Davao Blogspace

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Got curious about how the different traffic rating services ranked the top 10 websites in the United States last month.
Here’s what I found:
Alexa:
1. Yahoo!
2. Google
3. Myspace
4. Youtube
5. Facebook
6. MSN
7. Ebay
8. Windows Live
9. Wikipedia
10. Craigslist

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Time: 3:36 am
Location: Bolton Bridge
Event: Vehicular Accident

We were on our way to Star Mart Ecoland to get ourselves some refreshments after a fun nite of videoke when we saw this car speeding infront of us just before the bridge. Of course, everyone in our vehicle made comments on how these people were just an accident waiting to happen. A couple of seconds later, their car hit the bridge, bounced up a bit, the driver who was probably drunk lost control of the car, dinked 2-3 times then flipped like a coin being… well… flipped. Of course being the good citizens we were, we stopped the car and went in to see if anyone needed help. Suprisingly everyone in the Avella managed to crawl out, some with small cuts and bruises, but nothing apparently serious. Of course they were hysterical, screaming like little fruits but I guess that’s to be expected. If the situation werent so grim, I would have laughed right there and then when they started screaming for the driver… since the wheels of the car were still spinning when the driver crawled out of the car and ran as far from the car as possible, leaving his “concerned” friends behind.

I would have gotten better pictures of them crawling out of the car, but I got rather blurry shots since I just came from an event which left my battery drained and my camera needing more juice to fire the flash.

Here’s our very own Dr. Jim checking if anyone else was left in the car, plus asking the passengers if everything was ok. (no missing parts? haaa haa haa)

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Injections of botox in San Diego are becoming famous these days. I tried doing a Google search for that phrase and 189,000 results were returned. I have heard of “botox” a lot of times before. It was even used in one of the cartoon shows that I saw …

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Huwag mong gawin sa kapwa mo ang ayaw mo na gawin s’yo, tayo’y pare pareho lang na tao lang .. may isip at damdamin at nanggaling sa mga magulang, wasto ang gulang , ngunit ng tinimbang ay kulang, at nang binilang sa pag ani ay nanlinlang, di na kuntento nag imbento, nang bumaliktad ay gumawa […]

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Ang masasayang nakaraan ay kay gandang balikan, mga nakaraang naging bahagi na ng ating buhay. Nagising ako ngayong umaga at ang unang nasa isip at puso ko ang aking naging mga kaibigan na minsan ay aking nakasama. I just don’t know, nararanasan ko sa aking buhay na ang mga lugar ay may mga sangkap kung […]

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Live Updates found here
Update: DLSU wins over ADMU 60-65 and will meet UE at the finals. Great Game Ateneo! Congratulations Green Archers!
Cholo Villanueva was the key player for me. Getting rebounds down the stretch and hitting a 3 and a jumper when it was needed the most by the team.

Tags: UAAP Season […]

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I arrived from school one afternoon and found my stand-in grandmother pedaling her sewing machine, piecing together random fabrics to make a quilt. My 8 or 9-year-old mind could not establish the connection between “Singer” and “sewing” and thought that maybe for some people, like my stand-in grandmother, the annoying clang-clang of the machine’s wheel was music to their ears.

We called my stand-in grandmother “Nanay”. She took on the responsibility of raising my mom (her niece) when my mom’s mother went to the States. She was never married and never had children. I assumed that her vitiligo made it impossible for her to find a mate. She had white patches all over her body as if the melanin got confused whether she was Asian or Caucasian and it decided to give her the best of both worlds, except that she ended up looking like a freak. I always thought of her patches as continents–her skin a map–but I never mentioned it to her because she might not like the idea of me naming a patch of albino skin as some secret paradise island.

The rest of the neighborhood also called her “Nanay” because she was a retired nurse who became the midwife of all the baranggay’s pregnant women. This irony was last seen in the Star Cinema movie A Love Story. Nanay, however, didn’t have her own Aga Mulach.

