Vector Art : Pic

My third vector art. This is the black background version:

This is the white background version:

This is the original photo:

Free

No longer with my girlfriend
She broke my heart and it’s hard to glue it back
Bite back and hurt her all the more
Now she’s shattered, reduced to dust
“Can you give me another chance?”
She picks one piece of my broken heart
It won’t fit, not by her hands
No matter what

Days went by I look at the sky
Want her back but my heart is torn
Hard as stone and heavy as the earth
Hard to move on, keep thinking back
“How is she? What have become of me?”
Now I am free yet life like’s a burden
Pieces of me scattered elsewhere
Started to pick it up

Nights are sad yet stars shine even brighter
Dancing in the sky glowing like her eyes
A stranger in the mirror masked with madness
In pain my tears start to flow
“What if…”
Now she moved on spreading her wings
To the horizon into the cloudless sky
She’s beautiful

Now I look at my palms
Carrying the pieces of my broken heart
I close my eyes and breathe
Thinking what might have been
What might have become
“I’m sorry too, I forgive you.”
My heart starts to piece its parts together
Slowly a smile starts to form
Now I am finally free, free to love and be loved

Guilt a Skelon in my Closet

Now I finally had the courage to tell everyone about my guilt in losing my Lolo. When my parents got married, they were just trying to build their own little home and they don’t have much. So my parents lived with my grandparents (mother’s side) and decided to move out if they are able to have their own house coming from their own efforts. Since I was the first grandchild on my mother’s side, I was given all the love and attention (wala kase akong kaagaw). To be able to build that dream house, both my parents have to work hard and left me all day with my grandparents. You see, being with my grandparents most of the time makes me feel more attached to them. They were always there for me, every time. I love my grandparents so much.

After few years, I am more at home at my grandparents’ house than our own house. I look forward to every weekends because that’s the time that I got to sleep over and stay with them.

More years had passed and my grandmother died because of brain tumor, they my uncle Darwin (my mom’s older) followed by accident. My Lolo was so devastated with the lost because they both died only months apart. I saw how my Lolo tried to cope up with it. He emerged himself at work (he’s is by the way one of the most famous “mekanino” in our province, having OJT’s from respected universities and schools) and drinks a lot. He changed his attitude and somehow my once sweet Lolo lost part of his soul with them. He got easily irritated sometimes. There was this one instance that my little brother Michael and I were arguing about a certain thing and because we were too loud my Lolo got mad and shouted at us and tried to unfasten his belt. We were so afraid of him that time and that was the very first time I saw him like that. My brother and I were so frightened that we were able to leap the high sofa that was blocking our way. Then we ran as far as we can away from him. My Lolo even wanted to get married but my mom and her siblings don’t want him to. I guess he became so lonely and no one of us understood. He was so alone even when we are always there for him. I can often see him stare into nothingness while smoking (he doesn’t used to smoke before), maybe thinking of my Lola and how they shared their lives together. I wish I hugged him before when I saw him like that to make him feel that I am there for him. But I didn’t, I shied away thinking that it would me less manly. I was wrong. I know I am because I’m thinking now that I should have done it. Years passed and it seemed that my Lolo was able to cope up.

One morning, I hear a commotion so I stood up and got out from the room to know what it is all about. My Tita Even (my mom’s little sister) called informing them that my Lolo had a stroke. We rushed to the hospital where he was confined. Then my Tita Even told us what happened. She told us that she heard a bang from my Lolo’s room so she ran towards it hurriedly and then he found Lolo on the floor bath in his own **** apparently trying to get up to go to the toilet when he suddenly had a stroke.

“Pa, naunsa ka man dra (Pa, what are you doing there)?” my aunt asked Lolo while trying to help him stand up.

“Ambot gani, natumba lang ko og dli ka lihok (I don’t know, I just fell down and can’t move),” my Lolo told her in tears barely audible and stuttering.

“Pa! Teng! Tabang! Si Papang!” my aunt crying as she calls for help. Luckily her friend Teng was there to assist her.

Then she called mom and rushed Lolo to the hospital.

