I am in CDO for MBS 3

The Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) group is set to play host to the Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, which will be held on October 24, 2009. With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” the MBS 3 aims to uphold the beauty and strength of the island and to expunge the negative notions the world has about it.

Nearly 300 bloggers from all over Mindanao, new media advocates and experts, Mindanaoan leaders and other stakeholders will converge in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao on October 24, 2009 for the much-awaited 2009 Mindanao Bloggers Summit, which aims to uphold the beauty and strength of the island and to expunge the negative notions the world has about it.

It’s all systems go for the Cagayan de Oro Bloggers (CDO Bloggers) as they play host to the much-awaited Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3, an annual gathering of Mindanao-based bloggers, IT industry experts, community leaders and new media advocates, on October 24, 2009 at Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City. Roughly 300 bloggers are expected to attend this year’s summit.

With the theme, “Mindanao: Bag-Uhon Ang Panan-aw,” (Changing The Way People See Mindanao) the event aims to uphold the beauty and strength of Mindanao, to highlight the diverse cultures and fascinating tourist spots that are uniquely Mindanao and to provide a platform where bloggers and other new media practitioners can discuss concerns related to Mindanao – all with the help of new and emerging technologies.

Expected to grace the summit are United States Embassy’s new Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie Bassett, Atty. Adel Tamano, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula.

Considered unprecedented in the Philippine blogosphere, a top ranking United States Embassy dignitary is set to deliver the keynote address. Bassett’s trip to CDO will be her first trip to Mindanao since assuming office in June. She previously served as DCM in Mexico.

Other speakers during the whole-day affair include Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Tinnex Jaraula, Agusan Lone District Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza and Atty. Adel Tamano.

Google’s Philippine representative Aileen Apolo, whose talk will focus on beginners, Digital Filipino’s Janette Toral, who will discuss blog advertising and Lyle Santos, who will talk about making money online will also be present. Representatives of other blogger groups including those in Davao City, General Santos City and Zamboanga will also give updates.

The Mindanao Bloggers Summit 3 is generously supported by SMART Communications Inc., Nokia, Syntactics, Inc., STI, Rafting Adventure Philippines, MakatiAve.com, Majesty Sales Center, Havaianas Philippines, OLX Philippines Free Classifieds, Clara Shoppe, ASTERISK Events and Communications, RG & K Construction, Paguia’s Cottages, ThePacificaCompanies.com, The Site, Spruce, The City Government of Cagayan de Oro, Office of CDO First District Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy, SM City Cagayan de Oro, Ultra Craft Advertising Corporation, Magnet Advertising, Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental and the Mindanao Bloggers community. Media partners include Papa Ardie’s Concepz, STI, ABS CBN, MOR 91.9 and HOT FM 106.3.

K.A.R.M.A

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind...what we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.

I will put the Law of Karma into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will witness the choices I make in each moment. And in the mere witnessing of these choices, I will bring them into my conscious awareness. I will know that the best way to prepare for any moment in the future is to be fully conscious in the present.

2. Whenever I make a choice, I will ask myself two questions: "What are the consequences of this choice that I am making?" and "Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?"

3. I will then ask my heart for guidance and be guided by its message of comfort or discomfort. If the choice feels comfortable, I will plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, I will pause and see the consequences of my action with my inner vision. This guidance will enable me to make spontaneously correct choices for myself and those around me.


~Deepak Chopra~

What goes around comes around”, or Karma is a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. The sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain in others. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, Karma extends through one's present life and all past and future lives as well.

In Islam there is no thing as karma, but it's commonsense that if you do wrong then people will treat you wrong. Nothing much divine about it, it’s human nature.

On a boring night my friends and I got to argue about some heavy stuff. The topic of the evening was infidelity and adultery. After a few glasses of cheap wine, we waxed philosophically on the deep existential questions of love and betrayal. Can anyone ever find true love with an adulterer? And if you're the lucky/unlucky one to woo someone away from their significant other, can you ever be sure that they won't be wooed away again from you?

I'm of the opinion that adulterers and the people who "lure" them into adultery always get their due. So no one who's ever been hurt by this form of betrayal has to do anything exceptional to their unfaithful lovers to get back at them because the heartbreaker is bound to get hurt sooner or later.

Harsh huh? I don’t make the karma rules, I just write about them.

MALAYSIA. Theme Parks

Sunway Lagoon (Bandar Sunway)

Enjoy a host of water and land attractions at this theme park located in the suburb of Bandar Sunway. Each of its themed sections offer fantastic rides and attractions. The Waters of Frica takes one on a fantasy journey into the wilderness of this continent. The Wild Wild West (which was the first ride I went on) transports you into a cowboy town, where more adventures awaut. Enjoy the stunning view of the entire lagoon from the world's pedestrian suspension bridge at 428 meters.

