tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62642297702664775952024-03-09T18:10:06.462+08:00WiggleDoodleFood, gadgets, books, movies, music, places and everything else under the sunWiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-32782851952373923232023-12-25T13:56:00.002+08:002023-12-25T13:56:46.150+08:00Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMO920rjh-pR4zKdlmB8gXKrVGGeGlEn2gHGJfHxdnPJmWMymR2hRi7JobxOdST7Zw8xLRWkFxIALpfZHZ60z7kvEIDCMfHhDlNVGODKplaBbU61FDh8RXR4mP03WCE3fZhhQ75z1bivRN4EZ7mGR21qD4XfDdO-tcMil1K6vhHGdEfDS8gGgI2E5eAI/s1640/wiggledoodle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMO920rjh-pR4zKdlmB8gXKrVGGeGlEn2gHGJfHxdnPJmWMymR2hRi7JobxOdST7Zw8xLRWkFxIALpfZHZ60z7kvEIDCMfHhDlNVGODKplaBbU61FDh8RXR4mP03WCE3fZhhQ75z1bivRN4EZ7mGR21qD4XfDdO-tcMil1K6vhHGdEfDS8gGgI2E5eAI/w640-h361/wiggledoodle.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-74337519700815883282023-06-19T22:00:00.009+08:002023-06-19T22:33:15.982+08:00Resurrection Hand Balm from Aesop: Intense Hydration with a Soothing Smell<div class="separator" style="text-align: justify;">Moisturizing hands is an essential self-care practice that promotes healthy and well-nourished skin. Our hands are exposed to harsh environmental elements daily, frequent handwashing, and other activities that can lead to dryness, roughness, and even cracks. Moisturizing hands helps to replenish and lock in moisture, preventing dehydration and maintaining optimal skin hydration levels. Some moisturizer ingredients also attract water molecules from the air and bind them to the skin, improving its ability to retain moisture. That is why using hand moisturizers regularly can contribute to softer, smoother, and more elastic skin.</div><p style="text-align: justify;">I am a big fan of hand moisturizers, which help alleviate skin irritations, redness, or inflammation, making them particularly beneficial for maintaining my sensitive skin health. I also suffer from skin conditions like eczema once in a while. A friend recently told me to try the Resurrection Hand Balm from Aesop. She said it made wonders for her dry hands plus the balm really smells good.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXGDNzsnNvXtKmDx6Lh6SFiA_rH5ZZiy3Yp7rXWhPmrVi1yl5b5h9vNGxoyH8tossU9yzcgT9G-96BTkR8GfXedrCj-59kFRnZAKP7mj_akwGqbXatjO-0P_9XOlP8DGzi0gFPMY7nXYYKt-M1Fe1V4Z-KX11keKc0XKh3fNUuZgG-5TA_jg1FcjmTe8/s888/aesop3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="888" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXGDNzsnNvXtKmDx6Lh6SFiA_rH5ZZiy3Yp7rXWhPmrVi1yl5b5h9vNGxoyH8tossU9yzcgT9G-96BTkR8GfXedrCj-59kFRnZAKP7mj_akwGqbXatjO-0P_9XOlP8DGzi0gFPMY7nXYYKt-M1Fe1V4Z-KX11keKc0XKh3fNUuZgG-5TA_jg1FcjmTe8/w400-h386/aesop3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from aesopskincare.ph</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://aesopskincare.ph" target="_blank">Aesop</a> is a renowned Australian skincare brand that offers a range of high-quality beauty products. Known for its distinctive apothecary-style packaging and focus on botanical ingredients, Aesop has gained a reputation for producing effective and luxurious skincare, haircare, and body care products. It uses a combination of plant-based extracts, essential oils, antioxidants, and other natural ingredients in its formulations. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnekAwPn6AdML_0RUgT5XJUB4Si-BwEULERRirmvrRUfBmJA6iPBL48kZQlUakMVpfl9GM0gIf4LsCNtHKChz8QaFvyPRMHo9rn8naCJQpKZ3WkCFoTGi14ttUPRwiAoI_E5FnE7TASk9b8tX9RXOSUYwy1sLa3vHA0uUz15sr1--o9OukX6EWemKuoRs/s1170/aesop1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1170" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnekAwPn6AdML_0RUgT5XJUB4Si-BwEULERRirmvrRUfBmJA6iPBL48kZQlUakMVpfl9GM0gIf4LsCNtHKChz8QaFvyPRMHo9rn8naCJQpKZ3WkCFoTGi14ttUPRwiAoI_E5FnE7TASk9b8tX9RXOSUYwy1sLa3vHA0uUz15sr1--o9OukX6EWemKuoRs/w400-h361/aesop1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm is one of Aesop's popular hand care products. It is a rich, non-greasy hand cream specifically formulated to moisturize and nourish the hands. The hand balm is enriched with a combination of nourishing ingredients, including mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, and cedar atlas, which lend the balm a refreshing scent. Additionaly, it contains moisturizing agents like shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and sweet almond oil, known for their hydrating properties.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUCw3Pmj2u3lq7GRxACNore9grjBLWdaGfYarB-ooKZkXHHgn55xcOKgOXbXvL3USYVJ3Z506FmBfpjlGQ2GHah92noyoIdRqseGUzr-4XAu4IPVUDq9gxO3ARLtEVXcWonzNpPV2f7HHeDZmhYnYwPPE0gmsDgEF-yyRp_XaxKbWsia59YaJzZLcpvY/s1170/aesop2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1170" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUCw3Pmj2u3lq7GRxACNore9grjBLWdaGfYarB-ooKZkXHHgn55xcOKgOXbXvL3USYVJ3Z506FmBfpjlGQ2GHah92noyoIdRqseGUzr-4XAu4IPVUDq9gxO3ARLtEVXcWonzNpPV2f7HHeDZmhYnYwPPE0gmsDgEF-yyRp_XaxKbWsia59YaJzZLcpvY/w400-h329/aesop2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">I've been using the product for almost one month now and I am quite satisfied with it. The Resurrection Hand Balm is lightweight and absorbs quickly, leaving behind a non-greasy finish without any residue on the skin. once used it while my hands were extremely dry and irritated, and it relieved the tightness that usually results from such conditions. really love the citrusy scent that lasts a long time which is also soothing to the senses. dditionally, while I am aware that it is primarily for the hands, I applied the product on other parts of my body, and it worked fine with my knees, heels, and elbows.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">I recommend using the hand balm as needed throughout the day, especially after washing your hands or whenever your skin feels dry or in need of extra care.</span></div><p></p><br />Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-64830897081927791622023-05-12T00:00:00.011+08:002023-05-12T00:00:00.143+08:00ChatGPT: Conversations Redefined by AI<p><b> <span style="text-align: justify;">Introduction:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Artificial intelligence (AI) has
made remarkable strides in natural language processing in recent years, paving
the way for more engaging and interactive human-machine interactions. Among the
many advancements in this field, ChatGPT stands as a groundbreaking language
model that has captivated users with its ability to generate human-like
responses. In this blog post, we delve into the world of ChatGPT and explore
its impact on conversation and communication.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9JMucin5BqymZsagw1GyhdgTOh3pcO0lHlnt-PgURYkQtoDZ4ti9ZmdOwvWNjSHm7Y_B57aYvLOjCVdWAVRMV4Q_XwBbkOQ-_Z0B2srWVc4vWdPKIr7DUKH9uMmCK8PQ5vJnlEpDpIJ9Dp2RJOnaT7yJxN85IXUVmmCDpjLa4P3uk21UXVLqo8Uf/s512/chatgpt-icon.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9JMucin5BqymZsagw1GyhdgTOh3pcO0lHlnt-PgURYkQtoDZ4ti9ZmdOwvWNjSHm7Y_B57aYvLOjCVdWAVRMV4Q_XwBbkOQ-_Z0B2srWVc4vWdPKIr7DUKH9uMmCK8PQ5vJnlEpDpIJ9Dp2RJOnaT7yJxN85IXUVmmCDpjLa4P3uk21UXVLqo8Uf/s320/chatgpt-icon.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b>Understanding ChatGPT:<o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is
built upon the foundation of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer)
architecture. Through extensive training on vast amounts of internet text,
including books, articles, and websites, ChatGPT has developed an impressive
ability to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses. It has
learned to understand and mimic human language patterns, resulting in remarkably
human-like interactions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Power of the Transformer
Architecture:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At the heart of ChatGPT lies the
transformer architecture, a deep learning model that has revolutionized natural
language processing. Unlike traditional models that process text sequentially,
transformers employ self-attention mechanisms, enabling them to capture
relationships between all the words in an input. This capability allows ChatGPT
to understand complex language structures and dependencies, making it adept at
generating fluent and contextually appropriate responses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p><b>Conversational Engagement:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the most fascinating
aspects of ChatGPT is its ability to engage in conversations with users.
Whether it's answering questions, offering suggestions, or simply engaging in
small talk, ChatGPT provides an interactive and dynamic experience. Users can
engage with the model by giving prompts or asking questions, and in return,
they receive responses that strive to be informative, creative, and relevant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Limitations:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While ChatGPT has garnered
widespread attention and admiration, it is essential to understand its
limitations. ChatGPT is a machine learning model trained on vast amounts of
data, and while it can generate impressive responses, it does not possess true
understanding or knowledge. It may occasionally produce incorrect or misleading
information, highlighting the need for human verification and critical thinking
when using its outputs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Promoting Ethical Usage:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">OpenAI has made significant
efforts to promote the ethical usage of ChatGPT. They have implemented measures
to address potential biases, provide clearer guidelines for human-AI
interaction, and actively encourage user feedback to improve the system. By
ensuring transparency and accountability, OpenAI aims to mitigate risks and
foster responsible deployment of AI technologies like ChatGPT.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Applications and Future
Developments:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ChatGPT has found applications in
various domains, including customer support, content creation, and educational
tools. Its versatility allows for diverse use cases, and as the technology
progresses, we can anticipate further advancements. OpenAI continues to refine
and enhance ChatGPT, working towards building more intelligent and valuable AI
systems that benefit society. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Conclusion:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">ChatGPT represents a significant
milestone in AI language models, showcasing the power of deep learning and the
transformer architecture. It has redefined conversations and provided users
with an engaging and interactive experience. While there are limitations to be
aware of, ChatGPT serves as a testament to the incredible progress made in
natural language processing and the immense potential for AI to augment human
communication and understanding.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>As you've probably guessed by now, the entire blog post was produced using <a href="https://chat.openai.com/" target="_blank">OpenAI ChatGPT</a>. My intent is just to show you how far artificial intelligence has gone. I used the prompt, "<i>Write a blog post on ChatGPT,"</i> and the app created this post, including the title, IN SECONDS! Should we be worried or happy?<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-61919386359087682772023-05-08T21:29:00.001+08:002023-05-09T17:06:33.243+08:00Salawikain: Filipino Nuggets of Wisdom and Life Lessons<p> <span style="text-align: justify;">I met some friends from college
over the weekend; during our chat, one of them blurted out a Filipino saying,
“<i>palay na ang lumapit sa manok</i>,” or “It’s the palay (rice) that came to the
chicken.”</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">We laughed and then wondered
if Filipinos still use these sayings or what we call “salawikain” in daily
conversations.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Salawikain are short sayings that
offer wisdom, insights, and guidance on various aspects of life. These proverbs
are deeply rooted in Filipino culture and used by elders to impart moral values
and lessons to the younger generation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d2I5VCLxl2ULeQ9Y_QWPXgcFQI42pHY2Tnla_3AogJCl6wesap_eco20djqy9uWCN9XkR1iMFI8nNny84dnoDlyr2IXMN9C2zGs3GaNKUxvVS7SoBcGiOXgAyti3V-vtIiX1ukrFZeO2MobINZ6oLKblyDoyBbHIW8XlxKEX_l6j3HZMmFmyNIjJ/s984/manokp.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="984" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2d2I5VCLxl2ULeQ9Y_QWPXgcFQI42pHY2Tnla_3AogJCl6wesap_eco20djqy9uWCN9XkR1iMFI8nNny84dnoDlyr2IXMN9C2zGs3GaNKUxvVS7SoBcGiOXgAyti3V-vtIiX1ukrFZeO2MobINZ6oLKblyDoyBbHIW8XlxKEX_l6j3HZMmFmyNIjJ/w320-h293/manokp.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Our discussion shifted to these sayings,
and we had fun explaining what we thought they meant. Let me share some of the
salawikain that cropped up during our talk.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>Let’s begin with the one that
started the conversation,”palay na ang lumapit sa manok.” or “It is the rice that came to the
chicken.” The saying connotes that someone got lucky since the opportunity
presented itself to him. Often though, it takes a negative meaning, like in our
chat, where the speaker talked about a friend who had an affair because the
woman made the first moves. What else can he do since “palay na ang lumapit sa
manok.” NOTE: I know this example could trigger some people, but I do not
intend to cause harm, and I am just putting
some context.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If anyone wants to say something unpleasant and doesn't want to name the persons involved, she'd probably say "Bato bato sa langit, tamaan ay huwag magalit" or "rocks in the sky, whoever get gets hit should not get angry." If it is something that should remain secret, the speaker should be warned that "may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita" or "the ground has ears and stories have wings," which implies that stories could spread fast </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmbxYkeWgQlvE8QtTR5C6KIgzK3_WLF8yAvdLjl84FYPVj1b-eG9IoOrrbKxxeE_ujGbNIczKK6BOAz5MHIGTXtNUjkowBL3tk-pfcpITLxzQcV77EvwLkl2W9aadPbQ4Ijnd_rM6IJ9NGbyORMbRhamBApa4jVq5PFI10DiVBbif94yVBBo3blQd/s788/pot2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="741" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmbxYkeWgQlvE8QtTR5C6KIgzK3_WLF8yAvdLjl84FYPVj1b-eG9IoOrrbKxxeE_ujGbNIczKK6BOAz5MHIGTXtNUjkowBL3tk-pfcpITLxzQcV77EvwLkl2W9aadPbQ4Ijnd_rM6IJ9NGbyORMbRhamBApa4jVq5PFI10DiVBbif94yVBBo3blQd/s320/pot2.png" width="301" /></a>One of the most well-known
Filipino proverbs is <i>“Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga,</i>" which translates to <span style="text-align: left;">"If one has patience, he will have soup."