That was the summer of 1999 and since I don’t have school I am the one who is tasked to look after Lolo. After few days I got tired. I was young and arrogant so when Lolo ask for something I just do whatever he says hurriedly without much care. There were times when my Lolo begged me to help him to the toilet so he could release his bowel but since he was so heavy for me and with all the catheter and tubes inserted in him, it was really hard work for me. So there were times I refused to help him and give him a bedpan instead. But he doesn’t want to do it in a bedpan because his back got so painful every time he used it. But I insist. Being weak he can’t do anything but do it there. There is one instance that he fell from his bed because he’s trying to go to the toilet by himself. So I got angry because he didn’t ask for assistance. But when I looked into his teary eyes I felt ashamed of myself for behaving so bad. I felt guilty and try to do better. But from that moment on he was looking for my little brother Michael whom he knows who would care for him better than I do. Guilt was building inside me that I want to go away. If only I could. I am so ashamed of what I am behaving during that time.

Then an opportunity came knocking at my face. My dad’s brother wanted me to go with him and assist him in leading a group (including my cousins) in climbing Mt. Apo. I was so ecstatic and agreed immediately without second thoughts. This is it, my one chance to get away from all of these. So I left my Lolo with my aunt who will now file a leave to help my Lolo and take care of him.

Summer’s gone and it’s back to school. We had a school project and I would be needing my Lolo’s knowledge because it’s all mechanical and my Lolo’s an expert on that field. Beaming with pride I told my group mates that my Lolo’s going to provide us things we need with our project and he’s going to assist us building it. So me and my classmates from Davao decided to go back to my hometown in Kidapawan to visit my Lolo.

When we arrived at my Lolo’s house my aunt told us that my Lolo was not there because he decided to pay a visit to all his brothers and sisters. I was dismayed but it was ok because we can always get some of my Lolo’s stuffs for our project. Then the next day we went back to Davao.

Monday morning I got a call from my mom.

“Butch, wala na si Papa (Butch, Papa is gone),” mom told me while crying.

“Unsa (What)?” her words don’t seem to register into my mind. I felt like everything has stopped moving.

“Patay na si Papa, huhuhu,” she cried.

Then I cried and all I can hear is my constant sobbing and my mom’s telling me that it’s ok no because finally my Lolo could finally rest and meet my Lola and Kuya Darwin in heaven.

We were going to have an exam in Communications I regarding fiber optics later that day so I asked my professor permission if I could take it earlier because I’m going home because my Lolo passed away. He refused and told me that he didn’t go home when his father or mother died either. I was so mad at him and told myself that’s why he ends up so bitter because he doesn’t know how to give love. I had no choice but to wait for the exam schedule and take the exam or I’ll lose my DOST scholarship.

When I finally was able to go home, from the terminal up to my Lolo’s house I was crying. I felt so sad and guilt starts building up because I had the chance to repay all his goodness but I didn’t take that chance and wasted it all the way. There’s no way I can tell him how I love him and how I care for him now. It’s too late.

Years passed and yet I still feel guilty of not able to help and take care of him when I am most needed. Most nights I would dream of him asking me to come with him or just saw him in my dream. Some dreams my Lola and Kuya Darwin were even there. I dreamed of him always that sometimes I felt scared to go to sleep. I would always end up crying and asking for forgiveness. If only I could go back in time and undo what took place I would but I know I can’t. I’ve been carrying my guilt all these times until I decided to confide to a friend about it. A friend told me that I must learn to forgive myself because that was I mistake that I can’t undo and I was still young that time. She told me that she is sure that my Lolo loves me and he already had forgiven me. That’s why he was always visiting me in my dreams to tell me that it’s ok. That I was forgiven and can finally be free and enjoy my life. That I should not carry the chip on my shoulder forever and free my heart from the burden of guilt.

Then one day I decided to forgive myself and promise to become a better person. That in case one day, my parents would be needing me, I will always be there for them. So I decided to take Caregiving course. My parents don’t want any of us (children) take caregiving because they don’t want us be doing that kind of work. They told us that they are working their asses off to make sure that we will be having a better future. I didn’t tell them and I took the course anyway. After all, it would be for them when the time comes.

