Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
No Things (Nothing To Do)
I'm left with no choice today. I don't even know what to write. It's the saddest thing I ever felt when I don't even know what to do next. Hate it when I knew I can do something beautiful. Sometimes, your thoughts don't go along with your body. OOPS! Is that right? I mean, there will really a point in your life when you get tired. Tired when you are really not.
However, life must go on, as expected. It's not really the end of the day. Maybe, you just need a little inspiration or excitement to lighten up your day. Cheer up! You don't own the world's problem, aren't you? So, keep contact with the goodness of God and His blessings to us everyday. Let's just think that were very blessed to have experienced another day of our life in this magnificent Earth. If we will not make the most of it today, when? When it's too late? Ponder.
That's why, be happy and enjoy life as it is. Always look at the brighter side of your existence.J
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Choose Philippines! (ABS- CBN)
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| Pilipinas Kay Ganda! |
ABS- CBN launches its newest website for promoting the finest destinations in the Philippines.
Since ABS- CBN choosephils.com team does not allow the use of their materials, I utilized this one which is used for branding Philippines (http://www.onedesignph.com/2010/11/pilipinas-kay-ganda-brouhaha.html) which has received a lot of comments.
To visit the newest Philippine Tourism Website: http://www.choosephils.com/.
Kenneth Cobonpue's bamboo and rattan car "a big hit" in Milan
(SPOT.ph) Filipino furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue told Manila Bulletin that his Phoenix, the world's first and only car made from bamboo and rattan, was a "big hit" in Milan, Italy. It was showcased at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile during the Milan Design Week earlier this month.
According to Manila Bulletin, the Phoenix does not have an engine yet but it has caught the eye of the car industry. Cobonpue's managing partner in the US, Christopher Reiter, told Manila Bulletin that a visitor from Mercedes Benz was "amazed" by the design.
Reiter said, "He found the whole concept of a car made of bamboo and rattan so raw and yet so rich in terms of design and sustainability. Two other leading car manufacturers are also interested to pursue a collaborative project with Kenneth." According to Manila Bulletin, Consul General Lourdes Soliman Tabamo lauded Cobonpue's work. In an intimate dinner she hosted in Milan for Cobonpue and his staff, she said, "This is a moment of national pride for all of us."
Manila Bulletin quoted Cobonpue as saying, "I am very pleased with the feedback from everyone who came to visit our booth and saw the intricacy of the craftsmanship and the genius of the Filipino design."
Inquirer.net likened the Phoenix to a sleek bird posed to take flight. "It has a (vertebra) or spine that runs to the rear where it forms into a splay of rattan bundled with LED (Light Emitting Diode) rods to emit light; that's the tail light. The rear is also the space for the car engine." It took months to design the Phoenix, and 10 days to build it in Cobonpue's factory in Cebu.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Book Review)
I. Title of the Book: New Moon
(A film adaptation was released on November 20, 2009. The film starred Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, reprising their roles as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, respectively.)
II. Author’s Name: Stephenie Meyer
III. Place and Date of Publication: United States/2006
IV. Publisher: Little, Brown
V. Book Description
New Moon is a fantasy novel by author Stephenie Meyer, and is the second novel in the Twilight series. According to Meyer, the book is about losing true love. The title refers to the darkest phase of the lunar cycle, indicating that New Moon is about the darkest time of protagonist Bella Swan's life. The book was originally released in hardcover in 2006, following the successful publishing of Meyer's debut novel Twilight which is recommended for 16 years and up.
VI. Author’s Purpose
According to Meyer, the story was inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. While Meyer was still writing Forever Dawn, she learned that Twilight was going to be published and marketed as a young-adult novel. Wanting the next book to be aimed at a similar audience, she decided to write a new sequel, New Moon, which took place during Bella's senior year of high school. According to Meyer, the story was inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
VII. Point of View
It is on the first- person point of view.
VIII. Theme
This is “about life, not death" and "love, not lust". New Moon is based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Choice and free will is also a turning point in the book. It is centered on Bella's choice to choose her life on her own, and the Cullens' choices to abstain from killing rather than follow their temptations.
IX. Thesis
Bella has been going out with her vampire boyfriend Edward for six blissfully happy months. The only thing that worries her is his steadfast refusal to even consider making her into a vampire like him. As the day of her eighteenth birthday rolls around she feels less than happy because she is now older than Edward, who will never age past seventeen.
