Miles for Smiles !!!!!!!

A fun run that aims to raise public awareness that “bingot” or cleft and other craniofacial conditions are treatable and that free comprehensive care is available. If you support this cause then join the Miles for Smile: Run for Cleft Care happening on August 22, 2010 at the Fort Bonifacio Global City sponsored by the Noordhoff Cranofacial Foundations Philippines, Inc. (NCFPI).

Read more: http://www.pinoyfitness.com/2010/06/miles-for-smiles-run-for-cleft-care-august-22-2010/

Alexander Lacson For Senator

from politicalarena.com


As Filipino citizens and patriots, we must exercise our right to vote primarily as a means to work for change. We want a country that is progressive; that allows us to dream and hope; where justice for all prevails; and, that protects our rights, our lives and our properties.

We must, therefore, vote only for candidates who
• sincerely care for us
• are capable of leading the Philippines to avenues of growth
• have already made significantly contributions to society as proof of their abilities and love of country
• live simply and honestly, who are courteous and industrious

One candidate who I believe embodies the above ideals is Alexander Lacson.

Alex Lacson not only wrote the inspiring book "12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country" but he acts, speaks and thinks as a man of virtues, a man of faith!

To know more about the man, kindly check out this link to read an article he wrote for the Philippine Daily Inquirer: http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20090102-180993/I-am-Filipino


To our friends who have not seen Alexander Lacson’s book, here’s the list of his “12 Little Things…” -- things we definitely can and should do:

1) Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2) Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3) Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy local. Buy Filipino.
4) When you talk to others, especially foreigners speak positively about us and our country.
5) Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6) Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7) Support your church.
8) During elections, do your solemn duty.
9) Pay your employees well.
10) Pay your taxes.
11) Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12) Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.


Please treasure this opportunity to vote for someone qualified on May 2010.

Please vote for Alexander Lacson and encourage others to do the same.

Read About Dr. Lourdes Cruz

It's the first time I'm writing about someone I have not had the opportunity to meet personally. But I loved the article on Dr. Cruz written by Audrey N. Carpio, published last Sunday, March 14, 2010 by the Philippine Star.


Ms. Carpio's "A Snail's Tale, By. Dr. Lourdes Cruz" talks about Dr. Cruz's achievements as a scientist and her views a humanist. Carpio writes that "(H)her work on venomous marine snails, which began in the '70s, led to the discovery of conotoxins that can serve as pharmaceutical probes used to study brain function. They have already been used in developing Prialt, a new painkiller that is a thousand times stronger than morphine."


Surely, everyone would find Dr. Cruz's work so impressive... Google conotoxins quick!


What caught my attention next was a photo caption: "Citizen first, then as a researcher: 'As a citizen of the Philippines, I am very concerned about the persistent high poverty level in rural areas, particularly among the disadvantaged communities like the indigenous tribes, women farmers, and fisherfolk,' Prof. Cruz says."


The article is about a biochemist who has brought honor to her profession and to her country. Her work was the product of excellent research work spanning three decades in collaboration with Dr. Baldomera Olivera and her research associates.


More importantly, the article is about a person who is world reknowned yet is able to see beyond her many successes. Dr. Cruz recognizes and speaks of the sad realities all around us.


Some people try to strike a balance between professions and addressing societal ills. Dr. Cruz, on the other hand, understands that working, helping to address poverty should be the most urgent, most important concern of everyone right now.


We can do it -- all of us -- in our own different ways.

Keeping Our Mayonnaise Jars Full

This anecdote was forwarded to me by a friend, Ranee Ramos, who I actually haven't seen in about a year or so. I'm reposting this for her, for me and for everyone else who needs a reminder about the important things in life.

After reading this, you are likely to decide that it's safe to run The Test at home, in school, at work or anywhere you may have an audience to reach out to. A peanut butter or nata de coco jar would be just as effective, giving you the perfect excuse to consume its contents.

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions –
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained,
Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.
The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.
It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Three Words: A Short Story

Love is expressed in different ways. Simply remembering this each day helps us to accept and appreciate more, and to judge less.

I am posting a very touching short story from www.heirloomstories.com , "Three Words." The story is about the highest form of love.
The site, www.heirloomstories.com , poses this question to us: “Why doesn't the (following) story contain the word ‘love?’" Their answer to this question is “Because people rarely said ‘I love you’ in those days. They showed it.”

