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It’a been a long time since I’ve last written. In that span, there’ve been additions and subtractions in my life. But it’s all for the good, although sometimes, I must admit I don’t see it now. What’s important, I suppose, is to keep on living, keep on striving, keep on dreaming. Because no matter how many pluses and minuses there are, it’s always the equation that counts.

Everyone knows that the economy is in a pinch. Everyone is tightening belts to get through these tough times. There are times, however, when what is received at payday is simply not enough to last until the next. Pay Day Loans can help tide one over until the next paycheck comes around.

Applications for these loans- usually for amounts of $1500 or less- can be done online in minutes. If you meet the set requirements, chances are you’ll get approved even if you have a bad credit history. Just make sure that you do check the interest rate of your loan, though, so you know exactly what you’re in for.

For more information on pay day loans, just click on the link above.

Summer is definitely here in my part of the globe. The heat is intense that going out of the house from ten nine in the morning to four in the afternoon dries one out. Unless absolutely necessary, the only way to keep from sweating is to stay indoors and face the whirring blades of the electric fan.

While absolutely uncomfortable, the summer heat is in a way also a welcome change from the heavy rains that plagued Dumaguete just a couple of months ago. Many people were left homeless then as the Banica River overflowed and swept away their houses. Hopefully, their plight will also change with the onset of sunnier days ahead.

True, starting over is always difficult, especially when one is left with nothing but clothes on their bodies and are at the mercy of people with kind hearts who provide them with the food they need. But life is like that- sometimes you’re up and at other times, well, you have to make do with what is left. Whatever the circumstance, I guess what’s important is to keep on living… and striving.

These are hard times. The economic crisis has affected nations all over the world and no one is exempt. From the first world to the third world, everyone is reeling from the negative outcomes that a financial turmoil like this brings. Job and investment losses are just some of the ill-effects that have resulted from this. It is a sad yet true commentary on our times that losing the financial security that a regular paycheck brings also brings with it a host of other emotional, psychological and family problems. Just recently, in the Philippines, rural banks under one company declared bankruptcy and closed shop, leaving bewildered depositors and investors enraged and tearful at the same time.

It is only prudent that we should mind how we spend or invest our hard-earned cash. Investment Fraud is, unfortunately, a harsh reality that we have to deal with in this day and age, especially when unscrupulous individuals who have no regard for proper and moral conduct take advantage of innocent victims for the sake of money. Stock Broker Fraud is an easy-to-navigate website that gives important and vital information to those who have been victims of investment fraud, which include among others, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence by their stockbrokers or other investment professionals. Headed by Nicholas J. Giuliano who is not only a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association but has also been a guest lecturer at the Rutgers School of Law on the topic of Securities Litigation and Enforcement (see the website for his other qualifications), Stock Broker Fraud offers legal services to injured investors on a contingency fee basis, that is, at no cost or obligation unless they have made a recovery of your investment.

If you simply want to learn more about investment fraud and check out their informative videos or if you’ve already been scammed and are looking for your legal options, then click on the links above.

I have not been out much lately, what with motherhood taking much of my time. But when I do get the chance to go for a motorcycle ride, I’m afraid that it has not been much of a pleasant experience. I’ve ranted on how the pollution levels have gone up in the city in one of my previous columns, but it seems that it has gone up noticeably more since the last time I wrote about it. Smoke belching from all sorts of vehicles has become a very horrific reality in this city! Dilapidated and the not-so-dilapidated motorcycles, tricycles, cars and buses proudly give off thick, dark gaseous emissions that are a surefire way to breathing hell. It is fast becoming apparent that Dumaguete has an air pollution problem and something has to be done about it before it spirals out of control and we go the way of Manila, our very urban sister. Moreover, this problem has to be addressed because majority of our population either walk or ride motorcycles or tricycles which offer no protection against the onslaught of contaminated air.

To make things more concrete, let’s look at some pertinent data given by the Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia: 1) Mobile sources principally the automobile is considered the “greatest source of emissions.” 2) There are more deaths worldwide due to air pollution than to automobile accidents. 3) Exposure to too much air pollution is a leading cause of deaths the world over. The website Greenfacts (www.greenfacts.org) also offers a lot relevant information that we ought to consider in our quest for cleaner air: Quoting from a World Health Organization study, the site tells us that exposure to nitrogen dioxide—the main source of which is vehicular traffic—brings with it accompanying health hazards which range from mere cough to asthma to a decrease in lung function and an increased risk of respiratory symptoms, especially in children.

