Hottest Royals List – Forbes Magazine

Hottest Royals List – Forbes Magazine

Top 20 hot royals, rich, celebrated, famous and unmarried. Here is the list by Forbes Magazine. The British blue bloods are topping the list.

The Top 5

01. Prince William (Britain)Image courtesy of http://www.people.com

02. Prince Harry (Britain)
Image courtesy of http://www.theage.com.au/

03. Zara Phillips (Britain)Image courtesy of http://www.britroyals.com/

04. Princess Beatrice (Britain)Image courtesy of http://news.bbc.co.uk/

05. Charlotte Casiraghi (Monaco)Image courtesy of http://pds5.egloos.com

Top 6 down

06. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (Dubai)
07. Princess Victoria (Sweden)
08. Prince Azim (Brunei)
09. Prince Carl Philip (Sweden)
10. Andrea Casiraghi (Monaco)
11. Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis (Germany)
12. Princess Madeline (Sweden)
13. Princess Theodora (Greece and Denmark)
14. Prince Wenzeslaus (Liechtenstein)
15. Princess Tsuguko (Japan)
16. Princess Sirivannavari (Thailand)
17. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (United Arab Emirates)
18. Princess Iman bint Al Hussein (Jordan)
19. Prince Philippos (Greece and Denmark)
20. Princess Sikhanyiso (Swaziland)

The Lange Foundation – Jillian Lange

The Lange Foundation – Jillian Lange

The Lange Foundation featured on Oprah is a foundation dedicated to adopting animals/pets that no longer have their homes. Therefore, stopping or minimizing pet killings, those are on deathrow on most shelters that don’t have space.
It would be nice if we have something like this in the Philippines. Anyways, here is the video on Oprah.

Comcast.Net – Hacked?

Comcast.Net – Hacked?

I can’t believe it myself when I visited the site http://www.comcast.net/ and it said its currently under construction and coming soon. Many believe that they are fixing up many things with regards to their security on passwords. In my personal opinion, I don’t believe they are so. Maybe they’re just doing some regular maintenance of some sort.

However, it is also important of having a unique and very hard to get password, because even such a big and well-known websites are not immune to hackers.

For all Comcast users, it’s good to know that the site is up and running again.

However, I seem to notice, instead of http://www.comcast.net/ the home page appears at http://www.comcast.net/a/ with the "a" on the address.

Here goes the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Here goes the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

by Ms. Jannete Toral.

Who can join?

• Any blogger in the world. Only one entry per blogger.
• Blog or website owner profile and e-mail is accessible or visible online.

To join this effort, please do the following:

• Write a blog post and pick your choice of 10 (or less) emerging influential blogs.
• Any blog in the world can be picked.
• You can update the same post entry up to July 26. However, please inform us of any changes.
• Old blogs who move to a new domain are disqualified
• Blogs who remove their archives just to fit in the cut-off date are disqualified.
• Include a link to this post to help spread the word and encourage others to participate.
• Post a comment and let us know about your entry. Only one entry per blogger. Cut-off date and time for submission of entries is on July 26, Saturday, 5:00 pm (GMT+9:30). Afterwards, submission of comments in this page shall be closed.

To view the whole article here is the link

 The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Influential Blogger: The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Well, I still have to think about my choices. You can leave a comment and promote your blog or friend’s blog here.

Here are my 2 bets for the Influencial blogger Top 10..

http://marroxas2010.blogspot.com -

Mar Roxas for President by 2010 this is what this blog is talking about. Oras Na! Roxas Na! Early campaign for Mar Roxas presidency, another example of how blogs can be useful.

http://delfindjmontano.blogspot.com/ -

Of course, most bloggers already know about this blog and how it stirred up the blogosphere. Not only did it caught the attention of the media here in the Philippines but also all around the world. It also signifies how a blog could be used as a powerful tool.

http://ie-student.blogspot.com/

Definitely something worth reading. Nice template and nice posts. Informative and interesting blog. A good example of quality blogging.

