Thanksgiving and pups

So far it has been a Thankful few months for meI finally got my drivers license. Something that I have been trying to get for months.I have a new job which i absolutely LOVE. Its not as exciting as my work in Level Up and dont get me wrong, I'm still am part of the LUG family, but its great to have a 8-5 job again.The only lowdown is that I have to play catch up on a LOT of bills.
I am aiming on getting a Samoyed Dog

A Samoyed is under the families of huskies, they look like a pure white Chow Chow. But unlike the Chow that has quite the temperment, Samoyeds are companion dogs, often used in the Alaskan outback as part of the hunting and sleigh dog crew. They have a good mannered temperment since they are the type of dogs who are brought up to be either rescue or family dogs and are known to be great with small children. I was able to have this dog for 2 days after a lots one wandered in our neighborhood and I fell inlove with it. Too bad I had to give the dog back to its owner. (not after taking TONS of pictures of her)

I'll keep my post today short for now.

Jacque Bermejo: Filipino Racists or Victim of Cyber Bullying and Identity Theft?

The Philippines this week has been struck by its worst Typhoon in decades.

Ondoy, Internationally known as Ketsana, has left thousands of Filipino's homeless or displaced and hundreds dead or missing.
The Typhoon spared no one, people in the posh villages and business sectors of Makati watched in horror as their cars got washed away. Middle class families and the poor alike on top of their roofs waiting for rescue. Hundreds stranded at their work, or other parts of the Philippines unable to re-enter Luzon.

My own family suffered its own worries when a relative of ours to this day in Batangas, we have no news of them.

I saw a video in Youtube taken by a hospital nurse filming cars being violently moved by flood currents only to realize a CRV had a woman in it, she climbed up the roof of her car while doctors from the nearby building tried to rescue her.

Americans and Fil-ams can safely say that Ondoy is the Philippines version of Katrina.
We are in a State of Calamity indeed.

The storm has passed, and the whole world seems to be in sympathy with us. Relief and Donation drives are being dispatched to those in need and resources are being pulled not only from the Philippine Navy and Police but possibly form the US and other organizations for rescue missions.
People are now wearing their hearts on their sleeves, rich or poor we are helping each other. This is what raw Human Nature is in time of adversity.

However there are still those who can find the time to think what happened to us is either deserving or maybe they are just plain ignorant of the times. Perhaps some not raised properly by their parents, a social deviant? I don't know. You can find them everywhere. In comment sections of youtube, yahoo answers and other blog sites.

But one particular person gained notoriety. Jacque Bermejo or Jackie Bermejo. A Filipina Dubai OFW worker, in text talk like English posted an insensitive comment as follows in her Facebook:

"buti n lng am hir in dubai! maybe so many sinners back der! so yeah deserving what happened"


Within hours enraged Pinoys from all over hunted down her Facebook and Multiply account. Fake Motivational Posters of her have been created, where pictures of her were used.
Her blog site flooded with hate comments, some with threats and other anti-Jacques pages were made.

Mind you I do not know her. And yes anyone who has read her statement even me would like to give her a smart slap on the cheek. However something didn’t feel right for me. Since then she has locked her Facebook account, which If I was her, I would have just deleted it along with her multiply account since it contained pictures of her and her work.

Upon the various sources I claimed from the net, she works as a PR person in one of the media firms in Dubai, hat of course is yet to be proven. One en so as tried posting telephone numbers of her location


These are things people can use against her, can harm her, humiliate her.
Then I thought, maybe her account was hacked? Maybe those other comments in Youtube were true, that she is a victim of Cyber Bullying?

I have been a victim of that just a few months ago, I know too well of the stress it can cause. My case was not as messy as she was, but I had my pictures taken from my Highschool webpage, Facebook, Multiply and such. Posted in sites such as 4chan. I knew the people who did it too; looking back the reasons of why they did it are petty to me, maybe to them no, but they took great pride in their work. That issue is dead over, but I do understand how the REAL Jacque feels if this is really the case.

I’ve heard and seen other Cyber Bullying horror stories. Most that of kids being picked on at school. The reasons are always the same. They may have ignited the temper of a group of techno savy kids rather indirectly or directly. The next thing you know MMS messages are being sent around in school, some in sexually compromising pictures of them, either digitally edited or not. Worse such personal information are in the hands of REAL monsters like pedophiles or serial killers.

In my years being a forum moderator, I have seen cases of Cyber Bullying gone wrong. A group of Caviteno friends decided to steal profile pictures of various people in their friends network, some are intimate family photos. With that, they created fake Friendster sites, and posted blog profiles claiming they are this person making a fool of themselves.
My team was wise enough to track them down and have the real owners alerted. But by then, their pictures have been posted all over the forums, jaunted by many.

