Experimenting with slides

I saw Rondah's (Glo's very creative daughter) slide in her blog and I thought "why not"! So I went to slide.com and tried per instruction not knowing that there was no going back. So, enjoy the pictures that I was able to upload (at least one can upload 20 pics at a time with this.) Next time I will try to find out how to put captions. (princess)

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

More Pics from the Todai Party

These are all I've got from our camera ! I know some more are coming this weekend, bye !!!

Philkans New Likita PLUS August Celebrants Again

We passed by another milestone here. Philkans new likita, Dr Socrates Santos Susim, son of Andy & Raquel Susim from Sumaila. Manang Nati below with Othes. Dr Purita Hipol addresses the Philkans in honor of the new likita, together with some more of the August celebrants.

Angel Mariano, above, and his mother, Nana Asyang, are both August celebrants. At this point, I beg your indulgence to allow me to post some pictures of the graduation of our new likita. He is now a Resident Physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center at Colton CA. Next year, he will be at USC (University of Southern California) in LA.
Look at his mother, above, (and the father, too) beaming with pride. Raquel and Susan are also August celebrants. And so with Aileen, Othes's grilfriend.
Othes's girlfriend, Aileen, is also a Leo. Susan and Aileen, together with Othes's friends with Chad and Ferdinand organized this printed T-shirt thing (GO DR OTIS MD) plus the party in San Francisco for Othes. Chad even performed a brief rap music of his own when Othes's name was called in the graduation.

Now, back to the Philkans party at Todai Japanese Restaurant, last Sunday, August 27, 2006. The next pictures are, of course, more of the Philkans, though there are other visitors invited.




More of these pictures in the next posting, please. The blog allows a limited number of pictures to be posted at the same time, sorry ! (Andy from Sumaila)

THOSE BORN FROM 1930 TO 1979 - CONGRATULATIONS !

Here is one example of publishing something that is NOT an original, I mean NOT originally mine. This is the third time this was sent to me and I decided to share it here in our Philkans Blog. Here it is :

CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY IF YOU WERE BORN BETWEEN 1930-1979
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's 70's !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can,and didn't get tested for Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or Cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Koolade made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING !

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound , CD's or Ipods, no cell phones! , no personal computers , no Internet or chat rooms.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them! Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned: HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! If YOU are one of them ... .

CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno: "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

For those that prefer to think that God is not watching Over us....go ahead and delete this. "Be impressed when someone asks you to pray for them. Why? Because they believe your prayers will really make a difference." (andy from Sumaila)

TIM HOP's Corner : The Master and the Pupil 1

Master, Who is Mr Tim Hop ? Do you know him ?

Tim Hop does not refer particularly to one person. It is an acronym for This Is My Humble Opinion. Anybody who wishes to express one's opinion is Tim Hop.

Master, why is it that other people are hesitant, if not indifferent, to participate or contribute to our Blog ?

Do you want my answer to confirm your suspicion or you really want to know more than you already know ?

Master, actually I do not know. I do not know much about blogging, so I can not say if my suspicions are valid. What is really the purpose of this Blogging thing anyway ?

The purpose is to communicate with friends and colleagues who worked with us together in a foreign land - a sort of fellowship, togetherness, exchange of information, etc etc. Many among us here have already “gone where everybody else has gone before” or as one caring lady termed it, “escorted to the Forrest Lawn” . Many wished this fellowship to continue because it is part of our lives and we want to leave it as a heritage to the next generation of our kids and grandkids.

Sounds a good thing to me, Master, so why don’t they participate, ?

You said you do not know, and I do not know either. My own Master once said “I do not know” is the beginning of wisdom, because you are willing to embark on uncharted sea, to discover or to explore.. Let us start exploring some possible reasons . Tell me what you think are possible reasons and together we will explore them one by one .

Master, maybe lack of time; maybe lack of knowledge; maybe they are intimidated by new technology; maybe they think this blog thing is a waste of time; maybe there’s nothing they can get out of it, there’s no future in it; maybe they think it will not help put food on the table; maybe …, maybe…..

Woo, woo, woo, slow down Grasshopper. Maybe you have forgotten this blog thing is strictly voluntary. Don’t be too judgmental. Most of this people are established families and putting food on the table is the least of their concern. It can be a combination of everything you said, except the food part. Or some other reasons we have not explored yet. We are dealing with a lot of “maybe’s” here. Maybe we just let it evolve on its own. Give it some time. When you plant a seed under the ground, you do not dig it up every now and then to see if it is growing or not. You nourish it with love and care, with the warmth of mother Earth, with the coolness of the morning dew, aerate it with the gentle breeze so it can breathe. With Time, you let it grow on its own.

If you say so, Master. You are always right. In the meantime, what are you doing about it while waiting for it to evolve on its own ?

