rise and shine...

Florida's sunrise near the shuttle endeavour courtesy of NASA, the two bottom ones are Atlantic sunrises, pretty amazing!

"malinac lay labi"...a peaceful, calm night...

a pangasinan favorite serenade...i am an ilocana, but i can't find the ilocano version but this will do. wonderful tune, thanks to ms. charmaine's sweet interpretive voice. a song brought alive as it digs the heart. really when you hear a song from your province it makes you reminisce, pause and think. sometimes it makes you sad esp. if you are now in a far away land...

my dad passed away at this time of year as we were welcoming the new year...sadness unsurpassed esp. if you have a dad like mine...death the ultimate divider, death the equalizer between rich and poor people for everyone will go through it, young or old, ugly or pretty it does not matter... death the unmerciful taker of sunshine, smiles and everything nice. death, the end of our physical existence on this earth...love is lost bec. of it. there will be no tomorrows, no rainbows, no stars...death is the final change...i miss you papang, i am sooo sad still esp. when this time of year comes. even how long and how many years had passed the hurt is still there. the emptiness that can never be filled. the loss that can never be replaced. my tears are dripping as i am writing this. my heart still breaks...time do not heal the hurt, it won't and it never will...

WELCOME 2010!!! soon :)

May you bring loads of smiles and happiness to us all :> and thank God for another year :) thanks also for the NW-Delta Xmas miracle flight that spared almost 300 lives here in our state last Christmas day...thanks for the good times and even for those that are not. things happen for a reason like a blessing in disguise we just don't know it yet at that time...but most of all thanks for the love of our families, muses and friends...priceless. life would be empty without them. for we always want them at our sides... in pics, metaphorically or physically or what have you, laughs. but kidding aside, thank God, for we are still alive...because there are so many that are not...another year to spend whatever we please. as that music goes by John Lennon, "let's hope it's a good one" :) the old days gone and a new one comes. time for celebration :> sorry for the old pics folks but nothing can convey the message more than them, laughs. and thanks www, the vast ocean of eternal memorabilia that you can fish out with just a click of a mouse, really superb :) i am grateful for your wonderful images for they adorn my blog like no other :) thank you! as if they are reading me, laughs, fat chance. but just the same it is a must to say my thanks...

my dad made the heart-shaped thing on our back :)

memories of days gone by...that red beating and pulsating organ that makes us all alive. what's inside our hearts? only us and God know that's for sure :) thank you all for your visit...i really do appreciate it :) this old pic was given to me around 5 yrs. ago by my grade school teacher, (for i can't find my own copy) Percy's mom and that is her handwriting which says a token of remembrance. she is on her 80's now and just widowed one year ago. my favorite teacher...the past is quite nice to revisit every now and then...the past is a precursor of what you are or will become in the future, sometimes...(^_~)...to me the past is not like a pandora's box that it will spew devilish stuffs, laughs, it is really like a MUSIC BOX sort of that will sing on most days lovely lullabys to your ears, except on one occassion. and that is when i open it this time of year when my dad died...okay, lesson here guys? give a music box playing your favorite love tune to your muse on special occassions, the gift that will make her SMILE for sure :> esp. if she digs music, laughs. oh well.

always a symbol of life

you opened your eyes and lit up the world when you came. you brought joy and peace to the populace. you are the symbol of life and grace. Jesus through His death had redeemed us of our sins. we were born again because of Him. we are saved and can continue to adore Him till the end of our lives on this earth. Jesus never sleeps, He's always there for us 24/7...

the ultimate serenade...

the most favorite tune in my home province and mine as well. been hearing it since i was a kid. for muses and significant others out there... perfect! ...thanks to the composer/writer/singers of this very lovely and superb melody :> time to put our hands around our lovey dovies and savor the sunrises and the sunsets of our lives, good luck...to us :) and yeah if the music is not to your liking, do you think that i care? nope, laughs. you're an adult, so you know what to do...leave er click away...(^_~)...there, and goodbye for no love lost, laughs. how true :) oh well...now that's better. say it as it is, no metaphors for they're just there to deceive and did you know that similes and metaphors are just the tools of the devil, it's the truth, laughs. for if it's true, can they say it as it is, no, because it's false...see? your mom always see the light that never blinds :) and you're lucky for i never wished ill will to my fellow men. i let God do the works of putting things right and besides...i remember the saying of be careful of what you wish for...you might get it in return...be wise :) now if you please, let me savor the magic of this on going music :> for i love it!

translation...