Looking at this whole Jacque Bermejo issue, kinda makes you wanna think. Why would an OFW her age and stature would want to decide to make such bold and possibly dangerous comment that will cause such damage to her personally and publicly?
Why didn’t she locked her profile pages? Is she the real Jacque Bermejo or an Impostor? Or Perhaps some media hungry commoner basking in any type of fame the world can give her in this time of need.

Within hours enraged Pinoys from all over hunted down her Facebook and Multiply account. Fake Motivational Posters of her have been created, where pictures of her were used.
Her blog site flooded with hate comments, some with threats and other anti-Jacques pages were made.
A few claiming to know here tried to defend her. One in yahoo answers claiming to be her officemate said that she is already fearing for her public safety and that that is NOT HER REAL FACEBOOK ACCOUNT.
The same was in another youtube comment, but all fell onto the deaf ears of the angry commenters, enraged with her statement. “ Die Jacque! Die!” They clamored.

For now we may never know. The public's emotion is quick to judge. And though I am expressing my disappointment on her alleged statement, I still would like to give her that benefit of a doubt.

Rather than focusing on hate and despise towards that one person, it would be best if all this energy would be focused more on helping the Victims of Ondoy.
In the end, regardless if she is a real person or not, her comment would be the butt of jokes in the near future, she would be insignificant and perhaps forgotten.
The storm and its tragedies are bigger than her. And the morals learned from it will be far greater remembered.

As an End Note:
Knowing how our Philippine Showbiz works somehow she will be track down by some local TV talks show for an interview to clear her name. Hopefully if that's the case bygones will be bygones. That or the truth will be told.

For now, the only number that matters is that of the Philippine Red Cross

Months in Review

Hello guys Its been a while since Ive posted

What have I done in the pas few months.
Well I've worked for Square enix, I taken my passion for cooking to new heights

And sad news bro. Ernano Manalo died last Monday, so Condolence to all INC members.

This will be a short post for now. My RB Issues includes the spam bots in the forums so in Guard mode in the validating section untill we can find some solution.

Trips

The early morning route.Off to Tagaytay we go.

I got some distrubing news in the boards, nothing to concered about 2-3 unrully kidsIm enjoying my cake and my moonie. I was soo happy cause my Tita flew from London to be with us on the big day

Two days and a Bitch

2 days before W.
Two days before my big day, 2 bugs came a buzzing by my ear.I recently read a blog that publicly defamated a close friend of mine.You see My friends GF was stolen from him and the new guy has the audacity to blog about it, as well as his lucid advances to my now friends EX.

Recently that bastard has been haunting me on some of my topics in RB.I tried to ignore him and the girl as much, but he did a bad move of rubbing in their new relationship at my face and my friends face.

From here the gloves are off.See Im on Bridezilla mode, bad bad bad move to do.
Now the girl, made a threat towards me. sorry IRL wise, you can do nothing to me.
And to be honest, I think she and her MINOR of a new BF deserves each other. And good luck on the new guy, if he only knew what he's up to.And that hussy, ahh what did a colleague told me about her...ah yes a Femme Narcissist, who only clamors for Deviant art fame, thinking she'd be that known. Tia Tequila is a better saint than her if you ask me.

My friend deserves better than her, and its a good thing he's rid of the leech. Or better yet at least he's no longer dating a cradle snatcher.

As for the whole W thing. The big day is Saturday. To be honest I feel very blessed about it.I wasn't really expecting it to happen. For us to hook up and all.Being friends all these years and more partners in crime ( good cop, bad cop )It was weird when he just asked me out of the blue, lets get married. It wasn't very romantic.He isn't really that much of the mush, it comes with the whole friendship territory.We became to comfortable with each other, the fact I always have his back and vice versa.That was ALL we really ever needed from each other.With that, I am blessed, I am happy. He makes me laugh. He makes me songs and he makes me feel as real as it gets.

So now I'm on Bridezilla mode, and cant waitt for the day.
On to the next chapter in life

Bride Kidnapping - ATradition that must be stopped

Bride Kidnapping ( From Wikipedia )

also known as marriage by abduction or marriage by capture, is a practice throughout history and around the world in which a man abducts the woman he wishes to marry. Bride kidnapping still occurs in countries spanning Central Asia, the Caucasus region, and parts of Africa, and among peoples as diverse as the Hmong in southeast Asia, the Tzeltal in Mexico, and the Romani in Europe. In most countries, bride kidnapping is considered a sex crime, rather than a valid form of marriage. Some versions of it may also be seen as falling along the continuum between forced marriage and arranged marriage. The term is sometimes used to include not only abductions, but also elopements, in which a couple runs away together and seeks the consent of their parents later; these may be referred to as nonconsensual and consensual abductions respectively. However, even when the practice is against the law, judicial enforcement remains lax, particularly in Kyrgyzstan, Chechnya, and Georgia.

