THE WEEKEND IN PICTURES

We had a fantastic weekend but we are all exhausted. Here are a few photos from our weekend trip to St. Louis.

Here we are at the wedding reception. Daniel could hardly wait to get out on the dance floor.

Here is Daniel trying to get a closer look at the bride and groom!

"Will someone dance with me?"

Before long, Daniel had his wish - all the girls were wanting to "shake a leg" with him!
After a long hard evening of dancing, Daniel was completely exhausted and worn out. He was ready to return home.


The trip home was a little "iffy" as we had heavy rain and overcast skies the whole way.

Here is another pic from the drive home.

Overall, we had a great trip and a lot of fun. It was 18 hours of driving in two days but more than worth it!

AIG, BAILOUT MONEY AND ME

An American International Group Inc. executive who received a retention bonus worth more than $742,000 after taxes has resigned publicly -- in an Op-Ed column in The New York Times. Jake DeSantis, an executive vice president at AIG's Financial Products division, said he is leaving the company and will donate his entire bonus to charity.

AIG has received a very bad rap recently. Just a few years ago they were a well run company by a man who not only started the company, but led it with integrity. When he resigned, things slowly fell apart. They are the object of scorn and hatred. But there were still good people within the organization (look for many of them to leave). Jake DeSantis was one of them. Here's what he said in his Op-Ed, "We in the financial products unit have been betrayed by AIG and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials." The current CEO-elect of AIG has thrown them all under the bridge just to look good in front of a bunch of power hungry, control freak politicians in Washington...our President being one of them. When the announcement of the bonuses came out, no one knew at the time that highly elected politicians approved of them. Now they are all "outraged" by the greed. Most citizens are outraged as well.

I am one citizen that is not outraged. I will admit the timing of the bonuses was bad and it truly is in bad taste to show case them during a rotten economy (by the way, who made them public in the first place...hmmmm, I wonder?). In any event, the bonuses were earned by the employees (they were retention bonuses) but paid by taxpayer money from the bailout. There is the outrage. But who set the rules for the bailout money? Look to our wonderful hypocritical politicians in Washington. They approved it, but now they're outraged.

Our President and government will look to bailout more and more entities (newspapers are next) simply so the government can control them. Look what we have voted for....more and more and more government control with less and less liberty to pursue the kind of life we want.

I will say that many people love government control of everything. They are usually poor or lower middle class people that are jealous of people who work hard and earn a good living. We are not rich in our household, but we still want the chance to work hard and keep what we earn. The lazy and jealous crowd usually want the rich to pay for them....and under our current President, they just might get what they want.

UNHEALTHIEST RESTUARANTS

We recently saw a list of the unhealthiest restaurants and found that we have been to many of them. Ouch! But guess what? McDonald's was NOT on the list. Supersize me please! Here's a partial list of the unhealthiest restaurants here in the US:

• Baskin Robbins D+
• Denny's D+
• Dairy Queen D+
• Ruby Tuesday D+
• Chili's D
• On The Border D-
• Applebee’s, IHOP, Outback, T.G.I. Friday’s F

Now what? I guess nothing ever beats a good old fashioned home cooked meal cooked by someone who is health conscious for their family.

APRIL FOOLS

Isn't it amazing how fun April 1st can be? I am sure you have plenty of April fools jokes you can share and we would love for you to leave a comment about your favorite. But sometimes April fools jokes can go bad - here are a few examples:

1. A person was paid a lot of money to run an "in memoriam" ad in a local newspaper on someone who was still alive. The person's friends a family members were so distraught and in anguish over the "joke", the original joke-ster paid for a retraction in the newspaper the very next day.


2. A man proposed marriage to his long-time girlfriend and they set the date for April 1st. When the day arrived, he informed her it was "just an April fools joke." Not at all humored, she sued him for alimony and actually won a large settlement.

We would love to hear some of your April fools jokes...the good and the bad.

TEXT MESSAGING SWEEPSTAKES

Sweepstakes can be fun especially when your chances of winning are good. While many sweepstakes offers are bogus there are also many that are good.....and even fun. One such sweepstakes is offered by SMSnia.

