Sunday, December 30, 2007

THE ULTIMATE PINOY HERO


Today is Rizal Day.

Dr. Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan.
He was a revolutionary during the Philippines' Spanish colonial era. His writings were said to entice insurgency among Filipinos and for this and his other patriotic activities, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, Intramuros.
Rizal was executed by a Spanish firing squad. Before he died, he wrote Mi Ultimo Adios or My Last Farewell.

Written in Spanish, English translations of the poem can be found online. Here's one:

Mi Ultimo Adios
Dr. Jose Rizal

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.

On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight,
Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy,
The place does not matter: cypress laurel, lily white,
Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom's site,
It is the same if asked by home and Country.

I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin to show
And at last announce the day, after a gloomy night;
If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow,
Pour my blood and at the right moment spread it so,
And gild it with a reflection of your nascent light!

My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent,
My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor to attain,
Were to see you, gem of the sea of the Orient,
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high plane
Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame without stain.

My life's fancy, my ardent, passionate desire,
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon part from thee;
Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that fullness you may acquire;
To die to give you life, 'neath your skies to expire,
And in your mystic land to sleep through eternity !

If over my tomb some day, you would see blow,
A simple humble flow'r amidst thick grasses,
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so,
And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my brow,
Warmth of your breath, a whiff of your tenderness.

Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry,
Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant light,
In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh,
And should a bird descend on my cross and alight,
Let the bird intone a song of peace o'er my site.

Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize
And with my clamor behind return pure to the sky;
Let a friend shed tears over my early demise;
And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me on high,
Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may rest I.

Pray thee for all the hapless who have died,
For all those who unequalled torments have undergone;
For our poor mothers who in bitterness have cried;
For orphans, widows and captives to tortures were shied,
And pray too that you may see you own redemption.

And when the dark night wraps the cemet'ry
And only the dead to vigil there are left alone,
Don't disturb their repose, don't disturb the mystery:
If you hear the sounds of cithern or psaltery,
It is I, dear Country, who, a song t'you intone.

And when my grave by all is no more remembered,
With neither cross nor stone to mark its place,
Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it be scattered
And my ashes ere to nothingness are restored,
Let them turn to dust to cover your earthly space.

Then it doesn't matter that you should forget me:
Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I'll sweep;
Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall be:
Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings deep,
Constantly repeating the essence of the faith I keep.

My idolized Country, for whom I most gravely pine,
Dear Philippines, to my last goodbye, oh, harken
There I leave all: my parents, loves of mine,
I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen
Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign.

Farewell, parents, brothers, beloved by me,
Friends of my childhood, in the home distressed;
Give thanks that now I rest from the wearisome day;
Farewell, sweet stranger, my friend, who brightened my way;
Farewell, to all I love. To die is to rest.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

PINAY GIRL WOWS ELLEN

If you haven't heard of her, now's your chance.

15-year old singing phenom Charice Pempengco, who traveled all the way from Manila to be a guest at Ellen DeGeneres's show, has wowed audiences everywhere.

Ang galing ng batang ito!

Here's her goose-bump-inducing rendition of "And I Am Telling You".

I am telling you, talo pa n'ya si Jennifer Hudson!

[Thank you to reader Jon dela Cruz for the tip.]

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

GOOD AND FUN REGALO IDEAS

Here's an awesome pang-regalo idea:
GiveWell.com helps you let your friends and loved ones know just how much you care when you buy them Prepaid Healthcare Visa Gift Card.

It lets you choose the amount you want to place on the card, from as little as $25 up to $5,000, and the recipient chooses the health related expenses he or she wants to use it for.

The card costs $4.95 plus shipping and handling and can be sent to you or straight to the recipient.

Uses include: co-pays at doctor’s and pharmacies; dental care, and others.

Mas okay na regalo ito kesa sa stale fruitcake, di ba?
For others naman who wish to give the gift of laughter, here's a quick and fun (and FREE!) gift idea: Get your loved ones' pictures and go to elfyourself.com to upload them and make a personalized Elf-theme singing card. I did this recently and I just could not stop laughing at the end result: My family as elves singing and dancing like crazy.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

ASK A KABABAYAN:
I want to help my parents. I'm 16, pwede na ba ako'ng magtrabaho?

Yes. And I admire you for wanting to help your parents. (Pero 'wag mo'ng pababayaan ang pag-aaral mo ha!)

According to the Department of Labor, under Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ang minimum age for employment in non-agricultural employment is 14.

Here are more info:
Hours worked by 14- and 15-year-olds are limited to:
Non-school hours; 3 hours in a school day; 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours on a non-school day; 40 hours on a non-school week; and hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.)

Youth 14 and 15 years old enrolled in an approved Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) may be employed for up to 23 hours in school weeks and 3 hours on school days (including during school hours).

The FLSA does not limit the number of hours or times of day for workers 16 years and older.

Many
states have enacted child labor laws as well. In situations where both the FLSA child labor provisions and state child labor laws apply, the higher minimum standard must be obeyed.

