In the past two weeks, I have been feeling lonely and at the same time my nape has been aching once in awhile especially after a meal. I have experienced this when I ate shrimp if I can recall. The last time was when I only ate chicken, isn't that crappy? Aren't they suppose to be okay?

I have consulted my friend and I have been asked questions like if I feel dizzy and if my chest was aching. I think those are the signs of a high blood pressure. And the answers are both no by the way. Anyway, ever since it happened, I haven't had a checkup yet. It's either I was so sleepy after work or my nape wasn't aching when I went home.

I think this is a sign that I should take good care of myself. I have been sleeping late as always and work has been so stressful lately with all the deadlines. And I have to maintain my five blogs.

I better sleep now. Have a great weekend. Pray for me by the way. I am applying for my Permanent Residency here in Singapore tomorrow morning. Hopefully, the result will be positive.

For the second edition of my Broadway series, I am featuring “Jersey Boys.” This is a documentary-style musical which is based on the most successful 1960s rock n’ roll group “the Four Seasons.” If you are not familiar with “the Four Seasons”, they are the songs behind “Can’t Take My Eyes Of You”, “Sherry”, “Walk Like A Man”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Rag Doll.”

The musical basically is the story of the members of the Jersey Boys: Frankie Castelluccio, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Macioci. They are Italian dropouts that desired wealth and fame. Backed with their love for singing, the first three join forces and formed a group. A rags to riches story that everyone will like especially with their famous songs.

Jersey Boys since it opened on Broadway in 2005 has won numerous Tony awards like Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Featured Actor and Best Lighting Design. It also grabbed a Grammy Award for the Best Musical Show Album.

Wanting to have a well-deserved London theatre breaks?

Last Sunday, I have planned to go to Orchard to buy a new wallet and use my $30 Tangs cash voucher. That by the way is courtesy of Citibank. I asked my bestfriend to go with me but he had plans already with his friend. According to him, they are going to Chinatown to buy some goodies for his friend's mom.

I end up tagging along with them to Chinatown. It was my second time by the way to Chinatown and I was a bit disappointed since there are a few shops in the streets. I was able to take some photos though. After Chinatown, we went to Clarke Quay then Singapore Flyer. More stories from those destinations in the coming days.

Here are more of the photos from my Singapore Chinatown trip.

Top 10 Hollywood Movies as of July 26, 2009

1. G-Force
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. The Ugly Truth
4. Orphan
5. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
7. The Hangover
8. The Proposal
9. Public Enemies
10. Bruno

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Before I begin my report to the nation, please join me first in a moment of prayer for President Cory Aquino.

Thank you, Speaker Nograles, Senate President Enrile, Senators, Representatives, Vice President de Castro, President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, Ambassadors, friends:

The past twelve months have been a year for the history books. Financial meltdown in the West spread throughout the world.

Tens of millions lost their jobs; billions across the globe have been hurt—the poor always harder than the rich. No one was spared..

It has affected us already. But the story of the Philippines in 2008 is that the country weathered a succession of global crises in fuel, in food, then in finance and finally the economy in a global recession, never losing focus and with economic fundamentals intact.

A few days ago, Moody’s has just announced the upgrade of our credit rating, citing the resilience of our economy. The state of our nation is a strong economy. Good news for our people, bad news for our critics.

I did not become President to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our people, that is why I became President. When my father left the Presidency, we were second to Japan. I want our Republic to be ready for the first world in 20 years.

Towards that vision, we made key reforms. Our economic plan centers on putting people first. Higit sa lahat ang layunin ng ating mga patakaran ay tulungan ang masipag na karaniwang Pilipino. New tax revenues were put in place to help pay for better healthcare, more roads, a strong education system. Housing policies were designed to lift up our poorest citizens so they can live and raise a family with dignity. Ang ating mga puhunan sa agrikultura ay naglalayong kilalanin ang ating mga magsasaka bilang backbone ng ating bansa, at bigyan sila ng mga modernong kagamitan to feed our nation and feed their own family..

Had we listened to the critics of those policies, had we not braced ourselves for the crisis that came, had we taken the easy road much preferred by politicians eyeing elections, this country would be flat on its back. It would take twice the effort just to get it back again on its feet—to where we are now because we took the responsibility and paid the political price of doing the right thing. For standing with me and doing the right thing, thank you, Congress.

The strong, bitter and unpopular revenue measures of the past few years have spared our country the worst of the global financial shocks. They gave us the resources to stimulate the economy. Nabigyan nila ang pinakamalaking pagtaas ng IRA ng mga LGU na P40 billion itong taon, imparting strength throughout the country and at every level of government.

Compared to the past, we have built more and better infrastructure, including those started by others but left unfinished. The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway is a prime example of building better roads. It creates wealth as the flagship of the Subic-Clark corridor.

We have built airports of international standard, upgraded domestic airports, built seaports and the RORO system. I ask Congress for a Philippine Transport Security Authority Law..

Some say that after this SONA, it will be all politics. Sorry, but there’s more work..

Sa telecommunications naman, inatasan ko ang Telecommunications Commission na kumilos na tungkol sa mga sumbong na dropped calls at mga nawawalang load sa cellphone. We need to amend the Commonwealth-era Public Service Law. And we need to do it now..