“Malinac lay labi, oras lay mareen. Mapalpalnay dagem, katekep toy linaew (It is early dawn, and the gentle breeze blows in the quiet night).”

“Samit lay kugip ko, binangonan kon tampul, lapud say limgas mo, sikan sikay amamayoen (I wake up from sweet sleep, remembering you and your loveliness).”

“Lalo la bilay no sika lay nanengneng” (Especially beloved when I see you once again). Napunas lan amin so ermen ya akbibiten (All my cares and worries disappear from view).”

“No nanonotan ko lay samit day ugalim (When I remember your nurturing ways), agtaka nalingwanan (I shall never forget you) anggad kauyos na bilay (until life ebbs away).”

"the wood overcomes"

by Christopher Diedo. even though afflicted with down syndrome, he is called the photographer extra-ordinaire. the woods, like the tiger has been overcome. after sooo many women and so much lies, it's about time. emotional abuse to the max to his wife. i think so. and he thought he won't ever be caught. but karma, the inner unseen law of justice is always out to bring equality and the truth to the open :) will their union be saved? only the future will tell... http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2009/05/13/christopher_diedo_feature.shtml

a new dawn...

the light has been burning without fail
it rose and reached and touched
the darkest soul in despair
the light will now continue
to bring warmth into a new sky
and to a new heart
as a new start comes
roaring by into the land

new beginnings come into our lives
a new road, a new route, a new life
as the sun shines brightly as it
rises into the east for a new day
as the old moon departs and leaves

the new moon slowly emerges
and starts to shine and smile at night
for it's time to bring light
into a new age
as we start to reach
the dawn of a new year

change is here :)

pics taken as we drove to the province...11-20-'09...Philippines...the tropics is lush with greenery and vegetation that's why people want to live or visit here more :) but to some they could only wish but who knows. when i was a child i wished to be a stewardess and to come to the U.S. to live. the second one was granted, i am very happy :) maybe the other one went out to burn? no, i've realized that i really do not want to be a stewardess bec. flying is not that appealing to me after all and i am too short in height, laughs. oh well. so 50% of my wish was given to me by God. so wish upon a star and pray a lot. your wish can come true inspite of the odds. mine did and so with yours :> if God wants it to be, nobody can say to you that it won't happen, nobody...(^_~)...

the beauty of my home province

thanks you tube :) my late dad took us to 100 islands then where the water was so clear. it was filled with corals and colorful fishes but i noticed that the water wasn't as clear now due to pollution i supposed. we also went to Our Lady of Manaoag as often as we could when i was young, one church on my list to visit every Phil. vacation :)

Only in the Philippines...

the only place where i can see nice Parols :) America is not on the radar or even could come close to number 2 in making them. the U.S. hasn't discovered their beauty yet and their added power in making our Xmas holiday spirits shine brighter. so cheer up Philippines :) you are the number one and the winner :> ...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!! ...keep those Parols lit up until after the feast of the 3 kings :)

and Jackie Chan has a new movie coming up on 1-15-'10...the Spy Next Door :) J.C. and me will be watching and so shall you :>

a very special Christmas

some uses similes or metaphors to wish ill will on their fellow humans even without the other doing anything wrong to them. it just so happened maybe that they're too good for their liking? and some do plot to kill innocent civilians to inflict harm to those they despised or to those whom they have things in conflict with, maybe on how they live which is drastically different from them or over religious unsimilarities. yesterday, definitely good prevailed over the devil for a northwest-delta flight 253 from Amsterdam with 278 on board avoided a planned terrorist attack here in Detroit on Jesus b-day and landed safely on 12:51 PM. a young Nigerian citizen lighted a small explosive device while the plane is on its final 20 minutes flight preparing its descent to land. thank God that no one was badly hurt after this very scary incident. a failed terrorist attempt to blow up a plane over American soil, that's what our president described it. this man they said mixed solids and liquids in a syringe to come up with this explosive device...