As soon as I entered her room I collapsed on the floor together with my big backpack filled with thick textbooks which could have been thinner and lighter if it weren’t for the large elementary font. My teacher referred to those books as our future. Each day, I carried my future on my back, quite certain that the only future in store for me was a trip to the chiropractor.

I tried to look pained to get some sympathy in the form of Jellyace or Mallows, but a heavy bag could not compete with the troubles of war that Nanay had to endure as a little girl. She was also stingy. Either way, it was a lose-lose situation.

“We are going to write a letter,” she told me that afternoon I arrived from school. A grimace from me. I was looking forward to cartoons on our black and white TV especially when rumors went around at school alleging that the Smurfs were blue! I had to see it for myself and letter writing would ruin the investigation I had planned.

We always wrote to her sister, my real grandmother, who lived in Chicago. Lola Chila, name derived from Kastila (Spanish), seemed to answer our letters in dollar cheques and this encouraged Nanay to write more often than she should. When Nanay ran out of sad stories to write, she turned to me.

Nanay put aside the unfinished quilt and converted the ugly sewing machine into a table. She took a couple of onion skin paper and told me to sit on her lap so we could begin writing. Onion skin paper was invented for old, stingy, single women who went to great lengths to save on postage stamps. There was no clear use for it other than to reduce the weight of an already seemingly weightless mail. You’d think that with all the dollars her sister sends her she could at least buy some scented stationary but Nanay valued every centavo that not even Hello Kitty could sway her. She’d even use onion skin envelopes if they were available, or onion skin stamps for that matter.

“What am I going to write to her?” I asked Nanay although this question was just a formality since she’d do most of the writing anyway. I sat on her lap, she folded the paper in half, took my small hand, put the pen in my hand and began writing using my hand as if it were a large deformed pen. I don’t know how she got away with it, saying to her sister that I wrote the letter when the handwriting looked a lot like hers only bulkier. I did not even dictate to her what I wanted to write and she did not even bother to choose words that a third-grader might use. The situation transcended any acceptable form of ghost-writing.

Towards the end of the letter she asked me if there was anything I wanted from Lola Chila. “Toys! Lego! Tonka trucks! Matchbox! GI Joes!” I exclaimed, finally feeling that I was part of this activity and not just a dummy. She hesitated for a bit and as she led my hand on the paper, I got confused because she spelled ‘toys’ as ‘B-O-O-K-S’. My hand wanted to write a comma after ‘books’ but she already lifted my hand to a new paragraph. As early as 8, I already knew I had to fight for press freedom.

We ended with “I miss you” and “hope to see you again soon”. I haven’t met my Lola Chila. She left way before I was conceived. Still, we closed with those words and Nanay moved my hand to sign my name. Looking back at it, the letters that “I” sent to my Lola Chila when I was a kid were 50% Nanay’s perception of me, and 50% fiction.

The only thing I looked forward to the letter writing was the mailing process. I liked lick-sealing the envelopes and the stamps. I liked dropping the envelopes at the post office mailbox. I liked our trip to the post office that ended with a quick snack of puto-cheese at the Central Market plus a take-home pack of pinipig. If I behaved, the pinipig would be the cold variety produced by Magnolia Ice Cream.

When we got home, I heard the only clang-clang sound that pleased my ears, one that came from a sorbetero. I asked Nanay if she could give me 50 cents so I can grab a cone of the most delicious treat that came from a cart loaded with dry ice, salt, and a creamy blend of skimmed milk, sugar and traces of amoeba. She called it dirty ice cream but for me, dirty was a small price to pay for something so delectable.

She did not give me the measly 50 cents. I pleaded, negotiated, begged, cried, wailed. The fainter the bell sounded, the louder I cried, hoping that if Nanay wasn’t about to give in, at least the ice cream man would hear an interested customer and turn back while I continued to convince her. She held her ground and I eventually accepted that she was the most inconsiderate stingy spinster in the city. I entertained the thought of her dognapping a hundred and one dalmatians but that might be a bit over the top.