Kung noong nakaraan, lumakas ang electronics, today we are creating wealth by developing the BPO and tourism sectors as additional engines of growth. Electronics and other manufactured exports rise and fall in accordance with the state of the world economy. But BPO remains resilient. With earnings of $6 billion and employment of 600,000, the BPO phenomenon speaks eloquently of our competitiveness and productivity. Let us have a Department of ICT..

In the last four years tourism almost doubled. It is now a $5 billion industry.

Our reforms gave us the resources to protect our people, our financial system and our economy from the worst of shocks that the best in the west failed to anticipate..

They gave us the resources to do reforms para palawakin ang suportang panlipunan and enhance spending power. For helping me raise salaries through joint resolution, thank you Congress.

Cash handouts give the most immediate relief and produce the widest stimulating effect. Nakikinabang ang 700,000 na pinakamahihirap na pamilya sa programang Pantawid Pamilya.

Our preference is to invest in projects with the same stimulus effects but also with long-term contributions to national progress..

Sa pagpapamahagi ng milyun-milyong ektaryang lupa, 700,000 na katutubo at mahigit isang milyong benepisyaryo ng CARP ay taas-noong may-ari na ng sariling lupa. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na ipasa agad ang pagpapalawig ng CARP, at dapat ma-condone ang P42 billion na land reform liabilities dahil 18% lamang ang nabayaran mula 1972. Napapanahon dahil it will unfreeze the rural property market. Ang mahal kong ama ang nag-emancipate ng mga magsasaka. Ii-mancipate naman natin ngayon ang titulo..

Nakinabang ang pitong milyong entrepreneurs sa P165 billion na microfinance. Nakinabang ang 1,000 sa economic resiliency plan. Kasama natin ngayon ang isa sa kanila, si Gigi Gabiola. Dating household service worker sa Dubai, ngayon siya ay nagtatrabaho sa DOLE. Good luck, Gigi.

Nakinabang ang isang milyong pamilya sa programang pabahay at palupa, mula sa PAG-IBIG, NHA, community mortgage program, certificates of lot awards, at saka yung inyong Loan Condonation and Restructuring Act..

Our average inflation is the lowest since 1966. Last June, it dropped to 1.5%. Paano nakamit ito? Proper policies lowered interest rates, which lowered costs to business and consumers.

Dahil sa ating mga reporma, nakaya nating ibenta ang bigas NFA sa P18.25 per kilo kahit tumaas ang presyo sa labas mula P17.50 hanggang P30 dahil sa kakulangan ng supply sa mundo. Habang, sa unang pagkakataon, naitaas ang pamimili ng palay sa mga magsasaka, P17 mula sa P11.

Dahil sa ating mga reporma, nakaya nating mamuhunan sa pagkain—anticipating an unexpected global food crisis. Nakagawa tayo ng libu-libong kilometro ng farm-to-market roads at kasama ng pribadong sector, natubigan ang dalawang milyong ektarya. Mga Badjao gaya ni Tarnati Dannawi ay tinuruan ng modernong mariculture. Umabot na sa P180,000 ang kinita niya mula noong nakaraang taon. Congratulations, Tarnati. We will help more fisherfolk shift to fish farming with a budget of P1 billion.

Dahi dumarami na naman daw ang pamilyang nagugutom, mamumuhunan tayo ng bago sa Hunger Mitgation program na nakitang mabisa. Tulungan nito ako dito Kongreso.

Mula noong 2001, Nanawagan tayo ng mas murang gamot. Nagbebenta na tayo ng mga gamot na kalahating presyo sa libu-libong Botika ng Bayan at Botika ng Barangay sa maraming dako ng bansa. Our efforts prodded the pharmaceutical companies to come up with low-cost generics and brands like RiteMed. I supported the tough version of the House of the Cheaper Medicine Law. I supported it over the weak version of my critics. The result: the drug companies volunteered to bring down drug prices, slashing by half the prices of 16 drugs. Thank you, Congressman Cua, Alvarez, Biron and Locsin..

Pursuant to law, I am placing other drugs under a maximum retail price. To those who want to be President, this advice: If you want something done, do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Don't pander. And don't say bad words in public.

Sa health insurance, sakop na ang 86% ng ating populasyon.

Sa Rent Control Law ng 2005 hanggang 2008, hanggang sampung porsyento lang maaaring itaas taon-taon ang upa. Iyong kakapirma nating batas naglagay ng isang taong moratorium, tapos pitong porsyento lang ang maaaring itaas. Salamat, Kongreso..

Noong isang taon, nabiyayaan ng tig-P500 ang mahigit pitong milyong tahanan bilang Katas ng Pantawid Koryente para sa mga small electricity users..
Iyong power rates, ang EPIRA natin ang pangmatagalang sagot. EPIRA dismantled monopoly. But minana natin iyong power purchase agreements under preceding administrations, so hindi pa natin makuha iyong buong intended effect. Pero happy na rin tayo, dahil isang taon na lamang iyan. The next generation will benefit from low prices from our EPIRA. Thank you.