The night before the graduation (2007), I had a dream. It was a very terrible dream about people I love the most. It was so horrible that I was crying in my sleep and struggling as to who to go first or what to do first. I was a very terrifying dream. I finally able to woke my self up and went directly to the bathroom and called my mom. I was crying still and asked mom to listen to me first. I told her everything. About my dreams and about taking caregiving course. About the guilt I am carrying and my fear for the people I love. Then after I finished talking she told me that I should not felt guilty in the first place because if anyone would be guilty it would be her. She told me that from Lola up to my Lolo she was not able to be there always because she can’t do the things I’ve done, she doesn’t have the stomach to do it. She would pay for all the fees but she could only visit and check. My mom told me that she was proud of me. She told me that she was sure that I was forgiven. That my Lolo can’t finally rest in peace because he was worried about me. That my Lolo can’t go on with the afterlife because I’m holding him back. Now, I understand it all. Now I am finally free of guilt. My Lolo and I could finally move on. After that dream and talk with my mom, I felt relief and I even don’t have nightmares or dreams about my Lolo wanting me to come with him.

Imagine, I’ve been carrying all those guilt for about 8 years and it affected me so much. I am happier now and I know that my Lolo could finally have his rest in peace with his Creator in heaven.

Part Two (The 2nd Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards)

It's time once again for the The 2nd Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards by Fully Booked and Neil Gaiman. The categories with its prizes accordingly are as follows:

Comic Book Writing Contest

1st Prize – Php 100,000.00

2nd Prize – Php 30,000.00

3rd Prize – Php 15,000.00

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Writing Contest

1st Prize – Php 100,000.00

2nd Prize – Php 30,000.00

3rd Prize – Php 15,000.00

The contest starts on September 1, 2007 and deadline of submission of entries is on October 31, 2007. We only have less than a month to go before the deadline so for those who are interrested better turn on your light bulbs to spark ideas into your brains now.

You can download your application forms here and the contest guidelines here.

Goodluck!

Mom in the City and some other stuff

My mom arrived last Sunday here in Manila to visit me. She stayed at Pan Pacific with her friend Ms. Aranas. It's been quite some time since we haven't seen each other and I miss her a lot already. My mom lose a lot of weight due to volleyball and very effective diet (I had to ask because I am struggling to lose some weight myself). We had dinner and I ate a lot (guilty) because I want to spend more time with her. I didn't bring extra clothes (how stupid of me) because I want to look perfect for her, so I had to go back to my pad after dinner. She brought a lot of lanzones for me and my friends so I had to bring about 15 kilos of lanzones all the way from Manila to Quezon City. I am very much kuripot so instead of riding a cab, I decided to commute. Bad idea. I know. I had to carry it all the way from the hotel to LRT1 then after arriving at Doroteo Jose station, carry it all again to LRT2. My sweat seemed not to stop on dripping like a leaked in the faucet. You don't have to imagine how I looked after I finally arrived at my pad. As a consolation for a hard work I ate a lot of lanzones. I ate a lot that I end up having LBM (yes, up to this very moment). My mom left at about 3pm kanina for her 5pm flight back to Mindanao.

I have no plans on going to work yesterday (also today) because I'm suffering from LBM but I had to because the presentation of my design on new data entry is due this coming Wednesday already and there are still so much to do. To make matters worse (aside from coming back and forth to the loo), before 4pm I accidentally deleted two of my programs. I can't retrieve it back because the database back-up is done every night after office hours. So all the programming I did for the entire day (yesterday) was just for naught because there is no way I can get it back. I had no choice but to start all over again from the back-up program I had last Friday. Asar.

Well, the good thing about having LBM though is that I am losing weight. I am actually losing some pounds. Yehey! My office mates notice so that (somehow) is a good thing. I think.

I think I have to go back to the loo again. Bye for now.

Operation Trim Down (The First Week Results)

Below is the result I got from that measuring instrument you find at Mercury Drug after a week of working it out on the gym:

Weight: 194 lb 4 oz / 88.5 kg
Height: 5 ft 9.7 in / 177cm
Blood Pressure:
Max Systolic 129 mmHg
Max Diastolic 80 mmHg
Pulse/minute 90
Body Fat Estimation:
Fat Index 22.6%
Fat Mass 44 lb 0 oz / 20.0 kg
Free F. Mass 150 lb 14 oz / 68.5 kg
Age and Gender: 27 male

As you can see I gained about 0.7 kg after one week of struggle in the gym as if I did nothing at all. Well I did cut down on my rice intake from two cups to a cup of rice, it didn't help as much as I expected it would somehow decrease my weight.

