Like what happened last time, my day was full of sweets. My mother went home with a box of chocolate brownies while Wilbert surprised me with his Cadbury chocolate “pasalubong” or (present) for me. And even though I have “singaw” or (mouth sore), I can’t help myself but to give those sweets a bite. The sweetness was tripled since it both came from special people.

And here are some of Chocolate Facts I gathered:

• During Valentine, Japanese girls give chocolate hearts to their loved ones. While the gesture is copied by the men one month later on “Howaito” white day.
• A number of medical studies confirm that consuming moderate amount of chocolate can really prolong our life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol.
• This is the food most commonly craved by women.
• It is one of the most popular foods around the world that never go out of fashion.
• Another great natural antidepressant as it contains tryptophan which helps us to create serotonin as our body’s own antidepressant.
• Since it is not physically addictive it does not cause acne, as shown in several medical studies. Acne is usually due to an improper diet or a hormone imbalance.
• It contains antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.
• Many believe that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, possibly because of the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption.
• Did you know that chocolates can be lethal to dogs? Since it has Theo bromine ingredient that stimulates the cardiac muscle and the central nervous system, causes chocolate’s toxicity.
• In general, the shelf life for chocolate is a year.

In different places of the country, there are many flooded communities, number of family become homeless, many different infrastructure or properties were been damaged, thousand of people were injured and some were missing or dead because of the said typhoon. And an estimated P4 billion damaged to property across the country was reported.

Even one of the best tourist spot of the country which is Boracay was also strike by typhoon Frank. Most of the area have no water and power supply so tourist has no choice but to leave the beautiful Boracay. But the local government officials with the help of the community immediately find ways to restore the beauty of the place.

It’s just good to know that number of organization launched a campaign and donation drive for the victims of typhoon Frank. Number of relief goods and relief assistance were been released to the victims.

I myself already experienced this kind of calamity which before I only seen in television and never realize that it may also happened to us. It was in year 2000 (forgot the name of the typhoon) and the latest was last year 2006 with typhoon Milenyo. My grandmother told us that she’s been alive for more than 80 years but this calamity didn’t happened for those past years in our place.

Maybe it’s all because with lot’s of changes not just in our community but with the whole nation. Before there are number of vacant places which have different trees planted but now those trees were replaced by wide and tall buildings, subdivision and malls. People then were more concerned with the environment unlike now which more focusing into other things like techie gadgets. We can’t blame all these things to our government but instead first step should be made first on our own. This is just a beginning of rainy season and there are more concerns and actions need our attention.

All of us now in the family have our passports and we can now visit my father like what I’ve said in my older post. We can now visit him anytime this year but my mother want it to be scheduled on Christmas vacation, so all us are available and able to go. I’m just a bit worried since the culture there is different especially for women. Like upon arrival to the airport we need to wear a piece of cloth that covers our face?! half body?! I just don’t know what exactly it is and how it should be worn.

Anyway on the other hand, I hope Tita M and I planned will follow as we are both excited talking about our trip. Were just not sure where we are going, International or Domestic. Were considering going to HK but were both new to the place and were thinking we might get lost since both of us are first-timer. But many people said who already visited HK, as long we know how to read and speak English we can follow and ask directions to other people. And upon arrival to the airport there are lot’s of HK map freely given to first-timer visitors.

But if were still both afraid to get lost in foreign country, we may consider Ilocos, Bohol or Boracay to visit, since it’s much easier even for first-timer. We just want to travel and find time to relax. After my short summer escapade at Zambales I promised myself to visit more places that I never been and explore the beauty of our own. 

Off topic: Since I’m still on vacation and waiting for my starting date to my new company, I find time to changed my onewickedsoul theme (after a year) and able to focus to the codes especially the CSS. Hopefully I can also change the layout for my luved site since this current theme was just temporary.

After my short escapade to Zambales and able to stride at the white and fine sand of Potipot Island, a thinking comes into my mind. And it’s how lucky we are to have number of beautiful places here in the Philippines (more about Philippines) that we Filipinos should be proud of. We have 7107 island and for sure each island has its own only one of its kind beauty and distinction. Everyday there was new place being discovered, a new place to visit and a new place that we should be proud of.

No wonder we able to compete with other countries major attractions and be a candidate for New 7 Wonders of Nature not just only one but four candidates. Were able to come into top 77 official nominees!  

With the own beauty of our nature and without doing anything we able to be part of that campaign.

Now it’s our time to do our part, the responsibility to maintain, preserve and promote our own.

