Reward or Punishment? Beware!

Here's something light this time. Hope you enjoy this!

Three guys found themselves in Hell: we will call them Carl, Bob, and Brett, they were a little confused at their present situation, and they were startled to see a door in the wall open, and behind the door was perhaps the ugliest woman they had ever seen. She was 3'4", dirty, and you could smell her even over the Brimstone.

The voice of the Devil was heard, "Brett, you have sinned! You are condemned to spend the rest of eternity in bed with this woman!" And Brett was whisked through the door by a group of lesser demons to his torment.

This understandably shook up the other two, and so they both jumped when a second door opened, and they saw an even more disgusting example of womanhood gone wrong. She was over 7' tall, monstrous, covered in thick black hair,and flies circled her. The voice of the Devil was heard, "Carl, you have sinned! You are condemned to spend the rest of eternity in bed with this woman!" And Carl, like Brett, was whisked off.

Bob, now alone, felt understandably anxious, and feared the worst when the third door opened. And as the door inched open, he strained to see the figure of ... Cindy Crawford. Delighted, Bob jumped up, taking in the sight of this beautiful woman, dressed in a skimpy bikini. Then he heard the voice of the Devil saying: "Cindy, you have sinned."

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Our Condolences to Tess

Our sincerest condolences to Tess on the death of her brother, Vic.

And here are the expressions of sympathy and prayer offerings:

Classmates, let's offer prayers for the eternal repose of the brother of TESS who died recently. Tess called up Alot to inform her of her brother's burial in Vinzons yesterday. She did not give other details. TESS, our sincerest condolences.
- Toti


My dear Tess,

So sorry about the untimely demise of your brother. My prayers are with you and your family.

Rene, Men, IJ, Mymy & JV Abot
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My Dear Tess,

My heart goes to you in the demise of your brother. Is this an older brother? What's his name? I will offer a mass in his honor and to the family.

Please be strengthened with the thought that you have family and friends around at this time of sorrow. Please let me know if I can do anything to ease your pain. I have been there and I can feel your pains.

Take care and God bless.

Fechie and the Alarcon clan
------------------------------

Sama na ako ke fetchie in sharing with you my condolence for the untimely death of your brother…..Ed Canela

------------------------
Tess,

Taos puso kaming nakikiramay sa maagang pagpanawng iyong mahal na kapatid na si Vic.Aming isasama sa aming pagdarasal ang kanyangkaluluwa.

Rudy & Evelyn
------------------------
Dear Tess,

We are sorry for the loss of your brother. Our prayers go to you and yourfamily.

Robert and Glen Barroquillo
------------------------------
Tess,
Marie and I would like to express our sincere condolences as well.
Hope you can overcome the grief and the loss as soon as possible.
May you have all the strength, classmate.

Rgds,
Bert

----------------------
Dear Tess,
My husband and I join everyone in expressing our deepest sympathy to you and your family for the untimely passing of your brother Vic.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Luv from us,
Edwin and NIngning
---------------------

My Dear Tess,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of grief. May you find some comfort and strength in your faith in God. From all of us...Regalarios and Bautistas, our deepest sympathy.

God bless,
Willy and Beth

----------------------

Hi Tess,

Please accept our deepest sympathy.

Danny and family
------------------------
Dear Tess,

We are sorry for the loss of your brother. We pray for the eternal repose of his soul.

Marynat & Bien
------------------

Tess,

Allan Mulligan and Joe Sales wants to express their deepest sympathy. May your brother, VIC, rest in peace.

Men
----------------

Dear Tess,

Condolence to you and your fanily for the death of your brother Vic, our deepest sympathy,

From Rory and wife Lina and family.

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Reunion in LA

This is Ed Canela's sketch of the group minus Bert and Marie. (Kunyari, it's actually computer-generated!)

Here's Men's account of their get-together.

Had a grand, wonderful, hilarious and never-a-dull-moment time at LA.

8/24 - finally met with Dan, Allan and Bert after 40 long years! It was like we've never been separated for so many years. Had lunch at Goldilocks at Eagle Rock with Dan, Allan, Joe, Marybeth, Willy and myself while Bert and Marie ate at Goldilocks Cirritos (about 45 minutes away from us), finally met with them, had a short chit-chat, and agreed to meet later for dinner TOGETHER, then went to Residence Inn by Marriott at Redondo Beach to check in. It was like a never ending stories over and over again.Picked up Bert and Marie around 730PM at Airtell Hotel and went to Red Dragon at China Town and back to the hotel, where we started to drink and more kuentohan which lasted up to about 1AM. Allan drove them back to the hotel, while we stayed awake up to about 2-230AM. Our bagets, Joe offered tagay for Toti.

8/25 Had about 30 minutes of sleep because there was a symphony at our suite. Joe and Danny had good rhythm - I should have brought a baton. Hahaha. Allan arrived at about 7AM. Skyped with Ed who is in Indonesia. We've been talking and laughing all the time. When Beth and Willy came, we Skyped with ED again. About 10AM had seafood brunch at the waterfront. Back to the hotel by the pool, talked and laughed again until we got hungry, had dinner about 5 at a crustacean restaurant, had fresh crabs, fish, clams, etc. good food.After dinner, went back to the hotel for drinks. Talked about almost everything. Bought 3 hours worth of phone cards, used 3 cell phones which had low batteries - spoke to Toti, Susan, Alot, Remo and Rory. Marybeth decided to join our group who are going back to the Philippines in February 2008. Stayed up to 2AM. Allan spent the night.

8/26 Woke up early and proceeded to the airport leaving Danny all by himself. Chito is picking him up. He's going home on 9/02.

Had a really enjoyable time. Sending some photos under separate cover. More are coming from the cameras of Beth, Danny and from the video camcorder of Joe.

Ingat all,
Men

Dan, Marybeth, Joe, Allan and myself would like to thank you:

Susan - for the delicious coco jam (unfortunately, Joe's coco jam was confiscated at the airport).

Bert/Marie - for the very special malinamnam na wet look daing. Maraming salamat po.

Ed - for opening your skype during that time.

Toti - for your patience.

Alot, Susan and Rory - for answering the phones after 10 rings hahaha!
Tried to call other classmates but they didn't answer their phones.

Rudy/Evelyn - loved it! muchos gratias.

Insan/Beth - appreciate it.

