Inspirational

THE GIFT

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awai ted signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.


Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.


When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse: Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. "

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKED THAT WAY! ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!

Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

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Fil-Ams raise funds for GK

by Patricia Esteves
From the Philippine Star
April 8, 2007

On weekends, a group of Filipino-Americans in California build homes for the poor in the Philippines "the Santa Clarita way".

Santa Clarita, California residents and Gawad Kalinga (GK) advocates Tony and Marietta Pascua, Nerwin and Cherry Du, Cynthia and Noel Barrios, Danny and Marilou Manalastas, Federico Vale and others, repaid and remodel the homes of their friends during Saturdays and donate the proceeds to GK to help build more homes for the poor.


Nerwin Du and Noel Barrios conceptualized the fund-raising project called the Gawad Kalinga Bayanihan Builders (GKBB) sometimes in 2006.

D said they thought of the project while they were painting a portion of a friend's house. They eventually suggested fixing other friends' homes on weekends as a fund-raising project for GK. They've heard friends' experiences as GK volunteers in the Philippines and were thinking of how they could also help raise $75,000 to build a new village in Bukindon, to be named Santa Clarita 2.

"I suggested this to our household leaders and one of the members needed to paint their guest room that same weekend. We started painting houses and in one day we raised $300", said Du.

Du, a contractor, said that since they started the GKBB project in Santa Clarita, they have already raised almost $55,000 in pledges to build another GK village in Bukidnon.

Noel and Cynthia Barrios said they simply painted one bedroom for a client friend but word got around that they were good and soon they were receiving requests to remodel more homes.

"We ask them to buy the materials and the cost of labor is paid through check payable to ANCOP USA (Answer the cry of the Poor), the foundation of Gawad Kalinga. Through this, our clients get a good contractor-quality job and at the same time make donations for our less fortunate countrymen, not to mention it's a tax write-off at the end of the year," Barrios said.

Another GK Bayanihan Builder, Tony pascua said that this is their way of showing their fellow Filipinos of their concern even if they are far away. It also brings volunteers closer to each other. Husbands in the community help Du in changing the flooring, putting crown moldings, replacing the windows and doors, installing recessed lights, changing kitchen cabinets, while the wives help in painting the homes. "The Bayanihan Build in the US does not only help the poor but has also strengthened the relationships among the volunteers." Other members of the GK Bayanihan Build said they have not stopped loving their motherland and would always work or donate their time, energy to help the poor in the Philippines.

For the egroup: Visit http://dps-class67.blogspot.com/

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Filipino Achievers

Myrna Venida-Abot


Topped the Court Interpreter Exams. Congratulations from DPS-Class 67!

Read more congratulatory messages below at the Comments section.











Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayundon, and Janet Belarmino
Filipina mountaineers who made history last May 16, 2007 by becoming the first ASEAN women to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. They are also the first women mountaineers to succeed in traversing the treacherous summit, ascending from Everest's north side from Tibet, and descending on the south side at Nepal.


Joseph Henares
A home-schooled Fil-Am boy finished in the top five in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship Finals in Washington DC last May 31, 2007. He is the son of John and Jean Henares, both Math degree holders from the University of the Philippines. Three years ago, in 2004, Joseph already won $10,000 in the Back to school edition of the popular TV game show, Jeopardy.

Here are the words that the four finalists who did not win the grand prize misspelled. Joseph misspelled ‘aniseikonia’ (a visual defect); the others missed “oberek” (a Polish dance, Men, you did a Polish dance in elementary!); “cyanophycean’ (a kind of algae); and “coryza” (medical word). The winner hit it when he aced “serrefine” a noun describing small forceps. All these words sound Greek to me - never heard.

Allan Pineda,

more popularly known as apl.de.ap of the three time Grammy Award-winning quarter, the Black Eyed Peas.

The 32 year old rock star was an abandoned Amerasian child, who eventually made it to the US with the help of a charitable foundation and sponsor. It was the Pearl S. Buck Foundation that found a sponsor for Pineda, since he was 2 and a half yrs old. When he was 14 years old, his sponsor – California-based-lawyer Joe Ben Hedgens took him to LA and supported his studies there.