Several months passed. After mailing yet another letter, Nanay flopped on the sofa as soon as we got home. She did not get up since. Her diabetes got worse in the following months. I wasn’t at the hospital when she died but the people who were there said that she kept on asking for me and my brother during her last few hours.

Aside from the modest savings account, her quilts were the only possessions she passed on to us. Months following her death, I’d play with the sewing machine trying to recreate the clang-clang sound that I associated with Nanay. It wasn’t music but I somehow found it comforting.

When I was 8, I regarded Nanay as a difficult person. But now, her ways seem sensible and fair. She had been difficult for the right reasons. Her guidance played a big part in shaping my mom into a strong-willed and independent woman. Her strictness towards me made me self-reliant instead of a whiny spoiled brat. She provided the map for our growth as a family and had she lived longer, I’m positive that she would’ve continued to guide us to the right path.

Nanay has moved on and there’s no question as to where she is now. Her patches as white as an angel’s wings; her destination etched like a map on her skin.

Nan’s Song by Robbie Williams

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I want a free 2-day pass for SEMCON.
Since the day SEMCON Philippines 2007 idea nor proposed at SEO PH Forum i was then so excited to join even the schedule is not yet finalized. I have so many reasons why i need to be there and deserve a free pass:

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“My brain is spaghetti. There be structure in there but things kind of loop around all over the place. I find myself thinking of things that are random as shit, only to have them tangle and twist up into something else. There’s no coiling them up because then the sauce just leaks out.”

That’s from Erin’s blog, Somnambulist. She’s a college student from Canada. One of my favorite bloggers, she

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It’s the first tattoo design that I had. It’s my henna tattoo when we went to Boracay.Henna tattoos are not bad after all. They easily wash off after a couple of days. Of course, there are no health hazards unlike with permanent tattoos. If you are i…

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A design I found from the star tattoos gallery.While browsing the internet, i found this tattoo gallery where they feature different tattoo designs. When I was a kid, I heard that one of my uncle in Mati was scolded because he was discovered having a …

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I woke up to some good news today… that the DLSZ Junior Archers won the Season 70 Juniors Basketball Crown… Wohooo!… I wonder if you can call it a back-to-back? Since they won in Season 68 but failed to defend their title owing to the suspension of DLSU in Season 69.
Heck, I missed […]

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The Civil Aeronautics Board vehemently denied that it is under “regulatory capture.”
It demanded that the Senate hear its side on the the allegation by Sec. Romy Neri that it is under such state during his recent testimony over the ZTE scandal.
Well, if it is true that it is not in such straight jacket, I dare […]

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I coined the title just to strike a point.
While waiting for a ride out from SM City Davao last Wednesday, I sat in in one of the meetings held at the mall’s Entertainment Plaza in time for the tourism week celebration.
That’s when I heard an officer of the Filipino Communities Association of Australia addressing the […]

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Dear Yahoo! Mail,I’ve been been a registered user of Yahoo since I was in first year high school. I was still an internet newbie back then. I was so amazed how e-mails work and how I could possible send a message to the other part of the world in sec…

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I haven’t covered the Mindanao Shippers’ Conference in June but in the sidelines I heard one of the organizers talk about the high cost of freight as among the bigger concerns there.
I was reminded of this when I interviewed Maritine Industry Authority officer in charge Virgillio Armonia last week.
He said small shippers should pool their […]

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The definitive version of the Ateneo de Davao stabbing incident, received through my Friendster account. It’s a dead issue, I know, but this vernacular account is just so darned funny.

If nothing else, it makes a great study on the development (or is that regression) of language.

cast of characters: para deretso deretso na akong pag story.hehehehe…

krezia - ang nadunggaban
cristine - ang

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Ano kaya ang magandang gawin bukas? ang dami kong naiisip and hirap na nagcacalculate ang mind ko sa mga pwedeng gawin ko bukas …. my point is maging productive ang day ko.
Eto ang mga nasaisip ko:

Gumising ng maaga para mag run for about 5K.
Maglinis nalang sa bahay.
Pumunta sa mall at mag grocery ng kaunti.
Mag-iinternet […]

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Here’s an interesting finding on the influence of royalties, stocks or fundings for researchers with conflict of interests on their tendency to report more of their “positive findings”.

