July 28, 2006

Once upon a time in Singapore, there lived a happy couple, Mr & Mrs Ng with their 3 lovely triplet daughters; Elaine, Ena & Ella.

The 3 daughters were brought up in a prim-and-proper fashion and when they reached 20,  their parents thought it was time to get them married.

So, the parents found them the most suitable "leng chais" (handsome guys).

They got married and were preparing to set-off on their honeymoon.

As "concerned" (more like "kay-poh") parents, Mr & Mrs Ng were curious about their daughters’ first-night experience. So, before the daughters went on their respective honeymoons, Mrs Ng told them……

"Your father and I want to know about your 1st night encounters
and whether you were satisfied. Write a letter to us, but so as not to
raise your husbands’ curiosity… you all must use a code-name to
describe your experiences".

So, the excited daughters were off.

A week passed. Mr & Mrs Ng got the first letter. It was from Elaine. They opened the letter and found the word "STANDARD CHARTERED". They immediately took the newspaper and looked for the Standard Chartered advertisement. "Ah! here it is!", exclaimed Mr. Ng. The motto for Standard Chartered was…. "BIG, STRONG & FRIENDLY" Mr & Mrs. Ng were happy.

A week later, they got another letter. This time it was from Ena. The content was simple. "NESCAFE". So, again they took the neswpaper and looked for the Nescafe ad. "Ah! here it is. "NESCAFE: PLEASURE TILL THE LAST DROP". Again, Mr & Mrs Ng beamed with joy.

Another week passed. A month passed. And another. There was still no letter from Ella. The Ngs became worried. Finally, the letter came.It was scribbled and could hardly be read, but Mrs. Ng managed to figure it out. The code-name was "SINGAPORE AIRLINES". Why Singapore Airlines? Mr.Ng rushed to the nearest store and got a newspaper. He flipped the pages frantically. "Ah! Here it is!" Mrs.Ng grabbed the page and read aloud.

Before she could finish .THUMP!!!…she fell off her chair. The motto was…

"7 TIMES A WEEK. 4 TO 6 TIMES A DAY. NON-STOP."

Full Text of PGMA’s 2006 SONA

Full Text of PGMA’s 2006 SONA
Posted on Monday 24 July 2006
State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 3rd Regular Session of the 13th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines
24 July 2006

Thank you.

Thank you, Speaker de Venecia. Congratulations, Senate President Manny Villar; Vice-President Noli de Castro; President Ramos; Chief Justice Panganiban; Members of the diplomatic corps; Senators; Congressmen and Congresswomen; Other officials, ladies and gentlemen.

Sa araw na ito, nakatuon ang isip natin sa ating mga kababayan sa Lebanon. Nasa kuko sila ngayon ng malagim na paglala ng digmaan. Kahapon lamang, sinalubong natin ang unang dalawang-daang Pilipinong lumikas doon. Limang-daan pa ang mauuwi natin sa susunod na apat na araw.

Sa ating mga OFW, tunay kayong mga bagong bayani. Sa inyong paglilingkod sa pamilya, sa ating bayan at sa Diyos, maraming salamat.

Sa ating mga kababayan, a journey of a thousand miles does not begin with a single step. It starts with the first step, with gathering the means to complete it successfully. Those means are now at hand.

To my friends in Congress who, in the face of grave political consequences, championed and passed some of the most severe and critical fiscal reforms to save our economy, maraming salamat. You are the true friends of the Filipino people. For the real challenge has never been to blame but to fix what is wrong in our country and our economy.

Dahil sa inyo, sa wakas may pondo na tayo, hindi lamang para ibayad sa interes, kundi para sa edukasyon, mas mabuting tulay at kalsada, pagbigay kalinga sa kalusugan at higit na trabaho sa ating bansa. Now, we have the money to pay down our debt and to build up our country.

To the civil servants who rose to the challenge of turning a weakening economy to a strong republic, through more vigorous tax collection and more vigilant action against corruption, maraming salamat. We have achieved record revenue collections. We are lining up corrupt officials to face the consequences of their misdeeds. And finally earned the respect of the international community as a serious and viable state for our fiscal discipline and billions of pesos in annual interest savings that are now going into necessary public investments.

To our men and women in the armed services, the huge and deep core of your loyalty has earned the nation’s accolade. The few mutineers have been condemned by the people. They and their partisan cohorts and funders are being brought to justice. Sa nakararaming kawal at pulis na nagtaguyod ng watawat at Saligang Batas, maraming salamat.

And at a time when we must each, as individuals and as communities, take greater responsibility, our local government officials man the frontline of change: change for greater accountability, for better service and more responsiveness to their constituents. Sa inyong lahat, mga local government officials, maraming salamat.

Higit sa lahat, salamat sa sambayanang Pilipino, para sa inyong mga sakripisyo, sa inyong tiyaga, for believing, in the face of the greatest hardships, in our ability to surmount the obstacles to the future you deserve; you who have resisted persistent if not pathetic calls for despair instead of faith, for anarchy instead of harmony, salamat, salamat, taus- pusong pasasalamat.

So I stand before you today to deliver a state of the nation that is focused on what the people want; the people want to know the plan to put us on the path to prosperity.

I am not here to talk about politics; I am here to talk about what the people want; details on the state of the nation and what their government is doing to make progress every single day.

Sama-sama nating isusulong ang bansa patungo sa kinabukasang nagniningning.

Gaya ng nakikita sa graph na ito, dahil sa ating reporma sa ekonomiya, we now have the funds to address social inequity and economic disparity. Too many … masyadong marami, ang mamamayang nagugutom. Hindi ako hihinto hanggang magtagumpay ang ating laban sa kahirapan.

We now have the funds to stamp out terrorism and lawless violence.

May pondo na tayo para labanan ang katiwalian.

Our reforms have earned us P1 billion from the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account for more investigators, prosecutors, and new technology to fight corruption. We are matching this with another billion from our fiscal savings.

We now have the funds for constitutional and electoral changes. Sa kasalukuyang sistema, napakabagal ng proseso, at bukas sa labis na pagtutunggali, at sikil ang lalawigan at mamamayan sa paghahari ng Imperial Manila. Panahon nang ibalik ang kapangyarihan sa taumbayan at lalawigan. For surely, there must be a better way to do politics, so that those who lose elections do not make the country pay for their frustrated ambitions. There must be a better way so that those who win the nation’s mandate to govern can work without delay and whimsical obstruction. There must be a better way.

