To Mother With Love

Happy Bday Mamang Fidela!

Elephant kiss Bangkok, Thailand 2011.

Butterfly Garden inVigan, Ilocos Sur with Kix

Dear Mamang,

Your bday is a celebration of freedom as it will always be a reminder of his passing and how he must have wanted you to be free from your burdens. 

Mamang you displayed an enormous courage with grace during Papang's struggle in the last remaining years of his life. In his recent passing you gained the freedom Papang longed to give you for all the time you devoted taking care of him. You may have lost a husband and companion but you still have the three of us and gained three other son’s who will stand by your side now that Papang is gone. 

It wasn't easy for you to be my mother as it wasn't easy for me to be your daughter either. This is because I always felt it was quite difficult to live up to your expectations. You have indeed sacrificed a lot for us unselfishly even your own joys in order to give way for the fulfillment of our own dreams. You have been loyal and dedicated to us always there gazing in the background through all our defeats and successes. 

Your being a disciplinarian is a reflection of your own childhood coming from a huge family you have never enjoyed having your own things as you always have to share with your many other siblings. You have been sent away home at a very young age to live with your other relatives due to poverty. You have learned early that life is not going to be that easy for you. You have constantly struggled and made yourself very tough because no one was ever there to protect you. 

You have put a stamp of hard work in all that you do and never claimed the glory only for yourself. Because of your labor you have sent two of your siblings to school. You sent the three of us to school all because you made sure we will step college…something that you have never had the opportunity yourself because you lack the support. You built a good relationship with your colleagues in Specialist Medical Center where you work for a good 20 years of your life as medical assistant to Dr. Chu. You always said it was very hard to get along with your bosses but you have maintained quite a friendship with the most difficult of them till your final days in the hospital. A relationship in the hospital that aided a lot and help supplied some of the medicines we needed for Papang's health maintenance. You have invested your blood, sweat and tears in FERLYN'S mini mart store which supported Papang's electoral campaigns…most of all our high school and colleges. It must have been heartbreaking for you to let go of it when it went under. 

New World Resorts, Marriot Manila Philippines 2012

Victoria Harbor Bay, Hong Kong 2011.

Not so many people witness the magnificent strength you possess as a mother not only during the times when we have to endure our own struggles but your own personal struggles too as well when Papang had a stroke that led to his physical disability. A huge test to your own relationship as a couple…there were times I know that you just wanted so much to  walk away and leave…the worst part that you have to endure was finances. When Papang had stroke we were financially ruined with no money to support his sickness, no house to live and recover. Days and nights seem to be longer and darker watching him suffer by your side BUT you mother…You made him survived! You made him NOT feel sorry for himself and you made him fight. He may have finally rested now but I know in my heart how grateful he is that he was able to spend the last days with us in a much more better life condition than where he left us off. He is proud that his children inherited our mother's hard work and best abilities to survive in this game called life. I will always celebrate your Bday Mamang for to me I may not have experience all the material things with you while I was growing up BUT you have made sure I have what not anyone can just stole from me…that is my education. It may not be the best but I know that finishing school was a fulfillment of your dream not only for me but for your own too as you always wanted to enjoy the same opportunity that you were denied. 
I met quite a lot of people that may find it hard to relate with you as you are very outspoken and strident but believe me…to us and to your few dear "real" friends that you value I know that your intentions have always been well meaning. You will always be that kind of friend who will never color coat words just to make people close to you feel better about themselves you always speak the truth as much as you can even if at most times someone will take it against you. But this is who you are mother and how you value the kind of meaningful friendships you regard that is not superficial.


Mamang is always there available for us while my father made himself always available to help others…BUT having these combination of personalities in my life I can say I am more of my father indeed…we have been very lucky to live a normal life having them both around. We love you with a bond mother that is like nothing in this world, no matter how much we disagreed or how much was left unspoken between you and us your children.

I find myself wondering…

Did I ever give you your due…

For all that you've done for me

Did I ever thank you?

For all of my childhood memories

For helping me deal with life's stresses

For helping me accept my defeats

and celebrate my successes?

Or for teaching me the value of hard work,

Good judgement, courage, and being true

The laughter, smiles and quite times we've shared

Did I ever thank you?

