Who: Kojak and me (and Sarah)

What: Road trip

Where: Pangasinan – Calasiao – Malasiqui – Villasis – Rosales

When: November 28

How: Sneak out with the car

Why: For fun. Duh.

 

It was a spur of the moment thing.

 

“Hey Kojak. Wanna sneak out today?”

“Hmm. Where are we going?”

“Who cares?”

“You’re right. I’ll get the keys.”

“Hurry! Don’t tell anyone.”

 

And they think I’m such a good sister.

 

As part of the pseudo-devious plot, I asked Kojak’s girlfriend, Sarah, to tag along:

Sarah kept feeding Kojak while he was behind the wheel. They were so sweet. I hate them.

 

We went to the nearest SM Mall (which was about a million towns away). My brother was bone-tired because he drove the entire time, poor thing. Oh well, that’s what he gets for having a girlfriend while I’m single. That’s just about fair. There has to be balance in this world, yes?

 

I imposed a stopover and asked the couple to pose while we were in the middle of nowhere:

 

Sarah was like 5’9”. She towered over me. Geez, and I thought I was tall :

 

Of course, the day wouldn’t have been complete without us stuffing our faces – and my brother didn’t miss the opportunity to document me pigging out.

“Kumakain ako, ano ber???”

 

What we had for snacks: putong puti, empanada, ice cream, chocolate bar with coffee bits, Crave (different types of chicharon).

 

We went shopping for Christmas gifts. Of the three of us, I was the one who had the hardest time figuring out what to buy. What do you get people who already have everything? Why do I even have friends who have everything? (Note to self: I need to rethink my roster of friends…)

 

I felt bad. So, we terrorized the Kid’s Section.

Sarah and me. They say we look like sisters. I also noticed a handful of people giving us the do-over. Yeah, I know, we looked like a couple of freakishly tall Amazons especially when we walked alongside each other.

 

I have to say, Kojak and Sarah really look good together here. If you ask me, I think the pig hats did the trick.

 

I had to wear my cat ears till we got home. I looked STUPID. I felt like I should surrender my professional license and quit my practice altogether. I belong in a zoo, I mean look at meeeeh!

 

On our way home, we dropped by a haunted house. Kojak, the scaredy-cat that he was, had to hesitate. It doesn’t look too scary, does it?

We concluded our day-long trip with dinner at Kuya Max’s alond De Venecia Road. Crispy hito (catfish), eggplants with tomatoes, salted eggs, mangoes, onions, and shrimp paste, then chicken with malunggay leaves.

 

   Dinner at Kuya Max’s just about did me in. There was free WiFi, too. Free Internet in the middle of nowhere, would you believe? The world is no longer as I know it.

“I’ve always wanted a grandchild from you.”

Those were the words of my grandfather to my mother before his death. He died of cancer, but nobody in our family knows exactly what type of malignancy he had. All they knew was that he had some mass in the throat or mouth area, so perhaps he had oropharyngeal cancer. Or maybe he had lymphoma.

This utter lack of awareness in my family is ironic, given how I’m now a doctor. Too bad my mother has not yet taken up Nursing when my grandfather died. But this unfortunate event does not have to happen to anyone else.

Knowledge is power. No matter how cliché that is, it remains true. We are all better for knowing. We can fight the enemy if we know its weaknesses. And when it comes to cancer, awareness is important in diagnosis and treatment. If you don’t know what to watch out for, then you don’t know when to seek medical attention. Diagnosis delayed is treatment denied, I always say.

This is why a few months ago, I asked friends and fellow bloggers to spread the word about cancer. Aside from promoting cancer awareness, “Charity Blogging for Cancer Awareness” ushered the way for a two-day event in December, to be held as a tribute to cancer warriors and survivors.

On December 3 and 4, 2011, 1 to 6 p.m., I would like to pay a special tribute to everyone who has battled the Big C (cancer). I am calling this event SANTA SPECIAL 2011: A Christmas Tribute To Cancer Warriors. The event shall take place at Shift Bar, near Dig Radio Studios at R & D Building, 7615 Guijo Street, San Antonio Village, Makati.

I aim not only to promote cancer awareness, but also to spread joy through performances by magicians, mentalists, standup comics, and many other performers. And as the name of the event suggests, there shall be a special “Santa” who will go around giving gift bags to all participants.