I think,…



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My friend Ria is looking for a boyfriend. Her life is boring because of non existence of some significant part of her life - Boyfriend? Husband? a partner for the rest of her life?
She is serious of having a long lasting serious relationship and please if you ain’t serious ignore this post.
Win a date with […]

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A lot of people were sending sms to me since last night. They were asking for deadline extensions. The subscription deadline was scheduled today. Unlike in other universities, Kalasag, the official yearbook of Ateneo de Davao University, implements …

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Shade of holy robes
Stained with streak of crimson that
My tears cannot wash

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“Cuts and shots for tots”Sun.Star Davao, Sept. 29, 2007 Have you tried cutting your restless toddler’s hair on your own? How about acting like a clown at the photo studio so that your beloved baby can flash that winning smile? If your reply is, “Be…

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Migs twittered that Filipinos can now receive payments through Paypal. That led me to this blog post on PinoyMoneyTalk. Indeed, after checking it out myself, it’s now possible!

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A scandal is a scandal because it offends our commonly held sensibilities of what’s right, just, and fair. Just when we thought that we’d become inured to the atrocities that our so-called leaders can inflict on us, along comes something like the ZTE-NBN deal, the magnitude and brazenness of which is truly mind-boggling.

Looming large in the news these past two weeks, the ZTE-NBN transaction

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While I have previously indicated my delight over riding on an empty or even a near-empty jeepney, I have sometimes come to detest riding a tricycle (in Davao we usually refer to it as traysibot), another ingenious Pinoy mode of transportation that hav…

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Swiss Deli, that chic European restaurant in Lanang, has recently completed renovations and now features extended dining space in a new wing. The al fresco area is also now much cooler, even during hot afternoons. Most importantly, Signor Romano Venuti has added a charming wine cellar at the basement of the new wing.

Last Wednesday night saw […]

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What if somebody will give you a gift, and he/she will let you decide if you want a MAC or a PC. What will you choose? a MAC? or a PC?But, what if you have earned and saved 200k for 1 year (from your work), and decided to buy a computer, what will you …

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Google turned 9 years old yesterday, and what better way to celebrate it than to roll out the Western Union Quick Cash option for Adsense publishers!
IMO, this is far more convenient and virtually worry-free compared to receiving it through mail. Knowing all the thefts going on in our corrupt local post office, I hope […]

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My 9-month old cousin Matthew is going to be Baptized this Sunday. It will be at St. Francis of Assisi in Ma-a, Davao City. His older sister Krisha was also baptized in St. Francis.Months before, my Tita was asking me if I could be Matt’s Godfather…

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Suddenly I’m curious about writing habits of bloggers. There’s just something I wanna validate. Hence, this question: when posting, do you think of an appropriate title first then develop the body or you proceed to write the body and think of a fitting title afterwards? Explain.

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Wow!, Can’t believed she’s turned one already…

Everybody should really have an advocacy… and mine is for the World to have more clean, cheap and renewable energy… out of the hands of cartels and monopolists of course *snicker*

Tags: Alternative Energy Blog Turns One, Alternat1ve turns one

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The cliffhanger (if there was any) for last summer’s run of the office left my cult following at the edge of their rotating computer chairs. OK, sue me if I’m hyping my office like a TV series but I can’t help it. And besides, things are heating up, ironically enough, just when the first mild chills of winter are in the air. Summer saw the entry of Edmar into the office. He provided the comic relief as Khalid and I stood our ground against the resident villain Mustafa. The season ended with Khalid flying off to Sudan, still uncertain of his return, while I was left to confront the newbie Hosam in an all out cubicle war.