Edward suddenly becomes more distant towards to Bella and finally he tells her that he and his family are leaving Forks, to never return, and he no longer wants to see her.
Edward is Bella’s whole world and his abandonment is a harsh blow. Her whole world falls apart and as she becomes withdrawn from the world she soon loses most of her friends becoming even more isolated and lonely. When she does something dangerous she starts hallucinating and thinks she can hear Edward telling her not to do anything stupid and to be more careful.
Although the pain of Edward’s departure never leaves Bella, Jacob soon becomes her best friend and he helps to fill some of the voids in her life. Jacob himself is no ordinary boy and soon Bella discovers that part of his Quileute heritage is to be cursed to be a werewolf. Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies and the enmity runs deep on both sides.
Alice
X. List of Characters
1. Bella Swan
The protagonist of the series, teenager Bella is a perpetually clumsy "danger magnet" with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is often portrayed as having low self-esteem and unable to comprehend Edward's love for her. She has immunity to supernatural abilities involving the mind, such as Edward's mind-reading ability. After her transformation into a vampire in the saga's fourth installment, Bella acquires the ability to shield both her and others from "mental harm" from other vampires.
2. Edward Cullen
A member of the Olympic Coven, Edward only drinks animal blood and has the special ability to read minds. He falls in love with Bella soon after she arrives in Forks. He decided to leave Forks with his family so they wouldn't be able to hurt her. He returned because he realized he cannot live without her. Edward marries Bella in Breaking Dawn and they have a daughter, Renesmee.
3. Jacob Black
Jacob is introduced as a member of the Quileute tribe. Bella and Jacob become friends and he soon falls for her. He resurfaces in New Moon with a much larger role as Bella's best friend; he really stands by her side as she struggles through her depression over losing Edward. Although he is in love with Bella, she initially sees him as just her best friend. He and other Quileute tribe members can shape shift into wolves, which are known and mortal enemies of Vampires. Throughout New Moon Jacob and Edward have instances where they compete for Bella's love.
4. Carlisle Cullen
Carlisle Cullen is Esme's husband and Edward, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper's adoptive father. Carlisle is described to look like a model; he has blond hair, and is slender but muscular. Carlisle theorizes that when a human is turned into a vampire, they will have an enhanced ability from their previous life. He believes he brought compassion from his human life. Carlisle has had centuries to perfect his medicinal talents, therefore making him an excellent doctor. Unlike most vampires, he is not at all tempted by the scent of human blood, due to the over 300 years he has spent holding back his temptations. Carlisle Cullen was the son of an Anglican pastor, born in 1640s London , England
5. Esme Cullen
Esme Cullen (born Esme Platt and later Esme Evenson) is Carlisle Cullen's wife and the adoptive mother of Edward, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice Columbus , Ohio , where she was treated at the age of 16 by Carlisle after breaking her leg when climbing a tree. She married Charles Evenson, but he abused her. After finding out she was pregnant, she ran away and gave birth to a son, who subsequently died a few days later. Grief-stricken by his death, Esme attempted to kill herself by jumping off a cliff. Presumed dead, she was brought to a morgue. Carlisle , who remembered treating her years before, was able to hear her faint heartbeat and transformed her into a vampire. Esme fell in love with and married Carlisle soon after. She loves her adoptive children, including Bella, as if they were her own and has the most affection for Edward, but she still grieves that she is unable to bear children.
XI. Plot
During Bella's 18th birthday, she gets a paper cut and Edward's brother Jasper smells the blood and tries to attack her.
Trying to protect Bella, Edward grows increasingly distant with Bella. Finally, he drops a bombshell --- he is leaving Bella forever. Edward leaves Bella utterly alone and despondent.
Bella drowns in her pain for months, resurfacing only when her father threatens to send her to see a psychologist or to live with her mother. Desperate not to forget Edward, Bella rekindles a friendship with Jacob Black, a large, hard-edged boy with a tendency to live life recklessly. Jacob lives on the area's Indian reservation, whose inhabitants loathe the vampires for reasons that become increasingly clear as Bella's friendship with Jacob deepens.
Suddenly, Jacob stops calling or coming by. Bella is hurt and confused. Upon confronting him, Bella discovers that Jacob is a werewolf. Jacob is worried that Bella won't want to be friends anymore, but Bella insisted that they continue their friendship. Bella continues to do reckless things in order to stay close to Edward.