Nothing, just trying to anticipate some of the possible reasons you pointed out. I am sending out a second primer on this blog thing that might help.

Yes, Master. I have read it and checked it myself and I think it will help greatly to dispel the myth that blogging is a complicated new high technology thing reserved only for this young generation. Well, Master, before I leave , may I request for one more lesson on, say, attitude or proper perspective ?

Certainly, Grasshopper. Here it is about “Who is Rich and Who is Poor”

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have! Attitude, perspective, whatever you call it, be grateful for what you have. Go back to one of my postings, the second to the last line of the poem “Desiderata” that I savored.

Master, you are truly a master !!! You are always telling the TRUTH as you see it. You can handle the truth .

No, Grasshopper, I can not. Only Jack Nicholson can handle the truth .

Splendour in the Grass

Have you seen the movie "Rebel Without a Cause" {Splendour in the Grass} with Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty? It is on DVD and VHS now. It is one of my all time favorites maybe because I saw it during that time when I could relate so well to what the actors were portraying. One scene that stays vividly in my mind is when the kids are in an English or literature class and Natalie (I think ) was asked to read this part in one of William Wordworth's collection of poems - "Intimations of Immortality"

'What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now forever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;'

You have to see the film in order to understand why she cried as she was reading it......
Come on, be a romantic like me! (princess)

Memories, memories, and more memories....

Ok, tell the truth, of those who are in the pictures,
ilan pa sa inyo ang husto sa damit na suot ninyo sa litrato? (Alam ko si Nati, huhusto pa!). Isn't it interesting to recall that even how much Jolloff rice and tsire and pepper soup we ate, slender pa rin tayo? (Puera siguro ako).

On a more serious note, there are those who have left
us but the sweet, happy memories we had of them still linger on.

SOS.. papaano ko kaya mai-co-concentrate totally sa side ang text?
(Princess)

Where Are These Kids Now?

How many of these kids are yours? Where are they now?

(I know of one who recently made his parents proud when he became a full-pledged medical doctor; still another who is now with the US Navy and working as a nurse in Bethesda, MD. HOORAY to them!!!) (princess)
Habol po kami ! May isa rin diyan sa picture na RN sa CHOC.

Sa wakas, napagtiyagaan ko rin. O sino-sino ang mga kilala ninyo sa pictures on the right? There are more that will come, ngayon pang natutunan ko na ito. Andy, you are a great teacher!!! Many thanks. (princess)

Those Happy Days

Hi, I am back!
This blog thing is good. Why, because it encourages me to open my dusty albums once more. Looking at those old pictures bring me back to yesteryears when all Ed and I cared about was when the next remittance check will come and what places to see the next homeleave. No bills to pay, no rent/mortgage to find a payment for, not even retirement blues. Here are some pics from those golden days. See if you recognize them all.... many more are coming.... Princess (parungao.home@verizon.net)
P.S. If the pictures are not with this, then I didn't do the uploading right. You will have to wait until I figure out how to do it properly.

MORE PICTURES, PLEASE

Sorry, our blog accepts only ten pictures at one posting. I realize it only after I publish it. I keep on adding but it did not publish. And you can only upload five pictures at a time. So I will publish at least twenty out of thirty-four from Rodel's Album, anyway many are repeat shots, especially the group pictures.

MORE PICTURES FROM AUGUST CELEBRANTS' PARTY

AUGUST BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

Ye-hey, we are getting bigger and bigger in number !! Or maybe our gathering isn't just really organized in timing and coordination, I mean we do not come ALL at the same occassion. I, for one am very ecstatic when I see some new faces (at least to me) in our gathering. Mrs. Franco, and Eddie & Irene Parial (hope I spelled it right) just triggered my Rewind Button to our days in Nigeria !!! Looks like Princess can't get to post this group picture of our latest gathering yesterday, Saturday, August 19, 2006 at Boy Garcia's residence. Let us see if I can post it !!!

As usual, we had the feasting, singing and joyous celebration and exchange of jokes and reminiscing of our old days in Nigeria, exchange of informations - addresses, emails, phone numbers, etc, etc. I wish there will be more people who will join us from gathering to gathering. Take note that this is not yet all for this August celebrants. Next will be on Sunday, August 27, 2006 at TODAI of Orange for Lunch.This one will include my son's blow-out for his graduation last June. This one is NOT a pot luck. You don't need to bring anything, just be there, okay ? Angel & Jeddah Mariano and the Susim family are in charge of this one.

EVER HEARD OF THE RED PLANET, MARS ?

A close friend of mine emailed me this phenomenon sometime ago and I have been trying to post it into Philkans blog. Trouble is, it is in my Inbox and it comes in Slide form, the blog will not accept images from emails. So here it is without the beautiful slides of Mars.

MARS, known as the Red Planet, is now appearing in spectacular fashion throughout this month of August, 2006.