My Fat Index, on the other hand, decreases from 23.1% to 22.6% and my Fat Mass decreases by 0.2 kg yet I gained about 0.9 kg on my Free Fat Mass.

My BP is now 129/80 from 113/79, I'm not sure if that's ok but I think it is still between the normal values as stated by the World Health Organization. While my pulse rate is now 90 from 104.

That's the result of my one week work out at the gym for my "Operation Trim Down" plan. I exert a lot of effort yet I can't see any progress. I even joined cardio box, yoga, and hip hop classes just to lose weight fast. Oh, speaking of those classes, at first I was so conscious because I don't know a thing about all of those routines. I don't dance even. But when I think of losing weight I was able to hide my shyness and tried my best to cope up. Cardio box is very difficult for me. It's super fast and most of the time I am having the hard time coping with the routines because I'm not that flexible yet obviously because I have not been physically active for a very long time. After the first class, I thought that I would die. Almost every part of my body is shouting silently at me that they had just experienced torture and exhaustion beyond they could endure. Thanks to the gym management because they are offering free 5 minute massage per visit at the gym. Yoga, on the other hand, is not that hard because I was fortunate to attend the basic yoga class but it is still difficult for me because I can't seem to stretch my limbs and flex my body. But the perspiration I produced during that class amounts to the sweat I produced while running on the treadmill. Yoga is relaxing and it somehow eased the pain cause by lifting all those weights. Hip hop class, I must say, is so much fun. I said earlier that I do not dance but somehow the instructor try to teach you the basics gradually. At a very slow pace at first and then at a normal pace but when it's time to speed up I can no longer follow them hahaha. My body doesn't seem to respond to what my mind is asking it to do. So I did a lot of short cut moves. I had fun all week, I didn't imagine that going to the gym is so much fun. It was so much different from the gyms I used to go to before. Well you see, I did exert a lot of effort just to lose weight. I even cut of my food intake. I even take vitamins and minerals to help me go through all those things that I've been doing inside the gym. Well, It's just one week maybe some improvement will be expected after the second week. Let's see. Operation trim down.

Where's My Tool?

I often got scolded by my dad when I was little because everytime he was looking for his tools for the car he couldn't find it. It's not my fault that he couldn't find it but he just needed to release the pressure building inside him when he's pissed off of not finding what he needed immediately. For all the dads out there or even for the guys who couldn't seem to find what he needed in most dire time check this site called http://www.carguygarage.com/storagebins.html and you might find there what you needed to lesten the amount of time looking for something because you don't have a proper storage bins to place you stuffs. You will find all kinds of storing systems with the shelving! You will even save yourself from getting mad and shouting at some people who probably doesn't deserve to be shout at.

Shown below are the samples of the storage bins availble:

Disclodure: This is a paid post by CarGuyGarage.com

Broken Lines

I've been so occupied with programming for more than 4 months now that it ate up most of my time. When I arrived home from the office I got so tired already that my only consolation is to create vector art before going to sleep. I am not able to draw (the most important part of my life) anymore because I am already too exhausted to hold a pencil and scribble at my paper. I miss drawing so much that I felt guilty whenever I saw other people able to draw despite their busy schedule. There are times that I am so afraid that I won't have the same line quality as I have before. I am terrible. From now on, I will exert a lot of effort to try to draw even if I won't finish the whole illustration in one sitting. I will try my best to draw again everyday. I just felt so sad realising how I took my skills and love for the craft for granted. I will find time and do my best.

Be Inspired

There’s just too much that a person can take in his/her lifetime yet we are able to take so many things at once. We take it because we need to. We take all of it because we must and most of the time we take it all because we have no other choice. Then we end up thumped up to the bones - even to our very soul. There’s just in excess of things that we need to face each day that most of the time we forgot how to appreciate the wonders and gifts the Lord has given us.

I, for one, is very much beat up myself. There are times that I would want to stop the clock and just breathe in and out, hoping that as I exhale all the worries go away too. Yet we know that life doesn’t go that way. So we seek for something that would inspire us. May it be people, things, or words that would help to enlighten us so that we could go on our life. That no matter how beat up you are, you could still stand up and face everything because you are inspired to go on.