Samantala, umabot na sa halos lahat ng barangay ang elektrisidad. We increased indigenous energy from 48% to 58%. Nakatipid tayo sa dollars tapos malaki pa ang na-reduce pa iyong oil consumption. The huge reduction in fossil fuel is the biggest proof of energy independence and environmental responsibility. Further reduction will come with the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act.and the Biofuels Act..again, thank you.

The next generation will also benefit from our lower public debt to GDP ratio. It declined from 78% in 2000 to 55% in 2008. We cut in half the debt of government corporations from 15% to 7. Likewise foreign debt from 73% to 32%. Kung meron man tayong malaking kaaway na tinalo, walang iba kundi ang utang, iyong foreign debt. Past administrations conjured the demon of foreign debt. We exorcised it..

The market grows economies. A free market, not a free-for-all.

To that end, we improved our banking system to complement its inherent conservatism. The Bangko Sentral has been prudent. Thank you, Governor Tetangco, for being so effective. The BSP will be even more effective if Congress will amend its Charter..

We worked on the Special Purpose Vehicle Act, reducing non-performing loans from 18% to 4% and improving loan-deposit ratios..

Our new Securitization Law did not encourage the recklessness that brought down giant banks and insurance companies elsewhere and laid their economies to waste. In fact, it monitors and regulates the new-fangled financial schemes. Thank you, Congress..

We will work to increase tax effort through improved collections and new sin taxes to further our capacity to reduce poverty and pursue growth. Revenue enhancement must come from the Department of Finance plugging leaks and catching tax and customs cheats. I call on tax-paying citizens and tax-paying businesses: help the BIR and Customs spot those cheats…

Taxes should come from alcohol and tobacco and not from books. Tax hazards to lungs and livers, do not tax minds. Ang kita mula sa buwis sa alak at sigarilyo ay dapat pumunta sa kalusugan at edukasyon. Sa kalusugan, pondohan ang Philhealth premiums ng pinakamahihirap. Ponhodhan ang mas maraming classroom at computers...

Pardon my partiality for the teaching profession. I was a teacher..

Kaya namuhunan tayo ng malaki sa edukasyon at skills training..

Ang magandang edukasyon ay susi sa mas mabuting buhay, the great equalizer that allows every young Filipino a chance to realize their dreams.

Nagtayo tayo ng 95,000 na silid-aralan, nagdagdag ng 60,000 na guro, naglaan ng P1.5 billion para sa teacher training, especially for 100,000 English teachers. Isa sa pinakamahirap na Millennium Development Goals ay iyong Edukasyon para sa Lahat pagdating ng 2015, na nangunguhulugang lahat ng nasa edad ay nasa grade school. Halos walang bansang nakakatupad nito. Ngunit nagsisikap tayo. Binaba natin ang gastos ng pagpasok. Nagtayo tayo ng mga eskwela sa higit isang libong barangay na dati walang eskwelahan, upang makatipid ng gastos ng pasahe ang mga bata. Tinanggal natin ang miscellaneous fees para sa primary school.

Hindi na kailangan ang uniporme sa mga estudyante sa public schools.

We assist financially half of all students in private high schools..

We have provided 600,000 college and post-graduate scholarships. One of them Mylene Amerol-Macumbal, finished Accounting at MSU-IIT, went to law school, and placed second in the last bar exams--the first Muslim woman bar topnotcher. Congratulations.

In technical education and skills training, we have invested three times that of three previous administrations combined. Narito si Jennifer Silbor, isa sa sampung milyong trainee. Natuto siya ng medical transcription. Now, as an independent contractor and lecturer for transcriptions in Davao, kumikita siya ng P18,000 bawat buwan. Good job.

The Presidential Task Force on Education headed by Jesuit educator Father Bienvenido Nebres has come out with the Main Education Highway towards a Knowledge-Based Economy. It envisions seamless education from basic to vocational school or college..

It seeks to mainstream early childhood development in basic education. Our children are our most cherished possession. In their early years we must make sure they get a healthy start in life. They must receive the right food for a healthy body, the right education for a bright and inquiring mind—and the equal opportunity for a meaningful job..

For college admission, the Task Force recommends mandatory Scholastic Aptitude Tests. It also recommends that private higher education institutions and state universities and colleges should be harmonized. It also recommends that CHED will oversee of local universities and colleges. For professions seeking international recognition—engineering, architecture, accountancy, pharmacy and physical therapy—it recommends radical reform: 10 years of basic education, two years of pre-university, three years of university.

Our educational system should make the Filipino fit not just for whatever jobs happen to be on offer today, but also for whatever economic challenge life will throw in their way..

Sa hirap at ginhawa, ang ating overseas Filipinos ay pinapatatag ang ating bansa. Iyong padala nilang $16 billion noong isang taon ay record. Itong taon, mas mataas pa..

I know that this is not a sacrifice joyfully borne. This is work where it can be found—in faraway places, among strangers with different cultures. It is lonely work, it is very hard work..

Kaya nagsisikap tayong lumikha ng mga trabahong maganda ang bayad dito sa atin so that overseas work will just be a career choice, not the only option for a hardworking Filipino in search of a better life.

