i watched house of flying daggers today. a chinese movie (thank God there's english subtitles)about ancient martial arts of knives and swords with an impressive performance of zhang zi yi (and actors takeshi something and andy something something). Chinese movies are really amazing! Action-packed (i think they have mastered the use of slow motion and fast forward, plus the jumpin-like-flying stunts and weapons being hurled all over,tragic love (tri)angle, picturesque locations. And zhang zi yi, uh beatiful, a face everybody will love.
anyways, back in residency, i have watched a lot of korean movies. dunno the names though (how can you remember their names anyway?) from action, adventure, love story, and their tear-jerkers(the most popular ones). Worth mentioning are The Classic and Memories to Remember.
what am i drivin at? well, we filipinos love western movies (mostly holliwood films) so much, that we actually never noticed our asian neighbor's equally impressive (or should i say even better) masterpieces. This week alone i watched kung fu hustle, shaolin soccer, and house of flying daggers. and i think am going to watch more the coming days. i may never know (and i think may not learn to recall ever) the names of the actors/actress but what the heck, its the whole package that matters most.
speakin of movies, the 32nd Metro Manila Film Festival (all Filipino) is already on its 1st week, have you watched one yet? :)
happy new year to everyone!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
a sexual guide to public speaking
read this from "the lighter side" mar-apr 2006 issue, dont quote me for this one........
PARIS
people who are nervous about public speaking should first have penetrative sex to ease the stress, although masturbation is unlikely to have the same effect, an unusual study reported in New Scientist says.
Stuart Brody, a psychologist at Britain's University of Paisley, copared the impact of different sexual activities on blood pressure when a person later undergoes a stressful experience.
He asked 24 women and 22 men to keep diary of their sexual activities for 2 weeks. The volunteers then underwent a stressful ordeal that involved making speech in public and doing mental arithmetic out loud.
Volunteers who had penetrative sex during the previous week or so had the least stress, and their blood pressure returned to normal fastest after their test.
Penetrative sex was far more effective in this regard than masturbation or oral sex. But those who had abstained completely from any sexual activity had the highest stress levels and blood pressure of all.
Brody also did a psychological profile of the volunteers to seewhether they had an anxious or neurotic character, and evaluated their work stress and satisfaction with their partners. But even when such factors were taken into account, sexual behavior was clearly the best explanation for the stress responses.
"The effects are not attributable to the short-term relief afforded by orgasm but, rather, endure for at least a week," Brody said.
He believes that penetrative sex may release a special "pair-bonding" hormone called oxytocin, which accounts for the calming effect.
The research is reported in full in Biological Psychology. AFP
so what now? :)
PARIS
people who are nervous about public speaking should first have penetrative sex to ease the stress, although masturbation is unlikely to have the same effect, an unusual study reported in New Scientist says.
Stuart Brody, a psychologist at Britain's University of Paisley, copared the impact of different sexual activities on blood pressure when a person later undergoes a stressful experience.
He asked 24 women and 22 men to keep diary of their sexual activities for 2 weeks. The volunteers then underwent a stressful ordeal that involved making speech in public and doing mental arithmetic out loud.
Volunteers who had penetrative sex during the previous week or so had the least stress, and their blood pressure returned to normal fastest after their test.
Penetrative sex was far more effective in this regard than masturbation or oral sex. But those who had abstained completely from any sexual activity had the highest stress levels and blood pressure of all.
Brody also did a psychological profile of the volunteers to seewhether they had an anxious or neurotic character, and evaluated their work stress and satisfaction with their partners. But even when such factors were taken into account, sexual behavior was clearly the best explanation for the stress responses.
"The effects are not attributable to the short-term relief afforded by orgasm but, rather, endure for at least a week," Brody said.
He believes that penetrative sex may release a special "pair-bonding" hormone called oxytocin, which accounts for the calming effect.
