Venus Raj, the young Macho Dancing boy and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez

Quite a lot of issues have hugged the limelight in the last few months. Some of them are funny. Some are irritating. Others are just plain stupid. Anyway, here are some of the stories I've been meaning to react to.

One funny issue is Venus Raj's hair during the Bb. Pilipinas 2011 coronation night. I know this issue is not going to shape the country in anyway but I still find it 'cute' so let me write about  it. Her stylist made her hair curly. No! Not those big curls to make the hair 'big and bouncy'. Small waves were made. One comment on twitter says 'Nuestra Senora del Venus Raj'. The one who twitted it is obviously saying that her hair looks like that of a 'poon' (image of a saint ) or Sto. Nino. She is the model of a hair conditioner so what was her stylist thinking. But you know, they were able to use it (the situation) wisely in her newest commercial. Look for transcripts of the presscon for that commercial and read between the lines. Watch the commercial carefully and you will also see a connection. Genius!(This makes me wonder if it was really done on purpose.)

Another issue that made twitter and facebook really busy was that of Willing Willie and the young 'macho dancing' boy. A lot of comments have been said. Threats of legal cases have been hurled from all sides. But for me, the real issue is simple. Just know the difference between being an adult and being a child and you will know what (or who?) is right and wrong. A child may want something (desperately) but you do not necessarily need to give in. If it's going to have negative effects on the child then why allow him or her. Yes, it is an adults responsibility to make a child happy but it is also his or her responsibility to protect the child from anything that will harm him or her now or in the future. And also, not because a child has done something several times in the past means you can allow him to do it again and again. Doing something repeatedly does not make that something right. Right?

The ombudsman issue has also occupied a lot of precious newspaper space. It has been in the news for a rather long time already. However, last I heard, ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has already resigned. Some are happy about it. Some are not. Some are happy because she is already out of office they can put somebody they trust (hopefully not somebody they are intending to turn into their own version of Mercy). Some are not happy because they can longer put her on trial (impeachment trial). They say there are also senators who are not happy because they will not be able to show their 'skills' in debate on national tv. They say some are looking forward to it because they need this 'show' to boost their popularity  for the next elections. For me, there is really no need for that impeachment case. No need for it to go on tv. People have already judged her anyway. People already have their own conclusions. Thus, I think, it would be better for the case to be tried in a court where there will be no television cameras. It could be in an RTC, in the Sandigan Bayan, the Supreme Court - wherever - just as long as it will not be used to advance the career or popularity of someone.

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The Royal Wedding - Trivia - Things you've always wanted to know

Everybody's going gaga over the Royal Wedding - wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William and Kate Middleton. Every local and international news organization is making a feature about it. Everybody is trying to get something 'exclusive' for higher ratings. What is it that make us all suddenly interested about these young couple? For us here in the Philippines, I think the fairytale aspect of it is a big factor. Every girl - and I guess almost every boy - is familiar with the Cinderella story. Not that Kate is as  'lowly' as Cinderella but we all know she does not come from any Royal lineage. The thought that an ordinary girl could (and would) marry a prince is really something to talk to about.

Anyway, here are some things about the wedding - directly related or otherwise - that I found on the net. I would not mention sources anymore. I will not be copying them verbatim anyway.

1. Kate will not be called Princess Catherine of Wales since the title princess is received through birth.
2. Kate will be called HRH the Princess William of Wales unless of course the queen gives her another title.
3. 1900 people will witness the actual wedding ceremony.
4. 600 will be invited to the wedding reception.
5. 300 will be part of the wedding dinner to be hosted by Prince Charles.
6. Everything is carefully timed. It is not going to be as spontaneous as other weddings.
7. Kate cannot eat shellfish anymore. British Royals never do.
8. There are accounts that say Prince William and Kate rehearsed their kiss. I do not think they did that because they don't know how to but rather because they have to do it at a right angle that can be captured by the camera.
9. Kate is the eldest Royal bride.
10. Kate reportedly designed her own wedding gown. The gown was kept secret because they believe that Prince William cannot and must not see the gown until she reaches the altar.