Remo and the Daet Group - for your prayers.

Ingat,

Men
-----------------------------------
Toti - Please inform our classmates that Danny, Joe, Allan, Marybeth, Irma, Violeta and myself are inviting everybody for a reunion on 02/08 - invitations will be sent later. And if you can check availability of everybody so we can set up a date. Thank you again, my friend.

Glen and Lyn - how would you like to join our group? We'd love to have you.

Susan - sorry for the interrupted calls. We ran out of phone cards, the cell phones we used had low bat. We'll make it up to you when we see you.

Alot tried to call you back but your phone was busy. We'll see you very soon.

Remo - thank you for your assistance in locating a house that we can use during our reunion. Enjoyed talking to you.

Rory - it was so nice to hear your voice again. Hope you get well soon and we expect to see you at the reunion. Take care.

Thank you and ingat everyone.

Men
------------------------
Hi Men et al,

Looks like you really had a great time during the brief get together in LA. Sayang! I missed it. Abala talaga ang trabaho sa barkada! Hopefully, with the next proposed reunion, I will be there. Maiiwanan ako sa tsismisan. Kawawa naman si Joe, walang ka-tagay! Don't worry Joe, next time, it will be the two of us. We will drink for those who don't drink.So they won't feel left out. He-he-he.

I'm waiting for more pictures from the reunion.

Take care.

Fechie

-------------------------
Wonderful way of being together and a sign that: DISTANCE IS DEAD! We are together despite the big D. He, he, he.Ed Canela (using SKYPE)
--------------------------------
Amen to that. Really enjoyed that two days get together. You should have joined us. Hindi bale, siguro naman you can join sa 02/08 reunion. Puwede pa iplano. Diba Toti?

For the complete set of pictures, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/DpsClass67ReunionInLA

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Reunion in Canada

Almost at the same time that the US-based classmates were having a grand time in LA, three other class 67 members based in Canada also had their mini-reunion.

Here's Ningning's email:

Get together namin dito sa canada ..Aug 25 kasi Irma is going back to Norway 08/27.
Nag start kami ng 6.00 pm natapos ng 2.00 am...Ang daming kwentuhan and tawanan...
Anyway I downloaded these pictures by myself sana hindi pumaltos ..

violeta

Glen, Imay, and Ningning

and their partners

For the complete set of pictures, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/DpsClass67CanadaReunionAug2507

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The Cab Ride

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away.

But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80 ' s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.


By her side was a smal l nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then I returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly to ward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated".

"Oh, you're such a good boy", she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It ' s not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice".

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered. "There are other passengers," I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said.

"Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

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Dusting

Remember...a layer of dust protects the Wood beneath it. "

A house becomes a home when you can write "I love you" on the furniture."

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect "in case someone came over". Finally I realized one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the "condition" of my home. They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun.

If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice.

Life is short. Enjoy it! Dust if you must.......but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?! Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . . . with rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. . . . And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!

It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

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A Borderless World

'Borderless world does not preclude the idea of a home'


Rori requested me to post this winning speech of Patricia Evangelista about the Filipino Diaspora – Filipinos leaving their homelands and seeking opportunities in almost every corner of the world. To many Filipinos, leaving is no longer a matter of choice, it’s coming back that is, she says. Someday, she may also take the same route but she will come home, because she’s a Filipino and will always be one. Coming home is about giving back to the country that shaped us.

I really wanted to search for this speech for posting in our blog, but I always forget. Patricia won three years ago in 2004. Now, she has graduated and writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Her column, A Rebel without a Clue appears every Sunday.


Her transformation over the years is noticeable. She used to write about typical teen topics – a Filipino movie she likes, the father she adores, student life, etc. I enjoyed reading her articles because they showed her youthful innocence. She didn’t join rallies fighting for ‘relevant’ causes. One time she used her column to respond to the attacks of some UP activists. Then she wrote about the writing workshop she attended one summer in Dumaguete. Then I noted that she was already writing about extra-judicial killings, militarization, and involuntary disappearances. From the pa-tweetums topics she was already into the more serious stuff. She didn’t do this from the confines of her home. She went to villages in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and other far-flung areas to interview the victims’ families. Something is happening to this young girl, and I wish that all these harsh realities of life will make her stronger and a better person.


A Borderless World

By Patricia Evangelista
Winning entry

THE PHILIPPINES' Patricia Evangelista, 19, won the International PublicSpeaking competition conducted by the English Speaking Union [ESU] in London early this month. The second-year Mass Communications student from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, beat 59 other student contestants from 37 countries, with her five-minute talk on the theme, "A Borderless World." (This was in 2004)

WHEN I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination can do that to you. I have 16 cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so. Not anymore.

True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a 12-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish,and I call myself a pure Filipino -- a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighborhood back home.

Filipino Diaspora

Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the United Kingdom's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a- million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and, your musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire traveled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the "returnees" -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities that come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my window on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and thank you."

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Acerbic Humor? It's Obnoxious

Have you read the article written by a certain Malou Fernandez which appeared in a magazine named People-Asia? Apparently this woman is a jet-setting socialite, a woman of leisure, who has nothing better to do. I didn’t know that she exists until this particular article landed in the news because many OFWs and pinoys for that matter found it highly offensive. Initially she didn’t care about how people reacted. But as of the last update, it was reported that she has apologized and resigned from People Asia and from the Manila Standard, where she also writes.

I would like to join the many other bloggers in condemning this article and this bigoted writer named Malou Fernandez. This matapobre woman thinks her article was ‘quite tongue-in-cheek’ and humorous. Do you?

Below are the highlights of the article.

From Boracay to Greece

· “The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cell phones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.”

“While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted, so I heaved a sigh, popped my sleeping pills and dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga sann ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?” Translation: “Hey there? Where are you from? Are you a domestic helper as well?” I though I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.”

“On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine in a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while Jo Malone evaporated into thin air.”