Meanwhile, we should make their sacrifices worthwhile. Dapat gumawa tayo ng mga mas malakas na paraan upang proteksyonan at palawak ang halaga ng kanilang pinagsikapang sweldo. That means stronger consumer protection for OFWs investing in property and products back home. Para sa kanila, pinapakilos natin ang Investors Protection Task Force.

Hindi ako nag-aatubiling bisitahin ang ating taong bayan at ang kanilang mga hosts sa buong mundo – mula Hapon.hanggang Brazil, mula Europa at Middle East hanggang sa American Midwest, nakikinig sa kanilang mga problema at pangangailangan, inaalam kung paano matulungan sila n gating pamahalaan—-by working out better policies on migrant labor, or by saving lives and restoring liberty.

Pagpunta ko sa Saudi, pinatawad ni Haring Abdullah ang pitong daang OFW na nasa preso. Pinuno nila ang isang buong eroplano at umuwi kasama ko.

Mula sa ating State Visit to Spain, it has become our biggest European donor. At si Haring Juan Carlos ay nakikipag-usap sa ibang mga bansa para sa ating mga namomoblemang OFW. Ganoon di si Sheikh Khalifa, ang Prime Minister ng Bahrain.

Pagpunta ko sa Kuwait, Emir al-Sabah commuted death sentences.

We thank all the world leaders who have shown compassion to our OFWs, Maraming salamat po.

Our vigorous international engagement has helped bring in foreign investment. Net foreign direct investments multiplied 15 times during our administration.

Our vigorous international engagement has helped bring in foreign investment. Net foreign direct investments multiplied 15 times during our administration. Kasama ng ating mga OFWs, they more than doubled our foreign exchange reserves. Pinalakas ang ating piso at naiwasan ang lubhang pagtaas ng presyo. They upgraded our credit because while the reserves of our peers shrunk our reserves grew by $3 billion.

Our international engagement has also corrected historical injustice. The day we visited Washington, Senator Daniel Inouye successfully sponsored benefits for our veterans as part of America’s fiscal stimulus package.

I have accepted the invitation of President Obama to be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet him at the White House, this week.

That he sought us the Philippines testifies to our strong and deep ties.

High on our agenda will be peace and security issues. Terrorism: how to meet it, how to end it, how to address its roots in injustice and prejudice—and most and always how to protect lives.

We will also discuss nuclear non-proliferation. The Philippines will chair the review of the nuclear weapons non-proliferation Treaty in New York in May 2010. The success of the talks will be a major diplomatic achievement for us.

There is a range of other issues we will discuss, including the global challenge of climate change, especially the threat to countries with long coastlines. And there is the global recession, its worse impact on poor people, and the options that can spare them from the worst.

In 2008 up to the first quarter of 2009 we stood among only a few economies in Asia-Pacific that did not shrink. Compare this in 2001, when some of my current critics were driven out by people power, Asia was then surging but our country was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Since then, our economy has posted uninterrupted growth for 33 quarters; more than doubled its size from $76 billion to $186 billion. The average GDP growth from 2001 to the first quarter of 2009 is the highest in 43 years.

Bumaba ang bilang ng nagsasabing mahihirap sila, mula 59% sa 47%. Kahit na lumaki ang ating populasyon, nabawasan ng dalawang milyon ang bilang ng mahihirap. GNP per capita rose from a Third World $967 to $2,051. Lumikha tayo ng walong milyong trabaho, an average of a million per year, much, much more than at any other time.

In sum:

1. We have a strong economy in a strong fiscal position to withstand political shocks.
2. We built new modern infrastructure and completed unfinished ones.
3. The economy is more fair to the poor than ever before.
4. We are building a sound base for the next generation.
5. International authorities have taken notice that we are safer from environmental degradation and man-made disasters.

As a country in the path of typhoons and in the Pacific Rim of Fire, we must be as prepared as the latest technology permits to anticipate natural calamities when that is possible; to extend immediate and effective relief when it is not….The mapping of flood- and landslide-prone areas is almost complete. Early warning, forecasting and monitoring systems have been improved, with weather tracking facilities in Subic, Tagaytay, Mactan, Mindanao, Pampanga.

We have worked on flood control infrastructure like those for Pinatubo, Agno, Laoag, and Abucay, which will pump the run off waters from Quezon City and Tondo flooding Sampaloc. This will help relieve hundreds of hectares in this old city of its age-old woe.

Patuloy naman iyong sa Camanava, dagdag sa Pinatubo, Iloilo, Pasig-Marikina, Bicol River Basin, at mga river basin ng Mindanao.

The victims of typhoon Frank in Panay should receive their long-overdue assistance package. I ask Congress to pass the SNITS Law.

Namana natin ang pinakamatagal ng rebelyon ng Komunista sa buong mundo.

Si Leah de la Cruz isa sa labindalawang libong rebel returnee. Sixteen pa lang siya nang sumali sa NPA. Naging kasapi sa regional White Area Committee, napromote sa Leyte Party Committee Secretary. Nahuli noong 2006. She is now involved in an LGU-supported handicraft livelihood training of former rebels. We love you, Leah!