Meanwhile, now we can fund the Medium Term Public Investment Program.
Sumusulong na ang ating plano na may tatlong yugto. Una, ang makaahon sa mga dekada ng utang at kapos ng pondo. Nagawa na natin ito. Ikalawang yugto, ang pagbabalik sa taumbayan ang mas malaking kita ng pamahalaan: upang makapagpundar ng kalinga sa kalusugan, edukasyon at trabaho na kailangang-kailangan ng mamamayan. Ginagawa na rin natin ito. And finally, Phase Three: to invest in the natural advantages and natural resources of each section of our nation so that when harnessed together, the major economic regions of the nation are larger than the sum of its parts.

We will enhance the competitive advantage of the natural “super regions-”of-the-Philippines: the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, Mindanao and the Cyber Corridor.

In North Luzon, we will prioritize agribusiness investments. The agricultural and fisheries potential of the Cordilleras, Ilocandia, and Cagayan Valley can feed Luzon affordably. And nearness to North Asia holds the rich promise of agricultural exports and tourism.

My father built the Halsema Highway from Baguio to Bontoc, and the Bagabag airport in Nueva Vizcaya to access the Ifugao rice terraces, which by the way, the UNESCO has recently praised for the way we have carried out our heritage preservation policy. We have rehabilitated the Baguio to Mount Data leg of the highway and the rest of Halsema will now follow. We will upgrade the Bagabag airport and build a new one in Lallo, Cagayan, which will connect to Cordillera by upgrading the Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road.

Sa Tabuk, Kalinga, noong Abril, tumanggap ng titulo sa lupa ang ilang matatanda, pagkatapos nilang naghintay ng dalawampung taon mula noong napirmahan ang Mount Data Accord ng gobyerno at ng Cordillera People’s Liberation Army. May isang matanda, suot ang lumang uniporme ng CPLA. Pumila, hila-hila ang isang binatilyo. Sabi niya, “This is not for me but for him.” Agad inab?o?t ang titulo sa apo. Narito ngayon si Ginoong Ama Balunggay at ang kaniyang apo si Jacob.

And our post-harvest support shall continue, like the cold chain that we set up in 2004 for La Trinidad, Benguet under Mayor Nestor Fongwan. It consisted of a refrigerated storage facility and refrigerated trucks to deliver vegetables to Metro Manila. Nais kong tumaas ang kita ng mga magsasaka, at ang ina ng bawat tahanan ay makabili ng mura at sariwang gulay para sa kaniyang mga anak.

So that the people will know how well their money is spent, Benguet and its towns of Bakun, Bokod and Itogon have rolled out the new electronic government accounting system in their jurisdictions.

If Ifugao was able to cut its poverty in half in the first three years of our administration, from 56 to 28%, congratulations. We hope that through these programs, the other provinces can replicate the success of Ifugao. Hangad nating dumami ang mga taga-Cordillera sa mga propesyon na tinitingalaan ng bayan, gaya ng mga abogadong gaya nina Maurice Domogan at Romeo Brawner. Ibig din nating makapaghanda ang Cordillera sa awtonomiya pagdating ng pederalismo, ayon nawa sa pagbabago ng Saligang Batas.

Sa Dagupan, inilunsad na ng mga kolehiyo gaya ng Northwestern Lyceum University and ladderized system of education. Sa ganitong sistema, magagamit sa unibersidad and mga kursong kinuha sa vocational school at ang karanasan sa trabaho.

We will expand President Ramos’ flagship San Roque Multipurpose Dam with the massive Agno River Project. Another major project is the Banaoang Irrigation. We allocate P200 million a month for small irrigation projects like those in the flood control plan of the Region II Development Council headed by Bishop Ramon Villena. Plus another P200 million a month for farm to market roads.

Also in the works is an international airport in Poro, La Union and the improvement of the two airports in Batanes as recommended by Governor Vic Gato. Ilocos Sur will have a seaport in Salomague while the Cagayan Zone Authority will better the one in Port Irene.

To save dollars, windmills in Batanes and Ilocos Norte turn megawinds into megawatts. When Army Commander Romy Tolentino was North Luzon commander, he became a soldier-farmer, planting jatropha as yet another alternative fuel.

The Metro Luzon Urban Beltway spans most of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mindoro and Marinduque. It must be a globally competitive urban, industrial and services center, because it produces more than half of the country’s GDP.

To be world-class we invest in five comprehensive strategies for global competitiveness:
1. Make food plentiful and affordable to keep our labor cost globally competitive.
2. Reduce the cost of electricity to make our factories regionally competitive.
3. Modernize infrastructure at least cost to efficiently transport goods and people.
4. Mobilize, upgrade and disseminate knowledge and technologies for productivity.
5. Reduce red tape in all agencies to cut business costs.

The most prohibitive red tape is in our outmoded Constitution. We need Constitutional change to bring our rules of investment into the new millennium

The new public bidding process has been shortened to 45 days for infrastructure, and 26 days for supplies, as of today. Even before this, Metro Manila firms paying bribes for public contracts declined from 57% in 2003 to 46 today. Congratulations, Metro Manila

Machine readable electronic passports will enhance the credibility of Philippine travel documents, improve the mobility and increase the prospects of Philippine business and labor.

Legitimate mobility is hampered by human trafficking. Through the support of the USAID, we have convicted human traffickers with the Tongco spouses who were sentenced in a Quezon City court last December. These accomplishments removed us from the from the priority anti-trafficking watchlist.

To lower power costs we introduced the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market last month. Let’s give it a chance to work. And we would like big power consumers like electronics, our number one exports, to avail of lower power rates from the National Power Corporation. On coco-biodiesel, we now have enough capacity for the proposed 1% blend just waiting to be passed into law.

The Subic-Clark corridor is on its way to a competitive international logistics center. This will be my legacy to my cabalens, jointly with Lito and Mark Lapid, Rey Aquino, Ana Bondoc, Blue Boy Nepomuceno, my son Mikey and Tarzan Lazatin. We jumpstarted it with giant investments in the Subic Seaport, the Clark Airport, and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

And to bring the beltway to the west we will connect the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Road to Dingalan Port through Nueva Ecija, and the Marikina- Infanta Road to the port of Real.

Upang ibsan ang pagod ng mga empleyadong namamasahe sa trapiko sa Kalakhang Maynila, mangangapital tayo sa mga expressway at tren.