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I remember back in College my mom used to tell me to be cautious of dating a pure Caviteneo since it was an old saying that if a traditional Cavitenoe likes you, "itatanan ka nila " till your family agrees to the marriage.
True or not, in this modern age, that saying has become more of an old wives tale.

However in some countries and as parodied in the movie Borat, Bride Kidnappings are still rampant
Sad to say brides kidnapped are also victim of rape as a way to coerce them to the forced marriage.
In some cases even if they remain pure and are able to escape or is rescued, they are no longer a marraigable woman

This You Tube Video a Documentary of a Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgystan shows how the men will "kidnap" a girl he likes.
What made me mad is his reasons for doing such
His family needs an extra helper
He needs to move up in his family heirchy through marriage

And what pissed me off is that the man treats the gilr as a dog to be trained and the man's family was no help either. The grandmother was thinking of making the poor girl do the chores. And even when the girl was rescued, is planning to get the poor girl back.

Part 1: Bride Kidnapping Documentary

What saddens me most is that in part 2 of the video, even the girls parents are now forcing her to go on with the marriage to save face. This even with the support of a local school and support group

If you look at the film, this rural country is just as modern as the Philippine farm provinces, the men had a car, they even had cellphones ( Nokia brands ). They wore modern clothes. I noticed that one of the girls wore a D and G pink shirt.
Technologically wise they were catching up to the world.
Moral wise they are declining. Studies show that the case of child and bride kidnappings has risen throughout the years, and even when some countries have laws against them, little or nothing are done to apprehend the suspects.

I am posting this thread to raise awareness for women's rights hopefully that in the near future, such type of sex crimes will be prevented.

The Seaworld Experience

Hello

It has been forever since my last post.

As a recap of things. I went back home to the Philippine after a much needed vacation due to stress at work, life and just basic burnout and homesickness.

When I came back, there is a noticeable change in my character. The word would be “ Recharged “.

Philippines was fun, but too short. I was able to save enough money despite my debts for a meager vacation, which was monopolized by my dad wanting to take me to all my relatives. Other than that, I went to see the docs to make the necessary check ups. I do have to admit my weakness were these Luxury massages that eased my back pains. You can get a really got classy massage in the Philippines for as low as $14.oo.

This Memorial day weekend, I needed additional unwinding. Since I have this long bucket list of things that I wanted to do. I finally crossed out one. A close encounter with a Dolphin.

I was able to save 45 Dollars to pay the extra fee in Seaworld to do the Dolphin experience. It was really fun and the professional photos taken by the overpriced staff photographer showed how much I was giggling and glowing on the delight of being able to fulfill one of my childhood dreams.

My luck got better when Seaworld had the interact with a Manta Ray pool for free. Despite the scary rep it has, manta Rays are like piglets. The suck the fish out of your hands and when they go up to the water, their faces have a snout like mouth. Infact THEY HAVE A SNOUT. They even make snorting sounds like a pig. It was cute and they were gentle creatures.

I also rode Journey to Atlantis, a water log ride similar to the Philippines Splash island ride in Magic Kingdom. But since I have a fear of falling down ( not heights ), I remedied my situation by hiding in my sweater and brazing myself for the fall. WHICH I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN.

In other words, I had such fun and it was a well deserved, well spend weekend. A change from my last posts which were sad.

Till my next post guys.

The trip to back to Manila and Mothers day

First and foremost

Happy Mothers Day.

To all mothers and mothers to be. My mom passed away 2 years ago and yet even though we did not get along much in the latter years. I am finding myself loving more and missing her more as each day pass by. Why? Not becuase she was my mom, but becuase it was her character that defined her. And if not then it would not be her.

As for my trip. Japan was a blast. I tried this Vending Machine Shower. It was 500 Yen, and small room not more bigger that you outstreching your arms. But it had a power shower head. Great shampoo, clean facilities and soft towels.

I also went to a store that had this origami display of complicated and articstic proportions.

I did a little shopping and embrassed myself by tripping yet my japanese is at least flawless

In Manila, upon arriving from the airport. Awave of heat hit me. Not before we got stuck in a 4 hour delay after a plane busted its tires in the NAIA runway. We had to be diverted first to Clark Airbase.