Blogging - A Fresh Look

Blogging - A fresh look

Information technology that is right in your bedroom. Your computer is your gateway to the world. It is a limitless access to different ideas, products, solutions, etc. The web has now become a new world. Like two dimensions that co-exists, the real life and the i-life (internet).

In my real world I am an artist for food, I work as a sushi chef in a hotel here in my place, Cebu City, I work at Waterfront Cebu City Hotel on the outlet of MIZU. During my spare time and during my times spent at home, I become a different individual. My quest is to achieve or shall I say exploit the information gateway's potentials.

Not many people know, the Internet could be a source of income as well, aside from getting into contact with your friends and relatives, there are many ways to manipulate the web.

One I am particularly in to is “Blogging”, its words are not even in the dictionary yet, but here is its meaning. A blog (a portmanteau of web log) is a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.

"Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.Blogs are your online diaries. In your blog you could talk about yourself, other people, places, events, and much many many more. Thru this you could be able to express yourself and voice out your own opinion for a certain topic, and as well as listen to other opinions of people reading your blog thru their comments.

In blogging, one should have this enthusiasm for writing; it’s not an overnight task but rather continues throughout your lifetime. Write, write, and write, that’s what it is all about. And that is what I’m doing right now.

As I have mentioned, blogging as your source of income. How is that so? Well, there are many ways to earn thru your blog. The most common is the Pay Per Click advertisements.Pay per click is a method of advertisement wherein you post ads on your blog and if somebody reading your blog clicks on it and views the advertisement you get a corresponding point per click. And did I mention in DOLLARS? Yes, indeed, payouts are in dollars paid in check, fund transfer, or money transfer using courier services such as Western Union and /or PayPal.

So, what can you say? Want to start blogging? Just post a comment if you have any questions about blogging, and I’m sure I have lots to share with you. What are you waiting for? Blog now!!!

Influential Blogger: The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Influential Blogger: The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Read more here: My Choices

Here goes the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Here goes the The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

by Ms. Jannete Toral.

Who can join?

• Any blogger in the world. Only one entry per blogger.
• Blog or website owner profile and e-mail is accessible or visible online.

To join this effort, please do the following:

• Write a blog post and pick your choice of 10 (or less) emerging influential blogs.
• Any blog in the world can be picked.
• You can update the same post entry up to July 26. However, please inform us of any changes.
• Old blogs who move to a new domain are disqualified
• Blogs who remove their archives just to fit in the cut-off date are disqualified.
• Include a link to this post to help spread the word and encourage others to participate.
• Post a comment and let us know about your entry. Only one entry per blogger. Cut-off date and time for submission of entries is on July 26, Saturday, 5:00 pm (GMT+9:30). Afterwards, submission of comments in this page shall be closed.

To view the whole article here is the link

 The Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008

Well, I still have to think about my choices. You can leave a comment and promote your blog or friend’s blog here.

My Choices:

The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll - California Maki with a Twist

The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll - California Maki with a Twist

(California maki wrapped in rice paper)

Most Filipinos that love Japanese Foods, especially the ladies, really love eating California Maki. Maybe it is because it’s the most well known Japanese food, aside from Tempura of course. Other than its appearance and reputation, the taste of California Maki is acceptable in most Filipino palates. For the new starters and still learning to eat food items from the sushi bar, the California Maki is the best choice to start. California Maki’s original recipe from countries outside the Philippines, consist of avocado, crabmeat (it could be real crab meat or imitation crabmeat stick “Kani Kama”), cucumber, and lettuce. However, here in the Philippines, we substituted the avocado with our most favorite mango fruit, which even made the California Maki more delicious. Maybe it is because of the availability of the mango all year round, unlike the avocado that is seasonal.

As I have said, the California Maki is the best menu for a newbie eater in a Japanese restaurant to start. It is because the California Maki doesn’t have any raw meat inside its roll. All you will get is a fruity, sweet, and rich flavored salad with rice. My advice for the starters is to eat one slice of it whole. All slices are cut into bite size pieces, if you take a bite; chances are you won’t love it.