We will have a continuous highway from Clark to Metro Manila to Batangas Port. Tapo?s na iyong expressway mula Clark hanggang Maynila.. Sa ngayon wala nang isang oras ang biyahe mula Clark hanggang Monumento. Ngayon iiwasan natin ang trapiko mula Monumento, dahil idudugtong natin ang North Expressway sa C-5. Tutulong si Sonny Belmonte sa right-of-way. Ang C-5 naman ay konektado na sa South Luzon Expressway. Ang South Luzon Expressway ay pinapalapad naman hanggang Calamba. Sa Agosto, pahahabain ito hanggang Batangas. We will also build the Coastal Road to Bacoor, which has become urban under Jesse Castillo.

Pagdurugtungin natin ang MRT at LRT mula Monumento hanggang North EDSA upang mabuo ang biyahe paikot sa Kamaynilaan, at maibsan ang trapik. We will construct the Northrail to Clark and the Southrail to Lucena and on to Bicol, and upgrade the link between them. We will also extend the LRT to Bacoor. Sa pagbilis ng biyahe patungo at palabaas ng Metro Manila, makakatira ang manggagawa sa mas mura at maaliwalas na lalawigan.

Maayos na ang kapaligiran sa riles ng tren sa South Superhighway. Masaya ang mga pamilyang hinatid namin ni Vice President Noli de Castro sa kanilang bago at permanenteng relokasyon. Teddy Boy Locsin said it hadn’t been done before, and couldn’t be done at all. Well, Teddy?

Ngayon gagawin ito sa Maynila, si Lito Atienza ang bahala.

We thank China for agreeing to fund these housing needs. Huwaran ng ating programang pabahay para sa mahihirap ang mga proyekto ng Iglesia ni Kristo at Gawad Kalinga.

Ngunit kapos sa tubig ang mga taga-West Zone ng Kamaynilaan. Kaya bibigyan natin ng prayoridad hindi lamang ang edukasyon, koryente, enerhiya at kalusugan, kundi tubig din. We are setting up a 300 million liters per day pumping station for Muntinlupa, Las Pinas and Paranaque.

We will build a roll-on-roll-roll-off port system to link Lucena, Quezon to Boac, Marinduque, like the Batangas-Mindoro RORO.

Sa ganitong mga proyekto, palalakasin natin ang ekonomiya ng mga barangay at lalawigan. And we will end the long oppression of barangays by rebel terrorists who kill without qualms, even their own. Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa buka?ng-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.

In the harshest possible terms I condemn political killings. We together stopped judicial executions with the abolition of the death penalty. We urge witnesses to come forward. Together we will stop extrajudicial executions.

Central Philippines has the competitive edge in tourism in its natural wonders and the extraordinary hospitality of its people. The area sweeps across Palawan and Romblon, the Visayas and Bicol, plus the northern Mindanao islands of Camiguin, Siargao and Dapitan. Topbilled by Boracay, Cebu, Bohol and Palawan, it attracts more than half of the foreign tourists to the Philippines. It is also the center of geothermal power in the country, which we continue to develop.

The priority here is tourism investments. Coming soon for superstar Boracay are an instrument landing system for the Kalibo airport and a P3 billion private investment in a San Jose, Romblon airport, plus good roads to spillover destinations all over Panay.

In Cebu, Gwen Garcia is constructing a world-class convention center for the ASEAN and East Asian Summits in December.

Helping our infrastructure upgrading, is the fall in bribery for public sector contracts in Metro Cebu, from 62% of companies in 2004 to 47 today. Congratulations to Cardinal Vidal for shepherding his flock and to Metro Cebu Mayors Osmena, Ouano and Fernandez, and Metro Cebu representatives del Mar, Cuenco, Gullas and Soon-Ruiz.

Bohol became a destination distinct from Cebu since it defeated the terrorist insurgency with community initiatives led by the power tandem of Rico Aumentado and General Johnny Gomez, now the NCR Commander. It now merits its own international airport, just as our country deserves a world-class Constitution strongly supported by Governor Aumentado and the league of local authorities.

Tourism in Palawan requires the upgrading of the airports of Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, San Vicente ( hometown of Congressman Alvarez that’s why he’s clapping) and the building of a new one in Balabac; as well as a continuous road backbone from El Nido to Bataraza.

We will lengthen the Dumaguete runway for tourism as well as electronics. Valencia, Oriental Negros could attract semiconductor firms with power rates subsidized by the geothermal field of Palimpinon. Negros will also advance energy independence with ethanol projects in San Carlos City and Tamlang Valley, once the biofuel law is passed. (You have done your part, Migs)

We will serve Guimaras by the airport being built in Santa Barbara, Iloilo and by a new RORO port in Sibunag. We will link Sipalay via Silay airport funded by the national government and Kabankalan airport being built by its local government. Thank you.

For Bicol’s whalesharks, beaches and, of course, Mount Mayon, we have started acquiring the right of way for an international airport in Daraga, Albay. We will provide the means to the perfect surfs of the Pacific by upgrading the airports of Siargao, Guiuan and Tacloban.

We will widen the road to Dakak in Dapitan, and RORO will connect Siquijor to Santander, Cebu; Camiguin to Jagna, Bohol; Ubay, Bohol to Maasin, Southern Leyte, for diving in Limasawa.

We will bring Masbate and Biliran into the RORO Eastern Nautical Highway from Surigao through Leyte through Naval and Maripipi in Biliran through Esperanza, Aroroy and Burias Island in Masbate and on to Bicol. The much-awaited 10-megawatt generator set arrived in Masbate last Saturday. It is ready to power up the province before the end of the month.

Camiguin, Romblon and Camarines Norte got out of the list of poorest provinces in 2003. With tourism these provinces can become rich.

Also winning the war against poverty and calamity, undaunted by unimaginable catastrophe, the valiant people of Southern Leyte, under the leadership of Rosette Lerias and Oging Mercado (our Rudy Guliani) are rebuilding the lives of Saint Bernard and San Francisco from their tragic mudslides. Yesterday, I asked the Japanese government to help Southern Leyte implement an integrated management approach to deal with their critical ecosystem, like the one the World Bank has approved for the Bicol River Basin.

Mindanao is our priority for agribusiness investments in the south. Mindanao is mostly fertile and largely typhoon-free, exporting coconut products and high value crops, and from its waters come 40% of the country’s fish catch. Our investment priorities mirror those for North Luzon, and more because Mindanao has the poorest regions and poorest provinces and because we have to spend on a logistics system linking it to the north.