I arrived with no one to pick me up. My arrival was a suprise to my family. Unfortunately, I was alone and looking stupid outside NAIA with all these blood suckers asking for tips at the airport.

So I armed myself with a baseball bat and a mi game face. Rode a taxi and arrived at my home at 5 am. the ringer was out so I had to bang at the door. More funny was that my dad was out in Laugna, since his two other siblings arrived from London and Virginia. They were out drinking.

Papa was drunk when I called him. He thought I was still in Japa. By the time he realized I was really home, he came rushing back home 2 hours later. Along with him was a hoard of my relatives.

In my 2 weeks in the Philippines, I came to see my mom's grave, I went to Sampalok lake, I went to Levle Up, Moa, horseback riding and China town.

The best part were the Spa's. I had a spa every 4 days. It was affordable in my part. I save up for it and had the most expensive and longest massage I can afford. My back has been killing me all month.

I bought my first jade bracelet in the Vira Mall shopping area. I was tempted to buy a new phone but ddint.

The food was great. First thing I asked my dad to make was Ginataang Alimango claws. And it was sooo good

I enjoyed my stay sooo much.

Till next year

Going Back to Tokyo, Manila and Month Wrap up

Finally after months of trying to get Vacation time from my current company,
I was finally given the GO to take my PTO
I'm coming back home to Manila for 2 weeks but will stop by Tokyo for 1 day :-)

However since I was really never sure when they would be approving me of my vacation time, I barely had time to save for the trip. I wasn't expecting them to give me the go for April.
To make matters worse my finances were really down after a series of unfortunate events. Most recently with me losing my renter.

The ticket booking was another issue. I also needed to be in japan and all the plane flights that were cheapest were taking me to Korea, to make matters worse, with a 5-7 hours layover in Seoul.

I had to give up my Seat in Philippine Airlines and got Thank God a great deal with Northwest.
So Ill be home on the 20th earliest.

On other news, my Uncle Eliseo Vidal passed away recently. He had cancer and a severe diabetes problem but what took him was a stroke. Similar to my mom, he was in a coma for nearly 2 months.

Uncle Eli knew his time was up, 2 years prior, he came to see my mom and took my mom to watch the show Wowowee ( a Philippine noon time variety show )
He lived his life to the fullest while he was with my parents. Him and my dad were bests of buddies and Dad took the loss seriously

He was also a war veteran like my dad. In his Funeral he had a Full Guard ceremony.
It was my first time to see some one from the military and also a decorated hero have the Military Honors during his death.
Strangely enough I wondered and feared about my fathers future if the time comes he passes away. He rarely talks about his work with the Feds and the Navy. All I knew he was with project Dessert storm when I was a kid and my mom was very sure my dad was a target for enemy attacks if his location was found.

That given, I moved my flight earlier from the 24th to the 19th to see dad. I was missing him badly.

When I get home, I have a lot of things to do. Visiting LUG will be one of my top priorities.

I can't wait too see everyone again

Hits and Misses...good and bad

Hello guys. Its been a while since I last bloged. The good news is is that I had a colorful weekend so far.
Both filled with Happiness and Tragedy.

Lets go with the Bad news

1.I found out my Uncle who owns the house I'm living is on a deep coma. He has both cancer and diabetes. On a routine dialysis his body couldn't take much of the pressure and he went into a stroke. It happened on February 6. I wasnt informed until 3 days ago. His eyes are now open but he is in a critical and near vegetable state. The fact that he breathes on his own and has a few stable responses say that he may pull through it. Its hard for me to see him in ICU since my mom too was in a deep coma before her death.

2.I got reported at my church over false rumors which I cannot tell. Unlike the church in the Philippines, there are some people who have nothing else better to do especially when the Holy Passover is nearing. Hence me being called to our local pastors office, interrogated about my beliefs of what a woman living alone should do ( like marry immediately)
Unfortunately personal things like that are None Of Their Business, and the fact they even said that they will drive by my house like some cop is a violation of my privacy.


3.My Uncle being sick also means that the rent is going up so now I'm gonna be in a financial pinch for a long while





The good news was, due to certain circumstances my friend May dropped by my home over the weekend. Prompting me and a common barkada of ours to take her to the local hot spots of the city. We drove all the way to San Diego Zoo a few hours ago and it was a blast. I was lucky to take a picture with a Mere Cat. I wasnt too happy though with her late night trysts. She would leave my home at 11:00 and come back at 3:30 I had to stay awake for her because my doorbell is broken.


