Manila Trip 2008

I had a wonderful time in Manila..it was a long awaited vacation...even for a short time...it has changed a lot last time I was here...got new MALLS, new place to visit...in short..it has changed for the better!!!! i hope....excluding of course the very-as-usual traffic jams.....

the Libres Clan at the shangrila 08

at the shangrila xmas 2008

Into the Heart of Malaysia....

Malacca: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

The history of Malacca is largely the story of the city for which it is named, and the story of the city of Malacca begins with the fascinating and partly legendary tale of the Hindu prince Parameswara.

The Malay Annals relate that Parameswara was a fourteenth-century Palembang prince who, fleeing from a Japanese enemy, escaped to the island of Temasik (present-day Singapore) and quickly established himself as its king. Shortly afterward, however, Parameswara was driven out of Temasik by an invasion, and with a small band of followers set out along the west coast of the Malay peninsula in search of a new refuge. The refugees settled first at Muar, but they were quickly driven away by a vast and implacable horde of monitor lizards; the second spot chosen seemed equally inauspicious, as the fortress that the refugees began to build fell to ruins immediately. Parameswara moved on. Soon afterward, during a hunt near the mouth of a river called Bertam, he saw a white mouse-deer kick one of his hunting dogs. So impressed was he by the deer's defiant gesture that he decided immediately to build a city on the spot. He asked one of his servants the name of the tree under which he was standing and, being informed that the tree was called a Malaka, gave that name to the city. The year was 1400.

Although its origin is as much romance as history, the fact is that Parameswara's new city was situated at a point of enormous strategic importance. Midway along the straits that linked China to India and the Near East, Malacca was perfectly positioned as a center for maritime trade. The city grew rapidly, and within fifty years it had become a wealthy and powerful hub of international commerce, with a population of over 50,000. It was during this period of Malacca's history that Islam was introduced to the Malay world, arriving along with Gujarati traders from western India. By the first decade of the sixteenth century Malacca was a bustling, cosmopolitan port, attracting hundreds of ships each year. The city was known worldwide as a center for the trade of silk and porcelain from China; textiles from Gujarat and Coromandel in India; nutmeg, mace, and cloves from the Moluccas, gold and pepper from Sumatra; camphor from Borneo; sandalwood from Timor; and tin from western Malaya.

Unfortunately, this fame arrived at just the moment when Europe began to extend its power into the East, and Malacca was one of the very first cities to attract its covetous eye. The Portuguese under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque arrived first, taking the city after a sustained bombardment in 1511. The Sultan fled to Johor, from whence the Malays counterattacked the Portuguese repeatedly though without success. One reason for the strength of the Portuguese defense was the construction of the massive fortification of A Famosa, only a small portion of which survives today.

A Famosa ensured Portuguese control of the city for the next one hundred and fifty years, until, in 1641, the Dutch invested Malacca after an eight-month siege and a fierce battle. Malacca was theirs, but it lay in almost complete ruin. Over the next century and a half, the Dutch rebuilt the city and employed it largely as a military base, using its strategic location to control the Straits of Malacca. In 1795, when the Netherlands was captured by French Revolutionary armies, Malacca was handed over to the British to avoid capture by the French. Although they returned the city to the Dutch in 1808, it was soon given over to the British once again in a trade for Bencoleen, Sumatra. From 1826, the city was ruled by the English East India Company in Calcutta, although it experienced Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. Independence did not arrive until 1957, when anti-colonial sentiment culminated in a proclamation of independence by His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.




Our destination is....Malacca, Malaysia... a historical place with so much to see and explore...a 4 hour trip from Singapore..our tourist guide is named CJ.. who was very nice and knows a lot about the place..




The place is so like our Philippines.. but so much modernized in most aspect.. their agricultural product is so rich..they study more on preserving their crops..like this Palm tree...they realized that this is more profitable than any other palm...so they study and learn more things to protect this...




Our destination..Malacca City.. this is named after this tree.. the Melaka tree... this was named by a vanquished sultan who rested in this tree...




their seat of government...with a nice view of their harbor...



the history of Malacca is experienced in this place..their houses is still in the old days...some residents still live in this kind of houses...but mostly live in modern ones...

I've been to Singapore...my first ever tour outside my homeland.....

at Sentosa..where the biggest Merlion statue is located....so many adventures here...we went to see the pink dolphin...which are so amazingly intelligent...unfortunately for us....it was raining when we went there......but it was worthwhile..!!!!































The Esplanade is a waterfront location just north of the mouth of the Singapore River in downtown Singapore. It is primarily occupied by the Esplanade Park, and was the venue where one of Singapore's largest congregation of satay outlets until their relocation to Clarke Quay as a result of the construction of a major performance arts venue, the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, which took its name from this location.









