Shameful Photo's At The Crime Scene

It really gets into my nerve when I watched the news from ABS CBN's Magandang Gabi Bayan  reporting about the pictures taken from the hostage scene with no other than the police officers with the bus as a background .

 It was even more irritating when more pictures came out form other sites with students and SOCO group as if they were  strolling or on a exhibit area.

How  insensitive these  creatures  are.Shame on you all! Sino kaya mga magulang ng mga batang ito at di yata naturuan ng tamang asal at bonggang bonggang nakapost pa yata sa FB nila

Major major

Congratulations to Venus Raj for making it to the top 5 out of the 83 candidates in the recently concluded Miss Universe 2010 Pageant.Miss Mexico won the Miss Universe title.

In my opinion , if she just asked for an interpreter,he might have a better answer and won the title.Let's face it the whole world are watching plus the fact that she surely knows how to speak English but not that good enough to deliver it properly in straight English which is common to majority of Filipinos. This just shows that beauty and over confident is not just enough.Hopefully the next candidates won't be ashamed to use the services of an interpreter if they feel that their grammar is limited.

Question from William Baldwin “What is one big mistake that you did in your life, and what did you do to make it right,”

Answer of Maria Venus Raj’s “Thank you so much sir for that wonderful question. Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Good evening Las Vegas! You know what, sir, in my 22 years of existence I can say that there’s nothing major, major, I mean problem that I’ve done in my life because I’m very confident with my family, with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I’m here. Thank you, thank you so much!”

Wedding Songs

A few months back ,I posted a shout out on FB asking for some songs to be played on a cousins wedding.
I have the list of Top Ten Wedding Songs from Amazon but these were old songs and the new generations might not know all about it anymore so I decided to ask my friends for some other new ones that  they most probably choose.

 Here are some of the songs that I gathered from other friends and might help others in some way or another to pick up some songs for their forthcoming wedding.

1. Nothing Compares To You. Sinead O’Connor
2. Close To You. Maxi Priest
3. Power of Love. Jennifer Rush
4. Love Me Tender. Elvis Presley
5. I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You. Elvis Presley
6. Just the Way You Are. Billy Joel
7. When You Say Nothing At All. Ronan Keating
8. From This Moment On. Shania Twain
9. You Made Me Love You. Al Jolson
10. How Deep Is Your Love. Bee Gees
Here’s more…
All My Life - KC & Jojo
Almost Paradise - Ann Wilson/Mike Reno
A love to last a lifetime
Always- Atlantic Stars
Annie's Song -John Denver
At The Beginning- Donna Lewis/Richard Marx
Beautiful in my eyes-
Because of you - Keith Martin
Born for you-David Pomeranz
Especially For You- Kylie Minogue/Jason Donovan
Fall for You - Secondhand Serenade
For You - Kenny Lattimore
Gaano ko Ikaw Kamahal
Give me Forever( I Do) - James Ingram
Heaven- version ni DJ Sam
In Love with You- Regine Velasquez/Jacky Cheung
I'll Make Love To You- BoyzIIMen
I will be here - Gary Valenciano
I do- 98 degrees
I Wanna Take Forever Tonight- Crystal Bernard/Peter Cetera
I'll be - Edwin Mccain
I'm In Love With My Best Friend-?
In your Eyes, Someone Like You- from Jeckyll & Hyde
Ikaw - Regine Velasquez
i will take you forever - christopher cross
I have fallen in love with the same woman-jose marie chan
I finally found someone
I will take you forever - christopher cross
I Love You -Martina McBride
I Only Live - cliff richard
Just the way you are -Billy Joel.
Knock Me Down by Keri Hilson
Kahit Kailan by Southborder
Looking thru the Eyes of Love-theme song ng Ice Castle
Lady - Kenny Rogers
Let The Love Begin- Rocky/Gino Padilla
Moment of Truth by FM Static
Ngayon at kailanman-Basil Valdez
Nothing can stop us now - by rick price
Never Gonna Let You Go by Faith Evans
Of All the Things
Promise of love - martin nievera
Promise - Stacy Orrico
Panunumpa - Carol Banawa
Paglisan - Color it Red
Promise of Love - martin nievera
Perhaps Love-
Standing right next to me - celine dione
(There's Something About) The Way You Look Tonight- Sir Elton John
The Gift - Jim Brickman
The Greatest Gift of All -Michelle Wright & Jim Brickman
The One who Holds My Heart - Luther Vandross
The next Time I Fall- Amy Grant/Peter Cetera
The Prayer
The Promise
This I promise you-Ronan Keating
This I Promise You by Nsyc The Prayer
Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You- Roberta Flack/Peabo Byrson
The Prayer -Josh Groban & Charlotte Church
Through the Years-Kenny Rogers
Way Back into Love- Drew Barrymore/Hugh Grant
When GOD Made You - Newsong w/NatalieGrant
When you kiss me- Shania Twain
What matters most-
You Are my Song-Regine Velasquez
Your Love - Jim Brickman
You're my inspiration - Diane Elise
You might (Make me Believe) – Sugarland
You raise me up (sa reception o sa ceremony ang kanta nito at iba dating kapag nasa honeymoon suite na raw)

July Top Commentators

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments .I really appreciate it.

