Nature's Insect Repellant

the Lemongrass in front of our home

I was doing some research about Filipino herbs, particularly the lemongrass, or more commonly known locally as tanglad, or salay to some.

One interesting fact is this plant could help us shoo away mosquitoes in our house. At this point in time that dengue is becoming a big problem in our country, I think we need all those things we need to fight these mosquitoes from getting anywhere near us.

True. These mosquitoes could be anywhere in the market, at your children's school grounds, at the back of your office, or in the corridors of the church.

But still, we need all things, any thing that could help us prevent these flies from coming near us.

Lemongrass is said to be a natural mosquito repellant. At least, we won't need a handful of Off! Lotion on our body when we are within the four corners of our home. According to the Filipino website, philippineherbalmedicine.org, all you have to do is place crushed lemongrass leaves in places around your home; on window sills and near entrances. It's a plus if you already have this grass anywhere near your house or in your backyard.
We have this grass in front of our house. It's not really very hard to reproduce this plant. We bought a small plant from the Anilag Fesitval last March and we have been able to plant this across our yard and right now, we are already growing a good number in front. All you have to do is get a portion with its roots and let it grow by itself. As my dad says, it's not going to be very hard because, since it belongs to the grass family, it won't be hard to maintain.

If you're interested in planting lemongrass in your yard and you live near my place, click on contact me and leave your message. I'll give you a shoot to start with once we arranged a meet-up.

Trying Hard Kasi

Trying hard was such a negative word when I was growing up. Back then, it meant that you're trying hard to do something, to have something that is way out of your abilities, way out of your reach.

It's so sad that it's been a part of our culture to look down on someone who is trying hard. This phrase has a negative connotation. Hurtfully, it became an negative adjective. You are a 'trying hard' if you are poor and trying to get something that they think is only for the rich; if you are someone who looks like someone who can't afford something but finally gets it.

But if you really think hard about it, don't we all have to try hard?

We try harder to get what we want. We try harder to have what we have always dreamed of. There is nothing wrong in trying hard.

The Dust Has Not Settled Yet For The OFWs

They fear.

They always have.

Leaving the country takes a lot of courage. Leaving alone in another country takes an even more courage. So, it's a double courage to do both.

We lay our lives on the line because of the risks of working in another country. With no intended pun or whatsoever, the stakes are more for domestic helpers. They are the ones who live in the four corners of their employers' home, not having too much people around. They are the most prone to abuse, and as the news have shown, a lot of them have been abused already. In Hong Kong, most of our OFWs are domestic helpers.

Right now, I feel for them. I fear for them.

This anger of Cpt. Mendoza resonates at the land of the Chinese. It travelled not only within the walls of the Ombudsman's office. It made its way to the hands of those people who couldn't care less for his demands. If before he doesn't exist, now he does. But not as a policeman who thinks he was mistreated by our government, but a murderer of their own kind. Now, we all know that we cannot blame them for what they feel. Because, in the end, you will ask yourself, 'Wouldn't you feel the same?'

Our OFWs left the country because this country could offer them no more. They left because they feel that our country do not care for them anymore. But in spite of this, they feel our country's love for them once they start to miss home. Home becomes something more than those cardboard walls and earthen floors. Home becomes our country they long to go back to.

But after the dust has finally settled at the grandstand, their vision even became clouded when they thought it would be clear. They fear of being tormented for a sin they did not commit. They live each day trying to do everything right because one simple mistake will mean another stupidity tainted with the captain's blood. Another wrong move could mean that his blood is of the same hue as the captain. They live in shame of being branded with the same mind as the captain's.

Now, can you blame them if at least once in a day, they think of turning their backs to this country?

Estrellas

Sa Paskong darating, Santa Clause niyo'y ako rin

Pagka't kayong lahat ay naging mausunurin

Dadalhan ko kayo ng mansanas at ubas

May candy at tsokolate, peras, kastanyas na marami.

I Still Keep a Notebook

While others have moleskins, I have last year's excess giveaway diary that was never used. I scribble something from time to time - no, not every day, but just when I feel like it. At times, I write a whole article in it and never get to go back to it again. Never did have time to proofread it, not even post it on my blog. Just like my 'Photo of the Week' here which I posted yesterday.

