Makeovers

Dear Mouse, I just rearranged my furniture. It remained untouched and unmoved for a few months now. Atypical of me who is a frustrated interior designer-forever-dwelling-in-the-past-fantasizing-that-I-am-a-very-in-demand-snobbish –artist-that can-transform-a garage-looking- living room into a gorgeous sitting room. I always indulge into this pastime for the following reasons: 1. to direct my rage to something constructive; 2. to restrain my outburst;and 3. to release that monstrous energy that can bring out the Hulk in me. It is a nice feeling to be able to hurl the throw pillows (they are for throws anyway) to the wall where shadow of a gigantic ficus plant casts a shadow resembling a face of the person who has caused the fury. As I threw away unnecessary bric-a-bracs in a big thrash bin, I imagined that it is not trash I am tossing –it is my anger. Lest some readers would think that my creative juices only flow when I am provoked or when my bp inflate the sphyg’s balloon or when I feel like kicking a ball, I have to clarify that it is not so. This time, I rearranged my furniture because I feel like doing it. The truth is.. I have that uncanny feeling that I want to pick up the TV set and dump it in the trash or break its screen with paper weight made out of lava from the Clark Air Base. I feel like saying…stop it stup….Arghhhhhhh arghhhhhh. There, I let it out and my receiving room looked elegant with a big E. I have been watching these TV shows about makeovers. Room fix ups cum renovations by a)some families who allow other families to redecorate their houses with the help of some handymen; b)to completely transform a house into something different-but-nevertheless-showcases-the homeowners personalities-(Phew)while they were out and c)conspiracy between a member of a family and a guest designer whose portfolio is never mentioned throughout the one-hour show. There was one episode where the “designers" re-upholstered an expensive white leather couch and a sofa with cheaper checkered fabric to match the room décor that converted an otherwise plain, clean, simple black and white sitting room into multi-colored four walls iwith exciting mix and match of furniture that acquired that look that they are being used and not merely props of a room showcase. If the guy who showed extreme surprise when ushered to the newly renovated room was really happy to see how favorite room morphed into a pub-in-the-attic where he can watch his favorite programs, I cannot tell. But one man in another segment practically pursued the truck that was on its way to the charitable thrift shop shouting that he brought that monstrous looking icon from one of his Asian sojourns. That is one thing I like in the reruns of the Nanny. The couch in her parents’ house resembled those of the plastic-covered mohair upholstered sala set in typical Filipino homes in towns where the modern lifestyle of living is slowly invading some OFW households. Given the chance, these self-acclaimed designers are going to dump without hesitation the said sala sets in the wood shredder . As for me, I still like my black and white color scheme. Some of my friends say they are depressing colors, so I added baby pink and a little red for my throw pillows. Stupid shows, stupid me for watching. Another is a makeover show designed to transform an ugly duckling of a daughter and an unmade-or overmade-up matron of a mother thru the help of wardrobe experts, hair stylists, make-up experts ala Miss Congeniality. But no one can deliver Michael Caine’s dialogue. “ I am damn good” when he saw Sandra Bullock metamorphosed from a macho Federal agent to a ”World Peace" mouthing beauty contestant. I know it is just a movie and Sandra is really beautiful, more beautiful than the Roberts girl. I do not know if I am going to cry or laugh as I watched the beauty expert applied a blush on with downward strokes. I will not be surprised if the “victims “ of this expert will have sagging facial muscles after months being subjected to this-non-brainer makeup application torture. I am not sure if it is a camera trick when the same expert applied the eye shadows with so much pressure on the sensitive surrounding mucles of the eyes that the eyes themselves were contorted with the pull and the push that they do in the area between the brows and the eyes.. Unnecessary stroking of these muscles may result to premature creases or wrinkles that application of foundations, eye-makeups would result into a more horrendous effect. I do not claim that I am a good dresser but the only thing that you could fault me is when I stick to color coordination like an obsessive-compulsive manic depressive personality of my favorite detective. You can make me wear a blue jeans with a white top and with a minimal accessory of string of tiny pink pearls but you cannot make me follow the advice of that wardrobe expert who seems to need an expert’s advice herself. Dressing a woman with an exceptionally big breast with a blouse top that has shirrings in them and accessorized with an equally big pendant necklace is not only outrageous but also a fashion disaster. Oh my, oh my. Am I turning into a fashion critic? I may not be a good chef but I can smell a person with a good fashion sense even if she only wears a 2.95 t-shirt from a flea market. The CA t