The article drew angry reactions from Pinoys worldwide, and to defend herself, she wrote an equally (if not a more bigoted) article. She said:

“As I type this, I’d like you to know that it’s not about whining, complaining and bitching but just stating the facts. Just recently, I wrote a funny article in my magazine column and my friends thought it was hilarious. It was humorous and quite tongue-in-cheek, or at least I thought so, until the magazine got a few e-mails from people who didn’t get the meaning of my acerbic wit. The bottom line was just that I had offended the reader’s socioeconomic background. If any of these people actually read anything thicker than a magazine they would find it very funny. Most people don’t get the fact that they need bitches like me to shake up their world, otherwise their lives would be boring and mediocre. I obviously write for the a certain target audience and if what I write offends you, just stop reading. “Although it may sound elitist to you the fact is this country is built on the foundation of haves, have-nots and wannabes. One group will never get the culture of the other. Although I could mention that it is easier to understand someone who has a lower socioeconomic background that would entail a whole other page and frankly I don’t want to be someone to bridge the gap between socioeconomic classes. I leave that to the politicians in my family who believe they can actually help. Now I seriously ask you, am I being a diva or are people around me just lacking in common sense? Perhaps it’s a little of both!”

If you want to read the entire article, here it is:

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Six Cases when you can use the Word "F"

Here are pictures of five such cases. The sixth case is after reading the article "From Boracay to Greece" posted in the blog above written by that bigoted woman.

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Susan's Family Pictures

Finally, here are Susan's family pictures. In the picture with Susan are her husband, Armando Pural, retired VP for Finance and Treasurer of Ateneo de Naga University, and her four daughters, two of whom are now married (Ana Liza and Ann Catherine), the two others are still single (Ana Marie and Ann Bernadette). Also in the two pictures are her two sons-in-law.

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10 Laws of Lifetime Growth

Rori liked our going into serious stuff once in a while. He particularly enjoyed reading "Neoteny" by Ed de la Torre. Ed Canela's post of a short film from the You Tube answers this need, too. I felt quite depressed after watching it.

Here's another one from Ed de la Torre's blog that I'm sure Rori will like. I hope the others will love reading it, too. I'm sure we will all get something from the author's wisdom and from Ed's own reflections. Shall we all try to follow these Laws?

10 Laws of Lifetime Growth
Edicio de la Torre
Posted in his blogsite August 17, 2007

Typhoon Egay’s rain kept our whole household indoors today. Had some time to clean up the files on my hard disk and flash disk.

Re-read a file on the 10 Laws of Lifetime Growth. I think it was December 2006 when I browsed through a section of National Bookstore in Makati and saw the catchy title Laws of Lifetime Growth. It was small and slim book, so the 1300 peso price tag was a turn off.
I did not have enough money to buy the book, but I had time to speed-read it. I read enough to quote my favorite “laws” to various audiences, but could never recall all the 10 laws.

Later, I downloaded the complete list of 10 from Dan Sullivan’s website. Here they are:

1. Always make your future bigger than your past.

2. Always make your learning greater than your experience.

3. Always make your contribution bigger than your reward.

4. Always make your performance greater than your applause.

5. Always make your gratitude greater than your success.

6. Always make your enjoyment greater than your effort.

7. Always make your cooperation greater than your status.

8. Always make your confidence greater than your comfort.

9. Always make your purpose greater than your money.

10. Always make your questions bigger than your answers.

My immediate reaction to the first law was “You’re telling this to a 63 year old going on 64?” But the idea does spur one to continue growing.

A Maori leader I met at a conference in Changmai also found the first law challenging. She said the problem with her people is that they may be dwelling too much on their past, driven by the need to assert and celebrate their tradition and history. “We should spend more energy in imagining and creating a bigger future.”

Whenever I find such interesting lists of aphorisms, I ask myself what could be useful to the grassroots leaders with whom I work.

Since I had a bit of time, I decided to translate the 10 Laws into Filipino.

It took longer than I expected, and am still not satisfied with the results. It’s not just a matter of capturing the meaning, but of comparable sensibility and tone. The Italians have an apt saying about the perils of translation - Traduttore, tradittore. A translator is a traitor.

Anyway, here are the 10 laws in Filipino. I hope my first effort inspires others to take a shot at doing it better:

1. Gawing higit pa ang iyong bukas kaysa sa iyong nakalipas.

2. Gawing higit pa ang iyong natutunan kaysa sa iyong naranasan.

3. Gawing higit pa ang iyong iniambag kaysa sa gantimpalang tinanggap.

4. Gawing higit pa ang iyong pagtatanghal kaysa sa inaasahang palakpak.

5. Gawing higit pa ang iyong pasasalamat kaysa sa natamong tagumpay.

6. Gawing higit pa ang iyong ligaya kaysa sa ibinuhos na pagsisikap.

7. Gawing higit pa ang iyong pakikipagtulungan kaysa sa iyong katayuan.

8. Gawing higit pa ang tiwala sa sarili kaysa sa lagi mo nang gawi.

9. Gawing higit pa ang iyong adhikain kaysa sa yamang iyong angkin.

10. Gawing higit pa ang iyong mga tanong kaysa sa alam mong mga sagot.

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Don't drink Pepsi

Men,

I had to edit your post since the pictures did not appear as you would have wanted. There is a procedure for this, each picture has to be pasted individually.

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:00:48 +0200


Subject: FW: Don't drink PEPSI in INDIA or PAKISTAN . - Old one Just a REMINDER if you visit.


Men at work - washing the bottles

Men at work washing the bottles Fully

Boys placing the bottles in the tray

Boy filling the PEPSI Soooooo... Called

Boy filling the PEPSI & checking for the air bubles

Boy filling the Gas in the bottels

Boy searching for the right caps

Great man at capping the bottle

Quality checking and Success******Don't say now Yeh Dil Mange More!!!!! Please forward this mail to as many people as possible .....................

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Beware of Drinking from Softdrink Cans

DPS CLASS 67: Health Tips


A woman went boating one Sunday taking with her some cans of coke, which she put into the refrigerator of the boat. On Monday she was taken to the hospital and placed in the Intensive Care Unit. She died on Wednesday. The autopsy concluded she died of Leptospirosis. This was traced to the can of coke she drank from, not using a glass. Tests showed that the can was infected by dried rat urine and hence the disease Leptospirosis. Rat urine contains toxic and deathly substances. It is highly recommended to thoroughly wash the upper part of soda cans before drinking out of them. The cans are typically stocked in warehouses and transported straight to the shops without being cleaned. A study at NYCU showed that the tops of soda cans are more contaminated than pub lic toilets (i.e.) full of germs and bacteria. So wash them with water before putting them to the mouth to avoid any kind of fatal accident. Please forward this message to all the people you care about. (I JUST DID!!)

