a month before I decided to have it checked due to its unusual recurring stiffness and mild pain. The doc suspects a neck spasm. Hope nothing really serious.

Joey de Leon says it all

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:29:00 +0000

I'm not an avid fan of the writer and will not express my thoughts on this new scandal of Willie anymore (sobrang dami na, di na ako makikisawsaw); I just want to share Joey's poem for those who do not read The Philippine Star (a local broadsheet).

The funeral cortege of former Pres. Cory Aquino: My tears came naturally

Wala na sa piling ng mga Pilipino,
Tinig ng awiting Mga Kababayan Ko,
At lumisan na rin noong isang Sabado,
Inang nagpalipad sa awiting Bayan Ko.
Ako'y sumasaludo, paalam Pangulo,
May isa 'kong lihim, kay tagal itinago,
Sa lahat nang inabot kong mga namuno,
Tanging ikaw lang sa luha ko'y nagpatulo.

Marami ang nalungkot sa iyong pagyao,
Magalang ang lahat at puno ng respeto,
Nagpasalamat pa nga Kapamilya sa 'yo,
Dahil kanilang himpilan naibalik mo.

Subalit ano itong nabalitaan ko?
Nangyari noong Lunes, a-tres ng Agosto,
Habang inililipat ang mga labi mo,
Ika'y parang nabastos sa isang TV show.

At ang napakasaklap at masakit dito,
Ang nambastos pa'y kapamilya ng anak mo,
Napanood ito ng tao at publiko,
Kakaunti na nga, ngunit lahat nahilo.
Sabi ng TV host na mainit ang ulo
Pagkakita sa video na kanyang kasalo,
"Sandali, meron akong ano... sa'ting ano...
Hindi naman sa ano," nagkaanu-ano!
Ayon sa Internet, meron pa s'yang nasambit,
"Sana pakitanggal muna 'yan sa'ting traffic..."
At 'di maaalis sa iyong pag-iisip,
Ang parada ng patay ang pinaliligpit!
At dagdag pa daw ng naghahari-harian,
"I don't think na dapat n'yong ipakita iyan..."
Nasaan naman ang paggalang, o nasaan?
Mga sinasabi natin minsa'y pag-ingatan.

At 'di pa nangimi nang sumunod na araw,
Pinilit pa ring ginawa n'ya ay tama raw,
Mga nakarinig 'di na nakagalaw
At ayon sa iba sila na la'y napa-wow!

"... Pero ako, totoo 'ko eh ... ", sabi kuno,
Totoo nga at totoo ring walang modo,
Pwede namang sabihin itong pa-sikreto,
Kaya't wala na rin mga paliwanag mo.

"Kung ganyan, pakita na lang 'yan!", ang hamon pa,
Para bang ang prusisyon nila-"lang - lang" lang ba,
Ang pangasiwaan ay pinapili pa n'ya,
Sumunod ang himpilan, nung August 5 wala s'ya.

May mga komentong pwede nang pang-harapan,
"On camera" baga sa TV ang tawag d'yan
At kung sensitibo man ang gustong bitawan,
Pagpasok ng commercial, hintayin mo na lang.

Matutong magbaba muna ng mikropono
At saka idikta lahat ng iyong gusto,
Lagi kang mataas lahat daw takot sa 'yo,
Ratings lang ang mababa — totoo ba ito?

The breaking news breaks your heart — at 'yan ang bawi mo,
Nang mahalata mong sumablay ang pasok mo,
Pero sigurado ika'y maa-abswelto,
'Di ba ikaw rin ang may-ari ng network n'yo?
Nung Hueves nag-apologize sa diario naman,
O, akala ko ba wala kang kasalanan,
Tapos ng angalan, sunod paliwanagan —
COMPLAIN before you EXPLAIN ka na naman!
O ito kaya ay isa na namang "glitch" lang,
Tulad ng "two-zero" 'di na natin nalaman,
O ito ay maliwanag na kabobohan?
Sa tingin ng marami, mahirap lusutan.

Ang sabi ng iba — istupidong mayabang,
At giit ng iba — istupidong mayaman,
Mayaman man o mayabang ang tiyak diyan,
Napakayaman n'ya sa kaistupiduhan.