Gulong ng palad

Dear Mouse, May ubo pa rin ako.Pasensiyahan ninyo kung kalimutan ko muna ang pulitika. Marami na akong natunggang cough syrup kaya marahil ang isip ko ay naglalakbay sa nakaraan. Tagalog ito. Pahihirapan ko lang yong mga Puting nagbabasa sa akin. Nakatingin siya sa aking mukha pero tila ako si Casper na tumatagos ang kaniyang mata sa aking bandang likuran. Korni mang isipan pero ala Humphrey Bogart ko sanang tatanungin siyang “ a penny for your thought”.Malala ang problema ng bataing ire, ang sa isip ko lang. Ang batang ire ay mas matanda sa akin, may tatlong anak at nakapag-asawa na ng dalawang beses. Dati siyang empleyado sa aking pinagtrabahuhan.(past tense). Hindi ko nga siya inabutan dahil papasok pa lang ako ay nakaalis na siya ng mahigit isang buwan. Kaya ko lang siya nakilala ay nang matagpuan niya ako sa opisina habang nilalakad niya ang mga papel na kinakailangan niya para sa kaniyang “birde” (green card). Medyo nagtatampo si bossing dahil siya ay umalis kaya hindi man sinasabi pa ay katumbas na rin ng mga salitang, “Magdusa ka”. Disappearing act lang ang mga drama niya para hindi siya mapilit na pumirma ng mga papel. Dahil ako ang bagong mukha, ako ang kaniyang hiningan ng tulong. Santa Barbara na malapit sa Santa Clara, ano kaya ang magagawa ko, eh accent lang problema ko pa. Isang Linggo pa lang ako sa Estet at pag ako lumabas sa building ay kailangan ko pa ang mapa para di maligaw. Saka di naman ako dapat sa opit na yan. Sa ibang opit ako dapat magtatrabaho. Kung baga Oriental ako … nasa orientation stage. Sandali balik tayo sa batang ire. Niyaya niya akong kumain pagkatapos ng opisina. Dinala niya ako sa Denny’s. Wow. Sa isip ko. Mabago naman ang kinakain kong Jack in the Box o kaya Burger King. Siguro gusto lang nyang may mapaghingan ng sama ng loob. Nangingilid ang kaniyang luhang kinuwento sa akin ang kaniyang buhay. Kumuha ako ng maraming table napkins. Mababaw rin ang aking luha. Ayokong mabasa ang aking pagkain. Lalabsa. Nakipagsapalaran siya sa Estet nang sila ay magkahiwalay ng kaniyang asawang nakatali sa epron ng kaniyang mama. Iniwan niya ang kaniyang dalawang anak. Turista siya. Lakas ang loob niya para mag-aaply sa opisinang pag-aari ng isang Pilipinang may kapartner na Puti. Inisponsor siya. Hinawakan niya ang “marketing”. Namalengke siya ng mga katulad niya na nangangailangan ng trabaho at kailangan din ang permiso para magkatrabaho. Namalengke rin siya ng mga negosyo na nanggailangan ng mga empleyado. Pinagtutugma niya ito at pinaasikaso sa abugado ang mga papeles na dapat asikasuhin. Magaling siya kaya umasenso siya pataas. Naging kamay na kanan siya ni Bossing na mahilig umuwi ng Pilipinas para kumuha ng narses. Yon ang panahon daw na madaling kumuha ng mga narses sa Pilipinas dahil may sarili silang kategoriyang working visang nakalaan sa kanila. Nagkamal sila ng salapi pero parang tubig itong umagos. Pag tanggap ng pera ay nangangati na silang umuwi. Down payment pa lang ay ginagastos na nila. Ang gara ng opisina. Ang copier ay napakalaki at de kulay pa. Puwede akong dumapa para I-Xerox ang aking mukha. Lahat ng empleyado ay may magagandang opisina. Taas ang kilay ko nga nang dumating ako dahil parang nakikinita ko na ang problema, hindi ko pa man nasisilip ang libro at nasusundan ang mga pinagkagastusan. Pero balik tayo ulit sa batang ire. May nakilala siyang isa ring Pilipino at rumingding ulit ang kaniyang puso. Sabi ni bossing, hindi dapat dahil maapektuhan ang kaniyang buhay dahil wala ring kapapelan ang lalaking ire. Sabi naman niya, pakialamera lang talaga. Sa madaling salita (baka maging nobela eh) sila ay nag-away. Sayang namiss ko ang mga dayalogs na “ Kung hindi sa akin ay magiging palaboy ka dito sa Estet. Saan ka pupulutin?” Ang mga sagot naman ay: “Tinumbasan ko naman iyon ng serbisyong parang asong susunod sunod saiyo. Para akong lady-in-waiting na nakatalima sa iyong mga kapritso” Pati naman, puso ko pakikialaman mo?” Luma ang mga dayalogs sa mga soap opera ngayon di ba? Wala siyang trabaho. Wala siyang naipon sa mahigit na pitong taon niyang pagtatrabaho. Isa lamang ang klaseng trabahong alam niya. Ang dayalog ko naman ay ,” Ang buhay daw parang gulong. Minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa ilalalim. Pag ikaw ay matagal sa ilalim, ibig sabihin noon ay flat tire. Kumuha ka ng tutulong saiyo para gumalaw ang gulong. Tinitigan niya ako. Hindi ko siya tinitigan. Binigyan ko siya ng compact. Kasi nagsmudge ang kaniyang eyeliner sa luha. Nakuha rin niya ang kaniyang birde. Nasa ibang siyudad na ako nang mabalitaan kong nagtayo din siya ng opisinang katulad ng negosyo ng dati naming bossing. Di ko pala nabanggit, di ako nagtagal doon. Mahirap turuan sa pananalapi ang mga taong matindi ang galit sa pera na hindi makagasta. Enjoy ko ang kumain sa Hilton tuwing umaga pero kalabisan yon para sa kumpaniyang kailangan may nakalaang pera sa loob ng maraming araw(working capital) at ang pagsingil ay nakadepende sa maipapasok na mga empleyado. Tila baga itlog pa lang ay ay binibilang ng fried chicken. Akala ba nila pag may pera ang isang tao ay magaling na sa negosyo. Kaya nga ba yong mga Pinoy na akala mo magagaling na pinanggalaitihan ang mga OFW para gamitin ang kinita para magtayo ng negosyo para raw…to create jobs…to provide employment ay dapat ipagdasal nang Patawarin ninyo po sila at hindi nila nalalaman ang hirap magtayo ng negosyo kung hindi lang naman sa malamig at o kaya barbecue. Sandali balik tayo sa batang ire. Hindi siya nagtagal sa ilalim ng gulong. May kinuha siyang tutulong para maalis ang flat tire. Ang kapartner ni Bossing na Puti. Wow. Para kong narinig ang mga sigaw na” Ahas….pinakain kita sa aking palad nang wala kang matuluyan. Kinupkop kitang parang kapatid at itinuro ko ang pasikot sikot ng negosyo. Dinamitan kita, sinapatusan…dinala sa New York, sa Vegas, sa Reno, Sa Disneyland, sa ilalim ng Quiapo, sa Divisoria, sa Baclaran at sa Greenhills. Libre lahat. Natulog ka sa Manila Hotel, sa Nikko, sa Philippine Plaza, sa bus, sa eruplano, sa kotse. (dagdag ko yong huli). Wari ko ba ay hindi lang niya pinagalaw ang gulong. Pinatakbo pa niya para managasa. Hindi kasama ito sa sinabi ko. Naniniwala ako sa kama erm karma. Hindi lang niya nadala ang kapartner, pati ang mga kliyente. Kaya nga ba mag-ingat sa pagpapatalsik ng mga manedyer o mga tauhan na halos siya ay nagpapatakbo ng negosyo. Pag ito ang umalis o pinaalis, hindi lang bali ang operasyon, kalaban pa itong mortal. Kahit anong buti ang ipinakita sa simula, ang kapangitan ang maalala sa bandang huli. Ang dating apat na opisina ay nagging isa na lamang. Ang dating malaking opisina ay naging isang kuwarto na lamang na naging masikip dahil sa dami ng lamesang walang tao. Palubog ang bangka. Kahit daga man ay lalangoy para hindi masama paglubog. Isa-isang umalis ang mga tauhan. Ang natira lamang ay ang mga may papel na hinihintay. Hindi na pinag-uusapan ditto ang loyalty. May apartment na babayaran, may pamilyang bubuhayin at may sikmurang kakalam. Ang paglubog ng bapor ay maisisi na rin sa dating bossing. Walang nakapagsabi sa kaniya na ang casino kaylan man ay hindi mabuting lugar na paghanapan ng perang kinakailangan para sa negosyo. Magaling itong negosyo para mga taong may perang itatapon at hindi sa naghahanap.Nagsara ang lumang negosyo. Kung bakit ibang istorya yon. Sa batang ire ulit tayo. Lumago ang kaniyang negosyo lalo balik na naman ang mga narses sa eksena. Panay din ang uwi niya sa Pinas. Nagtayo pa siya ng opisina doon. Diniborsiyo niya ang kaniyang unang asawang meron na ring kinakasama. Nagka-anak pa siyang muli pero ibig niyang makuha ang kaniyang mga anak sa dati. Dahil hindi lumaki sa kaniya ay malayo sa kaniya ang loob ng bata. Para lang sumama sa kaniya sa Estet, kailangang pangakuan niya maraming bagay. Sa madaling salita, kailangan niyang bilhin. Hindi niya mapakinabangan sa bahay dahil magbabanta na uuwi na lang sa Pinas dahil mayroon doong katulong ang kanilang daddy. Dito sa Estet, sila ang nag-aayos ng kanilang higaan. Hindi man sila naglalaba ay napipilitan din silang magmicrowave ng kanilang pagkain. Hindi na sila mga bata. Nakakabuntis na sila. Laki sa lola, laki sa layaw. Tawag ni Hanopol, jefroks..(anoman ang ibig sabihin niyan). Ang ikalawang asawa naman niya ay wala ring trabaho pero hilig ding umuwi. Businessswoman si honey. Kaya kung uuwi siya sa Pinas, isang batalyon ang kaniyang dala. Pinayayaman niya ang airline. Wala na ring ang kaniyang kapartner. Hindi ko alam ang istorya sa pagkawala. Ngayon ay kailangan niya ng pera. Ang bahay na nabili niya ay “hihilahin” na ng bangko. Ang gulong ng buhay niya ay pababa na naman habang ang gulong ng pagpoproceso ng mga papel ng narses ay napakabagal. Dalawang taon. Wala na rin siyang mahihintay na pera doon. Tulad din siya ng kaniyang bossing na itlog pa lang ay piniprito na. Ano ang gusto niyang sabihin ko. Ang oportunidad ay kumakatok lang ng isang beses. Pag pinapasok mo, kandaduhan ang pinto para hindi na makalabas.Lumuha pa rin siya. Pero hindi na nagsmudge ang eyeliner niya. Tatoo na kasi. Disclaimer: Ikatlong bote ng cough syrup na po ang naiinom ko. The CA t

Civil War?

Dear Mouse, I suspect that there is massive lead poisoning that affect the brains of our politicians. Just take a look at this news. Estrada warns of civil war if Poe is barredPosted: 11:15 PM (Manila Time) | Jan. 27, 2004 By Armand N. Nocum, Blanche S. Rivera and Jerome Aning Inquirer News Service Petition OUSTED President Joseph Estrada warned the Supreme Court Tuesday against disqualifying action star Fernando Poe Jr. from the presidential race, saying an adverse SC ruling on the popular actor's candidacy could plunge the country into a "civil war." Is Poe worth dying for? These people suck. They would pay a motley group of the unwashed who would declare their undying support for the candidate and they start believing that crap. In the first hail of bullets, they would be the first to scamper and save their asses. I know nobody who died defending their movie idol or their candidates. Ano nabubuwang? Granting that there are such people,what about the opposing groups? In a civil war, there must be two warring groups. What group is going to fight for GMA, for Rocco or for Lacson? EDSA 1 did not fight for Ramos and Enrile. They fought for freedom from dictatorial government. The EDSA 2 did not fight for GMA; they ousted a corrupt official who they think was going to walk free free due to unholy alliance of some senators. So, the administration or an unseen hands are for the disqualification of Poe . So? So there was forgery of the documents? So? Filipino people would not just get to the streets to be hurt if the issue is not worth lying down in the middle of the roads to stop tanks and truckload of soldiers. There is a congregation of people everyday but not in the streets. They are in Divisoria; fighting for the best bargains that their few pesos can buy. Imagine a mother-of-pearl necklace that you can buy for only 350 pesos. They sell here in the States for more than a hundred dollars. The last time, I was there, I bought four. Good buy. Sandali, bakit shopping na ang pinag-uusapan natin. The CA t

RN,BSN,NP, LVN,CNA etc.

Dear Mouse, I am not a nurse--but my mother wanted me to. I think my mother is punishing me for disappointing her to see me in white uniform. I wanted to take up Fine Arts but she said that I am going to starve in that profession. She was not a frustrated nurse-a frustrated lawyer, yes. The fist nurse in our family is my sister. My great great grandma worked in the hospital too. She was certified by the American surgeons to assist in the delivery of babies. She could deliver breached babies without the need for c-section. I did not become a nurse but everything that I breathe, think and do have something to do with nurses. No I am not connected with hospitals, neither my job is related to nursing. I have two sisters who are nurses. As an act of redemption, I sent two scholars to a nursing school.Now I have a new one. My first job in the US was to help put up a branch of placement agency that recruit nurses in US hospitals. My second job was in a nursing registry recruiting local nurses for temporary placement in hospitals that are understaffed and the third was as a consultant of a nursing registry. I have to confess however that my choice of this employment has forward integration as a selfish motive. This morning the nurse stuff came out again in the e-mail of my brother, post of sassy and article of B. Cunanan. My brother is asking what book to send my sister nurse who is starting to review for the CGFNS. Everyone is doing his share to help her get a job as a nurse. CGFNS is a test for certification of Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. Another test is the TOEFL which is a test of English as a Second Language. These two tests are just meant to determine the adequacy of nursing and communication skills of the nurse/applicants. This is the first level of screening .To qualify for these tests, the nurse should have passed the licensure examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission. A bachelor’s degree is required to take this local licensure examination and to earn this degree, the graduate should have earned units in General Education subjects, nursing skills and hours of internship in a hospital or hospitals. The final test for the nurse to practise the profession in the US is the NCLEX . Nurses who graduated from Philippines schools are BSN and RN at the same time. Nurses from the United States may be an RN but not necessarily a BSN. Confused ? Good. In the US, a nursing course is not necessarily a bachelor’s degree. As long as the nursing courses presribed to qualify for the state examination are met, a candidate can take the exam and practise as a registered nurse. This points to a very important fact that for Filipino nurses to be petitioned as a nurse, they should be college degree holders. For nurses who graduated from the US city or community college, a bachelor's degree is not a requirement. So aside from the nursing skills, our nurses are equipped with the general education that include arts,philosophy,politics and human relations. So who is better, a BSN, RN or just an RN? I am not going to refute the negative portrayal of the nurses. I did not see the episode. I do not know why they were portrayed as subversives. The sister who finished her Nursing at UP is a nurse in Boston. She came with her classmateswho worked in other hospitals in the same city. Being graduates of the state university who were nurtured to be vigilant for their rights, they are one outspoken group that will not tolerate abuse and harassment until they gain respect from their colleagues in the profession. Does that make them subversive? They speak and write good English. They were trained at the UP PGH. They have accents in their first few months but who don't? Even locals have their accents that distinguish them from those coming from other States. A Bostonian's burr is different from a Texan drawl and San Francisco accent. Nicole Kidman doesn't lose her Australian intonation, so is British Catherine Zeta-Jones. But locals will always make fun of a quaint Asian accent. They go to the point when they tell you to speak English. They won't tell that to a a heavily accented French. I would like to know the reason for featuring our nurses as such. A few weeks ago, a Chinese-american association condemned the use of the word Chinaman by a sportscaster to address a popular Chinese basketball player. They can accept ignorance as a reason but not as an excuse for such racist remark. The sportscaster made an apology. An episode of a TV series is a collaborative effort of group of writers. Who among these writers has an axe to grind for the Filipino nurses? Is the reason for the ugly presentation of the Filipino nurses due to the growing sentiment that our nurses are getting a lions’share of the market for health care professionals? Was one of the writers or a relative on a receiving end of bitchiness of a Filipino nurse?. Is the situation described a reality in Chicago hospitals? Maybe. Bitchiness is not a monopoly of a nurse or other professions working in a stressful work environment. The Filipino culture attributed to crabs has also its positive aspect. Once a Filipino gets into one institution, expect him to bring some more Filipinos until a small community that is regarded as an informal group is formed. This small group can weild non-union bargaining power. I know one bitchy non-Filipino nurse who learned the lesson of the importance of harmonious supervisor-subordinate relationship the hard way when the Filipino nurses become scarcer during her shift that she cannot wrap up her unit’s activities on time. One has also to conisder what types of nurses are we talking about here. In the Philippines, there is only one kind of nurse. Here in the States, there are as many as the functions they do. But that will be the subject of my next blog. The CA t

