http://danikook.multiply.com/ <font size="5"><font color="blue">The Emancipation of Toil and Drudgery. Postings in letters, shutters and notes. </font></font> <blink><font size="4">Most of the contents on this blog are for my Contacts only.</font></blink> Fri, 4 Jul 2008 14:29:50 -0000 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:15:00 -0000 http://images.danikook.multiply.com/logo http://danikook.multiply.com 100 100 <br>My online buddy, <a href="http://royaumededieu.multiply.com/photos/album/148/Imagine_A_World_Without_FILIPINOS..?replies_read=6">pB</a>, a Filipina based in Saudi Arabia, posted an article, sent to her by her colleague, from Arab News believed to be written by a certain Mr. Abdullah Al-Maghlooth, an Arab national. The article is entitled "Imagine a world without Filipinos".<br><br>The article is great story of the skill, industry and discipline of the Filipinos working in Saudi and everywhere else in the world. Below is the clip of the article. Please read on, so no Filipino has to take Prozac tonight.<br><br><br><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd299/servantxi/worldwithoutFILIPINOS.jpg"><br><br><br>In my comment to <a href="http://royaumededieu.multiply.com/photos/album/148/Imagine_A_World_Without_FILIPINOS..?replies_read=6">pB</a>'s post, I told her how happy and glad this article made me. However, I said that I emailed the "author" to express my thanks for this very positive article about our hardworking overseas compatriot-heroes. <strike>In that email, I also asked if he indeed wrote it.</strike> So as not to sound imprudent, I did not ask if he was indeed an Arab national. I told <a href="http://royaumededieu.multiply.com/photos/album/148/Imagine_A_World_Without_FILIPINOS..?replies_read=6">pB</a> that it would be very nice to know if the author is not a Filipino using an Arab nom de plume.<br><br>(I googled the article and it could be read at the <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; " href="http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&#x26;contentID=200806159290">Sa... http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/141/A_World_Without_Filipinos Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:15:00 -0000 My online buddy, pinoy in NY <a href="http://butch0523.multiply.com/">Butch</a>, led me to this site that tells of anything good about Pinoys in the international scene (and hopefully soon in outer and inner space, hehe). Even a slight drop of good news for any pinoy anywhere in the world is announced here even before the local media gets wind of it. A good repository of many things good about the Philippines and Filipinos, including those people who only have a tiny drop of Filipino blood. http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/13/Mabuhay_Anything_Good_About_Las_Islas_Pilipinas Wed, 7 May 2008 03:08:55 -0000 Wala lang. Sometimes I check on this, so I'd know what or where I'm pressing http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/12/The_Reflexology_Foot_Chart Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:42:15 -0000 David. From his HS graduation, to finding roots in the Philippines, getting a Filipina wife, having a baby, then back to the US. All his life. His http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/11/Adventures_of_the_Coconuter Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:35:11 -0000 A new friend, http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/10/The_High_Dynamic_Range_-_Landscape_Photography_Tutorial Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:32:36 -0000 Obviously, anything damn http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/9/Damn_Interesting Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:30:54 -0000 Do you understand 功夫之王? I didn't, yesterday. But I do now. It's Chinese for "Forbidden Kingdom" now showing worldwide, including in the quaint little kingdom where I'm now <i>aliping mamamahay</i>. Oh yeah, the movie stars Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The two guys were enough reasons why I went to watch the movie. Jackie Chan and Jet Li in one movie? "Are you kidding me?!", I said to myself the first time I saw its trailer on TV. "How could it be? How would the story go? Who would get a more Superstar billing?" So okay, I went out of the house and went to watch the movie alone. I had big expectations for a movie starring Jackie Chan, my martial arts hero when I was a kid and Jet Li, my martial arts hero when I was an adult. I go, "WOW", how would I react to see these two icons in the big screen? Then the movie began as I gnawed on my cuticles in excited anticipation of the two giants before I could start my late lunch of siopao. Then the movie started with a fine martial arts p... http://danikook.multiply.com/reviews/item/17 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:35:28 -0000 <img src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/5/photos/86/500x500/6/Pusher%20PP%20RESIZED.jpg?et=lONCVUqT2f5yy8MPhIlreQ&#x26;nmid=87447494" /=""> Photos were taken at the Tañon Strait, passage from Bato/Oslob, Cebu to Sibulan, Negros Oriental. March 2008. http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/86/Sea_Anthology Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:10:41 -0000 For the past month and a half, I've been in Southern Leyte. As I have roamed almost 90% of the province, I could attest that it is one of the most scenic and picturesque province in the country. Too bad that as I am just a <i>pobreng alindahaw</i>, I have to make do with my N93/3.2 to shoot some places we go. <img src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/2/photos/83/500x500/7/Rest%20Native%20PP%20RESIZED.jpg?et=H8EGa50thFFDIiANg4LNdA&#x26;nmid=87084954" /=""> Here are few of the photos I took in that