This proverb highlights the value of hard work, patience, and determination in
achieving one's goals. Perhaps our ancestors used nilaga as a metaphor for hard
work because it was hard to cook before pressure cookers and slow cookers.
Nilaga consists of beef slowly boiled until the meat is tender before adding
potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. Of course, they only have wood stoves
and clay pots to cook in, so it must have taken a lot of patience and hard
work.</span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A similar proverb is "<i>Habang
may buhay, may pag-asa</i>." (While there is life, there is hope.) This
proverb reminds us that no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, there
is always hope for a better future. My favorite salawikain reflects the
Filipino’s resilience and our ability to make the most of what we have: “<i>Kung
maigsi ang kumot, matutong mamulukto</i>t” or “If the blanket is short, learn to
curl.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>On the flipside is the saying,
"Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim man ay kumakapit,” which means, "A desperate
person will cling even to a sharp
edge." This proverb suggests that people will do whatever it takes to
survive in difficult situations, even if it means taking risks or doing
something unlawful.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p>Filipino proverbs often encourage
people to remain humble and treat others with respect. For example, "Ang
hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa
paroroonan." This proverb says, "Those who do not look back at where
they came from will not reach their destination." This proverb reminds
people of the importance of remembering their roots and acknowledging those who
helped them along the way. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"Huwag kang magtiwala sa di
mo kakilala," (Do not trust people
you do not know) cautions against trusting strangers. "Ang sakit ng kalingkingan ay ramdam ng
buong katawan," (The whole body feels the pain of the smallest finger) stresses
the importance of every part of society and that the problems in a small area
could affect the entire community. Finally, “aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na
ang kabayo” (what’s the grass for when the horse is already dead) teaches us to
solve our problems immediately and not wait until it is too late.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5DclM1yulanNUPHf7igGLZcIihskQUPngPASngBpIwYY7ohNefT59XabcryJEQUZ5jSVy9oyKYn8xytAxt_eKWC2mSH8ujPukS8sT4_tpnwi5zIjiycHh3uaW7MfwlIjQR050_CbO-oI4ylWrfCizsSbugVzUWp31id2Lr39ilJfS-ZmHkVc_xwh/s1200/horse.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5DclM1yulanNUPHf7igGLZcIihskQUPngPASngBpIwYY7ohNefT59XabcryJEQUZ5jSVy9oyKYn8xytAxt_eKWC2mSH8ujPukS8sT4_tpnwi5zIjiycHh3uaW7MfwlIjQR050_CbO-oI4ylWrfCizsSbugVzUWp31id2Lr39ilJfS-ZmHkVc_xwh/w400-h300/horse.png" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Filipino proverbs play an
essential role in Filipino culture and are an excellent way to impart wisdom,
values, and insights to the younger generation. They offer guidance on various
aspects of life, including relationships, work, and personal development.
Whether used in casual conversations or formal settings, these proverbs are integral
to Filipino culture and identity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Do you know any salawikain aside from what I shared? Please share in the comments section.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i>All images created using Canva</i></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-2590390302296220212023-04-01T00:00:00.157+08:002023-05-08T18:33:41.489+08:00Hallow: The App for Catholic Meditation and Prayer for the Holy Week<p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Week begins tomorrow, and many of us Catholic Filipinos will observe the practices we usually do during this period. For some, this is an excellent time to meditate on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. While some Filipinos do the “<i>pabasa,</i>” reading of the passion narrative through song, not all of us can do it. We would just observe through the recitation of the Way of the Cross, and praying of the rosary, and others. Now, there's a new app that could help us in our meditation and prayer life named Hallow.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXVwcUGnwBosoCxKhQSQkWhEDjl2_3ysUMSSgyokbpe62lH_t4_TA22_lTQn3L-dzDH0MxK4Q1vY-xTu1sS2PZT7nbpjeiWYiwu69EnvgIHU_6JPonehmwLtDojVaXbXDYNDHNo9Tav0pI3RjFE-KEyh7yFZundT-c_3dNHKd90uPB3hWO3ZRFJAnP" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXVwcUGnwBosoCxKhQSQkWhEDjl2_3ysUMSSgyokbpe62lH_t4_TA22_lTQn3L-dzDH0MxK4Q1vY-xTu1sS2PZT7nbpjeiWYiwu69EnvgIHU_6JPonehmwLtDojVaXbXDYNDHNo9Tav0pI3RjFE-KEyh7yFZundT-c_3dNHKd90uPB3hWO3ZRFJAnP=w227-h341" width="227" /></a></div><a href="http://hallow.com" target="_blank">Hallow</a> is a popular Catholic meditation and prayer app that offers audio-based guided meditations, daily reflections, and Bible-based content to help users deepen their spiritual practice. The app has gained popularity among Christians looking to incorporate meditation into their daily lives.</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing that sets Hallow apart is the quality of its content. The app offers a wide range of meditations and reflections based on scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church and designed to meet the needs of users with different spiritual backgrounds and preferences. Aside from guided meditations, it includes audio recordings of various prayers, such as the Rosary, Angelus, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The app also provides prayer challenges, which focus on specific themes and are usually time-bound. The current challenge is the #Pray40 Challenge for Lent. If you want to test your knowledge, there's daily trivia on the Catholic faith.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I downloaded the app from the AppStore and now regularly listen to the Daily Reflections on the day’s Gospel with Jeff Cavins and Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus Christ on the TV series “The Chosen.” I listen to the Sunday Sermons of Bishop Barron, the founder of the Catholic organization Word on Fire. I started listening to the Catechism in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz, which started early this year. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I also like the music section, which contains chants, and contemporary and traditional music. Last Christmas season, the app featured the entire album of Christmas songs from Andre Bocelli and his family. They recently added a lo-fi playlist that you could play while getting ready in the morning, studying, or working. </p><p>With over 400,000 Filipino users across the globe, Hallow started offering meditations and prayers in Filipino in October last year. Yes, you can pray the rosary, Divine Mercy prayer, selected novenas and other prayers in Tagalog. I follow Fr. Franz Dizon's daily reflection on the gospel in <i>Pagninilay Ngayon</i>. There is also a section on the life of the saints named "<i>Buhay ng Mga Banal.</i>" </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHEVe6rihpE7kZHPNurjgax7F3YM8Smlsa8iiP0rHqMTdbyqMeuFddNL6ZJCLLJ29d4nsiRhwpdfNfnvOf4edOVlQCpMvGg8kuvavu_P1aBjeytDfgaWhx5LZqE8vA_OoVIrZjIKOCoNI0Ce1WwcjQaadJ6vKHpMZ1lYH6LZM-9318SxCqIsu1EP1f" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="1920" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHEVe6rihpE7kZHPNurjgax7F3YM8Smlsa8iiP0rHqMTdbyqMeuFddNL6ZJCLLJ29d4nsiRhwpdfNfnvOf4edOVlQCpMvGg8kuvavu_P1aBjeytDfgaWhx5LZqE8vA_OoVIrZjIKOCoNI0Ce1WwcjQaadJ6vKHpMZ1lYH6LZM-9318SxCqIsu1EP1f=w400-h280" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Many users praise the Hallow app for helping them deepen their faith and improve their prayer life. The app's user-friendly interface is easy to navigate, making it easy for users to find the content they want. The app also offers a community feature that allows users to connect with other members and share their spiritual journey. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEU34BPjAJxxMvk1B6pJQRnJ3jtY9IAIa7S-xsJm3--Wbwm_VvSPRCrvghtCHDQlNwbxB7UyVYTAY_059A3gnofeHj-H4BdT9tlGbyDkaFCaMChktUdlA9KumepvMM_NZmHWZ7N8N5381vs8A36dIhBCw_ywOeIjYe43K4a3MGzxFji4U3yO2lRDHP" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEU34BPjAJxxMvk1B6pJQRnJ3jtY9IAIa7S-xsJm3--Wbwm_VvSPRCrvghtCHDQlNwbxB7UyVYTAY_059A3gnofeHj-H4BdT9tlGbyDkaFCaMChktUdlA9KumepvMM_NZmHWZ7N8N5381vs8A36dIhBCw_ywOeIjYe43K4a3MGzxFji4U3yO2lRDHP=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have just one issue with this app, and that is the voice and delivery of some of the prayer guides. I know that prayer should be meditative, but the guides speak so slowly that some of the prayers take longer to finish than usual. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hallow is also affordable. The app offers a 14-day free trial period, after which users can choose to subscribe to the premium version of the app. The premium version gives users access to more meditations and features but is still affordable compared to other meditation apps on the market. At about PhP600 a month, the subscription is worth the cost.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Overall, the Hallow app is an excellent tool for Christians who want to deepen their spiritual practice through meditation and prayer. The app's high-quality content, user-friendly interface, and affordability make it popular among users.</p><p><i>Images from <a href="http://hallow.com" target="_blank">Hallow</a></i></p><p><br /></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-84939680503800632372023-03-17T00:00:00.022+08:002023-05-02T22:28:19.166+08:00Enjoying my new Echo Dot with Clock from Amazon<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I finally got hold of the Echo Dot with Clock I ordered from Amazon earlier this year. The fifth generation Echo Dot came out on Octobe 22 last year. After using the device for a couple of months, I can say that it is a powerful and versatile smart speaker that is perfect for anyone looking to bring the power of Alexa into their home. This compact smart speaker provides all the voice-controlled features of the standard Echo Dot and a convenient LED display that shows the time, temperature, and other helpful information.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir95esVTFzt4w1gXQL7bNGzdzD418P4xj2BNEBd6P07og4oASMDMl6SPuFumMzRFl2F62mZK-XGMSrtC5BvPlStkoxRn0MvDgN6fV_8WYX143awj5Ziw8hhBQtZeYiJ7TW9QDuiSBAyrPLiv7phe1QoMYLLbbucn99Vhu7z4gBHOZ9XUQ40OZ4klb2/s1219/dot1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1219" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir95esVTFzt4w1gXQL7bNGzdzD418P4xj2BNEBd6P07og4oASMDMl6SPuFumMzRFl2F62mZK-XGMSrtC5BvPlStkoxRn0MvDgN6fV_8WYX143awj5Ziw8hhBQtZeYiJ7TW9QDuiSBAyrPLiv7phe1QoMYLLbbucn99Vhu7z4gBHOZ9XUQ40OZ4klb2/w640-h480/dot1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb9Xt5cPG1Daw_Vybq2vRSWjpnwX9QBk9pzi7WDD6P84uM3XDWLlYLVsTdHgQC_KwWq3bTdL7lgrjEtSFHco4JRJK90Rx0kVkq7Xpm_C9IgftsvxgyT-txKvbNwrNn5pHAPhdmIx-VntYxIYBcUbgZozf91DZI21hxY7FwmwHH4o3q6sXjkRv9xRi/s1219/dot2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1219" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb9Xt5cPG1Daw_Vybq2vRSWjpnwX9QBk9pzi7WDD6P84uM3XDWLlYLVsTdHgQC_KwWq3bTdL7lgrjEtSFHco4JRJK90Rx0kVkq7Xpm_C9IgftsvxgyT-txKvbNwrNn5pHAPhdmIx-VntYxIYBcUbgZozf91DZI21hxY7FwmwHH4o3q6sXjkRv9xRi/w640-h480/dot2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The box contains the new Echo Dot with Clock and its wall charger. One of its standout features is its stylish design. The device is compact, sleek, and attractive, making it a great addition to any room in your home. The buttons to increase/decrease the volume and to turn the microphone on/off are conveniently placed on the top.