Batuan on my mind

The following pictures were taken when I was on vacation in my hometown in Batuan, Bohol. I just miss the place, my place. 

Batuan was where I grew up and have been brought up. The ricefields in the foreground were my usual hangout during my childhood. Childhood then was very basic. We played where space was available which was equivalent to just about everywhere. We interacted with other kids. This ricefield was our playground especially during summer vacation. We used to fly kites here and play house using rice straws. We had our own "family" in the fields, our own "house", our own "community." We also created bad guys around who would burn our "houses" after raiding our communities and kidnapping some desirable women-girls. So cinematic, indeed. But my childhood taught me a lot of the real world.

These places gave us rest as well as food. These lots I have plowed, planted rice and harvested the same. Hayyy, so much reminiscing. It only means I am too old.

Camera: Sony Ericsson W810i, natural light

   

   

   

Children of the Rice

  

 

 

 

 

This bunch of gregarious nephews are the soul of our clan. Pictures taken during the All Souls Day in Batuan, Bohol using Sony Ericsson W810i in natural light.

Let There Be Peace on Earth

I was thinking of positive thoughts after my disastrous project launching failure. Positive thoughts. So easy to say than done. I was wondering how could the likes of Cory Quirino can still appreciate small things in this chaotic world? I was wondering how could they ever say "Relax and smell the flowers" when every little flower out there is... is dying? But well- I should be only thinking of positive thoughts. Hmmmmm positive thoughts. Uhummmmm. Positive. Uhummmmmmm. Positive.

Until terrorists attacked Mumbai. It was so shocking! When can we ever get peace? And where the hell was my positive thought?

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

Imagine there's no Heaven 
It's easy if you try 
No hell below us 
Above us only sky 
Imagine all the people 
Living for today 

Imagine there's no countries 
It isn't hard to do 
Nothing to kill or die for 
And no religion too 
Imagine all the people 
Living life in peace 

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will be as one 

Imagine no possessions 
I wonder if you can 
No need for greed or hunger 
A brotherhood of man 
Imagine all the people 
Sharing all the world 

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will live as one.

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

Lyrics of Imagine by John Lennon from www.lyrics007.com

Pictures from Mumbai attacks from www.cbc.ca, www.nytimes.com, AFP, Reuters

How will I die

How will I die? Your Result: You will die from a terminal illness. My apologies. In the future, there will be more effective medication to help absolve the pain and discomfort. Do not fear pain or hospitals. To endure illness is divine and will reap many rewards in the next life.
You will die in your sleep.
You will die while saving someone's life.
You will die in a nuclear holocaust.
You will die in a car accident.
You will be murdered.
You will die while having sex.
You will die of boredom.
How will I die? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I am so frustrated

For two weeks now I hardly had enough sleep. I mean, I work during evenings until 5 in the morning and will only catch a few hours sleep to begin work again the next day.

What's the fuzz about?

DTI asked me to design a raw materials book and a display of their beads/seeds that are available in the province of Bohol. For handicraft enthusiasts and exporters, these books would be of great help to the industry.

But during the production stage, so many jinx happened. Sample materials were not completed, designs not feasible, the writeups not done. When I started designing these materials, an old project of DTI I started last July was also included and should also be launched. That old project have been hounding me since almost everything, from photography to layout and other text have to be provided by me. And I as the designer of these materials is the only visible dumping ground of everything harsh.

I was so frustrated largely when the materials were still not finished on the day of the launching because the production side forgot to have them made.

I could not sleep because DTI was so furious, the printing press acted not bothered at all and I could not reprimand anybody.

Did you get my point? After so much trouble and several sleepless nights, your actions where not even rewarded. All I could think is to make a letter. And damn, that letter is even kind. What happened to me?

Dear Owner of the Printing Press:

I could not sleep to the fact that the materials I have submitted to Name of Printing Press was not finished as agreed. I submitted them last Sunday, 23 November with the knowledge that since the printing job was already done, production of the stand should be finished by Tuesday evening. I even made a joke on Name of Staff who is handling this production to finish them on Monday evening to which she said they could not do. Since the launching of the said materials is scheduled today, Thursday, 27 November, I said Wednesday morning should be fine. Name of Other Staff could attest to our discussions.

On Wednesday morning, I asked my friend to make a phone call at your SM number to follow up. She said somebody answered the call and said that the materials were all done. When I came and get them in the evening, the materials were not finished and were still in its usual form as I left them last Sunday.

