A Girl’s Notebook :)

In the midst of the happy seasons that we have right now, it’s so sad to think that our fellow Filipino who lives near Mayon Volcano will be spending their Christmas in different evacuation centers. As of this writing, alert level number 4 has been raised with regard to Mayon Volcano. It means that any moment, Mayon Volcano will erupt. It’s good to know that Albay’s local government are working pretty hard to obtain zero casualty. Being an animal lover, I am glad to hear that even the animals, which are within the 10-km danger zone, are moved to a safer place.

Mayon Volcano

Aerial view of Mayon Volcano

I know that that this is a natural calamity that only Bro can stop. But, in case that the eruption push through, let us pray together that it will only cause minimal damage.

I pray for the people who lives in that area to be strong. That in spite of the this life’s challenge, they would remain faithful to God and let His light be their hope, our hope and guide.

Ciao!

I watched the finale of Dyosa last night. Dyosa(Goddess) is a fantaserye being aired on ABS-CBN on primetime. The final episode of Dyosa showed that in the end of all battles, evil will always be defeated by good. And, as I  Corinthian 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

The truthful love of Adonis for Josephine paved way in defeating his evil father, Tadaklan. The purest love of a mother shown by Sinukuan to her daughter, Josephine. That even though she is in her wicked sister’s body, Magayon, that didn’t stop her in giving Josephine a motherly love.

The picture shows Anne Curtis as Dyosa Tierra. She chants “Lika limpera timpera ciera tierra!” to transform her to Dyosa Tierra(Goddess of the Earth). The other picture is Sam Milby as Prinsipe Adonis of Kasamian. He is the son of Tadaklan, the head of Kasamyans.

At the end of the story, Adonis vanished when he was hit by sun’s rays at sunrise. Josephine cried as she witnessed Adonis being shattered by sun’s light. She was still in agony when Amang Suga told her that she needs to be crowned as “Dyosa” sooner. Her coronation as Dyosa was a success.

Since, the first rule of being a goddess is not to fall in love, Mars opted to leave Kabanua and return to Earth as a human being. He asked Josephine to erase all the memories and thoughts he has about Kabanua and all the things that had happened.

This one shows Anne as Dyosa Cielo. She uttered “Bambun dumarum kalyedun ciera cielo!” to turn her into Dyosa Cielo (Goddess of the Heavens). Beside her is Zanjoe Marudo as Mars. He was the son of Marsian. A Kabanua who chose to live in the world of mortals and marry an ordinary woman.

Josephine then accompanied Kulas as he goes back to the sea. They bid goodbye to each other. As Kulas, is on his way home to the bottom of the sea, he met a mermaid who looked like Josephine. Her name is Perlas.

This is Anne as Dyosa Agua. The incantation to morph her into Dyosa Agua (Goddess of the Seas) is “Lama rameda marina domena ciera agua!“. Beside Dyosa Agua is Kulas/Barakula played by Luis Manzano. He was a gibut(merman) who was assigned as the Guardian of Dyosa. He is also the childhood friend of Josephine(Anne).

Magayon died as punishment for all the wickedness she did, while Diana lost her sanity.

I was really moved by what Josephine said before the story comes to an end. It is true that everyone of us is capable of being a goddess. We should not forget that we are all responsible in taking care of our home.

We are all accountable to whatever happens to our sea, air and land. If we look around us, we’ll find an unusual cold weather that we experience today. The worldwide natural disasters remind us people to take care of our home, Earth.

I can say that Dyosa is the best fantaserye ever produced. Congrats to Anne Curtis and the rest of the cast of “Dyosa”.

Himig ng Pag-ibig

Sa pagsapit ng dilim ako’y naghihintay pa rin
sa iyong maagang pagdating
‘pagkat ako’y nabablisa ‘pag di ka kapiling
bawat sandali’y mahalaga sa atin

tulad ng ibong malaya ang pag-ibig natin
tulad ng langit na kay sarap marating
ang bawat tibok ng puso’y kay sarap damhin
tulad ng himig na kay sarap awitin
nanana nanana…

at ngayon ikaw ay nagbalik sa aking piling
luha ng pag-ibig kay sarap haplusin
tulad ng tubig sa batis hinahagkan ng hangin
pag-ibig ang ilaw sa buhay natin, ooh ooh
nanana nanana…

tulad ng ibong malaya ang pag-ibig natin
tulad ng langit na kay sarap marating
ang bawat tibok ng puso’y kay sarap damhin
tulad ng himig ng pag-ibig natin
nanana nanana…

tulad ng ibong malaya ang pag-ibig natin
tulad ng langit na kay sarap marating
ang bawat tibok ng puso’y kay sarap damhin
tulad ng himig ng pag-ibig
nanana nanana…

Mistletoe has been a part of Christmas ornaments and decorations. Though we have mistletoe decor at home, we don’t usually hang it by the door. I guess, mistletoe has been famous because of a custom. I have heard a lot of stories, that if a male and a female where caught under a mistletoe, they are obliged to kiss each other and would actually end up with each other.