This season, expect more twists: Edmar’s character evolves and becomes more shady. He starts to befriend the dark side. Is he spying for the force? Is he a confidant of the villains? Or is he a bored freak who wants to see if we blend when he presses the pulse button?

Khalid returns this season. A bit of a spoiler since I already mentioned him in a previous post, and already, he and Mustafa are at it again. With Hosam and three other new Mustafa recruits strengthening the Egyptian team, it will be interesting to see whose dick has the most piss.

Office relationships will be stirred as Khalid will question Edmar’s loyalty to the force, the boss will doubt which people are loyal to him, and a new Filipina secretary will be the object of desire for some of the men or man or Edmar.

Meanwhile, a new Indian driver, whose name is too hard to pronounce or spell, will provide the brief moments of laughter ie: “When wife and Edmar fight in street and mobile hit the head up and I am tension”.

For subplots, Edmar’s wife is four months pregnant, the Indian classes resume, and I’m down to my last 4 Gigs of hard disk space.

As for me, I will have a minor role, one that will focus on a new sideline. But I’m telling you now, even with that small role this season, I will set the cliffhanger as the series closes–will I stay or will I go?

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I will preside today in two committee hearings:> Committee on Trade, Commerce & Industry - Request of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce for exemption from the Signage Ordinance for the Davao Trade Expo next month;> Commitee on City-owned Real Esta…

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Where you’re supposed to be safe, you are not.
KB’s presentation in his blog of a passenger’s ordeal with a soldier detailed at the Ecoland Bus Terminal in Davao City is comical.
His style is light and it made use of youtube-famed monicker to appeal for a common touch.
The story he revealed, however, no matter how common, […]

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Registration is 3500 php for students, 5500 php for regular participant Workshop includes story development, screenwriting, cinematography, and directing. Registration is until october 5, 2007.
For inquiries, email Alchemy of Vision and Light Productions.
This Guerilla Filmmaking Workshop shows me a bit of the Film Industry particularly the struggle of Independent filmmakers. It gave me the opportunity […]

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Gateway has just released a new desktop that as I can say, rival those of Apple’s iMac.
It definitely looks nicer than the conventional desktop that Dell and other computer manufacturers has delivered us in the past few years. Though based on design, I would still be going for iMacs, but still, this desktop will […]

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You Got Blogged! DigitalFilipino.com / MindanaoBloggers.com Review-a-Blog Competition is now extended to 14 December 2007.
There have only been 6 entries submitted to YGB Contest as of this writing and one of the entries are review of my Wyzemoro Blogs | Paradise Philippines.
The goal is to increase awareness of the culture, identity, traditions, the real picture […]

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These two girls are not twins. They are not sisters. They are not related by blood either. Most of all, they have only met once.The girl on the right is one of my colleagues in Kalasag. She’s one of our Literary and Text Editors. The other girl, th…

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Funny yet enlightening. That’s the appeal of the unforgettable Avenue Q. It tackles serious grownup issues like racism, homosexuality, unemployment, sex, depression, etc. in an easy, humorous way. Nothing flashy. All is conveyed in warm simplicity. And the songs? I tell you, they are memorable. Not only are they memorable but they’re filled with snippets of truth one can only nod to them in

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Last week, I went to the office of the Department of Foreign Affairs to renew my passport which is going to expire this October. I was able to claim the new passport this afternoon. I noticed that they made several changes in the passport layout and c…

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October is coming near and a lot of things are feared. No, I’m not talking about Halloween.We have been very busy with school work these past few weeks. Every now and then, teachers would give us projects and assignments to work with. I’m not talking …

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It’s the big G’s 9th birthday! Wishing you more success and Adwords clients!

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For the benefit of Dabawenyos who’d like to start blogging pronto, I’ll be coming up with a series of seminar-workshops that will cover all the fundamentals, as well as blog maintenance and promotion. The money-earning aspect of blogging will also be introduced. Individuals who’d like to get themselves published, and companies who plan to get […]

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