MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENTS REVEALED

The things I wrote today are part of my past reminisces of me part of growing up. So please, when you read this, be ready to be protected of the gases of euphoria this blog maybe excreting.

Most embarrassing moment no. 1

I was in kinder 1 at that time. I was walking towards the lavatory to wash my hands when ooohhh… I tripped! It was very embarrassing! Many students looked at my direction and laughed. I was red –faced at that time because of shame! I covered my face with my hands to avoid the looks of my classmates, who at that time are all smiles. But well, the angel of mercy came and sent a cute boy strolling and helped me up. This came stir from my classmates and they began teasing me, “uuuuuyyy…. Beverly”

Most embarrassing moment no. 2

I was taking a kindergarten entrance test at Cebu Normal University at that time. I was having a hard time answering the questions. I bit my pencil between my teeth and incredibly forgot that it was there. Then, the proctor said that there are only 10 more minutes left so I looked for my pencil; I began to have hysterics since I forgot where I put my pencil. Then I started to drool. Then when I wiped my saliva away, I felt something wet and hard between my teeth. (It’s not what you think it is) and then oh! There was my pencil, all wet and mushy. The teachers, the students, who were disturbed by the commotion I had made, couldn’t hide their grins when I discovered that it was there all along.

Most embarrassing moment no.3

I was 9 years old at that time. My father, my cousin and I were walking towards our van. We just came out of Ayala. And then, the moment came, sweeping through me like a raging thunderstorm. I tripped through a very big rope that serves as a ‘fence’ for the cars. Serves me right for trying to go over the rope. I fell face –first. My father and my cousin laughed at me so hard that I began very red- faced because of shame. Luckily there are no other people at the parking area.

Most embarrassing moment no. 4

I was in the province at that time. It was fiesta. While my parents and other relatives were preparing for the food, design, and other whatsoever, my cousin and I explored the area. We were looking for a toilet because we want to urinate. At the other side of the road of our aunt‘s house, we saw our grandfather, with his carabao. We ran to him to kiss his hand. We also asked where we could find a place where we could urinate. He pointed us to the nearby river. He said that’s the only place he knew. So we hit off, and the two of us hid behind the anahaw leaves beside the river. My cousin, who is a prankster, finished first and left me all alone. She said she’d cover me when she finished first, but it tuned out that she left me, and while I was urinating I heard the coming of a bicycle. I thought that my cousin is there to tell him that I was here. But of course, she wasn’t there and the boy riding the bicycle peered over me. When I saw him, I screamed, pulled my shorts up, and ran to my aunt’s house, all embarrassed and ashamed.

These are all my embarrassing moments. It takes all my pride to type this, so please, if your reading this, don’t laugh so hard, maybe all people will know what’s in store for me.

TOM'S DYING WISH

(This is for all the cats….)

My fellow minions, before I die, I would like to share to you my subjects and the hope that you would be able to accomplish them in due time. (But anyway, all your interested at is the billions of dollars you‘ll get from me. But hey! Let’s get to the topic. As you all know, I’ve sent all my nine lives in vain chasing and catching my nemesis, the stupid mouse, Jerry. (But I cant understand of why I cant catch him, and when every time I was able to catch him, he was also able to slip from my hands, and ending up with me putting into trouble.) I’m writing this, because I know I have little time life to live in this world. I’ve been chasing and catching Jerry today, and I found myself falling off at the top of the empire state building, my ninth life busted. (Just like King Kong, -------- though he’s saving a girl and I’m catching a mouse) Well! Well! Well! Let’s get to my “subjects of interests” as we put it before I close my eyes and leave this world for good.

1. The fast eradication of Jerry’s family and relatives
My fellow felines, as we all know, I am rich now, (but it doesn’t matter to me, I ‘ll spend anything just to get my hands on Jerry.) I am rich because I have sent all these years in working with the Looney Toons, and billions of children, not only watch me all over the world, making my show a hit, (is chasing a mouse interesting?) Anyway, I want you to spend a part of my money, since the eradication costs like, 500 million dollars. I want the eradication fast. You can claim my money ion the bank; I don’t know which bank, maybe there are hundreds of them. Don’t worry; I’ve already identified you to the different banks in the country, (also in the banks in Germany, England, and Paris.)
P.S: pls. Do it fast. Jerry’s’ family is quite a number that’s why you should act now! At least, to lessen some suspicions, so you can’t do the panic killing - as we put it. I want eradication! I want it fast!