Also, most of the reactions I got from the starter are that they are not familiar with the flavor or taste of the Nori (Dried Seaweeds). And somehow don’t like it. The Nori is what holds the rice in place when rolling the California Roll, it also gives additional flavor to it. However, not most people love seaweeds. That’s what pushed me to create a new alternative way to enjoy the Califronia Roll. The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll is a new way of having California Maki without the Nori or Dried Seaweeds, its good for the beginners and for those who don’t love the taste of the nori. Same ingredients, same experience, and a bit of twist in its flavor.

Presenting to you a new twist to enjoy California. Happy dining everyone!

The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll - California Maki with a Twist

The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll - California Maki with a Twist

(California maki wrapped in rice paper without the Nori)

Most Filipinos that love Japanese Foods, especially the ladies, really love eating California Maki. Maybe it is because it’s the most well known Japanese food, aside from Tempura of course. Other than its appearance and reputation, the taste of California Maki is acceptable in most Filipino palates. For the new starters and still learning to eat food items from the sushi bar, the California Maki is the best choice to start. California Maki’s original recipe from countries outside the Philippines, consist of avocado, crabmeat (it could be real crab meat or imitation crabmeat stick “Kani Kama”), cucumber, and lettuce. However, here in the Philippines, we substituted the avocado with our most favorite mango fruit, which even made the California Maki more delicious. Maybe it is because of the availability of the mango all year round, unlike the avocado that is seasonal.

As I have said, the California Maki is the best menu for a newbie eater in a Japanese restaurant to start. It is because the California Maki doesn’t have any raw meat inside its roll. All you will get is a fruity, sweet, and rich flavored salad with rice. My advice for the starters is to eat one slice of it whole. All slices are cut into bite size pieces, if you take a bite; chances are you won’t love it.

Also, most of the reactions I got from the starter are that they are not familiar with the flavor or taste of the Nori (Dried Seaweeds). And somehow don’t like it. The Nori is what holds the rice in place when rolling the California Roll, it also gives additional flavor to it. However, not most people love seaweeds. That’s what pushed me to create a new alternative way to enjoy the Califronia Roll. The California Maki in Rice Paper Roll is a new way of having California Maki without the Nori or Dried Seaweeds, its good for the beginners and for those who don’t love the taste of the nori. Same ingredients, same experience, and a bit of twist in its flavor.

Presenting to you a new twist to enjoy California. Happy dining everyone!

By the way you can see me at Mizu Japanese Restaurant Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Im Sushi Chef Francis at your service!

Blame it on the rain lyrics

Here's the lyrics of Blame it on the rain - Copernicus

You said you didn't need her You told her good-bye (good-bye) You sacrificed a good love To satisfy your pride Now you wished That you should have her (have her) And you feel like such a fool You let her walk away Now it just don't feel the same Gotta blame it on something Gotta blame it on something Gotta blame it on something

Blame it on the rain that was fallin' fallin' Blame it on the stars that did shine at night Whatever you do don't put the blame on you Blame it on the rain yeah yeah You can blame it on the rain

Should've told her you were sorry (sorry) huh Could have said you were wrong But no you couldn't do that. You had to prove you were strong ooh If you hadn't been so blinded (blinded) She might still be there with you You want her back again But she just don't feel the same Gotta blame it on something Gotta blame it on something Gotta blame it on something

Blame it on the rain that was fallin', fallin' Blame it on the stars that did shine at night Whatever you do don't put the blame on you Blame it on the rain yeah yeah

You can blame it on the rain Cos the rain don't mind And the rain don't care You got to blame it on something Blame it on the rain, that was fallin' fallin' Blame it on the stars, that did shine at night Whatever you do don't put the blame on you Blame it on the rain yeah, yeah You can blame it on the rain

(Blame it on the rain yeah, yeah) x 3 You can blame it on the rain, blame it on the rain, Blame it on the rain baby (Blame it on the rain yeah yeah) Blame it on the stars that did shine that night (Blame it on the rain yeah yeah) Blame it, blame it on the rain woo I'm walking I'm walking