There is now a good prospect for peace talks both with both the Communist Party of the Philippines and the MILF, with whom we are now on ceasefire.

We inherited an age-old conflict in Mindanao, exacerbated by a politically popular but near-sighted policy of massive retaliation. This only provoked the other side to continue the war.

In these two internal conflicts, ang tanong ay hindi, “Sino ang mananalo?” kundi, bakit ba kailangang mag-away ang kapwa Pilipino tungkol sa mga isyu na alam ng dalawang panig over issues na malulutas naman sa paraang demokratiko.

There is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao. It will be a blessing for all its people, Muslim, Christian and lumads. It will show other religiously divided communities that there can be common ground on which to live together in peace, harmony and cooperation that respects each other’s religious beliefs.

At sa lahat ng dako ng bansa, kailangan nating protektahan an gating mamamayan kontra sa krimen -- in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their communities. How shall crime be fought? Through the five pillars of justice. We call on Congress to fund more policemen on the streets.

Real government is about looking beyond the vested to the national interest, setting up the necessary conditions to enable the next, more enabled and more empowered generation to achieve a country as prosperous, a people as content, as ours deserve to be.

The noisiest critics of constitutional reform tirelessly and shamelessly attempted Cha-Cha when they thought they could take advantage of a shift in the form of government. Now that they feel they cannot benefit from it, they oppose it.

As the process of fundamental political reform begins, let us address the highest exercise of democracy.voting!

In 2001, I said we would finance fully automated elections. We got it, thanks to Congress.

At the end of this speech I shall step down from this stage, but not from the Presidency. My term does not end until next year. Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first. There is much to do as head of state—to the very last day.

A year is a long time. Patuloy ang pamumuhunan sa tinatawag na three E’s ng ekonomiya, environment at edukasyon. There are many perils that we must still guard against.

A man-made calamity is already upon us, global in scale. As I said earlier, so far we have been spared its worst effects but we cannot be complacent. We only know that we have generated more resources on which to draw, and thereby created options we could take. Thank God we did not let our critics stop us.

As the campaign unfolds and the candidates take to the airwaves, I ask them to talk more about how they will build up the nation rather than tear down their opponents. Our candidates must understand the complexities of our government and what it takes to move the country forward. Give the electorate real choices and not just sweet talk.

Meanwhile, I will keep a steady hand on the tiller, keeping the ship of state away from the shallows some prefer, and steering it straight on the course I set in 2001.

Ang ating taong bayan ay masipag at maka-Diyos. These qualities are epitomized in someone like Manny Pacquiao.Manny trained tirelessly, by the book, with iron discipline, with the certain knowledge that he had to fight himself, his weaknesses first, before he could beat his opponent. That was the way to clinch his victories and his ultimate title: ang pinakadakilang boksingero sa kasaysayan.Mabuhay ka, Manny!

However much a President wishes it, a national problem cannot be knocked out with a single punch. A president must work with the problem as much as against it, and turn it into a solution if I can.

There isn’t a day I do not work at my job or a waking moment when I do not think through a work-related problem. Even my critics cannot begrudge the long hours I put in. Our people deserve-a-government that works just as hard as they do.

A President must be on the job 24/7, ready for any contingency, any crisis, anywhere, anytime.

Everything right can be undone by even a single wrong. Every step forward must be taken in the teeth of political pressures and economic constraints that could push you two steps back-if-you flinch and falter. I have not flinched, I have not faltered. Hindi ako umaatras sa hamon.

And I have never done any of the things that have scared my worst critics so much. They are frightened by their own shadows.

In the face of attempted coups, I issued emergency proclamations just in case. But I was able to resolve these military crises with the ordinary powers of my office. My critics call it dictatorship. I call it determination. We know it as strong government.

But I never declared martial law, though they are running scared as if I did. In truth, what they are really afraid of is their weakness in the face of this self-imagined threat.

I say to them: do not tell us what we all know, that democracy can be threatened. Tell us what you will do when it is attacked.

I know what to do.

I know what to do, as I have shown, I will defend democracy with arms when it is threatened by violence; with firmness when it is weakened by division; with law and order where it is subverted by anarchy; and always, I will try to sustain it by wise policies of economic progress, so that a democracy means not just an empty liberty but a full life for all.

I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term. Many of those who accuse me of it tried to cling like nails to their posts.

I am accused of misgovernance. Many of those who accuse me of it left me the problem of their misgovernance to solve. And we did it.

I am falsely accused, without proof, of using my office for personal profit. Many of those who accuse me of it have lifestyles and spending habits that make them walking proofs of that crime.

We can read their frustrations. They had the chance to serve this good country and they blew it by serving themselves.

Those who live in glass houses should cast no stones. Those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there.

Our administration, with the highest average rate of growth, recording multiple increases in investments, with the largest job creation in history, and which gets a credit upgrade at the height of a world recession, must be doing something right, even if some of those cocooned in corporate privilege refuse to recognize it.

Governance, however, is not about looking back and getting even. It is about looking forward and giving more—to the people who gave us the greatest, hardest gift of all: the care of a country.

