Kumbento Boys '95

We Are Now At Facebook!

2008-12-22T21:50:00.001+08:00

Add the FACEBOOK group of the batch! Just type "Kumbento Boys 95!" and be a member!

Peace.

10 Things You Should Never Tell A Woman

2008-09-12T00:53:00.001+08:00

You're past the early stages of your relationship and the two of you are getting pretty close. You are probably thinking that it's time to open up and share all those intimate details of your past and present. Well, stop right there!

Up until now, you've probably been told that honesty is the best policy in a relationship -- not always, idiot. However, there are certain things about you, your family and your personal history that you don't need to share with your woman.

Now, I'm certainly not advocating lying, but rather selectively omitting some information that might not work in your favor. The following are 10 things that you should definitely not tell your girlfriend, even if she asks. In fact, mentioning any of the following would probably have her say, "I wish you hadn't told me that."

10 - Your family hates her.
This is an unfortunate situation, yes. But if you tell her, you'll only fuel the fire by making her angry or insecure. If you don't agree with your family's hesitations about her, then politely ask them to butt out. Just do what you can to make them change their minds and hope they'll warm up to her with time.

9 - You have insecurities.
Do you feel jealous of your best friend's looks or his sweet new car? Or do you envy your girlfriend's status, job or salary? Everyone has their share of insecurities, but in the dating world, it's vital that you keep these insecurities under your hat. One of the most important things a woman looks in a man is confidence, and if she sees that you are constantly insecure and jealous, you won't seem so poised. So if you can't put a stop to your insecurities and your green-eyed monster, at least try to keep it to yourself.

8 - You flirt with other women.
If you are a flirty type of guy, she probably knows it already. In fact, you probably flirted with her before you got together. Having said that, she doesn't need to hear the list of women that you flirted with all day, nor does she need to hear about the list of women that flirted with you. If it really is harmless flirting, then why make her worry about it?

7 - You have a wimpy behavior.
Okay, so you don't kill spiders, you run away from fights and maybe you even cry during movies. Unfortunately for you, the cliché is true: Women like strong men. So telling her that you're afraid of an itty-bitty insect or that you can't stand heights isn't going to work in your favor. Naturally, if you are going to be with her in the long term, she might learn some of these little factoids as you go along. But do your best not to divulge them all in the beginning.

6 - You compare her to your ex-girlfriend in bed.
Needless to say, everyone does this; she is probably also comparing you to her ex to some extent. But do avoid offering her specific details about your past conquests, specifically the fact that your past lover was better than her in bed. In fact, even if you are telling her that she is better than your ex, this is a bad can of worms to open. No woman wants to be compared to another, especially in the sexual department.

5 - You talk to your mother too often.
Do you talk to mom several times a day? To a woman you're dating, that could be a little intimidating. A woman doesn't want to feel like she's competing with your mother, or worse, that you're dependent on mommy. So just keep that cute little secret to yourself.

4 - You have not-so-cool hobbies.
So you might keep a collection of Transformers in your underwear drawer or be fascinated by things like Faberge eggs. But you have to realize that it is unlikely that she will appreciate your wacky interests and hobbies. Don't fool yourself into thinking that such quirks are charming; chances are, they'll just be a real turnoff.

3 - You've done shameful things in the past.
You might think that the two of you are close enough for you to reveal these little tidbits. But unfortunately, she'll never be ready to hear that you've cheated on past girlfriends or that you've enjoyed private dances at strip clubs. Even non-sexual shameful acts that you've committed -- like theft, bullying or betrayals -- are not things that you want to divulge. While you might want to get some of these secrets off your chest, she will never forget them. And you'll come off looking like a less moral or honest person as a result.

2 - You find one of her friends smoking hot.
So you think that blonde friend of hers is cute? Fair enough. But do have the sense not to mention it to your girlfriend -- not even as a joke. She won't find it funny; actually, she will probably be angry and hurt, and in the long run, she'll never trust you around her friends. You might think that your girlfriend is secure enough to handle this piece of information, but let me tell you that she's definitely not. Most girls aren't, so don't risk it.

Number 1.....
The number one thing you should never tell a woman really needs no explanation.....your past or current STDs. I just hope that you're not having sex with her without being 100% sure that you've been cured of that bacterial disease. Wait, a viral disease? Then goodluck on that one, you're on your own buddy.

=======================================

Do be open and honest with her about most things -- by now, she should know most of the details of your personal life. Facts about your health and personal life that affect her are important to divulge. But consider this: her opinion of you isn't completely formed yet.

So when it comes to these 10 seemingly unimportant tidbits, be selective about what you tell her. Just as you are living the good life not knowing all those little secrets she's been keeping from you, she'll be happier not knowing about these unnecessary information.

Celebs @ the Beach

2008-09-11T19:45:00.006+08:00

The good...

Eva Longoria-Parker

Penélope Cruz

Nicollette Sheridan (with Michael Bolton)

The bad...

Kate Hudson

Liv Tyler

Heidi Klum

...and the UGLY!!!

Britney Spears

Damn Alluring!

2006-11-10T03:06:00.000+08:00

Guys, you'll drool over this month's FHM GIRL NEXT DOOR...

presenting, the damn ('tang ina talaga!) alluring (poocha!!!)...

MADAM AURING!!! Ahahahahahaha!!!! :p

FOOTANG INANG NBA DRAFT

2006-10-09T13:32:00.000+08:00

PICK NA!!!!!

Jihad, Allahu Akbar!!!