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7V9gDwa1-w4NceA39SOZu0lgEiMRM7OyxRqja1CCMxsYXUuJ8GRVupYUtarsqhR0wRJ5JLfmk-Xg0GydlWU_kg6QbY39mwejpChcvA_7BI_gbfVTCj0n63C8KIPPW5-8AtB-k_fMuW0aVc40FMZUg9V8U77SHuB578mpdNONmrZnfeshEWk3GuQf/s1219/dot3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1219" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7V9gDwa1-w4NceA39SOZu0lgEiMRM7OyxRqja1CCMxsYXUuJ8GRVupYUtarsqhR0wRJ5JLfmk-Xg0GydlWU_kg6QbY39mwejpChcvA_7BI_gbfVTCj0n63C8KIPPW5-8AtB-k_fMuW0aVc40FMZUg9V8U77SHuB578mpdNONmrZnfeshEWk3GuQf/w640-h480/dot3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Setting up is incredibly easy. All you need to do is plug it in and connect it to your Wi-Fi network using the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. Once connected, you can use Alexa to control your smart home devices, play music, set reminders, and even make phone calls.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The clock display on the Echo Dot with Clock is clear and easy to read, and it can be customized to display the time in a 24-hour format or a 12-hour format with or without AM/PM. The device also has a snooze button, which makes it perfect for use as an alarm clock in the bedroom.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the most impressive features of the Echo Dot with Clock is its sound quality. Despite its small size, this device delivers clear and powerful sound perfect for listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks. I synced Spotify with the Echo Dot and can now listen to my favorite tunes simply by asking Alexa. You can pair the device with another Echo Dot with Clock or a compatible Echo device for stereo sound.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_mKQiR00fJCJp9huckrnGV4oFvwNvek_sgGTxHmoMm4tv30O-DDqS5zI9IZ061lXMO6kUFpY2ze-UPNDMlAJpQwf2sSsHw6duIHpZPlydRAuXbnchMW6MtWt9Bmo3eVdNX3SL0krE0CH1H2pm373LlT3XNHyfNsi-vownLNJN71dDR0U44gwN4I/s1500/amazon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZO_mKQiR00fJCJp9huckrnGV4oFvwNvek_sgGTxHmoMm4tv30O-DDqS5zI9IZ061lXMO6kUFpY2ze-UPNDMlAJpQwf2sSsHw6duIHpZPlydRAuXbnchMW6MtWt9Bmo3eVdNX3SL0krE0CH1H2pm373LlT3XNHyfNsi-vownLNJN71dDR0U44gwN4I/w640-h640/amazon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Dot/dp/B084J4MZK8/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=145727796627&gclid=CjwKCAjwue6hBhBVEiwA9YTx8DHq7e-n12tLGhNvayZ7LPt-IdplW6EPQHZJ95YEoHRY9uP--VE9GxoCdZ0QAvD_BwE&hvadid=630149465656&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9066826&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=6680692956451468835&hvtargid=kwd-342497815671&hydadcr=25451_13570474&keywords=alexa+echo+dot&qid=1681708961&sr=8-4"><i>amazon.com</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Echo Dot with Clock is an excellent addition to any smart home. Its compact size, powerful sound, and versatile capabilities make it an incredibly useful device. The built-in clock display is a nice touch that sets it apart from other smart speakers on the market. If you're looking for a high-quality smart speaker with a clock display, the Echo Dot with Clock is definitely worth considering.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-69716582464036851292023-01-21T23:59:00.006+08:002023-01-21T23:59:00.198+08:00Welcome the Year of the Rabbit!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi76qfWQO0B4TepAVyTnJbwqjyxkavSgiin9mfatb-J77aHqVAn9PJf1Sip4AQZJ14P1918hYShz6HW9Z5JSsQbgui7Od-X7TNJwjsgzD7uh_AxXZhDI9ad6HVZ-VLjmm13kBLQkGgwU89D9a5HARI6w_9cn47Z6fTTOix8NoRl4_usFq7ag6ceye/s1350/XINNIAN%20KUAILE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi76qfWQO0B4TepAVyTnJbwqjyxkavSgiin9mfatb-J77aHqVAn9PJf1Sip4AQZJ14P1918hYShz6HW9Z5JSsQbgui7Od-X7TNJwjsgzD7uh_AxXZhDI9ad6HVZ-VLjmm13kBLQkGgwU89D9a5HARI6w_9cn47Z6fTTOix8NoRl4_usFq7ag6ceye/w512-h640/XINNIAN%20KUAILE.png" width="512" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-14723093559578053662023-01-01T22:21:00.000+08:002023-01-01T22:21:12.617+08:00From Our Family to Yours, a Happy New Year to all!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMDCjmHJsGZKR6E0O_pvTfdkmn1HKlxR63pq-2NrI47qFPJyRh5phgloM7uOqOiLHusVeIta8X1-qsa6vppDydZfgoKkoNA68zEc07NLKE2OTwKstqzC_8zhPIOqfBcdih1FLy2etn-vWuq9vHGHuuqX1ygsv28YhQg7LOh0f9EdNDTkh79BUmtAh/s1080/Happy%20New%20Year%20Greetings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMDCjmHJsGZKR6E0O_pvTfdkmn1HKlxR63pq-2NrI47qFPJyRh5phgloM7uOqOiLHusVeIta8X1-qsa6vppDydZfgoKkoNA68zEc07NLKE2OTwKstqzC_8zhPIOqfBcdih1FLy2etn-vWuq9vHGHuuqX1ygsv28YhQg7LOh0f9EdNDTkh79BUmtAh/w670-h670/Happy%20New%20Year%20Greetings.png" width="670" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-72119189399231860572022-12-25T00:00:00.000+08:002022-12-25T00:00:01.419+08:00Merry Christmas Friends!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5T8-e2_HPnZ66Jzc5rrQ4gTPTnjF7UxdC8OSoc_mVnjbb4CPmaEipuM95dBiC8Vj-PKDXrEsaUs_ti1hc_VqEXflg9AXckXI7QqDYpEZ8sLfa6y_pnxMXSuRot0SrLKcSLhwU8kit_l0XRTnQ0EDMO6ZqzXhBQ8rF16UeP_JIAwfp2oPrbyz7hD4/s1080/Wishing%20everyone%20a%20very.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5T8-e2_HPnZ66Jzc5rrQ4gTPTnjF7UxdC8OSoc_mVnjbb4CPmaEipuM95dBiC8Vj-PKDXrEsaUs_ti1hc_VqEXflg9AXckXI7QqDYpEZ8sLfa6y_pnxMXSuRot0SrLKcSLhwU8kit_l0XRTnQ0EDMO6ZqzXhBQ8rF16UeP_JIAwfp2oPrbyz7hD4/w640-h640/Wishing%20everyone%20a%20very.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-87050332187956220962022-11-25T00:00:00.027+08:002023-01-01T22:38:46.230+08:00IKEA gives Filipinos a taste of Scandinavian Christmas<p> When IKEA opened its doors in the country in December last year, I hoped it would bring in the holiday decorations I often see in its online catalog. Too bad that didn’t happen then.</p><p>This year, however, the retail giant went full blast on their Christmas/Holiday items, bringing the Vinterfint collection to our shores. I, and I am sure many fellow IKEA Filipino fans, just went and bought as much as we could. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaTmZ01acAeN4AOEZbiKDDJSehKgMXO4WAhZcvWOHnt-2mFeu3ds-xy-Sm0TfRfrNrj67x27qdYzIWgZrRwB8ET5mgHfD8T65FK2GN9_Zed5C0c0oqr0AVopEW1hLsA0ftPU1nz-KBnC63mu4hu_CCJiVUgVdY_p3Wy03GNC_CNNDm8k7vto1xzF7/s1560/322627162_690380379383703_6964725179935704667_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCaTmZ01acAeN4AOEZbiKDDJSehKgMXO4WAhZcvWOHnt-2mFeu3ds-xy-Sm0TfRfrNrj67x27qdYzIWgZrRwB8ET5mgHfD8T65FK2GN9_Zed5C0c0oqr0AVopEW1hLsA0ftPU1nz-KBnC63mu4hu_CCJiVUgVdY_p3Wy03GNC_CNNDm8k7vto1xzF7/w300-h400/322627162_690380379383703_6964725179935704667_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>There was an assortment of shiny baubles, LED lights, trees, and decorations to mark the season. There were even festive table linens, plates, and napkins for the Christmas dinner. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZPnj0hd_CWbhvob-RUsC8ouPQ3RgI4Hy8Utpso8gto2n_RnZwWiImR2siMYw-dA1CnofSABhPCQJjLLM5MQRS3uLEKT_pDLB0NiL1YzQvyY1jLnWK9UMfFr2O_5TyxD_R-Ru4GOsMLfJdXPzS1HowTrtY83w8WtvT-CuNcQrFsUNA5kR7tK10osB/s1170/321478714_614629370662303_3900410425174406762_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1170" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ZPnj0hd_CWbhvob-RUsC8ouPQ3RgI4Hy8Utpso8gto2n_RnZwWiImR2siMYw-dA1CnofSABhPCQJjLLM5MQRS3uLEKT_pDLB0NiL1YzQvyY1jLnWK9UMfFr2O_5TyxD_R-Ru4GOsMLfJdXPzS1HowTrtY83w8WtvT-CuNcQrFsUNA5kR7tK10osB/w400-h300/321478714_614629370662303_3900410425174406762_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0QCkkg-nLvFS5UJvJqUzwgZx3AoN8ztzu7sQtnlSoBXOitGYDBRf1PMIm5Z3WWP6W-HTOxEVTYOjizMv3XkfIQ6GAXMoMe10oNfLfc40hiqrUQux7M6u9I88ZOKH_-J-DBSCIqiVIBNZKp8JodV7mNr5HpJXV-zlMt4S0FR4XExeVpOdP6aGlxMV/s1170/322302762_840683540719064_1479259813279619594_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1170" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0QCkkg-nLvFS5UJvJqUzwgZx3AoN8ztzu7sQtnlSoBXOitGYDBRf1PMIm5Z3WWP6W-HTOxEVTYOjizMv3XkfIQ6GAXMoMe10oNfLfc40hiqrUQux7M6u9I88ZOKH_-J-DBSCIqiVIBNZKp8JodV7mNr5HpJXV-zlMt4S0FR4XExeVpOdP6aGlxMV/w400-h300/322302762_840683540719064_1479259813279619594_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gNtVsMGwnpu7m1_-J5zqaFHjxiNNDxiWIaupHo3ngZnfsyUg__iNgbaIJ6aKE588XTyFjzNHl5xeSIRAavRifv3QoALj0M8djTezzcXaZ3j8njSHD2I7zJmkR2xddC9Lbej9EjH_5wYzBInSv2mBcIG9BiquMOfRm965Qk6gGVRS4MkHf_NknQTm/s1616/316846211_1404835610284310_8877178038088880985_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1169" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gNtVsMGwnpu7m1_-J5zqaFHjxiNNDxiWIaupHo3ngZnfsyUg__iNgbaIJ6aKE588XTyFjzNHl5xeSIRAavRifv3QoALj0M8djTezzcXaZ3j8njSHD2I7zJmkR2xddC9Lbej9EjH_5wYzBInSv2mBcIG9BiquMOfRm965Qk6gGVRS4MkHf_NknQTm/w289-h400/316846211_1404835610284310_8877178038088880985_n.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I particularly like this ceramic horse and reindeer set.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo05WLqsZtYtqLEMcQA5Wa3Io3JFx_TQFTafYx46UUDKuEJfAgdc9G84NcKuC1mJ-8ab2ht0TQSFqh2kN2c2LLUiphOOd7U_gkC0BZlSUEWsGvSUmq3FzEWqRpCVrEXqZxKwns2_ljVVVdyAsC1O6qK5kjThOz6ASk5Z8UK7A4iopvQgM3aKg6afk/s1170/316831997_1189421955010210_6752615962728129139_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo05WLqsZtYtqLEMcQA5Wa3Io3JFx_TQFTafYx46UUDKuEJfAgdc9G84NcKuC1mJ-8ab2ht0TQSFqh2kN2c2LLUiphOOd7U_gkC0BZlSUEWsGvSUmq3FzEWqRpCVrEXqZxKwns2_ljVVVdyAsC1O6qK5kjThOz6ASk5Z8UK7A4iopvQgM3aKg6afk/w400-h400/316831997_1189421955010210_6752615962728129139_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzgBuGNYPysoS3INZ4-iLEZdlrAgL5Wtrpjy9Pe5xSgrC8FLPDGUc9uvAx1Rn0-nofCnvsAfZOHAN5dgJniTP_-xlhuZppyGE-ufggRudGSv4jWfKH2zISYbyBLnvjZYAMVy6-OpabeGR67-_ixyd_LDpG0UzY-vgFL2Q96eRXDF2w_7SqgVXe1PX/s1170/316924040_515611890614063_750243325936550150_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzgBuGNYPysoS3INZ4-iLEZdlrAgL5Wtrpjy9Pe5xSgrC8FLPDGUc9uvAx1Rn0-nofCnvsAfZOHAN5dgJniTP_-xlhuZppyGE-ufggRudGSv4jWfKH2zISYbyBLnvjZYAMVy6-OpabeGR67-_ixyd_LDpG0UzY-vgFL2Q96eRXDF2w_7SqgVXe1PX/w400-h400/316924040_515611890614063_750243325936550150_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As well as this Christmas gnome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsxRSL03o1bdT62qmp9QNuXDWABt5xp6_JUSDxDHzji6mjeiBYxIbBujEiphl1iVx_RRSVrurcvnFEbIXtnXMAung2DMzskre-P-dGLfDjkU_A3a5-EAjNfLXwO7KtQh8Yg8-x64JWdVaHi-ySsq0l0qIZqfAQrGbMNXMpLVJ2eQpiD3vdALZdZmJ/s1170/316170259_3350081458600564_6551502912869355657_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsxRSL03o1bdT62qmp9QNuXDWABt5xp6_JUSDxDHzji6mjeiBYxIbBujEiphl1iVx_RRSVrurcvnFEbIXtnXMAung2DMzskre-P-dGLfDjkU_A3a5-EAjNfLXwO7KtQh8Yg8-x64JWdVaHi-ySsq0l0qIZqfAQrGbMNXMpLVJ2eQpiD3vdALZdZmJ/w400-h400/316170259_3350081458600564_6551502912869355657_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>While reading the small prints revealed that these were 2021 items, they still gave us Filipinos a chance to decorate our homes differently from the American-style Christmas decorations.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFoNEN97rFvqsYbBWzsq0ljXJPtH0uNkQlURr3e1i7T3nNycAj_QjZfl1f6YbAALKkANvbjxa48wNbWOch21UeqgxuV3RlmbfNUQxW2EEt2DjHGaAtAtKu6biw2GER1319W2aairgFNusGpkg5BW25sq9_tdF7fUTeONRVi5ue3LZky3FW4wEWcZh/s1170/317016047_450474187270878_7639199777475973683_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFoNEN97rFvqsYbBWzsq0ljXJPtH0uNkQlURr3e1i7T3nNycAj_QjZfl1f6YbAALKkANvbjxa48wNbWOch21UeqgxuV3RlmbfNUQxW2EEt2DjHGaAtAtKu6biw2GER1319W2aairgFNusGpkg5BW25sq9_tdF7fUTeONRVi5ue3LZky3FW4wEWcZh/w400-h400/317016047_450474187270878_7639199777475973683_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!</p><p><br /></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-33737463383453280892022-04-17T05:00:00.011+08:002022-04-17T12:21:41.703+08:00A Blessed Easter to Everyone!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg7rf6vu67907tr0zhwz5GZRKQy6aicvKS5MThIylXpwl4giHNaRFVGOVdXiKt_hfO0SDFuhuYSmuR3o6CTLuRgRQeIcQbAWomfDz3N09doVTR5peQm1zFnk8PORr4LAxXlR72B8EBfbyadx7LkwDuVtycV9K3HDStTIm4BUHxeV9awcXnWZ5YgAu/s940/Easter%20Sunday%20Wiggledoodle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibg7rf6vu67907tr0zhwz5GZRKQy6aicvKS5MThIylXpwl4giHNaRFVGOVdXiKt_hfO0SDFuhuYSmuR3o6CTLuRgRQeIcQbAWomfDz3N09doVTR5peQm1zFnk8PORr4LAxXlR72B8EBfbyadx7LkwDuVtycV9K3HDStTIm4BUHxeV9awcXnWZ5YgAu/w640-h537/Easter%20Sunday%20Wiggledoodle.