Walking in the rain Walking in the rain

(Rain, rain) (Stars, stars) Whatever you do don't put the blame on you (Blame it on the rain) yeah yeah (Blame it on the rain) that keeps falling, falling (Blame it on the stars) that did shine that night Whatever you do don't put the blame on you Blame it on the rain yeah yeah Blame it on the rain (rain, rain)

"Blame it on the rain" hit a volcanic hotness on Google trends May 15, 2008. This is another SEO experiment.

Getting Readers From Friendster - Increase Blog Visitors

I started blogging my iStayl Sugbo just this January of 2008. These past few months I learned many new and strange things (since I am not an I T student, all the internet terms I come into contact were not familiar to me). The most significant word of them all is the SEO, meaning Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a complex process of improving the number of visitors in your blog or website.

I am not an SEO guru or an expert about this kind of stuff, but when I tried doing things the way most high-ranked blogs do. The results were amazing and of course satisfying for all the effort done. Because if I will look back the time I started this blog, seeing 1 visitor in my feed burner, already gave me a feeling of excitement.

That means I was better off today than yesterday. There is a sense of improvement. There are many ways to get your site ranked on search engines (Particularly Google Search Engine – the most used search engine in the world). The most effective way to have your blog included on search engines is, of course, the quality of the information you provide to the readers (internet users or surfers). It is because if you don’t have that quality posts, then the search engines won’t find anything for them to index at all.

Next best thing to do is to exchange links with fellow bloggers. As recommended by the blogging veterans, it is much advised to link only to blogs that have the same category as what you are blogging. For example, if you blog about Technology and High Tech Stuff it would be better if you link with another blog that’s similar to your blog. In this way your page ranking won’t go down. If you link with a blog that’s not related to your blog, chances are, instead of increasing your page rank, your page ranking will go down. However, most crap bloggers like me really don’t care about this stuff. As long as there is an exchange link, then it’s good enough.

One could also join blogging groups or communities like Blogcatalog, Pinoyblogosphere, Cebu Bloggers Society, are also another way of promoting your blog and gaining additional traffic. Submit your articles to different article publishers such as Digg. Joining forums and leaving your Url links everywhere on the web whenever you can. I call this as “Leaving a SH*T”. Every web page I visit, if given the chance to leave a link that links to your site, then I definitely will.

A blogger must also be aware of the latest trends or buzz and be able to post about it, in order to gain visitors that are using the search engines.

All these and more, generate traffic for your blog. But one thing I am in to now, I don’t know if there are bloggers out there who have tried this, is the use of my Friendster account. Using Friendster to promote a blog is for me the easiest way to gain traffic. Maybe its because there are already more than 65 million Friendster users out there.

What I do is create a post that is interesting for anybody to read, something that’s sweet or something sad, gloomy and even funny posts. After publishing that post on my blog, I would then send a mass message to all my friends on Friendster. Included in the message is an attractive Subject and with a message that would attract the user in reading more towards your blog. Also, always include the word “Pass this to all your friends.”

For example:

Subject: The Power of Letting Go L

Message: Letting go of someone for everyone seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially if that person already made a mark in your life. Somebody special to you and was there all thru the years, months, or days in your life. We always remember the things that had happened, the experiences you’ve been thru, it could be that saddest or the happiest moments. You can always recall that there was this moment in your life that nothing else matters in this world and that within this world the only significant thing that exists is between you and the person you love. To lose someone special gives pain that you wont know when its end. And every time you hear a hymn of a love song, makes you remember and even cry.

If you want to continue reading click here

http://istaylsugbo.blogspot.com/2008/05/power-of-letting-go.html

Please pass to all your friends.

Just as simple as that and you will be gaining more traffic if your message will work. You will have your friends visiting your blog and your friends’ friends and so on. You will notice your counter going up day by day.