place. I have taken a lot of photos but haven't processed them yet. I will take more still as I travel along. The place never runs out of surprises. http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/83/Southern_Comfort Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:44:24 -0000 Finally, the last of the three-part Baguio series.. BAGUIO 2007 - PART 3: COOL CADENCE <img src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/4/photos/80/500x500/1/Ampitheater%20Art%20resized.jpg?et=jFRn3LNXgADStxeBPZ%2BYuQ&#x26;nmid=80061059" /=""> Most of those who visit Baguio make a stop at The Philippine Military Academy. Here then are snapshots of our visit to the Academy last December 22, 2007. That was my second visit there. http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/80/Baguio_07_-_Part_3 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:34:13 -0000 <br>Two days ago, after Djokovic routed Federer at the Australian Open 2008 semi-finals, <a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/112">I wrote in my blog that</a> "...we'd go for a Djokovic win on Sunday."&nbsp; When my compatriot Greg commented his agreement to that blog, I replied, "My fearless forecast is Djokovic in four sets."<br><br>So, less than an hour ago, World No. 3 Novak Djokovic, 20 (right, photo below), won over the unseeded French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 22 (left, photo below), at the Australian Open 2008 Men's Tennis Finals, <font size="3">in four sets. </font>My prophesy was correct. That was Djokovic's first Grand Slam and the youngest winner since Stefan Edberg. (A day earlier, I predicted that Maria Sharapova will win. <a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/113">She did.</a>) <br><br>I am a prophet.<br><br><img style="width: 369px; height: 261px;" class="alignmiddleb" src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080127/i/r2583969270.jpg?x=400&amp;y=280&amp;sig=arYU8GvLmjA3nwNzqT8PZQ--" border="0">Or maybe I just read the games and the players too well that I correctly identified both winners, and more accurately the number of sets when Djokovic would topple Tsonga. Whew. I am scared at the accuracy. (I already knew my knack for predictions. Happened quite a few times in the past.) <br><br>The Championships fo... http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/114/I_Am_a_Prophet_ Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:28:00 -0000 <br> How do you solve the problem like Maria?<br><br>The answer came in Melbourne, Australia - January 26, 2008 (that's this afternoon). Maria Sharapova of Russia (right, photo below) pose with her Australian Open 2008 Women's Champion trophy, and Ana&nbsp; Ivanovic of Serbia, runner-up, holding her plate after the Women's Final match of the Australian Open 2008 at Melbourne Park. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)<br><br><img style="width: 579px; height: 395px;" class="alignmiddleb" src="http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/c6/fullj.a7ed15c5f4e14b5a8624243f7a59adca/a7ed15c5f4e14b5a8624243f7a59adca-getty-78841302mb233_australian_op.jpg" border="0"><br>Allow me this one sexist and pol incorrect remark, but I cannot help but mention this observation: This is by far the prettiest tandem of a Grand Slam champion and runner-up in the tennis Open era. <br><br><a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/111">Our predictions were proven correct.</a> Maria Sharapova won. It's her third Grand Slam win (1st was in Wimbledone in 2004 when she was 17; then the US Open in 2006 when she was 19; and this Australian Open win at age 20.)<br><br>This third Grand Slam win by Sharapova at age 20, (and Ana Ivanovic also 20) proved that tennis champs redefine the meaning of "old" and "retirable". When office workers re... http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/113/Milestones_for_the_Ages Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:55:00 -0000 <a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R5nuRQoKCE4AAH0eXuo1"><img style="width: 318px; height: 250px;" class="alignleft" src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R5nuRQoKCE4AAH0eXuo1/Novak%20this%20cut.jpg?et=FnGxXaqSHruKb%2BKAmxZ%2CWQ&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>Finally, a renaissance in tennis has already happened. The world saw the rise of No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia as he defeated the invincible No. 1 Roger Federer in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the Australian Open semifinals early tonight. The game was spectacular as both men exchanged superb volleys and serves. But it was the 20-year old Novak who proved to be the better player when he outplayed the 26-year old Federer who was reduced to seem old. Novak knew that today, he was the better player. (Photo below is Djokovic's parents and brothers sporting N-O-L-E shirts, cheering him on.)<br><br>It was doubly fantastic for me as I have been rallying about the issue of the game when <a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/111/Beauty_and_Grit_Winning_A_War?replies_read=22">I wrote yesterday</a> and I write again that "...the issue I am concerned about is the monotony of the fact that it is always Federer who wins. If this continues, what challenge and excitement are left to watch on the Grand Slams?"<br><br style="font-style: italic;">"Predictability is surely not the ingredient that tennis lovers would want to see. We... http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/112/_The_Young_Shall_Rule_Them Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:34:00 -0000 Something monumental is happening in the world of tennis. It is unflolding at the Australian Open 2008 now being played in Melbourne.