I’m might come back to the world of blogging, but I wouldn’t be updating as much as I have been updating the past months. There’s a lot of things I’ve learned, a lot of things I’d like to share, and a lot of things I’d like to talk about. 

But anyway, I just got my life back. I spend less hours on the computer and more hours with the real and living world. I’ve realized that there are so many things I’ve missed when spending hours and hours in front of the computer. That’s just for today, ta-ta for now.

                I could still remember those tormenting months I had when my mom and I used to have a feud. Our fight really made a drastic change in my life - it was actually a catastrophe. I have neglected my studies and my responsibilities; I’ve lost myself and almost lost my faith. It didn’t only affect my life, but the lives of those who cared for me as well. It really made a deep cut into my heart that I thought it would be impossible to heal. But those events made my life more meaningful, it made me see the real beauty of a simple yet complicated life. It made me stronger than I was before. And lastly, it made me learn how to forgive.

            Where I am and what I’ve become right now is all because of the things that happened in my past and with the help of our good Lord. Perhaps, I’ve lost a lot, I’ve lost too much. Yet, I have gained something that will always be with me and will never be taken away from me… That is having the courage and will to forgive the ones who once hurt me inside.

            It wasn’t easy, but I did. Forgiveness made my heart feel light as a feather floating in the open air. It was indeed an enlivening and wonderful feeling.

            Past is past as the cliché goes, but the past shouldn’t be forgotten because it molded me in to what I am today. The scars are still visible, nonetheless, my heart is happy and wound-free. Those traces of a bitter yesterday will always be there to remind me of the things that happened along my journey. Those scars are there to show me how strong I’ve become, how I’ve handled the trials that were given to me, and how I’ve managed not to give up and keep going even when everything is getting tougher each day. 

            My past gave me a positive outlook of life. These painful events made me a better and stronger person. These bitter-sweet memories that I have will always remain in me as I cherish the time I call today.

            The year is about to end. A few hours from now will be the start of 2008. Will I have a fresh start? Of course…yes. My heart is free from resentment, and I’ve yielded all the burdens inside me. Nothing beats the feeling of having a happy heart to start a new year.

            Have a happy new year everyone! I hope each and every one of us will have a fruitful and blessed year ahead of us. ^_^

    Months ago I was already anticipating for the opening of the widespread news of a park which is made through the initiative of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The park was said to cost 72 million pesos. The big amount that buzzed into my ear made me become so eager to visit the park once it is finished. 72 million pesos is indeed a lot for me, thus, I am really expecting a lot from the park.

    The park had its soft opening last December 15, 2007. But it was just a few days ago when I had the chance to visit the park because I’m really busy.

    But anyway, I’m really impressed with how the park looked like. The landscapes, Kublai Millan’s sculptures, the pathways, the trees, the fountain, the ambiance which is very suitable for family picnics, jogging, tripping with your cliques, or just sitting by the bench reading a book or the latest news… everything is so beautiful. It really went beyond my expectations.

    The park is teeming with people from all walks of life coming from different places, coming from all ages. The park is always jam-packed, hordes and hordes of people come even until midnight, but now matter how crowded it is, I’m amazed how well they kept the cleanliness and orderliness inside. Well of course, the park is equipped with surveillance cameras not to invade one’s privacy but to prevent illicit and unlawful activities done inside.

    I just hope we’ll be able to maintain and preserve the park, or else we’ll be seeing another Magsaysay park on the rise.

     These past few days, I have attended a lot of Christmas parties, outings, and almost all the fun you can name under the sun. Fun is just everywhere!  But what really made me feel light and happy was when we were able to help a poor, depressed, and marginalized community.

     Yes, it was at first only a requirement. The COPAR (Community Organizing Participatory Action Research) is a social development approach that aims to transform the apathetic, individualistic and voiceless poor into dynamic, participatory and politically responsive community (definition taken from my notes). It is part of our (BS-Nursing) curriculum, so whether we like it or not, we have no choice but to comply with it.

    At first we detested it, because in each duty we go home dirty and muddy, we are exhausted walking under the scorching heat of the sun from one house to another (the houses are very far from each other).

    But somewhere along the way, something nudged our hearts that urged us to help the community even without being obliged. We were able to extend help that is beyond the course description. Aside from the vital health teachings that we imparted to them, we were able to help the community renovate and beautify their unsightly, wrecked and abandoned “Purok”. Yay! We became carpenters, gardeners, and painters for a while - for the rich kiddos like some of my group mates, it was indeed an accomplishment. I know it’s not actually a big thing. But seeing the glee on their faces when we offered help, made us very happy.

