My Cup of Tea

Since reading several articles about those research studies linking chemicals, Bisphenol-A and methyl paraben , to breast cancer (and other form of cancers), I became very vigilant with skincare, shampoo and conditioners. The common question now --- Are we still safe from using cosmetics without checking the ingredients? Okay, so just last night I went to the mall and checked the ingredients of several lotions, shampoo, conditioners, skincare and body wash, that I've been using for the past years! And to my horror, almost all those products contained parabens! Goshhh According to a research study in California, scientists discovered that  Methyl Paraben and Bisphenol-A (BPA) promote cancer cell growth when these chemicals enter the body, it may also interfere or block the effectiveness of cancer treatment like Ramoxifin.  Parabens had long been linked to cancer growth, tumors, infertility, nervous breakdown, depression, reproductive problems in the past. Bisphenol-A, asid

Last night, I texted my mother about many things...asking updates, exchanging info, among others. Then after five text messages my mother stopped sending replies so I asked her if she already gone to sleep, then a reply came stating that she's busy writing the " sermon " of my father for today's morning service at the church because our parish priest is not in town. Then my mother expressed her disgust and rant once again. Well, I am very familiar with my mother's mood every time my father ask her to write his "church's sermon of the day" so I just uhmmm laughed and texted her something that stirred her heart. My father has been serving the Catholic church as a lay minister for more than 40 years now, it's his way of life. He is one of the most enthusiast lay ministers in our town and I had witnessed this devotion ever since I was a child. I would often accompany him to the church doing lay ministerial job when I was still in my elementa

September is about to end so the tension of working on several requirements for each subject is beginning to surface. But there's one requirement in my managerial communication subject that I love. The songs compilation for six decades where we would write a critique for each song. I love it because I am a music-minded person and I  love analyzing song's lyrics! But I had a hard time choosing what songs to include in each decade since there are lots of ballad and mellow tunes I love. So I picked songs which represent the depth of my emotions so that it will be easier for me to write a critique. Some of the songs I selected are The Colours of Love by Billy Ocean, Don't Expect me to be Your Friend by Lobo, Fire and Rain by James Taylor, Why do we always hurt the ones we love by Dan Hill, God Gave me You by Bryan White.  Songs are melodies of the heart, like sweet-scented flowers spreading its magic of romance, music describes what's beyond those hidden emoti

Dr. Leo Buscaglia, an Italian born American psychiatrist, once said: " Death is a friendly word, because it reminds us that we don't last forever" .  But how would we deal the pain of losing a very good friend? With Grace. at the Mine's view Park during our retreat in Baguio City, April 2008 When I received the sad news that Grace had died, it felt like there's a terrible storm that suddenly hit the surroundings. Its effect, usually, is not right away seen or felt until the storm subsided. So I returned home contemplating how to ask other friends about it without breaking in tears. Then I went on with my usual nightly routines: flipping books, writing case assignment then drifted to sleep. Then morning came....and still thinking how I would visit her wake. When I exchanged words with some of our friends, a strange grief slowly swarming underneath. Sadness. Sorrow. A mix of distress and silent pain of missing a dear friend. I struggled to hold some ba

Fine Friday morning....got so inspired finishing my short story collection next month, I don't know I just felt it's time to get it published. I'm also planning to pull out my Smart Quiz book from the i-proclaim bookstore and resubmit it to other publication. Still contemplating whether to attend the acquaintance party of MBA-MPA Society of Ateneo this September 24 at 8:00 pm....the contribution is just too expensive for me to give a nudge..hehe! So many things to do now....still have to download 18 songs for our managerial communication subject, a book review of Outliers, two research papers and one reaction paper for our Tamayong day tour this coming October 1...haaaay!All I am praying now is for this semester to finish right away to get a good break. I really need a powerful supplement to get through with the tension in life. With all the pressure and stress from work and school, my appetite seemed not cooperating. I mean, I don't have any feeling to devour on fo

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the birthday of Mother Mary! I'll going to attend the mass at the Cathedral this 5:00 pm. Last night I finally finished my report in financial management but still I cannot afford to enjoy the day and be relaxed because there are still more paperworks to do before the semester ends. With all the pressure and tension in life, one of  my longings now is to hop in a quiet vacation either in a countryside or in a beach to unwind, relax and feel the sweetness and tranquil surroundings of the mother earth. There's nothing more rewarding in life than being in a quiet and relaxing place with nothing but trees, fresh air and soothing music of the waves and the birds. But since money is just so terribly rare (hehe), all I can do now is just list the places I want to visit in the future.  Well, hopefully I can really travel even just around Asia first, then maybe Europe (I'm greatly fascinated with Tuscany and Cornwall

Christmas Season in the Philippines kicks off in the month of September and no other countries in the world celebrate Christmas as wonderful and as joyful as the Philippines. Love, unity and happiness are truly felt, there are lots of reunions and gatherings to catch up lost times with family and friends, talking about good things in life...and lots of foods prepared in the table on  Noche Buena (Christmas eve) and Media Noche (New Year's eve). This is my happiest season of the year because of so many wonderful memories. I had a very happy childhood in the province and Christmas and New Year celebrations were fantastic back then. Now, I want to relive it once more by going home this December. Except for Christmas 2009 where I had terrible and painful December memories (it was the time I felt so useless, unattractive, more like a garbage particles), all Christmas celebs in my life were amazing. Christmas carolling in the neighbourhood with my friends and siblings and going to