This is the Esplanade..the structure is so amazing...they say the idea of the structure is taken from a fruit....which is commonly found in Davao....the Durian Fruit..amazing...imagine..they were able to construct by picturing the durian...ahh...so awesome...!!!! And just a couple of steps you will arrive at the Merlion Park...which is also one of Singapore's famous icon...we wanted to explore everything of Singapore...but it's just too big...we came here (esplanade and merlion park) through their MTR..which was a very short ride from dhouby ghaut terminal which is very near from our hotel at Fort Canning Road...so, after exploring a part of Singapore, we decided to just merely walk back to the hotel...but..alas!!!...in reality, it was a way longer than we thought...when we finally arrived at the hotel..I thought my legs will let go of my limbs...it was a tiring, but enjoyable walk..because along the way we were able to get pictures of ourselves along with the beauty of Singapore.. their streets ..parliament...museums
... and beautiful buildings...























this is at Clark Quay....where night life is a happy experience... with me is Uncle..my hubby's friend...they call him that..so I call him the same too....anyway...notice the picture at our back???? it's called The Clinic....a bar which serves their food and beverages in a syringe or dextrose or in tubes.... so original!!!!... see also their chairs...looks like a hospital bed..too.....

I Love You Mom!

Mom's smiles can brighten any moment,
Mom's hugs put joy in all our days,
Mom's love will stay with us forever
and touch our lives in precious ways...

The values you've taught,
the care you've given,
and the wonderful love you've shown,
have enriched my life
in more ways than I can count.

I Love you Mom!





M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.

--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)



A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

-- Washington Irving (1783-1859)

Myspace Mothers Day Comments & Graphics


To all Mothers out there.....

THE DIFFERENCE

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country:

This can be shown by countries like India & Egypt , that are more than 2000 years old, but are poor.


On the other hand, Canada , Australia & New Zealand , that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries, and are rich.


The difference between poor & rich countries does not reside in the available natural resources.

Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountainous, inadequate for agriculture & cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products.

Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality! It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order & labor, which made it the world's strongest, safest place.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual difference.

Race or skin color are also not important: immigrants labeled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then? The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education & the culture & flawed tradition.

On analyzing the behavior of the people in rich & developed countries, we find that the great majority follow the following principles in their lives:

1. Ethics, as a basic principle.
2. Integrity.
3. Responsibility.
4. Respect to the laws & rules.
5. Respect to the rights of other citizens.
6. Work loving.
7. Strive for savings & investment.
8. Will of super action.
9. Punctuality.
10. and of course...Discipline

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles in their daily life.

The Philippines is not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature was cruel to us. In fact, we are supposedly rich in natural resources.

We are poor because we lack the correct attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich & developed societies.

your love for intrigue and politics, your indifference to saving for the future, your stubborn attitude.


If you love your country, let this message circulate so that many Filipinos could reflect about this, & CHANGE, ACT!

Greek Shrimp Salad

1. Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup plain yogurt
2. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3. 2 tablespoons cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely diced
4. 1 tablespoon minced red onion
5. 1 teaspoon minced garlic
6. 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill leaves
7. Pinch cayenne pepper
8. Kosher salt
9. Freshly ground black pepper
10. 1 romaine heart, torn into bite-size pieces
11. 4 cups mixed baby lettuces washed and dried
12. 1/2 cup red bell pepper cored, seeded, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch cubes
13. 1/2 cup yellow bell peppers cored, seeded, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch cubes
14. 1/2 cup caramelized onions
15. 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
16. 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, quartered, cut into 1/2- inch slices
17. 1 cup yellow pear and sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, cut in halves
18. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
19. 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
20. 1 cup Greek Salad Dressing*
21. Kosher salt
22. Freshly ground black pepper
23. 16 large shrimp, peeled, deveined, cut in half horizontally, blanched
24. 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts**
25. Fresh dill for garnish (optional)

Per Serving

* Calories: 677 kcal
* Carbohydrates: 22 g
* Dietary Fiber: 4 g
* Fat: 48 g
* Protein: 40 g
* Sugars: 11 g



2. Cooking Directions

1. To make the Shrimp Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the first six ingredients until well blended. Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste. Refrigerate in a covered container. When ready to use, whisk again.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the romaine, baby lettuces, bell peppers, onions, olives, cucumber, tomatoes, cheeses, and Greek Salad Dressing. Toss until blended. Season with salt and pepper. Divide and mound onto 4 chilled salad plates.
3. In a medium bowl, toss together the shrimp and Shrimp Dressing. Arrange 8 shrimp halves over and around salad mound. Top with pine nuts and garnish with dill sprigs.