There is one blog over the internet that I found out recently that offers inspirational words - words that would uplift your soul and ease your mind. The blog is called Karl's blog by Karl Moore (a best-selling author and entrepreneur). His blog has interesting entries that one might found very helpful. He has entries that are set to inspire and help individuals in their spiritual growth. I really find Karl's blog very helpful. Whenever I am down, I tried to read through Karl's blog entries and try to find words that would somehow inspire me. Often, I can find it there. I suggest that you check his blog yourself. Who knows, you might even need it more than I do. Mondays and Fridays are special days for his blog. Mondays is for "Random Act of Kindness" and Fridays is for "Friday Factoid." I believe that you would find his blog exciting and inspiring as I do. So what are you waiting for? Visit his blog now and be inspired!

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by http://www.karlblog.com/

Operation Trim Down

Below is the result I got from that measuring instrument you find at Mercury Drug:

Weight: 193 lb 6 oz / 87.8 kg

Height: 5 ft 9.7 in / 177cm

Blood Pressure:

Max Systolic 113 mmHg

Max Diastolic 79 mmHg

Pulse/minute 104

Body Fat Estimation:

Fat Index 23.1%

Fat Mass 44 lb 14 oz / 20.2 kg

Free F. Mass 148 lb 14 oz / 67.6 kg

Age and Gender: 27 male

With my age and height, the normal weight should be between 62.7 kg to 78.0 kg so I am 9.8 kg overweight. The normal Body Mass Index is between 20 to 24.9 and I am over by 8 kg/m2. My BP is normal while I am over 3.1% on the normal fat index and 3.3 kg above normal fat mass.

Now everyone knows how big I am and I've been complaining about it. I decided now to take a step in reducing my weight and everything else that I need to trim down so I enrolled myself in a gym class. Yesterday was my day one and everything went smoothly and easily at first until I got to the crunches. How hard and painful was the experience for me. I even find it hard to move out the mat after the routine. Before when I am still slim and well-toned, these routines are nothing but a piece of cake but now it was excruciating experience. It's like I am being punished for eating more than I should and just programming all the time. But it's ok, if after all these sacrifices I will see myself glorious it's all worth it.

When I woke up the next morning, I find it hard to move and so hard to get up. My tummy aches. So I rolled down instead until I got myself into the edge of the bed and drop myself slowly to the floor. I never felt this way before. This is a bit too much, don't you think? Well, as what I have said, it's ok. I will get use to this in time.

Probably after a couple of weeks or after a month I will post another report on my progress. Operation trim down. Keep in touch.

P.S.

Any more suggestions on how I am going to succeed? Please feel free to offer suggestions. I'm in need of your help.

Goth Scene (The #1 Alternative Dating Community on the Net)

I'm sure almost all of you heard or have a friendster or myspace account, even multiply, right? Well, how about goth scene? Goth dating? I know, the name doesn't seems to ring the bell (well, at least for me). While browing the net for another type of community where they offer "different" type of environment from what we are used to, I came across goth scene and the first few words that caught my attention, aside from the word "goth" of course, is the tagline: The #1 Alternative Dating Community on the Net. Tempting? So I check it. Before you conclude that it's just another friendster-type page, try to check it out yourself first. I know some of you might even be a member of some other dating community on the net to search for that someone that you've been waiting all your life and if you are into this, this might be worth your time.

What goth scene set apart from the existing community over the internet is that this page is dedicated for all the "goths" out there. In fact at the bottom of the main page there are lines that best describes the the page. Here they are:

"Welcome to GothScene.com. Dedicated to bringing gothic singles together in a totally free atmosphere. Email other members, IM other members, or add them to your blackbook. Meet other hot and sexy girls or guys who have intersts in the gothic lifestyle. Many members love techno, punk rock, and goth music"

"We pride ourselves in having real gothic personals where real gothic members are looking to meet other like minded goth friends. Online dating for people into the goth scene has never been easier."

If you are living a gothic life. If you are having a gothic lifestyle. This site is made just for you. Joining is free and it only takes a minute. Joining the community will allow goth scene to better match you with other members.

Goodluck and you may find your soulmate soon at Goth Scene.