In addition to nitrogen oxide, suspended particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide—emitting pollutants found in combustion engines of transport vehicles also impact public health in more negative ways. Carbon monoxide lessens the amount of blood that enters our body, thus impairing brain and cardiovascular functions “slowing our reflexes” and “making us confused and sleepy.” Sulphur dioxide in the air leads to lung diseases and disorders which include among others “wheezing and shortness of breath.” “Suspended particulate matter consists of dust, fumes, mist and smoke… [which] when breathed in lodge in our lung tissues and cause lung damage and respiratory problems.” (Source: http://edugreen.teri.res.in)

Whether we like it or not, Dumaguetenos need to realize that our city is growing. More people translates to more vehicles which translates to more pollution which when allowed to go unchecked translates to all sorts of health problems for everyone. Is there a city ordinance on smoke belching? If there is, then it should be enforced. The necessary penalties ought to be imposed on those who violate it. If no such ordinance exists, then those in legislation ought to do their jobs and legislate one. As for the rest of us, let’s be responsible enough to check our vehicles and have them repaired when necessary and get them tuned up regularly. And when we can walk to where we need to go, then there’s no reason to crank up the motor, right? We not only save on gasoline, we get to exercise too.

It’s time we really step up the campaign for cleaner air and take concrete steps to address it. Let’s go gentle on our air and reap the benefits of better health—for us and our children.

Spending time outdoors is one of the best ways to unwind. Not only does nature clear the mind, it soothes the soul as well. However, the fun that the outdoors brings can only be experienced if one is prepared with the appropriate gear. Going outdoors Without the proper equipment is not only reckless, it’s downright dangerous. So, for ka bar knives that are tough, dependable and affordable, checkout Thompson Outdoor Supply . They also have a huge array of camping gear that includes, among others, backpacks, stoves and sleeping bags.

So for your next outdoor trip, get the right gear. For more information, click on the links above.

Modular 3.0 Day Backpack

Don’t you sometimes wish that you were given a book entitled “How to Live”? Think about it: Upon birth, each of us receives a personalized manuscript detailing directions on how to negotiate life. Each hardbound edition with letters inscribed in gold tells each individual what path to take and what the consequences are of each courses of action. This way we wouldn’t have to keep on guessing whether the decisions we make are sound or not.
Take cancer patients like me, for instance. Perhaps chapter two of my custom-made copy of “How To Live” would read: “Be warned that at 26 years old, just when you are quite successful in your career and you’re ready to start a family of your own, cancer will come visiting.” I wonder how my parents would react to that when I was born back in 1979. I suppose they’d scour every book and ask physicians about cancer. Of course, since medical breakthroughs in cancer treatment back then were not as advanced as they are today, I suppose they’d get so depressed, expecting that they’d surely lose me at such a young age. Then they’d probably treat me like china and not allow me to have a normal childhood, with the hope that the prediction would somehow reverse itself. Of course, when I would come of age, I’d surely think twice about acquiring a boyfriend or a husband and well, should the pressure of love be too much to resist, I’d doubtless just get married but would never, under any circumstance, have a baby. I’m sure my parents would work doubly hard to earn more money and save a lot of it for treatment. They’d also probably think twice before giving me the younger brother and the still younger sister that I have now.

Then again, imagine the endless bouts of melancholy that we would have been subjected to. I’d most certainly miss being a normal kid and would have to endure being fussed over at the slightest fall. I’m also equally sure that I would not have been allowed the opportunity to travel and see other lands at quite a young age. I’m sure I’d have preoccupied myself with thoughts of dying that I would not have entertained the idea of loving. And despite the financial abundance that such a warning might bring, the mental torture would probably bring anguish enough to make everyone in the family unravel psychologically, spiritually and physically.

I suppose the mystery of life lies in the unexpected twists and turns that we meet along the way. Just when we though that the road is paved and smooth, we encounter a bump that forces us to take a detour to some rutted, potholed street. And yet the beauty of it is that before we stumble upon that roadblock, we are able to have a life. We are allowed to laugh, to cry and exist the way we want to. These minor detours also sharpen our wits and fuel the innate human drive for survival. Such huffing and puffing may seem terribly inconvenient, but they actually serve their purpose.

In dreadfully confusing times, I pray to God for clear-cut signals. Last night, I actually said: “Lord, short of appearing to me and telling me the exact thing to do in this situation, please give me crystal clear signals on what to do next.” Well, He hasn’t actually whispered in my ear to do this or that. Neither has He appeared to me with a host of angels commanding me what to do. He has also stopped heaven’s printing presses from printing me a personal copy of “How To Live.” But somehow, there’s clarity in the future strides that I am about to take. I can only surmise that life’s ultimate wonder lies in the assuring touch of God’s hand in my heart.