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Do you have NEOTENY?

We've had fun and crazy postings these past few days, except for Men's History of Daet. So, for a change, here's a more serious stuff. I hope this article will inspire us to enjoy life, in spite of our age.

This came from the blog of Edicio de la Torre. Do you know him? He's a former SVD priest, a political activist who was jailed by Marcos, an intellectual who continues to engage in social development work. He has a lot of accomplishments to his credit. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to listen to his ideas recently. The NGO I work with now is a member of a consortium, where Ed is actively involved.

Neoteny
By Edicio de la Torre
July 30, 2007
http://edicio.wordpress.com

I didn’t encounter the word “neoteny” until I read it on page 20 of Leading for a Lifetime. Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas call it the one quality of overriding importance that they observe in everyone of the “geezers” who continue to play a leadership role at 70 plus years.
They have borrowed the term neoteny from zoology, where it is defined as ” the retention of youthful qualities by adults.”

But they extend it beyond youthful appearance to the qualities associated with youth - “curiosity, playfulness, eagerness, fearlessness, warmth, energy. They say that unlike those defeated by time and age, the geezer leaders they studied have remained much like the young geeks - “open, willing to take risks, hungry for knowledge and experience, courageous, eager to see what the new day brings.”

Reading through their description of neoteny, I was reminded of Dan Sullivan’s first “law” of lifetime growth: Always make your future bigger than your past.”

In their words, “time and loss steal the zest from the unlucky, and leave them looking longingly at the past…Neoteny keeps the fortunate of whatever age focused on all the marvelous undiscovered things to come.”

Almost 3000 years ago, Solon described himself in neotenic terms: “Each day he grew older and learned something new.”

Contemporary senators are called “solons” after him. Scanning our current crop of 23 senators, young and old, I want to believe that they can inherit not just Solon’s name but also his neoteny. However, a Bible passage immediately intrudes: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!”

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The Beauty of the Camarines Norte Provincial Capitol

I didn't realize how beautiful our provincial capitol is until i saw these pictures from http://www.skyscraper.com/. It seems though that something's wrong with the first picture. It would have been a perfect shot of the entire facade, except that Gov. Typoco's billboard destroyed the beauty of it all.

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Hilarious Stuffs in Manila

Subject: Manila signs
(From THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW) By Nury Vittachi
THERE ' S A SIGN ON Congressional Avenue in Manila that says: "Parking for Costumers Only ." This may be a misspelling of "customer." But the Philippine capital is so full of theatrical, brightly dressed individuals that I prefer to think it may actually mean what it says.
This week, we ' ll take a reading tour of one of the most spirited communities in Asia. The Philippines is full of wordplay . The local accent, in which F and P are fairly interchangeable, is often used very cleverly, such as at the flower shop in Diliman called Petal Attraction. Much of the wordplay in the Philippines is deliberate, with retailers favouring witty names, often based on Western celebrities and movies. Reader Elgar Esteban found a bread shop called Anita Bakery, a 24-hour restaurant called Doris Day and Night, a garment shop called Elizabeth Tailoring and a hairdresser called Felix The Cut.

Smart travellers can decipher initially baffling signs by simply trying out a Taglish (Tagalog-English) accent, such as that used on a sign at a restaurant in Cebu: " We Hab Sop-Drink In Can An In Batol ." A sewing accessories shop called Beads And Pieces also makes use of the local accent.
Of course, there are also many signs with oddly chosen words, but they are usually so entertaining that it would be a tragedy to "correct" them. A reader named Antonio "Tonyboy" Ramon T. Ongsiako (now there ' s a truly Filipino name) found the following: In a restaurant in Baguio: " Wanted: Boy Waitress;" on a highway in Pampanga: "We Make Modern Antique Furniture;" on the window of a photography shop in Cabanatuan: " We Shoot You While You Wait;" on the glass wall of an eatery in Panay Avenue in Manila: "Wanted: Waiter, Cashier, Washier ."
Some of the notices one sees are thought-provoking. A shoe store in Pangasinan has a sign saying: " We Sell Imported Robber Shoes." Could these be the sneakiest sort of sneakers? On a house in Jaro, Iloilo , one finds a sign saying: "House For Rent, Fully Furnaced." Tonyboy commented, "Boy, it must be hot in there." Occasionally, the signs are quite poignant. Reader Gunilla Edlund saw one at a ferry pier outside Davao , southern Philippines , which said: "Adults: 1USD; Child: 50 cents; Cadavers: subject to negotiation."
But most are purely witty, and display a love of Americana. Reader Robert Harland spotted a bakery named Bread Pitt, a Makati fast-food place selling maruya (banana fritters) called Maruya Carey, a water-engineering firm called Christopher Plumbing, a boutique called The Way We Wear, a video rental shop called Leon King Video Rental, a restaurant in the Cainta district of Rizal called Caintacky Fried Chicken , a local burger restaurant called Mang Donald ' s, a doughnut shop called MacDonuts, a shop selling lumpia (meat parcels) in Makati called Wrap and Roll, and two butchers called Meating Place and Meatropolis.
Tourists from Europe may be intrigued to discover shops called Holland Hopia and Poland Hopia. Both sell a type of Chinese pastry called hopia. What ' s the story? The names are explained thus: Holland Hopia is the domain of a man named Ho and Poland Hopia is run by a man named Po .
People in the Philippines also redesign English to be more efficient. "The creative confusion between language and culture leads to more than just simple unintentional errors in syntax, but in the adoption of new words," says reader Rob Goodfellow. He came across a sign that said " House Fersallarend." Why use five words (house for sale or rent) when two will do?
Tonyboy Ongsiako explains why there was so much wit in the Philippines. "We come from a country where you require a sense of humour to survive," he says. "We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors."