This has caused me much frustration because DTI has been relying on my feedback that all was done and ready for 27 November. They were aghast when I told the provincial director that the materials were not done yet. I have to say sorry despite the harsh words.

So far, they were not saying that the materials will push through. All their feedbacks are frustrations. For sure the scheduled launching during the provincial SME Congress today would not materialize because of this negligence. I'm sure repercussions would point us back.

I am informing you of this situation so that future transactions like this would not happen to your valued clients. I hope this case will be settled.

Thank you and good morning.

My Name

cc: DTI Provincial Director and staff concerned

Picture from matrixgroupsite.com

il gelato è stato delizioso

   

   

   

I was at SM City Cebu the other night when I saw a swarm of people attacking a stall like it was the end of the world. The chismoso in me forced me to join. What was with Gelatissimo? I imagined a gelatinful of goodies. 

But when the swarm gave way to the usisero, out came the delizioso-looking ice cream! My poor ignorant  Italian genes did not tell me that gelatissimo was all about ice cream.

I don't know if this was caused by my ice cream-deprived childhood, but ice cream is and will forever be on top, the number 1 really, of my favorites. I once had a gallon of ice cream all by myself. I had breakfasts of ice cream. Lunch. Dinner. Snack. Ice cream was never my dessert. As most cases, it is my food.

As I salivated in hunger looking at Gelatissimo, I ordered a scoop of Rhum Raisin and devoured it whole including the cone. Why only one scoop? The Italian ice cream is quite expensive at 95 pesos a scoop and three scoops would cost me 285! That would be my meal for two days, for godssakes. 

Anyways, it was worth a try. I burped rhum all through the night.

The Italian among us

Shit! I can't help but curse, excuse my badness, when I came across my friend's blog about Turin, Italy (I also used her picture here).

You know, Italy is one of my most coveted cities to see before I die. Torino should be included. From Godfather to Sophia Loren to Vatican to Michelangelo to almost everything Italian and all the things in-between AND including my desire to see relatives there. 

You read it right! 

For your information, my great grandparents (bless their souls where ever they are) constantly reminded me and all relatives of the whole Dolotina Clan (very Italian, the clan) and insisted that our roots came from Italy. A vague story of an Italian assistant of a Spanish priest was brought to Bohol and stayed in the municipality of Dauis in Panglao Island. That Italian (nobody could tell his name except the Dolotina or Dolthina surname) ultimately settled in Dauis and got married. As to why the Spanish friar brought him to Bohol, nobody cared.

When I was young I thought Italy was just a walk away for how could those Italian genes came to Bohol way back then without walking or the least ride a bus in case they were several miles away. The word Italy was constantly playing in my mind especially when the Clan would meet every year to celebrate everything Italian in us. We (they, specifically) would brag about our sharp noses and beauty queen materials (lately there have been beauty men, err excuse the term, my dear relatives, I was only referring to those Dolotina men among the Clan who won in male beauty pageants [double ewww]). 

But I wonder where are the Italians genes amongst us now. Maybe I should go to Italy.

A Sunset is a New Morning

I love sunsets. 

It is more dramatic than sunrise. With a sun setting at the horizon, a new morning of evening lights would come up bringing a whole new world, a new fantastic point of view. Nah! that was a song. But seriously, sunsets bring a new world of shadows (think of chiaroscuro) and a different color scheme. A new morning of quick happiness, of drunken stupor, of fake love. 

Because the real mornings are for subsistence-seeking entities.

   

   

All pics taken using a Sony Ericsson W810i phone.

Jocjoc and Rotary Club

Rotary cries foul on Joc-Joc

Rotary International, through its officers in the Philippines, regrets that it is the one organization that is constantly linked in the media with the name of Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante. Never has his residence, business or church affiliation, or other ties been used as an adjectival adjunct to his name. It is as if the man had no identity other than as a Rotarian and somehow "Rotary International" shares in the guilt of which he is accused.

While we acknowledge that Bolante distinguished himself as a Rotary officer (emphasis mine), it is unfair to consistently link his name to Rotary in an attempt to demean the international organization. If the media were truly aware of what Rotary is all about, they would surely realize that linking Rotary to Bolante is hardly fair to all concerned. As Bolante has not yet had his day in court and undergone due process, the imputations of guilt and scurrilous behavior on his person are most unfounded and uncalled for and do not serve the interest of justice and fair play.