One day, she chooses to jump of a cliff and nearly drowns. Alice, Edward's sister, sees in a vision Bella supposedly trying to kill herself and rushes to Forks. When she arrives and realizes Bella is OK she receives a vision of Edward headed to the Volturi to ask them to kill him. He figures if Bella is dead, he doesn't want to exist. Alice and Bella race to Italy
XII. Summary/ Commentary
I was not able to read the ever- loved novel of most people today, Twilight, and very unfortunate not to see on the big screen. However, I was delighted to borrow a book and read its sequel, New Moon, from my cousin. I want to read not because I love to read the book but because the novel is very popular to most people and it was my opportunity to experience the vampires and wolves’ encounter. It was very different to read the book without prior information, but I was glad to here a few words from my friend who have seen the entire Twilight. Because of that, I have linked it with the present book.
Bella was described beautifully as well as Edward. It was so disgusting and disappointing that I only have a short time knowing Edward Cullen because he left Bella Swan alone in the Forks. I hated Edward for Bella has suffered too much pain just because of his absence- absence forever as Edward said.
However, Jacob, a newfound friend of Bella in the absence of Edward has been very long-suffering, sweet and understanding. Although I don’t like Jacob for he isn’t that attractive as Edward, I have learned to appreciate his effort towards Bella.
I can feel the pain what Bella is feeling, that’s why I’m craving for Edward’s return. I really waited for his comeback even if he promised not to return again because as a reader, I’m feeling too much pain of how Bella handled herself, which made Stephenie great!
At last, I was relieved when Bella fight for her love because she followed Edward. Till next book again!
XIII. Significance of the Book
The book is good for aesthetic reading. You can have a great time enjoying reading because Stephanie made her book so- in love. It will serve as an inspiration and aspiration. Its love made in heaven, I should say since they made possible the impossible. Although it was really the darkest phase of Bella’s life, she still pursued her high hopes of meeting Edward. Determination and free will build up here.
This book is good for those people who loved a happy- ending love story because your will to go on for the relationship will be strengthened and fighting for love would be as much developed.
XIV. Personal Observations
The novel was not very alluring and enticing to me since I suffered enough waiting for Edward’s return. Very disappointed that the loving- encounter was not that momentous, just an easy reunion.
One thing, it feels like Meyer want us to love Jacob for Bella but she don’t even give a chance Jacob to have Bella even for a moment, be Bella’s love.
Nonetheless, her novel was loved by people. That was enough proof of success!
The Firm by John Grisham (Book Review)
I. Title of the Book: The Firm
(Adapted into movie and starred by Hollywood
II. Author’s Name: John Grisham
III. Place and Date of Publication: United States/1993
IV. Publisher: Random House (2nd edition)
V. Book Description
The book is in a paperback.
VI. Author’s Purpose
As I read some of his book collections, it seemed he loves to write legal thriller’s books. John Grisham has been known for his writings because every lawyer has a good story and lawyers have the very good ability to think analytically where he can twist the subplots of the whole story.
Personally, I don’t know why he wrote the story. But, as I see it, he wanted to expose some of the unlawful deeds of some firms. In time, these firms would feel the slap of shame if they’re practicing such actions.
VII. Point of View
It is on the first- person point of view.
VIII. Subject Matter
The Firm is a story about family, work, and dreams boiled by twists and turns, the Mafia secret society’s unlawful, illegal and furtive works, wrecked McDeere’s dreams.
IX. Theme
Good, stable job, deception, and loyalty orbits in the whole story. One is after the other; the weak losses and the strong and clever remains.
X. Thesis
The Firm is a legal thriller. A young man, who is so dense as to not realize he's just joined a Mafia-front law firm, is still smart enough to outwit the Mob and the Feds.
Mitchell Y. McDeere is a law student who graduated third in his class at Harvard Law School Vietnam
Mitch has offers from law firms in New York and Chicago but eventually decides to join Bendini, Lambert and Locke, a small tax law firm based in Memphis
McDeere’s greed for security and wellness has ruined his life. He has bumped into big bad guys.
XI. List of Characters
1. Mitchell Y. McDeere
Mitchell is an ambitious law student who graduates with honors from Harvard. He is seduced by the firm, and is then notified that the firm is part of the Morolto crime family by the FBI. He is eventually caught by the firm, but escapes with $12 million (both the money the FBI paid him and the money he stole from the Moroltos) and survives. He retires to the beaches of the Caribbean with Abby and Ray.