1. By MelCole of PA 
2. Mommy Liz 
3. chubskulit 
4. Clarissa 
5. Yami 
6. Dhemz 
7. AC 
8. srmsofttech 
9. Rossel 
10. Unnamed Psalmist 

EXCLUSIVE: GMA Breaks Her Silence

I got this from the famous humor blog, The Professional Heckler. The owner of the site consider himself a comedian who  writes jokes about anything especially about social change or politics. I thought of sharing with you one of my favorite article of his with link to his site of course.

Breaking News: For the first time since winning a seat in the House of Representatives, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed to be interviewed.
She requested though that the exclusive interview be conducted in the vernacular in celebration of the Philippine National Language Month. Here’s the rare, 45-minute conversation in full.
The Professional Heckler (TPH): Kumusta na po kayo ma’am?
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA): Heto, napagod sa kakatakbo. Bigla ba naman akong sabihan na may privilege speech pala si Walden Bello, natural, kinailangan kong lumabas ng session hall. Eh nakita kong papalapit na siya sa podium, ayon kumaripas ako nang takbo. Maliliit pa naman ang aking mga hakbang kaya hiningal talaga ako!
TPH: Mabuti naman at ‘di kayo hinarang ng mga guwardiya..
GMA: Naku, imposible ‘yan! Si Mikey ang naka-duty nang lumayas ako sa Batasan.
TPH: Saan po kayo nagpunta?
GMA: Katulad nga ng nasulat mo sa iyong previous blog post, I tried to leave for Hong Kong. Eh cancelled pala ang mga flights ng PAL kaya umuwi na lang ako sa Lubao.
TPH: Last week po ay nilagdaan na ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission. Ano po ang masasabi n’yo?
GMA: My two spokespersons, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Congressman Edcel Lagman have repeatedly raised the issue of the EO’s constitutionality. Naniniwala ako sa kanila. It’s unconstitutional.
TPH: Ano naman pong masasabi n’yo sa Communications Group ng ating Pangulo. Inaakusahan po sila ng bias at pagli-leak ng advance info sa isang network.
GMA: Hay naku! Ayaw ko nang makialam sa isyu ng leak na ‘yan. May sarili akong leak na pinu-problema. In fact, after ng interview na ‘to, I’ll have my biennial mammogram.

TPH: Kumusta na po si Attorney Mike Arroyo?
GMA: Okay naman. Nakakapag-golf na ulit. Naghihintay lang kami ng advice ng kanyang doktor for his next check up in Hong Kong.
TPH: Kailan po ‘yon?
GMA: Depende. Depende sa schedule ng susunod na privilege speech ng aking mga kritiko.
TPH: Kung maibabalik po ang year 2004, tatawagan n’yo pa rin ba si Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano?
GMA: Sino ‘yon? May sinabi ba akong si Garcillano ang tinawagan ko? Remember: when I made that “I’m sorry speech,” never kong pinangalanan ang Comelec official na kinausap ko. Tawagin n’yo na akong corrupt, balasubas, magnanakaw, sinungaling, pandak, at kung anu-ano pang panlilibak… pero never akong nanlaglag ng ibang tao. In short, walang basehan ang iyong tanong. Let’s move on.
TPH: Kung bibigyan kayo ng pagkakataong maging pangulo ulit, tatanggapin n’yo ba?
GMA: Kung ang komposisyon ng Kongreso ay gaya pa rin ng mga nagdaang mga taon, why not? I feel safe and secure with those guys around me.

TPH: Madam Congresswoman, do you pray?
GMA: Before? Yeah.
TPH: Right now?
GMA: Lalo na!
TPH: Sabi po nila, tumakbo lang kayong kongresista dahil ayaw n’yong makasuhan…
GMA: Hindi totoo ‘yan! Tumakbo ako sa Kongreso dahil ‘di na ko puwedeng tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo.
TPH: Can you imagine yourself in jail?
GMA: Can you imagine this interview cut short?
TPH: Oh, I’m sorry for that question. Let’s just talk about the current administration. Sa tingin n’yo ba masyadong nagiging mapaghiganti ang gobyernong Aquino sa inyo?
GMA: Two words: Truth Commission. I need not elaborate.
TPH: May over-importation daw po ng NFA rice…
GMA: Hindi rin totoo ‘yan! Maraming naiiwan sa imbakan dahil hindi binibili ng mga tao ang NFA rice. It’s their fault! Gusto nila, high quality! Masyado silang choosy!
TPH: Malaki daw po ang sweldo ng mga taga-MWSS…
GMA: Mali naman ang impormasyon nila! Sa katunayan, kung iche-check n’yo ang perks ng mga executives ng ibang GOCCs at GFIs, malalaki rin ‘yon! Hindi lang MWSS. Mali ang report!
TPH: How do you find palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda? Ano pong masasabi n’yo sa kanya?
GMA: I admire the guy. Sa siyam na taon ko sa palasyo, once lang ako nag-sorry sa inyo. Si Lacierda, nakakadalawa na, kakasimula pa lang sa trabaho.
TPH: How about the issue between the Noybi supporters and the NoyMar camp? Sa palagay n’yo ba makakaapekto ito sa pamamalakad ni Pangulong Aquino sa gobyerno?
GMA: I really don’t know. Wala naman akong vice president noon kaya ‘di ako maka-relate.
TPH: Nag-uusap pa ba kayo ni Chief Justice Renato Corona?
GMA: Hindi na. Busy lagi ang phone eh. The last time I tried calling him, ang sabi, “Sorry, the number you dialed is having dinner with Peping Cojuangco. Please try your call later.”
TPH: Kumusta na po si Gibó?
GMA: Si Gibó? Hahaha. Namimiss ko ang batang ‘yan. One of the most brilliant minds in my Cabinet. Sayang. Naputol ang aming komunikasyon nang lumabas ang Villaroyo black propaganda noong kampanya. Nagtampo yata sa ‘kin. But yesterday, I heard nag-a-apply siyang piloto sa PAL. If you’re reading this, Sulong Gibó!
TPH: Once and for all, linawin po natin: sino po ang sinuportahan n’yo noong nakaraang eleksyon? Si Gibó o si Villar?
GMA: Si Vetellano Acosta! Kaya ‘wag na kayong magtaka kung bakit marami siyang botong nakuha.