There are still a lot of these things in other sites. Some sounds cute. Others sound funny. Still others sound rather silly.

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Vivere Salon - Great Service

I had a haircut yesterday at Vivere Salon, Robinson's Place, Manila. It was my first time there. My friend who is a regular client of the salon convinced me to try their services. It was a good thing I said yes. The staff gave me a rather good service. The hairstylist - I think his name is Leo - 'studied' my head first before he started cutting. He  looked at me from different angles. I assume he was thinking of what haircut will fit me best. I actually like the outcome. New style. Younger look haha. However, I know its going to be hard for me to style my hair that way again. I don't have a blower, you see. The assitant - his name is John - was also okay. He washed my hair thoroughly. He gave me a good back massage - although it would have been better if he made it a little harder. The only drawback is that there were too many 'assistants' in the place that it's become a bit too noisy to relax.

Overall, it was a good experience albeit a bit expensive. But I think I'll be back. Wanna see my hairstyle? Naaaaa.....maybe next time

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7 Churches for Visita Iglesia plus Visita Iglesia Online

It's Holy Week  next week. As I prepare to go to the province for this week-long vacation, I cannot help but recall the traditions that is associated with the week - some of them I have experienced, others I have yet to taste. One of the things a lot of people do during Holy Week is Visita Iglesia. Visita Iglesia means visiting 7 churches to pray the 14 stations of the cross - 2 stations per church, I think. I've done this only once in Quezon. We visited the churches in Candelaria, Sariaya, Tayabas, Lucban, 2 churches in Lucena City and Pagbilao. Anyway, I know it is hard to look for 7 churches here in Metro Manila that are strategically located such that you will be able to visit them all in one day. But don't worry, I have here an itinerary for the Makati, Pasay and Paranaque area. 

1. Santuario de San Antonio. MsKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City.

2. National Shrine of the Sacred Heart. Kamagong cor Sacred Heart Sts., San Antonio Village, Makati City.

3. St. John Bosco Parish Church. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City

4. St. Alphonsus Mary de Ligouri Parish (Magallanes Church). Humabon St., Magallanes Village, Makati City.

5. Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish. P. Burgos St. Pasay City (Beside Pasay General Hospital)

6. National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Church (Baclaran Church or Redemptorist Church). Baclaran, Paranaque City.

7. Shrine of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. SM Mall of Asia Complex (near SMX).

These churches are easy to find and they are not very far away from each other. You will surely find your way easily.

For those who cannot go out to visit these churches like those who are bedridden, the Catholic Church has devised a solution for you - Visita Iglesia online. Talk about going high tech. You can now visit http://visitaiglesia.net However, let not the presence of this site be an excuse for you to really go and physically visit churches in your area.

Have a meaningful Holy Week everyone. And those going to the provinces, INGAT (take care)!

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sun cellular postpaid application

i applied for a postpaid line at the sun shop in cash & carry, makati last friday....i brought along all the documents required (valid id, proof of billing, income tax certificate, payslips for two months)....a girl assisted in completing the forms required....she even discussed with me the possible free phones i could get....she then told me that my application will  be submitted that afternoon and i should expect a call within three days....the next day i received a call (prompt) asking if i have already received information regarding the status of my application...i said not yet....she then said my application has been denied....i asked why and she said she doesn't know....then she told me that i could apply for a line without the free phone...i forgot how they call that promo....it has no freephone and no 24-month lockup.....yesterday (tuesday) i decided to just get the line without the free phone....i felt that that was a better deal because of the no lockup provision....anyway the phone that they will be giving is not a must-have phone so who cares.....on my way to the mall i got a call from sun asking me if i am willing to wait because they will be forwarding my application for re-evaluation....i asked why....she said that that's usually what they do with denied applications....i found it unusual that they will ask for re-evaluation three days after the first evaluation....but i said yes anyway.....then a few minutes ago i received another call again form sun....i was asked (again) if i have already received information regarding my application....i said not yet....and then she said yet again that my application has been denied....i laughed....hmmmm....will i receive another call after three days for another re-evaluation?.....hahaha....sun cellular......fun doing business with them....hahaha.......sun goes up.....sun goes down.....sun goes up.....sun goes down.....a cycle we all know......like their application process......or better yet, like their signal....i'll just get that line without the free phone.....to experience a roller coaster ride......would you like to join the ride?.....

