Sunday Poem and Photograph: Rainbow

"Whatever your cross,

whatever your pain,

“God always sends rainbows

after the rain.”

God sent me double rainbow today :)

Randomness on the 4th of July

This has nothing to do with the celebration of  US Independence Day, but just the same “Happy 4th of July” to all our American friends!

It’s the second day that the local authorities declared “No Classes” for the pre-grade and elementary levels in most schools here in Metro Manila due to floods and heavy rains resulting from “low pressure area”.  Yesterday was a whole-wet-day but today the sun is shining a bit but being interrupted by drizzles from time to time.

As expected, the cancellation of classes is trending and social media threads and time lines are flooded with rants from irate parents.  Instead of joining the rants (and reading lots of rants) about the incompetence of the authorities in the announcement of “no classes”, we put on our running gears and headed out to have a run by the bay.

I am thankful that we did!  For out of this randomness, we are able to add more simple but memorable moments in our family life, plus the chance to contemplate some neglected lessons in life.

Sometimes, we are so caught up with our selfishness and bitterness that we missed the opportunity of seizing the good times out of bad times.  If you look at life negatively, the worst is what you get.  But if you look at life positively, the best is what you get.

We always appreciate the beauty of sunset and sunrise.
  Sometimes try to look at the dark clouds and see what you can learn or gain from it. 

When things gone badly, we focus on blaming instead of making it an opportunity to teach and learn from the situation.

When was the last time you told the young people that there are more enjoyable things in life than television and computer games?

my daughter enjoying the sunless sky and some drizzle wearing her singlet from her last run (Hyundai Run).  She will be running in the 5K category of the 36th Milo Marathon on the 29th of this month together with her brother.  Hubby is running 21K while I will be challenging myself to meet the event’s cut-off for the 10K category.

… that the reason for this city flooding is because people don’t know how to take care of the environment.

that whatever you throw , fate and nature will throw them back to you

.... that people face even the worst adversities in life just to keep on surviving.

some people fishing in Manila Bay waters in spite of the weather and polluted water

When was the last time you were photographed by innocent hands?

teaching my daughter to capture a scene with one central subject while giving emphasis on the important things at the background.  see the difference from her first shot vs. the second.

When was the last time you enjoyed buying cheap toys from a roving vendor and enjoy them by yourself?


...  then use that joyful moment as another opportunity to teach some basic lessons in life.

that failure is normal especially during the trial times, but you will improve eventually...

... until you succeed!

Thank you God for this day!

Sunday Poem and Photograph: Hello July

Hello July!

You surprised me with your coming.

Did June say goodbye?

I didn't even notice it left.

Please tell August to knock before entering

So I can welcome it with a smile. 

By: Balut Manila on waking up on a cold July morning in 2012

Versatile Blogger Award

I was innocently blog hopping when I came across this post from Joanne's Blog and I was really surprise finding my name among the list of awardees (as in surprise!)

My very first blog award! Tadaaah!



This award has three rules (that you should follow or your blogs will be forever doomed)
Note: Words in parenthesis are baseless facts

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger who gave you this award.  Don’t forget to link his/her blog.
2. Post seven random things about you.
3. Give the award to 15 other bloggers you love and let them know you gave them this award.

Note:
Joanne violated Rule # 3 by not informing me about the tag and she tagged eight people only.  Therefore she needs to comply to a punishment which is to post 100 more random things about herself (wider evil grin)

So here we go…
1. Thank you very much Joanne for this award.  I almost burst into tears upon knowing that while I’m stressing with my very first give away you are doing evil things against me (LOL).  
Seriously,  I appreciate it much.  I believed that if your name came in the mind of a fellow blogger, that means that you are important to her/him (naks!).

2. SEVEN random things only?
I  posted all the (elaborated) random things about me.  You can find that ”short post” here (evil grin).

3. For me, every blogger is versatile so I wanted to tag y’all.  However, this time I chose to tag these bloggers that I haven’t tag before and some who have “wronged” me. You will know the difference on who are under the new tags and the ones that have wronged me LOL. 

Here are the versatile bloggers who should carry the “Blogger Torch” and keep it burning. (forgive this olympic filengera).

1. MEcoy of I am MEcoy
2. Arvin of Written Feelings
3. riChie of One Man World
4. Marco of The Soul Explorer
5. Wrey of Fashion Moto
6. Mhie of Travelentz
7. CheekeeGirl of Sound of Life
8. Lucky Vixen of The Lucky Vixen
9. Irish of D' Explorer
10. Sam D. of There's No Place That Far
11. Lawrence of  Colors and Grays
12. Red of Muhon
13. Super Maryo of Unplog... – I know you’ve been tagged but not from me and not from this one.  And because you have a new toy, photographs are required from you!
14. Virgo of Virgo's Gadgetry - this is my second time to tag you (no reply) so I’m tagging your other blog
15. Lester of Celebrations and Festivities - same reason with Virgo  

There you go people! Good luck!