Sharp by Design

I found out a blog about men's fashion. I am not into fashion really but when I tried to browse it, there were articles there that caught my attention like what not to wear in the office, how to look like a celebrity, and stuff. I must confess that those articles are intriguing. The way you dress really changes the way you look and how people will look at you. I remember a friend of mine who used to wear shorts and plain shirts and people treated him like his nobody. Now, you could easily spot him in a crowd wearing those nice looking pants and long sleeves and you would easily know that he's somebody. He sure is somebody now, running a huge art company and all that. With a girlfriend who might even collecting Handbags from Belisi.I think I will like this little blog called Sharp by Design.

Here are some sample stuffs that you might find in it's blog:

1. Worn-out shoes
You’ve heard it before: the shoes make the outfit! Don’t think that no one will notice that your heal is cracked and the tip of your wingtips are scuffed and devoid of any of their former hue. Get a new pair of shoes—even if you have to eat Lucky Me pancit canton for a week.

-- I remember when I was in high school and my parents can't afford to buy me a new pair of shoes. Most people looked at it and make faces. At first I didn't know why, then when I finally got to have new shoes I began to notice how nice they (teachers and classmates alike) look at me. Imagine, how small things could change how people look at you, or treat for that matter.

2. Different ways to "tie" a necktie

This got to be my fav article. It's a guide that shows the various ways you can tie a tie, including the Four-in- Hand knot, Windsor Knot and Pratt/Shelby knot.

3. Different ways to fold a pocket square

This article shows you how to fold your pocket square nicely.

4.Handbags from Belisi

Handbags, scarves and other accessories you can give your girlfriend for a gift.

There are more articles there that I think that would help us men look better. In case you might be needing something that you like to have or something you saw that you like, you can always check the links section on where to find them.

Disclosure: This is a paid post by Belisi.com

Vector Art : Labing

Here's another vector that I finished last night. That's my sister and I tried to be more ambitious this time around. I added more colors and more shapes. This took me 4 days to complete because I only got to do it after I went home from work. I work about 2 to 4 hours a night. Yes, this is more difficult for me to vectorized. This has about 813 layers in total.

Again, I can't decide what background color to use. So here's the black background.

And here's the white background.

This is the original photo.

Kidapawan Fruit (Timpupo) Festival 2007

Schedule of Activities of Kidapawan City Fruit (Timpupo) Festival

August 18- thanksgiving mass, fruit float parade, opening program, passporting, cutting of ribbon: trade fair and booth competition, wall climbing, 1st camp Apo 24 hours adventure race, pop dance and dance sport competition.

August 19- inter-collegiate, cheerdance competition, guest band performer "Jr Kilat"

August 20- , paper mache competition, various fruit contest and fun games, talent night for "Search for Lakambini Year 2"

August 21- fruit farm tour and search for ideal fruit farm, info. & comm. technology (ICT) forum, forum on good agri. practices for mango, final search for Lakambini ng Timpupo Year 2

August 22- fruit congress, exhibits and product demonstration, jobs fair, SK night featuring a guest band performer

August 23- fruit galore with guest Marc Logan, WOW Davao Game show, search for Ms. Fruity Gay 2007

August 24- Street Dancing competition (host: Marc Logan), inter-collegiate basketball semi-finals, battle of the bands

August 25- koong trail rehab and clean up drive, inter-collegiate basketball championship, 1st Mayor Gantuangco airsoft friendship game, 1st mayor RYG Cup motorcross competition

Trivia: source http://www.travelsmart.net/article/105007/

Kidapawan was derived from the Manobo words “tida”, meaning spring and “pawan” meaning highland, hence, “Spring in the Highland”. The first settlers were predominantly Manobos. The influx of Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas has resulted in the evolution of the word Tidapawan to Kidapawan.

The city has a total population of 94,823 as of 1998, with 40 barangays. It has a total land area of 273,252 hectares. Later, four other municipalities were created out of Kidapawan, thus diminishing its area to 33,926.4 hectares.

On Feb. 12, 1998, then president Fidel Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8500 declaring Kidapawan a component city of Cotabato. Despite strong opposition from certain sectors, RA 8500 was finally ratified on March 21, 1998.

