It’s a bit late for this post, but I’ll post it anyway

Here in the Philippines, we celebrate Linggo ng Wika (Language Week) in August and schools never fail to organize programs celebrating it.

My son’s school had its program last Saturday, August30, and here are some photos I shot.

Just before we leave the house . . . . .

At school while waiting for the program to start . . . . .

The ladies and the gentlemen . . . . .

For all the Filipinos who are not here in the Philippines, I know you miss these kinds of programs back when we were the participants.  And to the non-Filipino visitors and readers, here’s a little bit of what we have here in the Philippines . . . . .

Different traditional Filipino costumes

Well, that’s about it.  I hope you enjoy though my photos are so amateurly shot.  Those are taken from my camera phone.  And by the way, Jeff’s class got the 1st prize! They sang and danced Waray Waray, a Visayan folk song

Actually, it’s ‘so many visitors, too little space’. And I’m referring to my bandwidth limit. This blog has just been created few months ago – February to be exact. So I just purchased a personal plan – just enough for a starting blog.

Last month, due to large amount of traffic, mostly from Stumble Upon, I exceeded my BW limit. So I immediately contacted my host and they were kind enough to provide additional (and very large) ‘space’ for me to get by until my BW resets. And they did it for free! Then this month, less than a week after it reset, I already consumed more than 50%! Though I was thinking of upgrading my account, I decided to just purchase additional BW for now. I contacted them again and told them my concern. This time, I got not only additional space, but a big discount as well. Thank you so much, Mabuhay Hosting!

I am so happy with my webhost and with the way things are going with this blog. As of this writing, I consumed 98% already, and my account resets every 2nd of each month. So people, if this site goes down on the next few days, please be patient. This is because my webhost has done me so many favors that I don’t want to bug them again. Besides, Sept02 is just a few days away. Though I’m hoping not to reach the limit again (and I’m crossing my fingers as well as my eyes), I am prepared should that happen (teary eyed ).  And if it really does happen, please miss me, because I’m going to miss you, people

And so I came yesterday. I was one of the first people to arrive. Like last year, many police and military men and women were there. And since it was still early (the mall opens at 10am, and I was lucky to enter at a little past 9), there weren’t much people yet. To make the long story short, GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Sagip Dugtong Buhay bloodletting project for 2008 was successful! As Ms. Mel Tiangco said at 24 Oras last night, they were able to collect more this year than last year. Thanks to all the kind people who came.

Here are some photos I took using only my mobile phone. I think I should take the Nagging101 class now and learn how to nag my husband to get me a digital camera already

A policeman and a civilian in the blood screening area.

That’s my hand. They’re checking my blood type. It’s the common O+, in case you want to know.

While waiting for my turn, I took some photos of the MIBs (Men in Beds)

My turn!

That’s my blood bag she’s holding right there. Now I’m 49kilos less 350ml

Ms. Mel Tiangco is one of the respected TV newscasters and hosts here in the Philippines. Her birthdate is Aug10 - one of the reasons why they hold the annual bloodletting program every August. Another reason is that she herself needed a blood transfusion few years ago due to heart attack and this is one of her ways to say her thanks to the Lord.

I got free snacks and this pin. The snacks were donut, chips and Yakult, plus a pack of sardines. I drank the Yakult in one gulp and decided to bring home the rest for Jeff; but on my way home, I saw this poor old lady on the footbridge and gave them all to her instead. Haaayyyy! Wish I could give more . . . . .

Final shot of the wonderful people who came.

Look at the design of this plaster. What do you see?

At first, I thought they were flowers

But upon closer look, I found out that they were FLIES! Pretty clever, huh?

Well, I guess that’s it for now, people. Time for me to rest. Bye for now!

Just reminding you of this, especially my fellow bloggers in Metro Manila. If you’re interested in participating in the GMA Kapuso Foundation’s bloodletting project tomorrow, please come and be there as early as 9am. You’ll help a lot. Bye for now, people! Got to sleep!

image from: blog.lidc.sfu.ca/

This year, the annual bloodletting project of GMA Kapuso Foundation called Sagip Dugtong Buhay will be on Aug08, Friday. This project, which is supported by the Philippine National Red Cross, will be held at Ever Gotesco Commonwealth and will start at 10am. And I’m going to be there!

Who are eligible to donate?
This is open to healthy individuals who meet the following requirements:
1. 18 to 65 years old
2. weigh at least 50kilos or 110lbs.
3. blood pressure not lower than 90/60 and not over than 180/100
4. haven’t had a tattoo done for the past 12months prior to donation
5. haven’t been pierced (body piercing) for the last 24months (but may be accepted if done by a professional and instruments used were sterile or disposable)
6. no sexually transmitted disease, of course (AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis, etc.)
7. for additional information on blood donation, please check out the following websites:
GMA Kapuso Foundation (specifically for this project)
The Philippine National Red Cross
Department of Health

Remember, a blood donor should not take any alcohol and medications within 24 hours prior to donation.