I have this apart from my diary. I write big and my small diary space is not enough sometimes. I also write about those words I encounter from my readings that I don't know the meaning. I usually look it up after the whole reading time. I write about topics that I never got to write about. I probably will have to check them later when I get my winds to write again.

Photo of the Week: August 28- September 3, 2010

Nothing But Courage

This one caught my eye when I was in town back in 2007. If I am not mistaken, I took it when I was to leave for Dubai in a matter of days. It caught my eye because the flag that these Katipuneros were holding were totally torn. What I was thinking at that time I took the shot was, "How can you fight for something that is totally damaged, torn and vandalized." But we continue to fight, even if there is nothing left. We have the courage, the spirit, the hope.

I guess my thought is still true nowadays, considering what happened last August 23, 2010.

But, we, the Filipinos, don't lose hope. We keep on fighting.

I Am My Brother's Keeper

The world saw what happened.

A fifteen-year-old Filipino wrote an apology.

In the middle of the situation, the negotiator said everything was calm; everything is under control. If we recall, Cpt. Mendoza was seen at the door of the bus looking calm and composed.

But the situation shifted.

The bus driver said that everything turned out to be different when the police tried to arrest his brother, and the media was showing it live on tv. Everything as in everything that happened when the brother was being arrested.

I was feeling cold as I watch it live. I felt tense about the situation. It was like watching an action-packed film, but a whole lot more (a whole effin' lot more) because this is not a movie. It is really happening and Filipinos and the whole world are watching.

If you were Gregorio's brother, the hostage-taker, how would you feel?

The driver tells his story here.

A Gesture of Humility

I have been wanting to share this since I can remember. But it's not that I didn't have the time nor the connection. None of that reasons. Right now, all I can think about is that maybe it's not yet time or probably because of those distractions that I came across with lately.

But I don't consider this something to many at all. It's just that I felt like sharing it to some people who might not have known it yet…. Like me.

As a child, I went to mass with my mom. And as many of us did, some of those parts I hardly understood, not to mention the gestures that everyone makes on certain segments. But, again, like many of us did as a child, we just followed or mimicked our parents on everything they did during the service.

One thing in particular is the gesture that we make as we sang or recite Kordero ng Diyos [Lamb of God].

I never really knew the reason why my mom puts her right hand or her right chest as she recited it together with the others.

Years passed and as a teen, I think I stopped doing that.

But as an adult, I started doing it again. Funny how we realized a lot of things that our parents taught us when we reach a certain age. How we realized that they were indeed right on those things that they taught us as a child.

I still didn't understand what it meant or why it's done when I started doing it again.

A few years ago, after hearing mass with my sister, she asked me why and I didn't have any answers. The only thing I could tell her is that because Mommy taught us to do so.

Just recently, after a service, she again, asked me. But this time, I know she has the answer.

She learned from one of those masses she has been into that putting your right hand on your left chest while reciting Kordero ng Diyos [Lamb of God] is a gesture of humility and submitting yourself to Him.

I hope this gave you the answer, if you, too, had been asking but was timid to ask.

Is This a Sinkhole?

I saw this while I was getting down the jeepney yesterday, on our way to church. This is on the road in front of our muncipal hall.

If this is not a sinkhole, fine, and most probably, it is not.

How did it happen to be there in the first place?

Customize Your Chrome

I have a friend who is into anything Google and she was the one who introduced me to Google Chrome a year ago and have been using it ever since. I had a few doubts about moving to Mozilla Firefox but went back to Chrome after a survey and a week of experience. No comments about Firefox, I just happen to be very comfortable about Google Chrome.

I couldn't remember how and when I discovered about Google Chrome's Extensions. But right now, it's giving me a lot of convenience and support in most of my internet activities. Aside from those that are given on the news here, Google Chrome Extensions to Customize Web Experience, I would like to share with you more extensions that benefits me almost everyday.