Here’s the story of the Three Words.
"Cossacks are coming!" the terrified young man yelled as he ran through the streets of Tagancha. He came from a nearby town that warm summer afternoon in 1902. His relatives were being murdered as he came to warn ours.
"Cossacks are coming!" were the most frightening words imaginable to Russian Jewish peasants.
Cossacks were members of the Tzar's army, but when they rode into a Jewish town everyone knew it meant trouble. It was best to hide until they left.
Most of the homes had dirt floors but my father's older brother, Yankel, had just built a nicer house. It had a raised wooden floor and porch.
Yankel told everyone to hide under his house but he stayed outside. He knew the Cossacks would search the house unless they thought it was vacant.
When they arrived, he greeted them.
"Where is everyone?" the leader asked.
"I don't know," were his last words. They killed him and left without searching the house.
Uncle Yankel is remembered for his short lifetime of generosity and caring. We owe our lives to him.

Jhoven G. Obelidon: Caregiver

“Care” and “giver” are two very positive words. Merged as “caregiver”, the term almost tugs at your heart when it is used.

To be a caregiver, one must be blessed with extraordinary kindness and compassion, patience and flexibility, industry and strength of character. One must have these virtues because it may not always be easy to tend to other peoples’ needs especially if they are gravely ill, physically dependent or emotionally distraught.

At Anawim Lay Missions Foundation, those who are men of faith view caregiving as an opportunity to profess their love for God and for others. At Anawim, 55 abandoned elderly plus a number of orphans, and physically and mentally handicapped individuals are cared for by volunteers like Jhoven G.Obelidon.

Jhoven completed a two-year Nursing Aid course in Montalban and has been a stay-in caregiver at Anawim since July 2007. Jhoven works on 24-hour shifts in tandem with another volunteer at the elderly male dormitory room. His responsibilities include ensuring that all of his wards (1) take in their prescribed medications and vitamins, (2)get ample exercise if they are not disabled, (3) maintain a good level of hygiene, and (4) live in orderly and comfortable quarters, among others.

(Among Jhoven’s wards is Lolo Jose Vallarta, 97 years old. Lolo Jose is a native of Nueva Ecija province and used to work for the Department of Public Works. He also fought as a guerilla during World War II. He still walks around with an upright posture and he can tour you around the Anawim grounds!)

Jhoven shares that the Anawim staff help each other to provide the best possible service to the elderly. It saddens the staff, however, that these elderly have already been abandoned, and that friends and relatives rarely come to visit their wards. Donations are also sent to Anawim only occasionally.

Thank you, Jhoven, for the respect and reverence you accord the elderly: those who have wisdom, those who have taught us, those who have cared for us when we were young.

I hope Jhoven’s thoughts and actions inspire us to really, always care and give!


Anawim Lay Missions Foundation houses the abandoned elderly at Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez (Montalban), Rizal. Check out their website for a detailed map and contact numbers.

Ajit S. Rye: God is Good !

Ajit S. Rye is a great father, brother, husband, a friend, an UPSCAn (UP Student Catholic Action), a football player, a development worker, an environmentalist and the “sun” in his daughter Ian’s life.

Ajit has also been embraced by God. God IS embracing him now.

Ajit wishes to share with us how he and his family have embraced God because he wants us to embrace God as well. He has been giving friends and relatives a simple yet very important gift: a copy of “Yayee 4: Embraced by God,” an inspiring book that includes his letters to his eldest child as well as his wife’s letter to Father JJ, a priest who has also been a shepherd to his spiritual healing. Yayee 4 is a rich compilation of different peoples’ experiences: the difficulties they have gone thru, their realizations, the efforts to liberate themselves from earthly attachments, and eventually their attainment of inner peace and joy.

Visits to Ajit’s Quezon City home are meant to be treasured for both the gift of time, and spiritual renewal or awakening. To the non-believer, one may at least appreciate the philosophical virtues, the value of his words -- all unspoken and continue to try to live an honest, inspired life.

God is good. We can connect with God when our mind is focused and calm. (Qi gong was helpful!) The world is perfect. I have forgiven them. God is great.

For Ajit, each moment, not just each day, is precious. In his nothingness, he continues to strengthen his faith thru prayers, reflection, family life, by communicating with others, and accepting God’s will without reservation.The cancer is in its terminal stage, he said, as Ajit has undergone all medical treatments possible but the physical affliction clearly does not matter.

Ajit is completely in love with, so happy and thankful to The Supreme Being.