Depending on what state you live in, you might need to get a work permit, click on this link to check. Though the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require that youth get work permits or working papers to get a job, some states do require work permits prior to getting a job. School counselors may be able to advise if a work permit is needed before getting a job, according to the Labor website.

You should also check this website, it is chock-full of info for teen workers.
[photo: south carolina DOL]

NO MORE "JINGGAM BELS"?

According to this report, Manila officials have banned Christmas carolers.

“The plan, controversial as it might be, is not done out of whim but rather for the safety of the children and the mo­torists,” an official said.

Last year a child was killed when he was run over by a speeding truck.

The rule effectively bans street kids from slum areas from knocking on vehicle windows on busy streets asking for cash while caroling.

Caroling in subur­ban areas where carolers would not affect road traffic is still allowed.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

"WIFE SWAP" LOOKING FOR PINAY MOM!


ABC's "Wife Swap" is gearing up its 4th season and they are searching for "one-of-a-kind families with amazing personality and strong family philosophies!"

According to Elisha DeLeon, a proudly Pinay casting production assistant of the show, she is looking specifically "for families of all nationalities who are proud of their heritage and love their culture! Do you share your cultural values with your family and bring your cultural traditions into your household? If so, I would love to hear from you!"

Contact Elisha at 646-747-7959 or at elisha.deleon@wifeswapcasting.com.

Let them know that you got this info from FilipinOnline ha!

Here's more info from Elisha:

"In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, the premise of “Wife Swap” is simple: two moms from two different families get the opportunity to swap lives for one week to experience what it's like to live a different lifestyle - and to see what they can teach each other about their own! “Wife Swap” airs on Disney owned ABC television on Mondays at 8 pm- the family hour!

Potential families can live anywhere in the U.S. Families must consist of two parents with at least one child, between the ages 7 and 17 living at home. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age, as long as one child is in the required age range.) Families featured on the show receive a $20,000 honorarium to thank them for their time."

photo: abc.com

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:
You Better Watch Out So You Don't Cry...
Before Getting In-Store Credit Cards


I know the temptation of a discount is great - and believe me, I succumbed to it before I knew better - but if you're serious about maintaining a high credit score, you gotta be careful about opening another department store credit card.

Here's a tip from TransUnion's TrueCredit newsletter:

"Though it can be tempting to save 10 to 15% on your holiday purchases, consider this: the interest rates can be high (especially if you make a late payment), and applying for a lot of cards can damage your credit score."

In essence, that discount that retail stores give when you apply for a new card might seem like a good deal now but if you don't pay off your entire balance every month, you will lose more in the long run because of the high interest rate. Also, applying for new cards can put dings in your credit score. If you do pay off your balance every month, then by all means, take the discounts. Still, be reminded that each application could have an effect on your credit score.

Here are more credit report-related info from the newsletter:

Do you know how long records stay on your credit report?

Here is a quick list of expiration dates:

Late Payments: Up to 7 years.

Collections: 7 years, starting 181 days from first date of delinquency preceding collection activity on the account.

Bankruptcies: 7-10 years after the filing date, depending on the bankruptcy type and policy of the credit reporting agency.

Judgments: 7 years from the filing date or until the statute of limitations expires, whichever is longer
[PHOTO: American Chronicle]

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

FYI: Democratic Party Forum

VOICES TO VOTES
An Asian / Latino Issues Forum featuring representatives from the leading Democratic Presidential Campaigns with special celebrity appearance by Kelly Hu.

Assembly Member Kevin de Leon (Hillary Clinton's campaign)
Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (John Edwards' campaign)
LA School Board Member Yolie Flores Aguilar (Barack Obama's campaign)

The forum will be moderated by Eric Byler (Asian Pacific Americans for Progress) and Sandra Mendoza (Metropolitan Democratic Club).

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central AvenueLos Angeles , CA 90012
Event is FREETo RSVP, email: curtischin@aol.com
6:15 PM doors open
6:45 - 8:15 PM panel/forum (will begin promptly)

Immediately following the forum will be the Tuesday Tingler, a special edition of the Monday Minglers co-sponsored by Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Committee and Asian Pacific Americans in Philanthropy. They will be joined by several co-sponsoring Latino organizations. Just walk around the corner to:
Far Bar at Chop Suey Café347 E. First StreetTel: (213) 617-9990
For more info on the party, email charles.chang@apadrc.org

Monday, December 3, 2007

BUHAY AMERICA TIPS:
Hit Delete on Texting While Driving


Naku, mga kababayan ko: Stop texting na while driving.

Apart from being ridiculously unsafe for you and the other motorists, it could land you in jail. If you haven't heard about the first texting-while-driving citation given to a distracted driver, then read this.

More and more states are adopting anti-cell phone-usage-while driving laws.

If you live in Calif., you must know that it is illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use a cellphone, pager, text-messaging device or laptop while driving, even if they are wearing a headset.

Lawmakers used statistics that show that teenagers make up 6% of licensed drivers but 16% of auto accident fatalities in passing the bill.

For all California adult drivers, just a reminder: When you buy a new cell phone, make sure to get the hands-free one because by July 1, that's all we could legally use.

[photo: SWITCHED.COM]