in 2001 the shoe bomber, Mr. Reid tried to ignite an explosive device hidden in his shoes during a trans-Atlantic flight then but failed. maybe a blessing in disguise that this method of operandi was exposed for there were suspicious passenger plane crashes prior to that and the incidents diminished greatly since the shoe discovery and now this. years ago in our airport here a domestic northwest flight also crashed immediately after take off with just one survivor, a little girl below ten whose mom was a nurse and they thought used her own body to shield her from the impact. she, her older boy and her husband along with all the rest of 150 or plus passengers all died. the story of carnage and death was miraculously averted yesterday making the more sweeter of a Christmas to remember for years to come...yes, a very precious Christmas present if you think about the lives that were potentially put in danger if the plot came into fruition. horror of horrors, an apocalyptic nightmare but instead passengers are alive to tell us about the commotion where the fright and the fear of the flight attendants were very obvious, visible and palpable...thank God not only for small favors but for big time favors such as this as well. it's truly a happiness to the max. Christmas retained its smile bringing ways as we think of something like this to think and to thank about... today and all the holidays to come...

positive change is what a hero brings...

even how small or great the act is, even how short or everlasting its effect like the gift of education which was given to me courtesy of my very kind benefactor. heroes' actions bring change and create a positive impact on people's lives. anyone can be a hero in their small simple ways, rich or poor. all it takes is Efren's example :) a nice way to end this year of blogging as we celebrate the birth of the greatest hero there is which is JESUS :) "Hero" written and sung by Mariah Carey, a music of encouragement which says a hero could also be you :)

Jesus is the light that never blinds. it is the light that will forever shine brightly in our hearts. and if you look closely HE sends HIS light to you in the hands of other people that you met along the way as you travel in your life's journey. their light is Jesus' light actually not theirs. they are just the designated messengers of Christ giving you that needed light to guide, brighten, or stir you into the right path of life, this if you just open your eyes and recognize it. but the question is...will you?
***
and speaking of gifts, i received calls and greetings, yule cards, smiles and hugs plus a ginger bread house music box from mrs. majors, our almost 80 year old nrsg assistant, playing deck the halls, laughs, music my fav gift :)...and that's all i ever need and wanted, no extra ordinary material stuffs :) but expressions of love and remembrance...thanks all and thank God for all of you :>

CHRISTMAS is JESUS

JESUS by John Singer Sargent... the best painter ever, i think so. he ruled ART like more than a century ago. in spite of the limitations on how art was done then in his time compared to the present his works shine with class and finesse. this man is a genius, speaking in the true sense of that word, my own point of view to make that clear for everyone has their own favorites as well, laughs. oh well. his depiction or his portrait of Jesus is not one of his best work though which is kinda sad. the king of kings is not portrayed as HE is in this painting. I'm not complaining, i still like and love this art. lovely :)

December is Jesus' month but He rules every single day there is. the middle art is by the great master Vincent van Gogh...

the LIGHT is CHRIST...

a timeless classic... "O Holy Night" by Nat King Cole...the next tune :)

once upon a quiet night
a star shone bright above
once upon the cold and draft
a warm special child was born
amidst the shepherds' watch

stripped with luxurious gold
no diamonds so bold that glows
just a humble, simple manger
where sheeps store their food
and only covered with hay so old

Emmanuel...God is with us...
Jesus, born for the love of us
let's rejoice and bow our heads
for the saviour now in our midst

our sins are gone
and darkness changed
to a bright light where tomorrow
is forever filled with faith
and hope of love that never ends...

3 years...

...of blogging which started unusually...and still here i am typing my thoughts away :) when will it ever end? of course only God knows :) again i thank you for your visit, intentionally or not...