TPH: Madam Congresswoman, until now, curious pa rin po ang publiko. Ano raw po ba ang pinag-usapan n’yo ni President Aquino during that 10-minute limousine ride from Malacañang to Quirino Grandstand last June 30?
GMA: Wala. Kasi, bawat traffic light na madaanan namin, inoorasan niya ang pagpapalit ng kulay. ‘Tapos, tanong siya nang tanong kung sino si Ped Xing. Tawa naman ako nang tawa. So ‘yon, ‘di namin namalayan, Luneta na pala.
TPH: Dumako na po tayo sa tinatawag nating Rapid Round. Dapat po mabilis lang ang inyong sagot. Bawal magpaliwanag. Okay?
GMA: Nakaka-nerbyosh ka naman! Sige nga.
TPH: Ma’am, lights on or lights off?
GMA: Lights off! Mahal kasi ang kuryente ng Meralco.
TPH: Artistic or Athletic?
GMA: Siyempre, golfer si Mike. Athletic!
TPH: Beauty or Brains?
GMA: I wouldn’t have lasted nine years in office kung wala akong utak. Beauty na lang.
TPH: Love or Money?
GMA: After nine years in office?!? Marami na ‘kong money! I’ll choose love siguro. Wait, pwedeng both?
TPH: ABS-CBN or GMA 7?
GMA: NBN 4, kahit ‘di nag-rate ang The Working Preshident. Pero prangkahan na… nakaka-relate ako kay Trudish Liit ng GMA 7.
TPH: This time naman, magmi-mention po ako ng names ng mga kilalang tao. Let me know kung ano ang unang pumapasok sa isip n’yo kapag nababanggit ang kanilang mga pangalan. Let’s start with… Joseph Estrada?
GMA: Hmm, whiskey.
TPH: Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez?
GMA: Merciful!
TPH: The Firm?
GMA: Powerful!
TPH: Hyatt 10?
GMA: Welcome back! Hahaha!
TPH: Garcillano?
GMA: Pass!
TPH: Nani Perez?
GMA: ‘Kaw talaga! You make me blush. Ahihihi
TPH: Noynoy Aquino?
GMA: Good luck!
TPH: Jojo Binay?
GMA: Lucky.
TPH: Mike Arroyo?
GMA: Plenty! Hahahaha! I’m jussssht kidding! Puwede bang off the record na ‘yon?
TPH: Ricky Carandang?
GMA: Cessh Drilon. Akala mo, ‘di ako updated huh. Hi Cessh!
TPH: Secretary Abad?
GMA: Sino sa kanila? Madami eh.
TPH: Philippine Daily Inquirer?
GMA: Shorry, Bulletin lang ang binabasha ko noon!
TPH: Conrado De Quiros?
GMA: Pass!
TPH: Ellen Tordesillas?
GMA: Lalo na ‘yan! Pass!
TPH: Kris Aquino?
GMA: Ay, totoo ba ‘yun? Sila na raw ni Junjun?
TPH: Jocjoc Bolante?
GMA: Rotarian.
TPH: Bayani Fernando?
GMA: Pedestrian.
TPH: Jamby Madrigal?
GMA: Vagitarian.
TPH: Korina Sanchez?
GMA: May katarayan!
TPH: Vicky Toh?
GMA: Huh?! Good Lord!
TPH: Lilia Pineda?
GMA: Jueteng lord!
TPH: Talaga po!?
GMA: Ay, ano ba ‘yung nasabi ko? Off the record ulit, please?
TPH: And finally, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
GMA: Huh? Bakit naman ako nasama?
TPH: Request po ng readers ng blog ko.
GMA: Bakit? May readers ka ba?
TPH: Naman! I’m sure, binabasa kayo ngayon ng mga anchors at reporters ng TV5, ABS-CBN, ANC, dzMM, GMA 7 (not sure, pero sana!), GMANews.TV, dzRJ, dzME, dwRX, ABS-CBNNews.Com, Inquirer.Net, at maging ng reporters, columnists at editors ng Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard Today, Manila Times, BusinessWorld, Malaya, Newsbreak, Asia Pacific Broadcasting (Singapore) mga thinking bloggers, at ng libu-libong kababayan natin here and around the world.
GMA: Yabang! Bakit? Ito bang interview na ‘to mababasa ng favorite singer kong si Ricky Martin o ng favorite comedian kong si Ricky Gervais?
TPH: Hindi ko lang po sure pero sigurado akong mababasa po ito ni Ricky Carandang, si Secretary Ricky Carandang.
GMA: O shige na nga. Ano nga ulit ang tanong?
TPH: Babaguhin ko na lang po ang tanong para espesyal: Sakaling pumanaw si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ano po ang mababasa namin sa kanyang epitaph?
GMA: Ang morbid naman! Pero dahil sport ako at dahil exclusive ang interview na ito, pagbibigyan kita. Medyo mahaba ang isusulat ko sa aking epitaph. Ito ‘yon: HERE LIES…
TPH: Thank you Madam President!
GMA: Teka, hindi pa ako tapos!
TPH: Okay na po ‘yun! Understood na! Ano na lang po ang inyong message sa ating mga kababayan…
GMA: Sure ka puwede na ang gano’ng epitaph?
TPH: Sure na! Final answer! Message n’yo na lang po sa taumbayan…