In 2003 we introduced the RORO from Zamboanga del Norte through Negros, Panay and Mindoro to Batangas. This system has slashed travel time from Mindanao to Luzon from 36 hours to 24 hours, and freight cost by 30 percent, so crucial to food shipments. Now we will develop more routes like the one from Cagayan de Oro through Camiguin, Bohol, Cebu and Masbate to Bicol, the Central Nautical Highway.

Also in 2003, Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Tawitawi registered double-digit declines in poverty incidence from the year 2000. Congratulations.

Kitang-kita ang pag-ibayo ng mga isla ng Sulu, Basilan at Tawi-Tawi. Nagbukas ang Jollibee sa Basilan. The Balikatan exercises with the United States, combined with the US GEM program and other donor-assisted projects, have no doubt contributed to this.

Sa Sulu, isang araw ng Mayo, umuulan, nagwakas ang isang mahabang pagtutunggali nang pumasok ang mga kawal at sibilyan sa Kampong Bitan-ag sa Panamao na hawak ng mga rebelde. Nagyakapan at nagkamayan ang dalawang panig. Dahil sa matinding pagnanais para sa kapayapaan ni Marine General Ben Dolorfino, naganap ang pagkakasundo. Gayon natapos ang isang madugong kabanata. Congratulations, General Ben Dolorfino.

Susi sa anumang pag-ibayo ang malakas na suporta at ma-abilidad na liderato ng pamahalaang local. Halimbawa, iyong “from arms to farms” ni Governor Ben Loong ng Sulu, with his caravan of tractors literally invading former rebel camps in his province. Congratulations.

Mahigit isang linggong nakaraan, dumating sa “Eleven Islands” ang daan-daang rebeldeng at kanilang pamilya, sa pamumuno ng dating MNLF Commander na si Aribari Samson. Dito sa mga pulo? na kilalang “no man’s island,” dati nagtatago ang mga rebelde at criminal. Ngayon sa tulong ng isang programa ng United Nations, nagtayo tayo ng dalawang daang tahanan at panibagong buhay para sa pangkat ni Samson. Thank you for giving peace a chance. Congratulations, Commander Samson.

I take this occasion to express our gratitude to the donor community from the US, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the European Union, Australia, Japan, our ASEAN neighbors, the multilaterals and the rest of the world. Thank you for helping us in our peace process.

If we can harness the forces of good in our nation, the positive force at work here at home and those from abroad such as the US, Malaysia, the OIC and others, we shall prevail in Mindanao with a peace agreement that brings freedom and hope to all Filipinos. With this peace, we would reap dividends in resources invested in agribusiness, not aggression, to build up, not tear down, the Philippine south.

Among the possible peace dividends would be pro-poor road projects like the Siocon-Sirawai-Sibuco-Baligyan Road in Zamboanga del Norte; the Lebak to Maguindanao which Sim Datumanong started when he was Secretary of Public Works; the Dinagat Island road network in Surigao Del Norte; the Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan barangay road in Agusan del Sur; the Pangil Bay Bridge; and the Surigao-Davao Road, which we want to be as beautiful as the Bukidnon Highway completed during the administration of Joe Zubiri and the term of Migs Zubiri.

Mindanao’s number one export, coconuts, has been growing continuously for the last three years, at the rate of 10% a year. The coconut farmers deserve a portion of the peace dividend. I invite Congress and the Bishops-Ulama-Priests-Pastors-Farmer-Lumad Conference led by Archbishop Fernando Capalla to help me ensure their rightful share.

On top of peace and investment, progress also demands good governance. I congratulate Donkoy Emano for the drop in reports of corruption for public contracts in Cagayan de Oro from 65% of firms last year to 38 this year. Also Rudy Duterte and the other leaders of Metro Davao led by Majority Leader Boy Nograles for a similar drop, 57% last year to 49 now. Things are coming together for Mindanao, a prelude to their readiness for eventual federalism.

The Cyber Corridor will boost telecommunications, technology and education. The corridor runs the length of all the super regions, from Baguio to Cebu to Davao. The cities of Davao, Tagum and Samal Island Garden all operate electronic government accounting systems. There are many wings now to the corridor because enterprising local executives like L-Ray Villafuerte and Jerry Trenas have aggressively attracted call centers to their jurisdictions (Congratulations, Jerry) In this corridor, the English and information and communication technology skills of the youth give them a competitive edge in call centers and other business process outsourcing.

In 2001, in this hall, we hailed ICT as a key growth sector. So we built up telecommunications infrastructure and opened the market for Internet phone calls. Today international calls cost 6 cents a minute, down from 40 cents. From 2,000 BPO workers in 2001, we now have 200,000.

I had coffee with some call center agents last Labor Day. Lyn, a new college graduate, told me, “Now I don’t have to leave the country in order for me to help my family. Salamat po.” I was so touched, Lyn by your comments. With these structural reforms, we not only found jobs, but kept families intact. Thank God, I thought, or someone might also try to impeach me for violating Article 15 of the Constitution on the solidarity of the family as the foundation of the nation.

As Louie Villafuerte argues, to step into the future, a country that wants to be a player in the global economy needs bold and well-funded research and development initiatives of its own. To this end, we will continuously increase the budget for science and technology, and education. For in today’s global economy, knowledge is the greatest creator of wealth.

In summary, I named only a few priorities to illustrate that on many fronts, your government is working, and working well. Our economy is now growing over the longest period in the last quarter-century: 22 consecutive quarters of growth. Umakyat ng mahigit tatlumpung porsyento ang kita ng pinakamahihirap na pamilya sa unang tatlong taon ng ating panunungkulan, at bumaba ang dami ng maralita sa 25% ng mga pamilya, mula 28%, katumbas ng dalawang milyong katao na lumaya sa kahirapan. According to Thornton and Punongbayan, 70% of medium-sized business owners are optimistic, the fifth most optimistic among 30 countries, just behind India, Ireland, South Africa and China.

Bickering in politics may delay, but not derail the initiatives that need to be taken on our pro-poor, pro-growth, and pro-peace agenda. Regardless of the fate of the national budget, we must automate our election process. Local governments must get their rightful share of revenues. I ask Congress to pass a supplemental budget to effect this.

We are a great people. We have honest students and honest cops. We have scaled the heights of Mount Everest, dominated the Southeast Asian games, we have won international beauty titles, and of course punched our way to triumph in the boxing world. Our people compete and win every day in every imaginable job throughout the world. Individually, we’ve taken the world on and won; together, we must take on the challenge of creating a new, peaceful, humane and competitive nation and prevail.

