Forbidden City On Foot

My friend Sai and I had a wonderful time in Beijing. We were glad that the hostel where we stayed in just walking distance to the major tourist attractions in the city. We were also satisfied with the service and accommodation that the hostel provided. We highly recommend Wangfujing Youth Hostel for those who wanted to meet different people and are considering to get a cheaper room rate. The room which is good for 4 people is quite big and we got one bed each and we had two roommates from Hongkong whom we only met once during our last day in Beijing. We had a long trip from Suzhou to Beijing and in order to save time we traveled at night. So when we arrived in Beijing we took a walk around the city, went to Catholic church then we went directly to Forbidden City and Tinanmen Square.

Here are some of the photos we have taken last July 2009.

Typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines

I wish that the government officials would do something instead of preparing for the coming 2010 election. I hope others won't take advantage of this situation to get the publicity they need. These people need a real heart.
It's funny how one can still smile in spite of the difficult situation they're in. Again, I remember how Filipinos can find happiness in the most difficult situation. I am praying for all those who were affected with this typhoon.

How to be a Filipino Hero?

Times have changed. People have changed and will always be changing. In the past,I believe that a person has to work hard in order to become a hero. Dr.Jose Rizal who was known for his intelligence and bravery and was proclaimed as the national hero. He studied and Spain, Paris and other European countries and learn how to speak different languages. When he came back to the Philippines he wrote a book about how Filipinos are being treated with the Spaniard leaders, specially the leaders of the church. He showed that "Pen is mightier than sword". Who killed him? a Filipino or a Spaniard?  I only learned that he was gun fired by soldiers. But don't know who they were.

Looking back with the lives of other heroes before and after him I could say that they all did a great job. They fought hard to get what we are now enjoying, freedom. In our time, I was surprised to find out that it is too easy to become a Filipino hero. Sitting on a plane, I grabbed the magazine in front of me. It was an inflight magazine of Cebu Pacific air called Smile. I scanned through the table of contents and my eyes were directed to the bold title, "Filipino Modern Heroes".  I turned to the pages right away and what I saw surprised me. With those information  I've read, here are some ways which a Filipino can be a hero. I only presented them based  on what I can remember but I don't agree with all of them.

1. Grab a pair of boxing gloves. Hit someone's face real hard. Knock him down and raise your hand! Yes, what I'm trying to say is be like Manny Pacquiao. You can earn millions by hitting someone's face and that would make you look so powerful...then try the politics?  Oh no,what happened to the standard of choosing a hero? Just because he's got to punch other people faces and earn millions US $? Well, personally I don't agree with this heroic thing. Sorry, I'm not a fan of boxing.
2. Be a wrestler like Batista and you'll come home well heroes treatment. Again? Who is he? A mighty wrestler who would break someone's arms and be a hero? No, no, no...
   
3. Be a pop singer or a rapper like Alan Pineda of Black Eyed Peas. Well, I like their and they are too famous around the world. But again popularity has nothing to do with being a hero.
4. Appear in Hollywood or Disney movies like Vanessa Hudgens of High School Musical. Right she is talented, beautiful and earning million dollars. So I guess we are talking about $$$ here to become a hero.
5. The last, but not the least. Be an OFW. (Overseas Filipino Workers). Well, I belong to this group, but again I disagree with the idea. Just because we are sending money back home and we are paying for some Overseas membership don't mean that we are heroes. We work hard, that's for sure. We miss our families back home, that's without a question as well. OFWs are just people who wanted to work abroad for different reasons. For example, if a person left the Philippines and become an OFW because he/she hates the system, then does it mean that she's now a hero? I wanted to work abroad for the sake of experience and opportunity to travel in another country, does this mean I am a hero now? I don't think so. Those thousands of Filipinos working in hospitals and nursing homes in the US and UK for immigration purposes, does this make them heroes to? Or those who work hard for their families back at home? Yes, I think those people can be considered heroes.
   

Well, I have real example of ways on how to become a hero.

First, I think the real Filipino heroes are the teachers, doctors, nurses, accountants, lawyers, midwives, engineers  and other workers who prefer to stay in the Philippines and serve the country in spite of the fact that they're so underpaid and continue paying 12% of income tax to the government and when they buy a slice of pizza or something they will still be deducted with another 12%. Now that's 24%..hmm this is what I don't understand with the law of taxation.

Second, is be a parent.

My hero is my mother. She is my perfect example of someone who can love unconditionally. Always willing to give and forgive. She never stops believing that something good is going to happen when you work hard and pray hard for it. A woman who doesn't know the meaning of hate. Most of all she is the wind beneath my wings. I love my mother so much, my hero.

Third, don't go into politics. I just don't understand the difference between truth and a lie...

Kayne West: When a Big Star Turns to Dust

I remember my summer vacation in my brothers home in Zamboanga City,Philippines. I enjoyed my time with the kids, my nieces and nephews, and most of all I enjoyed because they did what I asked them to do, sing and dance. I noticed that all my nieces wanted to sing Taylor Swift's song, Love Story and You Belong With Me. Three of them are in high school and two are in grade school, so I wouldn't be surprised, those songs were popular since it talks about love, specially high school love. They could sing the song without looking at the lyrics so I was impressed. They simply love Taylor Swift. I think she's a talented pop star and yes I like her songs too and even her music videos.