2006-09-04T13:31:00.000+08:00

شايد كه عمل كنيم:
تفاوت كشورهاي ثروتمند و فقير، تفاوت قدمت آنها نيست.
زيرا براي مثال كشور مصر بيش از 3000 سال تاريخ مكتوب دارد و فقير است!
اما كشورهاي جديدي مانند كانادا، نيوزيلند، استراليا كه 150 سال پيش وضعيت قابل توجهي نداشتند اكنون كشورهايي توسعه‌يافته و ثروتمند هستند.
تفاوت كشورهاي فقير و ثروتمند در ميزان منابع طبيعي قابل استحصال آنها هم نيست.
ژاپن كشوري است كه سرزمين بسيار محدودي دارد كه 80 درصد آن كوه‌هايي است كه مناسب كشاورزي و دامداري نيست اما دومين اقتصاد قدرتمند جهان پس از آمريكا را دارد. اين كشور مانند يك كارخانه پهناور و شناوري مي‌باشد كه مواد خام را از همه جهان وارد كرده و به صورت محصولات پيشرفته صادر مي‌كند.
مثال بعدي سويس است.كشوري كه اصلاً كاكائو در آن به عمل نمي‌آيد اما بهترين شكلات‌هاي جهان را توليد و صادر مي‌كند. در سرزمين كوچك و سرد سويس كه تنها در چهار ماه سال مي‌توان كشاورزي و دامداري انجام داد، بهترين لبنيات (پنير) دنيا توليد مي‌شود.
سويس كشوري است كه به امنيت، نظم و سختكوشي مشهور است و به همين خاطر به گاوصندوق دنيا مشهور شده‌است (بانك‌هاي سويس).
افراد عاليرتبه‌اي كه از كشورهاي ثروتمند با همپايان خود در كشورهاي فقير برخورد دارند براي ما مشخص مي‌كنند كه سطح هوش و فهم نيز تفاوت قابل توجهي در اين ميان ندارد.
نژاد و رنگ پوست نيز مهم نيستند زيرا مهاجراني كه در كشور خود برچسب تنبلي مي‌گيرند در كشورهاي اروپايي به نيروهاي مولد تبديل مي‌شوند.
پس تفاوت در چيست؟
تفاوت در رفتارهاي است كه در طول سال‌ها فرهنگ و دانش نام گرفته است.
وقتي كه رفتارهاي مردم كشورهاي پيشرفته و ثروتمند را تحليل مي‌كنيم متوجه مي‌شويم كه اكثريت غالب آنها از اصول زير در زندگي خود پيروي مي‌كنند:
1) اخلاق به عنوان اصل پايه 2) وحدت 3) مسئوليت پذيري 4) احترام به قانون و مقررات 5) احترام به حقوق شهروندان ديگر
6) عشق به كار 7) تحمل سختي‌ها به منظور سرمايه‌گذاري روي آينده 8) ميل به ارائه كارهاي برتر و فوق‌العاده 9) نظم‌پذيري
اما در كشورهاي فقير تنها عده قليلي از مردم از اين اصول پيروي مي‌كنند.
ما ايرانيان فقير هستيم نه به اين خاطر كه منابع طبيعي نداريم يا اينكه طبيعت نسبت به ما بيرحم بوده‌است.
ما فقير هستيم براي اينكه رفتارمان چنين سبب شده‌است.
ما فاقد اهتمام لازم جهت آموختن و رعايت اصول فوق كه توسط كشورهاي پيشرفته شناسايي شده‌است هستيم.
اگر شما اين نامه را براي ديگران نفرستيد اتفاقي براي شما نمي‌افتد. گربه شما نمي‌ميرد، از محل كارتان اخراج نمي‌شويد، هفت سال بدبختي بر سرتان آوار نمي‌شود و مريض هم نخواهيد شد.
اما اگر ميهن خود را دوست داريد اين پيغام را به گردش بياندازيد تا شايد تعداد بيشتري از هموطنانمان مانند شما آن را بفهمند، تغيير كرده و عمل كنند.

Hoy

2006-09-04T12:46:00.000+08:00

Hoy mag-post naman kayo ng kahit ano!

Spit and Homos

2006-08-11T16:50:00.000+08:00

Spit and Homos

shittt pare sira vibes ko kanina. it was raining cats

and dogs so i had to go tambay sa waiting shed ng

starbs sc while waiting for mang tonyo. pucha

talaga i feel like out of place katabi all these baho

orcs. Then i saw a native spitting sa road before

making sabit sa jeep na dumaan. Im certain nacall

center lowlife un with his gaudy getup and 2-layer

jacket na mukhang sako ng bigas sa kacheapan.

Definitely naghahabol ng shift yun dahil need nya

every penny to survive his miserable existence or

pede ring naeebs na like the askal that he is. Kadiri

talaga pare sana malaglag na that neanderthal from

his sabit and spare the world of their kind na no.

ankulit kasi ni mom eh, sabi ko ng let me drive the

car muna kaso she's afraid id gallop my spankin

new ferrari all over rufino parking just like last time.

Its as if i made gasgas or anything sa car tutal akin

naman yun. i even saw that baho native sekyu trying

to stop me while i dash to the ground floor. Lapit ba

naman tapos pinapaslow down ako? The audacity!

Kaya i took a ninoy bill from my versace italia

collezion wallet and shoved it straight to that

mamaw jaws of his. Hahaha tuwa pa si gago, how

gullible these simpletons are oh.