Customer Service Representatives

Dear Mouse, For a week now, I have been experiencing problem accessing my internet server. The built in fix it system, recommended me two things to do. 1. check with my local phone company if there is something wrong with my phone line. 2. check whether the two access phone numbers I added are local numbers so that I will not incur surcharge. After the menu options, I was able to get hold of one LIVE customer service representative. ALLELUJAH After listening to my woe, he told me that he was going to direct me to the person who can solve my problem. Great, thank you. Minutes passed. If not for that silly music, I felt I was abandoned. Phone:Hello, this is_______, how may I help you today. The name is American but the accent is Indian. Must be a deskhelp center from India. ME: blah blah blah blah Phone: Can you excuse me while I pull out your file ? Can you give me the name of the account. Me: Sure(Thought balloon--after you made me talk for several minutes, you do not have my account file yet?) Phone: So how do you spell the name of the account. ME: N as in Norway, O as Orange, W as in Welcome etc etc. Phone: Is that K as Kansas? ME: No C as in CAT (but of course) Phone: So what is the problem again? ME: This is the third time that I am repeating the problem. If it is a confession, I should have beenn absolved already. Phone: So how long have been you been a customer of this company ? Me: What is the relevance of the question to my problem? Phone: I am going to direct you to our internet expert so she can answer your question. Me: Okay, thank you. She will be the fourth person, I will be talking to for my problem. Phone: Hello, I am C, how may I help you? Me: (Thought baloon: If I have known that I will be repeating myself several times for one simple call, I could have taped and played itwithout havingto punish my vocal chords that have already been devastated by the two week long cough and made me sounded like a man) blah blah blah Phone: Ma'am, you have reached a wrong company. We are not the phone company, we are the internet provider of that company only. You have a different internet provider and it is best that you call them. Me: I did not ask that guy to connect me to you. I was just asking, about the inability of my phone to access my provider. It is aphone problem and not the provider so it seems. Phone: Then you have to dial their repair service. Me: That was exactly I was trying to reach but it seems, I had an astral travel from US to India and Asia for a simple question whether my two numbers are local in my place and whether that static in my phone has something to do with the dial-up problem. Phone: I suggest that you hung up and dial this number. Me: That is exatly what I dialed but it does not provide options that can address my problem. Phone: Try reaching this number. Me: Thank you. Phone: Have a nice day Me: mumbled: (are you talking to me?) Phone: Hello, this is, how I can be of help? Me: My account is ...the number is...(Thought balloon: what about my resume?) Phone: Okay, what seems to be the trouble, ma'am. Me: Covered the mouthpiece and blurted...argggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh then touch an imaginary button to play a recorder. Phone: Let me check that m'am for you but you have to hung up so I can check the lines. Anything else ma'am. Me: ow these numbers....are they local? Phone: I am sorry, I cannot help you in that matter. You can call our Business office. Me:Okay, can you connect me to that office? Phone: Sure,have a nice day. Me: It is getting nicer. The CA t

Legitimate and legitimated

Dear Mouse, The post of sassy regarding Poe’s citizenship reminds me of one of my law professors in College who pointed to us the difference between legitimate and legitimated children. It was a business law subject but the issue was raised by one of our classmates who at that time was being pressured by his live-in girl friend to marry her so that their boy will not remain illegitimate. If my brain archive was not messed up by some forgers, I remembered that the lawyer said that my classmate’s love child was not illegitimate since he and his common-law wife have no impediment to get married. According to the the professor, the boy is considered natural child---not natural born. If and should they decide to tie the knot, then the boy is said to be legitimated. I agree with the sassy lawyer. The citizenship issue isn’t over yet. Despite the forgery accusation that seems to be an OVERKILL on the part of the the scheming group that will be benefit from the disqualification of Poe, the natural- born issue is not resolved yet. According to Dean Jorge Bocobo, The real big question, as big as FPJ's status, is: who's behind Manapat and the Fornier brothres? Whoever they are, are not the types that easily get disheartened by a setback. They are moving on to their what if-fall back positions. In the game of chess, the horses are out to gallop and the bishops are ready to protect the King. One such fallback is the case brought by a non-governmental organization against Poe. Complainants to bring case against Poe to high court By Carlito Pablo and Tarra Quismundo Inquirer News Service Another citizenship-related case against Poe, filed on Jan. 15 by the nongovernmental organization Akbay Maralita Sa Lungsod Silangan Townsite Reservation (Amalustre) and lawyers Albert Villaseca and Melanio Balayan, moved on to the next stage, after Assistant Prosecutor Elseray Faith Noro summoned Poe to appear before him on either Feb. 10 or 17 at the Manila City Hall. The joint complaint had alleged that Poe's birth certificate at the Manila Civil Registry was a fake. They said the pen used by the attending physician, and the kind of typewriter used for the document, could not have existed at the time Poe was born. As Manuel Quezon the TERD wrote in his blog… The clot thickens There's an old Charlie Chan joke that goes, the detective was looking at the body of a stab victim and observed, "ah, so, the clot thickens.", the cat finds the disqualification issue more interesting than the LAW and ORDER TV series. check...your move... The CA t

Happy year of the Monkey? Monkey business

Dear Mouse, Tok tok tok tok. These are not knocks at the door. These are the sounds of a tennis ball flying and dropping from one side of the net to the other. The moment this rhythmic recurrence of sounds stops, it indicates that one player scores over the other. This is practically what is happening between the administration and the official opposition candidates for election 2004. The ball is with FPJ now. After the fake marriage contract bruhaha, the ex-movie star notched some brownie points. The accusing finger of Sotto made him an underdog within 24 hours after the demolition job that had been initiated months ago turned nastier as family secrets were being unearthed. The friends of the administration officials are bent on disqualifying him to the point that they will get that low of coercing some temp personnel to do the “some reconstructing and restorative tasks" in archived documents. This CA t is a “forger” too but not as high tech as desribed by the Archive personnel. All I needed was my printer/scanner, cream-colored embossed paper and golden foil from the chocolate wrapper. I wanted to frame my diploma, but I wanted a copy, not just a copy but a copy that would look like an original. So I scanned the original, adjusting the brightness and the contrast until I got a perfect copy. The first looked like an old copy—the calligrapher fonts for the name of the school and my name did not look sharp. I have to re-scan and make some resizing in order to fit the document in an 8 ½ by 11 frame. It looked perfect except for the gold seal. Using a pinking scissor, I trimmed the gold foil of the big choc candy and fashioned it to a round seal. Nobody would notice that the impression in the improvised seal is not the name of a school but the print from a meat tenderizer. A thin red ribbon fringed with gold completed the “diploma”. What I did was not a monkey business. It is for my self-gratification. This year is the Year of the monkey. It started with many monkeys monkeying around with documents. Read the excerpt from the news: Archives staff: Manapat ordered Poe papers forged By Jose Rodel Clapano The Philippine Star 01/22/2004 Bolstering allegations of the political opposition, three National Archives staffers yesterday accused their boss of ordering them to forge documents to support the disqualification petition against presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. Archives employees Remmel Talabis, Emman Llamera and Vicelyn Tarin told a Senate inquiry in detail that archives Director Ricardo Manapat began work on the forgeries as early as last November, the month Poe disclosed he was joining the presidential race. The three archives staffers said they used pre-World War II birth certificates and marriage contracts, scanned them and changed the pertinent data with the use of computers to make it appear that Poe’s father was married to a Paulita Gomez. During a Commission on Elections (Comelec) hearing last Monday, Manapat attested to the authenticity of the documents stored at the archives — mainly Poe’s birth certificate, the marriage certificate of his parents and that of his father and another woman, namely Gomez. With Manapat seated only a few chairs away, Talabis related in detail how he scanned pre-war birth certificate records in November with a computer and erased the data to reproduce a blank form. "Mr. Manapat ordered me to clean the details in the birth records and asked me to prepare a black and white copy of it. I did it with the Adobe Photoshop (a computer imaging program) and Mr. Manapat also got a printed copy of it," Talabis told the Senate hearing.. Citing Manapat’s instructions, Talabis then changed the pertinent details of a 1928 birth record. Manapat allegedly told him to use the exact font or style of lettering that were then in use, Talabis said. "I couldn’t find the same font (lettering style) in the computer. So what I did was to cut and paste the font in the letters in the birth certificate," he related. Talabis said Manapat asked him in December to reproduce a blank pre-World War II marriage contract form. "He handed over to me a faxed copy of a marriage certificate and asked me to make a form of it," he said. "There are Spanish letters in the marriage contract which are fine copy. I just put a question mark on each word that I could not decipher." But Talabis went on forced leave before he could finish work on it and handed the job to Llamera, he said. Llamera, a contractual employee in the archives’ computer division, finished the job — complete with all the pertinent entries — by the time Talabis reported back to work on Jan. 5. Talabis was ordered to decrease the size of the lettering used in the entries because they did not look authentic. "When I returned on Jan. 5 for duty, Director Manapat told me to print out a marriage contract. This was the same marriage contract that he asked me to prepare last December," he said. "When I checked on it, there were already entries there of names, signatures and seals." Tarin, a records management analyst detailed at the archives’ computer division by Manapat, related how she was ordered to choose from a selection of signatures of the names Allan Fernando Poe and Paulita Gomez and affix them on the document. Talabis continued that Manapat later in January "asked me to scan a birth record of a certain Allan Fernando Poe and ordered me to print out a negative copy and another positive copy." "When I saw the Xerox copy marked as Exhibit C in the disqualification case against Mr. Poe before the Comelec, I realized that it was the same birth record that Mr. Manapat ordered me to scan last December," Talabis said. Senate President Franklin Drilon said Manapat could face charges of forgery, falsification of public documents and obstruction of justice if found guilty. The CA t