The research is reported in full in Biological Psychology. AFP
so what now? :)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
on discipline (sa disiplina)
drag down for english translation :)
kagabi, pag uwi ko ng bahay, tuwang tuwa si yuan at kyan. yehey dumating na si daddy (siguro yun ang iniisip nila). lahat ng pagod at antok mawawala makita mo lang ang mga bata. totoo pala sinasabi ng matatanda, na iba pala pakiramdam kapag nakikita mo na ang pinaghihirapan mo ay may patutunguhan. mga sakripisyo na kailangan mong gawin para sa ikabubuti ng mga taong mahal mo. haaaay, lumilipas na nga ang panahon.
ilang oras pa, naglalaro na kami, para kaming barkada, kaya lang dahil ako ang "panganay" ako ang magpapalugi. pwede ka nilang gawing kahit ano - kabayo, poste, tuod, target - basta kahit ano. makita mo lang na masaya sila, solve ka na! sa sarili ko, oras ko na rin yun para makabawi sa mga panahon na nasa trabajo ako at hindi sila kasama.
maya maya pa, ayun, sila naman dalawa ang nag-aaway, pinag aagawan ang celfone ko para makapaglaro, iiyak si kyan magsusumbong, kukunin mo yun celfone, iiyak naman si yuan. Haaay, humahanap ng kakampi. eh sinong kakampihan mo. Ang napagkasunduan namin mag-asawa (pinakamamahal kong si marie), kung ayaw nilang magbigayan, walang makikinabang. ayun, umiiyak ang dalawa. Mabigat man sa loob mo nakikita silang umiiyak, na parang pinagtabunan ng mundo, kailangan kang maging patas.
ilang sandali pa, tatahimik na ang dalawa, magkabati na muli si yuan at kyan. Kakausapin sila na parang mga kasing edad mo. "handa na ba kayong magbigayan?" tanong ko. sasagot ang dalawa ng "opo, tatay". ibibigay ang celfone (sa kwentong ito, celfone pero sa laruan at iba pang bagay rin ito ha) at makikita mo, para na silang mga anghel, tahimik na nanunuod ang isa, pagkatpos naman ng mga 5 minuto, ibibigay ni kuya sa pangalawa.
ayan, habang bata, natututunan na nilang magbigayan.
ang buhay tatay, ang buhay magulang, ibang iba pala kapag ikaw na ang nagdidisiplina.
time and chance happeneth to us all.
last night, yuan and kyan were so happy seeing me home. yahoo, daddy's here! with the kids, i feel energized. Its true what the old folks say - such a nice feeling when you see the fruits of your hardwork, enjoyed by the ones you love most. o yah, indeed time goes by..
a few hours more, we're playing like bestbuddies, since i am their "big brother", i'm always their target - their horse, post, airplaine, slave - anything! their enjoyment is my reward. For me, this is my chance to catch up and spend quality time.
and then the usual, the two will fight on whose going to play with my celfone. Kyan, being the younger one will cry in protest, i will get the phone from yuan and give it to kyan. As expected, Yuan, feeling deprived, will cry. So what now? My wife (marie, love you so much) and I agreed not to give it to anyone. If they will not share the celfone to each other, no one can play. Loud cry of disappointment from yuan and kyan. Looking at them crying like hell is not easy, it pains me. As if, the weight of the world is on their shoulders (and mine, too). But i have to be firm.
the two eventually surrendered, silent and patient (tired of crying?). I approached them and talked as if they were of my age. "Are you ready to share with each other?" i asked. "Yes, daddy". I gave the celfone (in this story its the phone, but its the same with toys, books, crayons etc). Looking at them, their like angels, peaceful and quiet. Yuan first while kyan is patiently watching, then after 5 minutes its Kyan's turn.
now that's more like it. learning the value of sharing.
ahhh, life as a daddy, living as parent, i can say it really is different when you're now in-charge of discipline.