The city’s strategic location at the foot of Mt. Apo provides the city with vast tourism potentials waiting to be tapped. One of the major tourist attractions is the Mt. Apo’s twin peaks and home to the almost extinct Philippine Eagle.

The city has two lakes, one is the Lake Venado which is hidden among the mountain ranges at an elevation of 7,200 feet above sea level and the other one is the Lake Agko, a steaming blue lake where hot and cold springs converge at an elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level. It is five kilometers away from the jump-off point at Barangay Llomavis.

To know more about Kidapawan City visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidapawan_City.

PS

If you're in Kidapawan City, don't forget to drop by and visit our bar "Don Henri's Bar" located at KCRCI Compound, Quezon Blvd. (National Highway), Kidapawan City or shop at 6A 24-hr Convinience Store located at Quezon Blvd. (National Highway), Kidapawan City fronting Madonna Hospital.

1st Vector Art : Hillary Duff

I've noticed that there are so many artist who are into vector art. I can almost see it everywhere. Posters, logos, websites, and just almost everywhere. I looked up into the Wiki to know what's vector art or graphics. And here's what Wiki says about it: Vector graphics (also called geometric modeling or object-oriented graphics) is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and polygons, which are all based upon mathematical equations to represent images in computer graphics. It is used in contrast to the term raster graphics, which is the representation of images as a collection of pixels.

Now that I know what vector art is, I tried it myself. Below is the result. I think I did ok. What you think? It took me quite long to finish this one. It took 568 layers in order for me to conclude that the art is done. I hope you all like it.

Here's another version, just a white background.

Here's the original photo that I took from the net. She's Hillary Duff from the Lizzie Mcguire TV series at the Disney's Channel.

World of Fun

Yesterday, I went to "World of Fun" to relax and play. I played Street Fighter and then I got tired after a while. I noticed the "Piso" games and tried my luck. Then without knowing, I've been tossing my Php 1.00 coins and I did have a lot of fun. It was exciting for me and I did sure forget about some of the problems that have been bothering me for a couple of weeks already.

I didn't noticed that it was closing time already. I won about 329 tickets. Not bad for a 20 minute game right. Hehehe, I was so happy to win that much tickets.

I exchanged my tickets for 82 pieces of Menthos candies, and one shiny blue stone. It seems that the child in me got out again. Yes, I might looked like a little child very excited to get his price after a very exciting game. I'll definitely try it again sometime.

Home Away from Home

My mom and aunt are frequent flyers. They travel abroad at lease once in two months. They prepare a lot and there's just so much to think of. I thought that it must be really tiring and there's just so much to prepare for. I ask my aunt about a couple of her experiences traveling abroad and why she travels in the first place. She told me that traveling has become one of her passion. She wants to go places and experience what its like to live in a foreign land even for a brief moment. She got to see the places that she used to see on pictures. She got to experience first hand the diffirent cultures and understand it. She got to meet a lot of people. She is able to gain friends among them. That's what she loves about traveling. The reason why she travels.

My mom, on the other hand, travels because of work. Business meetings here, trainings and symposiums there, and talking to people where she is needed. Unlike my aunt, there's so much to prepare for and not just her personal stuff but all the materials she needed for a certain event as well. There's so much to prepare that even booking in a hotel takes a lot of her time. Yet she takes time to enjoy her trips, if you may want to call it that too, whenever possible. That's the reason my mom travels.

Come to think of it, if I want to travel I need to prepare my things, my flight schedule/s, my iterinary, and even the hotel. There's so much work to do. Thinking of it, might even lose your interest to travel. But now, I saw on website about Hotel Reservations and apon browsing it you'll see that they have a lot to offer that would help you ease your mind and will save you a lot of time preparing yourself if you want to travel.

Hotel Reservations offers different services. If you want to look for the perfect hotel to stay you just click on the hotel button. There you can search for your city, what day to check-in, what day to check-out, how many are you with, and number of rooms you want to occupy. Then the website will show you the best hotels with the best rates. They will give you an information of the hotel's location, average nightly rates (in US $), the photos of the hotel, the information about the city and so much more. You may even compare one hotel from another. This is convinience. You can book your hotel right from the website. Guaranteed Lowest Rates!!