Buti pa ang apat na honor guards ni Cory —
Sina Malab, Laguindan, Rodriguez, Cadiente,
Walong oras tumayo sa ulan at viaje,
Ang lahat ay tiniis at walang sinabi.

Samantalang ikaw na may bubong sa ulo,
Komportable ka lang sa malamig na studio,
Nang kapirasong libing sa TV sumalo,
Angal at inis ang sumambulat sa iyo.

Maaari din namang pabayaan na s'ya,
Subalit ang nangyari'y mabigat talaga,
Namayapang pangulo'y huling paalam na,
'Di mo pa pinagbigyan ... hoy, nag-iisa ka!

At nais ko lang sabihin at ipagyabang
Sa mahigit na s'yam na libong tanghalian,
Sa limang pangulong sa Bulaga'y dumaan,
Kahit isa wala kaming nilapastangan.

Hope

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Two things:
We got the biopsy result last week. The explanation is quite technical in the medical sense but there is a "benign" word which I think tells a very good meaning. Babalik kami kay dok bukas para malaman namin ang buong kwento.

***

Team Pilipinas (Powerade) is doing good in the current Fiba Men's Championship. Don't mind the detractors; basketball - no matter how vertically challenging it is for us - has become our deep-rooted national passion. We cannot deny this fact. Kaya manalo-matalo, ayos lang.

(pic courtesy of china2009.fiba.com)

Looking forward to Philippines (Smart Gilas) Team when they reach their full potential in the very near future. GO PINOY!

Mabilisan lang

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:59:00 +0000

SCENE: Our Ayel was dedicated to Our Lord last Sunday.

SEEN: In just two months after going under the knife, Mahal will take another visit at the OR for a breast mass excision. She was discovered having small cystic lumps in her breasts. Hopefully the surgical biopsy shall give favorable result.

My First Dad's Day as a Dad

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Isa na ako sa mga nakakatanggap ng Father's Day greetings. Para siyang yearly certificate of accomplishment or recognition for passing paternal courses. For me, I guess makakakuha ako ng good grades sa Baby Diaper Changing 101, Baby Supplies Buying 101 at Baby Feeding 101. Medyo kinaya naman ang puyatan kahit "overnight classes" ang mga ito.

So sa lahat ng mga tatay dyan, isang pagbati sa inyo this coming June 20, and we really deserve more than a mug on that day. =)

Our Ayel has Arrived!

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:06:00 +0000

May 23, 2009

10am - Mahal and I planned to go to Robinsons to buy additional baby stuffs, but after going to a specialty clinic referred by my mom to check for their maternity package (though we have agreed to go to New Era Hospital when the time comes).

11am - We arrived at Drueco Specialist Clinic and registered at the nurse station so we could have a record and an initial check up by the Ob-Gyne doctor on duty. This was when we found out that Mahal was already in labor and her cervix had opened na pala @ 3cm! So we have to postponed our shopping.

12noon - Mahal was admitted while I got back to our house to get extra clothes for her and our baby (thanks sir Toyie for the baby gifts last December).

1pm - She went to active labor. Hindi ko maisip ang sakit na nararamdaman ng isang nagli-labor. All I know is I had to be strong and must convince her to be strong as well for our baby. Though she tried to tell me how painful it was:

7pm - Mahal was transferred to the Delivery Room after mag-8cm siya.

On this moment, I was overwhelmed by mixed emotions, same feeling when I was about to get married.

8:10pm - May narinig na akong iyak ng baby!

Ayel was taken out of the Delivery Room and I got to see my son for the first time...

Tatay na ako. =)

Definitely, this is just the end of the beginning of a wonderful journey called parenting.

Argh! Ugh!

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Almost 3 hours kami pinaghintay ng bago sanang OB-Gyne ni Mahal. N'ung una kinausap lang kami sa cellphone at kumatulong na lang ng isang doktor na kamukha ng mga cast ng japanese horror Infection. Ngayon naman nagpa-antay ng isa't kalahating oras at pagbalik namin, namuti na ang mata namin at wala pa rin siya. 1-3 ang schedule niya, so 3:30 umalis na kami.