Now that’s as clear as any signal anyone can get.

When I went to Japan as an exchange student back in my college days, I learned to appreciate the people and the culture of this wonderful country. I don’t how much it has changed since I was last there in 1999, but back then it was as technologically modern and advanced as Japan has been reported to be. However, it still retained its unique culture that is impressive, to say the least. In train stations, you could still see older women wearing the traditional kimono. The art of bonsai-making is still as alive as ever as a testament to the creativity and unique genius of the Japanese people.

One of the art forms popular not only in Japan but around the world today is the anime or Japanese animation. Shows like Pokemon, Gundam and Dragon Ball attest to this. Interest in Japan- it’s people, language and culture- has even increased with the surge of popularity of anime.

In the internet, chatting with anime enthusiasts is possible through Anime Chat City. By just filling out a form, you can have instant access to anime chatrooms and talk with those who share your passion about this particular art form. It’s easy and best of all, it’s free. Click on the link above to get your daily dose of fun anime chat lines.

Death has always been something so distant to me. As a teacher in Manila, I think I’ve condoled with about five bereaved families of students or fellow teachers who have lost someone they love. Somehow, saying “My deepest condolences,” “I’m sorry for your loss,” or “I sympathize” seemed easier then. I remember the mother of one of our students who lost her young son and husband in the same year and deeply saddened by her fate, we could only utter amongst ourselves: “Such loss. I wonder how she’d going to cope with it?”

But when I lost my dad last year, death became so concrete, so real. It does happen and it will happen to everyone. Some people just get there first. Losing someone so dear and so near to me made me realize that life is just as concrete as well. Whereas death is something that we still have to experience, life is already here- ours for the taking. Life is meant to be lived fully and purposefully. How we can accomplish that is entirely our choice. Unlike death that catches us unawares, life is an everyday gift that is ours for the living. We must embrace the struggles and surprises as well as the lessons that it gives us everyday.

Getting married is a almost always a lifetime commitment- in my country at least, where divorce is not an option and legal separation and annulment require lots of money and a lengthy court process. Thus, before one ties the knot and seals the bond, he or she must willing to take the responsibility to make the marriage work “in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, ’til death do us part.”

In marriage, as in any relationship, rough patches and troubled times are bound to come. When these moments challenge a union, it is helpful to have a friend or family member to talk to so that another perspective may be gathered as to what went wrong and how best to solve a particular situation. Even when things are going calm and steady, talking with other married people is also a good way to learn strategies on how other couples are handling their problems which one can apply should a similar circumstance arrive in one’s own marriage in the future.

There are also chat rooms over the internet where married people from all over the world can meet and talk for free. Married Chat Rooms such as those in Married Chat City even offer webcam chat for those who want to let their chatmates talk and see them at the same time. Registration is free and convenient and allows you instant access to the chatrooms once you’ve filled up the form. It’s the easiest way to meet and share experiences with other married people online.

Just click on the link above to get started.

Since February is the month of love and roses, please indulge me. Allow me to get mushy: How far would you go for love? What are you prepared to risk? Let’s look at romantic love. When you meet someone you’re prepared to spend the rest of your life with, marriage eventually follows. Up to that point, nothing is ever really established. Going steady or getting engaged—all these do not have the same degree of commitment a marriage has. Backing out is always an option when things get rough.

Not so in a marriage. Not only is there no option for divorce in the Philippines, but the legal and financial aspects are something close to insurmountable. Legal separation does not allow for remarriage, annulment is practically impossible to get unless you’re a movie star or are extremely rich, and both procedures are far too expensive for the regular Filipino couple. So unless the love you have is serious enough for a lifelong commitment, marriage is definitely best saved for last. Yet we still know that despite either party’s steadfast devotion, falling in love and getting married are risky endeavors.

When I was a teacher in Manila, I came to know the parents of one of my students—an elderly couple, both lawyers, whom we would fondly refer to as “Attorney and Attorney.” From the time their son entered first year high school, both of them would always make it a point to come together for the PTC (parent-teacher conference) held every grading. They bemoaned their boy’s less-than-satisfactory academic performance but beamed every time he would show improvement the following grading. There was never a dull moment when these two wonderfully kind and happy couple were around. When their son entered third year, Mr. Attorney got sick and ultimately succumbed to cancer. Needless to say, Mrs. Attorney was devastated. She mourned her loss so intently that whenever she would attend the succeeding PTCs alone, it seemed to me that a part of her had died too. The old sparkle she radiated when Mr. Attorney was around had gone. Forever? Perhaps.