GMA: Okay. Mga kababayan, kasaysayan na lamang po ang huhusga sa akin. Ginawa ko pong lahat ang aking makakaya bilang Pangulo ng ating bansa. Wala akong inisip kundi ang kapakanan ng maliliit na Pilipino. Sa pagtupad ko sa aking tungkulin bilang kinatawan ng lalawigan ng Pampanga, umaasa ako at mananalangin na harinawa’y umunlad hindi lamang ang aking mga nasasakupan kundi bawat isa sa inyo na nagpupursige sa buhay. Sa huli, iniiwan ko ang sa tuwina’y paalala noon ng aking ama: “Do what ish right; do what ish besht, and God will take care of the resht.”
TPH: Very well said ma’am. Pero bago ko po kayo tuluyang pakawalan, last question na lang po. Naitanong na po ito ni Mr. Boy Abunda kay Gretchen Barretto three weeks ago sa “The Buzz,” pero gusto ko pong itanong din sa inyo. Hypothetical lang po: kung sa impyerno kayo mapupunta, sino ang gusto n’yong makasama?
GMA: That’s a hard question. Pero hypothetical lang naman ‘di ba? Siguro, bilang pagtanaw ng utang na loob, isasama ko lahat ng kongresistang sumuporta sa ‘kin noong time na may mga banta ng impeachment. Exciting na biyahe ‘yon. Ang dami! Teka, puwedeng magsama ng isa pa?
TPH: Kayo po ang bahala.
GMA: Si Attorney Oliver Lozano. Mahusay siyang mag-preempt eh. Malay mo, ma-preempt din niya ang pagpasok ko sa impyerno.
TPH: Thank you so much Madam Congresswoman. It’s both an honor and a pleasure to talk to you.
GMA: Thank you too, Professional Heckler. Ikaw pala ‘yon. Hayup ka! Jussht kidding. Oops, bago ko malimutan, please add me on Facebook. Just type: Facebook.Com slash ImpunityistheBestPolicy, and then click “Like” at automatic friends na tayo. Thank you.
End of Exclusive Interview
Monday, August 2, 2010
Batasang Pambansa Parking Lot
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Source: The Professional Heckler
http://professionalheckler.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/exclusive-gma-breaks-her-silence/#comment-19086

One day more

One day and one night more to Philippines for a two months vacation then off to US for another chapter in my life. Qatar has been good to me except for some issues that was beyond my control.

Goodbye to blogging for a little while until I settle to a new world. Right now, I am so busy packing everything for our flight tomorrow. My house is a real mess can't decide which one goes to trash and  which one into the boxes.

One last thing to do is go to the police station to have my car transfer to a new owner  and that's it, no more car. Goodbye my buddy, be good to your new family like you did to me. Mama's gonna miss you so much.

Baby Jon Angelo

 

Baby Jon Angelo

Please help him by buying  The Breathe Hope bracelet  for the purpose of raising funds  for the  purchase of a  mechanical ventilator/respirator or life support machine and other medical needs . You can send in cash too through a bank account made for him.

Visit baby jon angelo  for more details about  his condition and how you can help him.

Couples Talents

Couples Corner is talking about husband's and wife's different talent this week When it comes to talent I may say that I am not a talented person.I am just an average student .I don't know how to dance .I want to sing but the song does not like me.But one ting I am proud of  is my  ability, patience ,persistence and willingness to learn things if I want to.Is that consider a talent? I know I can cook  and hubby loves my cooking.I can sew clothes and do crocheting and cross-stitching well .In fact I got high grades in home economics in high school for these projects.And oh ,I can be a toolman too.I love to do this even when I was a little and now that I am married I do it alone instead of waitng for hubby who will take years before he can move his ass .

My hubby on the other hand is not as patient as me. He easily gets irritated. One talent I love from him is his being a good preacher in his own way.He is just too shy to stand in front of the culprit so he  just do it with anybody whom he can share the words of God with. His favorite topic is God and the Bible. He can talk  for hours about this subject .When son asks me about religion I always tells him to go ask daddy .He is pretty good in computers too .Thanks to him and my son for helping me out with computer queries.Don't ask about his singing and dancing talent coz he is as bad as me.

Poem for Me: A Perfect Friend

 

Let me share you a very nice poem made by a friend for me before I left Qatar for good.One of the best days of my life happened in that small but rich country. I met a lot of friends who not only considered me as a friend but as a  mother as well. The poem was posted at one of his blogs mga kathang isip ni kiko. How sweet of him and I really appreciate it. Thank you so much Kiko of  unnamedpsalmist, your favorite love songs, the Psalmist Sings .

Please Support his Entry to Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards by posting your comments on his blog and vote for his  kada-buwan ay pasko sa pamilyang OFW  entry.