Other helpful websites:
RedCross.org
GiveLife2.org

(edit: Also, a donor should take enough rest/sleep (thanks for this important reminder, Atniz ). For more info on what to do before, during and after donation, please click the links above or ask your local health departments as eligibility guidelines may vary depending on the state/city you live in. For anything you would like to add to inform those who would like to donate, you are all welcome to share it here. Thanks, people!)

I was talking to my husband last night via YM. We were talking about our son who was sick. The conversation went on from our son to his friend who’s coming home then to the spider he found in our bathroom few months ago. And then I had to pee. When I stood up, the webcam caught a close view of my boobs (hey! of course, I had my shirt on!) and I was surprised when he said ‘Dessert and Dinner’ with that naughty grin on his face. So, he already read it . . . . . But when I asked him, ‘So what’s your penis’ name?’, he can’t answer. It turned out that because he was so excited to tease me, he didn’t notice Fatboy Slim.

So I asked him to click the link, and voila! His member’s name?

1. my own website (done on Feb02)

2. digital camera (I’m crossing this one out now because my husband and I agreed that we will buy this next year)

3. new pair of pants (at least 2) (done on June11)

4. a pair of sandals/shoes

5. pairs of shorts (at least 2)

6. skirt (done on Feb01)

7. TV rack (done on Apr30)

8. office table (to replace our PC table) (I don’t think I’ll be needing this for now; we already had an alternative)

9. computer monitor (to replace the one I am using now which is having near death experience)

I’m a bit sad that I have to cross out #2 today, but as I always say, that can wait and there is time for every thing. And the vacation we’ve been planning also had to be re-scheduled some other time. There are some things (and expenses) that came up and we needed to set our priorities. Who knows, the simple family vacation we want will turn out to be as grand as luxury skiing holidays to be spent in a Courchevel chalet in Courchevel, France! Or luxury ski chalet in Meribel, France or St Anton, Austria. Hmmmm . . . . . Now I’m thinking . . . . .

It has been a busy Sunday. My son and I went grocery shopping late in the afternoon and watched The (not so) Incredible Hulk. I saw the trailer last month and I didn’t like it, but since Jeff said ‘Pleeeaaasseee’, who am I to say no?

Then we went out for dinner last night. A mother and son dinner date. Nothing special. It wasn’t even planned. We just like ‘What’s for dinner?’ and decided to go out. We only had burgers and fries and chicken . . . . . just the usual. But the bonding is great! I told him that his father and I decided that we’re raising his allowance starting July and he was all smile the whole evening. Every time I looked at him he was grinning. And when he caught me staring, he will just laugh.

Then this morning, we went to his ENT doctor for his regular check up. As you know, Jeff has large tonsils and we visit his doctor every 4 months for ‘monitoring’. Well, the tonsils are still large, but they are not candidate for tonsillectomy. We just have to watch out for infections, as this may trigger complications. Anyway, we’ll be back to his clinic again on November.

And these are the reasons why I haven’t posted for days. Am I forgiven, people?

That’s my husband, Dario, showing off one of his ‘macho’ poses.

And this is me giving him a ‘come hither’ smile

January05 is our anniversary date. And as if God was trying to send me a message, the Daily Bread story for that day was entitled The Waiting. All my readers know that I share some good reads here from my Our Daily Bread 2008 diary which was given to me by a friend. The reason why I was not able to post this on the day of our anniversary itself was that this blog started on February – a month later. Anyway, if you have read this post, you will understand what this is all about.

The Waiting
(Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis15:6

Any mother can tell you that waiting to give birth is an experience that builds patience. But pity the poor mother elephant. It takes about 22 months for an unborn elephant to mature to birth! The shark known as the spiny dogfish has a pregnancy duration of 22-24 months. And at elevations above 4,600 feet, the Alpine salamander endures a gestational period of up to 38 months!

Abraham could have identified with these examples from nature. In his old age, the Lord made a promise to him: ‘I will make you a great nation’ (Gen12:2). But as the years passed, Abraham questioned how the fulfillment of the promise was possible without even the basic bulding block of a son (15:2). So God assured him, ‘One who will come from your own body shall be your heir’ (v.4).

Despite his advanced age, Abraham believed God and was called righteous (v.6). Yet he waited 25 years from the time of the initial promise for Isaac to be born (17:1,17).

Waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled is part of trusting Him. No matter how long the delay, we must wait for Him. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, ‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful’ (Heb10:23). – Marvin Williams

Not so in haste, my heart! Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long, He never comes too late. – Torrey

God always performs what He promises.

(Also read: Genesis15:1-6, Genesis13-15, Matthew5:1-26)