Loving necessarily implies losing. After all, death is a reality we have to face. The question then becomes: Are you ready to risk losing the one you love to death? Can you risk sharing the rest of your life with another person only to lose him or her at the precise moment when you can’t imagining living another minute without him or her? Are you prepared to risk yourself for love?

When my husband and I first met and ultimately got married, we never expected to deal with the trials as difficult as the ones we underwent. But together we did. Oh, we haven’t deluded ourselves into believing that we had faced the worst, yet I am optimistic that with love and prayer, things will ultimately work themselves out.

I believe that the beauty of love lies in its inherent strength. One of love’s greatest miracles is that the more you give of yourself, the more you are equipped to handle whatever life throws at you. I guess this is the reason why people have continued to fall in love through the years. Love is powerful enough to handle loss because it is true that love conquers all—even death.

What about you? Are you prepared to risk for love?

You can find Filipinos in virtually every nook and cranny all over the world. From Hongkong to the United States to Africa, Filipinos serve households as domestic helpers and nannies, hospitals as doctors and nurses and ships as seamen. Our engineers construct buildings of quality all over the world while our drivers and pilots bring passengers to their destinations. Yes, it is a known fact that exporting manpower internationally through our overseas contract workers is a major dollar earner in our country today.

Families get left behind in this set-up, of course. And keeping communication lines open is essential to bridging the loneliness this distance creates. Thankfully, the telephone and the internet have made this easier and cheaper, especially with the advent of prepaid calling cards. Filipinos are especially fond of the prepaid phone card. Not only are these affordable, they also allow one control over phone bills- unlike international postpaid calls which can go on for hours and leave one with a hefty bill at the end of the month.

At GetMeCallingCards you can purchase international prepaid calling cards online. With cards that can be used in 153 countries worldwide, there are a variety of options to choose from. Plus, the more cards you use, the more savings you get which you can also use to purchase more cards. Click on Philippine calling cards to start your search for over 254 prepaid cards and start calling out “Hello World!”

Let me ask you an oft-repeated yet not quite satisfactorily answered question: What is love? From the silly “love is like a bubblegum kung motapot makabuang*” to the biblical “love is patient, love is kind “,answers range from the inspirational to the downright mushy. Many books have already been written on the subject and still pens continue to churn as poets, novelists and artists try to understand this phenomenon. In the name of love, battles have been waged and lives have been lost. No other human emotion evokes such a powerful response.

Since love invariably means different things to different people, defining it would simply be putting love into a mold. So I won’t even attempt it. However, I’ll venture as far as this: A healthy body, mind and soul begin with a genuine love for self. Paradoxically, self-love is selfless.

I can only imagine the precise attention to detail God expended when he decided to create man. Although wrought in His image and likeness, each individual is distinct, matchless in the grace and beauty that He so lovingly shaped for each. And it is for this reason that we must love ourselves first of all. God fashioned us for a purpose and it is our duty to carry that out. How can we fulfill our diving mission if we abuse, neglect and mistreat our body and soul?
Self-love is simple. Yet it speaks of the kind of love that we are willing and are able to give to our fellow human beings. When we nourish our physical bodies, providing for it a balanced diet, adequate exercise and sufficient rest, we are nurturing it to perform its duties with love. When we constantly feed our minds with new information, challenging it to sort the good stuff from the bad and empowering it so that it does not atrophy, we are fostering in it a mindset of love. When we cultivate our spiritual consciousness, enabling it with the spirit of prayer and meditation, we are strengthening it to walk in the spirit of love. If we are able to successfully love ourselves, then we will be able to give the same measure of warmth and affection to others around us. That vim and vigor and zest for life and love becomes so contagious that we are able to create a wonderful ripple of this powerful human emotion.

Now we can’t do that if we constantly subject ourselves to all sorts of stressful situations, can we? Can we honestly say that we love ourselves when we continue to ingest all sorts of food that clog the arteries and cause all sorts of heart problems? Is it even fair for us to say that we love our families when we continue to smoke in the house and subject ourselves and our children to harmful cigarette smoke? Would it be right to work ourselves late into the night and neglect our children for that promotion? Self-love is absent here. If it is, then how can we give to others the love that we do not have for ourselves?

A healthy mind, a sound body, a wonderful soul, a harmonious relationship with others—all these are anchored on love. But love has to start somewhere. Wouldn’t it be great to let it start with you?

*kung motapot makabuang—if it sticks, it drives one crazy

It’s getting harder to make ends meet these days. With the world economy in a downturn and the financial crisis already amidst us, getting paychecks to meet needs month after month is fast becoming a challenge. For most people, there’s not even a penny for savings left after all expenses and deductions have been made. In such cases, borrowing becomes a necessity.