When that antique butler of mine came i was so

mad that i made galit in french so as to make him

and all those filthy katutubos look more stupid. Iba

talaga pag may pedigree, mukhang egoy silang

lahat Haha.

while in the car i tried contacting mom who was

nagging me na for the upteenth time kung asan na

ko. Flooding my Nokia 9500 with those shoddy

texts all day, its as if id make a dyahe sms reply no

sheesshh... buti na lang talaga i changed from globe

to smart last week, pare naging seamless ang

chikahan namin ni Cherubs nung weekend... i had

to check on how she was doing na sa Aldridge u sa

bay area so i can pay her a visit pag libre na cia.

Umaatikabong shopping spree na naman to! Last

time we talked was a nightmare while using that

uber jologs Globo sim. I mean pare biruin mo ha top

of the line platinum service na ko but countless

beses nag drop ang call namin ni che. Kulang na

lang buhusan ko ng muriatic acid ung sim card sa

sobrang inis. i bet almost 90% of globo users are

call center scads trying to be IN by worshipping that

stoopid commercial where nagsparkle ung mata

nung bitchy orclady. "are u one of us?" kadire

feeling chichi commoner pero swakwaks naman no... really

sooo bobo, no brainer eh "globo homo" sucks

fuk them all for that fuked up service.

Later pare.

THE BEST POLICE CARS IN THE WORLD!!!!!

2006-03-29T13:59:00.000+08:00

THE BEST POLICE CARS IN THE WORLD!!!!! German police car...Lamborgini..gallardo..max speed 320km/hr Japan... Nissan Skyline ..max speed 280km/hr France ...pegaut...sports gt spain .....audi TT max speed 280km/hr USA Corvette ......Do I have to tell the speed... Now for the Ultimate Police Car in the World !!! . FROM PHILIPPINES !!!! . . . Max Speed not disclosed due to Security Reasons ..))

Pccians95...from 5Meg to 1Gig

2006-01-25T11:43:00.000+08:00

Maybe you are wondering what is the connection of mail storage size to our batch mailing list? I would say, a lot!

It all started when some of our colleagues started a mailing list from the yahoo.com site. I didnt know about it
at first, I just searched the yahoo site for groups connected to my alma mater which is Pasig Catholic College.Lo and behold!..and there it was! pccians_95. I joined the group and just waited for the confirmation from the moderator which was dandy back then(I think).

At first, I thought it was just a mailing list for the "homo section" (as in homogenous mixture, not homosexuals)
students in my higschool days, as opposed to the hetero sections which was not quite into being a full time geeks(or students,mostly having fun in campus, well.. im one of them). I was wrong, maybe that though was just because most of them are homo(yes!) section students, that's why! But after a few months of reading and sending mails(not that frequent back then, around 30-40 mails a week,again, if im not mistaken) to the group, I realized it was really about warstories, experinces(old and new) and whatevers. It was not about homo's and hetero's in highschool, but what we are as a whole when we were _in_ highschool and how our highschool days affected us through the years.

At that time, yahoo has a 5Meg limit to mails and the members are only about 15-20(not sure), it was 4yrs back
from this date. It was fairly enough because the group does not receive a big volume of mails(unlike now), just hi's/hello's and "hows life?". Some fortunate ones have company emails which gives them the pleasure of mp3's and porn, but most of the time, it was just porn pics from our dear batchmate Dandy. It will only reach the redline when dandy sends what we call "supplies" which gives us a short respite from the hardships of daily work in the office. MP3 requests were not that frequent, mostly video clips. A lot of us never got their mails because of overquota...they forgot to check their email, some, because of the influx of files suddenly unsubscribes=(.That's why I learned how to save the files in my machine, not the webmail.

I dont know who the pioneers of the list are(sulat nyo nga naman), but they sure is innovated the way of communicating with each other through the initialization of the list.

Now, arrived the 30M yahoo email account. We were happy, but it was for only a short period of time. We thought it would be enough to handle the load, but our guess was wrong. The larger the storage, the bigger the files got...from 1M video clips and zipped image files to 5M(i think 5 was the quota for sending files back then). New members popped-up, the list had more fun than the usual..more memories and experinces from the highschool days were brought out/up, hidden feelings and desires were quenced by the message of longingness. Old flames were reignited...wait...all boys ngapala kame. Well, some old flames were ignited anyway(baka maraming magalit..hehehe). The list consumed additional time from work, and as usual, porn became more of a prerequisite than just sharing(and still is!).

Then! Whoa! 100M!!! we never thought it would hapen, but it did! Now, we have entered into the world of IT technology, splits and joiners came into the picture. 10-30M files were split and sent into our emails. Start of a few mp3 requests(but still, it wasnt that much).

Months and years passed by as the group grows larger and larger, until it reached more than a hundred and yahoo became 1Gb and accepts files upto 10M, to which we can now send single mp3's via mail(no need to split). Upload sites became a common link to emails for movies, mp3's and even softwares. Our attachement to technology became more and more predominant. Sharing of knowledge via each and everyones' inculcated wisdom became a common thing. What the other doesnt know, the one who knows will deliver! Computer problems, acronyms and technologies became just a question away. Words such as NERD, GEEK and DORK are common gestures of digressing from the seriousness of answers. Idiots guide became an "Edgars guide." And our very own pccian dictionary came out! (though were not having any updates right now...). Digesting mails for a week may just contain the following words such as HAHAHAHAHAHvHAHAHAHAHAH, pak u!, inamo!, Nerd, geek, dork, MP3 REQUEST. It makes the list alive, it gives life to the conversation and most of all, it makes us realize how fortunate we are being a PCCIAN and an original KUMENTO BOY!