HAPPY THIRD YEAR OF BLOGGING, AIRESOL! :> or to me, laughs. what an experience. different but fascinating...and mostly a pleasure :)

looking beyond christmas trees

Anchorage, Alaska...the first American territory I've landed then and that is more than 2 decades ago early October. more than half of my life is lived in this country of lots of states now, laughs... i was thinking then, how do the U.S. looked like? i was greeted merrily by my co-workers at the airport. but upon arrival at the house which was given to us for rent by Mt. Carmel, the hospital that petitioned us for an H-1 working visa i felt so sad and start crying for i remembered my family in the Philippines and the distance dividing us now...yes, sadness unsurpassed but i got used to it as days, months and years moved on. now i have two countries and when i arrived on both lands it instantly felt home :) no more tears but just a faint smile. life is a change, life is a celebration, like Christmas...and yes, as if it is a coincidence, Mt. Carmel church is just a throw away from my brod's place in New Manila, a must visit church for me every time i am in my country of origin. correlation, connection and divine intervention, that sums up a life, mine :)

and yes, the best gift of Xmas for me is the time given to us once again by God. another year of an invitation, another year of life to spend with our love ones. another year of ecstatic, joyful and blessed celebration of the birth of Christ. this truly made me smile today as i reminisce once again this holiday of love and celebration which is upon us in a few days. greetings to all...all the very best... Merry Christmas :)

christmas' blooms :)

poinsettias, cactus and the holly. they definitely bring xmas cheers :>

music as it exults and asks for freedom

what is freedom...a bird in a cage is freedom denied to one spirit. you can't contain freedom. it will find a way to explode and to be free with the passing of time...

there is this speculation that elin woods wants freedom from the tiger as well...sadly she is right, one mistake is too much, but now you have to count a lot of mistakes from the tiger. forgive but leave :) how can you continue to love a man that it is not you whom he loves naman ano? you are just doing a great disfavor to him and to yourself...set him free and if he will come back to you, you are the winner, laughs. oh well. for again, love is never having to say sorry to the beloved. i believe in this. for if you do, like the tiger begging for his wife's forgiveness, true love wasn't ever present at all in the first place. bec. if it was why are these multiple women in his life then? and besides if you love someone truly, give them their freedom aka happiness...leave and pray for their bliss and happiness...if he did it once, or more than once like the tiger did to his very own wife, chances are he will do it again...i believe in one chance with regards to love. although i admire wives who've stayed with their husbands in spite of their transgressions. that is not me, for you could only fool me once and never twice for i won't allow you, laughs. even to friends i am like that. i know i am hard but, i am an equal opportunity friend so to speak. never cross me for that will be the end of you, laughs. i do not play that kind of a game. it's just not good for our own well being and i know that...yes, i am hard, laughs. but i am a loyal friend to those who are the same to me. it's just the way it is. life is short, i sort out the pretenders, the users and the abusers :) i know most of you will do too...(^_~)...for this is just not being a fool. i think so :)
***
and yes, to seek freedom is also just like fleeing from a nightmare of that painting that you've wished you've never created...

the present will come but...

...it will fall short of what was promised and what will be good for the average american people. a health care plan devoid of the public option where there is an alternative insurance plan to compete with the big insurance companies who are operating mainly for profit stuffing their pockets in expense of the well being of the american public. even democrats, 30 of them today voted against a plan to let people buy their RX outside the U.S. where prescription meds of the same effect are a lot cheaper. here pharma companies are charging enormous amount for their drugs which chokes a big chunk of the people's budgets. health care for profit, this is what we have here. even in the quest for our health here, big corporations are taking advantage of us. the delivery of health care has been configurated to earn money for the richer and those in position to do that kind of a job. so there is one possible conclusion? in the deal making process in washington to bring this xmas health gift from president obama to the american people, did the administration sold out to the big insurance companies and big pharma companies? after all why do the public option which will bring choice of a lower cost health care insurance program for us and the medicare expansion to include younger people are not included. bec. maybe of the lobbying efforts of these companies? why even for God sakes the law that will allow americans to buy cheaper drugs out from the U.S. is voted down today? deny them, your countrymen to buy cheaper drugs, your very own constituents, the voting public who maybe on prescriptions. why? bec. they took the sides of pharma companies here who will lose out money if the american public will flock to buy cheaper rx instead outside. now talk about change, that word used a million times by our president here during his campaign to be the president. but now that he is there in the spot to make a big time once in a lifetime change where previous presidents before had failed, now he is failing too miserably. if this will continue, there will be no second term for this president, useless to say, for the american public is not dumb. they watch, listen and will make that change. if president obama won't live up to his words and make that change they will or we will including me, laughs. just watch...