As a young boy, Allan worked in a farming village in Sapang Bato, just outside the iron fence of Clark. At 5 yrs old, he was helping pack yams in sacks or repack charcoal in small plastic bags and deliver them to the Pampanga market in Angeles City.

Now Pineda plays life coach to Amerisians in the Phils. He was here this week to meet and give advice to the Fil Amerisians. He will be holding a concert in the Philippines this December to raise funds for projects that would help the Amerisians in Pampanga.

RP Film gets standing ovation in Cannes

Foster Child, a film on the state of foster care in the Phils., received a standing ovation during its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in France. It tells the story of a slum dweller who is hired as a foster mother by a local Foster Care Facility to provide temporary home and care to abandoned babies pending their formal adoption. Cherry Pie Picache played the lead role with Brillante Mendoza as the director.

Kailanman, Nasaan man, Ang Galing talaga ng PINOY!

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New bishop of Daet named

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Bishop Benjamin J. Almoneda, and has appointed Monsignor Gilbert A. Garcera as the new bishop of Daet in Camarines Norte.


Bishop Almoneda tendered his resignation, according to the mandate of Canon law, on his 75 th birthday, April 11, 2005. But the resignation was not accepted until Wednesday, April 4, 2007 – two years later. It was officially published in Rome, by the Vatican, on that day, and the news was released simultaneously in Manila by His Excellency Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.


Monsignor Gilbert Armea Garcera is 48 years old. He was born on February 2, 1959, in Magarao, Camarines Sur. His elementary education was in Naga Parochial School, and his seminary training in Holy Rosary Seminary in Naga City. He was ordained at the age of 24 in the Naga Metropolitan cathedral. He earned his M.A. in Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University, and his Doctorate in Organizing, Planning and Development at SAIDI, in Antipolo City.


He has served as the Assistant Parish Priest in the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral; for 15 years he was rector of the Caceres Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry; and for 14 years he headed the Caceres Commission on Communications. He was Vice-Rector of the Peñafrancia Minor Basilica, Administrative Director of Radio Veritas Asia, and for three years the assistant Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.


Since the year 2004 he has been the National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, and a member of the Supreme Committee of “Pontificie Opere Missionarie” in Vatican.


No date has been set for his ordination as Bishop, of for his installation as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Daet in Camarines Norte.


From the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Website


CURRICULUM VITAE

Birth: February 2, 1959Magarao, Camarines Sur
Father: Celestino Borja GarceraMother: Nenita Romero Armea (+)
Ordination: May 29, 1983, Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, Naga City
Appointed Honorary Prelate: July 5, 1997


STUDIES
Elementary: Naga Parochial School, Naga City
High School: Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City
College: Holy Rosary Minor Seminary, Naga City
Graduate Studies:Holy Rosary Major Seminary, Naga City (STB)Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City (MA Theo Studies)SAIDI, Antipolo City (Doctoral, Organiztion Planning and Development)


ASSIGNMENTS
1983-1985 Assistant parish PriestNaga Metropolitan Cathedral
1985 MemberPresbyteral Council of Caceres
1987-2002 DirectorCaceres Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry
1988-2002 Caceres Commission on Communications
1991-1998 Vice-RectorPeñafrancia Minor Basilica
1991-2002 MemberArchdiocesan Pastoral Council of Caceres
1992-1995 Administrative DirectorRadio Veritas Asia
1998-2002 Parish PriestSt. Francis of Assisi ParishNaga City
2003-2005 Assistant Secretary GeneralCBCP
2004 National DirectorPontifical Missionary Societies
2005 MemberSupreme Committee of “Pontificie Opere Missionarie”Vatican City