Headline

Dear Mouse, I like Kevin Spacey. He is a good actor. He is so good that I won't mind sitting down for straight two hours without doing another chore to multi-task just to watch his movie in a DVD. After watching his MIDNIGHT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL AND L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, I found his acting in movie ( a title I cannot recall) effortless but very effective. This was about an unemployed guy who wanted to be a reporter in that lone newspaper publishing company in a small town. He did not even have a desk and a computer to write his report. The first news report that he handed to the grumpy owner/editor was headlined "TWO DIED IN A SEA MISHAP". The editor chided him, "You call this a headline?" while crossing out the headline with a marker and wrote "A BOY SURVIVED IN A SEA MISHAP, LOST BOTH PARENTS. This was not actually the headline that he wrote. My intention in presenting this scene was to bring out the practise of some editors/writers to sensationalize the news in order to make them eye-catching. This brings me back to the memory lane where our Philippine History Class teacher required us to report current events/news before we start the lessons for the day. Oftentimes, she would make us feel like we left our brains at home to thaw when she would make the remark with her Nancy Fine-like smirk, "Do you call that news?" Dog bites man was not a news. That early, one could already foresee that if ever that class would produce a journalist, he sure would make a good newswriter. Take for example, this DAILY TRIBUNE, front page with this screaming headline?Sotto names GMA man culprit in FPJ 'alien' status. the photo of Senator Sotto with an outstretched hand and accusing finger complimented the message. very effective layouting. The headline gives a different angle of the issue (but of course, the editor of the Daily Tribune is known to be an Erap loyalist) Philippines Star gave a more impartial headline.. Headline News Documents versus FPJ authentic http://www.philstar.com/philstar/index.htm These headline and news presentations bring out another issue, i.e. Enrile?s remark about the likeness of Poe to Marcos. Some solons regarded the statement of Enrile that is putting Poe in the same stature as F. Marcos as a sick joke. Most of the reactions came from the victims of the Marcos dictatorship. They feel insulted when irresponsible statement coming from an equally brilliant political icon who missed the presidency by the nose due to miscalculated moves insinuated that all the while they have fought a man that was no bettter than a high school drop-out movie actor. My personal thought about this matter is, Enrile feels that he has nothing to lose. He already lost the credibility when he adopted ?balimbing? as his favorite fruit. Who was it who said publicity, good or bad is still publicity. Let me present selected statements from the news. Solons say Poe-Marcos comparison a 'sick joke' Posted: 0:56 AM (Manila Time) | Jan. 20, 2004 By Cynthia D. Balana Inquirer News Service 'Shallow, pathetic, ridiculous' FORMER senator Juan Ponce Enrile drew flak Monday from various quarters for comparing movie star and opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. with Ferdinand Marcos when the late dictator was still a "good leader" in 1965. "It's very shallow, pathetic and even ridiculous," Representative Loretta Ann Rosales, one of the tens of thousands of people who were arrested during Marcos' martial law regime, told the Inquirer. House Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez said Enrile's statement was not only a "sick joke" but was also too presumptuous and might be a slur on the capabilities and talents of Marcos. On Sunday, the Inquirer quoted Enrile, who is seeking another Senate term on Poe's ticket, as saying during a forum in Baguio City that Poe might just be the next Marcos. In 1965, Enrile said, Marcos ran against President Diosdado Macapagal, and in the coming May elections Poe is challenging Macapagal's daughter, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Rosales said she found Enrile's message being conveyed to the newspaper readers "very pathetic." For one, she said, she did not expect that a person of Enrile's stature would venture into such "nonsense." The CA t

Gandhi o Ganda?

Dear Mouse, The Ca t is curious. I have taken this test before but sassy's post made me do it again. The first 9 question-test revealed that I am this type of a leader.

What Famous Leader Are You?

The next set stunned me. Look.

What Famous Leader Are You?

So I took the two more sets. In both tests, I get this personality as a leader.

What Famous Leader Are You?

Wheeew. I wonder what questions and responses categorized me with S-leadership personality. The CA t

Sabi ng mga eksperto/worker's visa 4

Dear Mouse, Masyadomg matrapik ngayon sa internet. Ang aking ipinost ng Biyernes ay lumabas lang ngayong Linggo. Saan kaya tumambay iyon? Marami akong dapat isulat pero binibigyan ko ng espasyo ang tungkol sa panukala ni Bush sa kapakanan ng mga kawawang Pilipino na bibiktimahin na naman ng mga abugado na ang espesyalisayson ay pag-ayos ng mga papeles kapalit ng libo-libong dolyar na kanilang hinihingi. Marami sa mga may problema ng papeles ngayon ay sa dahilang pinaniwala sila ng mga abogadong ito na sila ay magigiging legal dahil sa mga batas na sila lamang ang nakakaunawa at mga karaniwang mamamayan ay walang kaalaman. Sa aking pagtalakay (naks!!) ay babanggitin ko ang mga opinion ng mga eksperto kasabay ang pangungulit kong ano NGA BA mga pare ang ibig ninyong sabihin. Hindi ninyo ako maasahang magbanggit ng mga balitang isinulat ng mga reporter na para lang makakuha ng atensiyon ay parang nagging manok na ang itlog at ang batang nasa loob ng sinapupunan ay nailabas na at naglalakad na. Ayon kay Atty. Robert Reeves,ito ay kaiba sa amnesty law atsa H1 visa na naibibigay lang sa mga propesyonal. BUSH PUSHES FOR SWEEPING IMMIGRATION REFORM Attorney Robert Reeves 2004-01-11 18:25:00(LA) / 2004-01-12 10:25:00(Manila) President Bush proposed on Wednesday changes to the U.S. Immigration law that will have a dramatic affect on foreigners not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. The President recognized that the U.S. is a nation built by immigrants and that today’s U.S. immigration laws are too harsh and cumbersome. He proposed a change in the law that will be more compassionate to foreign workers and serve the economic needs of the U.S. Bush’s proposal will create a category to allow willing foreign workers to come to the U.S. to fill the jobs American workers are not filling. U.S immigration law today only allows for workers who are meeting a seasonal need or in specialty occupations (engineers, accountants, physical therapists, etc.) to come to the U.S. to work temporarily. The new law would allow thousands of new occupations to be sponsored. These would include bookkeepers, caregivers, domestic help, gardeners, cooks, secretaries, carpenters, and sales staff to name a few. This is a spectacular improvement from the current immigration situation. Ang mga abugado ng artista sa Pinas ay may artikulo tungkol dito. Basahin: BUSH “LIMITED AMNESTY” PLAN OFFERS HOPE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR THE NEW YEAR by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq. 2004-01-10 04:50:00(LA) / 2004-01-10 20:50:00(Manila) Illegal immigrants can look forward to a better year, with a proposed immigration reform program being drawn up by the Bush Administration. The Bush plan is considered to be the most important immigration change in 18 years. While ruling out a “blanket amnesty,” Bush said he would soon send recommendations to Congress for an “immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee.” James G. Beirne as isinulat ang Q and A na inilabas ng Washington para maunwaan kung anong klaseng hayop ang pinag-uusapan. Bush unveils new Immigration Reform Program ON Wednesday, President George W. Bush unveiled a plan that would let millions of undocumented immigrants with jobs stay and work in the country legally for up to six years. The plan, which recognizes the fact that immigration is in America’s self-interest and "one of the primary reasons [why] America became a great power in the 20th century," will create a "new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing US employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs Since its announcement, our office has been receiving calls regarding the issue. Immigration reform is important, and the Law Offices of James Beirne welcomes this new development and will continue to track it for you since the immigration reform debate is still ongoing. We are publishing part of the Fact Sheet released by the White House. Questions and Answers on Fair and Secure Immigration Reform Q: Is this amnesty? No, amnesty rewards the undocumented population with an automatic path to citizenship worked in the U.S., and supports the creation of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their native countries. Q: Will immigrants who participate in this program be eligible for citizenship? The President’s proposal would not put temporary workers on the path to a green card, which permits holders to apply for citizenship after 5 years. However, it would not preclude a participant from obtaining green card status through the existing process as long as they are not given an unfair advantage over people who have followed legal procedures from the start. Men and women working in America on a temporary basis will have to get in line behind those who are already waiting. Q: If unemployment rises, will this program be suspended? One of the goals of the temporary worker program is to fill jobs in the U.S. that are not being filled by American workers. Employers would have to make every reasonable effort to first fill any job with an American before offering one to a foreign worker, including during an economic downturn. Q: Would this proposal create a new enforcement burden? It is in the interest of the Nation, and each community, to identify foreign visitors and immigrants and make clear the nature of their intentions. All participants would be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into the country. Q: Will the family members of aliens participating in the temporary worker program be able to live in the U.S. with the principal worker? Yes. The concept of family unity is consistent with other temporary visa categories already in existence. The principal worker is required to prove that he or she can support family members during their stay in the U.S. Family members will not be authorized to work unless they join the program themselves. Q: If this program does not allow the worker to remain permanently in the United States, what incentive would an undocumented worker have to come forward? The worker will be able to live and work legally and openly, which brings improved working conditions, the ability to travel to the home country, and the opportunity to negotiate salary and benefits, receive training, and to move to another employer participating in the program. The CA t