2. (Absolutely confidential) The stealing of Jerry ‘s property and real estate business benefits.
My minions we, the ever powerful cats, destroy and steal Jerry’s property as soon as possible! When he realizes that the poor stupid mouse has no home to go to, we can easily spot him and…hehehe…how shall we put it more delicately, we‘ll silence him. Many of you would enjoy this, but! We should be careful and we should keep mum about this all business of ours because it might destroy our reputation as cats as the best clean animal. (Oh, really??)

These are all my interests. I hope you can fulfill them in just a short time. We have to accomplish this ----I mean, these, matter as though this is one of a hell, “2 commandments.” We shall finish, us, together, the most infuriating race in the world---- the mice.

This shall be effective this February 31 2008, when the apple fell from the orange tree. let Jerry realize that the cats rule the earth in the past, present, and hopefully, in the future.

CATS RULE!!!!!!!!!

SIGNED,
Tom

THE DIARY OF BRITNEY SPEARS

THE DIARY OF BRITNEY SPEARS

Duuuh… this is the most hectic year I’ve ever had in my whole life. And I think I got into some kind of a “freak -out” but other people describe as “nervous breakdown” or “insanity”. I can tell you straight in your ugly face that I ‘m not insane, or mad, or something. It’s just the effects of too much marijuana. Come on! I was just trying to have a good time, forget our break – up with Kevin, and forget my short – lived friendship with Paris Hilton, gosh… she is the most infuriating bitch I have ever met. She comes here, telling me that oooh…. I’m going to help you forget your break –up with Kevin, and she goes and brings me to gimmicks to many of the most expensive hotel bars and restaurants in the United States. Maybe, I forgot everything at that time and some stupid paparazzis caught a picture of me with no, with no… underpants at all! No panties at all! I almost died of shame.. No just a little, since I am used to it anyway. Anyway, as Paris’ song “stars are blind” I am blind to all that’s happening to me around. I go, to this place, to that place, forgetting about the baby sometime, only remembering it when I am a block away and I ‘m home. Many questioned of me being a parent, but why? I am just one of the richest girls in Hollywood, and I can provide them with all the comfys that they need. They don’t have the right to question me of being a mother! (Or do they have?)

About the rehab. The rehab is marvelous, with the nice luxurious bed, the horse- riding facility, and the swimming pools…its just like home. I learned that Ben Affleck also had his rehab here. See? This place is a star- studded place. But I felt bad. I just realized that my head is bald. Maybe its because of the shampoo or something. Or is it the chemotherapy? I don’t remember anything of the kind. When I ask the doctors about my hair, they look amused and told me that; I cut off my own hair. Can you believe it? I surfed the Internet, and saw an auction online, Buy Britney’s hair, $1, 000, 000. 00. I have to check whose Britney they’re talking about. But the people around me insisted that I cut off my beautiful, long blond, hair. I was in despair. I didn’t know that drugs can take you to unbelievable volumes and I can do things that I hadn’t done before, like, cutting my own hair.

Now, even though I’ m on my rehab, I can see people looking at me, with like, yucky expressions. I am not yucky! But I found myself singing:

“I see you looking at me
Like some kind of a freak
Get out of your seat,
Why don’t you do something?”

And I see people doing something like, booing at me or laughing at me. I can‘t take this anymore! I’m not the “lucky” anymore or a girl (not yet a woman). Oh please!! Maybe I am mad after all. I just learned that my ex Justin Timberlake had already broken up with his girlfriend, Cameron Diaz. I was in supreme ecstasy. My two past marriages didn’t make something out of me, just orgasm… and sadness. I went crazy when I broke up with Justin, and went crazier when Kevin left me; he only interested on my money, and left me to take care of the kids. Aaarggh!! And then I met this happy –go –lucky girl named Paris Hilton who once had a row with Nicole Ritchie. Once, I don’t see why a hotel heiress runs out of friends. But after that unfortunate incident, I learned why. She’s a user! Anywayz, the people told me its time to go down the pedestal because I’m becoming a big disgrace! They don’t love me anymore! Now, they have become fanatics of the Irreplaceable Beyonce, of eeww…. Of Christina Aguilera‘s Ain’t No other Man. Yeah Christina, it ain‘t you who‘s going to question me!