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-37246102282207654192022-04-14T23:43:00.002+08:002022-04-16T19:25:06.625+08:00VISITA IGLESIA 2022: New and Familiar Churches Around Quezon City<p style="text-align: justify;"> We just completed our Visita Iglesia this year. We weren't able to do this in the past two years due to the quarantine restrictions imposed by the government. Compared to the last time we observed this tradition, the mood in most churches was more subdued, and people were seriously praying their rosaries and stations of the cross.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">We decided to go to churches in Quezon City at sunset when the Lord's Supper Mass was about to begin. The mass at the first church we visited had already started. Along Cordillera St., the Our Lady of Fatima Parish is near our house. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ946WnrHRApHEZp1udZtrE2B9a5DPBpEmrq5tLAL7EF9if665nQtXh7Ukaab8xG0Dt9j3Nlxwu4h148qbMA1hpU0Nr-ORYYpAdwcfv7gFWbi27quEdkMmFdQHRAwe6_vG518SVKDOy4hA9AXf_WFLJPhx8WhbFum26dFE_R6vWA_VPnxeyl3WONma/s1170/fatima.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="1170" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ946WnrHRApHEZp1udZtrE2B9a5DPBpEmrq5tLAL7EF9if665nQtXh7Ukaab8xG0Dt9j3Nlxwu4h148qbMA1hpU0Nr-ORYYpAdwcfv7gFWbi27quEdkMmFdQHRAwe6_vG518SVKDOy4hA9AXf_WFLJPhx8WhbFum26dFE_R6vWA_VPnxeyl3WONma/w457-h368/fatima.jpg" width="457" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">From this church, we went to Mayon Street. We visited the Parish of Sta Teresita, which houses a Capuchin monastery. The church has been on the land donated by the Araneta family since before the last world war. I couldn't get a good angle of the exterior, but I managed to take a picture of the altar from where we were seated. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaE_gd0oilRPxXYfqRmcdag2ljCILQqX1c7O6Z6uHqRxzVfnI-WWkYGwgKWXyrxm_GkwxyUGrO0mNxDZ8gLS822WPg1sFdpNIgZ0ek2rykZLnXyaPu_i2OMJytG12Ga9vSBTdF1rd1eaeulpl2Efh2Uf_DFe7gAFEfYJmTj9Jg8nS2lO5U4llU-CS/s1170/st.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1170" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaE_gd0oilRPxXYfqRmcdag2ljCILQqX1c7O6Z6uHqRxzVfnI-WWkYGwgKWXyrxm_GkwxyUGrO0mNxDZ8gLS822WPg1sFdpNIgZ0ek2rykZLnXyaPu_i2OMJytG12Ga9vSBTdF1rd1eaeulpl2Efh2Uf_DFe7gAFEfYJmTj9Jg8nS2lO5U4llU-CS/w489-h367/st.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">We went a few blocks from the place and reached the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. I found out that the original shrine was in Intramuros until it got destroyed during the Second World War. When missionaries found the image, they brought it to the Sta Teresita Church we earlier visited. The icon stayed there until the Capuchins had the new shrine built and completed in 1977.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucP1JTIcHYux8p5oF9_by1IHIf4SWMMZmzlIpwih3rMmbNNfU2THtqSY6a1fcouqixy-gxVSpEwxrFL-Y06O2fy5JMotgS8mue_3O-f7VZX7SZnU1wKFTk6D6vYe4aTdOKoUQC1fl8s-ji4t6F6cSxWL4Cko6W_J_TVwvFmd_jtBaMDb3BriD0bxA/s1250/lourdes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1169" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucP1JTIcHYux8p5oF9_by1IHIf4SWMMZmzlIpwih3rMmbNNfU2THtqSY6a1fcouqixy-gxVSpEwxrFL-Y06O2fy5JMotgS8mue_3O-f7VZX7SZnU1wKFTk6D6vYe4aTdOKoUQC1fl8s-ji4t6F6cSxWL4Cko6W_J_TVwvFmd_jtBaMDb3BriD0bxA/w423-h452/lourdes.jpg" width="423" /></a></div><br /> Following the customs of the Catholic Church, the statues and images inside the church were draped in purple cloth.<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYZ4O-M1MUmkSwLFr8ynTFiAlDdX_08Qcn4BANGj1u6QUXWaU4hUIqHXX1_KJdqbowEX0xvu42qvbNeQ3XdFNhw-UuE678Rg-pimte6VwBAWipWJ-6DhOsbqgOLdmI76bjuGBac5ID48oMfX6PV2Oanz2qHc33BAeAhD4N0dgqKUfYXvZfw55TyiX/s1560/lourdes2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYZ4O-M1MUmkSwLFr8ynTFiAlDdX_08Qcn4BANGj1u6QUXWaU4hUIqHXX1_KJdqbowEX0xvu42qvbNeQ3XdFNhw-UuE678Rg-pimte6VwBAWipWJ-6DhOsbqgOLdmI76bjuGBac5ID48oMfX6PV2Oanz2qHc33BAeAhD4N0dgqKUfYXvZfw55TyiX/w405-h540/lourdes2.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The next church we visited was the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine along Broadway St. in New Manila. The shrine is the center of devotion for the Brown Scapular. As expected, the traffic was heavy in the church's vicinity, so we decided to walk the few meters going to the church. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrHUhGuRy7V2mmucte8CXr1LiFK9g68BvsFsQ4Ykl8dML_n8nEJIC57lX6oFY2EEkyIvCxlwhH7lvN2_cXY3UsI8LghOz42pj8803sX7Tmwd3yb2GchIYS5kFyxSPwGKLpVc9WYRK1KEPCn7e5u4WaAf4ntuIcL5MYpeIAqj7XZH2thTNy2bT1Ay/s1576/carmel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="1169" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrHUhGuRy7V2mmucte8CXr1LiFK9g68BvsFsQ4Ykl8dML_n8nEJIC57lX6oFY2EEkyIvCxlwhH7lvN2_cXY3UsI8LghOz42pj8803sX7Tmwd3yb2GchIYS5kFyxSPwGKLpVc9WYRK1KEPCn7e5u4WaAf4ntuIcL5MYpeIAqj7XZH2thTNy2bT1Ay/w404-h544/carmel.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu49gf4amZ-Y_utR8meS4MWkGab2T8VOw9ZXJVpDSoF5Ee3p9KNQDtUL-vqWyueLKXm6vi9yWT554JuLKET9GmSTKpDF4622b2Sc3kjkgIJZWZR5be6XGjvfIlrMoeqobNmQdczirziCQXnqbZ-UFi131sFMQkH4pRZksjtPP7K1NiS-BffloZpofo/s1560/carmel%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1169" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu49gf4amZ-Y_utR8meS4MWkGab2T8VOw9ZXJVpDSoF5Ee3p9KNQDtUL-vqWyueLKXm6vi9yWT554JuLKET9GmSTKpDF4622b2Sc3kjkgIJZWZR5be6XGjvfIlrMoeqobNmQdczirziCQXnqbZ-UFi131sFMQkH4pRZksjtPP7K1NiS-BffloZpofo/w401-h534/carmel%202.jpg" width="401" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;">We visited the St. Joseph Convent of Perpetual Adoration for our fifth church. The place is in the middle of Hemady St, a road dotted by old and modern mansions. The convent is home to the Pink Sisters, an order of cloistered nuns who spend their day praying. You can even ask them to pray for your special intentions. The exterior was not well lit, so sorry for the poor quality of the photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw98jc_U_Q-4mP4OF_qjd1qM9tO6tBQY2XUr9l4I11J055SZBkc5AEV8w3f5NH_LmVAGX_TC1V21jH_qfyoUXAwj2n97jQIPcY3yG2J-B4l0Pr2FT6A_0iWv2iHm-Fi9I49hDS6EZZgNY0mWhLcdDGAuQV9e44ssrLqKc4m1h0Jm-DE3EhAUbuYJKU/s1560/stjoseph.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="551" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw98jc_U_Q-4mP4OF_qjd1qM9tO6tBQY2XUr9l4I11J055SZBkc5AEV8w3f5NH_LmVAGX_TC1V21jH_qfyoUXAwj2n97jQIPcY3yG2J-B4l0Pr2FT6A_0iWv2iHm-Fi9I49hDS6EZZgNY0mWhLcdDGAuQV9e44ssrLqKc4m1h0Jm-DE3EhAUbuYJKU/w413-h551/stjoseph.jpg" width="413" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdpmxtCs-Nt9b08tjj1QybE5yDJzGCMZVHRI2hJyDebwiWusOU7nogsvG4-fF_T1vu2f4tl-ezWAV5tcWbPNGVGnYhpz48atQP4wa6OWM6cNpxtssLRUOWzKd_rNMHzW32kdjP9iK3IL1JkzPTYkeQy7luUhbhtbQfVIXJT8ecufl_ZG_zqLmSY1/s1560/stjoseph2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1170" height="547" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AdpmxtCs-Nt9b08tjj1QybE5yDJzGCMZVHRI2hJyDebwiWusOU7nogsvG4-fF_T1vu2f4tl-ezWAV5tcWbPNGVGnYhpz48atQP4wa6OWM6cNpxtssLRUOWzKd_rNMHzW32kdjP9iK3IL1JkzPTYkeQy7luUhbhtbQfVIXJT8ecufl_ZG_zqLmSY1/w410-h547/stjoseph2.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our first choice for our sixth stop was Christ the King Seminary, but the traffic going inside was heavy. We decided to go to Sto. Domingo Church, instead. While our goal was to visit churches we hadn't visited in our previous Visita Iglesia, we decided on the church since it was more accessible from where we were.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We were surprised that there were fewer people this year visiting the church. Perhaps the devotees visited earlier in the afternoon and left after the mass. There were still groups praying at the stations of the Cross when we arrived.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMN2k4BAcrUvZtS8htR_bWopCz-uiGvWSHsfw5cs2KL9xRV1s3l-i1elsODYzQwrfGyAPy1Wh9UK_ha2-Z1n0r5JCtY0vaytIDPEP0veei_CccFKFjSV3YGMmpWxLrCclOxZ7m--M9i27usrbzegy2mzkgJJfOoocvgzETSm51jwcy1DUpokcsHvC/s1560/stodomi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1169" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMN2k4BAcrUvZtS8htR_bWopCz-uiGvWSHsfw5cs2KL9xRV1s3l-i1elsODYzQwrfGyAPy1Wh9UK_ha2-Z1n0r5JCtY0vaytIDPEP0veei_CccFKFjSV3YGMmpWxLrCclOxZ7m--M9i27usrbzegy2mzkgJJfOoocvgzETSm51jwcy1DUpokcsHvC/w415-h553/stodomi.jpg" width="415" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We ended this year's Visita Iglesia at our parish church, the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Manila, as part of the tradition. This church is very memorable to me. I went to hear mass every Sunday in this church during my elementary school days. It went through a lot of renovation over the years, but the basic structure is still there. Beside the church is the school where I finished elementary, and then I transferred to a different school. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3oO_nfQekS906wGyY-HZHYixSwGFNJV2BFUYjWjGHMg_ZGx9SXtClNlt-yJq6xJrkGMftS3F7SjgG-DtFDldV18NYciatdXajdKNACsLgwINvaKxBa1dq8fow81N1ZcRdiTqI8m_ViFUhvyuhaVM3_U2j6DN5RHG31gpHUF6WKJ3gnhNCazkYq4f/s1564/mhtp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1169" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3oO_nfQekS906wGyY-HZHYixSwGFNJV2BFUYjWjGHMg_ZGx9SXtClNlt-yJq6xJrkGMftS3F7SjgG-DtFDldV18NYciatdXajdKNACsLgwINvaKxBa1dq8fow81N1ZcRdiTqI8m_ViFUhvyuhaVM3_U2j6DN5RHG31gpHUF6WKJ3gnhNCazkYq4f/w398-h532/mhtp.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>After saying our prayers, we headed home and plan to do this again next year with God's grace. Hopefully, we can visit churches we haven't gone to or even those farther from our location.<div><p><br /></p></div></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-92056045554390839392022-03-19T22:03:00.009+08:002022-04-21T22:22:05.709+08:00Enjoying the Nespresso Coffee Experience<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXO2AcMG_uvXVeCUOS10clcFMIER_UK0KzQEyjaO_NHOScCH5YBNnTgpyGyScB1CYy8LGA8r6GjCxAVIHsM7zYZX0PTjMFT6BUqbbXW_1OdumVCVp0vAV0qZbRWFzsOzCQP5TaeZHo1MJpazA1UZZAqh6Uw533F3MtEGqwvgwOoiTAJhw030ahcBJ/s700/832-8324008_black-coffee-png-free-pic-coffee-splash.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="700" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXO2AcMG_uvXVeCUOS10clcFMIER_UK0KzQEyjaO_NHOScCH5YBNnTgpyGyScB1CYy8LGA8r6GjCxAVIHsM7zYZX0PTjMFT6BUqbbXW_1OdumVCVp0vAV0qZbRWFzsOzCQP5TaeZHo1MJpazA1UZZAqh6Uw533F3MtEGqwvgwOoiTAJhw030ahcBJ/w320-h266/832-8324008_black-coffee-png-free-pic-coffee-splash.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nicepng.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> I like drinking coffee. I always have a cup every morning to perk me up and prepare for the day's tasks. I don't know when I developed a taste for brewed coffee and when I started brewing coffee at home using the drip method, there was no going back to instant coffee. When outside of our house, I usually buy lattes from well-known cafes. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I've always wanted to bring the cafe experience home, but espresso machines are costly here. I first wanted to get the Keurig since I had tried it while visiting family in the US. However, the brand is not available here, and getting one online is out of the question. Aside from the fact that we cannot find any store selling their coffee.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Last December, I opted to try the Nespresso brand, which sells machines that make espresso from capsules filled with pre-apportioned coffee grounds. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3NgQcxQDD4SNSUtPnzYf7YYMaRKwx1YXGrFlTxMzrUGSGajp0TD9QPyBSlvqLNZHZriIzQ45_R07xKHhvIGRJ1SAd_TxeDn5FgvQ577xY2GJq7qzh1P85Kh5eNTDWhkabK0KYNI2FPgTfZ6rLxXVO8XK-3HZf1fnm1tuJE0dlIQwsGE9FE0b_Y-9/s564/Essenza-Mini-Nespresso-.