The pccians_95 yahoogroups became a hub of knowledge, laughter, fun, ridicule, history and most of all...camaraderie amongst batchmates. Hope it continues to grow, hope the laughter never stop, hope yahoo will be more that 1G in the near future.

May our list grow larger! May our inbox grow bigger! May our live's as Kumbento boys grow richer!

Alternative Christmas Trip - Corregidor

2005-12-07T01:52:00.000+08:00

Thinking of something out-of-the-ordinary side trip this Christmas break? Pondering on a different kind of Holiday or anniversary gift for your special someone?

Why not try Corregidor?

It's just near Manila, PLUS: you'll get to travel on a mini cruise, lots of historical insights, adventure challenge for the not-so-weak-at-heart, at best of all... it's very affordable!!!

Not quite convinced? Hhmmm... this might spark your interest - check out the travel log I made from my trip last year at my blogsite.

I suggest you read the accounts in this particular order:
Sail away
History 101: Corregidor, the Spanish, the Americans, and World War II
Batteries are included
Spirit Questors
Bid the island farewell

Go on, sail away to Corregidor! Surely an unforgettable and worthwhile trip for you, your family and your love ones...

Visit Sun Cruises website to schedule your Corregidor trip!

Terrible and Pac Deux

2005-11-15T11:57:00.000+08:00

El Terible and Pac Deux

Outspoken Mexican boxing great Erik Morales is very confident heading into the rematch with our very own Manny Pacquiao.

“When I backed him up, he didn’t know what to do,” Morales said. “Pacquiao has no problems moving forward, and I don't think he will have enough time to adjust.” He continued.

Strong words, but are the remarks just plain arrogance? Lets take a look at the ABC theory:

A beats B
B beats C
so obviously
A beats C
Now lets see actual matches:
Pacquiao beat Barrera.
Barrera beat Morales twice.
Thus, PacMan should have had little trouble with Morales last March right?
Wrong. The ABC theory is flawed.

For Boxing, styles makes fights.

Morales proved that through effective outboxing, neutralizing Pac’s slugger stance. Manila Ice melted before it even began.. And unlike the Barrera fight, Morales hardly had any bruises to prove his superior ring generalship versus Manny. And because of that Pacquiao must summon a helluva effort in training to overcome the disadvantage.

What must Pacman do to help his cause?
Well for starters, give up the vices in-between fights and do away with the distractions. The problem is when he goes home he is treated like Elvis and interviews happen here and there. Commercial this, commercial that, and sitcom appearances come from all directions. Worse, his opponent is already pondering on strategy while all of these are happening.

Concentrate on building up stamina instead of power shots.
Pac has a knack for trying to finish opponents early, but with a granite chin like Morales, it will never be easy. So instead of focusing strength conditioning, they better concentrate more on the stamina regimen similar to what they did against Barrera 2 years ago. Wearing Morales down will be the key through rapid hard jabs and combinations.

Practice on backpedaling counters.
Landing angled counter hooks and crosses will help Manny overcome this weakness. Pacquiao had a lot of trouble dealing with Morales’ lead straights, causing him to move back every time Terrible attacks with the 1-2. Given Pacquiao’s innate ability to learn fast I guess he can incorporate this style without disrupting the rhythm he became famous for.

I’m no boxing analyst but the things he must work on are pretty obvious. Now that he has Cleto Reyes we’ll see if gloves were an issue last time out.

But one thing is for sure, there is no way Erik Morales can summon a performance better than what he had shown in the previous bout.

The next step is up to PacMan.

G i b é
Nationwide Opti
09202700240
5112609

One ASEAN, One Heritage

2005-11-12T02:41:00.000+08:00

23rd Edition of the South East Asian Games
Philippines - various location accress the country
Dates: November 27 - December 5, 2005
Official website: http://www.2005seagames.com.ph/index.html

Statistically, the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games constitute the biggest sporting event in the region, next to the Asian Games. Being the most anticipated event in Southeast Asia, the 2005 SEA Games will be hosted by the Philippines on November 27.

For the third time, the Pearl of the Orient Seas is hosting the most significant bi-annually multi-sport event in the region. This move is seen as an important collaborative step towards its closest neighbours.

The Games are also considered both a spectacular event and a valuable opportunity for athletes to gain competition experience and preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games. The South East Asian games were purposely created to strengthen friendship, solidarity and understanding among neighboring countries in the region.

This year's Games are a number of entertaining regional multi-sport events which feature not only 41 Sports. 395 Events. 7,000 expected athletes and officials, 11 competing countries, more than a billion of spectators worldwide-- and the 23rd SEA Games go on.

A total of eleven countries vying for gold, carrying the prowess and spirit of a true athlete, will partake in the said event not only to compete but to display their talents, sportsmanship and culture.

For many years now, the SEA Games is deemed as a solid foundation where Asian people meet as one in a friendly competition as such.

The time has come once again to celebrate the games that brought every nation in the South East Asian region with one goal: To defy the greatest challenge and to contend as a true athlete in honor of our nation.

‘One Heritage, One Asia ' theme of SEAG opening, closing rites
Opening & Closing Rites: Quirino Grand Stand, Manila

THE people behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games assures that both presentations would stir a long-lasting impression to the minds of the viewing public.

Working behind the theme `One Heritage, One Southeast Asia,' overall director Maria Montelibano said the opening rites will showcase the rich heritage and culture that binds the Southeast Asian region as one and how from this common legacy sprang thousands of unique and extraordinary athletes with a singular passion – bring honor to their country and the SEA region.