If you think that's what Hotel Reservations can do, there's more! You can also book your flight here. It will gice you different options or flights to choose from. It will show you the airline and flight number, time of departure and arrival, and the best price of course. If you visit the Hotel Reservations now you'll see what I am talking about. There's even an instruction on how to navigate the site. Isn't it wonderful? I will surely tell my mom and aunt about what I found out about this website. When it's my time to travel, I will difinitely check this website too.

You can contact them at (1) 817-333-5105 for reservations or inquiries. If you are in US or Canada you can call the hotline 1-800-447-4136. If you are in Europe call 00-800-1276-3549.

My... How Big We've Grown

Got this photo from Ruel's (right-most in the picture) account on deviantart. This photo was taken last Toy-Con 2007 at the MegaMall. We all got fat. That's Elmer (left-most), Mylene, Me, and Ruel. Maybe it's because of the changes of our lifestyle and work. We seldom do physical activities like what we used to do in college. We all got too busy and preoccupied with work that we forgot to play. Well, we need to do something about it. What can you suggest?

WIKA2007

Theme: “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa”

(Free translation: “A gift of tongues for a strong nation”)

Wika2007 Blog Writing Contest

http://www.pinoyblogosphere.com/wika2007

wika2007@pinoyblogosphere.com

The Wika2007 Blog Writing Contest is a group writing effort aiming to trumpet the beauty and strength of the Filipino Language in line with this year’s Buwan ng Wika theme: “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa” (Free translation: “A gift of tongues for a strong nation”). With the significance of the Internet in shaping the culture today, blogging about the Language will not only enforce the online Filipinos’ love for their native tongue, but also promote it to bloggers around the world.

The submission of entries will officially start on August 6, 2007, and shall end on August 18, 2007. Judging shall be from August 20 to 25, 2007. The winning entry will be announced at the Pinoy Blogosphere site on August 29, 2007.

The contest is open to all Filipino bloggers, both in the Philippines and abroad.

Here’s an excerpt from “Keynote na Talumpati sa 2007 Nakem Conference”:

Ano ang batayan at katwiran ng “Maraming wika, Matatag na bansa”?

Ang batayan at katwiran ay may kinalaman sa pagiging multilinggwal at pagiging multikultural ng mga Pilipino. Sa halip na isang disbentahe, itinuturing ng komisyon na napakalaking bentahe ang pagkakaroon ng Pilipinas ng mahigit na 170ng wika. Pangsampu tayo sa pinakamaraming wika sa buong daigdig, sa kabila ng palasak at mapangmenos na palagay na ang mga wikang ito’y pawang mga dialekto lamang. Ang natural na kundisyon ng karaniwang Pilipino at ng karaniwang mamamayan ng daigdig ay hindi lang iisa ang alam nitong wika. Sa karaniwan, ang Pilipino at ang karaniwang tao sa daigdig ay may alam na dalawa o mahigit pang wika. Si Hesukristo ang pinakamainam na halimbawa ng pagiging multilinggwal, sapagkat marunong siya ng Aramaic, ng Hebrew, Griyego at Latin. Si pangulong GMA ay mainam na halimbawa ng isang Pilipino. Maalam siya sa Kapampangan, Sinebwano, Ilokano, Tagalog, Ingles at Espanyol. Dahil sa katotohanang ito, ang ideya at pangakong pag-unlad sa ilalim ng isang sentralisadong nasyon-estado na may iisang sentralisadong wikang pambansa ay naglalaho.

Read more

Source: KWF, “Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa”

by Ricardo Ma. Nolasco Ph.D., Tagapangulo, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino

The Organizers

The Wika 2007 Blog Writing Contest is organized by the moderators of the Pinoy Blogosphere. The Pinoy Blogosphere is a group of around 400 Filipino bloggers who work together to promote a strong Filipino community within the blogging scene.

Prizes

• Grand Prize: Php5,000 + 1yr Domain Registration. + 1yr 100mb hosting


• Second prize: Php3,000 + 1yr Domain Registration + 1yr 100mb hosting


• Third prize: Php1,000 + 1yr Domain Registration + 1yr 100mb hosting


• plus consolation prizes…

Click here for the whole details...

Michael's Birthday

Another year has gone by and another year that I was not home to celebrate my brother's birthday. I may not be there to greet you personally but you know I always be there for you. Happy birthday borther!!!