Back to Messages Save Message Text Full Headers

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Filipino Sub-Titles of Foreign Films

This is dedicated to Men, our official interpreter:

Black Hawk Down- Ibong Maitim sa Ibaba
Dead Man’s Chest- Dodo Ng Patay
I Know What You Did Last Summer- Uyy…! Aminin!
Love, Actually- Sa Totoo Lang, Pag-Ibig
Million Dollar Baby- 45 Million Pisong Sanggol (depende sacurrent exchange rate ng Pilipinas)
The Blair Witch Project- Ang Proyekto ng Bruhang Si Blair
Mary Poppins- Si Mariang May Putok
Snakes On A Plane- Nag-Ahasan Sa Ere
The Postman Always Rings Twice-Ang Kartero Kapag Dumutdot LagingDalawang Beses
Sum of All Fears- Takot Mo, Takot Ko, Takot Nating Lahat
Swordfish- Talakitok (ni Miriam Defensor)
Pretty Woman- Ganda Ng Lola Mo
Robin Hood, Men In Tights- Si Robin Hood at ang mga Felix Bakat
Four Weddings and A Funeral- Kahit Apat na Beses Ka Pang Magpakasal,Mamamatay Ka Rin
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly- Ako, Ikaw, Kayong Lahat
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone -Adik Si Harry, Tumira ng Shabu
Click- Isang Pindot Ka Lang
Brokeback Mountain- May Nawasak Sa Likod ng Bundok ng Tralala
The Day of the Death- Ayaw Tumayo (Ng Mga Patay)
Waterworld- Basang-Basa
There’s Something About Mary- May Kwan Sa Ano Ni Maria
Employee of the Month- Ang Sipsip
Resident Evil- Ang Biyenan
Kill Bill- Kilitiin sa Bilbil
The Grudge- Lintik Lang Ang Walang Ganti
Nightmare Before Christmas- Binangungot Sa Noche Buena
Annie Hall- Ang Butas Ni Annie
Never Been Kissed- Pangit Kasi
Gone In 60 Seconds- 1 Round, Tulog
The Fast and the Furious- Ang Bitin, Galit
Too Fast, Too Furious- Kapag Sobrang Bitin, Sobrang Galit
Dude, Where’s My Car?- Dong, Anong Level Ulit Tayo Nag-Park?
Beauty and the Beast- Ang Asawa Ko at Ang Nanay Niya
The Lord of the Rings- Ang Alahero
__________________
(source: junanteola.wordpress.com

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Funny Signs

I first saw these signs in Wilson Lee Flores's column in the Philippine Star two Sundays ago. He placed the name of the website where the pictures came from. I visited the site and there were many more there. So I grabbed those pictures from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/. Actually this website is a mine of many other kinds of beautiful photos. I was able to get better pictures of our own provincial capitol, which I'll post tomorrow. In the meantime. enjoy these pictures.

The location of this carenderia was not mentioned but the guy who posted this comes from Mindanao, so it must be located somewhere there, not in Boray Junction, which is in Samar (I told you this before.) I'm not sure if it's in Butuan City in Agusan del Sur, though.

What would it have been like studying in this school?

For more funny signs, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/FunnySigns

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DPS CLASS 67: History of Daet

DPS CLASS 67: History of Daet


The "Trece de Abril Cry" of
Daet, Camarines Norte


Our view of the 1896 Philippine Revolution remains "Manila-centric. The symbols, the heroes and the big events we celebrate of this historic era continue to be focused on Central and Southern Luzon. Rarely does one get an idea about the 1896 Philippine Revolution in the provinces.

The people of Daet, Camarines Norte, made two historic "firsts" insofar as the Philippines Revolution was concerned. They erected the first Dr. Jose Rizal Monument in the Philippines on December 30, 1897. They launched the first "Cry" of the Philippine Revolution in Kabicolan on April 13, 1897.

Many Bicolanos in Manila joined the Katipunan when Andres Bonifacio and others found the society on July 7, 1892. Led by Ildefonso Moreno, a crew member of the merchant ship Taal that plied the Manila-Bicol route, these intrepid Bicolano Katipuneros planted the Katipunan ideals in Camarines Norte and neighboring Bicol towns.

On April 13, 1897. amidst shouts of "Ngayon Na ang Ora (Now is the Time)," Moreno led the Katipuneros from the towns of Labo, Talisay, Daet, and Calasgasan. They attacked the Spaniards in Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte. The battle lasted the whole day. The timely arrival of reinforcements from Nueva Caceres enabled the Spaniards to counter-attack and crush the Moreno-led Katipunan uprising.

Harsh retributions followed. Various accounts mention that more than 500 inhabitants in Camarines Norte, led by Ildefonso Moreno, were executed by a tribunal de cuchillo (military court). The colonial government's success, however, was short-lived. The successes of the revolution in Southern and Central Luzon led the colonial authorities to abandon the Bicol region. In September, 1898, the entire Bicol region erupted in arms against Spanish rule. By the end of the month, The Bicol region was in Filipino hands.

As we commemorate the "Trece de Abril" of Daet, Camarines Norte, we honor the Bicolano hero Ildefonso Moreno and the rest of his compatriots. Because the people of the Bicol region and the other places in the country actively participated in the struggle to recover Philippine freedom, the Philippine revolution of 1896 finally succeeded in ending the centuries of Spanish colonial rule.

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What's New Today - August 13, 2007

Good Morning! We welcome the start of another work-week and hope that it would be a fulfilling one.

I came back Friday evening from a three-day trip to Cagayan de Oro City, to visit a barangay project site and to attend some activities of our NGO. Together with other colleagues, we stayed in a Korean Hotel named Koresco. It's a beautiful but I suppose, expensive hotel. (Our host said that they are given a big discount, that's why they could afford to billet guests on special occasions). Danny and Bert would probably love to stay here because there's a golf course (see pictures).

I got to rest Saturday and Sunday. Too lazy to post messages in our e-group and to update this blogsite, although I already had the materials ready. It's just early today that I finally overcame the inertia (at rest).

Rudy's pictures of our two recent get togethers are among the new postings. I hope Boboy can also request a classmate who has access to computer to send us copies of the pictures of their get-together yesterday at Amelita Adem's house.

In the course of my research for articles on San Vicente, I came across additional historical accounts on the municipality of Paracale. It seems that the Church has a better record of the history of our localities than the local administrative units as can be seen from the source of information of the Camarines Norte Provincial Tourism Office. Men's uncle (former Rep. Pedro Venida) is mentioned and so with the first Filipino priest from Paracale, who also became its first Parish Priest, Fr. Patricio Zano, son of Vicente Zano. They must be the relatives of Alot and Jibong.

Lastly, there's a collection of jokes. I hope you'll find them funny!