When I found out that she won the Best Female Video award for MTV VMA 2009, I was happy and thought that she deserves the award. I like her reaction when her name was called, it shows a total surprise or disbelief. She went to the stage and delivered her acceptance speech, only to be interrupted by Kanye West, saying, "Oh Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I will let you finish,but Beyonce have one of the best videos of all time. One of the best videos of all time!" Telling her in front of many people that she souldn't be receiving the award since she doesn't deserve it? Wow, what a rude man! Is this how a big star would act in a very formal occasion like this? So disrespectful. I admit I like his song, specially "Heartless" but I didn't realize how rude this artist is. Just perfect for his song, "Heartless", How could you be so heartless? I feel sorry for Taylor, and how she lost her words in front of many people. If this is the kind of person who works the business called entertainment industry, then he should learn the accept the decision of the voters if not then just QUIT. I'm sad to see this behavior when he got millions of people who look him up as a star only turning him into a dust. I appreciate what Beyonce deed when receiving her award as Video of the Year, instead of giving her speech she called Taylor Swift and let her continued saying thanks to her fans. Thumbs up for you Beyonce and Taylor you deserve the award, stay humble. Your fans are very supportive that includes my five nieces back in the Philippines.

Taylor Swift giving her acceptance speech for winning Best Female Video award only to be interrupted by Kayne saying Beyonce has the best video of all time. When Beyonce wins video of the year she lets Taylor swift continues her unfinished acceptance speech. Right, "Class and No class" stars meet at VMA 2009!

Kayne Apologized, but I think, it's too late to apologize.

A Date to Remember: 09-10-09

Today is the day that I will remember for the rest of my life....

What Does Your Facebook Status Say?

Facebook or most of us would just type its initial FB, is one of the famous social networking sites that is open to the world. I like this site because there are many things that I can do. The first reason is I can share and keep my photos without worrying about my computer's hard disk memory with my jpg files. Next, is I can keep in touch with my friends and I am updated with what they're doing or what's happening in their life through their Status updates. I think it's the most interesting feature. FB offers this box which you can write anything on your mind, for it displays "what's on your mind". Even if you don't write anything on it, FB still displays an update of what you're doing in the site. For example, I clicked on farmville application and my status displayed that I was playing farmville. You can also search for your long lost friends in high school or even your first crush hmm. Well, these are just some features that one can enjoy when using FB. Members love to exchange messages and somehow others are careless about their choice of words and choice of friends. As expected you will receive invitation from other users, and you have the option to add or just ignore them. Others just add them without carefully thinking who they are. Then, here comes the most exciting part. Let's say your boss added you to his FB, perhaps you would be flattered because he considered you to be added in his network. A few days later you forgot that he is now in your connection. You came in for work, didn't like the way things are and oppppppps posted your sentiments in your status box. You forgot that everyone in your list will see that message, including your new added friend, your boss. Gotcha!

Here's an example of this situation. I got this photo from my friend, Saires. I don't know who got this first but it's funny how your status in facebook can change your life.
(Please click on the image below for a larger view, thanks)My status just say, "I hate it because FB, youtube, wordpress, twitter and blogger are blocked in China, but thanks to a powerful VPN I can still access them though a little slower than direct access from these sites."

Enjoy using FB but be careful what you say!

Love and Water

Plants are very different when we compared them to us. We are similar for the fact that we belong to the same living species who need food in order to survive. We, human beings are too blessed to be given the ability to think and to use our thoughts to create great ideas. Plants can't do this but they are one of the tools in realizing those thoughts. We are capable of loving and expressing our love in words and deeds. No one thought us to love but whether we like it or not we will experience this strong emotion.
I'm trying to compare these facts since a few months ago I bought a pot of plant which costs me 17RMB (about 2.5 USD), if I remember it right. It's not that I am concern about its price, but rather the feeling when I got this particular plant. I was happy coming back to school. It changes something, for I feel calm every time I see this plant right next to my bed. I took good care of this plant everyday. In the morning I would water it and put it outside my terrace where it could get enough sunshine. During lunch break I would go back to my room to put it back inside since the sun is too hot. I believe that exposing it to the sunlight for a few hours in the morning would be enough. I did this process for about two or three months. The plant showed signs of growth, there were new buds and small green leaves. I was happy seeing these little changes. When I went back to the Philippines last July, I was thinking of leaving it to the caretaker of the building but the problem was, I didn't know how to say it and I felt shy. I would be away for about two months so I was sure that the plant wouldn't survive. I then decided to put it in the terrace or a washing area outside my room. There is a faucet so I turned it on and made sure that there's a drop of water that would come out. I then put the plan under the faucet and observed the drops of water for a few minutes. There were few drops within one minute, so I thought that was alright. I left China thinking that my plant will continue to grow and give more new buds. When I arrived last Tuesday, I was so excited to see my plant. So I left my luggage outside my room and rushed to see my plant in the terrace.

What I saw was a gray pot and staring at the faucet I noticed that there was no drop coming out. I checked around and saw that the wall was newly painted so I figured that someone came and did the painting and also turned off the faucet which I left a little open. I felt sad and a thought came into my mind. My plant was deprived of water for only two months and yet it withered. How can it die when there was sunshine and I'm sure it also rained within those months. I still watered the plant hoping that it would still grow. I went back to get my luggage and it occurred to me that this plant is a perfect example of any human relationship. Isn't it that when we go into a relationship we give and receive love. We continue to show that we care and in return the person would show his love for us. If one of us would stop doing this process, the relationship weakens. If a man stops showing his love, the woman stops responding and eventually love dies. When it dies, no matter how much love the other person would pour in order to bring it back, it would be impossible since it no longer exists. A friend told me that I can just buy a new plant. Yes, "buying a new plant is better than waiting for the withered one to grow."