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Ocean Adventure Near the dolphin show. Pristine waters. View of the ships. Sea lion show. Intelligent animal! He looks heavy! Must be the mountains of Bataan, my province! Dolphin show. I want to swim with them. Goddess of the sea. The mountains of Subic. -
Cows walking freely at the vicinity. 
Entrance to the Zoobic Safari. There’s a lion at the left side where one can take a photo with. For a fee, of course! 
Souvenir shop 
Parrot 
Deers! 
Bearcat. Musang. Alamid. 
Liger. Breed of a lion and tiger. 
Isn’t she beautiful? 
A real camel, at last! 
I want one at home! 
Cute mini-horses. 
Crocodiles. 
Some were pretending to be sleeping. 
The animal show. 
This dog is adorable! He’s our tour guide Noli, btw. 
Koreans Elisse and Philip from Baguio City. 
A yellow python! 
Wear rubber shoes when in Zoobic. There are low hanging bridges inside. 
The lions’ den. LOL. 
I want a zebra-designed dress. 
This lion looks bored! 
Wild pigs roaming freely. 
Tigers enjoying the water. 
He wouldn’t be called the king of the jungle for nothing! 
This tiger saw me taking pictures of them and so he got up. -
October 2003.
I rendered overtime with my bestfriend. I wanted to forget that that day was my birthday. I could have went home to my family and celebrate there but I chose to stay at work and just let the day pass.
You texted me a birthday greeting. Tears fell down my face. Just a month ago, you transferred to the big city to start a new career. I was left by myself and I felt so alone.
You said that you have a package wrapped in pink. I was anticipating that it was a ring.
“If you want her, put a ring on it!” I could hear Beyonce’s words.
You texted to ask where I was. I said that I intend to go home very late.
You said that I should not be working late on my birthday.
And advised me to just have dinner with my bestfriend.
Alma and I were walking when somebody put an arm around my shoulder.
My first reaction was to fight; Alma was just as equally shocked.
Then Alma’s reaction shifted from fear to joy.
It was you, yes you, clad in pink!
You kissed me and said “Happy birthday!”
It was the best birthday surprise of my life!
Years later, you broke my heart and we parted ways.
Yet that birthday surprise is still in my memory.
Thank you for this memory, it is worth remembering.
Thank you for loving me before!
🙂
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Katanghaliang tapat sa isang bayan sa Bulacan, binabagtas namin ang daan pauwi. Madaraanan ang mga naglalako ng iba’t ibang klaseng paninda.
Naroon ang isang lolang nakaupo sa bangketa. Lilinga-linga sa mga suking pwedeng alukin. Ang mga gulay na nakalatag sa plastik na pantakip ay halos nalalanta na. Ang iba ay nilalamon na ng alikabok. Naisip ko, “sino kaya ang pwedeng bumili sa paninda nya sa lagay na iyon?” Ito ay hindi panlilibak kundi isang matapat na pagtatanong kung paano makakayang ubusin ang paninda gayong may mga pwesto sa loob ng palengke na mas sariwa pa ang gulay.
Sa isang sulok naman ay ang nagtitinda ng donut. Donut na pang-masa at hindi ang nasa isip nating Mr. Donut o Dunkin. Naka-hair net, naka-lipstick, maayos ang porma ng tindera kumpara sa mga katabing nagtitinda ng gulay, damit at iba pa. Mukhang masaya naman sya sa kanyang ginagawa kahit isang munting bangko lang ang inuupuan at nakukuntento sa pamaypay na pamawi ng init.
May mga batang kailangang businahan, mga nagtitinda ng garter. Payat ang mga bata at sa tantya ko ay nasa 9-11 taong gulang. Mabilis akong maawa sa mga batang maagang nasabak sa hanapbuhay. Sa Waltermart kung saan kami madalas mag-grocery, siniguro kong palagi akong may trenta pesos sa bulsa para pambili ng 1 basahan kada punta. Sa maliit na bagay, nabibigyang-pag-asa natin ang mga bata na may naniniwala sa kanilang pagsisikap.
Eto namang si manong takatak, muntik pa kaming mapa-preno ng biglaan. Ang takatak boys ay walang pakundangan basta mairaos ang benta. Biglang susulpot para humabol sa jeepney. Sa konting puhunan at kita, sapat na ang maghapong pantawid sa gutom.