I myself could not believe that my unique blog visitors would reach more than 2k. Out of these visitors, majority of the referrals are from Friendster messages. My blog is not yet well optimized but I am happy to know that even though my page rank is not that good yet, I still can reach to many people, and that I can express my voice thru the words of my blog, then I was able to share it to others.

Getting Readers From Friendster - Increase Blog Visitors

I started blogging my iStayl Sugbo just this January of 2008. These past few months I learned many new and strange things (since I am not an I T student, all the internet terms I come into contact were not familiar to me). The most significant word of them all is the SEO, meaning Search Engine Optimization. SEO is a complex process of improving the number of visitors in your blog or website. I am not an SEO guru or an expert about this kind of stuff, but when I tried doing things the way most high-ranked blogs do. The results were amazing and of course satisfying for all the effort done. Because if I will look back the time I started this blog, seeing 1 visitor in my feed burner, already gave me a feeling of excitement. That means I was better off today than yesterday. There is a sense of improvement.

There are many ways to get your site ranked on search engines (Particularly Google Search Engine – the most used search engine in the world). The most effective way to have your blog included on search engines is, of course, the quality of the information you provide to the readers (internet users or surfers). It is because if you don’t have that quality posts, then the search engines won’t find anything for them to index at all.

Next best thing to do is to exchange links with fellow bloggers. As recommended by the blogging veterans, it is much advised to link only to blogs that have the same category as what you are blogging. For example, if you blog about Technology and High Tech Stuff it would be better if you link with another blog that’s similar to your blog. In this way your page ranking won’t go down. If you link with a blog that’s not related to your blog, chances are, instead of increasing your page rank, your page ranking will go down. However, most crap bloggers like me really don’t care about this stuff. As long as there is an exchange link, then it’s good enough.

One could also join blogging groups or communities like Blogcatalog, Pinoyblogosphere, Cebu Bloggers Society, are also another way of promoting your blog and gaining additional traffic. Submit your articles to different article publishers such as Digg. Joining forums and leaving your Url links everywhere on the web whenever you can. I call this as “Leaving a SH*T”. Every web page I visit, if given the chance to leave a link that links to your site, then I definitely will.

A blogger must also be aware of the latest trends or buzz and be able to post about it, in order to gain visitors that are using the search engines.

All these and more, generate traffic for your blog. But one thing I am in to now, I don’t know if there are bloggers out there who have tried this, is the use of my Friendster account. Using Friendster to promote a blog is for me the easiest way to gain traffic. Maybe its because there are already more than 65 million Friendster users out there.

What I do is create a post that is interesting for anybody to read, something that’s sweet or something sad, gloomy and even funny posts. After publishing that post on my blog, I would then send a mass message to all my friends on Friendster. Included in the message is an attractive Subject and with a message that would attract the user in reading more towards your blog. Also, always include the word “Pass this to all your friends.”

For example:

Subject: The Power of Letting Go L

Message: Letting go of someone for everyone seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially if that person already made a mark in your life. Somebody special to you and was there all thru the years, months, or days in your life. We always remember the things that had happened, the experiences you’ve been thru, it could be that saddest or the happiest moments. You can always recall that there was this moment in your life that nothing else matters in this world and that within this world the only significant thing that exists is between you and the person you love. To lose someone special gives pain that you wont know when its end. And every time you hear a hymn of a love song, makes you remember and even cry.

If you want to continue reading click here

http://istaylsugbo.blogspot.com/2008/05/power-of-letting-go.html

Please pass to all your friends.

Just as simple as that and you will be gaining more traffic if your message will work. You will have your friends visiting your blog and your friends’ friends and so on. You will notice your counter going up day by day. I myself could not believe that my unique blog visitors would reach more than 2k. Out of these visitors, majority of the referrals are from Friendster messages. My blog is not yet well optimized but I am happy to know that even though my page rank is not that good yet, I still can reach to many people, and that i can express my voice thru the words of my blog, then I was able to share it to others.