The well-known television director is in-charge of the concept, with help coming from artistic and creative directors Pogs Mendoza and Robert Tongko.
The elaborate program unfolds segment-by-segment, explaining how one heritage has influenced a particular SEA country.

Every segment features a dynamic mix of dance and theater performance backed by the overall production management of Lito Nadal, Jaime Godinez (technical), Bebot Pondevida (execution programming)and Kokoy Jimenez (television direction).

With the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) lending help, the performance aims to mirror the culture of every SEA countries.

Well-known composer Ryan Cayabyab will be doing the musical arrangement along with the San Miguel Orchestra and SM Chorale while Bayang Barrios, the Bayanihan dance troupe and the Ati-Atihan tribe are among those providing live numbers.

THE LOGO

The logo makes use of the festival mask similar to those found in most Southeast Asian countries. It represents the many different cultures that will come together for the Games. At the same time the mask captures the exuberant spirit and hospitality of the Filipinos.

THE MASCOT

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world's largest eagles, distinct for the majestic plumage on top of its head. The eagle is a symbol of strength and pride. It captures the winning spirit of all the participating athletes.

History of the SEA Games

The Southeast Asian Games is the largest and most significant multi-sport event in the region and is held every two years to enable athletes to meet in friendly competition as well as to foster goodwill, friendship and solidarity, in alignment with the aims and aspirations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The SEA Games originated from the SEAP (South East Asian Peninsular) Games which were inaugurated in Thailand in 1959, with just six participating countries- Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The SEAP was conceptualized by Laung Sukhumnaipradit, the then Vice-President of the Thailand Olympic Committee. He firmly believed that a regional sports event, similar to the Asian Games or the Olympic Games, will help promote cooperation, understanding and relations among countries in the region. His efforts were rewarded after two years of lobbying.

The SEAP Games continued to be held biennially until the Philippines and Indonesia joined the Games which was then renamed SEA Games at its 9th meet in Malaysia in 1977, with the admission of Brunei Darussalam as well. The name has since been officially adopted and the Games has now become the most important sports event of the region. Memberships of SEA Games already increased to ten with Cambodia being the last member.

MISSION: To strengthen political, economic, and social ties with the countries of the region.

VISION:
To develop tourism and increase revenue earnings.
To prepare itself to organize and host bigger events like The Asian Games and The Olympic Games

Note: The last time the Philippines hosted the SEA Games was in 1991, we were in 1st year H.S. then.

Tainted Hoops and PacMania

2005-09-02T16:38:00.000+08:00

FedEx GM Lito Alvarez said that he will recommend the disbandment of the Philippine team until such time that the Basketball crisis is resolved. He argued that the PBA is bankrolling hefty expenses for the National team without having the assurance of playing in any FIBA-sponsored tournament.

This is a prime example of those greedy scads that could care less for the glory of Philippine Basketball. Lito Alvarez is no sportsman— from their lousy 12-player rotation principle for the team to the dim-witted trades of their blue chip rookies (for underachievers at that) — this guy has no sense of basketball in his persona.

If the PBA board is influenced by this sanctimonious retard in their upcoming meet, then pro hoops will be no different from those cash-cow agencies that promote self interest above all else.

…Soccer anyone?

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

In the lighter side of things: Filipino banger Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao will have WWE superstar Undertaker in his ring entourage as a promotional gimmick for his
upcoming match with Mexican foe Hector Velasquez. Also, Apl_d_Ap of Black Eyed Peas has personally composed a new song for the Pacman entitled “The Champion”. This will be his entrance music as he steps into the squared circle.

The Pacman fever has definitely reached mainstream as he was also invited to throw the ceremonial pitch for Game 3 of the Major League series between the Oakland and LA. Hollywood celebrities and politicians like George W. Bush have preceded Pacquiao and this shows how popular he has become in the US.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Mixed Nuts

2005-09-01T18:27:00.000+08:00

Pulitika

“Congress is the venue of choice of our President. It is unfortunate that in her venue of choice, truth has a price. And the price of truth in this house is 79.”

These were the scathing comments of Representative Edmund Reyes during his privilege speech yesterday.

I beg to disagree. In a house of law, you cannot declare truth out of melodrama and personal conviction. No one can handle the truth, nor monopolize it. This is why we have a 79-vote quota that is constitutionally justified. What good is the constitution if every underlying principle within it is violated?

Politics can be very cruel. It feels great to be an Engineer.

Sports

“The FIBA cannot accept POC’s decision to remove one group in favor of another one. As a consequence of our position on this matter, it is impossible for FIBA to entertain your request for affiliation.”
- Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary-General

Man, that hit hard. As a longtime basketball fanatic, smoldering controversies such as this is absolutely unwarranted. After winning the Brunei cup last week, Chot Reyes literally begged the powers-that-be to settle their differences once and for all. However, his request seemed to fall on deaf ears. The Cojuangco-led POC maintained its hard line stance while Joey Lina and his miserable BAP continue insisting their inept mandate.

Traditional Politics has no place in sports. One of them must make the supreme sacrifice. Until that moment comes, we can only wait and cling on withered hope.

G i b é

Nationwide Opti

09202700240

5112609

DJ ENFERNO in Manila!

2005-07-29T20:23:00.000+08:00

Guys, kung may time kayo this coming Wednesday, Aug 3, check it out! DJ ENFERNO of DMC (U.S Champion) will be doing his thing @ EMBASSY SUPER CLUB. Check it out! This DJ is astig! galing sobra! In Japan and in the US, he's well known, like DJ Q-Bert, oh yeah, he's FILIPINO too!