We spent almost 12 hours browsing different sites in the Internet, but do we already give time to vote our own pride? Spending 10 minutes voting our own wonders may return lifetime pride to us Filipinos. So common vote our own wonders at New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Philippines New 7 Wonders of Nature Nominees

1. Tubbataha Reef
2. Chocolate Hills
3. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
4. Mayon Volcano

It’s already June! School?! Weddings?! Goodbye long summer vacation and for most students it’s another school year to begin. Although I’m not a student anymore I can still sense the excitement for every student. You can see everywhere especially in malls all those keyed up and busy students buying new school uniforms, bags, shoes, school supplies and other things. I miss going to school, the smell of my new notebooks and staring at my colored pens.

Just like that cute bag my younger sister have. It’s like having a bag and teddy bear in one. Isn’t that cute?

Were all expecting back to normal activities especially to all our Moms preparing everything and of course heavy traffic. I’m working at one of the busy district of Makati and I lived here in Cavite so I a lot 2 hours for travel time and another 1 ½ hours for me to prepare, so can you imagine how early I woke up everyday? But it’s okey I’m already used to it since I studied also in Makati and luckily I survived!

Well everything is a matter of patience, perseverance and hard work for us to succeed either at school or work!

But some misunderstanding happened between my company nurse and the medical clinic nurse. An authorization letter given by my company nurse was not acknowledged by the medical clinic. But my company nurse keep on insisting that authorization letter was acknowledge before and only me encountered that problem. So I keep going back to Makati to Shangrila just to talk personally with the people involved.

Even though I studied and worked in Makati, I’m still not familiar with all the places, streets and villages around it. I keep on walking and asking for directions but I still get lost! Hmm what a tiring day!

Fortunately my pre-employment medical check up was fine and I was given a clearance with a note that I’m fit to work. So I’m ready to work and hopefully to start soon.

Here are some reminders for pre-employment medical check-up:

1. You need to go to the clinic on the date specified by your employer.
2. Make sure to have a good meal and drink at least 4 glasses of liquid an hour before going to the clinic.
3. Bring necessary papers and previous medical records upon arrival so they able to know if you have other medical/treatment history.

Yes, still busy completing all the requirements for my new employer all by myself. Before I can’t go somewhere else when I’m alone, I used to be accompanied either by my mother, friends or W. I’m worried I may get lost and didn’t accomplish anything.

Just like what happened yesterday, I need to go to BIR San Juan Greenhills to let them change the number of my RDO. Since I’m living in Cavite and working in Makati I’m not familiar to different places of San Juan except for Greenhills where we usually look for cheaper cell phones. I just keep on asking drivers and people on the street for some directions and luckily I found BIR safely but tiring.

After that I went to Pag-ibig Vito Cruz to ask for the summary of my contributions, then to Mapua Makati for my college certification and went back to HP for some other files.

But now I learned. I can say it’s an accomplishment to complete everything all by myself. All you need to do was to ask directions politely, don’t be shy to ask some questions or clarifications to other people and lastly be sure to have your money with you in case of emergency.

Still kindly add my blogsite to your Technorati Favorites and I’ll do the same, just let me know.

I want to visit some places that I’ve never been like Baguio, Puerto Galera and Boracay. But the problem is the busy scheduled of my friends and other people I want to come with me.

I already asked permission from my father to allow me to go to those far places and fortunately he allowed me. Maybe he realized that I need some break because since I was in college I never have this long vacation. Mapua have quarter sem system and were only given one week sem break and along with this is the enrollment. And during my college days my daily routine was school-home-church and nothing more. After I finished my college I immediately started to work and even I transferred to another company I was not given this kind of long vacation or break.

That’s why I really want to take this opportunity to have some relaxation before I go back to my busy and serious world.

Can you please help me to give some places I may consider visiting? I have 23 days left to visit those places.

By the way, we watched World Pyro Olympic 2008 last May 3, you can view my post here.

And please add my blogsite to your Technorati Favorites and I’ll add yours in return, just let me know. 

Yes again like the other 2 years, I keep on transferring into new company. And thankfully I always hired by good companies (Procter Gamble (via CPI) and Hewlett Packard (via Ajilon). But sometimes even the company was good there are some factors that urge us to go or look for another place to work.

Maybe that’s the usual peculiarity of people now a day, not being contented with so many things. Count me there, not contented with my work! I can’t elaborate why, but there are so many reasons and mind you it’s not just me.

That’s why I’m so busy getting those required application forms, certifications, ID’s, clearances etc. and waiting in long lines just to get a single paper. I already signed the contract with my new company yesterday and Genghis the HR person assigned to assist me was very nice and accommodating. I’m considering the idea of giving him a simple token after I submit all my requirements as a sign of my gratitude for his assistance.

Maybe I will start with the new company by first week of June because my 30 days notice of resignation was only accepted today. But I checked my scheduled shift and luckily it was only up to May 25, so I still have a one week to relax and prepare. Go to the beach?!

So wish me luck!