Feedly

If you already have a Google Reader, you can switch from your Reader to Feedly. Feedly turns your reader into a magazine-like page wherein you can find those sites that you follow in a sort of magazine-page presentation. If you have categories in your Google Reader, Feedly will automatically have these categories organized and presented like a page in a magazine. For example, if you have Books category, all your subscriptions under this category will be shown in a page. You can customize your subscriptions by changing the look of that page, as well as the chronology of the updates from the site (from oldest to newest or vice versa).

RSS Button

In line with your Reader is the RSS button. By clicking on this button, it allows you to subscribe to the site's feeds. This will automatically put the new entries on that site directly on your Reader, and thus, on your Feedly. Whatever you put on your Google Reader is automatically added to your Feedly. I suggest that you modify the categories directly on your Reader as it will also change the site's category on your Feedly.

Blog This!

If you have a blog at blogspot a.k.a. blogger.com, this button makes it easy for you to blog about the sites that you feel like writing about. Once you click on the extension, it automatically opens a 'new post' page that has the link of the site you want to blog about. You can modify the hyperlink by just clicking the phrase and then clicking 'change link' to modify the hyperlink. At times though, I use this to just blog about what I think of. Just click on the Blog Extension icon and remove the link and put your thoughts and blog title. You can either save the draft to make changes later, or you can publish it right away.

Add This!

This one cool feature allows you to directly share the page you want to share just by clicking the icon's extension. Once you click the icon, a drop down menu will let you choose whether you want to share with via Facebook, Twitter or even just mail it to your friend. Drop down menu also includes other sites like Delicious, Dig, and more. For me, I sometimes use this to take note of some sites for reference later by mailing its link to my email.

StumbleUpon!

This extension is very useful for people who wants to look for new sites at random. Some of those websites that I already shared at my Facebook accounts are the ones I discovered here. Clicking the extension will give you a bar that makes you surf the web at random. I have discovered a lot of information using this extension like the mystery surrounding the Dyatlov Pass Incident and He Took a Polaroid Every Day, Until the Day He Died.

The Dictionary

This is one amazing extension. Once installed, all you have to do is highlight the word and double-click on it to find out its meaning. Yeah, effin' awesome when you're reading terms which are unknown to you!

There are still a thousand more extensions that you can actually plug-in your Google Chrome. You can add those that you find helpful to your online activities. They not only add convenience but easy access to information as well.

Just one thing before you add an extension. Read about the specifications as well as the comments and the ratings. This will also help you figure out if that extension is good to go on your Chrome or if it still needs some modifications based on the comments of the people already tried the extension.

The Fad That Evolved Into a Habit

The JEJEMON website

Wow, I just saw this a few minutes ago, and I really can't believe that they have a website, and I think it's not a free hosting, since it says http://www.jejemons.org/.

I just can't believe it!

I am not a supportive of these JEJEMONS. I just think that it is not a fad. Because as it turned out, this fad has evolved into a habit, and those youths that started this type of 'language' and 'culture' are now feeling the effects of this so-called fad. What was a fad became a habit, and the habit seems to have become their way of life. That is why this website here says that a certain percentage of employers are likely not to hire applicants using the language.

I think this is fair enough. There are a lot of youths out there who are struggling to study hard and keep it right. They do not go out of their way just to give in to peer pressure even if it means that they would not be as popular as those who adapt the jejemon language and the culture.

In fact, I admire those youths who, after all the hardship of peer pressure, still come out as one of the best students of their class.

Connecting the Dots

The show, 'Pilipinas Win na Win' has barely been a month old on the tube.

Image grabbed here

Wednesday after the premier telecast, they were boasting about the ratings on the tv show. But that was the first and the last so far.

In between, the relationship of Robin and Mariel continue to hit the tv, the internet and everywhere.

Last week, Robin left the show temporarily to give respect to the Muslim's holy month of Ramadan.

This week, Mariel was at the NAIA departure area and said on this article, Boy on Mariel's Departure: "It's about love", that yes, she will go to India, and then wherever her feet takes her.

That's fine.

But I just wonder.

The ratings of her show, "Pilipinas Win na Win" is going down. In fact, I read yesterday on this tweet, that they have a rating of 11.7 as compared to Eat Bulaga's 14.5.

Why in the world would you leave your show at this point in time (when the surveys are low) to take a vacation?

This leaves the public to connect the dots.

On the Same Plight

Two countries.

