White hair chronicles XX - death and reunion

This past weekend I met old friends from two different chapters in my life. The two vastly different reasons for the occasions are becoming recurring themes for my white hair chronicles. They always remind me of my graying hair.

An office mate from my first job lost her year long battle with cancer. She was a comadre, a very close friend, a confidante. She was a vibrant, colorful personality, definitely a character that you will never forget. When we learned about her diagnosed condition last year, friends and colleagues immediately offered prayers for her quick and full recovery. For a good part of the year, the prayers seemed to work. She regained her strength, her hair and her zest for life. But cancer is such a traitorous disease. It came back to attack her other organs. In the end, her illness may have claimed her mortal body but we, her friends who had a sort of reunion at her funeral wake, know her faith and spirit are unbowed.

Still on reunions - Facebook has brought together my elementary school classmates. A classmate who had lived in Texas for more than half of her life flew into town. She isn't the shy, innocent, prepubescent girl that we knew anymore. She metamorphosed into a sophisticated, articulate, tennis playing mom who can fix flood soaked homes DIY style. Another classmate, who we remember to be another shy girl, has a rather winsome smile and intriguingly fairer complexion in her profile photo. Facebook updates, however, can never be enough. We had to meet in person. And so we did. And we're glad we did.

Thirty plus years may add white hairs and 60 pounds (kilos to some). It may ravage our bodies. But we, my comadre and my batchmates, no matter what, will always stay forever young.

Villar has spent over half a billion pesos on ads so far

BusinessWorld Online reported that presidential aspirant Sen. Manuel B. Villar was at 14th place in the list of top 20 advertisers in the last quarter of 2009. Villar spent P543 million from October to December 2009, a 551% increase from last year. That probably does not include those ads paid for his "friends". And it's not even the start of  "official" campaign period.

There is no reason to doubt the validity of the report given that Villar's ads are really all over the media. Perhaps the figure is even understated. That figure could easily go up if we factor in the production costs of the ads.

What the voters should realize is how a politician can manage to amass a fabulous fortune by influencing the public works projects around his properties. First, make the public works department construct roads for your properties even if there are on-going road projects for that. Then, make the government pay top money for your properties even if adjacent properties are not as expensive. The politician cuts it both ways - by kickbacks on the road project and by getting paid premium price for the properties. But wait, there's more. The properties now are valued much, much more because of the road improvements.

Don't wonder why more than half a billion on advertising in just three months is peanuts, and he's not even officially campaigning yet.

Don't vote for Man, Evil, Liar

Proverbs 17:4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
(image found in the Internet)

My women's tennis album 26 - Open fashion

Tennis fashion in this year's Australian Open. Plus more photos from last year's Open.

Just Joking 3

Tawagin na lang natin syang si Super Isko!

"Isko" is a  Filipino nickname for Francisco.. 

A boy named Isko was very sad in his class.. 

The teacher asked, "Isko what is your problem?" 

Isko answered, "I'm too smart for the first-grade. My sister is in the third grade and I'm smarter than she is. I think I should be in the third-grade too!" 

The teacher had enough. She took Isko to the principal's office. While Isko waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was. The principal told the teacher he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of the questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave. She agreed. 

Isko was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test. 

Principal: "What is 3 x 3 ?" 
Isko: "9". 

Principal: "What is 6 x 6 ?" 
Isko: "36" 

And so it went with every question the principal thought a third-grade should know. 

The principal looks at the teacher and tells her, "I think Isko can go to the third-grade." 

Teacher says to the principal, "I have some of my own questions. Can I ask him?" 

The principal and Isko both agreed. 

Teacher asks, "What does a cow have four of and that I have only two of? 
Isko: After a moment, " Legs." 

Teacher: What is in your pants that you have but I do not have? 
Isko: " Pockets " 

Teacher: What starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?
Isko: Coconut 

Teacher: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky? 
The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Isko was taking charge. 

Isko: Bubblegum 

Teacher: What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs? 

The principal's eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer.... 
Isko: Shake hands 

Teacher: Now I will ask some "Who am I" sort of questions, Okay? 
Isko: Yep. 

Teacher: You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do. 
Isko: Tent 

Teacher: A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you're bored. The best man always has me first.. 
The principal was looking restless, a bit tense and took one large Jack Danielpeg. 
Isko: Wedding Ring 

Teacher: I come in many sizes. When I'm not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good.
Isko: Nose 

Teacher: I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver. 
Isko: Arrow 

Teacher: What word starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' that means lot of heat and excitement? 
Isko: Firetruck 

Teacher: What starts with a 'F' and ends in 'K' and if you don't get it, you have to use your hand. 
Isko: Fork 

Teacher: What is it that all men have one. It's longer on some men, than others, the pope doesn't use his and a man gives it to his wife after they're married ? 
Isko: SURNAME 

Teacher: What part of the man has no bone but has muscles, has lots of veins, like pumping, and is responsible for making love ? 
Isko: HEART 

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the Teacher: 

"Send this boy to Harvard University !! Even I got the last ten questions wrong myself!"