Guess or Citizen/worker's visa part 3

Dear Mouse, Si Inga ay isang manedyer sa Pinas. Dahil sa mga intriga sa opisina ay ninais niyang umalis pero wala siyang maisip kung saan lilipat. Habang siya ay nakikisosyalan sa isang pagtitipon, nakilala niya ang isang negosyanteng balikbayan na may negosyo sa Estet. Impressive ang credentials niya dahil mayroon siyang MBA (hindi Manager by Accident). Inalok ng balikbayan ng trabaho si Inga para magtayo ng branch ng kumpanya sa ibang siyudad sa America.Penitisyon siya ng balikbayan na may-ari ng negosyo para para makatrabaho siya sa Estet. Aprubado naman pero hindi sapat yon. Kailangan niyang kumuha ng visa para makapasok siya sa Estados Unidos at magamit ang employment authorization na iyon. Kinailangang mag-apply ng temporary worker’s visa sa US Embassy. Kaiba ito sa tourist visa na nagbibigay lamang ng ilang buwang pamamalagi sa Amerika. Kaiba din ito sa immigrant visa dahil hindi ito nagbibigay ng karapatang mamalagi ng permanente sa Estet. Kailangang mapasa niya ang interview na mag-aalam kung siya nga ay may exceptional ability ( kagaya ng magsirko o kay a kumain ng apoy…ooops) Kailangan ding maibigay ang lahat ng mga dokumentong hihingin para katunayan na ang kumpanyang nagpetisyon sa kaniya ay hingi lamang gawa-gawa o nagtitinda lamang ng lugaw o banana cue. Binigyan siya ng TEMPORARY WORKER’S visa. Sa kaniyang kategoriyang propesyonal, ito ang tinatawag na H1B. Siya ay lumipad para magtrabaho ng tatlong taon sa Estados Unidos. Dahil nagustuhan siya ng kaniyang amo, hindi pa man tapos ang tatlong taon ay penitisyon naman siya para magkaroon ng green card. Ito ang tinatawag na employment-based immigrant visa. .Matagal ang maghintay ng approval ng green card. Sa procesong ito kailangan patunayan ng employer na wala talaga siyang makukuhang Puti, Itim, Pula na maaring gawin ang trabaho ng Pinoy na magaling. Paano ? Aba eh, maglalagay ka ng wanted ads at magdasal ka ng walang mag-aaply na taga Estet. Pag may nag-apply at hindi kinuha ng petitioning employer, kailangang i-justify kagaya ng pangit kasi eh (nagbibiro lang po). Pero dahil kakaunti lang ang may MBA dito o kaya tapos ng kolehiyo. Wala silang laban. Pagkatapos na sertipikasyon na talagang walang MAKUKUHANG MAGTATRABAHO SAKA LANG MASISIMULAN ANG PAGHIHIRAP NA Pag-apply sa GREEN CARD. Kaya pag kinakailangan ay dapat i-eextend ang temporary worker’s visa nang tatlong taon pa. Kaya anim na taon na pwedeng magtrabaho ang isang may H1B visa. Sa loob ng mga taong ito ay puwedeng lumabas at pumasok si Inga sa Ameriika. Si Enya naman ay isang karaniwang empleyado.. Dahil sa problema sa pag-ibig (lintek na pag-ibig yan), siya ay kumuha ng tourist visa at lumipad sa Estet.Sa kagaya niyang single, halos dumaan siya sa butas ng karayom para makakuha siya ng minimithing tourist visa. Pagdating sa Amerika, inerekomenda siya ng isang kabigan sa kaniyang amo na gusto ang mga nagsisimula ng walang papel. Isa, hindi siya basta basta makakalipat, dalawa, hindi siya hihingi ng malaking suweldo at ikatlo, siya ay magiging masunuring trabahador. Sa madaling salita ay penetisyon siya ng kumpanya at siya ay nabigyan ng employment authorization. Hindi kagaya ni Inga, hindi niya na kailagang mag-aaply ng visa dahil nasa Estados Unidos na siya.Pero hindi rin siya puwedeng lumabas at bumalik sa loob nga tatlong taon na siya may karapatang magtrabaho ng legal. Sumulat siya sa mga kaibigan na hindi siya makakauwi dahil expired na ang kaniyang tourist visa. Tsinismis siya na TNT na raw. Hindi oy. Siya ay legal pa rin. Maari rin siyang mag-apply ng visa pero mahabang proceso at magastos. Hindi pa tapos ang kaniyang tatlong taon ay nakakilala siya ng US citizen. Sila ay nagpakasal at siya at penitisyon ng asawa para magkaroon ng green card. Ito ang family-based immigrant visa petition. Si Ellen ay isang accountant sa Pilipinas. Nakakuha siya ng tourist visa at lumipad sa Estet. Binigyan siya ng anim na buwang maglagi sa Ameria. Ipinasok siyang caregiver ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak (under the table). Mahaba ang proceso na pag-aaply ng petisyon para sa ganitong klaseng trabaho (H1B2)na by the time, makuha ang permit ay expired na ang kaniyang visa. Kaya nagpatuloy siyang magtrabaho ng walang permit. Ito ang mga tinatawag na illegal working aliens. Dahil siya ay wala ng visa, siya ay TNT na. Hindi siya puwedeng mag-aaply ng Social Security, wala siyang driver’s license at siya ay nasa awa lang ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak. Pag siya ay nahuli, siya ay puiwedeng ipadeport. Ano ang kaibahan ngayon ng proposed na guest worker’s visa sa mga temporary worker's visa sa ngayon? Sa susunod na kabanata. The CA t

Guess o Seiko(guest worker's visa 2)

Dear Mouse, I got two guesses, erm I mean two Guess watches, mousey. One was a gift this Christmas and the other one---was a gift to myself, three years ago. I have the habit of giving myself a remembrance for a cash bonanza received as an appreciation of my hard work. (ahem). Mas maganda naman yong kaysa sa plake na matigas hindi makain o kaya hindi masuot para ipagmalaki. I am not a Guess person. I prefer the Seiko watches that my friends in Pinas gave me (siyempre bigay noh, ) on several special occasions in my life. I got a collection of them, stainless, gold plated, small and wide bands, fancy and simple . When I took a vacation in the Philippines last year, I brought them for battery change. ( Kuripot eh. Battery change in the Pinas is only a little over $1 and repair is just $ 5.00 while in the Estet, batteries cost more than $ 5 and repair could go as high as in “I will just buy a new watch, dude)”. I got several watches, that I always received an annoying question, my watch repair ka ba sa Pinas noon? My retort is the patented,” I have every watch for the different time zones, you know”. Hold it. We are not talking about my arsenal of watches. This is a continuation of the series (ano yan comics?) about guest worker. Tatagalugin ko. Don’t ask. Trip ko lang baka may maligaw ditong magbasa na nasa Pinas ay mawarningan sila. Baka sakaling may mga may masasamang budhi na naman na manloko at sabihing na madali na ang kumuha ng worker’s visa sa Estet kaya magbayad lang sila ng libo-libo magkakaroon na sila sa madaling panahon. Yong iba pati nanay nila isinasanla. Hayaan ninyong ipaliwanag ko ang aking iniisip sa panukalang ito. ( whew, mabuti na lang may nagregalo ng diksiyunaryong Tagalog sa akin). Guest worker visa as proposed by the Bush administration will have the ff. terms and conditions. (Tagalog sabi eh). 1. may maawaing employer(hindi ko alam sa Tagalog noh) na magpepetisyon sa trabahador. (Katsila yan). 2. tatlong taong legal na pagtatrabaho pagkatapos na puwedeng habaan pa (sabi indefinite, sabi naman ng iba anim, sabi noong iba, siyam . Ano nga ba. Wala ba kayong caculator? Ilan mang taon yon , pagkatapos ay UWI KA NA. (beh) 3. sertipikasyon mula sa employer na talagang peksman walang Puting gustong kumuha ng trabahong yon. (Sino mang Pinoy na dala pa rin ang paniniwala na ang Pinoy lang ang gusto ng mga trabahong nagsusuot ng putting kolyar (susme, white collar jobs ang ibig kong sabihin) ay nahuhuli na sa balita. Ang mga nagtatrabaho sa mga plantasyon ditto ay karamihan mg nagsasalita ng nga lenguwaheng pinsan ng mga Chabacano sa atin. Pag may nakita kang Puti, anak araw lang yon. Di ba Itim naman ang nagtratrabaho talaga sa mga pataniman. Pero noong sila’y lumaya dahil sa ARMISTAD (sine yon oy) sinimulan nilang kumuha ng mga Asyano, kasama ang ating mga lolo na naging mga pineapple pickers bago magkagiyera. Ang mga apo sa kalingkingan ng mga manong na iyon ay ang mga nagdadrive na ng mga LEXUS, Chedeng at nambubuwisit sa mga Puti dahil binibili nila ang mga bahay sa paligidligid. Ang mga tsuuuuper dito ay mga nakaturban (yong iba) may istorya ito pero sa ibang araw na lang.(maghintay ka W X Y z) 4. ang employer (daw) ay hindi puwedeng ipetisyon ang mga TNT na. (labo nito, akala ko sa mga illegal ito? 5. Yong mga illegal puwedeng magbayad para makasali. (Ayun, yon yon eh). Sandali , mousey, mahaba pa ito. Hindi pa ako tapos magbigay ng opinion. Meron ba ? Itutuloy. Abangan sa DARNA komiks. Kung tinatanong ninyo kung ano ang K ko para magbigay ng opinyon tungkol sa imigrasyon, hoy may K ito dahil ang asawa ng aking malayong kamag-anak na napakalayo (walang DNA chrom pattern na magsasabing magkamag-anak nga kami ) ay abugado. (eh ano ngayon). The CA t