Another good news is that the nasty housemate of mine is moving out. So no more food stealing and I'll be really alone for a while. And it will give me time next weekend to do a MAJOR home makeover once she is gone

So far thats the report I have. And yes, Ive been Ragnaboarding again...for now.

The " I'm hell better than you notion."

I have a close person named Lumox who has access to my blog. Unfortunately the idiot has access to my friendster as he has access to my blog. He later decided to show my blog to his officemate named Rod.

Now Mr. Rod here is one of those ummmm…how should I say this, big talkers who bragg about their lifestyle and how better the world would be if its lived by their rules. Unfortunately, financially blessed as he may be, from how Lumox describes him, he has a tendency to put down women who have limited education or skill sets, even the one that he dates.

Another idiot friend of Lumox is Ron. A guy who wishes to get rich soon. A UP graguate who think that me as a Lassalian is better than others. He frowns upon doctors and treat women like crap. He also preaches, brags or vido tapes how immoral he is to the his friends. I have taken crap from this guy more than once often, griting my teeth becuase even though I am not the most perfect daughter, friend, employee or girlfriend to those around me; I know my standard of morale is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYY higher than his peanut brain and imaginary ” I’m the best thing you’ve ever had” attitude.

Men like these who infleunce my Lumox so greatly, roughly rubs on on his attutude and how he treats a person/people. In the years I’ve known Lumox, he has become biased, racists and even derogatory and negatively judgemental towards people.

I do not need to hear that each single mom femal friend of mine are low lifes just becuase they are single moms despite of what ever caused theuir situation. Or that people like me who grew in the Philippines are uneducated and unsophisticated just because most of us cant drive.

I’m sorry, try driving in 4 hour traffic at 15mph on a freeway in Manila. People there commute, there's no law that says ” Sucks to be you just because you cannot F*** drive” in any society. Try telling that to other cultures that lives on ZERO technology and yet thrive.

The problem with people these days, especially with MEN is their over bloated egos, grandeur illusions of greatness and undermining the capabilities of us women.

So ROD and RON. It was nice knowing ya but SCREW YOU!!! I hope if ever your GF’s ever get a gist of how you people really talk back to them or when you secretly film them and show your sick hobbies to your friends, that ONE day Karma will get you back in the ASS. Oh btw thats a criminal offense of I hope you go to jail!

Celebrating the New Year

How was my new year?
See unlike the Philippines where me and my crazy cousins get a hold of Firecrackers and roman candles;
Running around crazy in the streets and lighting up the ” Sinturon ni Hudas” on our poor old dead mango tree
The jumping for cover like were in the Iraq war zone. Often getting blasted by some renegade cracker.


The US has a more non- pyrotechnic type of Holiday.
Just an FYI ” Sinturon Ni Hudas” is either a 10-20 foot long belt/rope of fire crackers with a short fuse at both ends.
It makes a loud crackling sound once lighted since the belt is fused with little but strong fire power. This is one of the most deadliest/dangerous Philippine fireworks that cause the most death and injury to children and people during New Years Eve.

Here in California, the closest I got from any fireworks was just watching then from the bay. The weather was very cold. I had a blanket and 2 jackets ( one from my friend) wrapped around me.
But before that, we dined in this authentic Italian restaurant called Piatti. Normally I would always order Fettuccini but strangely enough the didn’t have one in the menu. I instead choose to have this Baked Bass with asparagus and it was soooo goood. My firt time too having Bass.

After the countdown by the Bay, we decided to cruise down town. We saw the heavily paparatzi’d party at the Hard Rock hotel and we got stuck in traffic right in front of Bondi’s a very cool Australian bar/restaurant
I was able to see this girl nearly half naked being arrested. Such a shame she was very pretty but very drunk.
The poor cop, I feel sorry for him was trying to cover up her lower private part. She does not look like she was wearing anything underneath and since she kept squatting on the side walk, her tube dress was riding up. The cop had to pull her dress down while making sure she didn’t run into oncoming traffic. I tried taking some pictures but they were too blurry.

In the end it was a fun and quite Americanized style of New Years eve.
I didn’t get drunk like most of the people we saw downtown. Once home I used my Skype account to do a conference call to my Family in Manila. Calling using the landline was nearly impossible, with the rest of the Filipinos abroad jamming the international lines. Plus the quality was clearer. It was very Nostalgic, the girls ( my nieces) were all at home. Screaming their heads off as usual. They are drinking now liked I used too at their age, sneaking off for a sip of beer.
My Cousin Rela now had her 2nd baby. And yes I was getting the, when are you marrying question again.

But overall it was all good. And I enjoyed my first happy new year in a long time.

Happy 2009 everyone.