SMSnia is a website where you can enter sweepstakes using your cell phone through text messages. Here is how it works - you can send a text message to any sweepstakes you like. For every sweepstakes, there are a certain amount of contestants that win. So the more you enter, the greater your chances are of winning. For example, if you know that every 100 contestant wins and after you send a text message you see that you are on 95 plays, you should enter again because your chances of winning are better. Most of the sweepstakes have multiple prizes and here are some examples of what you could win:

• iPod Touch 8 GB
• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
• Packet of 100 virtual SMS
• Nintendo Wii
• iPhone 3G 16GB
• Nokia N96
• Dolce Gust KRUPS KP 2008
• Mini Notebook ASUS EEE PC 1000

This site also allows you to make money by promoting different sweepstakes by just placing a link or banner on your blog. When someone comes from your link and plays you will make a 30% commission!

Would you like to Win iPhone or an iPod? Simple click on the link here and check out their website for a chance to win!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!!

It's Debbie's birthday and she is another year older....and more beautiful and wonderful than ever. With each passing day, week, month and year she continues to amaze me. She is the most wonderful person, the most remarkable woman I could ever hope to meet. She has the heart of an angel and her actions back that up. She is kind, sweet and unselfishly thinks of others before herself. She is an exemplary mother and I will always make sure Daniel knows what an incredible Mommy he has. She is a Proverbs 31 wife......supportive, loving, patient and my biggest cheerleader! I rarely tell her "mahal kita" because that doesn't seem to say it quite the way I feel it. Rather - "Iniibig kita ng buong puso ko!!!" That says it all!!

Please leave my wife a birthday greeting. We did this last year and she was so touched - I would love to double the amount of comments left for her this year! I will post birthday photos in a few days. Thank you in advance!!

Happy birthday Sweetheart!! Ikaw ang lahat sa akin!! Ikaw ang buhay ko!! INIIBIG KITA NG BUONG PUSO KO!!! You will always be My Baby Sweetheart!

GREAT DEALS AT SEARS

Sears has been around a long time and they are well known for selling quality products at great prices. And now Sears has kicked into gear the Spring shopping season by bringing low prices to shoppers like you and me. Sears is offering 75-80% off original prices on fall & winter apparel from now till April 18th. This is a great opportunity to get some quality clothing at great prices. And one important thing to remember is - this sale is only while quantities last and it is only from now until April 18th.

Here are a few of their great deals currently available:

• Apostrophe City Park clothing starting at $5.99
• Dockers Metro Stretch Pants starting at $14.99
• LL Cool J Stars Short Sleeve Tee starting at $7.99
• and many more great deals on Fall and Winter clothing

Sears is definitely the place to be this Spring season as they are providing not only quality products and gift ideas, but they have cut prices so these quality items are more than affordable. No better time than Spring to by clearance item clothing from the previous Fall and Winter. That's smart shopping and that's Sears. Just click the above link and check out for yourself this great sale Sears is having today! Remember, this only lasts until April 18th so take advantage today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!

Dear Mommy,

See how big I am smiling? It's because you are the best Mommy in the whole world and you make me so happy. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I will do my best to make your birthday very special! Happy Birthday Mommy!! Mahal na mahal kita!!

Love,
Daniel Gerald

THE BEST SATELLITE NETWORK

One of the great things about watching television these days is that you have options. You can go without and just use an antenna, you can have cable TV, or you can have a satellite network. The problem with an antenna is obvious - very, very few channels. The problem with cable is also obvious if you have ever had cable before - there are outages and long wait times both on the phone and waiting for your cable to be back up. Satellite dish networks on the other hand have proven to be more reliable and have been known to offer bigger and better deals than cable. And the best dish network for television is called Dish Network.