From Bonifacio at Balintawak to Cory Aquino at EDSA and up to today, we have struggled to bring power to the people, and this country to the eminence it deserves.

Today the Philippines is weathering well the storm that is raging around the world. It is growing stronger with the challenge. When the weather clears, as it will, there is no telling how much farther forward it can go. Believe in it. I believe.

We can and we must-march-forward-with-hope, optimism and determination.

We must come together, work together and walk together toward the future.

Bagamat malaking hamon ang nasa ating harapan, nasa kamay natin ang malaking kakayahan. Halina’t pagtulungan nating tiyakin ang karapat-dapat na kinabukasan ng ating Inang Bayan.

And to the people of our good country, for allowing me to serve as your President, maraming salamat.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.

Last Saturday afternoon, I was about to swim when I received a new email notification from my Yahoo Messenger. The notification informed me that someone had changed my password. I immediately checked my Yahoo Mail to verify but sadly my password did not work. I already closed my Yahoo Messenger by the way. Aside from my Yahoo! Mail, I also checked my other email account which is Gmail. The same thing also happened. My password was prompted incorrect. I tried to reset my password for both email accounts but I really had a hard time with Google. It is not automatic that after you answer some questions, you can change your password. After you have answered some questions, they will investigate first on what happened. If they have confirmed that it is really you then you can change your password.

For my Yahoo account, Thank God it was easy. I'm not sure though that with that easy method of changing password is well-secured. Even though Google gave me a bad headache, I know it was more secured.

Anyway, after I have submitted the form to Google, I gave up waiting and went on to my swimming schedule. When I returned home, I received a link from them to change my password. By the way, aside from my Google and Yahoo accounts, my Facebook account was also hacked. It was really a fault of mine to use the same password for most of my accounts. Better change your password frequently and make it harder for those hackers to crack your passwords.

After I came back from my lunch, I checked my Twitter account to send a message to Monster Radio RX 93.1. After I send the message I saw the latest Twit of Delamar (RX DJ) and it says “RIP Cory Aquino.” I checked both ABS-CBN and Inquirer websites and found out that it was just a rumor. According to Inquirer, the family of Cory Aquino will personally announce any developments to the condition of the former President. As of the moment, she is in stable condition but her appetite hasn’t improved.

Let us all pray for the condition of Cory Aquino. I know she is suffering as she battles colon cancer. I believe in the wonders of prayers.

For the first edition of my Broadway segment, I am featuring “Billy Elliot the Musical”, a 2000 British film that is now an adapted musical in the West End Theatre in London. Aside from London it is also showing in Broadway, New York and Australia.

Lee Hall did the lyrics, the same person responsible for the screenplay of the film version. Sir Elton John on the other hand was responsible for the music. It has won numerous Olivier and Tony Awards including the Best New Musical, Best Musical and Best Original Score.

Just like the film version, the Musical revolves around the life of Billy Elliot, an eleven year old boy that aspires to be a ballet dancer. His father enrolled him in boxing but he realized he doesn’t like the brutal sport. He then skipped boxing then secretly went to ballet classes. His father at the end realized Billy’s passion with ballet and personally took Billy on a ballet audition. 14 years later, Billy was the lead in Matthew Bourne's “Swan Lake.” You can really achieve your dream if you have passion.

Here is the promotional trailer of Billy Elliot the Musical:
Wanting to have a well-deserved London theatre breaks? Photos and trailer courtesy of Billy Elliot the Musical.

A solar eclipse is happening right now. According to CNN, it is visible in China and India. Kinda scares me since I watched the Nostradamus 2012 special. This eclipse is one of the signs of the December 2012 end of days. Scary!

A very popular Filipino dish called "Adobo." You can actually cook this with chicken, pork or both. My preferred Adobo, a yummy Chicken Wings Adobo.

Here are the ingredients:
1. Chicken wings
2. Soy sauce
3. Vinegar
4. Black peppercorn
5. Potato cut into cubes
6. Garlic
7. Oil

This is a simple dish. Start by sauteing the garlic in a pan with some oil. When it turns almost brown, sautee the chicken wings. Pour some soy sauce, water and pepper. Wait until it boils. Add some vinegar and make sure not to stir. Wait until it boils. Put the potato cubes then wait until its ready. Taste your adobo sauce. You can either add more soy sauce, vinegar or sugar depending on your taste.

Serve it with hot rice.

Here I go again with my running topic. I am frustrated lately that I have been constantly skipping my running routine. I'm thankful though that I haven't skipped swimming every Saturday.

Yesterday around 11:30 P.M., I went running again after Thursday last week. As usual, I am feeling sore again. The good thing is I think I am improving. I just need more patience and push myself more.

One funny story that happened last night when I was on my way to the lift. I was doing some stretching while I was waiting for the lift when suddenly the lift door opened. I wasn't expecting for somebody in the elevator since it was kinda late but there's this middled-aged woman that smiled at me when she saw horribly shocked. I was honestly scared.

That's why I am running that late so no can see me...