One thing in common.

Today, the news tells us of these two bus accidents that happened.

One in India and the other is here in the Philippines. They have almost the same fatalities. In the Philippines, it is currently at 41, while in India, 37. We might hear an update for a rise in the Philippines later on, but in the case of the India news, I'm a little apprehensive for any more updates.

The accident in Baguio happened somewhere in Naguillian road, where the bus plunges into a ravine 35 feet deep after it lost control.

The one in India had the same plight. But the plunge was at a 200-meter ravine, also after losing control and zigzagging before falling off the cliff in a place they call Himachal Pradesh.

Road accidents have been an issue everywhere, as in every country. In Dubai, their solution is to slap more fines for every violation. In India, I don't really have that much information. In the Philippines, I don't hear any noise from the Land Transportation Organization as to slapping giving more fines or stricter rules.

But I don't think this is even necessary.

One important thing I learned about driving is to always practice defensive driving. That was what my dad taught me since day one of my driving lessons. I have been into several accidents myself that sometimes I even wonder if what my dad taught me is even effective at all.

But it still pays that we drive defensively. As I grew older, my idea is, accidents still happen even if you are defensive, so, it goes without saying that you get to be more prone to accidents driving less defensively.

Read more about the news here:

Benguet bus crash death toll climbs to 41

Truck plunge kills 37 in north India

In Democracy There is Still Discipline

I came across this news on my reader: US singer Erykah Badu fined for public nudity

I don't really know who Erykah Badu is or what she does. I even have to google to find our more about her.

But the reason why I am writing about this is the fact that she was fined and she agreed.

I just admire the way things are going. Knowing that U.S. is a democratic country and freedom of self-expression is strong, there are still limits and they could establish it and implement it. It's still nice to know that people still get fined for their actions in a democratic country.

If this happened here in the Philippines, I can imagine people crying out for democracy. People insisting their right for self-expression because we are now living in democracy. But I think that it was just right to still have the limits and implement them.

For me, this is just about respect of the law, in the midst of democracy.

The Dislike Button and more...

This story on Yahoo! Philippines today, Facebook scammers spreading fake 'Dislike' button, confirms all doubts that my friends and I have on those "Biggest and Scariest Snake" and "World's Worst McDonald's Customer" posts we get on our wall from time to time. I guess I wasn't curious enough to have opened either of the two.

But I think they're missing one more thing, and I captured it sometime two weeks ago.

This is the screen shot of the hoax event I got on my Facebook account,
so be warned about such tricks that could harm your computers.

During my birthday dinner, my best friend and I talked about online income opportunities and she said that there was one thing at her email that she hasn't paid attention yet. So, when I got an invitation for an event that seems to connect with what we talked about over dinner, I opened the even invitation: Making Money With Joanne. It asked me to go to a link, which my system denied with several warnings and may include Malware. This gave me doubts to go further, so, instead, I took a screen shot and mailed it to my friend, asking her for the details.

My friend and I discussed it through e-mail and after a series of mails, she never created any such event invitation on Facebook.

What's Outside My Window?

The view outside our front window when I woke up this morning. He's on top of our little Juniper tree that's planted on the flower box.

OPM on the Airwaves Part 2

On my post here, it was just a news on the radio. After hearing the news and eating my lunch, I googled for something about it but did not find anything. But I was too eager to write about it because if I didn't at that time, I might be on my lazy mode and totally forgot about the news.

But today, while I was reading back tweets from the people I follow, this was posted and RT'd (retweeted). Ah, this confirms the news on my post.

This also confirms that the law when I was still in college is still a law. It's just that people has somehow forgotten it, that's why PNoy is reminding us all.

But, I'd still like to point out. I hope that Section One be strictly imposed.

Read about the executive order here: Executive Order No. 255

My Sister Was Held Up Last Night

For the past eight years, my sister goes home from teaching aerobics classes at about 8:30 in the evening, three times a week. All went well, until....

Last night...

As she was walking at the entrance of our compound, a guy of about thirty, she narrated, grabbed her from the back and pointed an object at her neck, and said, "Huwag kang maingay, hold-up ito.... akin na yang bag mo." (Be quiet, this is a hold-up. Give me your bag.)