Most of us have probably heard of Dish Network but we may not have heard about their great specials they are offering right now. By clicking the above link you can be taken to their website where you will be shown specials with monthly rates starting at just $9.99. That's cheap TV! Compare that with your current bill and get ready to choke! Also, they have multiple specials involving a free HD DVR upgrade, free premium network channels which include HBO, Starz and many others. In addition they are throwing in movie channels such as Cinemax for just pennies a month. And best of all - they are offering bonus gifts for signing up - gifts such as an Apple IPOD, a digital picture frame, a digital camera and even a home theater system.

Be sure to check out the Dish Network website and take advantage of all their great offers today!

MISSING MONEY

There are a lot of websites that can help you track down "missing money." Missing money is simply money that is owed to you that you haven't collected. It may be an overpayment of taxes (federal, state or property), it may be an overpayment in an escrow account from a previous mortgage you had. A lot of times the money doesn't reach you because you changed simply moved to a different address. There is a website called http://www.missingmoney.com/ that can help you track down any money owed to you. The site is down right now but actually if you do a search, there are many websites just like it that can help. Why not give it a try?

THE VACATION OF A LIFETIME

Many might think now is not the time for a vacation but in reality, now may be the perfect time. Have you ever wanted to Travel to Greece? My husband speaks a little Greek from his college days and has said more than once that he would love to visit as would I. And there is a great website promoting trips to Greece called Travel2Greece.

Travel2Greece offers Luxury Vacation and Holiday Custon Packages to Greece and the Greek Islands. It is worth your time to click the above link and check out the great deals they offer including their package called a Greek Dream and Private Yacht. Whether it is a cruise or Greek Island Vacations, Travel2Greece is the place to go to arrange and help you fulfill the trip of a lifetime - to Greece.

HOW BEARS FISH

I am a National Geographic junkie and the above is one of the reasons why. I am completely fascinated with animals and how they uniquely survive. Although the above turns funny, it is still educational. Enjoy the video and never forget..........to smile!

JOURNEYLITE FOR LIFE

Weight loss is big business and while diet programs are most often looked to as the answer, many are turning to surgery. JourneyLite is a comprehensive weight-loss surgery program. They evaluate whether the surgery is right for you or not, help you find a surgeon, assist with the insurance approval process and even give you all the after care you may need. You get state of the art technology coupled with caring, compassionate and experienced surgeons along with a weight-loss team to see you through. They have several locations including lapband cincinnati in Ohio. Simply click on the above link for more great information about this important weight-loss surgery.

FILIPINA CHANGES HER MIND

A Filipino woman who accused a U.S. Marine of rape has altered her testimony and emigrated to the United States, saying she was no longer certain that a crime took place. I remember when this all took place and the "hate America" mongers came out in droves in the Philippines. Too bad they turned their back on their friends because now the Filipina seems to think it may not be like she said. Her conscious is bothering her now and she has come forth with a different story.

Stories like this fill the internet. I know of Americans who have really hurt Filipinos and I know Filipinos that have really hurt Americans. It is not such a Filipino thing or an American thing - it is a people thing. Bad people do bad things no matter the race or color. Hopefully justice will be done. Here's the latest on the story.

BEAUTIFUL KISSIMMEE

Probably everyone at one time or another has wanted to visit Florida. There are so many beautiful and wonderful cities and of course the coastal areas have the most beautiful beaches and views of the ocean as well as the Gulf of Mexico. One of the most beautiful places in all of Florida is Kissimmee. This city lies right in the middles of the state. Half way down the state, Kissimmee is home to many beautiful attractions and many FREE things to do. That's right - Kissimmee is home to free things such as checking out the wilderness preserves or maybe you are a history buff and love historic downtown areas or little eclectic shops and boutiques. Maybe it’s a picnic at the park. All these things are free but there's more.

You not only have a host of free things to do but there are also other things such as visiting to a theme park, taking in a dinner show, or planning a romantic dinner for two. And right now Kissimmee is giving away three (3) weekend getaways (3 days/2 nights) for two (2); and two (2) week long vacations for four (4). Drawings will be held on or around 4/15/09 and 5/21/09.