A Perfect Friend

a perfect friend

you'll always be

no matter what others

judged about me

your kind and thoughtful heart

never changed from the start

a perfect friend

who's been there for me

in times of trouble

in moments of misery

your kind and thoughtful heart

never changed from the start

an ideal wife

and a mother of three (2+1 coming soon :)

the details you can read

in her blog and me

your kind and thoughtful heart

never changed from the start

for those who knows her so much

can really tell how she was loved

from seriousness to comedy

we love you multi-tasking lady

your kind and thoughtful heart

never changed from the start

even if you waived goodbye

our memory of you will never die

and when you're about to fly

please, please oh please do not cry

your kind and thoughtful heart

never changed from the start

This song/poem is dedicated to a perfect friend mami tatess

Those were the days

.My Nostalgia entry for today is an old photo ,as in old and some of you might not be born yet when it  was taken. at my grandmother's front yard in one of my summer vacation at the province.  I was  like 14 or 15 years old only here.

If you notice skinny jeans are the fashion trend that time.And yes, I have  chicken legs as my husband fondly called .I grew up with a long black shinny hair and I still remember my mom always put  tight scrunchies on my hair  before I go to school during my elementary days. I just had it cut and styled  when I was in  high school for some trendy haircut.

Visit Nostalgia  for more stories that will make you reminisce  some of the past memories of your life.

Dogs Deserve Freedom Contest

   Dogs Deserve Freedom  is having a contest called  DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers as a way of thanking the sites  Followers.

Prizes are:

First prize will be a 14 day ad on Adgitize

Second prize will be a 7 day ad on Adgitize

Third prize will be 1000 EntreCard Credits

PLEASE NOTE ** IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE FOLLOWING ADGITIZE or ENTRECARD CREDITS, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE A DOG OR CAT TOY PURCHASED AND SHIPPED TO YOUR MAILING ADDRESS **

Here's how to join:.

1. Write a post on your blog that describes this contest and links back to DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers

2. In your post, you must include the details (rules and prize list) for the contest
3. Post a comment on DDF Contest to Celebrate 200 Followers post that you are participating in the contest and supply a link to your blog post regarding your participation.
4. Add yourself as a follower if you are not one already.

Contest will end on August 14, 2010!So hurry and join.

Hobbies

It is Couples Corner   once again .This time we were talking about  hobbies ,expensive or not.Well, for me and hubby with 5 children to feed expensive hobbies are out of  our vocabulary .Our focused now is to save money  for our future life in the US and  our  little boys education.

For  6 years living in Qatar,we are happy  with just staying home together watching  some movies ,shopping once in a while and eat out whenever we want. Husband likes to go fishing but not here in Qatar so he just settle for  a fishing hobby whenever  he is on  a vacation with or without the kids.

Mine is  cooking and collecting cookbooks ,I have a whole bunch of cook books that I collected years back and a certificate and  a license  from TESDA for cooking and baking course.Take me to the bookstore and you know where to find me.

When Speaking In Filipino Becomes A Crime

By Gel Santos Relos

         

 

Kasalanan bang magsalita sa sariling wika kapag ikaw ay naninirahan na sa ibang bansa katulad ng America?

"Balitang America" reported on the case of four Filipino nurses who were fired from their jobs at a Baltimore hospital for allegedly speaking Tagalog during their lunch break. They insisted their rights were violated after Bon Secours Hospital terminated them. The Bon Secours Hospital imposed its English-only language rule last November, which covered only the emergency department, where the Filipino nurses worked.  Some hospitals impose this rule to protect patients.

However, these Kababayans said they did not get any warning and felt they had been singled out. One of them said  the termination was a bigger surprise because she worked at the human resources department as a secretary who is not at all involved with patient care.

 
Migrant Heritage Commission Executive Director Atty. Arnedo Valera  filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of the nurses before the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  Valera argued  the hospital’s imposition of the English-only rule violates the nurses’ civil rights.  “There was no business necessity, no rational justification, no direct relationship between their speaking in Tagalog and the performance of their duties.  In fact, in almost all incidents cited, they did (speak Tagalog) not while they were performing their duties, but during their break time.”   

                




These nurses believe this sets a dangerous precedent for all foreign health care staff in US hospitals.  They seek the support of nurses groups as they pursue their discrimination complaint against Bon Secours Hospital.  “We got terminated because we were talking in our native language which is unfair to all Filipino nurses and I’m making an appeal to the nurses association that with this incident, I think we need to let them know that we didn’t harm any patient when we were talking in our native language.”

This case is a classic example of one of the struggles faced by Filipinos in America. We strive hard to assimilate into American culture and society but it seems there is that special place in our heart that is and will always be Filipino.

While we pride ourselves of  being one of the few immigrant communities who can effectively communicate bilingually in both English and our native language,  English just remains to be our second language. We still think in Filipino, and our brain just translates the thoughts from Filipino to English. This can really be a complicated process because sometimes, words and phrases in our native tongue do not have a direct translation in the English language.

Even the syntax, conjugation, and idioms are totally different, making our expression in English an even more challenging task. We sometimes even find ourselves blurting out some phrases in Filipino even when we are talking to Americans. I catch my self saying, “Di ba?”..or “Talaga?”, ”Sige”…among many other words and phrases! 