DJ ENFERNO in Manila
Kita kits nalang batchmates!

Ingatz!

OVERSCHEDULED KIDS UNDERCONNECTED FAMILIES THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE

2005-07-26T13:58:00.000+08:00

OVERSCHEDULED KIDS, UNDERCONNECTED FAMILIES: THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE

Prepared by William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
Family Social Science Department
University of Minnesota
bdoherty@che.umn.edu

Changes in Children's and Families' Time
1.     A major decline in the free time of children ages 3-12 between 1981 and 1997. (Findings from national time diary surveys conducted in 1981 and 1997 by the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan.¹    All findings reported below are from this study unless otherwise footnoted.)
o        Free time: 12 hours per week decline in overall free time for children
o        Play time: Decreased by three hours per week (a 25% drop from about 16 hours to about 13 hours for the whole groupless than 9 hours per week for older children).
o        Unstructured outdoor activities: Fell by 50% (includes activities such as walking, hiking or camping)
2.     Decline in family and religious participation time
o        Household conversations: dropped by 100%, which means that in 1997 the average American family spent no time per week when talking as a family was the primary activity. (The 1981 baseline was not high, however.) Overall, children in 1997 averaged about 45 minutes per week in conversation with anyone in the family, when the conversation was the primary activity.
o        Family meal time: declined by nearly an hour per week from 1981-1997, from about 9 hours per week to about 8 hours per week.
o        Family dinners: A 33% decrease over three decades in families who say they have dinner regularly. (This finding is from repeated annual surveys of American families.² ) In a 1995 national poll, only one-third of U.S. families said they "usually have their evening meal together on a daily basis."³
o        Vacations: A 28% decrease over two decades in number of families taking a vacation (from annual surveys of American families).²
o        Religious participation: a decline of 40% in hours per week in children's (ages 3-12) religious participation time from 1981-1997¹ ; and a decline of 24% of high school students with weekly religious attendance (from 40% in 1981 to 31% in 1997, based on annual surveys of high school students⁴ ).
3.     Major increases from 1981-1997 in children's time
o        Structured sports: doubled from 2 hours, 20 minutes per week to 5 hours, 17 minutes per week from 1981-1997. Boys and girls increased equally in structured sports time, but boys spent still spent twice as much time as girls in sports.
o        Passive, spectator leisure (not counting television or other forms of "screen time"): five fold increase from 30 minutes per week to over three hours per week.   This includes watching siblings play structured sports.
o        Studying: increased by almost 50% from 1981-1997.

The Value of Family Time for Children and Youth
o        Meal time: The University of Michigan study of children's time found that more meal time at home was the single strongest predictor of better achievement scores and fewer behavioral problems. Meal time was far more powerful than time spent in school, studying, church, playing sports, and art activities. Results were statistically controlled for age and gender of child, race and ethnicity, education and age of the head of the family, family structure and employment, income, and family size.¹
o        Regular family dinners and teen adjustment: The largest federally funded study of American teenagers found a strong association between regular family meals (five or more dinners per week with a parent) and academic success, psychological adjustment, and lower rates of alcohol use, drug use, early sexual behavior, and suicidal risk. (Results held for both one parent and two parent families and after controlling for social class factors).⁵
o        Regular family dinners and nutritional intake: A medical study of children ages 9-14 found that children who have more regular dinners with their families have more healthful dietary patterns, including more fruits and vegetables, less saturated and trans fat, fewer fried foods and sodas, and more vitamins and other micronutrients. (Findings were based on children's own reports of what they ate in the last 24 hours, and held up after statistical controls for household income, maternal employment, body mass index, physical activity, and other factors.)⁶
o        Teens' concerns: In a 2000 national YMCA poll of a representative sample of American teens, 21% of teens rated "not having enough time together with parents" as their top concern. This tied with educational worries as their chief concern.⁷

STUDY REFERENCES FOR OVERSCHEDULED KIDS, UNDERCONNECTED FAMILIES

1.     Sandra L. Hofferth, "Changes in American Children's Time, 1981-1997." University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, Center Survey, January, 1999. National probability samples of American families with children ages 3-12, using time diary data from 1981 and 1997. Findings on how time use is associated with children's well-being are reported in Hofferth, S. L. (2001). How American Children Spend Their Time. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 63, 295-308.
2.     Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000.   Putnam reports on the decline in dinners and vacations, using national probability samples of married couple households.
3.     RGA Communications, The 1995 Kentucky Fried Chicken Family Dinner Survey. A national pool that that found that 32.8% of parents say they have dinner together "on a regular basis," 41.3% say they have dinner together "several times a week," 13.6% have it "once a week" and 10.3% several times a month. About 58% have the TV on during dinner.
4.     U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Trends in the Well-Being of America's Children and Youth, 1999." Washington, DC: U.S. Department of HHS. Compilation of national surveys of teens.
5.     Council of Economic Advisers to the President. "Teens and Their Parents in the 21^st Century: An Examination of Trends in Teen Behavior and the Role of Parental Involvement." Report released May, 2000.   Analysis of the Adolescent Health Study, using a national probability sample of adolescents and parents.
6.     Gillman, M.W., Rifas-Shiman, S.L., Frazier, A.L., Rockette, H.R.H., Camargo, C.A., Field, A.E., Berkey, C.S., & Colditz, G.A. (2000). Family dinners and diet quality among older children and adolescents. Archives of Family Medicine, 9,235-240.   A questionnaire using (24 hour recall) that was mailed to children of participants in the ongoing Nurses Health Study II.
7.     Global Strategy Group, Inc., "Talking With Teens: The YMCA Parent and Teen Survey." Final Report, April, 2000. National probability sample of teens who were asked to list their chief concerns. Teens of all ages listed not enough time with their parents as the top concern.