Sunday Song and Photograph: Happy Together

♫ Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together
If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together ♫

photo taken April 2012 during our Vicita Iglesia

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to us!

__ years and still counting!

Anybody care for some fun again and guess how many years that we’re “happy together?  Clue: it was five years after the movie “Happy Together” (starring Patrick Dempsey and Helen Slater) is shown with this song as the movie sound track also.  This song became one of our “anthem”. (yay we’re old LOL)

And yes I’m typical! I’m a June bride

♫ Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba ba-ba-ba-ba ♫

Acknowledgment to YouTube and “padfootprong” who uploaded this video :)

Attending A Media Launch From a Blogger's Perspective

Registration In-charge: Good morning Ma’am, from what publication please?
Me: I’m a blogger
Registration In-charge: Oh great! can I have your name please?

And my name is printed on a name badge along with my blog's title!  I look around and I’m wearing the same name badge worn by members of the media. Then I was ushered to sit among the professional reporters from leading Philippine newspapers and tabloids. From Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Remate, name it and they are all there.  I’m elated, really elated!

my "media" badge :)

Media launch is not new to me. Having worked in a corporate job with affiliates in the entertainment industry for years, media launch and other media-related functions has been a part of my job.  But not as guest or attendee but as part of the organizing team.  I am one among the people working behind to make such functions possible and successful. 

Through my blogs also, I am able to get to be invited on trade fairs, shows and exhibits.  But this is the first time I attended a huge function as a "media" (allow me to call myself).  It was an amazing experience and let me share to you the awesomeness that happened during the media launch of the 36th  Milo Marathon at Bayview Park Hotel on June 21, 2012.

I was sitting in one of these tables among the professional reporters from the leading Philippine newspapers. 

Upon entry, we were provided with the copy of the press release and a souvenir flash drive.  We were also invited to have our photos taken in their photo booth wherein your picture will come out looking like you are running among the kids shown in the stage back draft.  We were also given free race registration for the 36th Milo Marathon in any distance category of your choice.

Then the usual program ethics follows, the prayer, introduction/opening remarks and opening number.

The flash mob type dancers.  Coming from the crowd on casual outfits then exposing their MILO singlet as they dance towards the stage in Milo’s jingle
“I’m getting ready, getting ready”

 

Lunch Buffet

 

The ever humble and accommodating Coach Rio dela Cruz of Runrio Inc. (Race Organizer Head) delivering the good news that the MILO Marathon is now a member of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

 

During the question and answer portion with the audience and media.

Atty. Eugene Yap (Bayview Hotel General Manager),  Robbie De Vera (MILO Sports Executive), Andrew Nerie (MILO Sports Executive), Coach Rio dela Cruz (Runrion Inc/Race Organizer Head),  Ritchie Garcia (Philippine Sports Commission Chairman),  Pat Goc-Ong  (MILO Sports Consultant)

 

Manila Bulletin reporter asking questions to the MILO Marathon organizing group.  It was a delight listening to his concerns/questions about the presence (and domination) of foreign runners (Kenyans) in the Philippine running events.

 

The media photographers from the Philippine newspapers taking photos for the official photo opps (while me taking the photos of the photographers  – LOL).

 

At my table amidst the classy goblets, MILO chocolate drink in paper cup is served.  This paper cup has its classic purpose…

 

The ceremonial toast. For a bigger and better 36th MILO Marathon Cheers!
(yep that's my left hand holding my Milo paper cup joining the toast
while my right hand taking the photo)

And here’s the official photo of the ceremonial toast provided to me by the very efficient organizing team

 

When I came home I asked myself why I had the honor of this invite.  I did some clicks and found that my running blog is one among the sites on Google’s top page under the Milo Marathon niche (and also on other site page ranker - topblog.com.ph)

I realized that I have been blogging about the MILO Marathon since I started my running blog.  It was at the same time since I started joining this country’s most prestigious running event. It sort of been my passion to blog about it thinking that in my own little way, I am able to support its noble cause.  No one encouraged me to do this nor pay me anything while I’m doing this.  It is just my pure voluntary passion of supporting this cause. I also remember that I always say on my blog posts and through social media,

"When it comes to Milo Marathon, let me be your media!" 

So do you think I deserved this honor to be invited?

If you want to know the detailed information of this media launch, you may check it from my running blog here.  Cheers!

And oh, I get to take home these stuff
(sorry I wasn’t able to include the cute souvenir photo)

Sunday Lyrics and Photograph: Dance with my Father

If I could get another chance
 

Another walk
 

Another dance with him
 

I'd play a song that would never ever end
 

How I'd love love love
 

To dance with my father again

My daughter and hubby dancing together during her 7th Birthday in her Tinker Bell inspired kiddie party. 

My hubby and daughter are not fans of formal dancing but they obviously look like having fun while dancing. The boys at the background waiting for their turn added to the cuteness of this scene and takes away the sadness from the lyrics of this song.

Happy Father’s Day to all you great fathers in the world!