For some reasons, our tongue just seems to have a mind of its own when we are in the midst of our kababayans. The use of the Filipino language just seem to come out naturally and automatically. Maybe it is because it feels so liberating not to have to translate our thoughts from Filipino to English anymore. We need not worry about the right grammar, right pronunciation, right diction and inflection. Nakakapagod din!  
Secondly, it just feels better when we speak in Filipino when talking to our kababayans because we just can express our minds and feelings better. Masarap magsalita sa sariling wikang kinagisnan at kinasanayan na natin! Maybe this is also our way of connecting and re-connecting to our roots even when we are oceans away from the Philippines!

We are fully aware that when we decided to immigrate to and work in America, we have also implicitly agreed to the need and propriety to speak in English. This is America and English is her national language.In fact, this is one of the requirements to be imposed by the proposed Immigration Reform Bill---undocumented immigrants must learn how to speak in English or they lose the pathway to citizenship.  Hard as it may be for many of us, we just have to learn how to write and speak in English in order to be more productive residents and citizens of our adoptive country.

This is just basic courtesy for other non-Filipino speaking people whom we do not want to alienate when we are so deeply into our own world as we speak in our native tongue. We ourselves feel “lost” when we approach a group in our workplace or community organization they just continue speaking in their own language or dialect despite our presence, making us think “Ako ba ang pinag-uusapan nitong mga taong ito?”.

       

This just breeds paranoia and fosters distrust among different sub-groups and cultures. Even as America is “land of the free”, a melting pot of culture where diversity is respected, it is still important that we all communicate in  one language that will help us better understand each other and "unify us all as one America".

         

We know in our hearts our compassionate, efficient nurses meant well. Rightfully so,  a Maryland labor department judge has sided with the rationale of their argument when he ruled in favor of the Filipina nurse who was denied unemployment benefits because Bon Secours stated she was dismissed for grave misconduct.  

Administrative Judge Stuart Breslow declared, “Her actions were not intended to deliberately violate the directive, but were merely an inadvertent action on her part to greet and talk to a fellow employee in their native tongue. At no time during these encounters did any discussion about a patient take place and no patient was placed at risk as a result of her actions”.  

Judge Breslow ruled that the Employer has a right to expect that its employees will follow its policies and directives. However, he pointed out that while failure to abide by the directive may be considered misconduct, the one instance where the Claimant discussed a patient with another employee in her native language and the other incidents of inadvertently greeting an employee in her native language are not found to be a deliberate and willful disregard of standards that the Employer had the right to expect.

The four Filipina nurses’ lawyer Atty. Valera said they plan to introduce the Maryland administrative court’s ruling as additional evidence in the discrimination complaint they filed last month before the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This case is but one of the many glaring examples of how Filipinos struggle and strive hard to blend in, get acculturated to their adopted country, while deep inside, their heart (and their tongue) cries,  “Aray! Pinoy pa rin ako—sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa!”.   

                 
http://gelsantosrelos.typepad.com/my-blog/2010/07/when-speaking-in-filipino-becomes-a-crime.html

Amusement Rides

My son grew up without  me beside him. I left him when he was only 4 months old to work overseas. That is why I  missed a lot of things of his growing up years  including his first amusement rides. My only  connection with him was  through pictures that my sister sends me regularly and a yearly vacation.

My eldest  with his cousins when he was only 2 years old. Both my nieces are now in college, how time flies so fast .

 

 
At Enchanted Kingdom as part of his 7th birthday celebration. Me and hubby was there to celebrate his very special day.

This is his first amusement rides at Jungle Zone, Qatar.After more than 7 years, I finally got my son.

He was 10 years old here with some Arab children  bumping cars with each others.

See  more Nostalgia  and   Mommy Moments entries

When we were sick

I am late for my couples corner entry for this week  not because I forgot about it but  for the past few days I don't feel like writing anything.  So this morning I tried again and took me hours to think of what to write about me and hubby being sick.

I hate being sick but I guess I can't get away with it anymore. My both side of the family has asthma  and my grand parents passed it on to me. So hubby makes sure that I always have my medicine with me wherever I go. During  one of our summer vacation to US he brought me to a doctor and asked for a one year prescription of singulair tablets and a discus. I also have a ventolin inhaler always ready  under my pillow and purse just in case I feel difficulty in breathing while sleeping.  But the best medicine is his hugs and kisses whenever I am sick. He always comes home every time I call him at work to take me  to the doctor.

Hubby is not a sickly person  and when he is and I ask  him how he is,  his usual answer is "don't worry ,I can leave for now".

Visit Couples Corner  to read more post.

Sweet Home Alabama

 Tuesday Couch Potato theme for this week is about Chick Flick movies..It's usually  filmed for female audience  who loves to watch  movies based on relationship.Movies that  touched our hearts and  made us feel different emotions after watching it. I actually like love stories with happy ending just like Sweet Home Alabama by  Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas.

Sophisticated Melanie Carmichael, a rising New York clothing designer suddenly finds herself engaged to the city's most eligible bachelor. But this is no fairy tale romance for Melanie. She has skeletons in her fashion-filled closet that include Jake - the backwoods husband she married in high school who refuses to divorce her. Determined to end their marriage and sever all ties with her past once and for all, Melanie returns to Alabama. But home starts to tug at her heartstrings, and what she thought she wanted may not be what she wants at all. Written by Anonymous

Click the badge for more Chick Flick movies 

Our life In Qatar- School Time

School day is over and my son is now enjoying his summer vacation playing Nintendo Ds games and surfing the net.He will be in Grade 6 next school year in the US with new school and classmates.I hope he'll get use with  the new environment schoolmates and friends.