Top 10 Hollywood Movies as of July 19, 2009

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
4. Bruno
5. The Hangover
6. The Proposal
7. Public Enemies
8. Up
9. My Sister's Keeper
10. I Love You Beth Cooper

Last Thursday, my officemates and I finally had our night out and watched Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince. We have planning months to go out and finally it happened. I booked the tickets to the Golden Village Grand Cinema in Great World Mall in Orchard.

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince is the sixth installment to the popular J.K. Rowling book/film franchise. Here goes on what I can say on the movie. Spoiler alert!

The movie started with the attack of the Death Eaters to the Millennium Bridge and to the Diagon Alley shop. For me, the signal of the ending of Hogwarts and Harry Potter. The movie continues with the quest of Dumbledore and Harry to find out what really happened on Tom Riddle and Professor Slughorn. They find out the truth but ended Dumbledore's life. This movie also revealed some love interests of the main characters: Harry on Ron's sister (Ginny), and Ron and Hermoine respectively.

The movie was almost three hours long but it did not satisfy my Harry Potter craving. The first 5 installments was full of magic, action and effects but this one was quite not impressive. In my opinion, the blandest of the whole Harry Potter series. I just hope the next one will be great and can finally fill up the hype Harry Potter has.

Do you know who is the Half-Blood Prince? Watch the movie, hehe.

As you all know I am a music lover and my passion for music has expanded in the likes of Broadway shows, thanks to our very own Lea Salonga. My first Broadway show that I watched was “Miss Saigon” when it started showing in the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2000. “Les Miserables”, “Cinderella” and “CATS” soon followed and I hope that those weren’t my last. The Broadway experience was on a different level—even magical on some parts. Indeed an experience one shouldn’t miss.

Broadway has been giving us the best entertainment in the world since the 18th century in Broadway, New York and West End Theatre in London. According to The Broadway League, just for the 2007-2008 season, Broadway shows approximately sold $937 million of tickets. That includes the latest top shows like Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Oliver, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Grease, Love Never Dies, Blood Brothers and so much more.

Starting Thursday next week, I will feature one of the top Broadway show in my Broadway segment. That would be interesting to know about these spectacular shows. Maybe in the near future I can have my well-deserved west end theatre breaks. I can’t wait to watch Billy Elliot, The Lion Kind and Mamma Mia since I have watched them on the silver screen. Exciting indeed!

Top 10 Hollywood Movies as of July 12, 2009

1. Bruno
2. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
4. Public Enemies
5. The Proposal
6. The Hangover
7. I Love You Beth Cooper
8. Up
9. My Sister s Keeper
10. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

According to Michael Jackson's older sister LaToya Jackson, her brother was murdered by the people around him. He was drugged to death to get the King of Pop's billion dollar fortune.

Two weeks ago, I have started doing my exercise after a year of not doing it. Two weeks ago also, I have bought my first running outfit and started running. My first run was really tiring and the pain of my legs and calves were horrible. On my second week, because of Michael Jackson's death, my running routine suddenly dismissed. Would you believe I have watched many TV specials about Michael Jackson, I think six or seven already. And I have one more to watch haha.

Anyway, last week I have decided to make a quota on my running schedule. I should run at least three times a week and my swimming routine should be at least once a week (every weekend). Since I have been lazy from Monday to Wednesday, I have squeezed my running routine on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday after lunch, I went swimming and that same night I went running on the new park beside our block. I would post by the way some of the pictures of that park maybe this week. On Sunday before lunch, I went running again on the new park. I was very exhausted but luckily it was windy and it wasn't that hot.

This morning, when I woke up, I have noticed the sore feeling on my legs and calves. I'm still thankful that I made it in the office. The pain eventually subsided in the afternoon but it's still hard to walk. I think my exercise is working since I am in pain. What's nice about this pain (exercise routine) is that I am noticing that my legs and calves are getting big. I hope my tummy would be flat again like a year ago.

This is funny!

Watch carefully on 8:20, a shadow that looks like Michael Jackson was spotted on camera. Rest in peace Michael Jackson.

Another recipe from yours truly which I call "Monggo With Beef Balls and Anchovies."  This is the usual monggo recipe but I added some beef balls and left-over anchovies.

Here are the complete ingredients:
1. monggo beans
2. beef balls
3. anchovies
4. garlic, tomato and onions
5. water
6. salt

This is just a simple dish. In a bowl, pour in the monggo beans and water. Put it into a boil under medium fire.  Make sure to mix it once in a while. If the monggo beans are already cooked, set it aside. In a different bowl, saute the garlic, tomato and onions. Add the beef balls and the anchovies. Pour in the monggo soup then wait to boil. Add some salt to taste. You can also add some leafy vegetables (leaves of bittergourd).

Simple, right?

Aside from the words of Michael Jackson's daughter Paris, Brooke Shields eulogy to Michael Jackson for me was the most touching.

I cannot remember anymore when did I cook this recipe. What I can remember was it tasted crunchy and yummy. Anyway, here are the ingredients to my crunchy beef tapa:

1. beef cut into thin strips
2. garlic
3. salt and pepper
4. vinegar

First, in a separate bowl, mix the vinegar, crushed garlic and some salt and pepper. Marinate the beef in the vinegar mix overnight. On a frying pan in low heat, grill your marinated beef. You can either toast it or make it the usual tapa style.