kagabi, pag uwi ko ng bahay, tuwang tuwa si yuan at kyan. yehey dumating na si daddy (siguro yun ang iniisip nila). lahat ng pagod at antok mawawala makita mo lang ang mga bata. totoo pala sinasabi ng matatanda, na iba pala pakiramdam kapag nakikita mo na ang pinaghihirapan mo ay may patutunguhan. mga sakripisyo na kailangan mong gawin para sa ikabubuti ng mga taong mahal mo. haaaay, lumilipas na nga ang panahon.
ilang oras pa, naglalaro na kami, para kaming barkada, kaya lang dahil ako ang "panganay" ako ang magpapalugi. pwede ka nilang gawing kahit ano - kabayo, poste, tuod, target - basta kahit ano. makita mo lang na masaya sila, solve ka na! sa sarili ko, oras ko na rin yun para makabawi sa mga panahon na nasa trabajo ako at hindi sila kasama.
maya maya pa, ayun, sila naman dalawa ang nag-aaway, pinag aagawan ang celfone ko para makapaglaro, iiyak si kyan magsusumbong, kukunin mo yun celfone, iiyak naman si yuan. Haaay, humahanap ng kakampi. eh sinong kakampihan mo. Ang napagkasunduan namin mag-asawa (pinakamamahal kong si marie), kung ayaw nilang magbigayan, walang makikinabang. ayun, umiiyak ang dalawa. Mabigat man sa loob mo nakikita silang umiiyak, na parang pinagtabunan ng mundo, kailangan kang maging patas.
ilang sandali pa, tatahimik na ang dalawa, magkabati na muli si yuan at kyan. Kakausapin sila na parang mga kasing edad mo. "handa na ba kayong magbigayan?" tanong ko. sasagot ang dalawa ng "opo, tatay". ibibigay ang celfone (sa kwentong ito, celfone pero sa laruan at iba pang bagay rin ito ha) at makikita mo, para na silang mga anghel, tahimik na nanunuod ang isa, pagkatpos naman ng mga 5 minuto, ibibigay ni kuya sa pangalawa.
ayan, habang bata, natututunan na nilang magbigayan.
ang buhay tatay, ang buhay magulang, ibang iba pala kapag ikaw na ang nagdidisiplina.
time and chance happeneth to us all.
last night, yuan and kyan were so happy seeing me home. yahoo, daddy's here! with the kids, i feel energized. Its true what the old folks say - such a nice feeling when you see the fruits of your hardwork, enjoyed by the ones you love most. o yah, indeed time goes by..
a few hours more, we're playing like bestbuddies, since i am their "big brother", i'm always their target - their horse, post, airplaine, slave - anything! their enjoyment is my reward. For me, this is my chance to catch up and spend quality time.
and then the usual, the two will fight on whose going to play with my celfone. Kyan, being the younger one will cry in protest, i will get the phone from yuan and give it to kyan. As expected, Yuan, feeling deprived, will cry. So what now? My wife (marie, love you so much) and I agreed not to give it to anyone. If they will not share the celfone to each other, no one can play. Loud cry of disappointment from yuan and kyan. Looking at them crying like hell is not easy, it pains me. As if, the weight of the world is on their shoulders (and mine, too). But i have to be firm.
the two eventually surrendered, silent and patient (tired of crying?). I approached them and talked as if they were of my age. "Are you ready to share with each other?" i asked. "Yes, daddy". I gave the celfone (in this story its the phone, but its the same with toys, books, crayons etc). Looking at them, their like angels, peaceful and quiet. Yuan first while kyan is patiently watching, then after 5 minutes its Kyan's turn.
now that's more like it. learning the value of sharing.
ahhh, life as a daddy, living as parent, i can say it really is different when you're now in-charge of discipline.
peso rallies to highest in nearly six years
everyday upon opening my computer, i usually check daily news. usually headline has always been bad news - thats' what usually sells ( i wonder why people love reading bad news - uh man by nature is nossy?) but this time, its exactly the opposite - peso rallies to highest in nearly six years! this is good news. amidst the charter change, calamities, political bickering and price increases atleast there's something light you can read in the paper.