Yeah, dear diary, this year’s very hard for me, and for us. While I’m lying here in the sofa, I keep thinking of the things that’s been happening to us, if I can only get at the time I’m still the princess of pop, maybe things are much better. I’ve been going wild, things intoxicating me, (TOXIC: PLAYING) but we’ll be strong, dear diary, we’ve done these things before.

PLAYING: OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN

RAINY DAYS

RAINY DAYS

There was a time the raindrops fell from the sky, curing and washing all your hurt away. It causes the earth to rejoice of this blessing. Rain means blessings, blessings not only for us people but for other creatures as well. Rain means happiness, as children go out of their homes and wade and play with the cold raindrops. Adults take out their colorful umbrellas and walk together, when we look at them from the sky, they would look like flowers in a bloom. Rain symbolizes the coming of spring in other temperate countries, the time when buds open, leaves becoming green again, saying, “autumn and winter are gone, the red leaves and empty branches a memory….” The butterflies getting themselves ready, for the spring flowers open as soon rain comes, and all environment is moving and alive.

Do you like the rain? Me, I do. But sometimes I feel so grumpy whenever there’s rain because it means that I have to wear those heavy raincoats and parade down the street like a fireman who has lost its way home. But honestly, I love the rain. I like to shower myself, enjoy and forget the all my problems and miseries. Once, when I was in grade 1, I was tempted to bathe and enjoy myself in the rain. And it turned out that I did. I waded, kicked, played and frenzied myself and did not think of the reprimand I will get afterward. When my teacher saw me all soaked and wet, she almost swooned and she punished me, after drying up, of course. But I didn’t care. When my parents knew about this, I didn’t care. What was on my mind at that time was the nice feeling of being under the rain, being blessed with the entire blessings God has showered upon us.

Being in the rain and getting a cold are just some minor effects on being on the rain. Feeling happiness is a big, major effect on being on the rain. You feel God’s presence and you feel comforted of the way He has touched you with those powerful hands. Let me share to you a poem about rain:

RAIN

Rain...Rain...

how sweet and lovely is a water from sky

..Rain..Rain..

it`s a wine of lovers...

Rain.. Rain..

it`s a lovers` pain...

Rain..Rain..

my misses and longing to you as a desret...

Rain..Rain..

aren`t you coming back again to me, ,

as a rain..come back to me as a coming rain..

come to wash my soul with a waters` sky..

with your hands...

hug me to you...my heart become sick from a sadness and pains..

Rain..Rain..

it been so long for waiting..

untill, i become addicted to your waiting and a patience..

Rain..Rain..

aren`t you coming back..

a rain already here..

please don`t let me alone with a rain...

by: hazem02@yahoo.com By hazem02

See? Isn’t it nice to stay under the rain? . Isn’t it nice?
What about you? What do you think? Do you feel like what I feel about rain? Raindrops and rain are the things which reminds us that God is always near and you can always feel his presence around us.

What A UP Student is Not

What a UP Student is Not

Before I continue writing this blog, I want to greet everyone in UP a big HELLO! I just want to tell you that when I wrote this blog, I dug up all my experiences in order to make a realistic and presentable material. I dedicate this blog to my school, the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu (Char!). I promised to set all my wackiness aside, and reveal my serious side (thunder, lightning and mocking laughter). Joke, joke, joke!

The truth is, ‘What a UP student is not’ is a topic that maybe a UPian would care little about. I think the UP populace is heterogeneous. You see different characteristics, some endearing, some frustrating, and some even shocking! Contrary to popular belief, it seems to me that, there is no ‘typical’ UP student. A UP student may indeed possess many positive traits. However, there are also many negative traits that can be attributed to a UP student. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult this topic is for me, I tried to come up with a few characteristics that may differentiate a UPian (high school and college students) from a non-UPian (all levels also). I just hope you would agree with my choices.

FIRST, UPians don’t speak for their rights?

On the contrary! A non-UPian would possibly let other people trample on their rights, but definitely not UP students. In fact, the above statement would just send people’s eyebrows up. Don’t speak for their rights? I don’t think so. As you can see, youth groups and organizations are probably found in all schools and universities. However, what differentiates UP from other schools is that, these organizations are easily mobilized into dialogues, fora or rallies. These are venues where students can openly express their sentiments, whether pro or against administration or national policies that seem oppressive to students’ welfare. Aaah, what freedom of expression! There are very few schools that tolerate these kinds of activities. What happens then is that non-UP students become apathetic and no longer care whether their rights have been violated or not. Maybe because the repression imposed by the school has led to unawareness on the part of the students of what their rights are as students. Contemplate on this my dear schoolmates. Are you apathetic? If yes, maybe you are in the wrong school.