<br><br><a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R5iuCgoKCE4AACN3Kvg1"><img style="width: 257px; height: 193px;" class="alignleft" src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R5iuCgoKCE4AACN3Kvg1/tsonga.jpg?et=zrwsmI6DK5e8gvwOR77BKQ&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>FIRST, the French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat World Number 2, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, earlier in their semi-final match. In straight sets. What makes this news amazing is that Tsonga, in defeating the ever strong Nadal, showed an even greater power and grit. What makes this sweet is that finally, tennis fanatics have seen someone with a shining hope who can defeat the undefeated Roger Federer, the Swiss. At the start of this Grand Slam, I was hopeful that Nadal or the Serb Novak Djokovic to give Federer a good beating. <br><br>I am harping on this issue since for the past few years, we have seen nothing but Federer holding the Champion's tropy in Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. (Nadal is the defending Champion at Roland Garros for three years now.) This scenario is of course excellent for Federer who is out to topple all existing records held b... http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/111/Beauty_and_Grit_Winning_A_War Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:57:00 -0000 Being born and raised in the Waray shores of Leyte, we reveled in the wealth of Waray literature in songs and poems (siday). We were lulled with such poetry by our forebears. Now that we have grown and finding our destinies in shores away from Leyte, with fondness do we recall these forms of expressing artistry through the written and spoken word. Waray, as a language, is spoken in the provinces of Leyte, Biliran and the three provinces in Samar island: Western Samar, Eastern Samar & Northern Samar. Incidentally, parts of Masbate facing Samar also speak Waray. However, it is not known whether their forms of literature are also rooted from the Waray masters of Samar & Leyte. Here then is a site devoted to preserving the rich history of Waray literature from such luminaries as Iluminado Lucente and many other brilliant swordsmiths. I am ever thankful that with the advent of the internet, these legacies from our <i>"Iroy nga Tuna"</i> will once again be shared and relished by Waray souls ... http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/7/Waray_Lit_Beauty_in_Antiquity Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:07:19 -0000 ..not on a top of a mountain. so i'm birthdaying again. http://danikook.multiply.com/calendar/item/10003/I_was_poorly_born.. Tue, 1 Jan 2008 16:12:30 -0000 <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.libo.ru/"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/h.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/a.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/p.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/p.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/y.gif" border="0"><font size="+4"> </font><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/n.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/e.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/w.gif" border="0"><font size="+4"> </font><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/y.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/e.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/a.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/24/r.gif" border="0"><br></a><br><font color="white"><font color="white"><font size="8">2008<br><br></font></font><font size="6">to all my friends here in<br><br>&nbsp;</font></font><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.libo.ru/"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/m.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/u.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/l.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/t.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/i.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/p.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/l.gif" border="0"><img src="http://libo.ru/test/abc1/37/y.gif" border="0"><br></a> http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/105/Godspeed_in_2008 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:34:58 -0000 <img src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/10/photos/61/400x400/1/1%20CHRISTMAS%20CARD.jpg?et=J620OFMaYquw%2BF%2Cpa05A2Q&nmid=73994659"/> <font color=red><font size=6>Happy Holidays and Godspeed, you guys!!!</font></font> http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/61/We_Wish_You_A_Merry_Christmas Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:04:04 -0000 <br>Antok. <br><br>Matutulog na ako. <br><br>Finally, first time akong wala nang gagawing overtime work sa bahay at walang ganang mag-photoshop at walang ganang mag-isip para mag-blog ng may katuturan kuno. <br><br>Wala lang, walang inspirasyon. Tulog na kasi misis ko; wala nang nangungulit kung anong pic ang pinoprocess ko o anong blog ang sinusulat ko. <br><br>Kaya wala. Wala. <br><br>Antok. <br><br>Kaya matutulog na ako.<br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">At eto, record. <br><br>First time kung sumulat ng ganito. Walang saysay. Maikli. At naka-italics pa. <br><br>Haha. <br><br>Busy lang kasi ngayong linggo. Babawi na lang pag may oras na.<br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;">Sige, log out na ako.<br><br>Antok. <br><br>Matutulog na ako.