If I have forgotten, I'm thanking you now

You taught me right from wrong…

I hope you know how much you're loved and appreciated

I hope you, instinctively, knew all along.

♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Birthday Dear Mamang! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Love,
 
Girlie
Glenn
Dimples
Mark
Sha
Eric
One Carlos
Akeisha
Chanelle

THE CASTLE OF LOVE

Coral Castle America's version of Egypt's Pyramids and The Stonehenge.

If there's a castle made of ice it is only here in Florida you will find a castle made of delicate coral stone. It was after watching Ancient Alien's in History Channel that really fueled my interest to visit this mysterious Coral Castle in Florida (to watch that episode please click here) although, I have already read this a while back from somewhere online even before settling in Florida. I've heard of many castle's built but there's none in the world quite like this castle. This happen's to be one of the monumental discoveries in archaeological society regarded as the only modern megalithic structure ever built in our time, knowing that really made me look forward to visiting this mysterious place. The tools used and the way it was built was in fact being compared to Egypt's Sphynx of Giza, The Pyramids and The Stonehenge. Since it's discovery there had been no expert's yet to this day that could make a sense out of how it was built by only one man or a better explanation of the technique used on how to build it. It is astonishing to see in real life and yet to build such colossal feat could much be credited back to this eccentric Latvian immigrant, who stands barely 5 foot tall and frail weighting only 100 ton named Edward Leedskalnin (1887-1951). 

The rotating door made of 30-ton block one of Ed's major achievement.

Ed was the master builder of this modern megalithic structure he claimed to have built by himself and in secrecy with astounding laser precision that is comparable to how Egyptian's put together the heavy hundred to thousands of ton bricks used in pyramids.
His inspiration to building this place originally called The Rock Gate was his long lost love story found later after his death written in his diary - the "sweet 16". 


Edward spent over 28 years building the Coral Castle, refusing to allow anyone to view him while he worked. A few teenagers claimed to have witnessed his work, reporting that he had caused the blocks of coral to move like hydrogen balloons. The only tool that Leedskalnin spoke of using was a "perpetual motion holder" interestingly at present day labeled with an "unknown origin" on display inside Coral Castle.

This area showcases the 23-ton Saturn block, a Jupiter block; 22-ton moon block and  a 9-ton rocking chair.

Inside the Coral Castle with my long but not lost love.

Leedskalnin was a student of the universe. Within his castle walls, built of coral blocks weighing approximately 15 tons each, he had a 22-ton obelisk, a 22-ton moon block, a 23-ton Jupiter block, a Saturn block, a 9-ton gate, a rocking chair that weighed 3-tons, and numerous puzzles. A huge 30-ton block, which he considered to be his major achievement, he crowned with a gable shaped rock. These personal accomplishments have astounded and surprised many engineers and technologists, who compare them with those achieved by workers handling similar weights in industry today.

Standing beside the life size portrait of Ed Leedskalnin and the 16 steps dedicated to "sweet 16" up to his quaters.

For his miracles of construction engineering, Leedskalnin received attention not only from engineers and technologists, but from the U.S. government, who paid him a visit hoping to be enlightened. Leedskalnin received them gracefully, and they left none the wiser. In 1952, falling ill and on his last legs, Leedskalnin checked himself into the hospital and slipped away from this life, taking his secret with him.

To the left of the picture is the 20-ton Obelisk; top right is a 5-ton table and bottom right 10-ton fountain.

What makes the story more so interesting was that this is not one of those weird sci-fi stories you'll find in some twilight zone television series or movies. Edward's inspiration to build this place in secrecy was surprisingly a story you will perhaps only find in some romance novels. 


Edward's Love Story and Dedication

According to the Coral Castle's own promotional material, Edward Leedskalnin was jilted by his 16-year-old fiancée Agnes Scuffs in Latvia, just one day before the wedding. Leaving for America, he came down with allegedly terminal tuberculosis, but spontaneously healed, stating that magnets had some effect on his disease. At the age of 26, he was engaged to marry Agnes Scuffs, a girl ten years younger. However, the girl that Leedskalnin referred to as his "Sweet Sixteen" broke the engagement the night before their wedding. Over the next 20 years, Leedskalnin putatively constructed and lived within a massive coral monument he called "Rock Gate Park", dedicated to the girl who had left him years before. Working alone at night, Leedskalnin eventually quarried and sculpted over 1,100 short tons of coral into a monument that would later be known as the Coral Castle. 