***

Biglang na lang nag-"no network coverage" yung SIM ko kahapon. Pucha akala ko magpapalit na naman ako ng SIM eh wala pang limang buwan nung nasira yung dati kong SIM. Buti na lang bumalik sa normal kagabi. Malas lang, kinain na yung load ko.

Dugs

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Feeling Employer: Ano n'ang nangyari sa pinapa-update ko?
Empleyado: Ay ma'am, na email ko na po sa inyo.
Feeling Employer: Kaya nga tinatanong ko sa 'yo kasi hindi pa ako nakakapagbukas ng computer.

Papaano maiisa-isa ni empleyado ang laman ng Excel file na pina-update sa kanya, at anong mapapala ng Feeling Employer kung isa-isahin sa kanya yun? Abangan!

Our Ayel's Development: Week 37

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Foetal development during week 37 of being pregnant - Ayel's head may engage, dropping right down into the cervix ready for birth.

My Wife

Mahal may have a sudden urge in the last few weeks to decorate, bake or even start patchwork cot covers, this is known as 'nesting' but not all women experience this. She may feel hot all the time, because your body is working extremely hard. You have more blood circulating and are burning more calories.

-- Exactly what I've been noticing to her this week. Kaya todo bantay siya sa paggawa ng kuwarto ni Ayel kahit pinagbabawalan ko sumilip nang matagal dahil umaamoy yung pintura.

Tapos kagabi kelangan ko itutok yung aircon sa kanya dahil init na init daw siya. So ayun... kaya pala. =)

Ayel

He is now much plumper and his lungs are ready for the birth. As birth approaches, the amniotic fluid inside Mahal's womb has begun to diminish and Ayel is growing to fill the space. His head may engage, dropping right down into the cervix ready for birth. He should settle with his head facing down and tummy facing your back.

Research suggests it's Ayel's hormones that kick-start labour. When he is ready to emerge his brain will trigger the production of hormones that stimulate the uterus to encourage contractions. His face is filling out, and now has eyelashes. His neck is now thickening and his eyelids can now open and close easily.

Infos courtesy of http://www.askbaby.com.

PacMania

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Tue, 12 May 2009 02:15:00 +0000

HappySlip Greeting for Manny!

Commuter woes

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Banned dapat ang mga taong ito sa mga public AUV/Garage Service:

1. Humihikab nang bukang buka ang bibig at may tunog pa.
2. Pasahero sa gitnang upuan na alam namang may sasakay e hindi pa agad uusog hangga't hindi mo bubuksan ang pinto.
3. Mga nagpipilit sumandal, kahit balikat mo na mismo ang maipit.

***

Trivia on online videos

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:19:00 +0000

What to know what's the most viewed videos over the web? Here's a news clip from Yahoo News.

Visible Measures, which measures the use of online videos across more than 150 video-sharing sites, has compiled a list called the "100 Million Views Club" which is of online videos that have topped the 100 million viewership.

Topping the list is a music video by rapper Soulja Boy of "Crank That," which recorded 356 million hits, followed by a trailer for the vampire movie "Twilight" with 267 million clicks.

In third and four places, with 230 million and 197 million views respectively, came Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" music video and a user generated video by American ventriloquist and stand-up comedian Jeff Dunham called "Achmed the Dead Terrorist."

Boyle, who performed on "Britain's Got Talent," was in fifth place with 186 million views.

It pays to ask

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Wed, 06 May 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Or it saves to ask, to put it literally; and better if you ask the right person.

Galing kami sa MegaClinic ni Mahal kahapon para magpa-Urine C/S G/S. Nakapag inquire na kami sa fee which is around 700 pesos. Buti na lang naisipan ni Mahal ko na bumisita sa HMO office para magbaka-sakaling covered siya ng benefits. Dati kasi sinubukan namin humingi ng request for Urinalysis pero nasopla kami nung nurse o OJT yata yun na hindi raw mako-cover kapag pregnancy related.

Buti na lang iba ang naka-duty kahapon. So nagtanong ulit si Mahal. Nung nalaman nila na buntis ang magre-request, sinabi lang na kelangan muna ma-assess ng accredited doctor kung ipapa-cover sa HMO yung particular lab test.