Mark your calendar if you have not heard of it yet, especially on August 27, 2006.

This month and next, Earth will catch up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars will come this close : The year 2287 !!!

Due to the way Jupiter’s gravity tugs on Mars and disturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years. But it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again !!!

The encounter will culminate on August 27th, 2006, when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth. It will be (next to the Moon) the brightest object in the night sky.

It will attain a brightness magnitude of – 2.9 and will appear 2.1 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification.

To the naked eye, Mars will look as large as the full Moon. It will be so easy to spot : “as large as the full Moon to the naked eye”. Since the beginning of August, 2006, it rises in the East at 10 pm and reached its azimuth at about 3:00 am.

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 am.

That’s pretty convenient to see something that NO human being has seen in recorded history.

Start watching MARS now as it grows progressively brighter and brighter throughout this month of August.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN !!! (asusim@sbcglobal.net)

DESIDERATA By Max Ehrmann

Another successul first time try for me here. I copied this poem from the Internet : first highlighted it, use Edit to copy, open Word, then Paste it and then Saved it. I copied it here into the blog from my Word documents in the same way. I am pretty sure many have seen this poem before, but just like an apple, if you like the first bite, have the liberty to take another bite. Since I am constantly on the look-out for something to share, I decided to share this to fellow Philkans (or even non-Philkans)

DESIDERATA By Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things
of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees
and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Desiderata is the plural form of “desideratum” which means something considered necessary or highly desirable; from the root word of “desire”

I particularly savor the second to the last line ,"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world" How you look at the world, your attitude, determines how you live your life. Did not Shakespeare said "life is checkered light and shadow " ? Enjoy, smile, it lessens the pain " Sanu, sanu !!! TIMHOP corner is born (This Is My Humble Opinion)

FIRST POSTING OF NIGERIA PICTURES

Okay, all right !!! No matter how imperfect it is I have the first pictures in our Blog of Nigeria pictures, heh, heh, heh !!! Can you recognize any of those in the pictures ? Top-left corner is our school in Sumaila. To the right are some of the Philkans: Yours truly, Angel, Milo Chancoco, Rodel & others. Lower left corner, I was with Dr. Ladao and the late Ben Corpuz. The last is from Knotts Berry Farm or Disneyland ? What I will try to do next is to post those beautiful slides from friends in my INBOX. I am enjoying learning this !!! Okay, again, Sai an jima from Sumaila

PHILIKANS CORRECTED TO PHILKANS

Well, well, what do we have here ? By virtue of special request from Her Heartfulness & Cheerfulness Majesty Manang Nati Palanca, I succeeded yesterday in granting what she desires: "PHILKANS" Alisin daw 'yung letter "i". Eh, di alisin. I know this is not much to write about as news but the point is, it took me a while to learn to edit my first posting. Which means even if one is hesitant to do this blogging, if you will just play with it, you will learn it eventually. Anyway, I have to write something to report. I emailed Princess about it. Told her it is up to her if she wants to edit her posting, that is, as far as the word Philikans is changed to Philkans. Most have not received yet what Manang Nati will send in the mail. So it will take some time before we see some blogs from other members. Manang Nati was very happy when I told her about this blog, even requested for a print-out of the first postings.

Our next gathering will be on August 19th at Boy's place to celebrate some August birthday celebrants. I have no specific person/s in mind. What I have in mind is a little advance information. It will be a bigger gathering on the 27th of August at TODAI in Orange to celebrate some August birthday celebrants again plus the graduation of Dr. Socrates Santos Susim, that's my son. He graduated last June 10th . We can't set an early celebration then because immediately after graduating, he started his Residency at Arrowhead Medical Center.

I have nothing more to report. Sai an jima, nagode Allah.

Kanoans at Manang Hipol's b'day bash.

Hi, a group of Phillikans were in Paramount last Saturday, 07-29, to join Manang Purita Hipol celebrate her 77th birthday -- Nati Palanca, the Hornillas - Lily and Cesar, the Bernardos - Coring and Alex, the Ferrans - Rodel and Tessie, Ruben Manalo and his wife, Brenda, Angel Mariano, Gloria Paradero and husband, William, and Cleoty with her daughter Jane. We missed the Susims (Andy and Raquel), Garcias (Boy and Cita) and Chato Mariano. (Also expected, were the Villaruels - Riz and Tony).
Hi-lites of the celebration was a short discussion about the planned reunion on December 9th in Long Beach (Hornilla's place). We really, really hope this pushes through!! Also, Rodel, accompanied on the guitar by Angel, sang a special song for the celebrant; the celebrant herself sang, too. Nati and the group, as usual, kept the mood high with their medley of native melodies. The group parted by 8:00 p.m.
It will be real nice if we could find the time to come together and just talk and sing once a month!!! (Princess and Edgar Parungao - parungao.home@verizon.net)