politics is evil. it is ruining people's lives instead of alleviating its sufferings. now, the question is, will you accept a present that is not really for your own good? ex. yes, they won't deny insurance now to the sick or with pre-existing conditions but they will charge them enormous amount of premiums for it and now with a law requiring most americans to buy their own health insurance, guess who has now a lot of customers and happy about it bec. of the absence of competition from the public option that was being talked about but dumped. my friend, the gift really is not for you if you are smart enough. the gift in hind sight is really for the big health insurance companies and pharmacological corporations who want big bucks that is unreasonable for their drugs. will you be smiling as you open your xmas gift from the president? i bet not...

do they know it's christmas...band aid...

the flower of celebrations...

happy 3 years of blogging to me this month :> a salute to the powder puff's buds and blooms. through you i express my out most joy, laughs. my dismal English is getting better, i think :) below is a smiling magenta powder puff, very nice...pics are from the magic of the www. i love the powder puff, my blog flower. i see it as the flower of joy and celebrations bec. it looked like fireworks in July. "linus and lucy" by VGT, the ongoing tune :)

a blog is like an open free for all to read diary? mine is not a diary. i only have one blog, this one, my first and the last? we'll see. i kept on saying that i will post sparsely but to fail miserably. i dunno. blogging is addicting, need i say more? it will happen though eventually. when? that is the question. on 12-21-'12, that will be my 6th anniv. this is the forecasted Armageddon by the Maya's civilization and so of the others...the end of our time...hope not. will that be the end of my blogging as well? for i can blog forever...I'm not sure if it's connected but there is this seed bank started 2008, i think. they are gathering millions of seeds of our present crops from all over the world for storage just in case Armageddon comes, like Noah did in the Bible. so the survivors can revive this earth as it was if ever this catasthropic prediction will pass. but skeptics say that it is only a waste of time and money for if this dire thing will be done, it is the end of the earth as we know it and nothing could restore it back other than God of course. but let's pray that it won't happen for it is really very scary just thinking about it. where do these people get this kinda of info, really astounds me. Nostradamus for one...no one can predict what tomorrow will bring and they are doing it...in parables, in vague terms. if you think something will happen tomorrow and you're sure about it, will you just say it in a simple but in a direct manner, you will, right? but if you are just fooling anyone you will just write like writers do, in similes, in metaphors or what have you, laughs. oh well. no one knows what will happen tomorrow in our lives except God. so no one can predict the future, my take. but i pray to God as well that this 12-21-'12 won't ever happen...for it is just 3 years away, imagine that...

"on rainy afternoons" by newell oler

it is really bone chilling cold now here in our state. i would prefer a rainy afternoon anytime...art is by Mr. Davis...a Florida coast...with rain showers coming down from the sky...

"fresh water sprinkled after the rumbling of a thunder
the sky is blue, dark and desperate to blow out steam
like tears pouring down salty and warm in your cheeks
after a storm that left your spirit devastated and frail"...

"go light your world"

whether rich or poor our economic status is, we can contribute. if we are a clan from the well to do families in mumbai or saudi arabia or spain, maybe :) or from the squatter's area of payatas or tondo...sure we can think of something. efren penaflorida did it and so can we :) we need a little prayer and guidance from above bowing our heads earnestly, God will listen...hope He'll make us an instrument of His love, peace and goodwill on this earth in the coming days ahead of our lives, young or old alike...it does not matter. warren buffet, the old billionaire, kind man did it and so did young efren. we can add our name as well, even if we are a nobody or a somebody. let's try to make it happen :) little things can mean a lot to the hapless, the helpless and the homeless.

moses, the cow

holy cow? Moses is a calf born Dec.1st '09 with a cross-shaped mark on his forehead, in a Sterling, Conn. farm...