Guest or Guess (worker's visa)

Dear Mouse, Election time. Whether it is in the Future Kingdom of the DA KING or the most powerful nation in the planet, US of A, election time is the only period every four years when the power of the poor, the marginalized and the invisible citizenry to make or unmake a leader is recognized. Wooing them comes in assortment of tactical resources to gain their ends. In the Philippines, land titles that turned out to be bogus (?) were distributed by the deposed President during the last election. Shows that feature personal appearances of movie stars who can be seen only in the movies and the TV become the main attraction in political campaign meetings where platforms are supposed to be presented to the electorate. In the US of A on the other hand where the homeless and the poor are provided for by the welfare system, the marginalized sector is the illegal immigrants. Lest you raise your brow (do mice have eyebrows, Minnie Mouse has thick eyelashes you know),let me explain before this server that sucks kicks me out again. The Bush Administration is proposing for the overhaul (read: a horse with a new cart, a lady with a new doo or a baby with a new bib)of the immigration laws that will legalize the working status of illegal immigrants. Excerpt from the news follow: WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 — President Bush will propose a sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration laws on Wednesday that could give legal status to millions of undocumented workers in the United States, senior administration officials said Tuesday night.Under Mr. Bush's proposal, which effectively amounts to an amnesty program for illegal immigrants with jobs in the United States, an undocumented worker could apply for temporary worker status here for an unspecified number of years, with all the employee benefits, like minimum wage and due process, accorded to those legally employed. Malabo ba, mousey ? Naturalized citizens can vote, the illegal made legal cannot. So why propose for the legalization of the workers as an election strategy? Because, mousey for every one illegal alien, there is one naturalized family that can wield its voting power. Why is my title guest or guess? The guest stands for the guest worker visa that is being proposed to give the illegal workers the legal status. Guess why critics say it is merely an amnesty program with a different title. The CA t

My brain is frozen

Dear Mouse, Time does not heal wound. Love does. (where did I read this?)'Tis true, mousey. Without love as an element of healing process, the pain comes back that no amount of pain killer give one a relief of comfort. The brain merely pushes the painful experiences to the subconscious and retrieves them when the cause of the emotional distress remerges. Masakit ang nigpin ko mousey. I cannot think. So for today, I will merely reproduce the e-mail of a friend. I do not know its origin but it sure soothes my troubled mind. Did you know that some English song titles can sound so funny and outrageous when translated in Tagalog? Here are some of them: > Imagine -- Mantakin Mo > Bluer Than Blue -- Malapit Na Sa Hukay > Too Young -- Nakana Mo Batang-bata > Tonight's The Night -- Patay Kang Bata Ka > Hey Jude -- Hoy Hudas! > Power Of Love -- Buntis > Three Times A Lady -- Super Bakla > More Than A Woman -- Tomboy > > Can't Be With You Tonight -- Meron Ako Ngayon Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know ! -- Huwag Mo Kong Gawing Tanga(wife version to husband) > You Should Know By Now -- Alam Mo Na Dapat Ngayon Yan, Tanga!(mistress version to lover's wife) > Sometimes When We Touch -- Minsan Kapag Tayo'y Naghihipuan > Touch Me In The Morning -- Hipuan Mo Ko Sa Umaga > Total Eclipse Of The Heart -- Maitim Ang Puso I deleted some translations. They are too green for me. I love pastel colors. The CA t

My brain is frozen

Dear Mouse, Time does not heal wound. It is love. (where did I read this) 'Tis true. Time merely makes you forget the pain but without love as an element in the process of healing, the hurt comes back that no amount of pain killer can give you comfort. The brain merely pushes the painful experiences to the subconscious and retrieves them when the cause of the emotional distress reemerges. Masakit ang ngipin ko mousey. I cannot think. So, I am just reproducing the e-mail of a friend. I do not know where it originated but it gives a relief for a troubled mind. Did you know that some English song titles can sound so funny and outrageous when translated in Tagalog? Here are some of them: > Imagine -- Mantakin Mo > Bluer Than Blue -- Malapit Na Sa Hukay > Too Young -- Nakana Mo Batang-bata > Tonight's The Night -- Patay Kang Bata Ka > Hey Jude -- Hoy Hudas! > Power Of Love -- Buntis > Three Times A Lady -- Super Bakla > More Than A Woman -- Tomboy > Can't Be With You Tonight -- Meron Ako Ngayon > Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know ! -- Huwag Mo Kong Gawing Tanga(wife version to husband) > You Should Know By Now -- Alam Mo Na Dapat Ngayon Yan, Tanga!(mistress version to lover's wife) > Sometimes When We Touch -- Minsan Kapag Tayo'y Naghihipuan > Touch Me In The Morning -- Hipuan Mo Ko Sa Umaga > > Total Eclipse Of The Heart -- Maitim Ang Puso I deleted some, mousey. They are too green for me. I love pastel colors, you know. The CA t

Why are some people mean?

Dear Mouse, ........ The CA t

PEE

Dear Mouse, It is not the waste material that is secreted by the kidney in vertebrates and is excreted as slightly acid fluid in mammals and semisolid in birds and reptiles,excuse me. It is an acronym for PROTECTIONISM, EXODUS AND EDUCATION. If I pretend to be celebral in this post of mine, indulge me. Tell me mousey, which is more dependent on foreign economies, a country that experiences flow of migrant labor predicated on inability of the nation to create jobs to absorb the ever increasing number that joins the labor force every year or a country that export its labor because of the inability of its educational system to provide the necessary skilled manpower. In 1995, the Relief Nursing ACT expired and so was the recruitment of foreign nurses. The stoppage of hiring of these foreign workers was motivated by protectionism. The issue of foreign nurses (most of them are Filipino nurses ) depriving the locals of employment opportunites was the same concern addressed to by the legislations requiring corporations hiring foreign skilled manpower to pay a fine of $ 500 for each head recruited that would go to funds for education and training of locals for the same skills. The decision to stop hiring foreign nurses created a shortage of these professionals in a matter of three years within its implementation. The subsitution of the health care professionals by the graduates of crash course programs was a failure. After a few years, the need to increase the ratio of patient to professional nurse was made into law and became effective this January 2004. Obviously the labor force protected did not deliver the skills required. Thus, the hiring is so urgent that resident permanency is offered to the nurses as a way of incentives. The same thing happened to tech professionals. The big demand for these techies was not adequately met by the recruitment from abroad. The quota of the working visas allotted for professionals hired was not enough for the IT people. The local labor force was not skilled and educated enough to do the job. In the country where jobs do not require college diploma to be employed, and college education is as expensive as buying a house, many did not bother to go beyond the one year college studies. Their counterparts in Asia however, struggled to have college education and equip themselves with skills that make them globally competitive. China and India may have the tehnical skills that meet the needs of these high tech companies but the Philipines has the manpower that is highly trainable and can speak English the way it should be spoken in America. Two executives, representing the Computer Systems Policy Project, a group of eight chief executives from the nation's biggest information technology companies were short of saying, it’s education stupid. Craig Barrett, head of Santa Clara chipmaker Intel Corp., declared that the world had arrived at a rare "strategic inflection point" where nearly half its population -- living in China, India and Russia -- had been integrated into the global market economy, many of them highly educated workers "who can do just about any job in the world." Fiorina, Chairman of HP warned against the growing protectionist backlash, saying the only alternative to losing jobs overseas was to make a national decision to stay ahead of foreign competitors by improving grade-school education, doubling federal spending on basic research and forming a national broadband policy, as Japan and Korea have done. The benefit of the country from the OFW comes in the form of remittances that admittedly help buoy the economy while the exodus of labor to Asian countries result into higher unemployment rate for the outsourcing country but higher profits for corporations that can generate labor savings from lower wages paid. Labor migration and export of labor, which is bane and which is boon ? The CA t

Long day

I had a very long day today. I woke up at 5 am, thinking that it was 6 am. Checked on my e-mails for an hour. So I saw D's e-mail. Spoke to R. Left at 7 am, training from 8:00-10:15, branch managers' meeting from 11:00-12:00, sales meeting from 12:15-1:30, our big boss treated the managers to dim sum from 1:45 to 2:45; left main office 3:00, arrived branch 3:30 worked thru mail, e-mail and other stuff till 5:00; had staff meeting with a staff re performance improvement plan at 5:00-6:00 (we're open til 6 on thursdays, otherwise we close at 4:30) and then tried to connect a new printer till 6:45 pm. got home 7:25, chatted on the phone till 7:50, wrote e-mail til 8:20, and i think i really should work at the gym tonight til from 8:45 to 9:30. what a day, huh? Now, I've got my commercial and consumer loan goals, i need to bring in 4 million to the bank, i actually have the lowest goal given that i'm the new kid on the block and as every bank i've worked for, they always raise bars every year. this weekend i'm gonna be busy figuring out what goals am i going to give to my staff. at least, me and my staff are starting to gel but it took me some time because they've got issues and i need to coach them and coach them and coach them. meeting after meeting after meeting. i think slowly they're getting it but we'll see. everyone will have their own tasks at hands. and primarily accountable for their goals. ok no more shop talk, i am going to the gym.......i think by the time i go to sleep will be 11:30 or midnight. full circle. ( i forgot i haven't eaten dinner yet. i'll just have something light after i come back from the gym, see ya. ciao. hasta la vista. Disclaimer: This is not my story. It's my sister's. Single and a bank branch manager in Boston, she has always been an achiever even before her Ateneo days. She is planning to enroll MBA in Harvard . I hope she meets Mr. Right. I found a Mr. Left.(yong bang kaliwa ng kaliwa).