I searched the net to check the origins of this custom. As always, wikipedia came in handy:

According to a custom of Christmas cheer, any male and female who meet under a hanging of mistletoe are obliged to kiss. The custom is of Scandinavian origin. It was the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day.” This ancient Scandinavian custom led to the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.^“

 

It is a sweet and funny tradition. But then do you know that, mistletoe is actually a poisonous plant?

Mistletoe is the common name for a group of hemi-parasitic plants in the order Santalales that grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub. Parasitism evolved only nine times in the plant kingdom;[1] of those, the parasitic mistletoe habit has evolved independently five times: Misodendraceae, Loranthaceae, Santalaceae (formerly considered the separate family Eremolepidaceae), and Santalaceae (formerly treated as the separate family Viscaceae). Although Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae were placed in a broadly-defined Santalaceae by Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 2, they originated independently, according to DNA sequences analysed by Dan Nickrent, Southern Illinois University.

The word ‘mistletoe’ is of uncertain etymology; it may be related to German Mist, for dung and Tang for branch, but Old English mistel was also used for basil.

Mistletoe is a poisonous plant that causes acute gastrointestinal problems including stomach pain, and diarrhea along with low pulse.  (Wikipedia)

Well, mistletoe will always be part of our Christmas decorations. Who knows, that the person you will kiss under the mistletoe is your one true love.

When I arrived at home from the grocery store, my youngest sister told me something to blog on. She said that there will be a meteor shower in the early mornings of November 18. According to news, Leonids meteor shower will occur between 2AM-5AM of November 18.

We love star gazing. In fact, at my age, I still make a wish whenever I see a falling star! My cousin Joy said that we can stay awake up to 2AM. They are really excited to watch the Leonids meteor shower. Well, since my work starts at 4AM, I am already awake at around 3AM. I thought I will be able to witness the shower, but for some reasons I woke up late today and didn’t have the time to give even 5 minutes to stare at the dark sky. Too bad :(  I even prepared my binoculars the night before so I would be ready to see a spectacular meteor shower.

Since I wasn’t able to see the said meteor shower, I just did a google search about it.  The most remarkable shower or storm associated with Leonids was the 1833 shower in Alabama which made a great effects in the people who witnessed it then.

The most famous depiction of the 1833 meteor storm actually produced in 1889 for the Adventist book Bible Readings for the Home Circle based on a first-person account of the 1833 storm by a minister, Joseph Harvey Waggoner on his way from Florida to New Orleans. (Source Wikipedia)

The Leonids meteor shower was discovered on the nights of Nov. 12-13, 1833. Many people thought that it was judgement day already. The shower was called Leonids for thousands of meteors come from the constellation Leo.

 Leonids at Niagara Falls in 1833

In my life, I really haven’t seen a “meteor shower” like the one above. Though I have seen couples of shooting stars but not actually a shower.

Well, there’s one more meteor shower that I can catch. It will be the Geminids meteor shower which will happen sometime on December 13-14. I guess I will be lucky enough to watch the glowing stars fall from the sky. Meteors will emanate from the constellation Gemini which happens to be my birth sign

Ney texted me yesterday about the big project that they would have in Pagbilao. Simply hearing the news, I am so delighted to know about this project that ney will be supervise and manage. Believe me it is going to be a big project. I am happy for ney. He’s on the right track again. We have had so many fights in the past weeks and I am happy that everything is slowly going back to their proper places.

Ney is so excited to start the project which will take place sometime between the last week of November and 1st week of December. Actually at this moment, ney is in Pagbilao and touring around the site. 

I did a search about this place in Pagbilao. I am really caught between ney and mother nature. I know all along what the project is all about. I know that it is another Coal Power plant. They will also build ship port within it and will have road widening as well. What I don’t know is the harmful effect that this type of power plant will give to nature. I have read an article that sometime in May, 2008, there was a protest againsts this company and as what I have understand this “nature matter” has been raised to Senate already.  

I really felt bad, knowing that ney will lead a team to build another coal power plant that might give off a bad climate change in the country and in the world.

I remember that ney and I have discussed environmental aspects about this company before. He said that it is true that there have been so many protests against this coal power plant, yet these are all been resolved.

