still on the olympics

The government has promised to give P15-M to the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist. They say that the amount could increase, because people are just waiting to dole out some more once the coveted medal is snatched.

Let's assume the reward could reach P20-M. If people including the government are this willing to part away with their money, why, in God's name, could they not instead use the amount to fund the training of, let's say, 20 swimmers from the moment they are born till they reach puberty age and ripe enough to join the Olympics? I can only hazard a guess.

Filipinos dislike to wait. They lack the patience to train and produce world class athletes. They want instant gratification. Sigurista.

beijing olympics, 08-08-08

Did you see the opening of the Beijing Olympics? Mind-boggling, huh?

Seems like the Chinese can do anything, I mean anything. The sleeping dragon is now fully awake. It has shaken the dust, started to flap its wings, and slowly stretched out its tail. Just like the Emperor Jet Li in Mummy 3. They are on the road to immortality, regardless of the special effects and the fake little girl's voice. Incredible. And SCARY.

the good, the bad

Heard from a Cartoon Network show: "You have to take the good with the bad. If not, then you will end up with nothing."

Sounds logical to me. This will solve all relationship problems.

i'm almost 41

A few days from now and I will be 41. Gosh, that sounds ancient. That old already, yet I'm still busy running after two precocious little girls and getting back aches for trying to catch them as they dive from the bed while shouting "miming!" That's swimming for you.

I am not complaining, though. Except for the occasional money problems, I guess I have a lot to be thankful for. I believe I'm healthy enough to withstand the onslaught of hyperactive daughters for more years to come. Besides, they're not always like that. Sometimes, we play "make-up, make-up" and it's amazing how they can keep still--with eyes closed and lips slightly opened--waiting for me to dig into my invisible make up kit for the pink lipstick and pink eyeshadow and pink blush on. To this day, I still don't know why most girls declare that pink is their favorite color. (Perhaps they had been brainwashed since day one with a roomful of things in pink?)

Anyway, being 40, and soon 41, is not that bad. Just recently, my best friend's mom, whom I have not seen for a long time, commented that I still looked the same.

Well, thank God for bestfriends and their moms.

sentimental journey

Last Saturday, we took the kids on a stroll at UP Diliman, where the air is always fresh. (Do I hear objections?) Well, for me at least, being a regular "inhaler" of the polluted Pasig air, I always welcome the opportunity to go back to my alma mater, even if only to get a whiff of fresh air. I was forced to do some exercise, running after my little girls, who played tag around the pillars of Quezon Hall, making sure they didn't tumble down the steps into the base of the Oblation.

Ahh, the Oblation. After taking some decent shots of the statue and the sun that was beginning to set on it, I suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia. It has been almost 24 years since I first sat foot in UP, full of hopes of becoming a . . . Now, lemme see. What did I enter UP for? I certainly did not intend to become a political scientist. This is one of those vague degrees that will make you more confused about what you really want to do for the rest of your life. It's only now that I have realized that I became a lawyer because I had no inkling then what to do after taking up BA Political Science as an undergraduate course.

But let us not go into these misgivings again. My only point now is that, from 1982 to 1986, I was quite happy going to UP. I was one of those faceless, nameless souls who went around the campus absorbing the culture, enjoying the academic freedom, and exploring new things.

Nakakamiss.

online album

I finally found the time to create my online album. Samples of my foray into digital photography can be viewed at
http://photobucket.com/albums/e260/PhotosByYamTamayo/

Nope, I have not become rich because of photography (richer in experience, maybe), but I have not stopped hoping that someday, I will hit a gold mine. After all, one reader-friend has commented that free is always good. That's why I always make it a point to hoard in abundance forever-free and cost-free dreams and aspirations.

Keep on dreaming, folks!

money

Last Friday, a friend and I attended the opening of Cine Europa 8 sponsored by the European Union at the Shangri-La mall cineplex. We had cocktails, listened to speeches, then watched one of two featured films that night. We decided to watch "Millions," a British fantasy film about two young boys who came upon a bagful of stolen pound sterlings that were originally intended to be burned for becoming worthless as in 12 days time, Great Britain would convert to the EURO. The movie was superbly directed by the same director who did "Trainspotting." I enjoyed the movie immensely, although most of the time, I had trouble deciphering the dialog. You know, British accent. The story was very heartwarming, funny at times. Its premise was that, money only makes things worse. While the older of the two boys wanted to keep the money, the younger one--who believed so much in saints he actually saw them and talked to them--wanted to give it to the poor. It was a tale of faith and courage and of the belief that if you stick to your convictions, things will turn out ok in the end.

I am now an avid fan of European movies and I intend to watch all of the featured films in Cine Europa 8. It's free admission anyway.

forgiving

We cannot experience what loving is all about until we learn how to forgive--ourselves and others. This is one of the most fundamental truths in life, the most stirring manifestation of which is found in the greatest prayer found in the Bible. "Our Father . . . forgive us our sins as we forgive . . . . God--who is LOVE--moves in mysterious ways.

loving

This business of loving, it's so heavy on the heart. Some days, you keep running like a headless chicken. This is one of those days. You're trap in a situation where you keep analyzing what went wrong, and why you keep on hurting yourself by hurting others. There's a certain numbing that you can't explain. Are you finally letting go, or are you just in a "calm" stage, ready to explode once more. When will this cycle end? I'm not sure. Perhaps when you have stopped loving?

it's great to be alive!

I woke up at 3 am hoping I could start working on a deed of sale. But I couldn't access my computer in the office. Sigh. So much for wireless connection.

Anyway, I just wanna thank the Good Guy up there and our guardian angels for being "there." It's great to be alive.

Ok, back to bed. :-)