    The community’s feedback to us is so elating and invigorating. They love us and they really appreciated our prodigious efforts. Wow, nothing beats the feeling of being able to help and reach out to other people. 

    This is why I love the nursing profession very much because it is NOT LIMITED only in the medical field. NURSES are so FLEXIBLE and VERSATILE that even outside the clinical area, we can still make ourselves USEFUL and PRODUCTIVE.

I got this forwarded message from my email, warning us to be aware of such scams. Whether it is true or just a hoax (albeit it’s a good one), there’s no harm being careful right? We don’t want our hard-earned cash be put to waste for our slipshoddiness.

Forwarded by Marivic L Ramos/Bppc on 12/05/2007 08:12 AM

We may already have heard about this scam many times before, but sometimes we forget and need to be reminded, especially this coming Christmas season.

I was withdrawing last Saturday, Nov 17 10pm at a Bank of Commerce ATM near McDonald’s corner Pasong Tamo and Gil Puyat in Makati. There seemed nothing wrong with the ATM but no cash came out of the machine. I automatically thought it was just a machine error and that my account was debited because when I checked my balance, it was deducted by the amount I was supposed to withdraw.

But since I wanted to be sure and I needed cash, I waited for a few more seconds and carefully checked where the cash should come out. I noticed a light blue steel bar where the cash dispenser should be and looked underneath it. There was no outlet where the cash should come out. Suddenly remembering the ATM scams I’ve heard about, and now feeling sure that that bar shouldn’t be there, I took a photo of it then tried removing it fromthe machine. It had to take a lot of effort but when I finally got the bar off, I was surprised to see my money caught in the bar with black glue (probably put inside the bar to keep the cash from going back to the machine). See attached photo.

So please, please carefully check the ATMs you use and as much as possible withdraw only during daytime, or on guarded ATMs to avoid being scammed. Please forward this to as many people as possible to warn them.

This is IMPORTANT to look out for!

Bank ATM’s Converted to Steal IDs of Bank Customers

A team of organized criminals are installing equipment on legitimate bank ATM’s in at least 2 regions to steal both the ATM card number and the PIN. The team sits nearby in a car receiving the information transmitted wirelessly over weekends and evenings from equipment they install on the front of the ATM (see photos). If you see an attachment like this, do not use the ATM and report it immediately to the bank using the 800 number or phone on the front of the ATM.

The equipment used to capture your ATM card number and PIN are cleverly disguised to look like normal ATM equipment. A “skimmer” is mounted to the front of the normal ATM card slot that reads the ATM card number and transmits it to the criminals sitting in a nearby car.

At the same time, a wireless camera is disguised to look like a leaflet holder and is mounted in a position to view ATM PIN entries.

The thieves copy the cards and use the PIN numbers to withdraw thousands from many accounts in a very short time directly from the bank ATM.

Equipment being installed on front of existing bank card slot.

The equipment as it appears installed over the normal ATM bank slot.

The PIN reading camera being installed on the ATM is housed in an innocent looking leaflet enclosure.

The camera shown installed and ready to capture PIN’s by looking down on the keypad as you enter your PIN
—————

I’m pretty sure there are still other methods of scamming other people through these ATMs. Being AWARE and extra CAREFUL are our only weapons to combat this heist.

When withdrawing via ATM:
1.) As stated above, withdraw during the daytime, preferably before the bank closes;
2.) Better withdraw on ATMs just situated outside the bank – you can immediately consult on the bank if an unknown error occurs;
3.) Avoid withdrawing on Sundays – Banks are closed;
4.) When using an ATM, be aware of anything that looks unusual, especially at the card slot and cash dispenser. If you suspect it has been tampered with, report it immediately to the bank or a local police near you.

Again, there’ll be no harm done for being careful and cautious.
BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

Just another friendly reminder from a ranting little brat. ^_^

       Have you ever had an experience when you found yourself in a place that’s mysteriously spooky? Or have you felt something strange that send shivers down your spine when alone in an unfamiliar place? Or have you seen something out of the ordinary, eerie and sinister perhaps? 

       I for one honestly do not believe in bizarre ghost stories or in any of the tales of the uncanny encounters with the supernatural. I have heard a lot of such tales in different places, in different versions from different people, and I couldn’t tell whether they are true or just a product of one’s wild and creative mind.  Those stories whether they’re true or not, remained just a tell-tale for me, not until I experienced quite a few myself.