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More Pictures from Rudy's Camera

Rudy and Evelyn's Treat at Dad's, Glorietta, Makati City - August 8, 2007



for the complete set of pictures, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/GetTogetherDadS080707

Despedida for Bruce - Peking Garden, Glorietta, Makati City - July 31, 2007

For the complete set of pictures, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/gold50/DespedidaForBruce

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History of the Town of PARACALE

The following portion comes from the official website of the Provincial Tourism Office. Hence, it has a glowing account of its mining industry and none about the health hazards of gold panning, environmental degradation and the horrors of child labor.


The municipality of Paracale, Camarines Norte is one of the coastal towns in this province which is located facing the Pacific Ocean a distance of forty kilometers from the capital town of Daet. It has a land area of 19, 333. 87 hectares or 194.8 square kilometers. The three main industries where the livelihood of the Paracaleños is commonly generated are: fishing, agriculture and mining. This lucky town is endowed with abundant and very rich natural resources. Different minerals such as lead, manganese, iron, silica, white clay, marble, white pebbles and gold are waiting for any businessmen and companies who are interested in mining. Among the twenty seven barangays in this municipality, there are twenty two barangays where gold is found in forms of either sand, nuggets or gold ores. Thus, the Paracale is known to be the town of gold in the whole archipelago which is even recorded in the golden pages of the history of the Philippines. Paracale is a town with a strongly resurging mining industry which is of considerable help to the national government in its thrust for economic recovery and stability. This premise makes it quite hard for Paracaleños to understand why the apparent neglect of the national leadership to give the 8 kilometer Batobalani-Paracale national road its due concern and attention.

The town of Paracale which is located in the heart of Camarines Norte, became known only in 1935 due to the untiring efforts of the late American businessman-turned-mining prospector, Jhon J. Reed.

Reed began prospecting for different kinds of minerals, including gold, in the different areas surrounding the town.

Haliging Bato, a sitio of Malaguit, became famous when the place was advertised in the Marsman Mining Journal in Wall Street in New York City, luring different mining capitalist to invest in Paracale.

In a short while the town was blessed with ten mining companies. However, the operations were cut short by World War II. If not for that, Paracale would have been very prosperous because not only lode mines were in operation but also placed mines, which bolstered the come of the town.

After the war, Paracale was jokingly referred to as a ghost town. In his dedicated efforts to rehabilitate the town, Mayor Nicolas S. Herico worked hard. Slowly but steadily, in the town regained its former status.

Majority of the 25, 000 residents of the municipality are devout Catholics. The proliferation of active religious organizations in the town demonstrates the strong religious fervor among the residents.

Projects that improved the church surrounding and some of its facilities were undertaken mostly by these religious and civic groups and residents. These religious groups are Catholic Women’s League, Holy Name Society, Adoracion Nocturna, Apostleship of Prayer, Legion of Mary, Immaculate Conception and the Confraternity of Our Lady of Lourdes.

A stone’s throw from the Catholic Church stands the magnificent concrete municipal building costing P65, 000. 00. It was constructed under Mayor Herico, through the representation in Congress of then Rep. Pedro Venida. (Men's uncle)

Major sources of income of the people are fishing, agriculture, copra making and mining. Paracale is ranked one of the most peaceful towns in the province.

Religious History

Founded: 1666
Feast Day: February 2

Legend and tradition of Paracale, Camarines Norte. Perhaps there is no other town in Camarines Norte that can boast of its past glories so rich in tradition and folklore stories than that of Paracale.

Etymologically, the name of Paracale was derived from the kind of job occupation the natives devoted their time to make a living. In local parlance Para and Cale means a ditch or canal diggers.

Philippine history cites Paracale as the object of Don Juan de Salcedo`s Quest for the precious yellow metal which abounds in the area. The fame of this enchanted town rich in Gold and jewel-ornamented señoritas has attracted this legendary Spanish explorer.

One unique rarity of this golden town by the sea is its three heavenly protectors namely: St. Anthony Abbot, Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Candelaria.

Based on the old records, kept in the Parish Archives, St. Anthony Abbot appeared as the Patron saint of this parish. The first missionaries led by Fray Jose dela Torre implanted in the hearts of the natives a profound veneration towards the saint.

But our forebears and old folks still passed on and on from generation to generation the pathetic story that happened long ago, when many of its inhabitants died of thirst and hunger due to a terrible drought that swept over the region.

Forced by a devastating hunger, grains were recycled to be eaten by the hungry natives. Hundreds were found clinging to stems of rattan sucking in vain the sap and water from the vine.

Amidst this great predicament the desperate natives took the Holy Image of the Sto. Niño in a procession around the town but still no rain. Finally the idea of bathing the image of the child Jesus occurred to them and they brought the Sto. Niño to the nearby ocean and a miracle happened. A thick cloud formation appeared on the horizon and then a torrential rain followed. This phenomenon made the Sto. Niño the object of profound devotion among the Paracaleños.

Another hearth robbing story about Sto. Niño occurred last 1952. It has been told that a little boy was seen by miners inside the tunnel warning them of an impending disaster if they continued excavating towards the local church. The Miners ignored the warning and fifty six miners died and were buried under the river bed. This was the greatest tragedy that ever happened in Paracale.

Another outstanding event that made the town of Paracale famous and which attracted thousand of devotees during its annual town fiesta was the renowned miracle of Our Lady of Candelaria. It has been a tale told that came down to us from generation to generation which own old folks at home used to narrate to us children.

According to tradition, way back in the year 1809, August 29 exactly, 185 years ago, 37 Moro Pancos loaded with Moro pirates dropped anchor on the shores of Paracale. This raid was part of intensive and frequent trades of Moro Pirates which, according to the Philippine History, started in 1580 in the Bicol Region.

These Moro marauders attracted by the fame of Paracale’s abundance of gold came to our shores, terrorizing the natives, burning their houses, plundering their wealth then killing the inhabitants and carrying captive Christians to Morolandia.

At the mere sight of these Moro Pancos the natives were stricken with terror and many of them fled to the mountains leaving their belonging behind. Those truly devoted and pious gathered inside the church to beseech the Lord and the Blessed Virgin for protection and deliverance from the impending disaster.