2. Abby McDeere
Abby is the wife of Mitch McDeere and a kindergarten teacher in a prominent school in Memphis
Wayne Tarrance: An organized crime specialist fromNew York
Wayne Tarrance: An organized crime specialist from
3. Ray McDeere
Ray is the brother of Mitch McDeere. He's a convicted felon who killed a man in a bar fight. He was dishonorably discharged from the army. He's a great linguist who learned several languages. He escapes with the help of the FBI and Mitch, and later aids Mitch in his escape.
4. Eddie Lomax
Eddie is an ex-con and friend of Ray McDeere; a private investigator who now works for Mitch in investigating the five dead lawyers. He is later murdered by one of the Morolto gunmen.
Tammy Hempville: Secretary and lover of Eddie. She becomes frightened when Eddie is killed. She greatly aids Mitch in stealing the files and is rewarded with lots of money by Mitch.
Oliver Lambert: Originally an unsuspecting early joiner of the firm, later unwillingly drawn into the conspiracy. He's now a veteran and head of the firm.
Tammy Hempville: Secretary and lover of Eddie. She becomes frightened when Eddie is killed. She greatly aids Mitch in stealing the files and is rewarded with lots of money by Mitch.
Oliver Lambert: Originally an unsuspecting early joiner of the firm, later unwillingly drawn into the conspiracy. He's now a veteran and head of the firm.
5. Nathan Locke
He grew up on the streets of Chicago
6. Bill DeVasher
A former police detective, now a thug and security head of the firm. He is in charge of monitoring the firm's lawyers and carrying out the Moroltos' dirty work. He blackmails Mitch with pictures of him, yet is ignored.
7. Tony "Two-Ton" Berkler
Tony is a thug with an impressive record of convictions, a loyal gangster to the Morolto family. He helps in the search for Mitch McDeere.
8. Aaron "The Nordic" Simmer
A thug for the Morolto family. He has strong Nordic features and is nearly successful in catching Mitch several times. He is later strangled by Ray McDeere.
9. Lou Lazarov
Lou is an under boss of the Morolto crime family. He is a close associate of Joey Morolto (the head of the Morolto crime family).
10. Joey Morolto (The Priest)
He is the boss of the Morolto crime family. He is the younger brother of Mickey Morolto, who has limited business with the crime family. Joey Morolto is the son of the Old Man Morolto (the first boss of the Morolto family)
XII. Plot
Family is central to The Firm. The Firm revolves on how Mitchell Y. McDeere can make a living out of his profession since he is just a poor boy who strived hard to attain wellness in his family. When recruiting new lawyers, Bendini, Lambert and Locke takes great care in investigating the candidate's familial condition.
The firm seeks applicants who come from less than happy circumstances because they believe that history creates a hunger for success and union later in life—ideals that the firm upholds.
It also seeks young men who are married as they are determined to raise there new marital life. The firm leverages its benefits packages and entices couples looking forward to a particular way of life.
The firm selects according to cleverness as well, but intelligence alone would not yield an interview- qualifications are to meet their primary needs. Once a lawyer has been hired, he is strongly encouraged to buy a home and have children.
Two of Mitch's colleagues die in a scuba diving accident in the Cayman Islands the week he starts at the firm. Mitch finds the deaths disturbing, but settles down, works hard towards his dream of becoming a successful employee of the firm. During a memorial service at the firm for the two deceased attorneys, Mitch notices plaques commemorating three other attorneys who died while working at the firm. Being curious, he hires a private investigator, Eddie Lomax, an ex-cell mate of his brother Ray, to investigate the deaths of the attorneys.
Lomax discovers that all five of the deceased attorneys died under questionable circumstances: two in the diving accident, and the other three in a car accident, a hunting accident and a suicide, respectively. Lomax cautions Mitch to be careful. Soon after Lomax reported to Mitch, the firm murdered him.
Just as he passes his bar exam, Wayne Tarrance, an FBI agent, confronts Mitch. Mitch little by little learns from the FBI that the firm is actually part of the white collar operations of the Morolto crime family of Chicago. For years, the Moroltos have enticed new lawyers from poor backgrounds into the firm with promises of wealth and security.