       Although I haven’t seen any, not even one in their own form, perhaps there’s really an existence beyond the natural world. I know it because I’ve felt them, they’ve touched me, and they’ve even put me in a near death experience. 

       I have this experience one time (I really don’t remember the exact date), all I know is that it was already very late. My boyfriend was walking me home. We’re supposed to ride a tricycle, but we decided to walk since the village is only a kilometer or two away from the highway. So we went past the bystanders, the houses, and finally we were walking along the darkest part of the road, it was all surrounded only by trees and there was not even one street light on sight. I suddenly felt strange; it’s not scary but it’s outlandish - it’s the first time I felt very unusual. I was beginning to feel dizzy. I felt there is something that’s encompassing my entire body and it really feels heavy. I am also feeling weak. I asked my boyfriend if he felt the same way, and he said yes. He asked me to be quiet and we’ll just talk about it later, and told me to look straight to where we are heading (which happens to look blurry) or else we’ll get lost. After the dark path I see houses and lights clearly. I felt that was a long walk. I felt light and normal again. Then we began conversing about the supernatural and the unknown, because that was likely what we have experienced. But still, I was in doubt with the paranormal, because there’s nothing really very extraordinary that happened that night. 

       My next encounter was around August 2005, during our out-of-town duty at Tagum, Davao del Norte. A number of transient boarding houses are lined up just in front of the hospital. All houses cost 100 pesos per night, except one. There was one house that charges only 80 pesos per night, and it has all the same features as those of the other houses – nice and clean bathroom, comfy beds, air-conditioned rooms, and cable tv. Without hesitance we chose that house, not even wondering why it is cheaper among all the houses that surrounded it.

       Our first night didn’t go well. It was actually one of my classmate’s birthday and we celebrated it with ice cream and chips. There was black out but we decided not to put up a candle since the moon is shining bright outside, just enough to see each other’s faces and not bump at anyone or any furniture. After the small party, two of my friends (Jay and Ian**) and I went to the sink to wash the utensils. Amidst our laughter and smirks, Jay saw Jenny heading towards the comfort rooms. “Isugang  Jenny  oi, di man mahadlok sa ngitngit”, (That’s very brave of Jenny to go into the dark) remarked Ian. The fact that Jenny is one of the most scaredy cats in our group, I was amazingly surprised. I looked back to see if it’s true. And there I saw her going straight to the comfort rooms showing no signs of emotion. The moon was able to give us enough light to see Jenny’s blank stares and pale face. It was pretty surprising at first, but it was even more surprising when we saw Jenny laughing and talking with my other group mates at the balcony. How can there be two Jennys at the same time? In disbelief, I stared at the first Jenny who was still walking in a slow pace along the dark corridors of the comfort rooms and I can actually see her. I wasn’t the only one to see such thing. The incident left the three of us speechless… without a word, we joined our friends’ circle.

       That wasn’t the only time we had an experience on the same boarding house. We stayed there for three nights, three long nights. Almost every one of us experienced getting locked up inside the comfort room, there’s not even a doorknob on the door. A few of the boys experienced a cold hand grabbing their feet during their sleep, at first they thought it was just a group mate who’s playing a prank and later on realized that everyone is fast asleep. All of us have witnessed the weeping wall that even soaked the bed against it. I know, we are staying in an air-conditioned room, but the fact that the wall was dripping water intensely on just one side of the room, we can’t conclude that it’s just a moist.

       After all the peculiar events that happened, we tried to ask the management about it, and all they can reply is that we might just be hallucinating or just drunk because most students tend to have a beer-drinking spree inside the house. Unconvinced by their words, we seek for the answer outside. We asked one barbecue vendor just across the street, he said that nobody attempted to bless the house because it was believed to be a portal of spirits. We also asked other people around, and they all give the same answer, “taw-an man na dira.” (Spirits dwell there) We also learned about the suicide incident of a student that happened a few years ago, inside the bathroom of the said boarding house. 

       I don’t know if I have to believe the folks’ answers, I’m still in doubt of the phenomena that happened to us, for me it’s just something that we can’t explain. And it remains inexplicable, just that. 