For those who want to pick up old fights, we’re game but what a waste of time. Why not join hands instead? Join hands in the biggest challenge of all, where we all win or we all lose: the battle for the survival and progress of our one and only country.

After three years, eleven months, and six days, I shall relinquish the Presidency, with much if not all that I have outlined completed. I do not want it said then that, in the end, I defeated my enemies. I would rather have it said that all of us, you and I, friends and foes today, achieved together a country progressive, prosperous and united.

Thank you. Mabuhay!

 

 

Kalingawi

KONSEHAL: Paki acknowledge c Mayor. Late dumating, hayun kararaan lang!
PEDRO (Emcee): I WUD LYK TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LATE MAYOR HU JUST PASSED AWAY..

conductor: sibog² gamay kay molarga nata, kanang imong anak noy..sabaka nalang na.
Amahan: Nabuang na! nisakay gani mi kay nagdali, sa BAKA na hinoon nimo pasakayon.

CORRECT PRONOUNCIATION
ANAK: Tay, paliti ko bi ug Jucyfruwet
TATAY: anak, dili magbinulok, dili man na jucyfruwet
ANAK: unsa man diay na tay??
TATAY: BAGOLBAM…

Sa Hospital…
Doktor: Mrs, kinahanglan na jud samentuhon ang tiil sa imong anak! grabe na ang diperensya!
Mrs: Hala oi! mga pila kaha ka sako dok kay palit na ko hardware? Karon dayon aron mauga na ugma.
Anak: Nay oi! pakauwaw ra man ka! sagulan pa gani ug balas!
Doktor: ayaw kalimti ang hollow block ha!!

APO UG LOLO
APO: Lo, ngano nag kaang2x man kag lakaw?
LOLO: aw, ayaw nagud ni pansina apo oi
APO: ngano lagi na lo?
LOLO: ingon mn gud sa akong doktor na likayan ang itlog kay taas ug kolesterol

EMPLEYADO: boss, namatay naman atong manager pwede ako mu puli sa iyang pwesto?
BOSS: pwede man, ………………….pero amobot kung musugot ang funenaria

HUBOG
usaka hubog nakakita ug madre sa dalan
iya kining gisumbag, gi tadjakan, gibalibag
bugbug sarado intawon ang madre
mikatawa ang hubog ug mi ingon:
" WA MAN DIAY KAY PULUS BATMAN!"

MOTHER: Anak! nagdugo imong tudlo! ari diri be kay ato supsupon! tsup..tsup.. O wala na. Asa man ka nasamad anak?
ANAK: Wala man ko masamad MA oi! Gipisat man nako ang KUTO sa IRO.

Bungi Gitahi sa Doctor Tapos Gitistingan pa pronounce.
DOCTOR: Cge e pronounce daw LUZON VISAYAS MINDANAO,
BUNGI: LUKOT , PASAYAN, BULINAO.
DOCTOR: naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! MITAMOOT….

Bungi niuli sa ila ug gitabunan niya ang mata  sa iyang asawa..
BUNGI: Nges hu??
ASAWA: Pa - nges hu nges hu pa ka dira ikaw ray bungi dinhi sa atong balay..

PEDRO: puslan walay gamahal maypa MAGPAKAMATAY!
ug c pedro ni dive sa SUBA
few minutes later………
NITUNGHA ug nisulti: WAAAAAAHHHH!dili ko kaginhawa. MURA KO UG MAMATAY!

ANAK: Nay,,nag tambling tambling gud me sa skul ganina..
NANAY: Di ba ingon man ko ayaw pag tambling tambling kay makita imo panty?
ANAK: Gisulod man naku sa Bag ako Panty Nay..

Tulo ka kumare ang nag-istorya.
Mare1: Sus, ako mare pwerte gyud nako ka limtanon kay ang akong pustiso ako mang isud sa ref.
Mare2: Ay wala ra ka nako mare. Mas limtanon pa ko nimo kay kon moagi gani ko sa hagdan, inig abot nako sa tunga-tunga makalimot ko kon pasaka ba ko o panaog.
Mare3: (Dang pangyam-id) Sus, ako mga mare, simbako lang gyud(dang tuktok sa bungbong as in ‘knock-on-wood’ effect) di ra gyud pod ko intawon limtanon! (Dayong talikod) Kadyot usamga mare ha, kay ako usang ablihan ang pultahan kay naay nanuktok.

Anak: nay buntis ko.. lipong ko..
Nay: dili ka buntis!
Anak: kasukaon ko nay..
Nay: dli lgi ka buntis!
Anak: gus2 ko aslum..
Nay: animal kang bayota ka!! kumu2on ko nang itlog mo ron!!

Laki: Kuhaon ko ang mga bitoon og ihatag ko kanimo.
Babae: saba diha! wa man gali ka kakuha anang kugmo gatambisay sa imong ilong…
Laki: AW! sorry day ha..wala man gud ko nasayod nga gusto sad ka ani…..

BABAE: ka gwapo sa pari, unsa man akong buhaton para mapansin sa pari?
Ahhh, akong ibutang ning panty naku sa lamesa.
PARI: kinsa nang pante diri sa lamesa?
BABAE: ako padre
PARI: naay tae gamay.

Osa ka pirata gi interview sa reporter.
Reporter: Nganong imong pikas tiil kahoy man?
Pirata: Ah, naigo ni sa bala unya giputul giilisan na lang ug kahoy.
Reporter: Imong toong kamot naa may hook?
Pirata: Ah, naputol ni sa espada diha nga duna kuy kaaway.
Reporter: Unya imong pikas mata duna man nai itum nga tabon? (eye patch).
Pirata: Ah, naithan ni ug langgam unya nabuta.
Reporter: Ha? Makabuta diay nang iti sa langgam?
Pirata: Gilugud man gud nako sa akong toong kamut.

July 21, 2006

Kung si Superman, di tinatablan ng kahit ano kundi kryptonite lamang, pano kaya siya tinuly? Kryptonite na gunting? O di kaya supot pa siya?

Ah wat da punk!