Wala ka talagang masasabi sa pagtitiis ng Pilipino. Umulan, umaraw, nariyan silang nagbabakasali. Sila ang mga Pilipinong patas kung lumaban. Hindi nagnanakaw, hindi gumagawa ng masama para mabuhay. Sila ang mga Pilipinong tinatanggihan ng ospital dahil walang pambayad o dili kaya ay nagkakasya na lang sa pasilyo ng ospital para magamot lamang. Sila ang mga Pilipinong tinatawaran ang paninda at pumapayag naman maibenta lamang. Sila ang mga Pilipinong hindi sinwerte sa materyal na bagay kung kaya’t ang tanging pangarap ay malamnan ang tyan ng pamilya. Sila ang masisipag na Pilipino na matiisin at mapangarapin. Aalisin pa ba natin ang karapatan nilang yun?
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Their onscreen chemistry was undeniable and we later on found out that their loving gazes in the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” were more than just an acting. We felt sorry for Jennifer Aniston and wished that Brad would come to his senses and go back to her. Our opinions were divided when Angelina Jolie became active on humanitarian missions–was it just part of her PR team working on her image or was she really sincere?
I changed my perception on her when she adopted her first child to be a mother to her. But at the back of my mind, I still wished for Brad and Jennifer to reconcile. With her humanitarian missions increasing and that particular travel when she was heavy with her first biological child (Shiloh), she earned my respect and admiration.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt was together for 11 years; out of that, they were husband and wife for two years. Money problem is the usual cause of a couple’s falling out yet we are talking about two successful people who used to be a power couple!
Brad Pitt’s alleged affair with Marion Cotillard was said to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Prior to that, Brad was said to have a different parenting style with Angelina and he was said to be behaving like a single happy-go-lucky man.
Whatever it is, I feel sorry for their six children. =(
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My daily life is a struggle when it comes to rest and sleep. I wake up at 5:30 AM from Monday to Friday to prepare the food and the two children for school. Between the two, the younger one (4 years old) consumes much of my time because he doesn’t feel the importance of rushing yet. My husband then brings them to school while I manage to eat for around 5 minutes and finish the remaining chores like hanging the clothes from the washing machine, washing the dishes and sweeping the floor.
Then I need to be fast taking a bath to avoid being late at work. My stressful hours are the first two hours upon waking up. I feel like with two precocious and very active young children, my energy is consumed even before I can proceed with the day’s tasks.
Sometimes, there’s a lot of shouting to intimidate the children, sometimes I just talk and talk and talk so as to release the stress. Yes, we don’t have a maid for 10 months now! The last one resigned last year due to her delicate pregnancy. There was an applicant after her but we felt like we could manage even without one. But can we really manage?
Then I realize that we just need to divide the tasks among us and agree who will do which task. Unfortunately, it is me who does most of the tasks and it’s taking a toll on my emotional health. My husband says that he’s not doing some tasks because I’m already doing it but it would have made a big difference on my morning mood if he initiates doing it.
Anyway, the only consolation that I get is the thought that when the children get older, they will be more responsible and more cooperative while less dependent on me. For now, I just need to do some stress management because it’s not worth to be feeling mad every morning.
=/
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Young Syrian boy. Photo courtesy of Yahoo News. I feel bad for 5 year-old Omran Daqneesh, the young boy from Syria who was a victim of airstrike. While boys of his age are fighting over toys or ice cream, there he is, shocked and zombie-like.
While some people are worrying over what food to eat for dinner, Omran is probably worrying about the next airstrike.
While some teenagers are complaining about their lovelife, Omran is probably figuring out if he will get the chance to go to school, grow up and marry someday.
While some religious groups are bickering and putting each other down, Omran is probably praying for world peace.
While most of us are complaining about how little we have in life, how stressful our job is, how inconsiderate our boss is, how lazy our children are; Omran is probably wishing for a safe place to stay. Just a safe place.
Most of us feel bad for not being rich enough, not being beautiful enough, not being loved enough; Omran probably needs a warm hug and a mother’s love.
We always blame the government, the people who betrayed us, the exes who left us, the traffic, the pollution, global warming, even same-sex marriage—-yet we spared ourselves from blaming ourselves.
We demand for love yet we give conditional love.
We demand for a good life yet we are too lazy and incompetent to build a better life.
We demand for a good relationship but we are the ones destroying our relationship.
We demand for peace yet most of us are superficial.
We become too affected by one horrifying picture yet we’re just like that—affected!
We don’t lift a finger to help because we’re afraid of the responsibilities.
And those who must be responsible do not want to be responsible.
Make a difference each day. Think of Omran. Think of the other children who are suffering.
Be a better person. Be a compassionate person.
Find out how you can help others.
Peace starts within us.
The World of Second Chances 