I don’t want to be “nega” to ney. For this project underwent a bidding process. And he is really excited about this project.

But then, I hope that our government will be firm in ensuring that this company follows environmental measures to protect our environment.  

It is just a few days to go before Halloween and I remember something that I wanted to share you. Well, this is not something to scare you but simply to inform you. I am not sure if you have seen a flower or the plant called Lady of the Night. It is a plant that has a thick leaves and it bears flowers once a month only.

But here’s the freaky part. The plant was called Lady of the Night for it flowers opens in full bloom when 12 midnight strikes. And, if you want to see its beauty and admire its scent, you really need to wait for 12AM. Why? For after 12, its beauty and scent will fade. The house we stayed in Taytay, Rizal had this plant.

Tales said that where these plants grow, there is a “lady” who takes care of it. Hmmm.. The place where we lived for 3 years in Rizal was said to be a “garbage pill” for salvaged people before it has been developed to a subdivision. My mother said that there are really unseen elements living in there. One of neighbors there said that Mr. Licauco has visited that place already and according to him, there is a barangay of unseen elements living there with people.

In the house we stayed, there is actually “something” there who is living with us. I guess up to this day they stay there. But my aunt and her family who now stays at that house doesn’t mind them anymore. Well I have my own creepy experience there, which happened about 7 years ago, I would just post it some other time.

As for now, let’s just admire the beauty of Lady of the Night. This is the picture of it, which I have found.

I bought a Fortune plant about a few months ago. I have always wanted to have one of these plants not only because it is said to a fortunate one, but also because I love plants. Since we don’t have enough space in the place we’re living, we don’t have any yards to grow plants, I opted to at least one of these.

One day, on my way from work, there is a woman selling these plants. It cost PhP 20 for 3 stalks. I also bought a simple vase for my plant and the magic jelly. I bought the magic jelly at SM Megamall, with my best friend Daisy for my fortune plant as well.

I have read articles that fortune plants originated from Chinese. These plants will bring good luck to the person who owns it. That is when you plant it and it lives then fortune will comes to you, but if it dies, it will be the other way around.

Well, for me having the fortune plant brings me fortune not because of the tale behind it but because the energy it gives and the happiness it brings every time I look at it. :) I believe that fortune comes to those who have positive outlook in life. That inspite of all life’s challenges, a person has to stay strong and optimistic about life.

My fortune plants up close!

When I was in grade school, we used to study different flowers and its parts. I remembered I often asked my mother to buy some flowers which I would bring to school for our experiment. Then, one of the flowers my mom brought home one day, is Doña Aurora. She said that the flower was named after the wife of President Quezon.

As I looked back the old days, I thought that if Doña Aurora was named after Aurora Aragon Quezon, then it is possible that there are other hybrids developed for other Philippine First ladies. Just as I thought, here they are:

Doña Hilaria

(Named after the first wife of Gen. Emilio Agoncillo, Hilaria del Rosario)

Doña Aurora

(Named after the wife of President Manuel Quezon, Aurora Aragon)

Doña Pacencia

(Named after the wife of President Jose P. Laurel, Pacencia Hidalgo)

Doña Esperanza

(Named after the second wife of President Sergio Osmeña, Esperanza Limjap)

Doña Trining

(Named after the wife of President Manuel Roxas, Trinidad de Leon)

Doña Alicia

(Named after the wife of President Elpidio Quirino, Alicia Syquia)

Doña Luz

(Named after the wife of President Ramon Magsaysay, Luz Banzon)

Doña Leonila

(Named after the wife of President Carlos P. Garcia, Leonila Dimataga)

Doña Evangelina

(Named after the second wife of President Diosdado Macapagal, Evangelina Macaraeg)

Doña Imelda

(Named after the wife of President Marcos, Imelda Romualdez)

Doña Cory

That flower was named after the first lady president of the Philippines, President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino. She’s the wife of the brave late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

Doña Amelita

(Named after the wife of President Fidel V. Ramos, Amelita Martinez)

Looking at these flowers I wonder why there isn’t any “doña” named after the wife of the President Joseph Ejercito and the current president, Gloria Arroyo.. Hmmm, I really wonder why?!?

Well, next time you came across with any of the doñas above, you know now whom they were named after to. FYI!

I have posted sometime in July, the Philippines’ nominees for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. And as of today, the current ranking is:

1) Puerto Princesa Subterranean River and National Park (Philippines – Asia)

2) Halong Bay ( Vietnam – Asia)

3) Cox’s Bazar Beach (Bangladesh – Asia)

4) Chocolate Hills (Philippines – Asia)

5) Tubbataha Reef (Philippines – Asia)

6) Al-hasa Oasis (Saudi Arabia – Asia)

7) Ganges, River ( Bangladesh, India- Asia)

Looking at the figures above, I am happy to know that the Philippines has been blessed with wonderful environment that Filipinos must learn to value and to take care of.