Optical illusion

Mine is an optical mouse. Instead of a ball, it has a small red light in its belly. Since that IT guy did not explain to me what makes it different from my original mouse that expired due to shock from news I browsed , I thought, it is optical because it can create optical illusion. Yes, it does. While other KSO(Kasama sa opit)who are still using the ordinary mouse that has flat right and left ears are simply amazed how I can shift from one spreadhseet to another without having to drag or click stubborn icons--a function that gives me not only a CTS but also AA. Not only it can scroll or browse by manipulating the red light but it can crawl on any suface without its pad..my arm (puwedeng pangamot, my leg (pangmasahe para sa mga legs na hindi naeexercise dahil palaging nakatitig sa monitor.) and face ...for a facial massage. So my mouse is free to roam. It is not restricted by the size of the mouse pad wwhere it lies on its stomach 24 hours a day. The last one I had was a piece where you can insert a calendar, a picture or a reminder. I chose to insert a picture of a Mars resident that I hate. What a nice feeling to have my mouse crawl over his face. PRICELESS. But this is not the subject of my blog today. See: Mouse: !@#$%^& CAT: You lost your tongue to the CAT, mousey? Mouse: @#$%^& CAT: It seems that you are incoherent today, mousey. Got shocked or what. There is a personality disorder that characterizes such symptoms. Mouse @#$%^& CAT: Okay , mousey, I got a translator ala Eddie Murphy. I want to know if you were subjected to animal cruelty. Mouse: @#$%^& CAT: Ow you have been roaming around and sleuthing. Mouse: @#$%^& CAt: What you mean by behind the scenes ? Hold on mouse, this server keeps kicking me out. (@#$%^&&*) The CA t

Not onli in the Phils (abuso sa puwesto?)

Dear Mouse, (Kailangan tagalugin). Kami ay maraming binabayarang tickets para sa aming mga sasakyan na nahuhuli na nakaparada sa kalsada. Ang mga dahilan ay walang maparadahan at kung mayroon man ay mas mahal ang babayaran. Pag pinamili sa dalawang masama(choosing between two evils) eh di yong mas mura. Eto rin kaya ang dahilan bakit ang DA ng San Francisco ay nagkaroon ng hobby ng pagkulekta ng parking tickets? Basahin: City's departing D.A. knee-deep in unpaid parking tickets Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross Wednesday, January 7, 2004 San Francisco's departing district attorney, Terence Hallinan, may be leaving behind some unfinished business -- namely, $831 worth of unpaid tickets on the late-model Ford Crown Victoria that was assigned to him while in office. Department of Parking and Traffic records show that Hallinan racked up 23 tickets in the past three years -- half of them for early morning street- cleaning violations, some near his Sutter Street apartment.Others were for parking next to fire hydrants and in truck and towaway zones. The CA t

Scrambled eggs, Pinakbet ?

Dear Mouse, Scrambled eggs. This was the term used by Rina Jimenez David of the Inquirer.net to describe the mad scramble of the politicians to be included in the senatorial slate (godknowswhateverpartyacceptsthem) for May 2004 election. To quote her: IT'S like watching scrambled eggs cooking, this process of coming up with senatorial lineups as well as presidential-vice-presidential teams in preparation for the May elections. The omelets on the political burners make for an interesting mix of recipes, including farm-fresh eggs as well as the cracked, spoiled and rotten. There are eggs from all sorts of species: lame ducks and dodos, spring chickens, turkeys and dinosaurs, birds of a feather as well as perpetually fighting cocks, doves of peace, vultures, birds of prey, poultry fattened on synthetic hormones and native "self-supporting" chickens scratching for food from the bare earth. Kulitmodaw used rigodon but mentioned other kinds of animals, elephant, tiger and snakes. Does the elephant represent people who do not forget and forgive? Does the tiger represent those people who can kill their prey and the snakes for fork-tongued politicians. Another columnist, whose name slipped from my mind at this moment used another recipe to call this political merry go round, pinakbet. Are the ampalayas, the people who felt bitter because of dissilusionment from not being chosen to run for a particular position? Are the "talongs", the people who are willing to be included in any recipe although they can stand on their own as a main ingredient like tortang talong, inihaw na talong or just boiled talong with kalamansi and bagoong? Are the "okras" the people who salivate for positions so that they do not care if they sleep with strange bedfellows? Or are they the okray okray people who may be intelligent but are crazy to the max. Wanna coin another term, mousey? The CA t

Spam mails

Dear Mouse, Do not talk to me today. I am busy reporting spam and blocking more spam mails. I included the favorite lines of spammers to the most used words, viagra and xanax, 1. Viagra online (also: xanax, valium, xenical, phentermine, soma, celebrex, valtrex, zyban, fioricet, adipex, etc.) 2. Online pharmacy (also: “online prescriptions”; “meds online”) 3. Get out of debt (also: “special offer”) 4. Get bigger (also: “satisfy your partner”; “improve your sex life”) 5. Online degree (also: “online diploma”) 6. Lowest mortgage rates (also: “lower your mortgage rates”; “refinance”; “refi”) 7. Lowest insurance rates (also: “lower your insurance now”) 8. Work from home (also: “be your own boss”) 9. Hot XXX action (also: “teens”; “porn”) 10. As seen on oprah Arghhhhhhh how can I improve my sex life when I get bigger? Why do they ask me to get out of debt when they are offering loans? Online degrees offer me to become a reverend after two months. Got to to go mousey, my spam sandwich looks delicious. The CAt

Rigodon daw

Dear Mouse, Greetings. Do not worry, I am not writing about politics today. But kulitmodaw did. Disclaimer: For W, I am not kulitmodaw, I do not write Poems. We also do not come from the same genes. Mine is Levi's. Rigodon January 04th, 2004 06:43 pm Kagulo, kagulo na ang mga pulitiko, lipat doon, lipat dito para manalo, bakit si Osmena ay napunta kay Arroyo, Bakit si Loren, naman napunta kay Ronnie Poe. Ahh, para ko nang naririnig si Madam Miriam, Haba ang nguso at sa boses na mapang-uyam, Hindi ko matatanggap ang makasama iyan, Ang iyan na binanggit ay si Loren na kalaban. Di ba't kailan lang, si Ronnie ay pinagtanggol, tulad ng asong mabagsik na tahol ng tahol. Anong masama ikanya, sa taong bopol, Lahat may karapatang, sa pangarap'y humabol. Ala, Si Jinggoy naman daw ay lalaban pa rin, Kahit siya'y di pinili ng ninong pa mandin, Anak daw sya ng makamasa at maawain, Tiwala s'yang mahihirap , sya'y tatangkilikin Si Ping Lacson daw ay tatakbo na ng walang bise, Walang mga senador na puwedeng kakampi, Ano ang nangyari at siya 'y hindi nakasali, Tapos niyang mang-away, sipa s'ya sa KNP. Alahoy, alahey, Si GMA'y sumasayaw, Ocho-ocho at F4 , kaniyang sasaliwan, Habang nag-aaway, kanyang mga kalaban, Ngiti niya ay 'gang tenga, dasal ay magsabunutan. Kasaya talaga ang pulitika sa Pinas, May iyakan, bugbugan,at maraming palabas, Parang karnibal, maraming kayong mamalas, May mga payaso, elepante, tigre't ahas. Ang aking tula lagi nang may nakakatawa, Istilo kong pagsasaad para ako lumigaya, Sa tulang ito, ay wala kayong makikita, Dahil nakakatawa mismo ang pulitika. by Kulitkodaw The CAt

Tadaaa and the winner is according to my crystal ball

Dear Mouse, As I promised, I am not writing about politics. Now I am writing about fortune telling. I am using my crystall ball, a gift from a friend who spent holidays in Mexico. Made in China. $ 9.99. Ow even the fortune tellers were offshored? So, mousey, brace yourself, as I peered into my ball for the most likely winner in 2004 presidential race. Owww, I can see something. The first name of the candidate has a letter A. Mouse: (rolleyestotheleftandright) Fernando has A, Gloria has A and Raul Rocco has A. CAT: Do not be impatient, Mousey. There is another letter becoming visible. The last name has an O. Mouse:(rollyeyeswhilechewingthetailtohideimpatience) Arroyo has O, Poe has O and Roco has O. CAT: Come on mousey, I am not done yet. I will have a consonant instead. The vice-president of the candidates have N in their fist names. Mouse: (rolleyeschewingthetailtohideimpatiencetailingthecattohideboredom) Noli has N, Loren has N and Herminio has N. CAT: Okay, another consonant, coming up. The first names of the spouse of presidential candidate who is going to win has an S. Mouse:(rolleyeschewingthetailtohideimpatiencetailingthecattohideboredomyawning) Ahaaa, this time you eliminated Gloria. Da King's wife's name is Susan or Jesusa, Raul's wife is Sonia. Gloria's husband is Mike. Miguel. CAT: Ow I thought his name is Jose Pidal. bwaahaahahahaha. mouse: xyz#$%^&*()_+ CAT: wnat to buy a vowel, mousey? The CA t