The uniqueness of this discovery was of tremendous scientific significance and could easily answer one of the most interesting question of our time, how many people built the pyramid in the ancient time? 
I quote the answer from one of the Engineer Scientist that investigated it. He stated that, If we assume that Leedskalnin and the ancient pyramid builders were using similar techniques, it puts a whole different light on the requirements in man hours necessary to construct the Great Pyramids. Estimates for the number of workers that built the Great Pyramid ranges between 20,000 and 100,000. Though it should be noted that the precision to which Leedskalnin worked his coral was not the same as that worked on the pyramid stone, based on the abilities of this one man, quarrying and erecting a total of 1,100 tons of rock over a time span of 28 years, the 5,273,834 tons of stone built into the Great Pyramid could have been quarried and put in place by only 4,794 workers instead of 100,000 workers perhaps. Figure in the efficiencies gained from working in a team, the division of labor, and we can reduce the number of workers and, or shorten the time needed to do it.

Here are some of the tool's Ed use the piece of rock here in the middle is of an "unknown origin.

Inside the Coral Castle was Ed's coral bed on the top portion and the kitchen on the right.

I found such efforts incredible to build something for nearly 30 years, and then dedicate it to the person you love. Ed's marvelous construction left an inspirational message to us whether it was truly made in or out of this world. His work left us a castle to walk around and wonder about its creation. Sadly, Agnes his long lost love never saw this marvelous Castle that was dedicated to her. 
The Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.  It was added under the name of "Rock Gate," but the name on the list was changed to "Coral Castle" in 2011.

*Coral Castle is located in the north of the city of Homestead, Florida in Miami-Dade County at the intersection of South Dixie Highway (U.S. 1) and West 157th Avenue. Interested to visit please click the name Coral Castle and it will direct you to its official website. 

The fountain of youth in me!

America's historical "Fountain Of Youth" site.

Perhaps like many Spaniards that came before me to discover the once called "new world" known at present time as America. I believe like me part of the Spanish Juan Ponce De Leon's goal for the search was to find the elusive potion to preserve "youthfulness" that led to the finding of the "Fountain of Youth" legend. I am glad to have found it and landed in the same territory where he discovered it as a tourist in my early 30's in this massive island of Florida where I am now permanently based. Now I can at least say I will perhaps live forever young (wish ko lang!). I somehow know one way or another I will find it and it was just a matter of time like a Spanish conquistador inside one of his galleon's marking his map in the vast wide ocean of his expedition if you will. 

When I looked into wikipedia for some historical guide of when America was discovered it didn't really offered much help. There were a lot of on going debate about it even at this time and age. There were no clear and specific dates as to when America was founded. It was only in History Channel that I learned it was founded in 1492 as summed up by many American historian's of some renown and along with the other Scandoulous things America is made of. One thing I can say though that separates Christopher Columbus from many other explorer's is that he is quite a guy for actually taking down good notes of all his explorations whilst others did not care about the nitty gritty details. I guess this is another important lesson we have learned in the history that it is indeed vulnerable. I feel bad for the viking's who were rumored to be the first to set foot on the land. And just like many things America is known for our guy Columbus and the Spanish royal crown did a good job hiring a good historian to document all of these early expedition's and exploration's just like our present day facebook and twitter threads. LOL!...because whoever that guy was he obviously out staged them all in the publicity arena.  

My visit to St. Augustine, Florida would not be fun filled and possible without Nanny gill, my cousin Michelle Jerry and the kids my nephew Gabe and niece Hanna. It must have been truly an enchanting place to discover for spaniards as is it for us to visit. The old and rustic walls of the town tells a full story of America's rich history. It also shows how native American's lived there simple lives and how there silent lives were destroyed when Spaniard's or British came. It makes me ponder on how profound Stephen Hawking beliefs were especially regarding, "Other life in the Universe?". He stated that, "If aliens ever to visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans." I thought it was really funny to come up with this interesting analogy that I can somehow relate to after having seen the remnants of the first landing's in the history of America in Fort Castillo De San Marcos in the historical sites in the city of St. Augustine (since 1695).