If you are in the market for a free vacation, (and who isn't) then click the above link and enter for yourself a chance to win a free vacation, complements of Kissimmee. Check out their website today!

NEVER ROB A MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

A robber gets more than he bargained for when he targeted a Tae Kwon Do studio in suburban Milwaukee. The robber thought he could quietly slip in and out of David Kang's studio in Fox Point with some loot. What he didn't realize is that he would encounter a Tae Kwon Do master who wasn't about to let him off the hook. Hopefully this will show up on America's Dumbest Criminals but maybe not because the martial arts expert simply held him down until police arrived. Uneventful but nonetheless, the robber was quite......stupid. Here's the story.

YOUNG CHRISTIAN'S WEEKEND

The Midwest has always had a special place in my heart and the reasons are many. But one of the main reasons is the atmosphere created by the beauty of the land and the goodness of the people. One of my favorite places in the Midwest is Branson, Missouri. Branson is an entertainment capital in the Midwest and has a lot to offer both young and old. They have a variety of shows that include magicians, rock 'n' roll, country, family harmonies, comedy, variety, dinner shows, gospel, and well-known performers that make appearances. Also, it is little known that Branson, Missouri has more theater seats than Broadway. And right now is the perfect time to visit. From inspiring music and thrilling rides to awesome speakers and worship, Young Christian’s Weekend will prove to be an awesome event! It will take place March 27-29, 2009 at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and HIlton Branson Convention Center Hotel have special packages they have put together just for this event. Whether you want to attend the Young Christian's Weekend or play miniature golf, enjoy go-carts, water parks, and history museums, you can do it all while staying in Branson. You can see the Titanic and even stop at the famous College of the Ozarks. It's a beautiful part of the country that has so much to offer. You will enjoy light displays, shows, parades, and the old time charm of Branson. Then at night you can retire in the luxury and comfort of either the Hilton Promenade or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. I would encourage you to click on any of the above links to learn more about the Young Christian's Weekend and to discover for yourself the beauty of Branson.

FRIDAY THE 13TH

DID YOU KNOW..........

1. Fear of Friday the 13th - one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12." Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

5. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number - 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

DEZIGNS BY DOODLEBUG

Birth Announcements are an extremely important part of the process of letting friends and loved ones know about your new born. And, of course, the more creative and attractive the announcement, the better.

There is a website called DoodlebugDezigns.com that specializes in “birth announcements” and “holiday photo cards” as well as many other kinds of announcements. The creative part is that they use your photos or digital images to create unique, custom designed announcements like the one above. I would encourage you to click over to their website by clicking on any of the above links to see for yourself the many different and creative ways to communicate the arrival of your newborn!

A WEEK OF DANIEL

Daniel had a great week and we wanted to share more pictures of him. Here he is laughing because I told him he won't be in the baby crib much longer!

Here are Daniel and William - Fil-Am buddies! They play so well together and are always happy to see each other!

Another doctor's appointment!! Stripped down to his diapers he is awaiting his wonderful pediatrician, Dr Wagner. Rosy cheeks?

Done with the doctor's appointment and we went out to eat! Don't let the bottle fool you - he had steak with his Daddy!
After a long week, it was time for another bath and ready for bed! Sweet dreams for our sweet Daniel.

BOATING FUN AND SAFETY

Spring is near and soon will be in full swing and that means people getting their grills fired up, and many will be getting their boats back into the water. Boating is a wonderful water sport that can be enjoyed by not only adults but kids as well. But there are also dangers. Boating Education is needed by anyone seeking to drive or even be on a boat. While the above video relates to Arizona Boating the essential are true everywhere. No one should operate a boat under the influence and boating safety should be first and foremost in the minds of those operating a boat especially during this season.

One of the most important rules to remember when boating is that Boating and Alcohol Don't Mix. No one should ever drink and go boating....it's the same as driving and it's considered a crime. Operating Under the Influence comes with a similar penalty as driving under the influence, operating a boat under the influence is a Class One misdemeanor.