       I also had one encounter with my friends during a climb at Puting Bato, Samal Island. We we’re already camping out that night, we were cooking our dinner when suddenly a black shadow-like figure scurried across the campsite and jumped off at the end of the cliff. I haven’t seen it clearly because it ran so fast that my eyes weren’t able to catch the whole and clear figure, what I’ve only seen is that it’s a black silhouette of a person but the feet has no definite figure. All of us were not able to sleep a minute, thinking that there might be a lot of them surrounding us. The horror of being ambushed inside our tents kept us awake until morning.Up until now, we really don’t know what exactly that was. People said that we may be referring to an Agta*. But I highly doubt it, if it was just an ethnic person, no one in his right mind would jump off a high cliff in the dark.

       My last encounter was during the summer of 2006. My friends decided that we’ll do something different, beaches and parties aside - we’ll venture into the wild. So we trekked our way to Tudaya Waterfalls. As we were trekking, we were also laughing, shouting and goofing around. Our leader, who was on his 13^th time to trek Tudaya kept on reminding us to keep our voices low or else we’ll be disturbing others. I never thought that the others he is talking about is actually the “others” as most people perceive it.

       It was already getting dark and it was drizzling. At some point we reached a dead-end trail. Have we missed a trail? Did we fail to see there’s a trail down somewhere? A fellow climber went back and pointed down that the trail was hidden, so we went back trail.  Seeing another fellow taking the shortcut, I followed him although I’m around three meters away from the path he’s walking. Suddenly somebody slapped my back really hard that it threw me a few meters away. I landed on a fellow’s arm, who was also almost carried away because of the very strong impact. He startlingly asked, “Naunsa ka?” (What happened to you?) My heart was thumping really fast when I saw that right in front of me was a deep cliff and the rocky ground was just waiting for my fall. Good thing he was fast enough to catch me - If it wasn’t for my friend’s arm I would have gone six feet below the ground. I was so furious, so in a loud and angry voice I shouted “Gago!” because I thought that it was just a fellow who was playing around. “Sakit to ba. Pota hapit ko matagak!” (That hurts, Damnit! I almost fell) But when I looked behind, I was taken aback when I saw that no one was following me. A friend then pointed out an enormous balete tree that I failed to see where I was passing by. Although I was still reluctant for the belief of the supernatural, without a doubt I immediately asked for an apology. “Sorry, sorry wala gituyo.”  (I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you). During the entire trek, I can still feel the pain at my back and it lasted for a few days. I know I have a small physique but I am not a paperweight, not one slap can throw me away that far I couldn’t even estimate, it was indeed a very strong force that slapped me.

       I wasn’t the only one who experienced something unnatural during the trek. A lot of us have witnessed a fellow mountaineer greeting someone we don’t even see, but he assured that he really saw a lady. One by one, we were already sharing our spine-chilling experiences during the trek at the campsite, well, it’s the only place we feel safe.

       So far, those were the creepiest experiences I have in my entire life. To see is to believe they say. Will I believe there’s an existence beyond the natural world even though I haven’t seen them? Or shall I just regard my experiences as a figment of my imagination? Are my experiences out of the ordinary? Or does science have an explanation to it? If the natural and the supernatural co-exist, what is their purpose? Do they feel they same way towards us? A lot of questions still linger in my mind. Questions I know I’ll never find the answer because its nature is a mystery and it will always remain a mystery.

——

This is not a work of my imaginative mind, the events that happened are all real.
*Agta-referred as an ethnic group. They are dark-skinned, kinky-haired, pug-nosed, and thick-lipped people with a height less than five feet tall
**Names mentioned above are all fictional. I chose not to reveal my friends’ real names for confidential reasons.
Image from http://www.professorfringe.com/aurora_opening2.jpg

For this holiday season, I got a nice tag from my fellow blogger Lolli.
So here it is MY GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS WISH:

1. Good health and blessings for my loving family especially my dad who is away from us, for my dearie Ranz who gave me a reason to end each tough day with a smile, for my friends who have always been there for me, for my enemies who taught me how to be stronger in a positive way, and for random people who somehow touched my life even without knowing it;

2. Be free from resentment and heavy emotional baggage. Have the heart to forgive those who hurt me. Included are the people who don’t seem to know the way to the road of healing, may they find forgiveness in their hearts;

3. Prosperity and courage to those who shed sweat and tears, especially those who are working away from their families and who tried to endure each tormenting day without a single glimpse of their love ones;

4. Patience for everyone – the beginning of World Peace;

5. And enlightenment to the people who no longer know what Christmas is truly all about.

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Now I’m passing this tag to Ranz, Island Angel, and Teebob
and by the way, anyone is welcome to use this tag

   Just by reading the title, I know you know what I will be talking about. Perhaps the title itself will prompt you to click the red x on the upper right corner of your screen.