A photo booth will be available for those who want their pictures taken. Artists will be present to make caricatures of interested cancer warriors. Food will be served. All of these are FREE, including the entrance fee.

Yes, you got that right, FREE ENTRANCE for anyone with cancer who wants to celebrate life and the coming holidays!  

All you need is to make reservations (because there are only 50 slots!) by emailing me at stefdelacruz (at) gmail (dot) com with the following information:

• Name
• Cellphone number
• Diagnosis

All the above information will be kept confidential.

I shall be posting more details about the event soon, but you can make your reservations now! (We only have 50 slots, so make sure you book early!)

To anyone who was ever diagnosed with cancer, you are cordially invited to SANTA SPECIAL 2011!

For donations (monetary or otherwise), you may contact me through the same email above. Thank you!

If you know of any indigent patients who need a little cheering up on Christmas, please ask them if they want to come. This is our tribute to them. Let’s give them a hand as they fight the battle of their lives! Invite them to SANTA SPECIAL 2011 – and let’s give them an early Christmas present.

Why do we hurt the ones we love? Yes, I know, it’s the title of an old song. But it’s more than just a rhetorical question. It really begs to be answered.

Being a doctor has its pros and cons. It means you just might know more than the average Joe or Jane when it comes to the pathology of pain. Being a physician means you know about Freud and Erikson. It means you know that when a person has a behavioral problem, it may just boil down to how he or she was brought up. Sadly, when it comes to a dysfunctional individual, you can point most fingers towards the family.

After all, it is the family that first establishes what’s right or wrong. The family provides love and support, or it fails miserably and sets a person up for failure later in his life. Most sociopaths and psychopaths always have a problematic early childhood, where one or both parents are to blame to a certain extent.

It then frustrates me to no end when I see supposedly-normal families who do not love each other. It angers me when I see parents who shun their children, who make their children feel unwanted. It surprises me, even at my age, when brothers and sisters spit out harsh words for no reason. I guess it’s true what they say: Bullies ARE made at home.

The sad thing is, these people are probably not aware that they are hurting their loved ones. And if they are, then shame on them. Of course, we do hurt our loved ones at one point or another – but usually, we never really mean to. But it’s another story if it happens everyday, if you simply show your child, sister, or brother that you hate him or her for no apparent reason.

My family is far from perfect. But I can at least say this: never have I ever felt that I was the less-favored child. I feel very much loved. Going home can be stressful – that’s the thing with big families, with so many people making too much noise. But going home is also always a thing I always look forward to. And the noise? Well, it grew on me. And a few months away from home, I start realizing it’s actually music to my ears.

If you have a family that seldom shows you that you are appreciated and loved, you are not alone. Let it be a lesson that in the future, when you finally have your own family, you should make every effort to show your loved ones that they are indeed loved.

Why do we hurt the ones we love? Beats me. But if you really love the people around you, try to keep your fangs and horns from growing too long. On a more personal note, let this be a wake-up call to everyone who mistreats their family, who speaks harsh words towards their parents and siblings. And if you so much as keep doing that to the people who are dear to me, you will get more than an angry blog post from yours truly.

Last November 23, 2011, Senator Pia Cayetano launched her book, My Daily Race, at the Arya Showroom in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Rizal. I had the pleasure of getting a copy of her book during the book launch.

Above photo courtesy of Rap Rios

Cayetano entertained guests from the media, close friends, and people who shared her advocacies.

Despite being a senator and a mother, she also spends time staying in shape as a triathlete. You might think she has enough on her plate, but Cayetano does not seem to run out of energy when it comes to things she loves most.

During the book launch, I had the chance to meet Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Guests were given gift packs from RUNNR, a company that produces trainers, shoes, and other sports merchandise. In fact, the 1st hundred purchases from RUNNR stores until the end of this year will qualify for a free book by Senator Cayetano. Cayetano’s book is available for PhP499.

I also had the pleasure of tasting a few gastronomic delights. I know, I’m supposed to be there to support Senator Cayetano and her autobiographical account, but I have a soft spot for food, especially when it comes with wine.

During the book launch of My Daily Race, different types of canapé, mini cupcakes, peanut butter bites, and tuna salad on cones were served. Coffee, chardonnay, and sauvignon were available.

Unfortunately, I was too lazy to dress up that night. I had to settle for the first thing I saw in my closet. Thank God the guards let me in. Ha ha, kidding!