Payday Loans are an option for US citizens who are 18 years old or older and currently receive an income of at least $1000 a month. As long as your loan application is approved, you can receive the amount in your bank account with direct deposit the following business day. Companies like LDCI which offer payday loans online give small unsecured loans ranging from $100 to $1500 to qualified applicants who need it. The application process is fairly simple and convenient since it dispenses with the lengthy requirements asked for in other loans. Even bad credit isn’t a hindrance to getting approved.

Prospective borrowers, though, may also have to take note that while getting a Cash Advance is easy, these are also high-interest short-term loans that need to be paid on the next payday, and should thus be used only in emergency cases. Wise budgeting, for as long as possible, should still be a top priority where money is concerned.

These are economically trying times. To make matters worse, when the economy is in a downturn, it becomes emotionally and physically draining times as well. In the Philippines, the news constantly features thousands of Filipinos who have lost their jobs because the companies they’ve worked for have finally succumbed to the downturn. Now, breadwinners are in a quandary- especially when they’ve grown old with that company and even more so when they haven’t received sufficient separation pays to last them until they can find a new job- as to what to do next.

There are government programs available for interested displaced workers- re-training programs for other jobs which are in-demand in the market today, livelihood trainings like meat processing and even lending start-up capital for those who want to venture into their own businesses. While these efforts are laudable (and may even become the jump-off point for some) not all jobless Filipinos can and do participate. Not only are psychological stresses associated with losing one’s job a force to be overcome, it simply is difficult for those who have identified themselves for years with their field of work to do a 180 degree turn and focus on something totally different. With gaping mouths to feed at home and with no pay to look forward to at the 15th and 30th of each month, normally “solvable” conflicts escalate into heated arguments that has the potential to tear a family apart.

In a third-world country like the Philippines, whose majority of the population is used to only the most essential of necessities, the government’s task is only to make sure that Filipinos weather the storm without sacrificing the roof over their heads, the clothes that they wear and their three square meals a day.

They’ve been featured on Fox and now, Zenni Optical has also been cited on the New York Times. In an article entitled “Seeing Straight Without Breaking the Bank,” Lesley Alderman writes 9 tips on how one can save precious dollars on eye care these days. Helpful advise include, among others, is to tell your eye doctor that cost matters to you, to get a copy of your prescription, and to shop around for prices of frames. And Zenni Optical, with eyeglasses that cost as low as $8 was one of those mentioned as having one of the most affordable prices in the market today.

ZenniOptical is an online marketplace for those who want to shop for quality yet way cheaper alternatives for their eyeglasses. They have a variety of lenses to choose from at prices that suit each of your budgets- aluminum alloy frames, bendable titanium frames and children’s frames, among others. One of my personal favorites (whose picture appears below) is a rimless, flexible, multiple wire hinged frame that can come in blue, silver, grey or black with a burgundy center. It costs about $35, and its modern design suits my personality just right.

So for sleek, stylish yet durable eyeglasses that suit your budget in these economically challenging times, check out ZenniOptical for hundreds of other design options to choose from.

Being incapacitated for pain is something I don’t take very well. I hate not being able to function as I should because of this debilitating pain in my shoulder. I don’t like having dishes or housework pile up because of it. And I despise the fact that I can’t even hug my little girl when it strikes. Of course, the only thing that I can do is take my medication and wait until it subsides.

But pain is a good teacher too. Although it’s like a very strict mentor out to draw blood, pain allows me to be thankful of my blessings. At least, it’s only pain and not an amputated body part or a loss of one of my senses. No matter how painful it can get, it still allows me to love and experience life in all its fullness. That’s pain. That’s life.

Detoxification. That’s the buzz word for clean living today. Meditation, exercise and adequate intake of water and healthful foods that enable us to make daily trips to the bathroom are all forms of cleansing that reinvigorate and reenergize us. However, let’s face it: The stresses of everyday life and the busy lifestyles that we all lead make detoxification a continuous challenge for us. It’s next to impossible to shun fastfood that are full of grease and unhealthy additives with our hectic schedules. As a result, our colons suffer and if this neglect goes on for a long period of time, then disease and illness sets in.

Thankfully, products like the Colon Cleanser is available in the market to aid healthy bowel movements. Formulas like Dual Action Cleanse purifies your system and reduces the toxic load of the liver and kidneys while unclogging the residue and dirt that are built up in your colon. Their formula is blended from natural herbs that eliminate toxins so you feel light and healthy.

To detoxify now, visit the link above for more information.