She sensed the object pointed at her neck was not so sharp, and this gave her some courage to put up a struggle. While still walking, she answered back, "Sandali.... sandali.... SANDALI!!!" (Wait.... Wait.... WAIT!!!). The last one being the loudest. This, she said, looked like it scared the guy. He let her go and ran away.

My sister was tough and strong. She said that she was just trying to gauge the capability of the guy. She said that if the guy was tougher, she would just let go, but she felt like at that point, she was still on top of the situation.

But, in general, we are actually perplexed. Eight long years! It took eight long years before this happened. We used to tell her that someone, like my dad or me, has to be there to pick her up at night so that she will have company. But she declines to this idea because she fears that we are going to be attacked instead.

So, starting today, we came up with one solution to be extra careful.

Another Truth About UAE

Thousands of goods are unloaded each day at the Deira side of the Dubai Creek

When I decided to go to Dubai in 2007, I thought that it would be an entirely different experience when it comes to goods. I was looking forward to a worry-free time when it comes to buying branded things no matter how big or small that product might be. I was dreaming of buying Gap shirts, Ralph Lauren eye wears and Tag Heuer watches without having to wonder on my way home if I bought the original thing or a bootleg.

But I was surprised to find out that there is a place here called Naif, where there are a lot of fake goods to choose from. From socks to bonnets to mobile phones, MP3 players, iPhones and BlackBerrys, you can find it there. When I was just a newbie there, me and my room mates decided to go for a trip there and that's when I found out about this. On our way home, I was already thinking about the doubts that it brought me if every I get the money to buy those things I dream of. I was actually thinking that if one can get it easily in Naif, products may soon get every where and it will be hard to differentiate, even if there is actually a difference.

Next Friday when I called home, I told them about our adventure and I described the place as something like Divisoria, because that was the easiest way to put it.

A news from the famous UAE tabloid 7Days today confirmed my doubts which goes as far back as that day of November of 2007.

You can find the story here: UAE is a Hub for Fake Goods

OPM on the Airwaves

The lunchtime news at DZMM radio today announced that PNoy wanted the radios to play OPM songs on their stations.

There is nothing new to this. When I was in college and that was around the last part of the 1980s, the radios were actually required to play four OPM songs within the hour. All FM radios complied to this law. I used to listen to the Rhythm of the City 99.5RT, and I remember the DJ at that time sounding a little bit obliged for having to do such. I remember I heard her saying it with a sigh that it's time to play an OPM song now because we radio stations are required to do so(in which they complied), and a Filipino song started to play, but not necessarily in our language.

I actually feel good to hear that PNoy is starting to revive this law (if it were ever abolished). It gives a chance to our very own artists to be heard on the airwaves. I am not a radio listener nowadays, but it's still good to hear this drive.

But I have one point to make.

I am not a fan of revival artists. I actually sometimes hate the fact that a lot of songs are revived by young artists and I actually even branded one Filipino singer who is well-known for reviving songs. I called her 'Reyna ng Revival' (Queen of Revival). If I am not mistaken, she has an album that contains revival songs all throughout. Not an original composition from some other Filipino composer (but I am not entirely sure on this).

I just hope that when the law gets implemented, radios will play songs that are originally composed by our very own talented composers and sang by our very own talented artists. Otherwise, the song is not entirely original in its true sense.... unless of course, the old song is also from our very own composers.

Let us be clear on this.

OPM on the Airwaves

The lunchtime news at DZMM radio today announced that PNoy wanted the radios to play OPM songs on their stations.

There is nothing new to this. When I was in college and that was around the last part of the 1980s, the radios were actually required to play four OPM songs within the hour. All FM radios complied to this law. I used to listen to the Rhythm of the City 99.5RT, and I remember the DJ at that time sounding a little bit obliged for having to do such. I remember I heard her saying it with a sigh that it's time to play an OPM song now because we radio stations are required to do so(in which they complied), and a Filipino song started to play, but not necessarily in our language.

I actually feel good to hear that PNoy is starting to revive this law (if it were ever abolished). It gives a chance to our very own artists to be heard on the airwaves. I am not a radio listener nowadays, but it's still good to hear this drive.