PINOY LINGO

1. aspect - pantusok ng yelo

2. backlog - bacon saka egg

3. beehive - magpakatino ka

4. cdrom - tingnan mo ang kwarto

5. city - bago mag-utso

6. cattle - doon nakatila ang hali at leyna

7. debug - ang ipis

8. dedicated - pinatay ang pusa

9. deduct - ang pato

10. defeat - ang paa

11. defense - ang bakod

12. defer - ang balahibo

13. deflate - ang plato

14. defrag - ang palaka

15. delusion - e di maluwag

16. depends - (see defense)

17. deposit - ang gripo

18. depress - nagkasal sa persuading (see persuading)

19. detail - ang buntot

20. detest - ang eksamin

21. devalue - ‘yon ang susunod sa letrang ‘V’

22. devastation - ‘dun sasakay ng bus

23. devote - ang boto

24. dilemma - brownout, a!

25. effort - ‘dun nagla-land ang efflane

26. forums - apat na kwarto

27. it depends - kainin mo ang bakod

28. july - nagsinungaling ka ba?

29. statue - ikaw ba ‘yan?

30. protestant - tindahan ng prutas.

31. predicate - pakawalan mo ang pusa

32. profit - patunayan mo

33. persuading - unang kasal

34. tenacious - sinusuot sa paa

35. thesis - ito ay

36. torpedo - takot manligaw

37. zoology - ang sayans ng pagtatahi

God is like..

July 10, 2006

SHIT memo to all employees

July 8, 2006

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well-trained through our program of Special High Intensity Training [S.H.I.T.].

We are trying to give our employees more S.H.I.T. than anyone else. If you feel that you do not receive your share of S.H.I.T. on the course, please see your supervisor. You will immediately be placed at the top of the S.H.I.T. list, and our supervisors are especially skilled at making sure that you get all the S.H.I.T you can handle.

Employees who dont take their S.H.I.T. will be placed in the Departmental Employee Evaluation Programs [D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T.]. Those who fail to take D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T. seriously will have to go to Employee Attitude Training [E.A.T.S.H.I.T.].

Since our supervisors took S.H.I.T. before they were promoted, they dont have to do S.H.I.T. anymore, as they are full of S.H.I.T. already.

If you are full of S.H.I.T., you may be interested in a job teaching others.  We can add your name to our Basic Understanding List of Leaders [B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.].

For employees who are intending to pursue a career in management and consulting, we will refer you to the department of Managerial Operational Research Education [M.O.R.E.S.H.I.T]. This course emphasizes how to manage M.O.R.E. S.H.I.T.

If you have further questions, please direct them to our Head of Teaching, Special High Intensity Training [H.O.T.S.H.I.T.].

Thank you,
Boss in General, Special High Intensity Training [B.I.G.S.H.I.T.]

Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park

I felt this way back in my high school years. I was in an unfamiliar place. That’s when I started my life in Cagayan de Oro City. New place, new culture, new dialect, new people. It was so freaky. I felt out of place. I felt lonely. I felt ashamed of being from the north. People from the south actually hated people from the north (specifically Tagalogs) becuase of how… "haughty" they (we) act when in a province. Like someone made out of money. Feeling important. I was antagonized. I wanted to blend in. I couldn’t. I was helpless. I wanted to run. I wanted to hide. I constantly searched for a place of solitude… Somewhere I belong.

(When this began)
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
(I was confused)
And I let it all out to find
That I’m not the only person with these things in mind
(Inside of me)
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I’ve got left to feel
(Nothing to lose)
Just stuck/ hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

[Chorus]
I wanna heal, I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I’ve held so long
(Erase all the pain till it’s gone)
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m close to something real
I wanna find something I’ve wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

And I’ve got nothing to say
I can’t believe I didn’t fall right down on my face
(I was confused)
Looking everywhere only to find
That it’s not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
(So what am I)
What do I have but negativity
’Cause I can’t justify the way, everyone is looking at me
(Nothing to lose)
Nothing to gain/ hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, and the fault is my own

[Repeat Chorus]

I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else, until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything till I break away from me
I will break away, I’ll find myself today

[Repeat Chorus]

I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m somewhere I belong
I wanna heal, I wanna feel like I’m somewhere I belong
Somewhere I belong

 

Papercut - Linkin Park

Do you feel this way too? 

Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here’s not right today.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia’s all I got left
I don’t know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It’s like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)
So I know that when it’s time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right underneath my skin

It’s like I’m paranoid lookin’ over my back
It’s like a whirlwind inside of my head
It’s like I can’t stop what I’m hearing within
It’s like the face inside is right beneath my skin

I know I’ve got a face in me
Points out all my mistakes to me
You’ve got a face on the inside too and
Your paranoia’s probably worse
I don’t know what set me off first but I know what I can’t stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can’t add up to what you can but
Everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time they lie
A face that laughs every time they fall
(And watches everything)
So you know that when it’s time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too
Right inside your skin

Chorus

The face inside is right beneath your skin (3x)

The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me (Repeat until end)

Chorus (Repeat until end)

Para sa ‘yo. Sorry…

July 7, 2006

Something that I posted at http://www.kuro.ph/:

"sorry for the false hopes, vince, pero i really can’t live with someone na puro "yun" lang ang iniisip. i need someone na marunong mag-isip. yung nakakausap. hindi puro pagyayabang at pagpapapogi. i’m not superficial."

what kind of sorry is this?! ^_^

There are only 2 kinds of secrets:

One that you can’t keep

And another that’s too good to keep.

Friends help you move; real friends help you move the body.

Bliss

July 6, 2006

Yeah. It’s like heaven. I have a new one. Isn’t it like a roller-coaster ride?

And, just like my roller-coaster, I’m also having my down side. I haven’t formally broken up with him yet. Sad, ain’t it? Not my problem anymore (Ei, Colombus, gimme my things back!) ^_^

Ah, basta. I love you, bebe! Mwahmwahmwah! ^_^

Ten Things To Do Before You Die

By Tristan Jourdan C. dela Cruz
(FrankLee’s note: Honestly, I cried…)

"Thank you and goodnight, Melissa."

As Melissa gave Carlo a friendly kiss on the cheek, she found her lips locked with Carlo’s.

"No, thank you Carlo."

Carlo watched as Melissa walked away. Soon, it will be all over. He brought out his list from his pocket. For the last time, he looked at the piece of paper in his hand.

There was only one thing left to do.

"Melissa," Carlo shouted.

Melissa turned around and looked back at Carlo.

"I will never forget you!"

In the dark, quiet evening, everything became bright for Carlo and everything became loud for Melissa.

Carlo saw a bright light.

And Melissa heard a sound of a gunshot.

