Music Monday ~ Scenes From "The Notebook"

"The Notebook," one of the best romantic movies of all time, is the story of a poor boy who predictably fell in love with a beautiful, rich girl. What was unpredictable though was how far he would go to prove that they were meant to be together.

The gentle romantic tale of Noah and Allie comes alive again in this video featuring Westlife's "I Wanna Grow Old With You."

A romantic Music Monday to all of you!


Another day
Without your smile
Another day just passes by
But now I know
How much it means
For you to stay
Right here with me

The time we spent apart will make our love grow stronger
But it hurts so bad I can't take it any longer

I wanna grow old with you
I wanna die lying in your arms
I wanna grow old with you
I wanna be looking in your eyes
I wanna be there for you
Sharing in everything you do
I wanna grow old with you

A thousand miles between us now (sigh)
It causes me to wonder how
Our love tonight remains so strong
It makes our risk right all along

The time we spent apart will make our love grow stronger
But it hurts so bad I can't take it any longer
I wanna grow old with you
I wanna die lying in your arms
I wanna grow old with you
I wanna be looking in your eyes
I wanna be there for you
Sharing in everything you do
I wanna grow old with you

Things can come and go I know but
Baby I believe
Something's burning strong between us
Makes it clear to me

I wanna grow old with you
I wanna die lying in your arms
I wanna grow old with you
I wanna be looking in your eyes
I wanna be there for you
Sharing in everything you do
I wanna grow old with you

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

The Ego (Haiku)

WELCOME TO SENSATIONAL HAIKU WEDNESDAY!

Today's theme is: 

Ego

that which is not you

dictated by filtered thoughts...

that is your ego

memories of past

identify emotions...

they control your mind

free yourself from pain

thought is the cause of sorrow...

it clouds your vision 

true peace from your core

is attainable...

let the thought pass by

Sensational Haiku Wednesday is hosted by
Jenn of You know... that Blog?

Next week’s theme: Reflection

The First Fully Automated Election Experience

Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machine

May 10, 2010- Everyone was jittery. After all, this was the first time that the country was holding fully automated elections. I went around the polling places of Kidapawan City (my assigned area) not long after they opened. The throng of people impressed me. There were already long queues outside the clustered precincts.

 Early morning scene at a polling place in Kidapawan City.

 Rain didn't stop the people from casting their votes.

The PPCRV desks in polling places were a welcome relief for people who had no idea at all which precinct they belonged to. Those desks were manned by volunteers, some of whom were still too young to vote but were determined to make a difference in their own little way.

An early morning huddle at a PPCRV volunteers' desk.

They were early for a reason... they didn't know where to go, that's why.

I wonder if this ambulance became useful that day but it was a relief to see one nearby.

After going around several polling places, my next stop was the Kidapawan City Hall. I stood in awe in front of the huge structure. Even the parking lot was impressively large with nice landscaping.

Kidapawan City Hall's pretty facade

The City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) convened at the Session Hall at around mid-day for the initialization process . They reconvened at 6:00 p.m. to await the transmission of results. But since the voting was extended until 7 p.m., transmission was also delayed. I was blessed with 2 hours of sleep that evening before my cellphone started ringing. That was my cue to rush back to the session hall.

 The screen inside the session hall showed the transmission status of each polling place in Kidapawan  City.

Except for technical glitches on two PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) machines in my area, the counting and canvassing went smoothly well. Two days later, the winning candidates in the city were proclaimed. My client's proclamation as new governor of the province was made soon after.

May 12, 2010 - When I finally got home, my son excitedly narrated his own experiences as a PPCRV volunteer here in Davao City. I felt a sense of pride as I listened, knowing how big and important a role the PPCRV played to ensure the success of the first automated elections in the country. Although I was away, we were in touch through sms during the entire process. That's short of saying I was constantly checking on him, worrying about the worst that could happen while he made his rounds.


 May 15, 2010 (Saturday) - As I promised my kids, we had a belated Mothers' Day celebration. Dinner treat at one of their favorite restaurants and a movie date (the super hilarious local movie entitled "Here Comes The Bride") at the cinema. We all went home with big smiles on our faces.

May 18, 2010 - 8 days after the local and national elections, all 12 senators have already been proclaimed. Hopefully, the proclamation of the apparent winner in the presidential race will also happen soon so we could all move on.

Today - It has been 19 days since the first fully automated elections here but it was one experience that my son and i will share forever. We have our I.D.'s to remind us that we both served important roles in this historic democratic process of the country.

Mabuhay ang lahat ng Pilipino!

Music Monday ~ How Do I Live

A song that matches my mood right now...

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.


PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

The Looming Karma (Haiku)

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

This week’s theme is:  

Karma

there is no escape

according to what you did

thus shall you repay

like a hungry wolf

it tracks you down, haunting you

'til justice is served

so run if you must 

sadly though you won't go far

sins of yore loom near

Thanks to Jenn of You know... that Blog?  

for hosting Sensational Haiku Wednesday.

Next week’s theme: Ego

And speaking of Karma, a psychic friend of mine once told me that the easiest way to earn good karma in this lifetime is through your parents. Treat them well and life will treat you better, she said. 

The Dalai Lama himself has this to say about how to earn good karma points...

Instructions for Life

by The Dalai Lama

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve Great Risk.
2. When you Lose, don’t lose the Lesson.  
3. Follow the three R’s:
   -  Respect for self,
   -  Respect for others and
   -  Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful Stroke of Luck.
5. Learn the Rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time Alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your Values.
10. Remember that Silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, Honorable Life. Then when you get older and
    think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a Second Time.
12. A Loving Atmosphere in your Home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the Current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your Knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the Best Relationship is one in which Your Love For Each Other Exceeds Your Need for each other.
18. Judge your Success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. If you want others to be happy, practice Compassion.
20. If you want to be happy, practice Compassion.

 Source: Spiritual Now