yup 6 years ago, president Joseph ERAP Estrada was still in power, it was a roller coster or should i say "like in the movies" good-will-prevail-leadership-that-did-not-happen era. He was eventually oustered and faced charges (which btw, the court proceedings is progressing at a snail pace - nothin unusual). The exchange rate was around 49. slowly, similar to other SEA currencies, we're gaining against the green buck.
there are always 2 sides of the coin, exporters are complaining since a stronger peso means less income and more competition from other countries. personally, i want our peso to appreciate even further. not drastically, but at a stable pace, so that everyone can adjust.
kudos to our overseas filipino workers who pumps dollars to the country. all your hardwork is helping your families here live a better and more comfortable life. i hope in time, the country can generate more jobs, so that there's no need for most people to go abroad.
i'm realistic to say that in my lifetime i may not be able to see the country in economic glory. the days when we were second to japan (40-50s) in asia was half a century ago. but i pray that as a nation, we unite and keep the spirit of EDSA people power alive - towards nation building. Yes, the Filipino can!
yup 6 years ago, president Joseph ERAP Estrada was still in power, it was a roller coster or should i say "like in the movies" good-will-prevail-leadership-that-did-not-happen era. He was eventually oustered and faced charges (which btw, the court proceedings is progressing at a snail pace - nothin unusual). The exchange rate was around 49. slowly, similar to other SEA currencies, we're gaining against the green buck.
there are always 2 sides of the coin, exporters are complaining since a stronger peso means less income and more competition from other countries. personally, i want our peso to appreciate even further. not drastically, but at a stable pace, so that everyone can adjust.
kudos to our overseas filipino workers who pumps dollars to the country. all your hardwork is helping your families here live a better and more comfortable life. i hope in time, the country can generate more jobs, so that there's no need for most people to go abroad.
i'm realistic to say that in my lifetime i may not be able to see the country in economic glory. the days when we were second to japan (40-50s) in asia was half a century ago. but i pray that as a nation, we unite and keep the spirit of EDSA people power alive - towards nation building. Yes, the Filipino can!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
little andal family's christmas joy ride
merry christmas!
we left manila 24th and reached taytay rizal early evening. taytay is 2 hours east of manila, famous for textile and sash factories. streets, especially at town central, are narrow that's why most people have motorbikes - ergo, traffic everywhere. this is the place where i grew up - my elementary and high school years.
antipolo is the hometown of my father-in-law, famous for cashew nuts (which i bet came from palawan) and native rice cakes. Most devotees flock during May 1 and December 8 and walk their way up to the Shrine of Antipolo (the place is an upland) and pray for the patron Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. I remember our "jeep" being blessed here (see, it's not just people being baptized but vehicles as well :)
christmas is family. this is my chronicle on how my little andal family went on a joy ride to visit and celebrate Christ's birth with the people we love most. A famous philosopher once said.... "family always comes first" - adam sandler in click. Merry Christmas, Maligayang Pasko, Feliz Navidad!
here's the link merry christmas everyone!
(you can double click the title as well)
uh, you can also view this in my friendster sandbox, fourth clip!
Again, Merry Christmas, Maligayang Pasko, Feliz Navidad!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
diaspora of filipinos
i was reading the newspaper a week ago and it was reported that around 1.1 million filipinos got a job abroad this year - includes nurses, doctors, seamen, teachers, engineers and domestics. yup, our brains going out of the country to get better paying jobs. most of them will return dollars to the country - our life source. no wonder everywhere you go, you will always see a filipino.
i just came from a despidida party, my batchmate is going to australia early next year to pursue his pediatrics training. our chief resident in pgh will take USMLE early next year. and most of my batchmates in UST medicine are now working in the US as nurses or as MDs. Looking at their friendster pics, chatting at YM and answering their emails at yahoogroups, i think their coping quite well. life may be different in a foreign land, but atleast they are well compensated. The baluts, menudo, bagoong, sinigang may not be available all the time but what the heck, this is the life they chose, an investment for their future as well as their children's.