* * * * *

At around ten in the morning, Carlo woke up from the noise of his alarm clock. After another drinking session with his friends last night, he finds himself in the solitude of his desolated room. Soiled clothes were lying as well as books and magazines were displaced everywhere. His room was pretty messed-up.

Just like his life: pretty messed-up.

This has been his life since Melissa told him the news. When they broke-up a year ago, Carlo didn’t felt a thing, not even the slightest remorse. Not until Melissa told him the news.

She was getting married to her fiancee.

The past few months become the gradual destruction of Carlo’s life. Drinking sessions with friends have become a nocturnal routine, as well as absence in work to nurse a nasty hangover.

Unshaved and somehow disoriented, he stares hopelessly at himself in the bathroom mirror, somewhat trying to ask himself where have he been.

And all he got was a stare of a complete stranger.

For a few moments Carlo continue to stand infront of the bathroom mirror, then he noticed something. His reflection was holding a piece of paper. He was holding a crumpled paper and he opened it.

* * * * *

"Good morning everyone!"

Everyone in his office stared at Carlo as he entered. As if they saw someone who was long gone. Neatly dressed, shaven and emitting an aura of freshness, he mesmerized everyone and went directly to his boss’ room.

"Good morning, Sir!"

"Carlo! Where was the report…"

"Here it is, Sir. Complete in a presentation burned in this CD ready to blow your clients off their feet," Carlo quickly disrupted his boss.

"What have gotten into you? You look normal again," his boss replied.

"I just woke up from a terrible nightmare."

"Good for you. Good for me. Good for the clients. Welcome back, Carlo."

Carlo smiled and left his boss’ room and went straight to his cubicle.

As he reached his cubicle, he dialed a number and called someone in his cel.

"Hello," Melissa answered.

"Hey gorgeous! You free today," Carlo asked.

"Why?"

"Nothing much. I just got some errand to do and I would like to bring you along."

"Uhmmm… I still have a few things to tend, you know…"

"The wedding? C’mon, it’s only one day. Your fiancee shouldn’t worry. For old time’s sake?"

"Okay. What time?"

"I’ll pick you up before lunch."

"Okay."

"Til then. Bye."

Melissa seemed confused after hearing Carlo’s voice in her cel. She haven’t heard from him for some time and that she just changed her number a few days ago."

* * * * *

Just as he said, Carlo picked up Melissa at her office. They went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Melissa was staring at a man she used to love. Some old feelings still lingers in her. But she rather keep them all inside her in solitude. Then Carlo broke her silence.

"So what’s keeping you busy, aside from getting married," he asked casually.

"Uhmmm… nothing much. Just the usual. Clients who dream big and pay little," Melissa replied.

"Shall we?"

"Where?"

"I just need to tend some errands. You’ll see."

Carlo brought Melissa in an orphanage they used to go to during their anniversary. Carlo still remembered how Melissa loved children. For a few moments, Melissa found herself enjoying her time with the children. And then she realized something was not right.

She shouldn’t be there with Carlo.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"You forgot easily."

"What?"

"Nothing. I just wanna go here. This is the first time I went here since we broke up."

"I remembered when we still went here together."

"Happy anniversary."

Melissa stood infront of Carlo filled with confusion. She cannot understand why he brought her in the orphanage.

* * * * *

"You’ve been silent since we left the orphanage."

"…"

"Carlo, why are you doing this?"

"What?"

"…"

"Okay. The orphanage wasn’t intentional. It was just a spontaneous idea. When you agreed to come with me, the idea just entered my mind. And besides, today was supposedly our anniversary. It’s just so funny if we went back there after all this time."

"So you found it as a joke?"

"No. I found it heartwarming."

"…uhmmm, where are you bringing me anyway?"

"You’ll see."

* * * * *

"I haven’t been here for a while," Melissa said.

"I know you’ll be surprised. I haven’t also been here for a while," Carlo answered.

They arrived at Carlo’s home in Antipolo at around five in the afternoon. Carlo’s mother was surprised to saw both of them. They still don’t know that the two of them had broken up.

"Hi Mama," Carlo greeted her mother.

"Carlo," Mrs. Gomez replied.

"You still remember Melissa?"

"Good afternoon Ma’am," Melissa greeted Mrs. Gomez.

"How could I forget your beautiful fiancee? So when’s the wedding? C’mon here child and give me a hug," Mrs. Gomez answered.

Both women hugged each other. Melissa suddenly became uneasy with the fact that Mrs. Gomez doesn’t know what had happened between her and Carlo. She found herself starting to get mad at Carlo.

"So what have brought you two here?"

"We’re just visiting you Mama."

"You should have called before you arrived, so that I have prepared a special dinner."

"No Mama. We won’t be long. Melissa’s busy with her wedding."

"You naughty boy. I haven’t met Melissa’s parents. And now you two are getting married? Why are you putting all the burden to Melissa in preparing for the wedding?"

Melissa blushed in embarrassment. She doesn’t know what to feel, whether to get mad at Carlo for not telling her Mom, or to feel sorry that the two of them broke up. She really liked Mrs. Gomez.

"You don’t understand, Mama. Well, I’m quite busy tending a lot of errands."

"Okay, let’s just talked about the wedding later. Wait here and I’ll just prepare dinner."

As Mrs. Gomez was about to go to the kitchen, Carlo spoke.

"Mama, I love you."

When Mrs. Gomez reached the kitchen, Carlo whispered to Melissa.

"That’s our cue. Let’s go."

"Carlo, what do you think you’re doing? We have just arrived here and you’re mother’s preparing dinner."

"I still have some errands to do, remember?"

"Oh great. At least let’s say goodbye to your mom."

"That would be impossible. She won’t let us leave until after dinner."

"…"

And the two of them sneaked to the front driveway straight to Carlo’s car.

* * * * *

"I can’t understand why you are doing all this, Carlo," Melissa said.

"You hungry?"

"First the orphanage. Next your mom. What’s all of these? Are you trying to win me back?"

"No."

"So why all these special places? You know this is not easy for the two of us."

"I forgot something in my office. We’ll grab dinner there."

"You’re not hearing me. You’re shutting me out…"

And tears started to form in the corners of Melissa’s eyes.

"You know I always understood you. When you left me, it was your decision. I just set you free because I felt you really wanted out. Now that I’m asking just for a day with you, you judge me of not hearing you out?"

"So what’s this all about? I’m really confused."

"Sometimes, the greatest questions don’t need answers. Please take my word for it."

"I’m still not buying it."