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="564" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3NgQcxQDD4SNSUtPnzYf7YYMaRKwx1YXGrFlTxMzrUGSGajp0TD9QPyBSlvqLNZHZriIzQ45_R07xKHhvIGRJ1SAd_TxeDn5FgvQ577xY2GJq7qzh1P85Kh5eNTDWhkabK0KYNI2FPgTfZ6rLxXVO8XK-3HZf1fnm1tuJE0dlIQwsGE9FE0b_Y-9/s320/Essenza-Mini-Nespresso-.png" width="320" /></a></div>Since I just wanted to see how good the product is, I opted for the most basic of their machines, the Essenza Mini. This device is so easy to use. Fill the water container at the back with water and turn it on by pressing one of the two buttons on its topside. A light blinks which signals that the water is heating (and maybe the needed pressure to extract the coffee flavors). Once the light stops blinking, your machine is ready. <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Just flip open the chamber on top and insert a capsule of your chosen coffee flavor. You can choose between two sizes: espresso or lungo. Espresso is a single shot, while the lungo is about a double shot and takes longer to express.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Is it a suitable replacement for cafe-bought coffee? If you ask me, yes. Those popular coffee shops aren't the benchmark for good coffee anyway. Besides, the Nespresso brand has a wide selection of coffee variants we can choose from. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">When you buy a machine, you get 10 free capsules. I got two sleeves of coffee -- Shanghai and Buenos Aires from their World Explorations line, which is suitable for lungo. My favorites include Tokyo, Vienna, and Stockholm. Store staff told me that Stockholm is one of their best sellers because of its rich, sweet, and slightly bitter taste. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROpuKIIEBrFqle48BUWsv6fUColZCYsBzBwlu52RM8_3D1dONtemGsYMMxPIS9OzHmg0fGqH6e07IEpuULQAnenNKp8rfce96ePZsHIm0KaFjC8o_L62kOjc8-hxhwyNRIj4z8sIwJPJuE6sS8XWBnC8gkPmkid4gHkI86nVdu5NTY0dGdcQHanFK/s1170/nespresso2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROpuKIIEBrFqle48BUWsv6fUColZCYsBzBwlu52RM8_3D1dONtemGsYMMxPIS9OzHmg0fGqH6e07IEpuULQAnenNKp8rfce96ePZsHIm0KaFjC8o_L62kOjc8-hxhwyNRIj4z8sIwJPJuE6sS8XWBnC8gkPmkid4gHkI86nVdu5NTY0dGdcQHanFK/w400-h400/nespresso2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I also tried flavors from the other line, like the Ispirazione Firenze Arpeggio from the Ispirazione Italia line. I have only one word for it: divine. It is creamy and bold. I received a sleeve of 10 capsules as a Christmas present, along with the limited edition "Gift of the Forest" collection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAHbAPdTsSR4bvgZAtH4TsBulzg2M-RE5CoujoDmXAxVXWjDqmmi-oSieITlGE6WM9lO80tzP9GexeXCFLCXuugqUw6z-JWzmUSMtRuxHF-vnb5CI-EIhAyMWO4ruFOrBSUS2BvwSVhWNm3920xB-i7notX8Xomdjon-Vp-RUGuIS6iJu1hl4RrVN/s1170/nespresso1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1170" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAHbAPdTsSR4bvgZAtH4TsBulzg2M-RE5CoujoDmXAxVXWjDqmmi-oSieITlGE6WM9lO80tzP9GexeXCFLCXuugqUw6z-JWzmUSMtRuxHF-vnb5CI-EIhAyMWO4ruFOrBSUS2BvwSVhWNm3920xB-i7notX8Xomdjon-Vp-RUGuIS6iJu1hl4RrVN/w400-h400/nespresso1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;">You can add your favorite milk frothed or just warmed if you want to. I use a frother bought online and make a latte when I feel like having one. Since I am lactose intolerant, I use Arla Lacto Free Full Cream Milk. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In case you're wondering, Nespresso has a recycling program for the capsules. You can drop them at their boutique or pop-up store. They also give a recycling bag that could fit up to 200 used capsules.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I enjoy having a Nespresso coffee paired with a slice of cake or biscuits each day. It's a convenient way to have the cafe experience in the comfort of your home. </div> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-86808253524423405402022-01-31T23:59:00.001+08:002022-01-31T23:59:00.214+08:00Happy Chinese New Year 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTXu_Q9V9AlrkYVumL7-LgJ5cWRrx1MtlLZf5UZJPB7OGo6qnJ6OkcgkEN_oQVWmnB_bHOULVWeKEK1l6ahv26_u1aU6pRAWOwKlkhxVtOa8k9LrxG7IedkcXLfLdwxsmUOf4Rbk7q6_t7_tjRLgwJfyz5n8uZBRZxawBgEDp3HPVXEjAqCVazPe93=s1748" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1748" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTXu_Q9V9AlrkYVumL7-LgJ5cWRrx1MtlLZf5UZJPB7OGo6qnJ6OkcgkEN_oQVWmnB_bHOULVWeKEK1l6ahv26_u1aU6pRAWOwKlkhxVtOa8k9LrxG7IedkcXLfLdwxsmUOf4Rbk7q6_t7_tjRLgwJfyz5n8uZBRZxawBgEDp3HPVXEjAqCVazPe93=w640-h454" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-26758585396072944652022-01-01T00:00:00.002+08:002022-01-01T00:00:00.214+08:00Happy New Year, Friends!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-eNnpTD_pdyfMfqz8E5uj6s3n6g1clu_mdkPF47q5DpkuFUBHj3MrCxKhEot88cHXtZqyPLkwnIVcT8ClIql7gRv30n-_NvV87ZDAO6y7VNJdLuWvblbXn4dBNfMvYneIhqyAf5E1DHmjIcOzr0GPuaipYYS56pAx37Av0NBE68nyuiSpajyb2--j=s1748" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1748" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-eNnpTD_pdyfMfqz8E5uj6s3n6g1clu_mdkPF47q5DpkuFUBHj3MrCxKhEot88cHXtZqyPLkwnIVcT8ClIql7gRv30n-_NvV87ZDAO6y7VNJdLuWvblbXn4dBNfMvYneIhqyAf5E1DHmjIcOzr0GPuaipYYS56pAx37Av0NBE68nyuiSpajyb2--j=w670-h475" width="670" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-25878094006381953762021-12-31T16:00:00.003+08:002021-12-31T17:04:47.281+08:00Last Sunset of 2021<p style="text-align: justify;"> It has become a personal tradition to go out and watch the sun go down the horizon for the last time in the current year. The practice evokes a bit of melancholy as memories come back while watching the light of the setting sun fade out. This year will not be different. I plan to go out later today as the tints of the skies turn to orange, then to purple, and then deep blue.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDcvQP-q-Db5oGqC7AseT60pDZOW1QE8e4JQsucvjX2ucPENXm2gfwtXbbdul1BWfQ9YJ6MmFtpELn_HFBHASTyW008K6zw1W1KwMbCbLpjvWncS-Co6W17En60BeQqm07SdWpuVpIZMMM99UEvw3O9GJkGAu--tb1HuyFNdshcVFPV-NIWyIksUIz=s940" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDcvQP-q-Db5oGqC7AseT60pDZOW1QE8e4JQsucvjX2ucPENXm2gfwtXbbdul1BWfQ9YJ6MmFtpELn_HFBHASTyW008K6zw1W1KwMbCbLpjvWncS-Co6W17En60BeQqm07SdWpuVpIZMMM99UEvw3O9GJkGAu--tb1HuyFNdshcVFPV-NIWyIksUIz=w400-h335" title="canva.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>canva.com</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">This year, there will be a lot of sadder memories; however, as I lost a few friends and have some that continue to suffer from COVID-19. As the COVID-19 continues, it continues to disrupt our daily lives. Christmas celebrations were still limited to the closest family members, and I won’t be surprised if New Year’s revelries will also be less festive. Many of my friends and relatives don’t see the end of all of these in the near future. Just when people started to go out from the almost 2-year quarantine period, the number of new cases also climbed. While the government reported that many of the new cases had not received the vaccine, I also know some fully vaccinated friends who recently got infected.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I don’t know if it has something to do with the increase in the number of infections, but I noticed that some people who go out seemed to have forgotten to observe the recommended health protocols. People do not practice social distancing in malls, and they bring their small children and elderly relatives to dine in these establishments. I am apprehensive about eating outside because I would have to remove my face mask and possibly expose myself to the virus.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">As I watch the sunset later today, I wish it will bring all our worries about this coronavirus with it. Tomorrow’s sunrise hopefully brings a better year ahead, free from the ongoing health emergency concerns.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0FXWF+CC Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines14.4960434 120.973567813.436045192785855 119.8749349875 15.556041607214144 122.0722006125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-58096515208671757732021-12-24T23:59:00.001+08:002021-12-24T23:59:00.200+08:00Merry Christmas, Everyone!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC04tT1L_9EAnFY5eLdBAA2buA93h_TMyk9sMKm1NrXlKKXBHQUG4m-vHP1rh0XZO4UeY8QGaVtlAZ23CvtSFgUzctnuPz0F6XpKiIvGKSeTiQKo5IUfYAvvAt2fNsSKgiCznrqmY2PZrtp7u1vAEXIwenl57dn3XRK6CHYeK4avd9YR4B-vHzoJ4M=s1748" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1748" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC04tT1L_9EAnFY5eLdBAA2buA93h_TMyk9sMKm1NrXlKKXBHQUG4m-vHP1rh0XZO4UeY8QGaVtlAZ23CvtSFgUzctnuPz0F6XpKiIvGKSeTiQKo5IUfYAvvAt2fNsSKgiCznrqmY2PZrtp7u1vAEXIwenl57dn3XRK6CHYeK4avd9YR4B-vHzoJ4M=w608-h431" width="608" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-1226313794625538712021-12-15T00:00:00.598+08:002022-01-04T22:55:27.627+08:00My 2021 Christmas Playlist to Make the Season Bright<p style="text-align: justify;">Christmas is just days away, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than playing and listening to yuletide music. Music is very much part of our celebrations in my country. Pre-pandemic, radio stations and stores would start playing carols as early as September. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">However, the pandemic seemed to have put a damper on Christmas since last year. We didn't get to hear much music on the radio or in other places last year. Even this year, we only started hearing the tunes in late November. Anyway, it's not too late to clean our vinyl collection and start spinning and listening to our favorite records.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmw8HUal4-4o_SFKsZNxUYyfb4frWbghTuRpf2akOBwsgaqAqQ2G0BSHfrpz37VTb3rtqWpwSzZnfxK7lSlasMyhWZ30MszT-2-GTPYnd2ynPEWZrVHtK-roO2Cu5vMvz8ZpfsBIGgfKVbWTQsbC7XjSy43yhS5MR58vgKm2s1pJexJL4WBE-rYqEK=s1251" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1251" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmw8HUal4-4o_SFKsZNxUYyfb4frWbghTuRpf2akOBwsgaqAqQ2G0BSHfrpz37VTb3rtqWpwSzZnfxK7lSlasMyhWZ30MszT-2-GTPYnd2ynPEWZrVHtK-roO2Cu5vMvz8ZpfsBIGgfKVbWTQsbC7XjSy43yhS5MR58vgKm2s1pJexJL4WBE-rYqEK=w398-h183" title="https://www.pinclipart.com/" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>from pinclipart.com<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></div></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">While I already have several Christmas records in my collection, I also bought some new ones this year. These records will comprise my playlist this holiday season. By the way, this article isn't a review but a list of vinyl records on rotation on my turntable this year. The list is also not in order of my preference.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Frank Sinatra</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNXFvA_5FDIFF42CNsy05SC85x7-5DZhB8bGeKvFzqzkc0gayw9lLgene92T5XqDHiq4iNuaga2M0LXdESpP7eFXcxlt_yLZBpSEBQeZvUrm66eLg5gUpQwZmfLLL1q1nq5n_RP5Bcby9DvUTCD--P8P_Zs-M2h2BbNsd4Fj_sLEq0fksXBZZeroP6=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNXFvA_5FDIFF42CNsy05SC85x7-5DZhB8bGeKvFzqzkc0gayw9lLgene92T5XqDHiq4iNuaga2M0LXdESpP7eFXcxlt_yLZBpSEBQeZvUrm66eLg5gUpQwZmfLLL1q1nq5n_RP5Bcby9DvUTCD--P8P_Zs-M2h2BbNsd4Fj_sLEq0fksXBZZeroP6=w260-h260" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div>One of my newly bought albums, <i>Ultimate Christmas,</i> has become a favorite. This record is a compilation of 20-holiday classics from the Chairman of the Board. This album is like listening through Sinatra's long career and life. </div><div><br /></div><div>From a debonaire crooner in the 50s to a father singing the 12 days of Christmas with his children, and on the last side of this double-LP set, Sinatra becomes the grandfather wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">MERRY CHRISTMAS</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Mariah Carey</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRSQ5Hy71vmMKSKVlXlpKe-cccbWEiW74sOm3XatpeVCLo-1jTHMYowDhWNLOJJQr3TdIV6iHgoOs6JjkUnZBOfYFKxvMhISMscejTBktVqyy2JmfmSBLWYpsJ4DOJkigcJqF_ouc8g2CuHGOcgCgPz03w2qWMEAj9t3Mx0DsIioA9nkt9jAEA_FvB=s300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRSQ5Hy71vmMKSKVlXlpKe-cccbWEiW74sOm3XatpeVCLo-1jTHMYowDhWNLOJJQr3TdIV6iHgoOs6JjkUnZBOfYFKxvMhISMscejTBktVqyy2JmfmSBLWYpsJ4DOJkigcJqF_ouc8g2CuHGOcgCgPz03w2qWMEAj9t3Mx0DsIioA9nkt9jAEA_FvB=w274-h274" width="274" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since its release in the early 90s, this album has become a Christmas staple that Mariah crowned herself the "Queen of Christmas." Thanks, of course, to the worldwide mega-hit "All I Want for Christmas is You." This record gets a spot on my playlist because Mariah included her interpretation of several traditional tunes focusing on the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus Christ, including Silent Night, O Holy Night, and the gospel-tinged Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're spending Christmas heartbroken, skip "Miss You Most (At Christmas time) unless you want to wallow in tears while we celebrate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">WONDERLAND OF CHRISTMAS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Andre Kostelanetz</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtFFe_QsBnAVu-nW7xj32VvHTznN3YGSbpgaPIEvZ1LhYDGXiKALrQJZ6RWKomYVX0RJ5xAEpnar8pwUDSmlIM9LTtKmdvD23tE_lTucHF01IZzNBXLGHISVPmh6xVOfFJe6ue-7bTLJENQ2vL-lpYvD7bn07tIVIKIc_LB5Jl5egbTUwBwXUQH33n=s500" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtFFe_QsBnAVu-nW7xj32VvHTznN3YGSbpgaPIEvZ1LhYDGXiKALrQJZ6RWKomYVX0RJ5xAEpnar8pwUDSmlIM9LTtKmdvD23tE_lTucHF01IZzNBXLGHISVPmh6xVOfFJe6ue-7bTLJENQ2vL-lpYvD7bn07tIVIKIc_LB5Jl5egbTUwBwXUQH33n=w286-h282" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This album puts "merry" in Merry Christmas to the next level. It's fun to listen to this all-instrumental album while wrapping Christmas gifts or just waiting for Christmas to come. It has a great selection of traditional carols and contemporary music for the season, some presented in medleys. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since it puts the listener in a really festive mood, I should issue this warning. Don't put this record on or stream it on your phone while shopping for gifts. You might get caught up in the fun and spend more than you planned to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">CHRISTMAS WITH CONNIFF</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Ray Conniff Singers</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6DEFvV2Y0jLSOVowLk0p5p6UeBGE7d-4HiT_jRSH_k4sMIWkimI_OZXg4kza3ADSg7wx0OlrnyC7Jx6a-uznP8mYnHFB8Nx9vo66YeyftXFJIrzHByz_k--8chPP2a50WddAr9oV9rcNaEjZ2Sl4yV-n0pIKBErwrNFGksZ84gVPqHeHUafdyiHfw=s300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6DEFvV2Y0jLSOVowLk0p5p6UeBGE7d-4HiT_jRSH_k4sMIWkimI_OZXg4kza3ADSg7wx0OlrnyC7Jx6a-uznP8mYnHFB8Nx9vo66YeyftXFJIrzHByz_k--8chPP2a50WddAr9oV9rcNaEjZ2Sl4yV-n0pIKBErwrNFGksZ84gVPqHeHUafdyiHfw" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What's Christmas without the Ray Conniff singers singing holiday songs with enthusiasm in the background? At any time of the day during the season, one could hear songs from the album (and from the "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" record) in shopping malls, the bus, a taxi, the MRT, and even in the elevator. But I am not complaining because these singers have been bringing yuletide cheers during this festive time for generations. Never mind if many tunes are about things we could never experience in the tropical Philippines (sleigh ride? let it snow and winter wonderland? white Christmas?)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm still playing this record just to get me into the festive mood.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">CHRISTMAS SING-IN</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Gunter Kallmann Choir</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF1MqICBdlrBMacpFE7Px5w33dovEz2SW8OMUQfd7ksP-LlGtwyGtl5RbvxdvR2GYN32IXzK0yyLB90EEVdDhpwd3Ju6XYNUC30qFu97AZqo7OHaubY1IAZ0fBzudneEwvfNQ2-kCx6Seq5mSoWAdUF7I6vkRvI_NPNcxHKtbzGBrHi5v_zx-9sg13=s320" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="310" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiF1MqICBdlrBMacpFE7Px5w33dovEz2SW8OMUQfd7ksP-LlGtwyGtl5RbvxdvR2GYN32IXzK0yyLB90EEVdDhpwd3Ju6XYNUC30qFu97AZqo7OHaubY1IAZ0fBzudneEwvfNQ2-kCx6Seq5mSoWAdUF7I6vkRvI_NPNcxHKtbzGBrHi5v_zx-9sg13=w281-h290" width="281" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sometime in the 1980s, we couldn't get hold of a copy of any Ray Conniff Christmas album. Many record stores offered this album as an alternative, and it took over the job of bringing holiday cheers through music. I love the selections on this album which include traditional, religious, and contemporary songs. Each track is a medley of two to three songs. Some tracks begin with a slow song with the choir singing softly, followed by festive music with the chorus singing lively.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The enthusiastic singing of the choir is a plus. Even Scrooge would find it hard to not feel merry and bright. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">TINSEL AND LIGHTS</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Tracey Thorn</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid_BbvEf545ar2GuLaCFBhC_IbL3XAEQZMiz-y-3gkp67vgxGxIf23SHPU85SqEvGl7bZo25WnzOjBHI-ex6f_ffcSGlSPvOajw8bl35dKNS-k57RncL4wXiZInblC7VG4oQr0UFO1UrLd-JaVQ3sDbFI2XPF6OZ4g4lExHYjyZnPcPBj2NXAYi9YT=s300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid_BbvEf545ar2GuLaCFBhC_IbL3XAEQZMiz-y-3gkp67vgxGxIf23SHPU85SqEvGl7bZo25WnzOjBHI-ex6f_ffcSGlSPvOajw8bl35dKNS-k57RncL4wXiZInblC7VG4oQr0UFO1UrLd-JaVQ3sDbFI2XPF6OZ4g4lExHYjyZnPcPBj2NXAYi9YT=w285-h285" width="285" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I consider this the Christmas album for adults. Tracey Thorn, the other half of one of my favorite 1980s acts, Everything But The Girl, covered tracks from artists and came up with a very sober holiday album. There's also a self-penned track (Tinsel and Lights) and "25th December," originally sung by her husband and partner, Ben Watt, on <i>Amplified Heart. </i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think it's best to listen to this album while resting from all the season's frenzy or after the guests have left and you're sitting at the table having a cuppa. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">ELLA WISHES YOU A SWINGING CHRISTMAS</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Ella Fitzgerald</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1R6aPZ0thvHBGX-yLrkt8nByNK4FDFrYIFVJRZ9vKSOyfp49xR3_aWrAoXRESCNZ6cXzd58nPTNrtl0Ore1m5aKWsbcWEcx8eBUUUxZEZTKbWcTA_CzcwQhfauWINHfppXGI9QgMIXv2cV5VrGr6Z4k83qfy411OOUSjnukoRiaKGVGzYuQ-wI75L=s470" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="470" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1R6aPZ0thvHBGX-yLrkt8nByNK4FDFrYIFVJRZ9vKSOyfp49xR3_aWrAoXRESCNZ6cXzd58nPTNrtl0Ore1m5aKWsbcWEcx8eBUUUxZEZTKbWcTA_CzcwQhfauWINHfppXGI9QgMIXv2cV5VrGr6Z4k83qfy411OOUSjnukoRiaKGVGzYuQ-wI75L=w304-h303" width="304" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ella Fitzgerald gives holiday songs a swinging treatment, and the result is simply fabulous. Although the album does not contain a single traditional or religious carol, Ella's unique rendition of familiar ditties gave them a new level. It made them a joy to listen to. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I first heard this record at a party hosted by a fellow record collector. It played in the background while the guests were busy chatting and eating. I thought then that was not the way to treat Ella Fitzgerald. I now usually put this on my turntable, sit down and listen to it from start to finish. Given that Ella has one of the sweetest voices ever recorded, I could even listen to it even when it's not Christmas time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>JACKSON 5 CHRISTMAS ALBUM </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>The Jacksons</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrpnl9HtxEbRpB0wwlHGUCxd-BkmFDg8Vmp8GD3YpoGdqvlW_quBnizlLgtiXt4bQ6u5XQH9hfc5r9Vke7DIds8zCKjF9RN1Do1IlQI9Eb333z1lAAbloRWHVAeuAcuUavBDPRM_SiuGyh_T9uorUO7WJK1p4W0k_UMZzrOUyp-ia0G2n9Pr04HD-d=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrpnl9HtxEbRpB0wwlHGUCxd-BkmFDg8Vmp8GD3YpoGdqvlW_quBnizlLgtiXt4bQ6u5XQH9hfc5r9Vke7DIds8zCKjF9RN1Do1IlQI9Eb333z1lAAbloRWHVAeuAcuUavBDPRM_SiuGyh_T9uorUO7WJK1p4W0k_UMZzrOUyp-ia0G2n9Pr04HD-d=w310-h310" width="310" /></a></div><div><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: justify;">Here's another Christmas album playing during this season like forever. Not a single track on this record refers to the Nativity, but a not-yet-teenager Michael tells us to "Give Love On Christmas Day." Like Ella before them, the Jackson 5 gave some old familiar tunes their unique style and the Motown sound. The result remains funky almost 50 years later.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This album will always be on my playlist because it brings back memories of elementary school Christmas parties and presentations. Each of which usually started with the singing of a medley of traditional carols and capped by, you guessed it, "Give Love On Christmas Day."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Jose Mari Chan</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3RONGqvDfc3e3oIVuMGNAfhPrw2Z-tgD0bfq87WkbJBXs0QUFbWUt-Z87VBE2iryzsSkhhsJ0CW227Glz4HX0AHt5Zqz5CnRGu7e6ZUIlyOb_BKqvNmUOeXYA-njbKtgBW7vlbo9LD_2oWQC4RhzIBmu6ObH9Q2UMIVH6_HeSKCYTFP91RSqLNbax=s280" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="274" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3RONGqvDfc3e3oIVuMGNAfhPrw2Z-tgD0bfq87WkbJBXs0QUFbWUt-Z87VBE2iryzsSkhhsJ0CW227Glz4HX0AHt5Zqz5CnRGu7e6ZUIlyOb_BKqvNmUOeXYA-njbKtgBW7vlbo9LD_2oWQC4RhzIBmu6ObH9Q2UMIVH6_HeSKCYTFP91RSqLNbax=w315-h322" width="315" /></a></div>This album must be the ultimate Christmas collection and a must-have on every Filipino's playlist. Chan, a talented songwriter, and singer came up with what could be THE national Christmas anthem and a required sing-a-long during celebrations. This song, "Christmas in Our Hearts," is so famous that it has become a meme. I'm beginning to suspect that parents are passing the tradition of singing it to their children before they could even speak. Some songs are not as festive as those on the other albums, but they still bring the Christmas Spirit to the listener. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I usually put this at the end after listening to the more lively and festive albums on this playlist.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is my Christmas playlist for this year. If you couldn't find your favorite album here, it means I don't have it yet and couldn't find a copy. I still have to find some albums we listen to during the Yuletide season in my childhood so expect an update as this list gets longer in the future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For now, these albums will surely help to make this season bright. Now time to start spinning them on my turntable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: Album cover photos are from various sites on the Internet.</span></i></div><p><br /></p></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-59273639378895098522021-12-01T00:00:00.001+08:002021-12-01T21:08:17.594+08:00World AIDS Day 2021<p>The theme of World AIDS Day 2021 is “End inequalities. End AIDS”. With a special focus on reaching people left behind, WHO and its partners highlight the growing inequalities in access to essential HIV services. </p><p>Despite significant progress, the world has made in recent decades, HIV remains a major public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. While important global targets for 2020 were not met, COVID-19 exacerbates inequities and disruptions to services, making the lives of many people living with HIV more challenging.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYJY7mwuMzlOC0nacPtrSVREwlZzRGEYpsxkwQTzMc0N-0joSRCkvFVcdh_GZ1t-PtuXzkiX-j8_bHnCaknmW0Oq-xHdYb3st9RMIrg75Mz1LHBn12MhF5BwVRGv-_TT9XxZgh-S5yh8/s1920/who-social-06-en.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYJY7mwuMzlOC0nacPtrSVREwlZzRGEYpsxkwQTzMc0N-0joSRCkvFVcdh_GZ1t-PtuXzkiX-j8_bHnCaknmW0Oq-xHdYb3st9RMIrg75Mz1LHBn12MhF5BwVRGv-_TT9XxZgh-S5yh8/w400-h400/who-social-06-en.