A good way to get all the information you need can be found by simply clicking the above link. While it is a site devoted to Arizona boating safety, the information applies to anyone, anywhere. Don't take any chances when boating but simply follow the law and have the time of your life!

DRUNK OR JUST TIRED?

How many of us have experienced this? Both as a child and parent. Kids are soooooooooooo cute. It's so funny how the child wants to sleep but manages to balance himself without falling - for a little while at least! Enjoy!

DOLPHIN BUBBLES

I am a big fan of dolphins. They are wondrous to watch in the ocean and even more amazing to watch up close. They are known for their intelligence and even their ability to communicate not only with other dolphins but with humans as well. Of all the fish, dolphins are best friends to us humans and one of the most amazing mammals in the sea.

Recently there was a brand new video shown on ABC News with Charles Gibson featuring dolphins. This video is shown above. It revealed an interesting phenomena known as dolphin bubbles. First of all there are basically four kinds of dolphins:

1. Bottlenose Dolphin
2. Commerson's Dolphin
3. Spinner Dolphin
4. Dusky Dolphin

Dolphins are amazing in that they learn so well and the video above reveals them learning to blow bubbles. It's an unexpected sight when you first see it but the more you watch the more entertaining and amazing it is. They blow the bubbles underwater and then actually play with them until they pop.

If you love dolphins or just love watching them, then I would encourage you to watch the above video and then click on this link - Dolphin Bubbles - to learn more about this amazing creature. You will be amazed.

CAN FILIPINOS GET RICH??

1. Henry Sy & family $3.1 billion

2. Lucio Tan & family $1.5 billion
3. Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family $1.2 billion

4. Andrew Tan $700 million
5. Tony Tan Caktiong & family $690 million

6. John Gokongwei Jr. & family - $680 million

7. Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. - $610 million

8. Enrique Razon Jr. - $525 million

9. George Ty & family - $435 million

10. Inigo & Mercedes Zobel - $430 million

11. Manuel Villar - $425 million

12. Emilio Yap & family - $420 million

13. Vivian Que Azcona & family - $360 million

14. Beatrice Campos & family - $325 million

15. Luis Virata - $270 million

16. Oscar Lopez & family - $240 million

17. Andrew Gotianun - $235 million

18. Alfonso Yuchengco & family - $200 million

19. Mariano Tan & family - $195 million

20. Manuel Zamora - $130 million

21. Menardo Jimenez & family - $129 million

22. Gilberto Duavit & family - $127 million

23. Alfredo Ramos - $126 million

24. Jon Ramon Aboitiz & family - $125 million

25. Felipe Gozon & family - $110 million

26. David Consunji & family - $105 million

27. Rolando & Rosalinda Hortaleza - $90 million

28. Eugenio Lopez III & family - $85 million

29. Betty Ang - $80 million

30. Tomas Alcantara & family - $75 million

31. Lourdes Montinola & family $68 million

32. Salvador Zamora - $67 million

33. Philip Ang - $63 million

34. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Sr. & family - $55 million

35. Enrique Aboitiz & family - $50 million

36. Frederick Dy - $49 million

37. Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr. & family - $45 million

38. Jesus Tambunting - $40 million

39. Manuel Pangilinan - $39 million

40. Marixi Rufino-Prieto & family - $30 million

Whether you have heard of them or not, they are rich Filipinos. Granted some are Chinese or from another Asian race, but they made their fortune, or the bulk of it, in the Philippines. Can Filipinos get rich...can you get rich in the Philippines? Yes.

JOBS IN THE PHILIPPINES

At least 9,000 jobs are immediately available in the Philippines and abroad, Labor officials said Monday. Around 3,000 of them are in the local hotel and restaurant industry, the head of the National Wages and Productivity Commission said. Go get them Filipinos!!!! 6000 of the listed jobs are in South Korea but that still leaves a ton of job openings in the Philippines. Competition? If too much competition for a job makes a person not apply - then they deserve to be unemployed. At least try.........here's the story.