I took this picture one foggy morning outside the school .He hates picture taking or probably just shy that his mommy was asking him to pose  for a while with some students and classmates around.The school is just a few block away from the house but it is safer if I drive him to school before I go to work.

Another foggy and cold morning .My son was wearing his P E uniform with a back pack and a plastic envelope for some of his school stuff.He was using an old  but very durable backpack ,if I am not mistaken ,I bought it from  Walmart  in 2005 as his travel bag. I actually got  him a stroller bag for the  school year but he didn't like it and ask me if he can use the old back pack instead.

For our mommy moments,this picture was taken 3 years back before we  go to work and school.

Photo ID

My nostalgia for this week is my bunso's first studio photo.It was taken when he was only 3 weeks old needed for his US passport application and Qatari ID.

The second ID picture was taken a year after, supposed to be for his Qatari  Residence ID but I found out later that his residence ID  is valid for 2 years so there is no need for a new identification card yet.

Join us at Nostalgia  every thursday. Post anything that reminds you of a place, somebody, or something such as Old pictures, souvenir from friends, family, or place that you visited, experience or story.

Husband is in Charge of the Kids!

When  I was still working before my bunso was born, I have  nights duty from 4 pm till 10 pm twice a week, my husband always takes care of kuya (eldest). He did pretty good job though, I always make sure to have the food ready before I go to work so all they need is  to heat the food in the microwave. Both of them go to  bed at 7 pm so I don't worry for my son not getting enough sleep while I'm working. I don't mind the house, I don't expect him to do the cleaning and dish washing because he too is tired from work.

When my bunso was born, I quit my job to  personally take care of him. Whenever I am  out for an hour or more,  hubby is in charge of the children  and he don't mind it but I feel sorry for my baby every time I go back home. He was crying a lot looking for me and was pissed off with his daddy. So when he was a little older, I always make sure to take him with me as much as possible and let  hubby alone in the house watching his favorite movies or tv shows while waiting for us to come home.

Check  Rodliz Nest for Couples corner .

I love your Blog Award

Thank you  ladymishel of  A Heart Full of Love  for giving me "I Love your Blog award".I am truly happy to received this.

These are the rules: 
 1.Post the award on your blog  
2.Link the person who has given you the award  
3.Pass the award to other 15 blogs you've discovered 
4.Let these 15 people know that you've given them an award.

I pass it on  to my top commentators and friends:
 1. chubskulit 

 2. Mommy Liz

 3. MelCole

 4. charmie

 5. Willa

 6. Clarissa

 7.  Vernz

 8. Manang Kim

 9. AC

10. niko

11. lina

12. Cecile

13. dhemz

14.  kiko

15. Jake

 

 

  

Closer You and I - Gino Padilla

I love this song, it feels like love is always in the air.





Hey, there's a look in your eyes
Must be love at first sight
You were just part of a dream
Nothing more so it seemed
But my love couldn't wait much longer
Just can't forget the picture of your smile
'Coz everytime I close my eyes
You come alive

The closer I get to touching you
The closer I get to loving you
Give it a time
Just a little more time
We'll be together
Every little smile
That special smile
The twinkle in your eye
In a little while
Give it a time
Just a little more time
So we can get closer
You and I

Then could I love you more
So much stronger than before
Why does it seem like a dream
So much more so it seems
I guess I found my inspiration
With just one smile, you take my breath away
So hold me close
And say you'll stay with me now

The closer I get to touching you
The closer I get to loving you
Give it a time
Just a little more time
We'll be together
Every little smile
That special smile
The twinkle in your eye
In a little while
Give it a time
Just a little more time
So we can get closer
You and I