Yield: 4 servings

3. Still Hungry?

With the addition of shrimp this salad goes from the ordinary Greek salad to the extraordinary Greek salad. Now it has all the elements of the Mediterranean from both sea and land. Add some love and it's even better!

Note:

**To toast pine nuts: Place the nuts in a small skillet in a single layer. Over low heat, toast until lightly golden, stirring often to prevent burning. This takes 3 or 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Through Faith

Through faith we come to Jesus Christ
And are gloriously saved,
Freed from those chains that bind the soul…
By Grace No Longer Depraved.

Our hearts can safely trust in Him
Through the roughest stormy night,
Knowing our God is in control…
Everything Will Work Out Right.

Through faith we put on His armor
And boldly face the fight,
Assured we will win the battle…
We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight.

And when we travel death’s dark path,
The view so unclear ahead,
We can rest in His loving care…
For By His Hand We Are Led.

Through faith one day we shall behold
The Shepherd who holds our hand,
Forevermore to praise our God…
As We Enter Glory Land…
Through Faith.



“By Grace are ye saved through faith”
“For we walk by faith , not by sight”
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith”
(Eph. 2:8;II Cor. 5:7; Heb. 12:2)

The Grand-Children

This was taken last 2007 of june... the picture will be a nice way to reminisce a generation of family that has given a trace of existence in this old-war-stricken world of economy-gone-down-because-of-political-ambitions of politicians thus affecting many unemployed and employed alike... this will make a mark on the lives of many that has been...or will be experiencing..on the kind of life that has seen luxury and hardships of what we call-world of no beginning and ending in the straggle for a beautiful and fulfilling life...

*******************

A Divine Rapture

by: Francis Quarles

E'en like two little bank-dividing brooks,
That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams,
And having ranged and search'd a thousand nooks,
Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames,
Where in a greater current they conjoin:
So I my Best-beloved's am; so He is mine.

E'en so we met; and after long pursuit,
E'en so we joined; we both became entire;
No need for either to renew a suit,
For I was flax, and He was flames of fire:
Our firm-united souls did more than twine;
So I my Best-beloved's am; so He is mine.

If all those glittering Monarchs, that command
The servile quarters of this earthly ball,
Should tender in exchange their shares of land,
I would not change my fortunes for them all:
Their wealth is but a counter to my coin:
The world 's but theirs; but my Beloved's mine.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our House

By Edgar Guest

We play at our house and have all sorts of fun,
An’ there’s always a game when supper is done;
An’ at our house there’s marks on the walls an’ the stairs,
An’ some terrible scratches on some of the chairs;
An’ ma says that our house is surely a fright,
But pa and I say that our house is all right.

At our house we laugh an’ we sing an’ we shout,
An’ whirl all the chairs and the tables about,
An’ I rassle my pa an’ I get him down too,
An’ he’s all out of breath when the fightin’ is through;
Am’ ma says our house is surely a sight,
But pa an’ I say that our house is all right.

I’ve been to houses with pa where I had
To sit in a chair like a good little lad,
An’ there wasn’t a mark on the walls an’ the chairs,
An’ the stuff that we have couldn’t come up to theirs;
An’ pa said to ma that for all of their joy
He wouldn’t change places and give up his boy.

They never have races nor rassles nor fights.
Coz they have no children to play with at nights;
An’ their walls are all clean and their curtains hang straight,
An’ everthing’s shiny an’ right up to date;
But pa says with all of its racket an’ fuss,
He’d rather by far live at our house with us.

My Pug Family

THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF PUGS...


so many pictures... so many memories...
so nice to reminisce events in our life that give meaning
to our very existence here on earth... so, here it is...
posted in blog so it wont be forgotten...
it wont be misplaced...
it wont be discarded...
but instead..
it will be published in blogs and be a seen by anybody who
will care to glance at it....
so they say..
blogs are here to be seen, read, and to be shared..
for anybody who will care to see and venture our posted blogs...

Dumaguete Road Trip

These pictures where taken in Dauin, Dumaguete City last holy week..last March 2008..we spent it there...and it was really fun...full of adventures....we went to an island which is the mating site of pawikans...also known as big tortoise... the Apo Island....it was really amazing there...all white sand with big rocks...they say it is a dead volcano ....well, it was still a breathtaking experience..see the big bathroom...so spacious...its our hotel bathroom....we can do hide-and-seek in there...hehehehe.... this is one place American tourist should visit... they will really have an experience of a lifetime....the travel by boat was breathtaking...because you wouldn't know what will gonna happen...because of the big waves..they say its a form of a tidal waves....but fortunately all their people there are very much experienced in maneuvering the boat...so no fear in that....its still safe....