SECOND, UPians don’t try their best to achieve their goals?

Now that’s funny. How can anybody think that? A non-UP student may easily give up their dreams and goals especially when achieving these becomes difficult. For a UP student, passing the UPHSAT or UPCAT is a goal in itself. Many dreamed of entering the premier state university of the Philippines but only a few can be accommodated. Passing the UP entrance exams never stops a UP student from dreaming on or achieving higher goals.

A non-UPian may be contented with a passing grade or “so-so” performance in school. He or she may shrug off a few failing marks thinking, “there’s always next year or next semester”. Why sacrifice my social life or sleep by studying or by “burning the midnight candle?” It doesn’t matter to them if they have low or failing grades, anyway “my parents can afford to pay the tuition”. UPians on the other hand, have to make many sacrifices to achieve their goals. Break time is sometimes sacrificed. For example, when there is an upcoming test, the room is soooo silent. Why? Of course, all are studying (or so it seemed to me). They have to study and study hard to pass the exams. A failing mark wouldn’t look good especially if your future plan is to take the UPCAT or graduate with honors.

A non-UPian may be contented with a high school diploma. “My parents do not have the financial capacity to send me to college. I’ll just look for work in the department store or production line or better yet, I’ll apply abroad as a domestic helper.” Well, these are still goals in themselves but if you are a UP student, will you be contented with these goals? If your answer is yes, you may transfer to another school where you don’t have to make a lot of sacrifices.

Insect Mating and Sexual Behaviors

Insects are very interesting creatures. Yet, we seem to take them for granted. Maybe because they are often tiny and inconspicuous. I’ve learned from my mother (who takes special interests in aquatic insects) that insects are very important to the food chain, hence to the balance in nature. Aside from this, some have very interesting behaviors, which would put us humans to shame. Here are some of the facts I have encountered while browsing through my mother’s notes.




Do you know that SEX is not a necessity to insects? This is because some insects exhibit parthenogenesis or egg production without sexual fertilization (i.e. aphids), while one species of coccid exhibit hermaphroditism or self-fertilization of eggs. We humans might think, where’s the fun in these activities? Well, unlike humans, insects use instinct in order to cope with the realities of life. Reproducing without sex is quite advantageous. For some insects, having sex will cost them a lot, such as:



Cost of meiosis – this means sacrificing half of the genotype
Cost of recombination – may result to dangerous or lethal homozygosities (abnormalities and death)
Cost of mating – time and effort in finding a suitable mate
Cost of producing males – when in fact a parthenogenetic female is likely to produce twice as many daughters and four times as many granddaughters as the average sexual female

But again, not having sex could be boring even to insects. So, most insects still use sex in reproduction. Why? What are the advantages of having sex? READ ON HUMANS AND LEARN! Having sex in reproduction is not only fun but more importantly results to diversity or “variable” offspring, which may be better able to survive in the “new” or changing environment.

Insects are quite wise (it makes me wonder, are we descendants of insects?). They have pre- and post-mating strategies to enhance chances of successful mating. Here are some unique strategies (I don’t know if we humans can adopt these strategies):

Mosquitoes practice female monogamy induced by male accessory gland substance – after mating, male mosquitoes secrete a hormone that reduces the sexual receptivity of the just-mated female

Dual function of the damselfly penis, which are sperm removal and transfer – transfers sperm and removes sperm deposited by ‘preceding’ male

damselfly penis

Male bedbugs (Afrocimex spp.) possess structures that mimic female genitalia – rival males who mount these “female mimics” just waste their sperm

Many species exhibit prolonged copulation (a form of mate guarding) such as the damselflies and dragonflies

Enallagma exulans in copula

Of course, like humans, insects also undergo a period of courtship before mating. Here are some of the “devious” ways on how the male insects choose and catch the attention of the females.