    I know, I know… this is boring and clichéd. No matter how banal this kind of topic can be, the fact that we REALLY DON’T BOTHER minding matters like this at all, I guess we need a bit of poking… come to think of it, maybe a light reading can lighten up our hearts especially that Christmas is in the air.

    The cold December breeze is once again coming our way, the gradual charge of wind suddenly turned people surprisingly generous or should I say big cash burners. We all think of Christmas as a magical time of the year where we rush and hurry shopping for gifts to give our love ones and for ourselves as well, we eat, drink and party like there’s no tomorrow, then we gain a few extra pounds, and as expected, we tend to become nicer and be more positive in any way. This season is the reason why families gather, friends reunite, and enemies reconcile. It’s actually the most wonderful time of the year because it is the only time when we can have all the fun and spend a whole lot of money without being guilty at all.

    Christmas is truly a season to be jolly. Well of course, it is the time we get our bonuses for December. It is during Christmas when malls get crowded and offer big discounts on almost all the items we desire. An enticing array of fancy stuff inside the window panes are everywhere, and we don’t hesitate taking out our thinning wallets. As a result, cash registers are endlessly singing the merriest Christmas jingle.

    The lighted streets, raucous parties, and shopping sprees blinded almost every one of us to see the true spirit of Christmas. We fail to remember that our white Christmases began in a poor and dirty manger.

    Christmas is more than just the fancy and well decorated Christmas trees, more than just the feast set before our tables, or more than just the expensive gifts we await to give and receive. Christmas isn’t found in the in the glittery balls nor in the impressive launch of fireworks at night. Christmas isn’t only the time we celebrate Christ’s birth, but it is the time we EMULATE HIS HUMBLENESS and LOVE.

    Perhaps, one of the best way to celebrate this season is to SHARE OUR BLESSINGS to the poor. Remember, Christ isn’t found in parties or crowded malls. The forgotten manger is found among our less fortunate brothers and sisters. And just by giving out a little help to them, we find Christ within us.

    We don’t have to be rich or influential to serve and reach out for the needy. A single book, or clothing, or a toy we give can lighten up a child’s gloomy face. A single bread or cracker can at least alleviate one’s starving stomach. Even in our own little way, we are able to do BIG things, EXTRA-ORDINARY things that enable us to see and feel the true spirit of Christmas.

    Let’s make Santa Claus real, let’s bring the little santas within us to life. Let’s all share our blessings and GIVE LOVE not just on Christmas day but EVERYDAY!

    I’m not trying to be impressive here nor I’m trying to be goody two-shoes, it’s just that some thought cracked inside my mind when I saw a kid sleeping underneath a Christmas tree on the street the other day. It was such a heartrending sight. That picture really moved me, it made me think of doing something different this season.

    Christmas is in the air, may we all find the true meaning of Christmas deep within our hearts. HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

    I am on a morning shift duty at the emergency room of a certain hospital. Everything went quite well this morning until I came back after my lunch break (rarely happens in ER). Everyone was already scurrying, the room explodes with activity as more and more patients are rushing in. Of course, it is to be expected in an emergency room.

    Just the way I love it. Perhaps working in 911 or Emergency room would be my option next to working as an OR Nurse. Operating Room is strictly clean, disinfected and sterile, a room which is very contradictory to the Emergency Room where you’ll find all the disgusting stuff. Not just blood, but stools, phlegm, vomit and discharges all in different colors and smell.

    I swear I could sit next to a bloody open corpse and still eat my lunch. I could even stare at the sight of a hanging eyeball without blinking. I could examine a person’s bloody abdomen with his gut coming out. I could look at anything gross, but the smell I couldn’t take it.

    The horrid smell inside the ER has the ability to pass through layers and layers of the mask I’m wearing - makes me really sick. Nobody likes the smell of urine. Nobody likes the smell of a poop. Nobody likes the smell of a mouth that gives out a horrendous breath. Nobody likes the smell of someone who hasn’t bathed for a week. Nobody likes the smell of a decaying wound that smells like a rotten egg. It really makes me sick.

    That’s ER. It’s perfectly normal. I need to have a stronger stomach to endure all of these day by day.

    Yet, no matter how sickening the emergency room can be, I still love what I’m doing. The vigor, thrill, teamwork and the aim to save lives is what persists to drive my daily passion for this kind of profession. Each patient I met is different and the knowledge needed to care for every new patient is something I know I will be learning better through time and experience.