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>An estimated 37.7 million people live with HIV at the end of 2020, over two-thirds of whom or 25.4 million are in the WHO African Region. The same year, 680 000 people died from HIV-related causes, while 1.5 million people acquired HIV.</p><p>This year, the World Health Organization calls on global leaders and citizens to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and reach people who are currently not receiving essential HIV services. These problems need a renewed effort to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ_IgWCUxoIZSDdUrcxbfCa6neeQghienoFx2uUZ3DH-0S0uDMOWQdiRuLvPN6vuFYwSnj5TZG8D-dp_SfFT-GqhZi9KwjSz8g0SesWKeL1Vty69jSx5tCrxmieGBXSHZ4niR2_Nrb4k/s1920/who-social-04.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ_IgWCUxoIZSDdUrcxbfCa6neeQghienoFx2uUZ3DH-0S0uDMOWQdiRuLvPN6vuFYwSnj5TZG8D-dp_SfFT-GqhZi9KwjSz8g0SesWKeL1Vty69jSx5tCrxmieGBXSHZ4niR2_Nrb4k/w400-h400/who-social-04.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/world-aids-day-2021" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WHO World AIDS Day 2021</a></span></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-45805855133641789552021-06-12T00:01:00.023+08:002021-06-12T11:51:38.501+08:00If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood<span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCbQKvN7sfuroEj1_dhByz4aKdejmgHO78Pyjo74Plkq5KDYfl30dZ-jH4dEsO59KbCsX-9D9aYg-7oX2r4Byi2kLTV2uXaijTx5SwM-1TRbzAtn7bJAN_uLOlvmtc8CED_l-pJBszW0/s383/700f0-if-you-tell-gregg-olsen.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCbQKvN7sfuroEj1_dhByz4aKdejmgHO78Pyjo74Plkq5KDYfl30dZ-jH4dEsO59KbCsX-9D9aYg-7oX2r4Byi2kLTV2uXaijTx5SwM-1TRbzAtn7bJAN_uLOlvmtc8CED_l-pJBszW0/s16000/700f0-if-you-tell-gregg-olsen.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>www. amazon.com</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It took me some time to finish this book because it's hard to read. Not because it was badly written, but because reading about what the three sisters in this story went through for years is not for the faint-hearted or squeamish. While I like reading and watching true crime stories, I had to put down the book several times because the details were just too much. </div></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>If You Tell</i> chronicles, the abuse three sisters had to endure while living with their sadistic mother. The mother, Michelle "Shelly" Knotek, is someone who could go "zero to sixty, from calm to rage, in less than five seconds." She subjected her daughters Nikki, Sami, and Tori to all kinds of abuse, torture, and degradation. Such acts of sadism extended to relatives and friends, which eventually led to murder and her incarceration. As manipulative as she was, she even convinced one of her daughters to participate in one of her crimes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gregg Olsen described the events in a raw, graphic, and sometimes sordid way. He interspersed the recollection of people who knew Sherry, including her stepmother, her daughters, and her ex-partner. You'd be forgiven to think that the book is fiction, but it's not. It all happened. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What happened to the sisters was so horrific that normal everyday objects would trigger memories of their fears and anguish. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He also underscored that despite the horrific events, the sisters remained resilient and how, through the strength of the bond between them, they became empowered to end their mother's reign of terror. To this day, they remained in contact with each other.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I just wonder how such terrible acts could happen, and nobody could even notice it. Especially that these events happened in a small, rural town in Washington where everybody supposedly knew each other. Of course, nobody could blame the sisters because years of manipulation and mental abuse would make them submissive to their mother. In fact, the police and other authorities did not act when the sisters reported to them earlier and acted only after someone has died.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While the narrative is simple, the details became repetitive in several parts and did not contribute to the story anymore. Olsen also did not completely tell what drove the mother to such heinous acts. Was she born evil? Was her troubled past responsible for the behavior her stepmother already noticed when she was still very young? Clearly, the book was not to psychoanalyze Shelly or her victims. However, these are unanswered questions that should have been addressed to better understand how this monster came to be. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><div style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial;">If You Tell: </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Gregg Olsen</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Publisher: Thomas & Mercer </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Publication date: December 1, 2019</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Kindle Edition (File size: 4464 KB)</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-13704857631217375422021-06-01T00:01:00.057+08:002023-05-02T22:25:49.481+08:00COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy, Myths and Misinformation<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Earlier this year, we asked our colleagues whether they would get vaccinated against COVID-19. Almost 7 out of 10 said that they would get the vaccine once it becomes available. The remaining three were either unsure or will definitely not get vaccinated. </span><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unfortunately, our survey results are better than those conducted by private agencies with respondents across the country. One survey showed that 61% of their subjects would say no to the vaccines, another 23% were uncertain, and only 16% were willing to get inoculated if the vaccines were available at the time of the survey. The other study had better results, with 32% of their informants willing to receive the vaccine, while </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">35% were uncertain, and 33% were unwilling. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4a5F2x0dUIrne7KZwGVD0yAGmTR4go_NbJivEUZFSYJ5ptVJFoVDCWPJ5BjCnumwsbEtW4ykv_y0ufI5UwuP_a35brtw6gRf0uU1eY0iZEKSnbfBGLqk92jmvn5FeDkybhMgJB9Pipw/s1080/WHO_VE_Topic+7_Square.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4a5F2x0dUIrne7KZwGVD0yAGmTR4go_NbJivEUZFSYJ5ptVJFoVDCWPJ5BjCnumwsbEtW4ykv_y0ufI5UwuP_a35brtw6gRf0uU1eY0iZEKSnbfBGLqk92jmvn5FeDkybhMgJB9Pipw/w355-h355/WHO_VE_Topic+7_Square.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image from www.who.int</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not surprisingly, the reasons given by those unwilling and uncertain participants of our survey were almost the same as those of the other surveys. Both sets of respondents were worried about the safety of the vaccines that they might get sick of COVID-19, and the vaccine would not help them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It does not help that so much information, both right and wrong is readily available on social media and other online sites. Health experts are worried about the amount of misinformation that they even called an "infodemic."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt2_dgOG987d4f0RXDTA9CiEEDbBF4mqSbiFMSZzuGRjFZupj3ZSbOf8Q8iTa-9q1LWo-XdsrlzBl27cxQ8hROu5a8Pdp5LIxnBrN5BVXvWsnj15FcjkfI8aUjsnYIUqxWp-prVGMiz0/s1920/WHO_VE_Topic+10_HD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt2_dgOG987d4f0RXDTA9CiEEDbBF4mqSbiFMSZzuGRjFZupj3ZSbOf8Q8iTa-9q1LWo-XdsrlzBl27cxQ8hROu5a8Pdp5LIxnBrN5BVXvWsnj15FcjkfI8aUjsnYIUqxWp-prVGMiz0/w493-h277/WHO_VE_Topic+10_HD.jpg" width="493" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">image from www.who.int</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Much of the misinformation focus on the vaccine's safety. Most people are concerned that the laboratories rushed the development of the vaccine and that they did not go through all the required steps. Authorities with <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know" target="_blank">John Hopkins Medicine</a> assure that the developers of the COVID-19 vaccines did not rush on testing for safety and efficacy, and they used processes that have been developed and tested over many years. These procedures are really to develop — and thoroughly test — vaccines quickly in an infectious disease pandemic like COVID-19.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My favorite myth is that the vaccine carries a microchip that can detect and track the recipient. When switched on, the chip could alter the person's DNA and turn him into a zombie. Well, sorry, but no, the vaccine will not turn anybody into a zombie. WHO explains that the mRNA used in some vaccines only has instructions to produce a protein, and then our natural immune system responds to it. The mRNA can't turn into DNA, nor can it change the DNA of human cells. That means there won't be any zombie apocalypse because of the vaccine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBvqFNHDAQ4R8rEVp-LAi_BlVXotT3ALAFf_EMzZILEMM42c3kd5ObBW_SWELCjxLiiHBLu959f1NlT_YkJqOxTK0oUwlSgJHqkP7YHPnC6SXmw8b9WA1YcfiCOi-X4HjWoJcQI8iCX8/s1080/WHO_VE_Topic+9_Square.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBvqFNHDAQ4R8rEVp-LAi_BlVXotT3ALAFf_EMzZILEMM42c3kd5ObBW_SWELCjxLiiHBLu959f1NlT_YkJqOxTK0oUwlSgJHqkP7YHPnC6SXmw8b9WA1YcfiCOi-X4HjWoJcQI8iCX8/s320/WHO_VE_Topic+9_Square.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>image from www.who.int</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You will not get COVID-19 from the vaccines since they do not contain live coronavirus. John Hopkins Medicine further explains that you might experience a sore arm after the shots, a mild fever, or body aches, but this doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. These symptoms are temporary, usually lasting only a day or two if you get them. These are signals of a natural response as our body’s immune system learns to recognize and fight the coronavirus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The other fallacies that continue to circulate are the vaccine could cause infertility among women, and that those who had previous COVID-19 infections do not need to get vaccinated.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="640" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9luWNOWYIogpyrQVkTi088s0XWxicjWUYasW7dvADvpSMhWySuPbVUqxInaUYa3Tf4JWd9gxNrGsuHrbg6lXrTq9jbDXOJbEISTEacQyFZX-lu_9wTc-rME9NQ-J-nOo3sVXHmw3E2ac/w455-h313/family.png" width="455" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid19-vaccine-hesitancy-12-things-you-need-to-know" target="_blank">image from hopkinsmedicine.org</a></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Of course, the vaccines themselves will not put an end to the pandemic. We must all go out and get our shots. Doing so will not only protect us but also our loved ones and our community as a whole. Even when we get our vaccines, the Department of Health advises that we continue observing the minimum health standards, such as frequently washing our hands, wearing face masks, and going outside our homes only when necessary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-87850011692715774342021-05-27T23:28:00.012+08:002021-06-02T22:34:57.745+08:00You Can Now Hide Post Like Counts on Your Instagram Feed <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ws23c5FlkhVH9ksMe97gwiUt_8Gj2hkrEycffimFfk8p_N3lZxb4K-Tlc_95lD-6Fw9bDX54J9NdsOdCO-Tlp8TxKUnwSaLo9gfIFvdbfXfz4hRTz1N_iqYYd0vazrkk5i4XOJYDuRs/s800/socmed+%25282%2529.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="800" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ws23c5FlkhVH9ksMe97gwiUt_8Gj2hkrEycffimFfk8p_N3lZxb4K-Tlc_95lD-6Fw9bDX54J9NdsOdCO-Tlp8TxKUnwSaLo9gfIFvdbfXfz4hRTz1N_iqYYd0vazrkk5i4XOJYDuRs/w438-h303/socmed+%25282%2529.png" width="438" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instagram has just announced that it is giving its users the option to hide like counts of posts on feeds they follow. The decision came after testing the feature since 2019.