Cayetano is a runner, swimmer, and biker. She believes that sports should be part of any youth-based program as it encourages fitness, leadership, camaraderie, team work, and a sense of accomplishment.

Cayetano’s book discusses her many passions, serving as an autobiography. Her first book to boot, My Daily Race is a testament to the fact that accomplishments are founded on hard work. “A sleepy tri-girl is made, not born,” Pia mentions in her blog, which was then quoted in the sixth chapter of her autobiography. There, she discussed how being a night person made it hard for her to wake up early and start running. I’m sure a lot of us can relate.

Cayetano’s book, My Daily Race, is a compilation of 206 full-color pages. If you missed the book launch, grab a copy now and learn the art of multitasking, making time, and pushing your limits. That, I can definitely relate to.

The Philippines has always been a country of high literacy rates. Perhaps this shows how Filipinos put a primer on education. However, many Filipinos still can’t read or write. To help fight illiteracy, many private and government organizations are increasing literacy awareness. These selfless efforts may help increase literacy rates in the Philippines.

The National Statistics Office of the Philippines conducted a Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey last 2005, where about 84 percent of about 58 million Filipinos from ten to sixty-four years old were found to be literate. In other words, only two out of ten Filipino citizens could neither read nor write – and the eight others are functionally literate.

According to the CIA World Factbook, the literacy rates in the Philippines is at 92 to 96 percent from 1995 to 2003. These are relatively high literacy rates; however, as there are more technological advances and literacy should include computer literacy, efforts to increase literacy in the Philippines are most welcome.

Stanley Chi, the author of the bestselling humor book Suplado Tips, has joined Cubik Eyewear to help the campaign for literacy.

Cubik Eyewear campaigns for literacy by providing affordable and quality eyewear. They are also giving away free eyewear through this contest. Join the campaign for literacy in the Philippines by blogging, tweeting, and spreading the word about it!

I couldn’t get over the fact that “The camera loves you!” is actually more than a flattering statement. Being photogenic, I thought before, was a matter of luck. But no, there are people who naturally know their best angles.

I’ve been doing some research and a little thinking, and I’ve come up with a list of reasons why some people are more photogenic than others:

• It’s all about the bones. It doesn’t matter if you have beautiful eyes or great skin, if your bones don’t cast the right shadows. In pictures, lighting makes all the difference – that’s because they put bones in the prettiest perspective. Shadows, nooks, and crannies make a face more appealing if the bones are just right.
• Photogenic people know how to strike a pose. They know their best angle and, when it comes to posing, they have it down pat.
• Flaws are sometimes hidden by still pictures. These flaws are more obvious in moving objects, which means that in pictures, flaws are appropriately disguised. You will always see a person’s crooked teeth when you talk to him in person, but the crooked teeth can be well hidden if he knows how to smile without showing his teeth. This is why some models make good print models, while they would look less appealing in videos. Besides, the transition from a three-dimensional person to a two-dimensional picture means that not everything will be captured – including flaws that are more obvious in person.
• False lashes, contact lenses, and makeup are less obvious in pictures – and they have the power to transform a face. In person, all the makeup, falsies, contacts, and wigs look too fake. But in a picture, they almost look very natural, highlighting just the right features to make a person truly photogenic.
• One’s personality is rarely captured by pictures. How you speak, laugh, and move about are frequently portrayed only in real life. In pictures, people become one-dimensional (or two-dimensional, if you want to be accurate).

So, if you’re not photogenic, don’t sweat it!

Photo Shoot Story

During a photo shoot, I saw how certain people are meant to pose in front of the camera. One girl looked so much prettier in pictures than she really was in person – and this was without the help of Photoshop. She was, in my opinion, meant to do print ads and posters. (I just hope she doesn’t make the mistake of doing video ads and commercials.)

In person, the girl had really stiff hair and her hairdo looked unnatural. But in the pictures I myself took, she looked like she was in her element. It was an eye-opening experience for me; who would think that cameras had bias?

Then, there was this other girl who looked really pretty in person. However, in her pictures, her face seemed to have hard, masculine features. She would look great in videos, but probably not as much in pictures. Perhaps being photogenic has a counterpart: being videogenic!

I enjoyed the photo shoot immensely. The setting helped a lot; maybe nature and sunset always made for an effective photography formula. Wow, even the location was photogenic!

Disclaimer: I am not a photographer, nor was I in the photo shoot as one! I was simply lucky to  have tagged along.