Garcera is new Daet bishop

POPE Benedict XVI has appointed a new bishop of the Diocese of Daet in Camarines Norte after the retirement of Bishop Benjamin Almoneda.
Almoneda tendered his resignation when he turned 75 years old on April 11 last year but the Vatican accepted the resignation only last April 4.
Appointed to replace him was Msgr. Gilbert Garcera, 48, a native of Magarao, Camarines Sur, who attended Catholic elementary at the Naga Parochial School and completed his seminary training at the Holy Rosary Seminary in Naga City.
At 24, Garcera was ordained a priest at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and he holds a master’s degree in theology from the Ateneo de Manila University and doctor’s degree in organizational planning and development at the Southeast Asia Interdisciplinary Institute in Antipolo City.
Garcera has served as the assistant parish priest in the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and was rector of the Caceres Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry for 15 years. Thereafter he headed the Caceres Commission on Communications.
He also was vice rector of the Penancia Minor Basilica, administrative director of Radio Veritas Asia and, for three years, assistant secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Since 2004, Garcera has been the national director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, and a member of the Supreme Committee of “Pontificie Opere Missionarie” in the Vatican.
There is still no date for his ordination as bishop or his episcopal installation in Daet.

Dennis Carcamo

Diocese of Daet

The Diocese of Daet is the principal seat of the Disciples of Hope. In this diocese the community runs a 126-year old Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in the town of San Vicente, Camarines Norte. The parish also administers a High School. Fr. Alejandro Cabonelas, its present Pastor, provides pastoral care to the hospitals in the nearby Daet town. The Mother House of the Disciples of Hope is located in this parish.

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THOUGHT PROVOKING, CONTROVERSIAL, DUH, DEADMA?

Facts about normal hair growth:

About 90 percent of hair on the scalp grows continually. The other 10 percent of scalp hair is in a resting phase that lasts two to three months. At the end of the resting stage, this hair is shed.

Shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. When a hair is shed, it is replaced by a new hair from the same follicle and the growing cycle starts again. Scalp hair grows about one-half inch a month.

As people age, the rate of hair growth slows.

What causes hair loss?

Hair loss is believed to be primarily caused by a combination of the following:

* aging

* change in hormones

* illness

* family history of baldness

* burns

* trauma

However, hair loss is not caused by the following:

* poor circulation to the scalp
* vitamin deficiencies
* dandruff
* excessive hat-wearing
* a gene passed on from an individual's maternal grandfather

Generally, the earlier hair loss begins, the more severe the baldness will become.

What is male hair loss (male pattern baldness/androgenic alopecia)?

Male hair loss is the most common type of hair loss. It is caused by increased sensitivity to male sex hormones (androgens) in certain parts of the scalp, and is passed on from generation to generation. In the past, baldness was often seen as something unfortunate or undesirable.

However, this attitude has changed over the years and nowadays a clean-shaven head is usually considered both fashionable and attractive.

What are the main symptoms?

Male pattern baldness (also known as genetic hair loss or alopecia androgenetica) is the most common form of hair loss in men. It usually develops very gradually, typically involving the appearance of a bald spot on the crown of the scalp accompanied by thinning at the temples. Although this problem can strike any man at any time, many first become aware of it as they approach their thirties.

What causes male hair loss?

Some men have areas on the scalp that are very sensitive to the male sex hormones that circulate in men's blood. The hormones make the hair follicles - from which hair grows - shrink. Eventually, they become so small that they cannot replace lost hairs. The follicles are still alive, but are no longer able to perform their task.

The condition usually starts in men aged 20 to 30 and follows a typical pattern. First, a receding hairline develops, and gradually the hair on top of the head also begins to thin. Eventually, the two balding areas meet to form a typical U-shape around the back and sides of the head. The hair that remains is often finer, and does not grow as quickly as it used to.

Can male hair loss be prevented?

Male hair loss is genetically determined (passed on from parents). Although a doctor can offer medical treatment to improve the condition, this may have side effects.

What can be done at home?

You need to decide how you feel about hair loss. Male hair loss affects a large part of the male population and people react very differently to it. It is important to try to accept hair loss for what it is - something natural. Rather than trying to camouflage bald spots with remaining hair or a wig, it is probably a better idea to leave your hair as it is, or shave it off completely. If, however, you decide to try to regain your hair, possible medical treatments are discussed below.

How is male hair loss treated?

Baldness is generally regarded as natural, and not a disease. So if a person decides they wish to try to get their hair back, they will probably have to pay for the lengthy, expensive procedure themselves.

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Quote from Jane Fonda:

"I'd like to make a movie that shows people over 70 having a hot erotic relationship."

Nobody's 70 yet among us, isn't it? That's about 15 years from now, for most of us.


Do you think this is true?

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