<br><br><br style="font-style: italic;"> http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/96/Eto_blog_post_na_for_the_record Mon, 3 Dec 2007 14:48:01 -0000 <a href="http://photographist.multiply.com/">THE PHOTOGRAPHIST PROJECT</a>, a group for photographers and hobbyists, is the brainchild of Titan and Danabelle. It's a cool site where the members can submit entries based on the weekly theme. The theme is presented on Monday morning and members can start posting entries to the site. Submission of entries closes Friday night, and all entries are re-posted by the admin on Saturday morning. All members can vote Saturday and Sunday. The photo with the most number of votes is announced on Monday morning, along with the new theme for the week. And the most voted photo will grace the group's Homepage for a week, until a new winner is voted on. The group is only two weeks old and members are getting some fun. For the first week, the theme was "THE BEGINNING", won by member Kendi. For this second week, the theme is "DALAWA". The photo below is my entry. The site is fun. So, folks, check out <a href="http://photographist.multiply.com/">THE PHOTOGRAPHIST PROJECT</a> and join! http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/52/I_am_a_Photographist Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:58:52 -0000 <img src="http://images.danikook.multiply.com/image/23/photos/50/400x400/11/white%20macro%20five.jpg?et=u6R%2BGiNvZumwJtW2oyAiig&#x26;nmid=69530733"> This is the second set of the colors I took in Moalboal and Barili, in the South of Cebu. For the First Part of this series, <a href="http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/51">pls click here</a>. Thanks. http://danikook.multiply.com/photos/album/50/Dos_Colores_del_Sur_ Sun, 25 Nov 2007 16:17:52 -0000 Calle Zaragosa is a restaurant owned by a High School classmate's Uncle, Gerry Ruiz, located in Independencia Street, Tacloban City. It has become a venue for social gatherings. Meetings of former classmates (from various schools in Tacloban City) were (and still) done there and meetings of government officials and just about anything. So Gerry thought of getting a website to publish everything that happens in his restaurant. It caught fire. So Taclobanons and Leyteños from all over the world got wind of this place and its website so everybody browses and visits both the restaurant and the site. I am pleased to know that this site gives me an update of long lost friends, classmates and relatives; their whereabouts, lives and achievements. And also importantly, the site publishes and announces important dates and events happening in Tacloban and other parts of Leyte. I'm adding this therefore for easy access so I'd be updated for the happenings of of the city of my youth.... http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/5/Calle_Zaragosa_Tacloban_to_the_World Sun, 18 Nov 2007 09:36:45 -0000 <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.worldpoolchampionship.com/images/articles//day%208%20head%20to%20head%202.jpg" border="0">With great expectations, the 2007 WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP is now starting Live at ESPN from the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.<br><br>Our very own Roberto Gomez from Zamboanga City will slug it out with Daryl Peach of Blackpool, England..<br><br>(Oh, here comes another Blackpool celebrity.. I thought Blackpool is only popular for the World Ballroom Dancing Competition, haha.. Watched JLo and Richard Gere in "Dance With Me"?)<br><br>The <a href="http://worldpoolchampionship.com/">official site</a> mentions the sterling credentials of both Finalists.<br><br>What gives me more excitement is that a pinoy won last year's WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP courtesy of Ronnie Alcano.<br><br>Will it be a back-to-back win for the Philippines? <br><br>Let's wait after the 17th rack is played.. The courtside announcer boomed and called the players and my stomach turned into a sommersault when our "SUPERMAN" was called. He is the favorite to win the game! Let's see..<br><br>The LIVE coverage starts!<br> http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/90/NOW_LIVE_ON_ESPN_2007_World_Pool_Championships Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:48:56 -0000 The grandiloquent Inday has now a dot-com at http://www.blogniinday.com/ See, she is moving stratospheric in popularity ranking number 6 in the most browsed English-based websites.. And now she has a dot-com. ---- This has been in the news and I only got to get the link through MJ. "Inday" is a source of amusement. So I wish her to rock on! This was her old site.. http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/4/The_Blog_of_Inday_the_Spectacular Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:50:15 -0000 I wonder if this is her real blog. Nonetheless, I'm putting a link of the Senator's blog to http://danikook.multiply.com/links/item/3/The_Blog_of_Miriam_Defensor-Santiago Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:48:56 -0000 We all need a laugh after ABC's "Desperate Housewives" rudely implied that our medical schools are up to no good.<br><br>As a resbak, here's a clip that would give us enough laughs at the writers of DH and to Teri Hatcher, who according to my new pal Ms Sylvia, was dumb enough not to question the line she said. I agree, she was in a position to change it and save a nation from being sensitive and be maligned.<br><br>So here goes, click the link below:<br><br><font size="5"><a href="http://sylviagonzalez.multiply.com/video/item/1/HARINGBUANG_insults_TERI_HATCHER_BISAYA_VERSION_RESBAK_?replies_read=9">To Anybody Desperate for a Laugh</a></font><br><br>For non-Cebuanos, kindly let me know if you'd need a translation. The Bisayas indeed are a skillfull and funny lot. First were the Ilonggos for "Benjo" for its "300" spoof, and now the Cebuanos for this "Desperate Housewives/Teri Hatcher" spoof.<br><br>Have fun, kids.<br> http://danikook.multiply.com/journal/item/83/To_Anybody_Desperate_for_a_Laugh Sun, 14 Oct 2007 07:59:54 -0000