Wala pang 5 minutes, approved na yung request namin at nakatipid kami ng Php700 for the Urine C/S G/S. Buti na lang 85 pesos lang ang Urinalysis, kung hindi, ha-huntingin ko yung mga nagmarunong na HMO attendant na yun!

Hospital Hopping

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Last night we went to Hope General Hospital, a private health care establishment to find out their maternity packages. Their normal delivery service costs around Php15K-17K while CS without complications ranges from Php35K-40K. These are actually the usual prices that we also learned from relatives and friends. We also checked out their maternity rooms which I would say comfy enough for us. Its Php800/day is sure ok and within the budget.

Next stop: Novaliches General Hospital. They have this Php7K maternity package promo displayed at their building's facade so we inquired about it. Unluckily, one should have gotten enrolled to this program first during her first to fifth month of pregnancy to avail it. Their normal delivery is Php25K-30K and CS at Php50K-60K.

Last Stop: New Era General Hospital.
Normal - Php25K and up
CS - Php45 and up
The Billing Attendant was kind enough to explain to me how much Philhealth would cover some expenses, depending on various cases. Too bad we are quite far from this hospital.

I guess we'll hope for the best maternity care at Hope.

Our 36 Week-old Ayel

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:32:00 +0000

Here's the last pelvic ultrasound of Mahal. This time Ayel can be very well seen and he's quite busy thumb sucking ;-)

It will somehow look like this if taken through a sonogram (just got the image from the Internet, mahal daw magpaganito e, hehe).

Her OB confirms our baby's gender by pointing out to us Ayel's "pototoy" (BB Boy).

Happy happy!!!

blotter

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Mahal is now feeling okay. Two days siyang nag-leave at mahirap nga mag-isa sa bahay dahil wala pa ngang kagamit gamit dun.

Lumalaki na naman ang tyan ko. Nagsimula ito nung nakaraang long holiday break. Kelangan ko na namang mag mansanas lang sa gabi.

Our Ayel's Development: Week 32

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Our baby weighs around 5lb. He can blink and his eyes will be open if he is awake. The lanugo hair and vernix covering him are beginning to disappear. Ayel spends 60 percent of the last trimester of pregnancy dreaming.

Anniv Erratum

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Ito yung isa sa mga Sustagen Premium moments ko na unti-unting dumarami. Hindi nga pala pritong tilapia at talong ang kinain namin nung first wedding anniversary, kundi Sweet and Sour Lapu-lapu, Baked Mac at Ampalaya Guisado and with Fruit Salad as dessert. How in the world did I forget it??? Yung tilapia session with Japan Pizza ay nung last Saturday nga lang pala. My bad.

Kanina naman sobrang alinsangan na kahit 5am pa lang ng umaga. I think today will be a lot warmer than yesterday. Sabi sa balita, kahapon ang hottest day of this year's summer.

Our Ayel's Development: Week 31

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:48:00 +0000

Ayel's fingernails reach the fingertips, his skin is pink and smooth and his body looks much more rounded. There is a store of glycogen building in his liver. He will draw on this reserve energy during labor and the following days while feeding is established.

Our baby's brain is expanding rapidly, with the hearing and speech centers are maturing to a point where he will be able to recognize Mahal's voice at birth.

1st Wedding Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (the Zookeeper) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:21:00 +0000

It has been more than a week when I should have wrote this. I could hardly catch up with time, sobrang bilis na talaga ng panahon.

We celebrated it with lots of fried tilapia and talong at lunch and had our "spacious" living room crowded by both sides of our families to watch "Taken" and "Slumdog Millionaire" (spacious kasi wala pang kagamit gamit).

Masarap pala yung pakiramdam na dinadalaw dalaw ka ng mga mahal mo sa buhay, sa sariling mong bahay.

Yes, we have survived our first year as married couple. No major fights, new circle of so called friends na puro may mga asa-asawa na rin, more budgeting sessions, lesser interest on things that we usually hunt when shopping, etc.

Next anniversary will be extra special because we have our very own bundle of joy by that time.