Obama Inauguration: As witness by someone far away
I stay up until 1:40 am Manila time to see a historic landmark unfold in American History. The first ever African-American President to be elected in the United States of America. Who would have thought that such an event would happen? I thought things like these would happen way beyond my lifetime or in the movies, but I'm sure glad it happen when I'm still alive and in my prime. It makes me appreciate the advantages of technology we had today. This blog is my way of being part of history. I saw, I heard, and I was amazed. This could be a turning point in human history.
I consider today also as the birth of Real Racial Equality in America. These event is the ultimate affirmation that all men are created equal.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -- A phrase from the Declaration of Independence first used by another great American President Thomas Jefferson.
Abraham Lincold would have been proud of America if he is able to see this. Him as the President who freed the slaves and Obama as a descendant of slaves ascending as President.
Ok, that's it for now. My life's adventure To Be Continue.....
Gratitude: The Health Benefits
I found a very nice article on gratitude. Nowadays, people has forgotten how to be grateful and just look after for number one. Which is themselves. It is refreshing to see an article like this. Read on......
Most people do not realize the many health benefits of gratitude. Studies indicate that thankfulness is directly linked to physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Compared to people who do not live a lifestyle of thankfulness, research shows that grateful people:
1. Experience higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination optimism and energy2. Experience less depression3. Better manage stress4. Are more likely to help others5. Exercise more regularly6. Make more progress towards their personal goals7. Have stronger immune systems8. Have fewer symptoms of physical illnessThose are some impressive benefits that can be yours without even increasing your physical activity or changing your nutrition plan. All that is required is a grateful heart.
Are you a thankful person? If you are unsure, then it maybe in your best interest to consider the following questions:
Are you the type of person who dwells on the good or on the bad things that happen to you?
Do you tell others about the blessings in your life as much as you tell them when things go wrong?
Are you considerate of the people closest to you or do you often take them for granted?
Are you thankful only when things are going well or do you look for blessings even when bad things happen?
Is there someone you admire who is a thankful person? What other attributes do you admire about him/her?
Are you leaving a legacy of thankfulness that others will remember you by?
There is nothing complicated about gratitude. Quite simply, thankfulness is a choice. To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our life is great. It just means that in spite of all we see that is worthy of complaint, there is far more we can choose to focus on that is worthy of thankfulness.
Why not choose to extend the tradition of giving thanks through the entire year, instead of limiting it to the Holiday Season? You’re physical, emotional, and spiritual health will all reap the benefits of a thankful heart. The choice is yours.
Ok, that's it for now. My life's adventure To Be Continue.....
Deal or No Deal: My Gameshow Experience
What an experience I had when I joined a top rating game show called "Deal or No Deal" (Philippine setting). I joined this game show just by texting using this format: DEAL Name/age/gender/address/phone number to 2331 (for Globe subscribers), sample DEAL Juan Dela Cruz/20/M/1 Matapang St., Makising City/021234567. If you were pick as a possible studio contestant you will receive a text message. This is the exact message I receive from ABS-CBN "Gud day kapamilya dis is jimmy capulong of abs-cbn kapamilya deal or no deal u'r invted 2 come on monday jan. 12/09 for screening/exam 9am call tym centergate entrance mother ignacia st. Q.C. pls bring valid id n ballpen tnx. godbless". At first, me and my wife are a little bit skeptical if its for real or just a hoax. But I'm more incline to believe its for real. For one thing, I did register to join the show, the text message did not asked for any money, and the address is a real place of the ABS-CBN network. I need more assurance so I would not waste time in going to the place mentioned on the text message. I surf the net and see for myself who Jimmy Capulong is. And sure enough this person is for real and he did work for ABS-CBN. And I read a forum of previous contestant wannabe posting their experience.
Realizing that this was for real, it got me excited and started visualizing myself in the studio picking a number. My wife caution me not to expect much since its just a screening of possible contestant. Its not yet a sure thing since I would be battling it out with other people like myself.
Monday came and I was late. The traffic in Cainta is monstrous as always. After I reach Robinson's Ortigas, I decide to flag down a cab to take me to ABS-CBN. Me and the driver had a chitchat and suggested to him to make every possible effort to use the quickest route to reach our destination. I reach the place at around 9:15 a.m. and the line is already very long. But it did not matter. I was there and the excitement is already building inside me. After I entered the center gate, I saw 5 more lines after I got inside and quickly go to the line for male contestants. There are 4 lines for women. So, there are more women joining the contest than there are men. The line was there to check my identity against a list they have printed out. And the text message on my cellphone was also checked and deleted by the employee. After this, they would hand you a form for you to sign. Basic information, and a few questions. After this, we all went to another line for the screening/exam for studio contestant. I was in batch 2.
Batch 2 was screened at 12 noon. I was already hungry, but I ignored it when we are ushered to the studio set of "Deal or No Deal". All of us guys sat at the stage where the 26 K dance and stand holding their brief cases. And the women sat at the audience sits. And Jimmy Capulong went on the stage and introduce himself. So this is Jimmy Capulong I thought to myself. He was like a stand up comedian giving intructions and tips to all of us there. There are probably around 200 people inside the studio. He introduce us to the psyschologist (forgot his name, but a familiar face since he is the Psycologist or Psychiatrist of PBB) who would be giving the exam. He instructed us to write our name and batch on the 3rd page of our form and put a number from 1 to 8. He then asked a question answerable by "Yes" or "No". After that we passed our papers and waited for the result. During the waiting period, Jimmy Capulong entertained us by showing a clip of previous contestants. After that, he scanned the audience and called three women to come on stage. He asked question and have fun with the girls. Its like a comedy bar, we were all laughing hard. Finally, the papers were marked and Jimmy had the list of people who passed the first round. He called name after name, and when finally there are two papers left. I was praying silently, I hope my name will be called. But to my dissappointment, I wasn't called. The other people who got called would be going to the 2nd round of elimination.
Better luck next time. That was an experience certainly worth repeating. Lucky for me, I saw Charice Pempengco, Zanjoe Marudo, Nicki Bacolod, and Saizy (the dancer in Wowowee). So the trip is not a total lost. I would text again, and hopefully the next time I would be a studio contestant.
Ok, that's it for now. My life's adventure To Be Continue.....