OTOT INTERRUPTS IMPORTANT MEETING

This is what Washington politics needs as well. A good old fashion otot right in the middle of a serious political speech. Democrat or Republican - it doesn't matter - they all need this in the middle of one of their almighty speeches. Any volunteers? Enjoy the video - and smile!

PIMP THIS BUM

Until a few weeks ago, Tim Edwards was just another one of the men begging for change at a busy Houston underpass, ignored by most drivers who sped on past without a glance. Now, thanks to an Internet marketing campaign and unlikely allies, Edwards has become the human face of homelessness to thousands of online viewers drawn to his Web site by its deliberately controversial name - Pimp This Bum. 3

Here is a story worth reading and a website worth visiting. This man is someone who doesn't blame the world for his problems and doesn't have a victim complex. He sees this as a way out for not only him, but others like him as well. Here's the site, www.pimpthisbum.com and here's the wonderful story.

FILIPINOS DETAINED IN JAPAN

Japan detained a Filipino man on Monday and threatened to deport him and his family in an immigration row centered on his teenage daughter that has drawn much public sympathy here. I am sure most of you have heard about this by now. I am a little torn because the Filipino couple entered the country illegally but I beg to differ with the Japanese who want to split up the family. Do something for the Mom and Dad that will allow them to gain legal status for the good of their daughter. More than 20,000 people in Japan have signed a petition asking the government to allow all three to stay. Here's the story.

HOMETOWN SCARE

There is a high school about 200 yards from where we live. And today, that school was locked down because the police were tipped off a student was bringing a gun to school. Sure enough, two students were arrested not long after the lock down began. Also one gun was found in a school bathroom and two assault rifles and ammunition were found in the home of one student. How does an underage punk student get access to an assault rifle? I would say it's only a 50/50 chance it was the parents. More than likely he was planning a little Columbine of his own. Horrible. Here's the whole story.

WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

Pay no attention to that eerie silence in the nation's most populous county this week; it will simply be the sound of 10 million people not cussing.
At least that's the result McKay Hatch is hoping for once his campaign to clear the air is recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
On Tuesday, the board is scheduled to issue a proclamation by Supervisor Michael Antonovich making the first week in March No Cussing Week. I understand anyone overheard cussing will get slapped in the face. So watch your frickin' language!!

Instead of focusing on their out of control crime rate, their pathetic gang violence or their teen pregnancy problem, they want their citizens to talk nice. How sweet. Here's the story.

THE BEAUTY OF BRANSON

The Midwest has always had a special place in my heart and the reasons are many. But one of the main reasons is the atmosphere created by the beauty of the land and the goodness of the people. One of my favorite places in the Midwest is Branson, Missouri. Branson is an entertainment capital in the Midwest and has a lot to offer both young and old. They have a variety of shows that include magicians, rock 'n' roll, country, family harmonies, comedy, variety, dinner shows, gospel, and well-known performers that make appearances. Also, it is little known that Branson, Missouri has more theater seats than Broadway. And right now it is the perfect time to visit for a nice Spring get-a-way.

Branson has a special event put together called the Great American Pie Contest which takes place on April 24-25. Your favorite pie recipe could win you one of several prizes, including a first prize of $2,500 cash, plus a trip for two for a 4-day/3-night fun-filled vacation in Branson. Whether you want to play miniature golf, enjoy go-carts, water parks, and history museums, you can do it all while staying in Branson. You can see the Titanic and even stop at the famous College of the Ozarks. It's a beautiful part of the country that has so much to offer. At night you can retire in the luxury and comfort of either the Hilton Promenade or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. I would encourage you to click on any of the above links and discover for yourself the beauty of Branson.

ARNEL PINEDA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Filipino rocker Arnel Pineda on Monday spoke of the intense pressure of his rise to fame as the high-energy frontman of legendary American band Journey. They will tour Japan and Macau after performing in Manila. Life will never be the same for Arnel after being discovered by Journey. He has made frequent trips back to the Philippines giving back to his home country. "....this is something I will not take for granted." What a great witness for Filipinos having such a humble, talented man lead one of the greatest rock groups in history. I am certain Gloria has contacted him already.