But I have one point to make.

I am not a fan of revival artists. I actually sometimes hate the fact that a lot of songs are revived by young artists and I actually even branded one Filipino singer who is well-known for reviving songs. I called her 'Reyna ng Revival' (Queen of Revival). If I am not mistaken, she has an album that contains revival songs all throughout. Not an original composition from some other Filipino composer (but I am not entirely sure on this).

I just hope that when the law gets implemented, radios will play songs that are originally composed by our very own talented composers and sang by our very own talented artists. Otherwise, the song is not entirely original in its true sense.... unless of course, the old song is also from our very own composers.

Let us be clear on this.

Do you have friggatriskaidekaphobia?

I was surfing the internet and found this word...

So, this is what you call the fear of Friday the 13th....

According to Wikipedia, the word came from frigga which means Friday, and triskaidekaphobia which is derived from the Greek words Paraskevi, which means Friday and dekatreis, which means thirteen.

After all these years, I don't remember how many Friday the 13s there were up to now. Does that mean that I don't have friggatriskaidekaphobia?

But I do remember that there was a time when I was in college that it almost hit me. It's probably due to peer pressure that I almost got the fear. But it's good to know that I don't have it and I don't even bother with it.

As a matter of fact, if you live here in the Philippines and you are a fan of a popular noontime show that just started two weeks ago, Pilipinas Win Na Win, you will actually think that there is really nothing to fear about on this day.

A contestant was lucky today. He won Php 1 million in that noontime game segment called Open Susi-Me which if translated will mean something like Open Key-Me. This kind of explains the game's concept. Opening several doors, the last being worth a million pesos.

So, I guess this is his lucky day. One Friday the 13th he will truly remember.

Look What I Just Did...

I turned my PSP into an...

If you cannot sit down and read a book, why not put it on your MP3 player or.... a PSP... so you can listen to it while caught in a traffic on a bus, a cab or your car.  Just thought I'd share another late-bloomer stuff.

Currently, I am into "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

You can download FREE,  wonderful,classical audio books here.

HAPPY READING.... errr.... or is it... listening?

My BlackBerry 8700 from Du

At about the same time last year, I remember hearing about the BlackBerry sale 

on Du shops. It took me a few days to buy. I had to decide because it was an old BlackBerry 8700 model on sale for AED 800 plus the package which summed up to AED 990.00

My BlackBerry 8700

I was thrilled with the service. I could tweet! I could see Facebook updates real time! I can send and receive Yahoo!, Gmail and office e-mails, aside from owning my own @du.blackberry.net e-mail address.

It doesn't have the camera nor a big memory, because it's not the Curve, Bold nor the Storm. But, what I wanted and got was the internet service, which to take it further, allows me to tweet even under the Shindagha Tunnel, and send it fast!

But, I wanted a service I didn't get. I tried to download the Yahoo! Messenger and got it, but couldn't log in. I forgot what the message was but, it led me to call customer care and they said that subscribers cannot use the service because it is not allowed by the TRA. Back then, I didn't even know what that meant and what that does. So, I just said thank you and good day... whatever you want to say....

My BlackBerry 8700

I can tweet, I can Facebook.... Fine!

Back then, I didn't know that it has a signature on its e-mail... 

sent from my BlackBerry® Smartphone from Du

...until my friend responded from an e-mail I sent. She said, "Wow, naka-BlackBerry."

To which I replied, "Sus, eto yong lumang model... 8700."

Where she replied, "E, ano... BlackBerry pa rin noh!"

=========

Du's services were very good at that time. I really don't know why the complicated issues with the BlackBerry and the TRA.

Du Announces New BlackBerry Packages

XLII

Yup, that's right.

It's been that long and I'm that old... and happy.

As I've said in my Tumblelog last Sunday:

After all I've been through
I'm glad to be XLII
For those who've been there for the past eight months
I can't thank you enough for being there for me and my family.


You know who you are, people.

Those eight months wouldn't have been easier without you guys.  Those of you who took time out of their busy schedules to pay me a visit, who took a slash out of their loot to bring me some fruits, and whispered a little prayer for me...  'it might not be written nor said, but certainly it is well-remembered.'