St. Augustine holds the record for being the oldest city in America.  The city is located in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States. St. Augustine lies in a region of Florida known as "The First Coast", which extends from Amelia Island in the north to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast in the south. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 12,975. St. Augustine is the headquarters for the Florida National Guard.

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sighted land on August 28, 1565. As this was the feast day of Augustine of Hippo, the territory was named San Agustín. The Spanish sailed through the St. Augustine Inlet into Matanzas Bay and disembarked near the Timucua town of Seloy on September 7. Menéndez's goal was to dig a quick fortification to protect his people and supplies as they were unloaded from the ships, and then to take a more proper survey of the area to determine the best location for the fort. The location of this early fort has been confirmed through archaeological excavations directed by Kathleen Deagan on the grounds of what is now the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. It is known that the Spanish occupied several structures in Seloy, the chief of which, known as Chief Seloy, was allied with the Saturiwa, Laudonnière's allies. It is possible, but undemonstrated, that Menéndez fortified one of the occupied Timucua structures as this first fort at Seloy. (wikipedia)

St. Augustine Historical Tour

The history's oldest jail in the US.

Scarlet O'hara's famous pub house

Juan Ponce De Leon

Bridge of Lion's

St. Augustine Lighthouse

Greet and meet Juan Ponce De Leon Actor

Timucuan tribe St. Augustine's first settlers.

Pedro Menendez De Avilez (1519-1574)

The historical "Fountain Of Youth".

Having been to the fountain of youth is truly a rejuvenating experience to me. Florida offers many world attraction's like Disneyworld - the biggest in the world and Universal Studios to mention a few. Well if you ask me other than the ardous theme parks walking, Florida as a state holds valuable artifact of the American history. I highly recommend St. Augustine to be put on your top list as a must visit place especially for people who are living in Florida already but hadn't been there yet or perhaps to the people who are planning to come and visit Florida. I guarantee that you will obtain a renewed sense of youthfulness in this place once you've visited Florida's historical St. Augustine and it's mystical fountain of youth. For the beautiful Sophia Loren once said, There is a fountain of youth: it is in your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age. 



  

Life's a Joke! - McPatch!

As I have quietly base now here in the US where I continuously try to observe American's and it's burger way of life in the McDonald's land. I can't help to miss Jollibee every time I pass by some McDonald's along the way for some reason I am always hoping the next door will be Jollibee branch. (Haha!) I reckon back in Manila, Philippines when I was still in college McDonald's are sprouting in every stops and corners like wild mushroom's; and Jollibee comes next if not across every McDonald's. We are indeed talking about a real bloody competition here back in the days when Jollibee is still building up there image to become Philippines local version of McDonald's.  Although it is obvious that Jollibee stole it's concepts from McDonald's very colorful campaigns but by local standards McDonald's will find it hard to compete keeping the same menu with Asian fushion which Jollibee became a hit among local patron's. Jollibee serves food to people in an international standard almost like McDonald's but with a very Filipino feel to it. If I could I would still walk a thousand miles to go to Jollibee for a Filipino version of McDonald's burger where a burger patty is served with hot rice!=) had there be any branches in my area. The last time I remember seeing one was when I went to visit my cousins in LA but since we were not lucky enough to have one here in Miami area. Whenever I have cravings I'd still prefer other burger chains like Checkers and Five Guys over McDonald's. Don't get me wrong I have no grudge towards McDonald's In fact I use to be an avid collector of there toys in every kiddie meals I get a hold of for my son and even after watching "Super Size Me"documentary I am simply not big on burgers! I enjoy more the healthiest of vegetables I could find in the supermarket or prepare any fresh home cook meals the typical Asian way of eating and serving it with rice. Most people probably know these already but this will still be a good reminder why we need to refrain as much as we can to fast food chains and McDonald's land. Here's some facts I gathered from my no other than reliable source the internet warning's about the undisputed America's number 1 burger.

• Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant
• In 1972, we spent 3 billion a year on fast food – today we spend more than $110 billion
• McDonald’s feeds more than 46 million people a day – more than the entire population of Spain
• French fries are the most eaten vegetable in America
• You would have to walk for seven hours straight to burn off a Super Sized Coke, fry and Big Mac
• In the U.S., we eat more than 1,000,000 animals an hour
• 60 percent of all Americans are either overweight or obese
• One in every three children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime
• Left unabated, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America
• Obesity has been linked to: Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease, Adult Onset Diabetes, Stroke, Gall Bladder Disease, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Apnea, Respiratory Problems, Endometrial, Breast, Prostate and Colon Cancers, Dyslipidemia, steatohepatitis, insulin resistance, breathlessness, Asthma, Hyperuricaemia, reproductive hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, impaired fertility and lower back pain
• The average child sees 10,000 TV advertisements per year
• Only seven items on McDonald’s entire menu contain no sugar
• Willard Scott was the first Ronald McDonald – he was fired for being too fat
• McDonald’s distributes more toys per year than Toys-R-Us
• Diabetes will cut 17-27 years off your life
• McDonald’s: “Any processing our foods undergo make them more dangerous than unprocessed foods”
• The World Health Organization has declared obesity a global epidemic
• Eating fast food may be dangerous to your health
• McDonald’s calls people who eat a lot of their food “heavy users”
• McDonald’s operates more than 30,000 restaurants in more then 100 countries on 6 continents
• Before most children can speak they can recognize McDonald’s
• Surgeon General David Satcher: “Fast food is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic”
• Most nutritionists recommend not eating fast food more than once a month
• 40 percent of American meals are eaten outside the home
• McDonald’s represents 43% of total U.S. fast food market

*Source: funnypicblast

Life's a Joke! - FB Addict

Are you one of us?

1) You check your facebook account more than once every hour.

2) You visit sites that list reasons you know your addicted to
facebook.

3) Your relationship status is only official if its been updated on
facebook.

4) You’re one of the people who actually uses facebook chat like a phone.

5) You take pictures for the sole purpose of documenting your life and tagging your friends on facebook.

6) You receive more events, bday, wedding etc. invitations in facebook than in real life.

7) You post a status of everything that is happening, check-in to places every time and click thumbs up to mean you like something or someone.

8) You have several facebook friends that you’ve never actually met in person.

9) You like to be poked and you like poking in return. The word “poke” is no longer considered something physical to you.

10) You use facebook as search tool to find all your long lost friends, ex's, relatives and someone you might be interested in seeing and reuniting.

*Source: funnypicblast

Life's a Joke! - Captain's Mystery

Once upon a time there was a famous sea captain. This captain was very successful at what he did; for years he guided merchant ships all over the world. Never did stormy seas or pirates get the best of him. He was admired by his crew and fellow captains. 

However, there was one thing different about this captain. Every morning he went through a strange ritual. He would lock himself in his captain's quarters and open a small safe. In the safe was an envelope with a piece of paper inside. He would stare at the paper for a minute, then lock it back up. Afterwards, he would go about his daily duties. For years this went on, and his crew became very curious. 

Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of the strange envelope. 

One day the captain died at sea. After laying the captain's body to rest, the first mate led the entire crew into the captains quarters. 

He opened the safe, got the envelope, opened it and... 

The first mate turned pale and showed the paper to the others. Four words were on the paper; two lines with two words each: 

Port Left
Starboard Right

*Source: Arcamaxjokes

Life's a Joke! - Baseball

Two old guys, Abe and Sol, are sitting on a park bench feeding pigeons and talking about baseball, like they do every day. 

Abe turns to Sol and says, "Do you think there's baseball in heaven?" 

Sol thinks about it for a minute and replies, "I dunno. But let's make a deal: if I die first, I'll come back and tell you if there's baseball in heaven, and if you die first, you do the same." 

They shake on it and sadly, a few months later, poor Abe passes on. 

One day soon afterward, Sol is sitting there feeding the pigeons by himself when he hears a voice whisper, "Sol ... Sol ..." 

Sol responds, "Abe! Is that you?" 

"Yes, it is, Sol," whispers Abe's ghost. 

Sol, still amazed, asks, "So, is there baseball in heaven?" 

"Well," says Abe, "I've got good news and bad news." 

"Gimme the good news first," says Sol. 

Abe says, "Well... there is baseball in heaven." 

Sol says, "That's great! What news could be bad enough to ruin that!?" 

Abe sighs and whispers, "You're pitching on Friday."

*Source: Arcamaxjokes