Images that Inspire

On my last visit to Manila, my Dada Mom2 played the piano just for me.

She's all of 86- summers old and she pounded on those keys as well as any pianist would. Never missing a single note.

Alone with just her and her music filling the night... an image that will never leave the confines of my heart.

And then there are the young ones. Bruschettas is what I call them. The offsprings of the Toasters.













They're just full of imagination, questions, laughter and antics that make old fogies like me youthful when I am around them.

Their energy is boundless, their joys innocent.

They may have certain fears but mostly it's all about the icky stuff and not the complicated concerns that consume adults.

Maybe I should just put them all in a box and ship 'em to Walnut, eh? What do you think?

Do you think the little ones would mind if an Egyptian with an attitude problem comes along?

Yeah, and she's a 6-footer, too!

From ABS-CBNNews.com:
'President Arroyo did not know of Smith's transfer'
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita Sunday said President Arroyo has nothing to do with the abrupt transfer of convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith to the US Embassy, ABS-CBN News reported.
Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo, who is at present in Baguio City with the Presidential Family, left the matter to the National Security Council.
He added that the council did not even inform Mrs. Arroyo its final decision to transfer Smith to US custody.
Ermita, however, admitted that Smith’s transfer will result in better RP-US relations.

Some points to ponder:
1.) That's what she claims. She had nothing to do with it... BS! But let's pretend, for the sake of argument, that she really didn't know anything about it. Mrs. Arroyo, if you had known, what would you have done?
2.) Ermita says, the transfer will result in better RP-US relations. How so, Mrs. Arroyo? Do you agree with Ermita on this?
3.) Mrs. Arroyo, don't you think that this is tantamount to washing your hands off on this one? Ah yes, I forget, you've had enough practice. Proof of this is Garci running for public office. What a joke!
4.) How can you, as the president of a republic, just leave such an important matter to the National Security Council and the DILG? May we know the reasons behind this? And why the National Security Council?
5.) Finally, Mrs. Arroyo, by virtue of your silence on this matter, you have practically let your countrymen down as you have virtually sided with the oppressor. Your comment, please?

Happier Endings to New Beginnings

I already had this one figured out. For several days now, I had kept this yearender entry on my desktop, just waiting for the pictures to be up loaded... when the expected unexpected came. I accidentally erased my entry... What is it with my hate-affair with computers?! Negative charge is what I call it. Let me have no more of that in the coming new year, please...

So anyway, here I am again, now on the eve of New Year's Eve, reminiscing...

As a year comes to a close, one always looks back on the twelve months gone by.

For some, it's all about looking at their achievements, even patting themselves on the back as they do so. And then setting even more goals for the coming year.

For others, ending the year can only mean new hope for the next. They might even heave a sigh of relief that this one's over... being that this year seemed like the whole world had gone to the dogs.

As this year comes to a close, I am just completely thankful for the blessings called Noel, family and friends.

This year will end as it should because the next will begin as it should.

And with lots of prayers, I just hope it will be filled with happier endings to new beginnings.