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Instagram also allows us, its users, to choose whether we want to see the Like counts on others’ posts. You will also be able to turn off Like counts on your own posts if you want to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">According to the news online, the company wants to make their users' experience more pleasant, without the pressure that "Likes" and similar reactions usually cause. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a blog <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2021/05/giving-people-more-control/" target="_blank">post, </a>Instagram and Facebook admit that people have different views on like counts - some are bothered by them, while others use the count to know what is trending and popular online. That is why they give their users a choice. The company hopes that this option will allow us to focus more on our photos and content from other users. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can hide like counts on others’ posts through the new Posts section in Settings. This control applies to all the posts in your feed. You can also hide like counts before sharing a post and turn it on or off anytime. These controls will also come to Facebook "in the weeks to come."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't really mind how many likes or reactions my posts on Instagram and Facebook receive. I'm just happy posting and sharing my photos and activities. But some people I know actually ask their friends to like their posts! I think it gives them fulfillment to see the little red hearts on their posts. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The downside to this is it could lead to issues with one's self-esteem. A friend once told me that one of her kids felt sad when their vacation photos didn't get many likes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For some, however, they capitalize on these metrics to gain popularity and monetize their activities. It really boils down to individual preferences and purpose. </span></p><p><br /></p>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-78571232399139036032021-03-27T18:41:00.031+08:002021-06-03T09:05:16.344+08:00Animal, Vegetable, Junk: An Account of Man's Relationship with Food <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYf6_QSiqbehKNWJaXrHfJKp7yQaTS9vRY7qoGFJWODjryTGG_zUkjK-IFAa4IlvUpdFV_QG-mn6w5EN9kxxOQ0sjkpRWq7yV-d9cw5wdlybXDA_R91azohj3Xzthmxru2VAnhrC8Fi0/s2048/bittmanavj.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1366" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYf6_QSiqbehKNWJaXrHfJKp7yQaTS9vRY7qoGFJWODjryTGG_zUkjK-IFAa4IlvUpdFV_QG-mn6w5EN9kxxOQ0sjkpRWq7yV-d9cw5wdlybXDA_R91azohj3Xzthmxru2VAnhrC8Fi0/w245-h368/bittmanavj.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This book takes a long look at how we have transformed the way we get and consume our food. Bittman -- a bestselling cookbook author, journalist, and food writer-- gives a comprehensive account of how man obtains his food, from hunter-gatherers to early agriculture and industrial farming. He argues that the food we eat now is not the same as what our early ancestors ate. He noted that deceptive marketing techniques made us unhealthy through the years. How we presently produce our food is also not sustainable and harms us and the environment than good.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bittman also touched on the politics of American agriculture. He cited how its expansion excluded black Americans from some government programs and how current practices continue to disadvantage certain groups. His most damning arguments include how the US Department of Agriculture continues to favor big companies and disregard the people’s and the environment’s welfare. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite painting a bleak scenario for the agriculture industry, Bittman says that a systemic overhaul of the sector could still save it. He offers an ecological solution he calls "agroecology.” However, he admits that there would be resistance, especially from those in power. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most parts of this book sound like a scathing criticism of modern agriculture and American politics by an outraged man. To be fair, Bittman did a lot of work and research to cover not only agriculture and food production but also the underlying socio-political issues. The effort shows in the number of references he cited and the pages dedicated to his endnotes. However, he started proselytizing his ideas in the final chapters and sounded like a propagandist for veganism and social organizations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, JUNK</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A History of Food, From Sustainable to Suicidal</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By Mark Bittman</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Houghton Mifflin Harcourt</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kindle Edition (4087 KB)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Published on February 2, 2021</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-3593884617772665052020-05-11T00:00:00.000+08:002021-06-03T09:05:55.292+08:00A Man- a novel on identity<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w3uNIyFefNAUN6q0db8bPMwwDL82OOet5H7vvUvDtNakjBBpOVUOm_dFrcjSTVq-yhvHDV4LtN1ZRZq3aHeHKEkZVOmY1e62PKfDMUVwjTfnbCGYkVb0fbqR008tBjKwqhfOqh4E0wE/s1600/aman.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w3uNIyFefNAUN6q0db8bPMwwDL82OOet5H7vvUvDtNakjBBpOVUOm_dFrcjSTVq-yhvHDV4LtN1ZRZq3aHeHKEkZVOmY1e62PKfDMUVwjTfnbCGYkVb0fbqR008tBjKwqhfOqh4E0wE/s400/aman.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Keiichiro-Hirano-ebook/dp/B07XKYTD57/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=a+man&qid=1589963867&sr=8-3">amazon.com</a></i></td></tr>
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I just finished reading the novel, <i>A Man</i> by Japanese writer, Keiichiro Hirano. This is Hirano's first novel translated and published in English, but he's written several books already.</div>
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<i>A Man</i> revolves around a family lawyer, whose former client asked him to investigate the mystery behind her dead husband. The family of the dead man informed the woman that her husband was not their kin. The lawyer had to solve two puzzles: the real identity of the dead man, and what happened to the person whose identity and past he claimed as his. Through his investigation, the lawyer learned the meaning of our identity and the memory and legacies we leave, </div>
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Hirano covered a lot of topics, aside from the meaning of identity, he also touched on racism, middle life crisis, and relationships. It also gave us a glimpse of the complicated Japanese law on the family registry system. <i>A Man</i> is a great read, especially if you enjoy a good mystery.</div>
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A Man</div>
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by Keiichirō Hirano, Eli K.P. William (Translator)</div>
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295 pages</div>
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<i style="font-size: small;">Note: I read the Kindle edition of this book, available through the Kindle First Reads program under my Amazon Prime subscription</i></div>
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Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6264229770266477595.post-89760254606441108202020-04-26T00:01:00.000+08:002020-05-04T00:26:03.451+08:00COVID 19: Things You Can Do While in Quarantine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You probably know by now that the Expanded Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed by the government has been extended again up to May 15. The quarantine covered the entire island of Luzon, including the capital region of the country, to prevent the coronavirus or COVID-19 from spreading. When it was first implemented, the ECQ was supposed to end after a month. Since the number of infected persons continued to rise, the government extended it up to the end of April. </div>
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Just two days ago, the government decided to further extend the ECQ to up to May 15 but only in certain areas where the infection remains high. Unfortunately, the National Capital Region remains under strict quarantine. That means we still have 20 days before us. </div>
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I've been working from home since the start of the ECQ, and that kept me entirely occupied in the last 39 days. If you have been spending the past five weeks just binge-watching on Netflix, then you must be screaming by now to get out of the house. Relax, there are other things you can do in the next three weeks. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>clipart-library.com</i></td></tr>
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Try <b>decluttering</b> your closet. I spent the weekends during the quarantine going over my clothes. Since I didn't go out much, my clothes remained hanging in the closet, and I realized that there were a lot of them. I tried Marie Kondo's spark of joy method during the first pass, and I ended up with fewer clothes. However, my clothes were still packed tightly, and I next used Joshua Becker's suggestion to ask myself, "Do I really need this?" Some shirts and pants didn't pass the test and went to the 'donate' box. I am still working on this, and I will do my shoes next.</div>
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Remember how we keep on putting off reading our books because we do not have enough time? Well, the next three weeks give you enough time to <b>read at least one good book</b>. I have already read some books in between doing my work. You can even start <b>blogging</b> about them after reading.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FfOoaB-N7yGzEqAZP4S2QPsotYOIl53MR4TNpVZZQegei6q8qM7srJJytrqHiGtkmZJ4IKdjbB3yKxuD_iI8IvqKMeFHalBq-AoOaguVJ8wiKsFBx4kpDtDSY5vKSajg0QL4-HoK36g/s1600/kissclipart-clip-art-clipart-gardening-clip-art-b041527c3a53cffd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FfOoaB-N7yGzEqAZP4S2QPsotYOIl53MR4TNpVZZQegei6q8qM7srJJytrqHiGtkmZJ4IKdjbB3yKxuD_iI8IvqKMeFHalBq-AoOaguVJ8wiKsFBx4kpDtDSY5vKSajg0QL4-HoK36g/s320/kissclipart-clip-art-clipart-gardening-clip-art-b041527c3a53cffd.png" width="307" /></a></div>
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You can also start or go back to your <b>hobby</b>. When prices of vegetables went up a few days after the start of the quarantine period, I told the people in the house that we will use the empty pots in the garden to plant our own vegetables. The Department of Agriculture is giving out seeds for those who want to start a vegetable garden in their yard. We haven't done it yet, but with two extra weeks, I think we can begin to become urban farmers. Some people even started <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/tiny-crochet-cat-couches/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook&fbclid=IwAR0y9OckFSUkTzPkEiwXmWqi5GKh9GNUdQibU25WlFTortKPWlXq51KOMeI" target="_blank"><b>crocheting</b></a> tiny couches for their cats!<br />
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The President said that the best time to lift the ECQ is when a vaccine is already available. There are about 70 teams around the world working on developing a vaccine. If all things go well, we may have a vaccine by December this year. However, if something goes wrong, it will take up to the second half of 2021 before we have something to fight the virus. In the meantime, relax and let us all be safe and <b>stay at home</b>,</div>
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Wiggletoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04026105188582672228noreply@blogger.com2