Rotary International will continue to pursue its goals and programs in a transparent manner as it has done for the more than 100 years of its existence.

We feel that should former Agriculture Undersecretary Bolante get to present his side of the controversy, justice will then be better served. Until such time, it would be best if the name of Rotary is not mentioned with that of Bolante.

LYNE A. ABANILLA,
past district governor, D3810
and Zone 7 coordinator,
RI Public Image Resource Group



My UNSOLICITED ANSWER is taken from your Rotary International Website-

The Four-Way Test (One of those guiding principles mentioned in your website)

The test, which has been translated into more than 100 languages, asks the following questions:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Mission (of Rotary International)

The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Who says their is an economic crunch?

When you are in Cebu, the news of economic recession around the globe is rarely seen or felt. I don't know about the others, but with the following view, who could tell their is an economic crunch?

 

 

Ten Times the Normal Size

The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Lim, asked her class, 'Which human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?'

No one answered until little Mary stood up and said, 'Ma'am, you should not be asking sixth-graders a question like that!  I'm going to tell my parents, and they will go and tell the principal, who will then fire you!'

Mrs. Lim ignored her and asked the question again, 'Which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?'

Little Mary's mouth fell open.

Then she said to those around her, 'Boy, is she going to get in big trouble!'

The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, 'Anybody?'

Finally, Billy stood up, looked around nervously, and said, 'The body part that increases 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye.

Mrs. Parks said, "Very good, Billy."

Then she turned to Mary and continued...

"And as for you, young lady, I have three things to say...
One... you have a dirty mind.
Two... you didn't read your homework.
And three... one day you are going to be very, very disappointed!"

For those who are in their forties or more...

I got this from an email today and find this cute as well as interesting. Read on.

• Focus on enjoying people, not on indulging in or accumulating material things.
  
• Plan to spend whatever you have saved. You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leaving anything, you may even cause more trouble when you are gone.
  
• Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is only today that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.
  
• Enjoy your grandchildren (if you are blessed with any) but don't be their full time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them. Don't have any guilt about refusing to baby sit anyone's kids, including your own grandkids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of child-rearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own offspring.
  
• Accept physical weakness, sickness and other physical pains. It is a part of the aging process. Enjoy whatever your health can allow. 
  
• Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late. 
  
• Just enjoy your life with your spouse, children, grandchildren and friends. People, who truly love you, love you for yourself, not for what you have. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery. 
  
• Forgive and accept forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others. Enjoy peace of mind and peace of soul. 
  
• Befriend death. It's a natural part of the life cycle. Don't be afraid of it.. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourself not for death but for a new  life with the Almighty. 
  
• Be at peace with your Creator. For He is all you have after you leave this life.
  

Bohol SME Congress Streamers

While the SME Congress should be an easy thing to do, the problem with it is the availablity of pictures for me to use. I was wondering why Bohol can't seem to provide me their entrepreneurs' pictures when such subjects can be seen in the different areas of this booming province. So for this one, I make use of some pics I searched from the Net. Anyways, this is not the final study yet. This is a prototype for them to see, critique and decide.

Finally, the approved study-

The Chatto 2009 Calendar Project

I've made a sample layout for the Chatto Calendar Project but it seems too boring for me. Meanwhile, I am sharing them for you to comment and critique. This is Study No. 1.

Good Morning Cebu!

Been feeling uncertain lately.

My creative juices have stopped flowing and I have so many projects to do yet I could not do any studies despite the deadlines. Plus I felt angry over a nonsense action done by a friend last night and I could not sleep. So I decided to go out early this morning and take a long walk.

Maybe all I need is space and some new things to see other than the computer.

Maybe all I need is an exercise of the muscle not the mind.

Maybe it's time to stop and smell the flowers so to speak.

And I did. Plus, I stop to visit my adoptive Tatay and see him. We had a long talk about aging, sickness and the familiar things we do. We reminisce of things past. We laugh about them. I've been serious with work and haven't find time to laugh.

It is a good morning.

And in the news today: 

3 cities in Cebu are declared unconstitutional so they will be back to a mere municipality status after the Supreme Court decided their cityhood was against Republic Act 7160 which requires municipalities to undergo plebiscite before declaring them officially as cities. The said Act also raised the income of each municipality to 100 million pesos excluding the IRA shares provided by the national government for it to become a city. These cities, err, municipalities are BOGO, CARCAR and NAGA.