Additional notes:

1. Bonnie Blair is a five time Olympic gold medal champion in Speed Skating and now a Mom and inspirational speaker. She says that dinner isn't just a feeding opportunity, it is the MAIN EVENT!

Bonnie tells us that If she can do only ONE thing for her children, it will be to have a family meal at least five times a week.

2. Research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs.

3. Furthermore a new survey of nearly 5,000 Minnesota teens found that those who shared meals with their families were mentally and emotionally healthier and engaged less often in risky behavior.

4. Of course there are some minor problems: Hectic work schedules, after-school activities and time with school friends often interfere with dinnertime. Or some are hungry at different times, or not everyone is at home at the same time.

If a spouse can't wait for the other to come home, serve them merienda or appetizer.

A mother says, "Sometimes we'd eat without Dad, but save the fruit so we would have something to eat while we were all at the dinner table together. The objective is to provide nutritious meals and take the time to eat together."

Side Trip Tayo!

2005-07-21T13:13:00.000+08:00

The breathtaking Batulao Hills

I simply love this view which is seen from the top of the Caleruega Church in Nasugbu, Batangas. No wonder why Caleruega and Don Bosco are famous for its weddings - Batulao gives the perfect backdrop to a romantic hill-top exchange of vows.

When I'm in deep stress from all the work & anxiety of the big city, Batulao is the getaway I crave for. Sitting on the bench while looking over this majestic rolling hills relieve me of all worries & fears - maybe it's the crosswinds blowing, or just the tranquil effect of its lush greens and the mystic appeal of Batulao's twin peaks.

The name Batulao was derived from an annual phenomenon observed by the locals. From the town of Balayan, also in Batangas, one can see twin mountains to the east that appear quite distant from each other. But the same scene viewed from Batulao is curiously different. The same mountains seem to move closer. More fascinating is the fact that some time between December 22 and 28 every year, when the sun nestles right in between the two peaks. It creates a scene described by natives as "ilaw sa dalawang bato" (light in between two rocks) or "bato sa ilaw" (light in a rock), from which derived the term Batulao.

Going to Batulao can be done any time of the year. From Manila, travel by car or take a bus going to Nasugbu, Batangas. After passing by Tagaytay City and Alfonso in Cavite, some minutes later you will be passing beneath the "Welcome to Nasugbu" marker. A few meters more, make a left turn on the junction entering through the Evercrest golf course. Notice arrow markers pointing to "Caleruega" and "Don Bosco" as the Batulao Hills are best viewed on top of Caleruega, a Dominican community, or inside Don Bosco Spiritual Center, which is a retreat house run by the Salesians.

Hopefully I would catch a glimpse of "bato sa ilaw" the next time I return to Caleruega.

Batchmates, share your travel and side trip stories here at our blogspot!
This article was modified from its original posting at http://ryangillego.blogspot.com/

Political Brouhaha

2005-07-13T14:36:00.000+08:00

Alas… here we go again. Everything seems to be soooo “constitutional” nowadays.

Protest raliies have become a fad lately, and the opposition claims that today’s staging is the loudest and the largest ever assembled… the big daddy of em all, the mother of all rallies, blah blah blah…

But if I may ask: do we really need these? I mean, if a transfer of power does happen: a good tomato with rotten tomatoes will eventually become a rotten tomato right? A basket of fresh apples with a spoiled apple will undoubtedly be spoiled right? Our favorite hangouts will still be there anyway so whats the use? Go to recto, get your plagiarized docs. Go to Quiapo, get your pirated stuff. Go to LTO, get your fixed license. Heck, go to Cubao and get snatched. Such is the state of of our country right now. Corruption is rooted way down into the system that whoever takes the cudgels now and later it would still be hopeless. A change for the worse is the only change sensible given the present circumstances.

If we advocate change– genuine change, let us start with ourselves. Not with rallies, not with protests, but with ourselves.

Only then can we witness a steady recovery, because no amount of government effort is tantamount to a citizen pledging dedication to his country.

Capisce?

Posted by: Gibe

Celebrity Greeter of the Week

2005-07-11T04:46:00.000+08:00

"Ding, ayoko ng bato! Gusto ko itlog ng mga taga-Kumbento!"

- Angel Locsin

Celebrity Greeters of the Week

2005-07-06T10:20:00.000+08:00

"Watch us while we touch, kiss, and lick each other."

- Elisha Cuthbert and Mila Kunis

Traffic and Political Bullcr@p

2005-07-01T17:11:00.000+08:00

I went to a bank in Makati on a lunch break. The usual less than 1 hour ride took me almost 2 hours, no thanks to the traffic jam created by the militants in their street protests against the government.

People are clamoring for change, because they are poor and believe that the government is doing them injustice by not addressing poverty.

Let me get this straight, people go to the streets because they are poor. They did not go to work because they had to go to the streets. Because they did not go to work, they don't earn. Because they don't earn, they become poor. And so the cycle continues.

Let me look at it in another perspective. People go to the streets because they are poor. The peso is in bad shape because of the instability of the government brought by protests. The government/justice system is put into question because the people want to take everything in their own hands, much like in the previous revolts, never mind the due process. Investors shy away from the country because of the poor image of the government. Because there are no investments, people become poor. And so the cycle continues.

