Some interesting reads

As a book lover and reader I advocate study. And I don't mean ABCs and Do Re Mis, I mean really looking at issues inside and out before forming an educated opinion on things. That's why lately I've been very dismayed when people take so much stock in their own logic and not bother to dig deeper into the real story. Then they criticize those who study the facts as if all this boils down to is feelings. It's so unscholarly, so shameful.

So, quick post here to give some interesting reads some spotlight.

Going extinct is no fun
This is about the effects of the strict population measures Singapore implemented in the 1970s.

Sotto bares foreign agenda behind RH bill.
It's unfair that Sotto is getting all this flak lately. Instead of picking on him, try listening to what he has to say first, please?

Freedom from Catholicism
Let's promote true freedom :-)


"There is no excuse for those who could be scholars and are not."-St. Josemaria Escriva

It works :-)

I recently came across this video--it's an anti-smoking campaign by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. And while it's simple (no artsy camera angles or fancy picture quality), the message comes out pretty strong. Watch it and see for yourself... and remember that sometimes, we need to look at how it could be bad for kids to see better how some things could be bad for us, too.

  

Chic and Green!

Lately, I've been delving into all sorts of small enterprises (as well as all sorts of events and projects with my friends) to earn some extra money for next year's World Youth Day. I'm pretty excited for it, and while I'm still at 2 percent of my goal right now, I'm being optimistic that with hard work, teamwork, and not being afraid to do things I don't normally do, we will all make it to Rio.

One of those fundraising endeavors happens to be in tie-up with my mom's newspaper bag biz. She's really a darling to let us sell their bags for our fundraising! The bags are woven out of newspaper and are waterproof (they laminated them). Some bags are painted by my mom.

Right now, I have three of the CCLTJ bags with me for fundraising. I have only one piece of each design so, if you like something, better buy it before it goes! Please email me at nikkobautista at gmail dot com or text me at 0916-341-3366 for inquiries.

1. Z-pattern bag - PhP550.00

This bag is a bit like a bayong, except it has a shell-shape and a snap-on magnetic clasp. It has twine trimmings and black pleather handles. 

2. Red banig-weave bag - PhP 550.00

This bag closes with a red pleather string, and has red handles and trimmings to boot. Pretty roomy inside too--enough space for a lightweight bag organizer. ;-)

3. X-pattern banig-weave bag - PhP550.00

This bag has bronze pleather trimmings with buckles in the handles. It's more of a handbag than a shoulder bag, actually.

For those who are interested but can't meet up, you can still snap up these bags by taking care of the shipping fee. :D Thank you!

Think pasitib

"You're never fully dressed without a smile!"

The past weeks (and especially the last few days) have been teaching me a lot about optimism, particularly in keeping my spirits up even when so many things are uncertain. The key is to remember that everything that happens is all for the best, and really, God has good plans for us, even when it isn't quite obvious at this point in time.

Here, some tips on staying positive:
1. Have a motto. I keep repeating omnia in bonum to myself whenever something not very good comes along, and I think it helps! If you just remember that it's "all for the good," what could bring your spirits down?

2. Count your blessings. Yesterday, I got stuck in the rush hour crunch. I was in the MRT station without a ticket so I decided not to take the train. Walked to the other side of EDSA in hopes of catching a bus, but somehow there was a long line there too (first time I've seen a line for the bus actually). So instead, I walked all the way to Glorietta's Ayala exit to catch a bus there. When it arrived, it was standing-room only, so I held on for dear life clutching the metal bar behind the driver's seat. Bus rides are rougher than the MRT, so if I didn't have the strength to hold on, I would have splatted on the windshield at some point. In retrospect, I really I have to be thankful that I'm pretty macho for a person who can run only 200m.

Also, of course, I have to be thankful that there was a bus I could take, and that there were no snatchers in Guadalupe, and that in the end, I managed to reach my stop in one piece. Instead of dwelling on how annoying it is that a lot of men pretend to sleep on the bus so they don't need to offer their seat, I can be thankful for that one guy I saw offering his seat to a girl. Chivalry is not dead. :D

3. Have a supernatural outlook on everything, and remember that there's no way God didn't think this through. He knows you're strong enough to handle it, and besides, who says you can't offer it up in prayer? Sufferings make us closer to the Cross--that means, instead of complaining and being miserable, we can say, "I will do this hard thing for the love of so-and-so." It will really mean something in God's eyes (not to mention ring louder in His ears).

4. Decide to stay cheerful! It's really your decision to wallow in misery or not. Remember, you'll accomplish more things with a smile.

Beware!

Just a friendly reminder.

Spare change

I went to buy groceries with my mom last weekend, and she said she's bringing her yellow booklet along. She's had it for a long time, she said, but this is the first time she decided to use it. The yellow booklet is the QC senior citizen grocery discount booklet, and in order to use it, the buyer of the groceries should be 1. A senior citizen (duh), and 2. Buying meat, fruits and veggies.

My mom said she doesn't really use it because the discount is so little, but then she thought that, hey, it's a discount, and she might as well take advantage of the privileges given to her generation. I said, yeah why not? and so we ended up at the grocery with a yellow booklet; she went to shop while I (and my ate) went to enjoy the aircon and help her carry later on.

At the cashier, my mom showed her yellow booklet and the lady at the counter promptly applied the discount--for about P3,000 worth of groceries, my mom got a... P65.00 discount. She chuckled at the measly amount, saying, "Only 65?" to the similarly amused salesclerk. Just then, the couple in line behind her, also in their senior years, joined the conversation. The gentleman showed his own yellow booklet, and told my mom, "Well, that can buy you a liter of gasoline!" And my mom said, "That's true!" and they all had a good laugh about it.

These days, when everything seems expensive, I think people can grow a lot in the virtue of poverty. It's not about going around looking ragged and kawawa, but about being detached to material things, and being willing to give up certain luxuries from time to time.

Like in the story earlier, my mom saved 65 pesos. It's so little, it's just spare change! But like the old man said, P65 can buy you a liter of gasoline. It can also buy you an Adarna book, a bar of Magnum, a fast food value meal, a few trips on the MRT, six turon from the jolly jeep, 26 pieces of fishballs, 65 pieces of Mentos. In other words, P65 pesos can go a long way if you know where to put it. The virtue of poverty, after all, is also about planning where your money goes.

On a related note, a prudent person can get an extra P65 a day if she just knows how to find it--like by taking a bus instead of the usual taxi, by not switching on that aircon when there's a good fan, by making your own iced drink at home instead of lining up for bubble tea, and by taking advantage of your suki points whenever you can get them (but remember, don't shop to collect points, rather collect points when you shop).

Oops, time's up... more thoughts on saving, fundraising and poverty in another post. GTG!!

Yay for Avengers!

It's Ex Libris Scholarship Project season once again, and this year, we're inviting you to a special first-day blocked screening of the most-awaited superhero movie of the year!

Watch THE AVENGERS and help send UP Students to school! Here's the snippet from our official E Libris website:

Ex Libris Philippines invites you to a special blocked screening of “The Avengers” at Rockwell Power Plant Cinema 2, 7:00 p.m., April 25, 2012. Tickets are at Php 500.00 each.

Please help spread the word!

This special blocked screening of “The Avengers” is the fourth fundraising project for the Ex Libris Philippines Scholarship Project. With your help, we will be able to continue sending students to school.

Thank you for your support! :D