its nice to see them having reunions and catchin up activities. in a way, its like home away from home. wish you all the goodness life has to offer.
and to jon cu, hey mate! i know you're used to being "down under", i never knew you were a good cook (im still wonderin if you secretely sprinkled hashish/cannabis in your menu, their f*@?#n' great)! show the aussies how a compassionate, dedicated, hard workin filipino (with matchin alar-flaring and cuss) doctor you are. i believe in you.
and uh btw, to all the filipinos in diaspora, dont forget to look back........
i just came from a despidida party, my batchmate is going to australia early next year to pursue his pediatrics training. our chief resident in pgh will take USMLE early next year. and most of my batchmates in UST medicine are now working in the US as nurses or as MDs. Looking at their friendster pics, chatting at YM and answering their emails at yahoogroups, i think their coping quite well. life may be different in a foreign land, but atleast they are well compensated. The baluts, menudo, bagoong, sinigang may not be available all the time but what the heck, this is the life they chose, an investment for their future as well as their children's.
its nice to see them having reunions and catchin up activities. in a way, its like home away from home. wish you all the goodness life has to offer.
and to jon cu, hey mate! i know you're used to being "down under", i never knew you were a good cook (im still wonderin if you secretely sprinkled hashish/cannabis in your menu, their f*@?#n' great)! show the aussies how a compassionate, dedicated, hard workin filipino (with matchin alar-flaring and cuss) doctor you are. i believe in you.
and uh btw, to all the filipinos in diaspora, dont forget to look back........
Friday, December 22, 2006
boleh
i was about to write a eulogy to hobster (the fortune lobster i got from kris kringle) but somethin came up....
i met a friend from overseas who, in a way, gave me insights on how to adjust well in my corporate world. i spent almost half my life in the academics and now, being in a pharmaceutical business, is absolutely new to me. the work is mentally stimulating but at the same time exhausting.
he is also new in the business but pharmacy is his forte. he was like a one-stop shop - you enquire, he will respond. eventually, its no longer med info i'm asking - i can virtually ask anything under the sun, surprisingly, he has some answers!
from chinese music, blogging, net tips, link and more to bragging, wolfing, narcisism, nationalism and parenting. conversations were never dull.
then he told me, he's leaving this world (the business i mean). i was initially stunned, i thought he loved his work so much and simply state that this is "time management" but he has his reason - very valid indeed - for the future of his family. well no one can contest to that. they're heading towards the green fields down under.
leaving is always sad. but everytime a door closes, there will always be an open window. in this high tech world we live in, distance is relative. i remember what the little prince (exupery) said "in my world everything is so small, that if you go straight ahead you can't get any farther"
thanks chang!
ting rheiboy de hua (whatever)
i met a friend from overseas who, in a way, gave me insights on how to adjust well in my corporate world. i spent almost half my life in the academics and now, being in a pharmaceutical business, is absolutely new to me. the work is mentally stimulating but at the same time exhausting.
he is also new in the business but pharmacy is his forte. he was like a one-stop shop - you enquire, he will respond. eventually, its no longer med info i'm asking - i can virtually ask anything under the sun, surprisingly, he has some answers!
from chinese music, blogging, net tips, link and more to bragging, wolfing, narcisism, nationalism and parenting. conversations were never dull.
then he told me, he's leaving this world (the business i mean). i was initially stunned, i thought he loved his work so much and simply state that this is "time management" but he has his reason - very valid indeed - for the future of his family. well no one can contest to that. they're heading towards the green fields down under.
leaving is always sad. but everytime a door closes, there will always be an open window. in this high tech world we live in, distance is relative. i remember what the little prince (exupery) said "in my world everything is so small, that if you go straight ahead you can't get any farther"
thanks chang!
ting rheiboy de hua (whatever)
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