C'mon people, let's stop this culture of revolt. We elected representatives to do everything for us, congressmen and senators, so that we can mind our own work, our own businesses. They are all pro-administration you say, and they won't do anything good? Who elected them in the first place but us?

What do you think?

-Allan

Nagbabantang Panganib...?

2005-06-29T23:43:00.000+08:00

Roces to Arroyo: 'You stole the presidency'
June 29, 2005
By Joel Francis Guinto
INQ7.net

FERNANDO Poe Jr.'s widow has accused President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of allegedly stealing the presidency, as she joined calls for Arroyo's resignation and rejected a public apology from the President who has admitted that it was her voice on the wiretapped tapes on alleged election fraud.

At the same time, Susan Roces said she would join mass actions that would press for the ouster of Arroyo whom she accused of allegedly stealing the presidency.
Roces however debunked calls for her to lead the opposition saying she did not want to engage in politicking.

She also disclosed that there were plans to pressure Arroyo but refused to elaborate.

WATCH THE NEWS VIDEO FROM GMA 7's "24 ORAS"

"The gravest thing you have done is that you stole the presidency, not once but twice," said Roces, referring to the second popular revolt in 2001 that catapulted Arroyo to power and the alleged cheating in the 2004 polls that was said to have prevented Poe from becoming president.

“The most honorable thing for her to do is to resign,” said Roces. “She has done enough damage to this country.”

Speaking in a forceful and angry tone, Roces called Arroyo “arrogant” and “insensitive" ("manhid").

Roces' tirades were in sharp contrast to her earlier calls for sobriety and calm when the wiretapping scandal first broke.

“Mrs. Arroyo, while I watched you apologize, I saw it in your eyes. It did not come from your heart,” said Roces.

“I cannot accept your 'sorry'... You destroyed the trust of your people,” she said.
“You are using the law to serve your interest. Ang sinungaling ay kapatid ng magnanakaw [The liar is the thief's brother],” she said.

When asked if she would join the barrage of anti-government protests on the streets, Roces said: “Kung may magyayaya, depende kung kailan, handa ako [If there is an invitation, it depends when. I'm ready].”

“There are plans, different plans, that I can't reveal right now,” Roces said when asked how Arroyo would be forced to step down.

Roces however rejected proposals for a snap election. “We saw how dirty the last election was.”
She was also lukewarm to another "people power" uprising, saying the last three had failed to solve the country's woes. “It's her countrymen that will decide her fate.”

Roces also rejected the idea of Vice President Noli De Castro taking over should Arroyo step down.

“Sa mga nakikita ko, kahit mali kinakampihan, ano masasagot mo? [From what I see, he continues to defend the President even if she was wrong. What can you say],” said Roces in response to a newsman's question.

Roces refused to comment on First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's decision to go abroad. “I don't know the history of their romance.”

Roces said the discovery of the alleged wiretapped tapes was an “answered prayer.”

“Heaven has spoken. We have the right to know the truth,” she said.

“The right to vote is sacred. It was handed down to us by our forefathers who paid for it with their own blood,” Roces said.

Arroyo apologized to the nation on Monday over what she said was a "lapse in judgement" in speaking to an elections official during the canvassing for the May 2004 election. She said however that she did not attempt to influence the outcome of the election during the conversation. Reports have identified the man she spoke with as Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano who went into hiding after denying that it was his voice on the tape.

Various groups have called on the President to resign despite her admission.
In the same televised speech on Monday, Arroyo said she would not resign, as she vowed to continue implementing her reforms.

Then vice president Arroyo assumed the presidency in January 2001 after a popular revolt ousted predecessor Joseph Estrada over allegations of massive corruption. She sought a fresh six-year mandate in 2004 but was challenged by Poe, a popular actor whose "underdog" image on films has endeared him to the masses. Moreover, Poe was the best friend of Estrada, himself a former actor before entering politics.

Allegations of cheating in the election have hounded Arroyo since assuming the presidency but the accusations were revived after disclosure of the wiretapped tapes by Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye.

©2005 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

Wizard's Seventh Rule

2005-06-24T12:36:00.000+08:00

Life is the future, not the past.

Terry Goodkind puts it, “..The past can teach us, through experience, how to accomplish things in the future, comfort us with cherished memories, and provide the foundation of what has already been accomplished. But only the future holds life. To live in the past is to embrace what is dead. To live life to its fullest, each day must be created anew. As rational, thinking beings, we must use our intellect, not a blind devotion to what has come before, to make rational choices.”

On the NBA Finals

The Spurs won and the Pistons lost the NBA Finals; it has already past so there’s no need to sulk. Learn through experience (a 2 out of 13 three point shooting percentage won’t cut it in the Finals), comfort yourself with cherished memories (hey, they’ve came a long way from a 0-2 standing), and provide the foundation of what has already been accomplished (need more three point shooting practice).

On Jueteng

..”To live in the past is to embrace what is dead.” We, as a nation, have been haunted by the destablizing effects of jueteng, from the time of Cory to the current Arroyo presidency. C’mon people, jueteng is an old issue. As Tulfo puts it, “Why would Arroyo put her hand into the jueteng pie that caused the downfall of the Erap presidency? She’s either too stupid or too arrogant!” We cannot move as a nation if we continue to haunt ourselves with recycled issues such as jueteng.

Let’s pick up the pieces from our past failures, and move on. Anak ng jueteng naman oh!

Posted by: Allan Caluste

DESIDERATA

2005-06-07T17:11:00.000+08:00

nadaanan ko lang... bka kaya nyo pang bigkasin ng ukol sa tinuro
sa 'tin...

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

===========
c/o marco pao