"Okay. I’m leaving. I’m going somewhere. I just wanna do the things I won’t be able to do after I leave."

"…"

"Satisfied?"

"I’m hungry," Melissa answered with a smile.

* * * * *

When they arrived at Carlo’s office somewhere in Makati at around 10 in the evening, Carlo’s office was closed. A guard recognized Carlo and let them in. City lights have somehow illuminated the dark corridors of Carlo’s office. All cubicles were deserted.

"What are we gonna do here," Melissa asked.

"You’ll see, Carlo answered."

"No tricks, Carlo."

"Trust me."

And all Melissa was able to do was smile back at Carlo.

Melissa followed Carlo to the elevator. Inside, Carlo pressed "P" for penthouse. The light indicating the building floors rose from the ground floor to the penthouse. The darkness and the uncertainty of what lies ahead of them scared Melissa.

The elevator reached the top floor of Carlo’s office and its doors opened.

What Melissa saw at the penthouse left her breathless.

Amidst the darkness of the hallway glowed numerous candles that seemed like stars the lit the whole floor. A string quartet played songs that they used to loved when their still together. And in the middle of the spacious penthouse stood a candlelight dinner for two.

"I don’t know what to say," Melissa uttered to Carlo.

"Just say you enjoy everything that’s happening right now," Carlo replied.

Melissa knew that she enjoyed every moment that’s happening before her eyes but she decided to keep it to herself. But her eyes gave herself away; glitters of tears lingered in the corners of her eyes. Even though she didn’t say it, Carlo saw it in her eyes and he knew she enjoyed everything that he prepared for her.

And for him, that’s what matters most.

* * * * *

After dinner, Carlo brought Melissa to her house. They arrived at Melissa’s place at around past midnight. Inside Carlo’s car, they sat in silence.

Then Melissa’s defenses finally crumbled and she broke their silence.

"I’m sorry."

"For what?"

"For everything. I know I should have given you a second chance but I didn’t. And now I’m getting married in three weeks, and I still continue to hurt you by letting you love me hopelessly."

And tears finally rolled over Melissa’s cheeks.

"I’m the one who should ask for forgiveness. Since the day we broke up, I deliberately suppressed all emotions that I should be feeling. Grief. Anger. Despair. Hope. But when I found out that you’re getting married, I started to feel, one by one, all those emotions that I’ve tried so hard to keep away from myself."

Carlo clutched the steering wheel of his car and stared at the nothingness of his car’s windshield.

"Things are different now, Carlo. We both know we have now different lives."

"I know. That’s why I met you today."

"?"

"I should have loved you the way you truly deserve…"

"Stop it."

"I should have asked for redemption when I still had the chance…"

"I said stop it."

"I should have let go of you the moment I found out you’re happy with your new life…"

"Please Carlo. You know this isn’t easy for both of us…"

"I should have died together with all the hopes and dreams that our love created…"

"STOP IT!!!"

Carlo continued to stare at his car’s windshield while Melissa’s sobs created an eerie rhythm of despair inside Carlo’s car.

* * * * *

It was around two in the morning. Nearby houses stood aimlessly in the dark of the night. Carlo and Melissa sat silently inside Carlo’s car for the past two hours already.

"I just wanna see you before I leave," Carlo said.

"…"

"I’ll be leaving everything behind, especially my old life. I finally decided to start a new one."

"…"

"I prepared this day for you to show my gratitude. I just don’t want to say how much I’m thankful of you. I want you to feel it and never forget it. I should have done this when we’re still together but we both know I didn’t make you feel how much I really love you."

"You don’t have to do all of this…"

"But I have to. My conscience has been eating me up because of the guilt I got from taking you for granted…"

Finally, after all this time, Carlo looked at Melissa thru the haziness of his tears.

"…"

"Hush…"

"…"

"I’ve already forgiven you a long time ago."

"…"

Between the sobs and the tears, Melissa found herself comforting Carlo with a long, passionate kiss.

* * * * *

At around four in the morning, Melissa decided that it was time for her to leave Carlo.

"So this is it," Carlo said.

"I guess so," Melissa answered.

"Thank you and goodnight, Melissa."

As Melissa gave Carlo a friendly kiss on the cheek, she found her lips locked with Carlo’s.

"No, thank you Carlo."

Carlo watched as Melissa walked away. Soon, it will be all over. He brought out his list from his pocket. For the last time, he looked at the piece of paper in his hands. Words written in the paper were stained with his own tears.

There was only one thing left to do.

"Melissa," Carlo shouted.

Melissa turned around and looked back at Carlo.

Melissa watched in horror as Carlo aims a 9mm Beretta pistol at her.

"I will never forget you!"

Carlo quickly aimed the gun at his left temple and squeezed the trigger.

In the dark, quiet evening, everything became bright for Carlo and everything became loud for Melissa.

Carlo saw a bright light.

And Melissa heard a sound of a gunshot.

She stood there as Carlo fell to the ground.

Melissa’s sobs lingered in the silence of early morning. She slowly walked towards Carlo’s lifeless body, still trembling from the terrifying ordeal she witnessed. As she stared into Carlo’s dilated pupils; she noticed Carlo was clutching a piece of paper. She picked it up and opened it.

Melissa read, "Ten things to do before you die."

Written and crossed out were:

"1. get new haircut…"

"2. finish report…"

"3. eat a nice lunch…"

"4. visit orphanage…"

"5. visit home…"

"6. tell mama I LOVE YOU"

"7. surprise HER…"

"8. ask for FORGIVENESS…"

"9. KISS HER FOR THE LAST TIME."

Melissa almost lost consciousness upon reading the last entry on Carlo’s death wish.

"10. die with the one you love."

And she remembered the last look in Carlo’s eyes before he died. He couldn’t find the courage to complete his death wish. He couldn’t kill Melissa.

Melissa found herself sitting beside Carlo’s body. Her tears almost completely blurred Carlo’s death wish. She then felt guilty for Carlo’s death.

She looked again at Carlo’s death wish and read the last entry.

"10. die with the one you love."

She picked up the 9-mm Baretta, aimed at her left temple, smiled, and pulled the trigger.

It was around five in the morning when Melissa body fell beside Carlo, creating an illusion of two lovers together in an endless dream.

Coffee & Life

July 4, 2006

Something for you to think about guys! ^_^ It made me pause for a bit and think

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other’s cups.

Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn’t change. Some times, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

So, don’t let the cups drive you… enjoy the coffee instead.