The Tale of the Three Trees

Sometimes we feel like our life has gone out of control and that things are happening not the way you want them to be. Your dreams are left just as dreams and that realizing it becomes even more difficult. And there are even times, sad to say, that we blame it to God.

I want to share with you this little story I came across way back years ago. I happen to have read this story when I was still a working student at DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development). When I was arranging the files and cleaning up the drawer, I saw this piece of hard paper, and on it was written a tale that would truly change the way you look at your life now.

"The Tale of Three Trees"

Author unknown

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold or with treasures. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

What can you say about this story? When I finished reading it, it changed my view about life. And at that moment I knew that God has a separate plan for me. Each of us has our own blue print in life. We all have different dreams and ambitions in life, these dreams and ambitions are grounded by our present needs. We always want to be in control of our life, we want to control our future. However hard we try to do things the way we want our future to be. There are these never-ending obstacles that we continually face.

Life is never a smooth sailing, never dream of a smooth life, cause in the end, if you have overcome those challenges, you will sit proud and shall tell yourself that you have lived a life the way a man should. And that all dreams that you wanted will be realized in time, maybe not the exact thing, but for sure God has given it you because you deserve it.

Now spread this story to all your friends. To comment it on Friendster or MySpace, just use the code below. Copy it and paste it on the comment box.

<a href="http://istaylsugbo.blogspot.com/2008/05/tale-of-three-trees.html" title="Spread the word"><img src="http://blurem23.googlepages.com/Taleofthetrees.JPG" alt="The Tale of the Three trees"/></a>

The Tale of the Three Trees

Sometimes we feel like our life has gone out of control and that things are happening not the way you want them to be. Your dreams are left just as dreams and that realizing it becomes even more difficult. And there are even times, sad to say, that we blame it to God.

I want to share with you this little story I came across way back years ago. I happen to have read this story when I was still a working student at DSWD (Department of Social Welfare Development). When I was arranging the files and cleaning up the drawer, I saw this piece of hard paper, and on it was written a tale that would truly change the way you look at your life now.

"The Tale of Three Trees"

Author unknown

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold or with treasures. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

What can you say about this story? When I finished reading it, it changed my view about life. And at that moment I knew that God has a separate plan for me. Each of us has our own blue print in life. We all have different dreams and ambitions in life, these dreams and ambitions are grounded by our present needs. We always want to be in control of our life, we want to control our future. However hard we try to do things the way we want our future to be. There are these never-ending obstacles that we continually face.

Life is never a smooth sailing, never dream of a smooth life, cause in the end, if you have overcome those challenges, you will sit proud and shall tell yourself that you have lived a life the way a man should. And that all dreams that you wanted will be realized in time, maybe not the exact thing, but for sure God has given it you because you deserve it.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

“For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world” - William Ross Wallace

I am writing this post for every mother out there. As a father, I can feel what it feels like to be a mother, all the sacrifices they undergo.

Woman, a female human, plays a vital rule in this world. From girlhood to womanhood, a woman experiences plenty of transformation in her life. A change most noticeable in a woman is her Menarche or a woman’s first menstrual period. A mark of fertility and is considered as a central event of a girls puberty.

One of the most significant changes that she would encounter is by the time she will carry in her womb a seed for the generation of herself. Having a child in your belly for 9 months is a difficult and I think the hardest thing that a woman does in her lifetime.

From a baby’s conception to its delivery a woman is now called a mother. Becoming a mother makes it even more difficult. Raising a child is a mother’s lifetime job.

And being her son, I would like to thank my mother for taking care of me the best that she could and even sacrificing her own happiness not only for me as her son and also for her granddaughters and grandsons as well. We love you ma. May God give you the strength that you always need.

I would also like to greet the mother of my child a Happy Mother’s Day, wherever she may be, I wish her the strength and wisdom she deserves. I know she’s thinking of our daughter right now. I know she loves her so much. Even thought she’s not here she will always be a part of our family. We love you.

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

“For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world” - William Ross Wallace

I am writing this post for every mother out there. As a father, I can feel what it feels like to be a mother, all the sacrifices they undergo.