By the time a lawyer is aware of the firm's actual operations, he cannot leave. No lawyer has escaped the firm alive, as the recent deaths of his two colleagues show. Mitch learns that his house, office and car are monitored with high- tech devices responsible for his all moves. He and Abby are also routinely followed, making his meetings with the FBI dangerous
Desperate to find a way out and stay alive in the process, Mitch makes a deal with the FBI, in which he gets two million dollars and the release of his brother, if he collects enough evidence to prosecute the firm. Mitch tells Tarrance that he can obtain enough evidence to indict half the firm, but the information obtained through those indictments will prove the existence of an illegal conspiracy—giving the government the ammunition it needs to destroy the firm and the Morolto family. In order to do so, however, Mitch must disclose information about his clients, and thus end his career as a lawyer. Working with Lomax's secretary and lover, Tammy, Mitch begins to copy confidential documents and makes plans to deliver them to the FBI as planned.
Meanwhile, the firm becomes suspicious of Mitch, and with the assistance of "Alfred", a mole in the FBI, they discover Mitch's plan. After knowing that the firm learned about his plan, he steals approximately ten million dollars from various bank accounts belonging to the firm.
Mitch manages to escape to the Caribbean with the help of Barry Abanks, a scuba diving business owner whose son died in the incident where the firm killed two lawyers, while the FBI gets the evidence they need to bust the firm through the 10,000 documents Mitch and Abby copied from the firm, indicting them from everything of laundering money to mail fraud.
At the end, Mitch, Abby and Ray go into hiding and are in silence enjoying their newfound riches in the Caribbean region.
XIII. Summary/ Commentary
This lawyer- book rolled out the irregularities and illegalities of many international tax firms. We may not agree but we dwell in changing world- greed for money will be central to the people’s lives.
McDeere is an innocent young man who aims to provide his family the needs, but out of his intelligence, he has been used to become an instrument (he’s never the first) of graft for international business men.
However, Mitchel’s wife’s curiosity has led to the discovery of unknown secrets of the firm. McDeere has maneuvered how to cope with the firm’s strategic plans.
XIV. Significance of the Book
If the book is true today, it could be an open window to the decisions of some professionals, ensuring the legality of the tax firms. It teaches lessons on valuing family and balancing work, putting a priority list.
XV. Personal Observations
Two thumbs up! Though my favorite is Sidney Sheldon, I love to read lawyer- books, citing concerns on investigations because my mind participates on the resolution of the case. But in this case, the “culprits” are boldly shown, just hidden to McDeere, successively. And knowing that they were run after by since strange things has been happening.
McDeere’s role is so innocent- a worker with one goal, to live life fully with wealth. Not considering the hidden agenda of the firm. Nevertheless, I liked how he has live his life though he knew that his family is being monitored. He has been able to surpass, with much vigor, he outwitted the long before hunted illegal firm.
John Grisham is a might author, although there are just few usual twists in the story. He has captivated my full attention because I love the attack of the novel.
Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Program
I am currently enrolled to this program. I am having a summer class which will last for a month (April 25- May 27, 2011), 4:00- 7:00 PM. Yesterday was the first day of class. It was quite boring but it was exciting. Hmmm. Confused? Me too. I was confused when I used the program for the first time. Well, I hope this time will be better.
For you to understand better, here is the short JEEP description.
For you to understand better, here is the short JEEP description.
Welcome to USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao III (GEM 3) Program
Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project What is JEEP? The Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Program, is an intensive two-year program, designed by an international team of experts, which is aimed at dramatically improving the English language proficiency of students enrolled in selected universities in Mindanao. The first year of the two-year course, known as JEEP-Start, focuses on students' proficiency in general English. It is conducted in dedicated JEEP laboratories where students interact with state-of-the-art English language training software under the supervision of specially trained teachers. The second year of the course, known as JEEP-Accelerate, is classroom-based, and focuses on the specialized English skills required by employers in areas such as:
Why was JEEP Designed? JEEP helps to address the problem that many of the young people graduating from colleges in Mindanao do not have the English language skills required to gain employment in some of the sectors that tend to offer the most opportunity, such as nursing and allied health services, the maritime sector, travel and tourism services, business process outsourcing and other areas of international employment requiring proficiency in English. For the past several years, less than 10% of applicants taking the English language examinations that are prerequisites for obtaining employment in those sectors have passed those exams. USAID, through its GEM Program, has supported the development and implementation of JEEP to help graduating university and college students compete successfully for jobs that require a high degree of English proficiency. Who Should Consider Applying for JEEP Enrollment? Second and third-year college or university students who, upon graduation, will seek employment in sectors requiring high levels of English proficiency should consider applying for enrollment into JEEP. They should be prepared to make a two-year commitment to acquiring the skills that they will need. Additional Information about JEEP:
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