At this juncture, it is believed that the tenderness and loving Mother left her place from the altar and went to the beach brandishing a shining sword and like a whirlwind she floated over the waves and accosted the Moro marauders with such fury and power that caused havoc and terror among the Moro pirates.

This extra-ordinary feat attributed to Our Lady of Candelaria has remained engraved in the hearts of our forebears. Since time immemorial this beautiful legend come down to us from generation to generation which Paracaleños proudly narrate and recreate to avid listeners.

Inspired by this folkloric event, the people of Paracale, proud of their culture and traditions find expression of their love and devotion to their heavenly Patroness in a celebration of pomp and color in the spirit of warm conviviality and hospitality non parcel.

The abundance of gold everywhere, it is said, is a gift from God dispensed through the Blessed Virgin, Patroness of Paracale. It is considered as a visible sign of predilection to this erstwhile sleepy little town by the sea, kissed by the neighboring blue Pacific Ocean with its undulating waves flirting with the sparking gold and pyrites.

CHRONOLOGY OF CHURCH HISTORY IN PARACALE

DECEMBER 19, 1571- Arrival of Captain Juan de Salcedo with 60 men composed of soldiers and natives and accompanied by two Augustinian Priests, P. Alfonso de Alvarado, OSA and P. Diego Del Espinal, OSA. This missionary group, after subduing the natives and establishing the mission of Cainta, marched over the mountains of Tayabas to the South “A Pie” (on foot) these missionaries christened the place “Paracali” which means “ditch diggers or canal makers.” Salcedo found the place an ideal place to live in. He mad up his mind to stay for good, so he began building houses in which to quarter his men.

JANUARY 17, 1572- (Feast of St. Anthony Abbot)- After a month of hard work in missionary sacrifices the Augustinian Friars successfully instilled Christian charity among the inhabitants resulting in the emancipation of the “Tingues” from abuses committed against them by the natives. They established a small Christian settlement under the patronage of “San Antonio Abad”, a saint close to the hearts of the Augustinians, having been an inspiration of their founder, St. Augustine. This was the first act of evangelization in the entire history of the Province of Camarines Norte. This missionary work was short lived having been aborted when shortly afterwards, Sarento Juan de Hurtado was sent by the “adelantado” to inform Salcedo of the will of his ailing grandfather, Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, to return immediately to Manila.

AUGUST 20, 1572- The death of Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Governor General Guido de Lavezares took over the administration of the Philippine Islands.

JULY 1573 - Captain Juan de Salcedo following the wish of the Governor General de LAvezares returned to Paracale with a force of 120 men retracing their path of the conquest of the Bicol River upstream reaching as far as Lake Bato, establishing there the Villa Santiago de Libong.

JUNE 24, 1577 - Arrival of the first group of the Franciscan Friars in the Philippines.
1578 - The province de los Camarines comprising the whole Bicol Region and Tayabas area were given to the care of the Franciscans. Naga, Nabua, and Quipayo were created parishes.
1581 - Paracale, Daet and Indan (Vinzons) were established as “Pueblos”.

AUGUST 14, 1595 - Diocese of Nueva Caceres was created suffragan of Manila.
1611- The Parishes of Paracale, Daet, and Indan were established. The first permanent parish priest was appointed in churches dedicated to their patron saints.
Paracale – Fray Hose de la Torre - Nstra. de Candelaria.
Daet – Fray Alonzo de Valdemoro – San Juan Bautista
Indan – Fray Juan de Losar

1632 – The “Visita” of Caugau and Capalonga was included within the jurisdiction of the Parish of Paracale.

1634 – Capalonga was separated from the mission of Paracale.

1666 – Mambulao was founded and its administration was given to the Franciscan Province of San Gregorio Magno. Fray Melchor Merio, OFM was appointed first minister and chaplain of the mines.

1687 – The religious returned to their mission in Paracale.

1696 – The Parish of Paracale was ceded definitely by the Religious to the Secular Clergy.

AUGUST 29, 1809 - The occurrence of the great miracle attributed to the Nstra. Sra. de Candelaria in defending the town from the attack of the Moro pirates.

1868 – The Paracale Church was placed under the tutelage of Sto. Nino Jesus having been great influenced by the increasing popularity of the devotion to the “Santissimo Nombre de Jesus” (Most Holy Name of Jesus) introduced and propagated by the Dominicans, personified through the image of the Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño. This was during the time of Msgr. Francisco Gainza, OP the third Dominican Bishop of Caceres.

NOVEMBER 27, 1880 – P. Patricio Zaño, the first priest from Paracale was ordained by Fray Casimiro Herrera, OSA. It was also during this year that the gothic wooden altar (retablo or reredo) of the Paracale church was constructed as an offering of the family of Don Vicente Zaño, the father of the Priest, himself a master carpenter and craftsman. The Franciscan returned to Paracale. The cemetery was constructed.

DECEMBER 16 – P. Patricio Zaño offered his “Miss de Garcia” in his hometown. It was the first in the Parish.

1881 – Nstra. Sra. de Candelaria was re-erected patronage of Paracale by Fray Casimiro Herrera, OSA., Bishop of Nueva Caceres upon the request of the Parish Priest and the people of Paracale.

1884 – The convent made of stone and wooden materials was constructed under Fr. Manuel Pozo.

1896 – Philippine Revolution for independence from Spain began.

1888–1889 – Repair and reconstruction of the century old church directed by Fr. Jose Cardenoso.

FEBRUARY 4, 1899 – The Filipino – American War began.

SEPTEMBER 22, 1899 – P. Patricio Zaño became the first Filipino Parish Priest of Paracale until July 12, 1913.

1902 – End of the Filipino – American War.
Batobalani began to exist as a “Visita” of Paracale when the people who fled there during the Filipino – American war decided to stay permanently in the place. It was then known as barrio “San Roque”.

1931 – Fr. Dorotheo Salen was ordained to the Priesthood.

1966 – The Passion Play was organized by Fr. Crispino Redoblado during the Holy Week celebration.

1974 – Paracale was declared as an Archdiocesan Pilgrim site by Archbishop Teopisto V. Alberto the Archbishop of Caceres.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1974 – Diocese of Daet formally established.

MAY 31, 1976 – Batobalani was formally related as the Parish of San Roque. The mother parish ceded six barrios to its administration.

FEBRUARY 7, 1981 – Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz was ordained Bishop. The first Paracale born Priest to become a Bishop.