Adaptive female-mimicking behavior in a scorpionfly – males use prey in courtship è offers prey to a female, then (if she accepts) mates with her; male strategies to obtain prey:

Some steal prey from other males (‘victims’ must wait longer before copulating)

Deceptive transvestism – some males act like females (landing near another male that has a prey item & lowering wings as receptive females do) to obtain a prey item

Choice for high fecundity or fertility – male tend to choose larger females; larger females can often produce more eggs and offspring (e.g., mormon crickets)

Female chooses males with increased fecundity, (may select males that court most vigorously, since ‘vigor’ is correlated with sperm supply)

You can be amazed by the criteria an insect sets in choosing a mate. Here are some of the “surprising” facts about an insect’s choice for immediate gains and/or parental ability:

Females tend to accept only males with insect prey above a certain size; possible benefits of such a preference
Male mates while female eats, so a larger insect means that female eats longer, therefore, copulation is longer & this helps ensure fertilization of eggs

More food from a male means less hunting by the female; less hunting means a reduced risk of being caught by a predator (i.e., spider's web)

Males that bring larger prey may be of higher quality

Now tell me, does size really matter? Definitely not when it comes to mating, courtship and sex. Look at the amazing style of these tiny insects. After reading this Blog, I’m sure you will never take insects for granted. In fact you may look at them with awe.

THE MOST ENDANGERED BIRD IN THE WORLD

I want to share with you guys some facts that may open our eyes a bit on what is happening to our environment. Do you know that the Philippines is home to a wide array of plant and animal species? According to Dr. Lawrence Heaney of the University of Chicago who has conducted field researches and training programs in the Philippines, the Philippines is like the Galapagos Islands multiplied tenfold. More than 510 species of land mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians exist only in the Philippines.

Here’s more. Are you a fan of the noontime game show Game Ka Na Ba? If yes, maybe you had seen one episode of the original GKNB where the million-peso question was (translated in English): “Where in the Philippines would you find the most endangered bird in the world, Dicaeum quadricolor?” I remembered hearing my mother, who was also watching the show, answering “Cebu”. Unfortunately, the male contestant did not hear my mother’s answer, otherwise, he could have won one million pesos. Instead he answered “Palawan”. Of course he was wrong and my mother was right!

The Cebu flowerpecker, Dicaeum quadricolor, is considered critically endangered. The 10-centimeter-long bird has been presumed extinct since 1905. Historical records show that specimens were collected from Toledo and Cebu City in periods earlier than 1950. It was reported as rediscovered on February 1982 in Tabunan, a remnant patch of forest at Central Cebu National Park. This led to a wave of conservation interests in the site. The Tabunan forest is also home to the largest known stand of Cebu Black Shama bird or “siloy” and Cebu Cinnamon Tree.

The Tabunan forest is the only home of the Cebu flowerpecker and its area has shrunk to a mere 185 hectares of forested land. Tabunan is one of the largest remaining fragments of original forest left on Cebu. It is probably the last hope for some of Cebu’s few remaining unique wildlife treasures.

The Cebu flowerpecker is much similar to the other Philippine flowerpeckers if not for its four colors (hence the name quadricolor). The bird has a grayish-white underbelly, black back with a bright red, triangular patch and a green rump. It is also distinguishable from the other flowerpeckers through its chirping.

Intensive fieldwork since then has confirmed only four birds in existence – two adult males, an adult female and an unidentified juvenile. The Cebu flowerpecker has virtually never been studied because it is so rare, but it appears to be breeding in Cebu, particularly, the Tabunan forest. This species of bird is considered to be ‘strictly confined to forest’. Recent observations indicate that it is associated only with tall, closed–canopy conditions. The forest at Tabunan, which lies in a thin-segmented strip on a steep and very uneven, west-facing limestone hillside, barely possesses any closed-canopy areas. This is because much of it has been selectively (but heavily) logged, affected by landslides, and because of the angle of the slope on which it stands.

Cebu flowerpecker feeds on small fruits (berries) in the canopy of a forest tree. This is first observed in December 1992 as a male species was noted feeding on a fruit in the canopy of a tree, confirming the assertion that its food is fruit and suggesting, along with the stoutness of the bill the species is a canopy frugivore (fruit eater).

Not much has been studied on the reproductive and breeding behavior of this avian species. Most, if not all, of the characteristics being described are observed not in captivity but in the natural habitat of the Cebu flowerpecker. A study in captivity of this bird has some constraints basically because they only number a few and they may not survive out from their natural place. Breeding was reported in the month of June by F.S Bourns and D.C Worcester, possibly on the basis of four young birds (three males, one female) they collected in June and July 1992 and described in their notes. Observations of four birds apparently with bright pink legs (possibly a seasonal character), chasing each other very actively, and at least one of them, a singing male, in March 1993, suggest breeding-season ebullience. Due to the bird’s rarity, no substantial study has been made in the reproductive cycle of such species.