The voting will last continue through July 7, 2009. But only national nominee per country who will have the most number of votes by December 31, 2008 will be eligible to proceed to 2009.

Cast your votes now! Click here.

Just a few minutes ago, we had experienced a 5-second shake. I hope this is not a prologue to the predicted July 18 earthquake. We were watching Pinoy Dream Academy then at around 8:15PM, we felt our sofa swaying. As if me and baby are on a hammock. It’s not only me who felt that but my sister who’s working on something on our PC and my mother who was cooking adobo. It was really scary.

It was just about 5 seconds. I’m not sure if our neighbors felt it. Let’s all pray for everybody’s safety. Let’s pray and ask for forgiveness. I hope that God will be merciful and hear all our prayers.

God bless everybody. God bless the Philippines. God bless the world.

This morning, I visited www.new7wonders.com to check the rank of the Puerto Princesa’s  Subterranean River which is nominated to be one of New Seven Wonders of Nature. As of this writing, it is rank 5. My friend Kristine was able to visit the place already when she went to Palawan last year(I think..). She said that it is really a wonder of nature.

Got these pictures from Kristine’s friendster. She said that she really enjoyed the trip.

That is Tin and Neil.

 She said this is the entrance to the Underground river.

This is the only stalactite she was able to take a shot. It is called Puso ng Saging.

 On their way out.

They also met there this resident bayawak.

 Aside from Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean River, the Philippines has other nominees for New Seven Wonders of Nature.

CHOCOLATE HILLS in BOHOL is also a nominee. It is rank 4, currently.

The Chocolate Hills during summer. Looks like Kisses! It is spread over the municipalities of Carmen, Sagbayan and Batuan, the Chocolate Hills is the province’s signature attraction. It consists of approximately 1,268 hay cock hills with heights ranging from 40 to 120 meters. Formed centuries ago by tidal movements, the hills are considered as a National Geologic Movement.  Two of the highest hills have been developed and provided with facilities such as a restaurant, hostel and view deck.

Another pride of the Philppines is the TUBBATAHA REEF.

It’s current ranking is 2. It is an atoll coral reef  located in the Sulu Sea. The name ‘Tubbataha’ is the Samal word for “long reef exposed at low tide”. Samals are seafaring people of the Sulu Sea and are one of the few people who have accessed the Park in early1980’s. Cagayanen people who are more geographically associated with Tubbataha Reefs referred the Park as ‘gusong’.

I found these pictures from the www.tubbataha.org which is the official website of tubbataha reefs.

MAYON VOLCANO which is said to be a perfect cone is also a nominee of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. It is currently rank 9. It is located in the Legazpi, Albay.

 My mother was able to visit the Cagsawa church ruins. She said that in the pictures, the Cagsawa tower seems too close to the volcano, but it’s actually kilometers (even miles) away from the volcano.

  A shot taken during Mayon Volcano’s eruption.

I found this very old photograph of the then Cagsawa Church before the volcano’s eruption some decades ago.

These are the Philippines pride in the New Seven Wonders of Nature. I think the above natural wonders are not the only wonders that our counrty has. If we’ll tour around our country, you’ll find out that the above nominees are just a few of the beautiful sites our coutry is being proud of. I believe that we Filipinos are responsible in keeping these natural wonders stay as they are.

The votings for the nominees is until December 31, 2008. Just click here to vote for our prides.

Happy Voting!  

when i was a kid, i used to wonder what is it at the end of the rainbow.. is it really pot of gold? is it the bridge that connects the real world and a fairy land? will i ever touch the beautiful rainbow?

rainbow really makes me feel good by simply looking at it..as i grow older,  i learned different things about rainbow..

I checked on www.wikipedia.com and rainbow is defined as an optical and meteorological phenomena that cause a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth’s atmosphere. They take the form of a multicoloured arc, with red on the outer part of the arch and violet on the inner section of the arch. More rarely, a secondary rainbow is seen, which is a second, fainter arc, outside the primary arc, with colours in the opposite order, that is, with violet on the outside and red on the inside.

Science has so much explanation on how a rainbow is formed. What elements are responsible in forming a rainbow. it even explained that a rainbow has different variations.

Amidst all these science explanations, what really made me feel happy looking at rainbow is that,  God made the rainbow as a sign that He will never send heavy rains and big floods which perished the land during the time of Noah.. 

Hope you enjoy looking at rainbows as well..

 Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.