DECEMBER 16, 1981 – Paracale celebrated its Quadricentennial as a town.

AUGUST 16-20, 1991 – Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee of Msgr. Roman Rayos, HP. and blessing of the Hexes style Portico by Bishop Benjamin Almoneda, D.D. and enthronement of the Miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. (Diocese of Daet).

(The account of Paracale's Religious History came from the Diocese of Daet as gathered by the Provincial Tourism Office).

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Lawyers, Husbands and Wives Jokes, etc.

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
Mark Twain


LAWYERS’ JOKES

Trial. A small town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial, a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a rising big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Williams, do you know the defense attorney?"

She again replied, "Why, yes I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I used to baby-sit him for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He's lazy, bigoted, he has a drinking problem. The man can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him."

At this point, the judge rapped the courtroom to silence and called both counselors to the bench. In a very quiet voice, he said with menace, "If either of you asks her if she knows me, you'll be jailed for contempt!"

_____________

An old man was on his death bed, and wanted to be buried with his money. He called his priest, his doctor and his lawyer to his bedside. "Here's $30,000 cash to be held by each of you. I trust you to put this in my coffin when I die so I can take all my money with me."

At the funeral, each man put an envelope in the coffin. Riding away in a limousine, the priest suddenly broke into tears and confessed, "I only put $20,000 into the envelope because I needed $10,000 to repair the roof of the church."

"Well, since we're confiding in each other," said the doctor, "I only put $10,000 in the envelope because we needed a new X-ray machine for the pediatrics ward at the hospital which cost $20,000."

The lawyer was aghast. "I'm ashamed of both of you," he exclaimed. "I want it known that when I put my envelope in that coffin, I enclosed a check for the full $30,000."

________________________________________

The local United Way office realized that it had never received a donation from the town's most successful lawyer. The volunteer in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute. "Our research shows that out of a yearly income of more than $600,000 you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in some way?"

The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, "First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?" Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, "Um ... No."

"Second, that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheel chair?" The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology, but was cut off.

"Third, that my sister's husband died in a traffic accident," the lawyer's voice rising in indignation, "leaving her penniless with three children?!" The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, said simply, "I had no idea ..."

On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, "... And I don't give any money to them, so why should I give any to you?!?"

________________________

A man went into a lawyer's office, and demanded to see the lawyer. He was escorted into the lawyer's office.

The man needed legal help, but he knew how expensive lawyers could be, so he inquired, "Can you tell me how much you charge?"

"Of course", the lawyer replied, "I charge $500 to answer three questions."

"Don't you think that's an awful lot of money to answer three questions?"

"Yes it is", answered the lawyer, "What's your third question?"

_________________________
HUSBAND AND WIFE JOKES

A wealthy man came home from a gambling trip and told his wife that he had lost their entire fortune and that they'd have to drastically alter their life-style.

"If you'll just learn to cook," he said, "we can fire the chef."

"Okay," she said. "And if you learn how to make love, we can fire the gardener."
_______________________________________

The angry wife met her husband at the door. There was alcohol on his breath and lipstick on his cheek. "I assume," she snarled, "that there is a very good reason for you to come waltzing in at six o'clock in the morning?"

"There is." he replied, "Breakfast."

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The elderly man told his wife he was going to sign up for social security. She says, 'You can't do that, you lost your birth certificate.'
He says, 'Oh I'll talk them into it.'
So when he returns the next day, he is all smiles and says, 'I'm all signed up and no problems.' '
Well, how did you do that?' she asks.
He replies, 'I took off my shirt and showed her all the gray hair on my chest, and showed her all the gray hair on my head.'
The wife states, 'Well, why didn't you drop your pants, we could have gotten disability.'

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ETC, ETC

A guy walks into a bar and orders a drink. After a few more he needs to go to the can.

He doesn't want anyone to steal his drink so he puts a sign on it saying, "I spat in this beer, do not drink!".

After a few minutes he returns and there is another sign next to his beer saying, "So did I!"

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A university creative writing class was asked to write a concise essay containing these four elements: religion, royalty, sex and mystery.
The prize-winning essay read, "My God," said the Queen, "I'm pregnant. I wonder whose it is?"


A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: "That's the ugliest baby that I've ever seen. Ugh!"

The woman goes to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming. She says to a man next to her: "The driver just insulted me!"

The man says: "You go right up there and tell him off – go ahead, I'll hold your monkey for you."

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A mother and her son were flying Southwest Airlines from Kansas City to Chicago. The son (who had been looking out the window) turned to his mother and asked, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The mother (who couldn't think of an answer) told her son to ask the stewardess. So the boy asked the stewardess, "If big dogs have baby dogs and big cats have baby cats, why don't big planes have baby planes?"

The stewardess responded, "Did your mother tell you to ask me?" The boy admitted that this was the case. "Well, then, tell your mother that there are no baby planes because Southwest always pulls out on time. Your mother can explain that to you."

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A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, "Everyone who thinks you're stupid, stand up!"
After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up. The teacher said, "Do you think you're stupid, Little Johnny?"

"No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!"

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When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300 C.

The Russians used a pencil.

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One day an old woman walked into a shop and got some dog food, she went to pay for it and the cashier said you can't buy that dog food we need evidence that you have a dog, so she brought in her dog and she got the dog food.

The next day the same old lady went to get some cat food and the cashier said you can't have that cat food we need evidence that you have a cat, so she went home and got her cat and she got the cat food.

Next day the same old lady went in again and she had a box, she told the cashier to put her finger in it, so she did. She said it felt warm and soft, the little old lady then said now you're satisfied can I have some toilet paper please!

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Yesterday I was at the local Wal-Mart. Now I was only in there for about 5 minutes and when I came out, there he was - a damn Motorcycle cop writing a parking ticket ...

So, I went to him and said: "Come on Buddy, how about giving a guy a break?"

He simply ignored me and continued writing the ticket.

So, I called him a pencil necked Nazi. He then glared at me and started writing another ticket for having bald tires!

So, I called him a sorry excuse for a human being. He then finished the second ticket and put it on the car with the first. Then he started to write a third ticket!

This went on for about 25 minutes ... the more I abused and hurled insults at him, the more tickets he wrote ...
But hey, I didn't give a damn. My car was parked around the corner ...

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