Worst International Convention Ever!%^^$#$@$@%^%^

I am currently attending an international convention for researchers in one of the cities up north. I cannot let this day end without really mentioning that this is so far the most disorganized and worst international or even national convention ever! How awful is this so called international convention? It was the worst-organized, worst-run convention I've ever been to....Let me count the ways:

1. We (me and my co-researchers) arrived the city at 11 PM after a 10 hours bus ride. Believing that we are lined up to stay at the host-school's dormitory, we traveled relaxed and stress-free (i actually enjoyed the de-lux trip of the bus). Not until few minutes before we arrived--we got a text message from the conference chair informing us of the changes in our accomodation arrangements--in other words, we were asked to proceed to this class A hotel. I got my first stressor--i inquired a lot previously about the hotel and i definitely knew of its "first-class" rate. Trusting the advise of the chair, we went there and checked ourselves in. The hotel gave us our second mega-stress when we were informed that in order to avail of the negotiated daily rate of the organizer, they have to have at least 100 particpants to check in (at the hotel) or they will charge all of us the regular rate they give to clients. Knowing their high-rocketed rate, i started conditioning my mind in using my "mega-swipe" technique (magic of the credit card). We were only assured of finally giving us the negotiated rate after two days. Can you just imagine the psychological turmoil we have to endure?!!!*&&%$^#^$

2. The second challenge came--we paid our registration fee through bank account a month before the convention and mind you---the registration process was even traumatic. We were asked to register the day before the convention believing that everything will be easier for us because we paid in advance--but we were wrong. The kits were not ready until the first day, many of those who pre-registered ahead of time were not given the kits and book of abstract until the second day.

3. The schedule of presentation of researches were chaotic too. The convention showcased several best-practise researches but until the end of the 2nd day--no concrete schedule and venue were assigned. It was definitely chaotic! I pity the researchers who came to share their work--but in the end they got the worst stress in their professional life. Instead of showcasing the best-practise researches--it was scrape off from the program! *&&*^&%&$&$ (it was like ordering a complete meal without the main course!).

4. This might be a little harsh--but i feel that the organizers should know about this---the 1st day venue was a comic con!Yes, it was comic you know why? because the participants came to learn not to die of DEHYDRATION and HEAT STROKE!. The venue for the lecture was truly a nightmare--it was super HOT, DELAPIDATED and truly scary (imagine a restroom with a door without a doorknob! People can just peep-in the perfectly made hole for the knob!).The second day venue improved a little (because it was in a hotel) but again, it was below standard. Can you imagine the participants eating their lunches in a very hot hallway? just imagine a suppossed international convention with participants eating in the hallway of the hotel--with no chairs--no tables!

5. The plenary speakers were extreme--with few excellent ones and many "boring" ones (not because they were senseless but their topics were so limited that the issues catered only to small number of paxs). Can you imagine a psychology researcher trying to digest the theories related to fisheries?*&&^^&$^#^$

6. The working committe for this convention was a sole-one-man show. I understood why there were so many lapses because there was limited manpower!

Well, i shouldnt be surprised,really. What’s surprising is that I found joy despite of the hitches of the convention primarily because I enjoyed my time with my co-researchers (especially the bonding time with them, the adventures and the shopping moments!)--these are irreplaceable!

By the way, my co-researchers are my SISTERS!

PINOY POLITIKO IN HEAVEN!

While walking down the street one day, a powerful Senator of the
Philippines is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in
heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there
is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so
we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in." says the Senator.

"Well, I'd like to but I have orders from higher-up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts the
senator to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.
In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends
and other politicians who had worked with him, everyone is very happy and
in evening dress. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good
time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that,
before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and
waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door
reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit Heaven."

So 24 hours pass
with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to
cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and before he
realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns. "Well then,
you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your
eternity." He reflects for a minute, then the answers: "Well, would never
have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be
better off in Hell."

So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to
Hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a
barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends,
dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. The
Devil comes over to the Senator and lays an arm on his neck.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. Yesterday I was here and there
was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had
a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends
look miserable. The Devil looks at him, smiles and says,


"Yesterday we were Campaigning.

Today you voted for us!"

Vote Wisely!!!!

10 Steps to Prevent Election Fraud

10 steps to prevent election fraud
By Leila B. Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
April 22, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—The poll watchdog Kontra Daya has laid out 10 steps, which voters can take to ensure clean, honest and orderly voting on May 10.

"The most effective safeguard against fraud and failure of elections is an enlightened, prepared and observant people. On election day, we are calling on you to be part of the watch against cheating and failure of elections," the group said in a statement.

The 10 things that voters should do or keep in mind are:

1. Look for their assigned precincts and names on the voters' list early;

2. Check if their ballots are clear and free of marks before accepting them from the Board of Election Inspectors. They should reject ballots with marks or dirt because the counting machines may be unable to read them. Also, spoiled ballots cannot be replaced.