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trespassing

on my way to the office i saw a huge fenced vacant lot that....there was a 'no trespassing' sign hanging on the makeshift gate......what is trespassing?.....i learned from my grade school language that to trespass means to enter a property without the owner's consent......hmmmm.....sounds simple, right?......to enter a property uninvited.....would you say a party gatecrasher is trespassing?....would you call a person who is violating your privacy a trespasser?.....would you call stepping over somebody else's responsibilities trespassing?....i wonder....

wait......

i just checked.....wiki says 'trespass' is divided into three groups....trespass to the person, trespass to chattels and trespass to land.....okay......so there.....i didn't read the entire wiki output because it was too long it would take me days to finish....fine, fine.....i'm exaggerating......

so why am i so concerned with trespassing.......actually i'm not.......i'm just a little concerned.....why?....well i just learned that a friend is feeling bad lately because somebody is 'stealing' his responsibilities at work....a colleague of his is doing the things he is supposed to do.....that guy must be trying to earn some brownie points from the higher ups......bad.......bad.......am i being judgmental?....i am?.....okay, fine, maybe that guy just wants to help.......hmmmmm..........hmmmm......but i still think that is bad......if that guy has pure intentions then he should have asked my friend first if he wants some help......tsk...tsk.....

trespassing?......i say yes......

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insecurity...

why are you so insecure?
you graduated from a good school?
you have a good job?
you have had your share of promotions?

you have money?

these are things that should give you some amount of confidence. these things should assure you that you can do it. these things should assure you that you are good such that you don't have to always compete with others just to prove yourself.

.....

in my opinion insecurity develops as we grow up...

examples:
1. family of girl is not rich...she does not get to buy nice clothes and shoes like her other classmates...when she grows up and starts earning money, she buys signature clothes...seems okay, right?...the problem is she does not just wear those nice clothes to look good bu to look better than her colleagues or friends...she may or may not be intentionally doing it but she is competing with them...
2. a boy gets good grades...he becomes part of the honors list but never makes it to the top...he knows he is doing his best so he feels bad because his efforts never seem enough to make it to number 1...at first he either feels he is doing something wrong or there is something he is still not doing but should be doing...nothing wrong with that...but he cant find that something...this leads him to resent the others who seem to have discovered that something that he still fails to unearth...as he grows and enter college problem becomes bigger because he fails to get in to the school that he thinks is where all the bright ones study...this makes his hatred towards those who are better than him more pronounced...he always competes with them...he likes to look at the things that they do so that when they commit mistakes he can have something to use against them...
3. a girl grows up with an older sister and a younger brother...dad likes her older sister very much...mom likes the youngest so much...she feels sad because she does not get the same attention as her other siblings...she tries her best to get noticed but to no avail....she feels depressed....then she because envious of the two...she tries her best to compete with them...then she grows up and enter into a relationship...she always feel her boyfriend is fooling around...she gets jealous all the time....

.......

these are issues that should be handled by parents early on...parents sensitive to the needs of their children will notice these signs....they make ways to address them...they give them assurances so they will feel assured...complete...confident...when these issues are not addressed early they become bigger...and the feeling of insecurity could he really consume ones whole being and this could lead him to do really bad things...

examples of possible consequences
1. could lead to stealing to money just so he or she could buy nice things
2. could lead to entering jobs like drug dealing or prostitution just to have money
3. inventing stories about others to put them down
4. cheating in exams
5. having several boyfriends/girlfriends at the same time to feel loved
6. entering into adulterous relationships
7. ....murder

again, to prevent these things from happening, kids should be given enough love by their parents...parents are responsible for making the children secured in all aspects of their lives....

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