Entrance: All Parks. RM 39.90 (Adults), RM 26.90 (Children). Dry or Wet Park only: RM 27.90 (Adults), RM 19.90 (Children).

Opening Hours: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm (Mondays-Fridays); 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Weekends, Holidays and Malaysian School Holidays). Closed on Tuesdays.

Tel: 03 - 5635 8000

Getting There: Take the KTM Komuter Train to the Subang Jaya Station or Putra LRT to the Kelana Jaya Station. From these stations, taxis are the best mode of transport to get to the park. Nearest landmark is the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall.

MALAYSIA Series. Modern Landmarks.

PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) standing majestically at a height of 451.9 meters, is a renowned icon of modern Malaysia, Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the famous Skybridge on the 41st floor of an exciting “top of the world” feeling. The towers are the centerpiece of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), consisting of the state-of-the-art Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Suria KLCC shopping mall, a five-star hotel, an immaculately landscaped KLCC Park as well as a mosque. The area is a major draw for visitors and locals alike.

Entrance: Admission to the Skybridge is free, on a first come, first serve basis. Visitors are advised to queue for tickets before 10:00 am as only a limited number are allowed daily.

Opening Hours: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Tel: 03-2331 8080 / 2331-7619

Getting There: Take the Putra LRT to the KLCC Station. Entrance is via the Petronas Twin Towers Lobby (Concourse Level)

Happy Deepavali!

October 17.

Every seventh month of the Tamil lunar calendar, Hindus all over the world celebrate a festival known as Deepavali or Diwali. The word “Deepavali” is a Sanskrit term meaning “Row of Lights”. It is a time when they commemorate the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

Today, Hindus celebrate Deepavali by lighting oil lamps all around their homes. The oil lamps symbolize the removal of darkness within human hearts by replacing it with light. Celebrations begin on the eve of Deepavali when family members gather in the house of the elders. It is a time for families to end feuds and settle misunderstandings.

Ohm Shanti.

useless post. bad trip times three.

For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

sobrang badtrip.

ang buhay nga naman. pag nagpapakabait ka na sya namang dating ng mga walang kwentang taong gustong sirain ang buhay mo. kasalanan ko na rin siguro kasi masyado akong mabait at mapag bigay. kakapagod palang mag alaga ng taong di ka nirerespeto ano? oo medyo weird nga ako pero sana naman walang bastusan diba? ikanga ng kaibigan kong si floie, "mabuting galit ka parati at matapang para di ka pagsamantalahan ng iba."

hindi rin. sobra akong suplada noon at ayun pumangit lang ako. panay simangot. pero tama siya, wala ngang nang aasar sa akin noong araw. takot siguro. ngayon masayahin na ako. at may mga nang aasar na at pinapalampas ko lang. sayang ang galit.

*****

nag apply ako ng credit card. first time ko. ever. sabi ng bangko siguradong aprub na raw kasi kumpanya kong bonggang bongga ang nag endorso.

dumating na ang mga credit cards dito sa opisina galing sa bangko. ang saya ng mga ka-opisina ko. yehey. may credit card na ako. first time ko. ever.

tinawagan ako ng HR. sabi di raw ako kasali sa mga naaprubahang card. bakit kaya? bad trip.

pinatawagan ko ang credit card section ng isang dabarkads ng nanay ko na siyang manager rin ng nasabing bangko dito sa davao.

ang rason daw na di ako biniyayaan ng nasabing soshal na card ay...... muslim raw ako at marami raw akong kaapelyedong may "bad" accounts.

bakit pa kasi ako nag apply. ayan na badtrip lang ako.

*****

may babaeng Marinela na tumawag sa akin nung isang araw. magpapa appointment raw kasi may ididiscuss na investment opportunity sa akin. eh kasi mabait ako at di ako marunong humindi sa tao, nag agree akong mag meet kami. syempre kasi matanda na ako at makalimutin na ay nakaligtaan kong tandaang may meeting pala kami nung hapon na iyun.

tumawag siya kinabukasan at nagtatalak na ininjan ko raw siya. galit. nagtanong rin siya kung muslim ako. sabi ko, "opo muslim po ako." ang sabi ba naman sa akin (pasigaw) ay ... "kaya pala!" sabay bagsak ng telepono.

mabuti na lang at nag yoyoga na ako ngayon. magaling na akong magtimpi at mag inhale exhale ng malalim. gusto ko mang magalit ay kasalanan ko naman talagang nainjan ko siya. kaso di ko namang kasalanang muslim ako eh. wag naman sana mag generalize. nyeta naman eh. oooohhhhmmmm. di po ako galit. akala niyo lang yun. *sabay kasa ng baril*

haay... peace and light pa rin sa inyo kahit badtrip ako.