Here are a few scenic shots from the photo shoot.

 

Hmm, look at these two love birds cuddling up while, unbeknownst to them, I was taking their picture!

I am not much in front of a camera; I hate the limelight and I want to cower in the corner when somebody points a camera at me. But in the spirit of photography, I had to give it a shot. (And yes, I had no eyes once again.)

Unfortunately, I am not photogenic. I suck at pictures! Nevertheless, if the man behind the camera is someone who matters to me, I wouldn’t mind striking a pose and giving a megawatt smile.

To watch Stanley Chi on the Suplado Show, follow the dummy-proof steps below:

1. Go to www.digradio.ph every Monday, 9 to 11 p.m.
2. Click on the “watch” button.
3. A new window will open. (Make sure your browser allows pop-up windows.)
4. In the new window, look for the Suplado Show on the left sidebar. Click “listen” right under it.
5. Live streaming will then start and you can watch the Suplado Show live.
6. You may send in requests, greetings, and violent reactions to 09174883396 or call (02) 2180897. You may also chat with Stanley and other guests by clicking on the “chat” button right under the video streaming.

The Suplado Show airs on Mondays at 9 to 11 p.m. It’s an Internet radio talk show on www.digradio.ph hosted by comedian & TV host Stanley Chi.

If you want to watch the Pacquiao-Marquez III match via live streaming, here’s how! Their third match, happening on November 12, 2011 (Las Vegas, Nevada) or November 13 (Manila) is probably one of the most anticipated matches in boxing.

The match between Marquez and Pacquiao is to be held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tickets were sold at $400 to $1200 each. To watch the match, you can avail of HBO Pay-per-view (if available in your locale). If that’s not an option, you can go online and visit First Row Sports TV and watch the match via live streaming.

Manny Pacquiao cknowledges Marquez’s spunk in the ring. “Of all the opponents I have fought in the ring, Marquez is the only one who can anticipate many of my moves, countering them just like in a chess match,” he said.

Marquez, optimistic about the fight, said, “I beat him the first two times but I didn’t get the decision – and now I’ll beat him again and get the victory.”

It’s going to be an interesting match! Watch the Pacquiao Marquez match via live streaming here: First Row Sports TV. Here are the links:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

Link 6

 

Take note, the live streaming just might stop anytime once it gets detected, but fret not: there will be new streams made available everytime the recent ones get taken out of the system.

Watch the Pacquiao Marquez fight for free via live streaming! If you’re wondering where to watch the Pacquiao match via live streaming, you’re not alone – but the best bet is First Row Sports TV. Question is, who do you think will win today?

The Philippine International Cartoons, Comics, and Animation, also known as PICCA, just opened their two-week exhibit, Bayani: Back to Back, last November 8, 2011. The exhibit is housed at the GSIS museum.

“Bayani: Back to Back” is an exhibit that highlights the heroic history of two Filipinos: Jose Rizal and Ninoy Aquino. PICCA President Boboy Yonzon shared a few inspiring words before the exhibit was opened to the public.

The artwork on display strived to carve their own niche, with some appealing to humor while others aimed to provoke thought. A group exhibit is interesting that way: there is no “signature style” that makes the collection predictable.

Some of the artwork that caught my attention:

Roni Santiago’s caricature of Ninoy Aquino was an honest, no-frills interpretation of what Ninoy meant to the Filipino community.

Artwork by Roni Santiago

Stanley Chi’s comic strips on Ninoy offered tongue-in-cheek humor. I loved the last punchline where Ninoy asked his son, the now-President Noynoy, “Kelan mo ba ako bibigyan ng apo (When are you going to give me a grandchild)?”

Artwork by Stanley Chi

 

Boboy Yonzon’s work was fashioned as an editorial cartoon, serving as food for thought:

Lito Yonzon’s contribution made watercolor look like an easy medium:

For Julius Villanueva, Ninoy’s fame seemed like a good foundation for commercialization:

And here is Jun Aquino’s work, drawing parallelisms between Bonifacio and Ninoy:

Norman Isaac’s work was reminiscent of Rizal’s last living moments, with Rizal’s reply denoting a foregone conclusion:

PICCA continues to uphold Philippine art by standing behind local cartoonists and artists. Its members want nothing more than to be acknowledged as both masters and students of their craft, learning even while they aim to leave us points for pondering. Bayani: Back to Back is a perfect example of what PICCA stands for: unity in diversity.