Woman, a female human, plays a vital rule in this world. From girlhood to womanhood, a woman experiences plenty of transformation in her life. A change most noticeable in a woman is her Menarche or a woman’s first menstrual period. A mark of fertility and is considered as a central event of a girls puberty.

One of the most significant changes that she would encounter is by the time she will carry in her womb a seed for the generation of herself. Having a child in your belly for 9 months is a difficult and I think the hardest thing that a woman does in her lifetime.

From a baby’s conception to its delivery a woman is now called a mother. Becoming a mother makes it even more difficult. Raising a child is a mother’s lifetime job.

And being her son, I would like to thank my mother for taking care of me the best that she could and even sacrificing her own happiness not only for me as her son and also for her granddaughters and grandsons as well. We love you ma. May God give you the strength that you always need.

I would also like to greet the mother of my child a Happy Mother’s Day, wherever she may be, I wish her the strength and wisdom she deserves. I know she’s thinking of our daughter right now. I know she loves her so much. Even thought she’s not here she will always be a part of our family. We love you.

The Power of Letting Go

Letting go of someone for everyone seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially if that person already made a mark in your life. Somebody special to you and was there all thru the years, months, or days in your life. We always remember the things that had happened, the experiences you’ve been thru, it could be that saddest or the happiest moments. You can always recall that there was this moment in your life that nothing else matters in this world and that within this world the only significant thing that exists is between you and the person you love. To lose someone special gives pain that you wont know when its end. And every time you hear a hymn of a love song, makes you remember and even cry.

But despite all these, all the uncertainties it would bring, some people find the courage of letting go. Though some people would just let go without any valid reason, and just because they found somebody new, there are these few people who decided to end things because what matters to them is the benefit it would bring if they decide to set themselves free. You would know these when you ask these people about their past love and look at their eyes, you will somehow feel the emptiness they are going thru. Well, there are these things in life that, no matter how hard a person tries, things do change, and sometimes they change the way you don’t want them to be.

Anyways, life must go on for everyone. We must keep in mind that letting go of somebody opens up a new horizon to explore, a new day to uncover, and a new way to savor the flavor of life. A new beginning to start, better remember the days that have happened to let you smile out of it, rather than making you cry. Look at the past as a guide, a learning tool that will help you recover from the sad things that you have been thru and make you avoid it in the future.

The power of letting go is just as good as the power of loving for the first time. So just move on and I tell you, you will have, if not better things than before, at least it would be much different and make you enjoy life more to the fullest.

The Power of Letting Go

Letting go of someone for everyone seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially if that person already made a mark in your life. Somebody special to you and was there all thru the years, months, or days in your life. We always remember the things that had happened, the experiences you’ve been thru, it could be that saddest or the happiest moments. You can always recall that there was this moment in your life that nothing else matters in this world and that within this world the only significant thing that exists is between you and the person you love. To lose someone special gives pain that you wont know when its end. And every time you hear a hymn of a love song, makes you remember and even cry.

But despite all these, all the uncertainties it would bring, some people find the courage of letting go. Though some people would just let go without any valid reason, and just because they found somebody new, there are these few people who decided to end things because what matters to them is the benefit it would bring if they decide to set themselves free. You would know these when you ask these people about their past love and look at their eyes, you will somehow feel the emptiness they are going thru. Well, there are these things in life that, no matter how hard a person tries, things do change, and sometimes they change the way you don’t want them to be.

Anyways, life must go on for everyone. We must keep in mind that letting go of somebody opens up a new horizon to explore, a new day to uncover, and a new way to savor the flavor of life. A new beginning to start, better remember the days that have happened to let you smile out of it, rather than making you cry. Look at the past as a guide, a learning tool that will help you recover from the sad things that you have been thru and make you avoid it in the future.

The power of letting go is just as good as the power of loving for the first time. So just move on and I tell you, you will have, if not better things than before, at least it would be much different and make you enjoy life more to the fullest.