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CUT

Dear Mouse, The production of DA RETURN OF THE KING is suffering a hitch. The choice for the leading lady by the DIRECTOR/ACTOR/PRODUCER was not well received by the CAST who were handpicked by the WRITER due to their dog-like loyalty. I did not believe when I read that "Dancing Lady Oreta " wanted out of the movie because she wanted family unity for Aquinos. What family unity is she talking about? The AQUINOs is a clan of butterflies when it comes to politics. They wear different colors and different hats. They believe that boats would not capsize if there are two people rowing in the opposite sides. Next to bolt is the upstaged prima donna of the old movie. In the previous movie production, she shared stellar billing with the Crying Lady. She was the character that brought volumes of law books in the movie set in order to check if her dialogues were in accordance with US and RP Constitutions, SCRA and other decided cases that she could use to impress the viewing public of her acting ability. If she could not sway them to her side, she challenged them with death-defying stunts like jumping out of a plane without a double. The prima donna whose screen monicker is BRENDA told the Writer that she could not work with the CRYING LADY due to political differences. Another source, however said that BRENDA who lied that she would forget about politics when her son died months ago bolted from the CAST because the WRITER promised her to be the leading lady of the DA KING and HE LIED. Poor woman, she could not take people lying. Another who expressed of her withdrawal from the movie is the daughter of the Original Drama Queen , Imee. She has to face reality. Their fans do not go beyond their fiefdom. The Fans CLUBS of the writer are not happy as well. These groups which are responsible for the "hakot crowd of toothless , rubber slippers-wearing and shirtless fans" cannot take in their hearts to cheer for a lady whose credible performance in the movie, THE VELARDE FILE ended the acting career of their idol. He was suspected of being a ghost writer of a movie "THE ART OF WAR' with real soldiers in the main cast. It laid egg in the theatre. The leading characters did not have acting ability but to cry. Where will you see a movie where men cry. Sheeesh. . The Writer must be suffering with a big headache in his knees (hehehe) . By this time he must have already realized that there is no secret for success but the key to failure is to try to please everyone. (Where did I read that?). How would he ask the "DA KING" to drop the Crying Lady in favor of his annointed ones when it took him months to persuade him to run? Oh by the way someone is missing in the scene, where is the Gaffer? Patalastas folks. See my new link, kulitmodaw. Kamukha ko raw? Hindi naman ako pangit.hehehe. The CA t

Lights, camera, action

Dear Mouse, I watch movies not because of the actors but because of the director. Movies make actors and not the other way around. Before Rusell Crowe became a hit in his Gladiator movie, he appeared second billing to other top Hollywood actors. I am not going to talk about movies here. But I will be talking about an actor, a director and a producer. Fernando Poe Jr. If someone yells phleaseeeeee, shoot me. Politicians have their publicity machinery to shape their image. For her vice-presidential election bid, GMA was ripped off her intellectual persona and was packaged as a Nora Aunor look-alike. She was made to sing, dance and forget her supladita and Assumptionista t'wang...all for masa's sake. She won as vice-President with more votes than Estrada. Estrada was already the darling of the masa but everyone knew that he is not poor. So aside from his trademark wrist band, he floated in his slogan, Erap for Mahirap. 2004. A veteran of movie industry, Fernando Poe Jr. is the actor, director and producer of his campaign program. First, the "pa scarce effect". That is Ronnie's trademark. Unlike other movie actors and actressess who made rounds of the TV shows for interviews before a movie is released, Ronnie simply avoided this publicity gimmick. Never did he approve of a write up linking him with his co-star for a romantic angle in order to arouse the interest of the movie fans. The pa"scarce effect" is working just fine for him. He does not have to explain his absence in some ceremonies that need his attendance. He knows where to make personal appearances...at UP symposium, in a publication's get together and in a gift-giving program where thousands of bags with panday's pic. were given away. For a candidate who just declared his decision to run, he must have made use of the helps from the duwende, tikbalang and nuno sa punso to come up with the well-prepared and well packed give-aways. Pasakalye lang yan. During the campaign, the wife will not be allowed to smoke in public. Bad for her sweet image. Will someone come forward to declare that she was an illegitimate daughter or son from one of his leading ladies? Will someone ask what happened to his FPJ Productions? Will someone ask if he stopped going to horse race track? It is a well-known fact that he is a political surrogate of Erap. It does not necessarily follow that power makers behind Estrada are still there. Some of these power makers are behind GMA not because they believe in her but she has more credibility to the business sector and international financial institutions. Despite the legitimacy issue, scandals and several attempts to overthrow the government, she finished her term. Money and political machinery do not guarantee winnings. If they were, Imelda could have been elected as the President of the Philippines. If Poe will rely on his political machinery, he will lose. The machinery is split into pieces. So what makes the candidates win ? popularity? So what makes some candidates run when they can only gather a few millions? That is mousey what you call positioning. A few millions that go to the nuisance candidate can make or break a strong contender for the position. A last minute withdrawal from the race of the nuisance candidate with a sizable followers is highly suspicious. Money may not be the object that makes him change his mind but a pledge for positions for some of the people in his flock may. It is only during election when the common tao could use the only genuine influence they ever possess-the vote. Some put a price on it. It is during election when the rich businessmen contribute to the moral decay in wholesale volume by financing the election campaign of candidates who are going to be the protectors of their interests. Oops, did I tell you mousey that my other resolution is not to write about politics. No, I did not? Ladies' privilege to change minds. GMa said that she is not going to run, so did Miriam Santiago. Shall I say, they lied and me too.hahaha The CA t

Ponder

Dear Mouse, Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But he with a chuckle, he replied, That may be it couldn't but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried, So he buckled right it with a trace of a grin On his face if he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing, That couldn't be done. and he did it. Somebody scoffed, "Oh you will never do that, At least no one ever has done it" But he took off his coat and took off his hat And the first thing he knew he'd begun it, With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, If any doubt rose he forbid it, He started to sing as he tackled the thing, That couldn't be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure, There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you, But just buckle rigt in with a bit of a grin, Then take off your coat and go to it. Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That cannot be done, and you'll do it. **** Unknown***** Simply said, in trying times, do not quit. The CA t

New year's resolution, old shows, Frank Sinatra

Dear Mouse, I got several new years solutions. One that tops the list is Do not put off for tomorrow what I can do today. Did I say resolutions with an S. Yes, many more but I will have the rest tomorrow. Oke doke ? Old shows While waiting for the giant ball in NY to burst, I surfed the TV channels. I came across a TV channel with the old shows of Frank Sinatra. I did not like him. (Huwag ninyo akong batuhin ng kamatis, SInatra fans , let me finish, I said did.) First, when I was just at that age whose idea of a movie idol is a hunk, ala Brad Pitt or Jude Law baga, I saw an old movie of Sinatra in the TV where he was chosen by the movie heroine over some guy ( I think it was that handsome actor who died of aids, the name slipped from my mind for a moment, ow it was Rock Hundson...do not ask me the title of the movie...I did not see the entire movie and I did not care. Bisita lang ako noh and I cannot change the channel. Pangit siya sa tingin ko. I cannot understand why old people were going gaga for him. Then the MY WAY song written by Paul Anka and sung by Frank Sinatra became the national anthem in the "sing-along" later changed to KARAYUKE Country. It was a hit that everywhere I go, I hear the "MY WAY". Utang -na-loob hintuan ninyo ako. Then last night, with no choice to watch, I gave my remote a rest by staying with Sinatra. The stage background was very austere. No back up singers singing lalala dadedeee yayayayaya... no faux rain like Ashanti's, no dozens of goirls and boyz to rip some performers' scanty stage costumes...just plain music and song. I started listening. It was more like poetry in music. He was narrating stories. I know I said I was leaving... But I just could not say good bye... It was only self-deceiving... Send in the clowns, oh where are the clowns... Is your figure less than Greek, Is your mouth, a little weak, When you open it to speak? Am I feeling old or just becoming a sentimental fool. (Huwag kang ganiyan, mousey, baka kumidlat at kumulog). The CA t

NEW YEAR, new day, new hope

Dear Mouse, First thing, I did when I woke up is to go to the mirror and check my nose. Force of habit, mousey. When I was in the Philippines, the previous night's revelry usually made my nostrils black. The streets in the village were littered by scorched cartons that remained from once beautifully wrapped "fountain-light like" emitting cones. Our neighbor, a VIP in the Customs does not celebrate the NEW YEAR without a bang. So much money to burn (sinong nagsabi saiyo niyan, accusation yan ha..oopsie)..she (yes she is a she) surrounds her gate with the Judas belt (for those uninitiated and who have spent their New Year in the US all their lives, this is a belt made out from jumbo triangulo.(fire crackers in triangle brown papers). When one end is lighted, one by one the "triangulo" is lit and emits sound like a rattttatatat of a machine gun. She asks the "helps" to tie "bawangs" (oh nononono, this is not the sassy lawyer's favorite pungent bulb for cookery) to a post and light them for that BOOM sound..BANG. As if it is not enough, she treats us with the display of fireworks and mesmerizes us with the lights and colors of Roman holidays and fountains of different sizes and colors. The sights, sounds and colors of the pyrotechnics can not drown out the emptiness in her heart. Me, I hold only one Roman candle and utter a prayer for its short duration of light. The CA t