The 15th Philippine President Inaugural Speech

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, Former President Joseph Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and members of the House, justices of the Supreme Court, members of the foreign delegations,Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, fellow colleagues in government, aking mga kababayan.
My presence here today is proof that you are my true strength. I never expected that I will be here taking my oath of office before you, as your president. I never imagined that I would be tasked with continuing the mission of my parents. I never entertained the ambition to be the symbol of hope, and to inherit the problems of our nation.
I had a simple goal in life: to be true to my parents and our country as an honorable son, a caring brother, and a good citizen.
My father offered his life so our democracy could live. My mother devoted her life to nurturing that democracy. I will dedicate my life to making our democracy reach its fullest potential: that of ensuring equality for all. My family has sacrificed much and I am willing to do this again if necessary.
Although I was born to famous parents, I know and feel the problems of ordinary citizens. We all know what it is like to have a government that plays deaf and dumb. We know what it is like to be denied justice, to be ignored by those in whom we placed our trust and tasked to become our advocates.
Have you ever been ignored by the very government you helped put in power? I have. Have you had to endure being rudely shoved aside by the siren-blaring escorts of those who love to display their position and power over you? I have, too. Have you experienced exasperation and anger at a government that instead of serving you, needs to be endured by you? So have I.
I am like you. Many of our countrymen have already voted with their feet - migrating to other countries in search of change or tranquility. They have endured hardship, risked their lives because they believe that compared to their current state here, there is more hope for them in another country, no matter how bleak it may be. In moments when I thought of only my own welfare, I also wondered - is it possible that I can find the peace and quiet that I crave in another country? Is our government beyond redemption? Has it been written that the Filipino’s lot is merely to suffer?
Today marks the end of a regime indifferent to the appeals of the people. It is not Noynoy who found a way. You are the reason why the silent suffering of the nation is about to end. This is the beginning of my burden, but if many of us will bear the cross we will lift it, no matter how heavy it is.
Through good governance in the coming years, we will lessen our problems. The destiny of the Filipino will return to its rightful place, and as each year passes, the Filipino’s problems will continue to lessen with the assurance of progress in their lives.
We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the nation.
This mandate is the social contract that we agreed upon. It is the promise I made during the campaign, which you accepted on election day.
During the campaign we said, “If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor.” That is no mere slogan for posters -- it is the defining principle that will serve as the foundation of our administration.
Our foremost duty is to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance.
The first step is to have leaders who are ethical, honest, and true public servants. I will set the example. I will strive to be a good model. I will not break the trust you have placed in me. I will ensure that this, too, will be the advocacy of my Cabinet and those who will join our government.
I do not believe that all of those who serve in our government are corrupt. In truth, the majority of them are honest. They joined government to serve and do good. Starting today, they will have the opportunity to show that they have what it takes. I am counting on them to help fight corruption within the bureaucracy.
To those who have been put in positions by unlawful means, this is my warning: we will begin earning back the trust of our people by reviewing midnight appointments. Let this serve as a warning to those who intend to continue the crooked ways that have become the norm for too long.
To our impoverished countrymen, starting today, your government will be your champion.
We will not disregard the needs of our students. We will begin by addressing the glaring shortage in classrooms and educational facilities.
Gradually, we will lessen the lack of infrastructures for transportation, tourism and trade. From now on, mediocre work will not be good enough when it comes to roads, bridges, and buildings because we will hold contractors responsible for maintaining their projects in good condition.
We will revive the emergency employment program established by former President Corazon Aquino. This will provide jobs for local communities and will help in the development of their and our economy.
We will not be the cause of your suffering or hardship. We will strengthen collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and we will fight corruption in the Bureau of Customs in order to fund our objectives for the public welfare, such as:
· Quality education, including vocational education, so that those who choose not to attend college or those who cannot afford it can find dignified livelihood;
· Improved public health services such as PhilHealth for all within three years;
· A home for every family, within safe communities.
We will strengthen the armed forces and the police, not to serve the interests of those who want to wield power with impunity, but to give added protection for ordinary folk. The armed forces and the police risk their lives daily so that the nation can live in peace and security. The population has doubled and yet their numbers remain unchanged. It is not right that those who make sacrifices are treated pitifully.
If there was a fertilizer scam in the past, today there will be security for farmers. We will help them with irrigation, extension services, and marketing their products at the best possible prices.
We are directing Secretary Alcala to set up trading centers that will directly link farmers and consumers thereby eliminating middlemen and opportunities for corruption. In this way, funds can be shared by farmers and consumers. We will make our country attractive to investors. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance to business. This is the only means by which we can provide jobs for our people.
Our goal is to create jobs at home so that there will be no need to look for employment abroad. However, as we work towards that end, I am ordering the DFA, POEA, OWWA, and other relevant agencies to be even more responsive to the needs and welfare of our overseas Filipino workers.
We will strengthen the process of consultation and feedback. We will strive to uphold the constitutional right of citizens to information on matters of public concern.
We relived the spirit of people power during the campaign. Let it take us to good and effective governance. Those who believe in people power put the welfare of others before their own.
I can forgive those who did me wrong but I have no right to forgive those who abused our people.
To those who talk about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. When we allow crimes to go unpunished, we give consent to their occurring over and over again. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.
We are also happy to inform you the acceptance of Chief Justice Hilario Davide of the challenge of strengthening and heading a Truth Commission that will shed light on many unanswered issues that continue to haunt our country.
My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflict, inclusive of the interests of all -- may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.
We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. With proper governance life will improve for all. When we are all living well, who will want to go back to living under oppression?
If I have all of you by my side, we will be able to build a nation in which there will be equality of opportunity, because each of us fulfilled our duties and responsibilities equally.
After the elections, you proved that it is the people who wield power in this country.
This is what democracy means. It is the foundation of our unity. We campaigned for change. Because of this, the Filipino stands tall once more. We are all part of a nation that can begin to dream again.
To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.
We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”
Today, I am inviting you to pledge to yourselves and to our people. No one shall be left behind.
No more junkets, no more senseless spending. No more turning back on pledges made during the campaign, whether today or in the coming challenges that will confront us over the next six years. No more influence-peddling, no more patronage politics, no more stealing. No more sirens, no more short cuts, no more bribes. It is time for us to work together once more.
We are here today because we stood together and believed in hope. We had no resources to campaign other than our common faith in the inherent goodness of the Filipino.
The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. To those among you who are still undecided about sharing the common burden I have only one question: Are you going to quit now that we have won?
You are the boss so I cannot ignore your orders. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to your needs and aspirations.
You are the ones who brought me here - our volunteers - old, young, celebrity, ordinary folks who went around the country to campaign for change; my household help who provided for all my personal needs; my family, friends, colleagues at work, who shared, cared, and gave their support; my lawyers who stayed all hours to guard my votes and make sure they were counted; and the millions of Filipinos who prevailed, kept faith, and never lost hope - I offer my heartfelt gratitude.
I will not be able to face my parents and you who have brought me here if do not fulfill the promises I made.
My parents sought nothing less, died for nothing less, than democracy and peace. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.
My hope is that when I leave office, everyone can say that we have traveled far on the right path, and that we are able to bequeath a better future to the next generation. Join me in continuing this fight for change.
Thank you and long live the Filipino people!