For the dip, mix some vinegar, salt and chili.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin surprisingly announced her resignation a few hours ago.

Here is the video of her resignation announcement.


There are rumors that she is stepping down because of corruption charges and I even read that she plans to run for the White House in 2012. Is she damn serious?

Top 10 Hollywood Movies as of July 5, 2009

1. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
3. Public Enemies
4. The Proposal
5. The Hangover
6. Up
7. My Sister s Keeper
8. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
9. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
10. Year One

Last Thursday, I took my sick leave. I was feeling dizzy and I have this headache. Since here in Singapore a medical certificate is required in the office, before lunch I went to the accredited clinic and had me checked by the doctor. Before leaving the house, I checked my list and wrote down the clinics near my place. The first clinic that I went was a bit disappointing. Apparently, our medical card in that clinic was not recognized anymore. Because of that, I went to clinic #2. The clinic looks old and a bit dark. When I went to register, they told me that consultation was already closed. I have to go back after lunch.

I went back home, took a bath then had my lunch. I checked again my list and saw that they will be open by 2 P.M. When I was on my way to the bus stop, I noticed that it was really dark. I got lazy to go back in our flat to get my umbrella. When I was on the bus, the heavy rain started to pour. The unexpected happened, I was stranded in the last bus stop. Since it was getting late, I managed to run over the pouring rain. Guess what happened when I returned to clinic #2. The doctor was still not in. And the receptionist told me that he will be in by 3:30. Since it was only 2:30, I have decided to go to a different clinic. And that means I have to run again with the heavy pouring rain.

I successfully had my checkup on clinic #3. I have to run again though to the safety of a shade. That is worst sick leave ever.

Curious what is on the covered part? Well, her bossoms are only covered with body paint.

Here are some of the useful words and phrases that are usually used in Singapore. Most of the people here use “Singlish” or the combination of Chinese, Malay and English. Some of them are really amazing.

Lah - a suffix denoting exaggeration.
Example- Ok I understood orredy lah!

How- what is to be done, how are you, how would it be possible.
Example- Boss not well today. Then meeting how?

Can. Used to denote maybe or possible.
Example- Can borrow me five dollars or not?

Cannot. Used to say No or not possible.
Example- Cannot leh, I broke orready!

Alleady / Orredy (Singlish for already).
Example-The tourists come orready, let's start tour mah!

Alla mak! This is used almost every time some one is amazed. This is a word that one exclaims with.
Example- 'Alla mak! what she doing here la!'

Aiyoh! This is used to express dismay or pity.
Example - She so pretty, then why she go kill herself, Aiyoh!

Ayer - means water.

Baju - Malay word for ladies top or dress (it forms the top half of the traditional Malay 'bajukoro')

Blur - means confused. Interestingly, it is used as an adjective not as a verb.

Boleh - Malay for 'can' or possible.

Chin chye not to worry about the details, indicating to relax.
Example - Jus Chin chye la!

Chinese Helicopter originated in the National Service (army), meaning a very educated person

Gahmen - slang version for government (of Singapore).

HDB - abbreviation for Housing Development Board Standard Government accommodation, Nearly 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB Flats.

Jalan - Malay word for road or street.

Kaypoh a keypoh is a busybody, a nosey parker

Kampong - Malay village

Kopitiam - Hokkien for coffee shop. In Singapore, these are local cafeterias where one can get tea, coffee and the omnipresent Kaya toast and other snacks.

Lelong - Sale or Auction. Singaporean salesmen & saleswomen prefer to use the word 'offer'

Mee - a kind of noodle, very common in Singapore's food courts.

Nasi Padang - a mixed Malay meal

Mee Goreng and Nasi Goreng are also popular dishes in Singapore.

Makan - Malay for food 'You makan alleady?' literally translated means have you eaten already?

Sala - Malay word means wrong or incorrect.

Sayang - Malay word meaning love

Shiok - Malay word meaning best quality

Sotong - Malay for squid. So a sotong person is someone who is clueless (dumb).

Stylo - Singlish for stylish

Wah! - used to denote amazement.
Example - Wah!' Mr. Lee got new car orready.

Ya Lah! - this emphasizes yes.
Example - Ya Lah! , I know he come here once orready.

Terimakaseh or Makaseh - both words mean 'Thank You' in Malay.

Ebu or Ibu - means Mother in Malay.

Abang - means brother in Malay.

Source: focussingapore.com

I have blogged days ago that I am staying away from junk foods. Anyway, the other day in Fair Price, I was craving for a potato chips. Since the cheapest brand doesn't taste good, I have decided to choose a different brand. By the way, there's Ruffles and Lays, which costs almost $3.

I saw this other Potato Chips brand "Chipsters" and was made from Malaysia. When I saw the tag price which is only less than $2, I immediately grabbed it. When it was about time to pay, I was shocked that it displayed a different price. If I will compare it to the price of Ruffles and Lays, there's only a 20 centavos difference. Damn!

Anyway, when I tried it, it is actually delicious. I have to stay away with these chips though.