3. Voters should make sure that the BEI scans their ballots to show the ultraviolet mark, as these marks would prove the ballots' authenticity.

4. When the counting machine rejects the ballot, the voter has four tries to insert it again. Voters can also fix ambiguous marks or the improper shading of ovals. The BEI should also explain why the ballot has been rejected. If a machine has rejected several ballots, it has to be replaced.

5. Voters should not over-vote, or choose more candidates than necessary for a position, lest their votes be nullified. They should also make sure that they have shaded the ovals next to the names of the chosen bets fully.

6. If a precinct runs out of ballots, a voter can still cast his vote in the next nearest precinct. The BEI should accompany the voter after giving the latter a certification.

7. Make sure that the BEI is the only one that should be handing out the ballots. Local officials, Comelec personnel or Smartmatic technicians should not interfere in the process. Nobody else could also tinker with the counting machines.

8. Voters should see to it that they sign the voters list at the start, and should be marked with indelible ink at the end.

9. Make sure that voting starts at 7 a.m. Voters who are already in line or are within 30 meters of the polling place at 6 p.m., the standard deadline for voting, would still be allowed to vote.

10. Make sure that the police, the military, para-military forces, security guards, barangay officials, armed men and supporters of politicians who are campaigning are barred from the polling precincts. The BEI should send them out.

THE GREATEST ADVICE

THE GREATEST ADVICE
-Rick Warren, the Purpose Driven
Life

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate!

Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong because your
biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some
of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you
can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and
dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.

It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!

When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your
life that you'll never get back.
Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give to
someone is your time.

Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is
T-I-M-E because the essence of love is not what we think or do or
provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves.
God is good all the time!


Best Wishes n God Bless,
Perry

Quieting the Heart

(This article is an excerpt in the book I am currently writing entitled: "Unleashing the Beauty Within". This will be released by mid of june 2010)

I love having morning walks because I get to appreciate the houses, people and scenes that I pass by. Despite of this enjoyment, there are times when I would barely pay attention to where I am going. From my reflections and observations, these moments happens when I am over-stimulated with work, concerns and lovelife(!) to the point of distraction. I remember though this incident when I walked up the hill with nothing in mind but the feeling of peacefulness. I closed my eyes and began to slowly breathe. As I drew my breath up my nose and felt my chest rise and my lungs filled with air, I immediately felt calmer and I started asking myself when was the last time I paid attention to my breath? To my lungs? To my fingers, toes, arms and legs? While my mind still had remnants of chatter running through it, I began channeling my breath and focusing on how each part of my body reacted to it. It felt good, really good. My work requires lots of silence and I am easily distracted by almost anything. Sometimes there is too much info coming from all directions keeping me destructed to form even a proper thought. As a teacher and mental health service provider, I always feel that I am always busy taking care of others that I forget that I have an inner self not as demanding of my attention but requiring it as much as outer demands do. Sights and sounds from technologies and media permeate both public and private spaces, making it difficult to find quiet places for reflection and thought. Very often, we are surrounded with noise all day long and we keep moving from one task to the other without taking a break to think, to reflect, to introspect.

In this busy phased life, most people forget one aspect of humanity that needs nurturance: the ability to quiet the heart or the ability to be silent from time to time and just reconnect with our inner self.

I met Janine* a year ago when her mother referred this young lass for counseling. Janine’s problem surfaced after she run-away from home and settled in Manila for almost 6 months. Her parents were puzzled why their only daughter had to abscond and leave her comfort zone and work in a bakery with meager salary knowing that her family can provide her needs and even more. During our counseling session Janine revealed to me a very important issue which I believe was never taught of by her parents. Janine felt suffocated with her mother’s constant and regular blubbering. Janine told me how bad she feels every time her mother would start nagging all of them in the family, would complain about almost everything and would chatter her frustrations endlessly. Janine felt throttled, choked and smothered. Thinking that only by going away that she could breathe…she could live.

One cannot underestimate the importance of silence in daily life. Silence can have a profound impact in the way we think, our daily actions and our relationships. In Janine’s case, she felt she needed a breather after the constant battering of her mother. Although I am against her act of running away, I felt that Janine needed the space for her own sanity. Her time off became an avenue to clear the clutter from her mind and to feed her heart and soul.

I am a believer that in order to unleash the beauty within, we should have the heart for silence and stillness. Quieting the heart opens the mind to creativity and better problem solving, builds emotional intelligence and competency and nurtures the inner world and the human spirit. Silence can likewise build resilience skills for life by improving the ability and capacity to think and lessen the numerous human fears all of us share whether it is imagined or real.


“God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.......... We need silence to be able to touch souls”

-Mother Teresa