UST's XMAS TREES

all are fabulous! i've read that the controversial dra. belo did light the 2009 xmas tree of my alma mater being a graduate of this royal pontifical university herself as well. and from the piece i've read is that her latest love and her are not together anymore? what can you expect? if you are young your brain is not that matured enough to think and understand what love is and if you look like adonis personified there are a lot of venuses that want you too. it is like that since the very beginning of time. i am just sad for dra. belo. i'm convinced that she love this young man truly. but what is love really? love is never to use or abuse your beloved and never ever to do anything that would make them cry. he did it, so his love for this MD is very questionable. my take of their love telenovela. even no one cares, laughs. oh well. love is a pain, if you ask me, gosh! the measure of true love i think if there is one, is to sacrifice for the one that you love. take them as they are. always mindful not to bring any heartaches to them, that i think is the ultimate measure of our love and care to someone that we love :) so are you doing this to your lovey dovey, muse, partner or your significant other? then if you are... you two must be together still, unlike dra. belo and hayden kho...and if i may add, love do not have a price, it can never be bought for it is felt freely...so guys and gals i don't think it is a good or a wise idea to shower the apple of your eyes with very expensive things like cars, jewelries or etc. for it will just camouflage their true feelings for you. i think so. but i am only just talking to myself here. i'm aware of that, like talking to a wall...yeah, the cyberspace wall, laughs. mind exercise, the reason, so i am smiling. life is but once, so while we are still alive it is better for us to spend our times filling it with laughter and smiles as much as we can even if it's really tough. i try to do it, sometimes i fail, sometimes i don't, but that's life. we can't have it all :)

here is the spirit of xmas

the night is as cold as ice
without the mittens and the socks
the carols are dead without the beat
no one listens it just reminds them of the heat

it is boiling hot on Christmas
the empty stomachs are churning fast
no food on the table, bare noche buenas
recession robbed, jobs shipped and gone

long lines of idled, unemployed hands
hordes of heavy hearts and broken gasps
big quiet homes, foreclosed and trashed
gardens dying no one to watch

where is the light of the lanterns tonight
where is the twinkle and shine of the stars
where is Santa, it's twelve midnight
his reindeers lost and passed the house

the spirit of Christmas is hard to find
it is dim around as darkness danced
only two lanterns that's left to shine
but miracle do happen, God is good at that

your neighbor's out with sacks of rice
your friend is here with fish and lamb
your brother is knocking with bundles and bags
of goodies you've never expect for it's more than enough

the spirit of Christmas saved with lots of love
the spirit of Christmas found and it's here at last...

tomorrow is the immaculate conception, a holiday of obligation and also my brod's b-day. HAPPY B-DAY and may you have many, many more b-days to come, muwah! i love you! i am blessed to have one brod like you and i meant that :) enjoy your special day :> the image used is from the world wide web, thanks to you who owns it. a pretty shot :)

how true :)

it's more than enough although we could add... always remember God. shine your light to the lost and keep morality to the forefront and never cheat or use or abuse your fellow man in any form :) try to live your life like God without the miracles that you can dole out because we are not equipped with that :) to live life simply without insulating ourselves with too much money or material goods or political power for they are like alcohol that clouds our perception which could lead us to maltreat or mistreat the less fortunate than us, ex. the maids and security guards, how true...

be friendly and helpful even some suspicious and malicious minds think that you have other agendas that is immoral or unacceptable but you and God know the truth and that's all that matters...love lots, live true and laugh at your human self. we make mistakes but we learn from them. they fool you once shame on them but if they fool you twice shame on you, always remember that...forgive but never forget for history is notorious for repeating itself. be happy, think positive and be optimistic. your life is dark and if you wallow in self pity and surround yourself in darkness you are doubling your suffering. be smart... surround yourself with colors that can lift your mood and who knows with your upbeat attitude in exchange you might very well reverse your bad luck or change the course of your life... enough said :)

"santa claus is back in town" elvis...

shot taken at meralco, 11-23-'09 ...giving gifts to kids. yes, that is santa's job. no wonder every religion embraces this lovable creature who is just a positive figment of our imagination. worthy of imitation of us grown up adults. not just thinking of me, me and always me, right? laughs. oh well. it's about time to give back and think of others as well esp. this time of year but most importantly every day of the year, don't you think?... (^_~)...