Yoga. 2009 Philippine Yoga Asana Championship

Plastics & Eco Bags in Davao City

THE most popular plastic in the world, polyethylene is resistant to water, acids, alkalies and most solvents. This makes it suitable for use as shampoo containers, children's toys and even bulletproof vests. Its other uses include films or sheets for packaging, shower curtains, unbreakable bottles, pipes, pails, drinking glasses, insulation for wire and cable, moldings, coatings and lamination.

It's also used for cloth, tarpaulin, polyethylene tanks and containers with high capacity of up to 12,000 gallons, welding rods, implants (for chin, cheeks and jaw line reconstruction or cosmetics), plastic used in motorbikes, canoes and kayaks, foams, linear fittings and even hula-hoops.

Discovered by accident in March 1933, polyethylene has since become an industry of its own. Its most common use is as plastic bags. An estimated 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year. In the US, an estimated 12,000,000 barrels of oil are required to produce the 100 billion plastic bags used annually. Retailers spend an estimated $4 billion on their plastic store bags, passing the cost on to consumers.

Plastic bags are everywhere for people's convenience. They are oftentimes bought from a store at the entrance or within a market place. They may be given free by the stall-owners of the market to buyers of merchandise. They are located most times at the paying counters of department or grocery stores for the convenience of customers.

Introduced only 25 years ago, plastic bags are accumulating in our environment at an alarming rate. Also, despite the mistaken belief that plastic bags decompose and disappear, they actually slowly break down into toxic bits that pollute our oceans, rivers, lakes and soil. In addition, countless animals, most notably marine mammals, choke to death after mistaking plastic bags for food.

In other countries, such as India and Pakistan, the use of plastic bags has been banned. In India, plastic bags were choking its cows, which are considered sacred in that country. In Islamabad, Pakistan used plastic bags are found in abundance in the streets and are responsible for clogging drains and sewerage lines. In Islamabad`s rural areas, these bags decrease the productivity of the arable land because they do not rot or turn into compost. (See http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Polyethylene)

The move to ban the use of plastic bags in Davao City may become effective only if a national law is enacted prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of plastic bags. The plastic bag menace may already be in Davao City and elsewhere judging from the indiscriminate waste disposal practice of the Davaoenos.

Bringing your own eco bags to the grocery has not yet picked up in Davao City. Majority of the malls and groceries still use their plastic bags when packing items. SM does the green eco bag thing but only on Wednesdays. They should do it daily though. It's a lesson learned from Ondoy's wrath in Manila. We should ALL use our reusable bags when doing the rounds in our malls.

Sales ladies and cashiers at other malls (G-Mall, Victoria Plaza and others) still look at me funny when I hand them my eco bags for my stuff. Sometimes they even refuse to use them but eventually give in after a couple of minutes of mindless persuasion.

Davao legislators should pass a law on using eco bags now. I've read Pilar Braga commended SM for their green bag advocacy. Bonguyan made s privilege speech on the overuse of plastics. Maybe more should follow suit.

Their efforts are laudable. But frankly, it is doable for everybody to do their share in significantly lessening the amount of plastic bags wasted via shopping. We should commend and encourage similar efforts and campaigns by local establishments. Let us call on other local supermarkets, groceries, and malls to encourage the use of reusable bags for their shoppers.

A concerted effort by Davao shoppers will create a big and remarkable impact on the amount of solid waste we generate. Plastics are difficult to recycle. The disposal of plastics are also a big environmental concern.

Bring your reusable ecology conscious bags to the malls and refuse using plastic bags NOW. Besides it's more chica and fashionable than those icky plastics right?!

Here are my grocery bags...

my Mother Earth Bags which are sooppeerr cheap (they have a mulitply site where you can order)

my kids Bazura Bag

some recent purchases from Malaysia (so cute but can't hold those small items kasi baka malaglag sa mga butas ng bag)

Send me some photos of you and your chic eco bags while at the mall and I'll post it here. Promise!

Peace & Light chic shoppers!

New Website

i have something new cooking up at our new Malaysia website.

please do visit us there.. will have it up and running in the next few days.

here's the link again >>>>

ADAT MALAYSIA.

Shameless Plugging: Fashion Institute of Design and Arts

even if i do field work and get all down and dirty all the time, there are moments when i do clean up and look like a decent woman. believe me this is a rare occurrence. but yeah, it does happen and some friends and officemates almost always do double takes when i dress up and comb my hair :)not coz i look swell and model-like but like i told you - - i seldom make an effort to beautify myself. and combing and primping come far and in between.

here's a favor for a friend... do join her in her new school Fashion Institute for Design and Arts (FIDArts) . they are all about fashion, make-up and everything that goes with it. a first of its kind in Davao City.

what you waiting for? call them na and book a class! maybe you'll be classmates with my daughter :)

peace & light!