Happy New Year: Lets Welcome 2010 with a Big Bang

It is 2 days before 2009 ends, and 2010 will surely come whether we like it or not. In most countries, New Year's Eve is being celebrated by with a lot of fireworks and lights display.

Here in the Philippines, making firecrackers is a big industry that products are being started to manufacture as early as January. It has been a tradition for the Filipinos to welcome the incoming year with loud firecrackers. The louder they are, the better. But of course, with the more accidents to expect.

No, I don't use them even when I was young as I still prefer to be safe while celebrating New Years Eve. After all, we can still welcome 2010 with a big bang in many enjoyable but fruitful ways.

We all know how hard this year was especially in terms of financial aspect, and the world economy prediction for 2010 tells us that it will not be better.

In addition, global warming is becoming a hot issue as well as climate change. The Copenhagen UN Climate Change conference was not really a complete success. And while pointing fingers is going on, time is running out.

I was just wondering though, if the world is really suffering from financial crisis. I have been selling different toys in the streets for almost 6 months, and I have observed that everything is still normal.

The malls has always full of people, and people still keeping spending money for vices and useless things. Garbage are everywhere, and no one really seems to care. Well, not unless you see a poster or banner of a candidate for 2010 reminding us to love our country.

Pirated DVDs are still rampant, and they are even selling the video of the Maguindanao Massacre. Street children and beggars are still everywhere, while some traffic enforcers and crook policemen are collecting money from drivers.

On the other hand, politicians still choose the ones who give honor to our country. Yes, the ones they know they get take advantage of. Some of them do not even understand the word delikadesa, while some wanted to look like a hero.

Ah, yes. I still have a lot to share but I have better things to do than just complaining about the ugly things around. I have a family to love, and a country to take care of.

And I know I can only achieve my goal if I welcome 2010 with a big bang.

If you understand what I am trying to say, then do your part.

Happy New Year!

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How to Type Upside Down Letters and Backwards Text

While we are online, we can discover a lot of funny things. One of them is how to type upside down letters and backwards text. Actually, this is very simple and you do not need to download a software. It is also as fast as you type the letters and text.

All you have to do is to type your letters or text, then you can easily convert them to upside down or backwards or both. Then, copy the converted one and paste it anywhere you like. Presto! The fun begins.

Actually, there are already a lot of tools online that you can choose from and here are some of them.

SevenWires.com

The JavaScript program converts English letters to unicode characters and symbols that look inverted, to make it look like you've created upside-down text on the computer. This page uses the font Arial Unicode MS to display the flipped text. However, there are no upside down numbers and not enough upside down capital letters, so this tool supports lowercase letters only.

Typeupsidedown.com

This tool may be better, since it supports numbers but not capital letters. This means that capital letters will be upside down but will remain as small letters. Also, you do not have a choice whether it is upside down or backwards since they will be both at the same time.

UpsideDownText.com

I believe this tool is best one, since you have a choice whether it is upside down or backwards or both. It is also applicable to numbers and capital letters.

Now, here is sample for you to see. Let us convert the sentences below.

Here is how to type upside down letters and backwards text. It is not only for fun but also to create very strong passwords.

Here is the converted one.

Upside down effect
Hǝɹǝ ıs ɥoʍ ʇo ʇʎdǝ ndsıpǝ poʍu lǝʇʇǝɹs ɐup qɐɔʞʍɐɹps ʇǝxʇ˙ Iʇ ıs uoʇ oulʎ ɟoɹ ɟnu qnʇ ɐlso ʇo ɔɹǝɐʇǝ ʌǝɹʎ sʇɹouƃ dɐssʍoɹps˙

Backwards effect
.sdrowssap gnorts yrev etaerc ot osla tub nuf rof ylno ton si tI .txet sdrawkcab dna srettel nwod edispu epyt ot woh si ereH

Upside down and backwards effect
˙spɹoʍssɐd ƃuoɹʇs ʎɹǝʌ ǝʇɐǝɹɔ oʇ oslɐ ʇnq unɟ ɹoɟ ʎluo ʇou sı ʇI ˙ʇxǝʇ spɹɐʍʞɔɐq puɐ sɹǝʇʇǝl uʍop ǝpısdn ǝdʎʇ oʇ ʍoɥ sı ǝɹǝH

Now, it is your turn to try to check these tools.

Have fun!

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Top 10 Box Office Hit Hollywood Movies for Christmas 2009

This Christmas 2009, Hollywood movie fans flocked to movie houses to support the high-profile films this holiday weekend.

Approximately $278 million made it at the box office which is a record-breaking revenue and beat the July 2008 of approximately $ 253 million wherein The Dark Knight was released.

Avatar, the 3-D epic had the lead earned $75 million for 20th Century Fox, according to studio estimates. Remarkably, it was only down 3 percent from its opening weekend total of $77.4 million. (Blockbuster films usually drop by 30-50 percent in the second weekend.) In 10 days after its release, Avatar has $212 million in the US alone, and can be towards a worldwide gross of over $1 billion.

"This thing is going to be playing and playing, I can tell you that," Bert Livingston, 20th Century Fox distribution executive said. "There's a lot of business out there. Everybody's got good movies out."

The second box office hit film was Sherlock Holmes, Guy Ritchie's reboot of the franchise by starring Robert Downey Jr. as Arthur Conan Doyle's detective. This Warner Bros. film opened with a weekend total of $65.4 million, including a Christmas Day debut record of $24.9 million.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel which opened Wednesday, took in 50.2 million U.S. dollars landed on the third spot and made $77.1 million in the five days of its release. The film, also from Fox, earned an impressive $18.8 million on Wednesday alone. The strong start suggests that Squeakquel was likely to surpass its 2007 original, which made $217 million.

Incidentally, this film also had Filipino internationally-acclaimed singer Charice Pempengco who plays as herself.

Meanwhile, here is the complete list of the Top 10 Box Office Hit Hollywood movies for Christmas 2009 and their earnings so far.

1.0 Avatar, $75 million.

2.0 Sherlock Holmes, $65.4 million.

3.0 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, $50.2 million.

4.0 It's Complicated, $22.1 million.

5.0 Up in the Air, $11.8 million.

6.0 The Blind Side, $11.7 million.

7.0 The Princess and the Frog, $8.7 million.

8.0 Nine, $5.5 million.

9.0 Did You Hear About the Morgans? $5 million.

10.0 Invictus, $4.4 million.

News Source: GMA News.tv

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Father Blogger dot Com was 403 Forbidden

I have been busy this past few days, especially on Christmas Day. But sad to say, I was not with my family. While my family is in their hometown in Bulacan, I was busy selling toy lights and similar items on the streets of Lipa and Tananuan City, both in Batangas.

Anyway, just to inform you all that my Father Blogger dot Com was 403 Forbidden since Christmas Day until a few minutes ago. After reporting it to my host awhile ago, it was resumed and I do not know what the problem was.

I think this is the problem when a blogger is not online regularly since he will not be consistently aware on what's happening to his blog. Another problem is when you do not know enough the technical aspect of blogging, just like me.

I am just lucky enough to get support from my blogging friends.

Well, I think I should add more time in blogging although it may not be the way I used to.

But for now, I am glad that Father Blogger dot Com is alive again.

As for my family, we may see each other again on Wednesday.

Celebrating New Year's eve is one thing we never miss!

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Merry Christmas: Losing my Religion but Keeping the Faith

Merry Christmas! It is Christmas time once more, and most Christians will be celebrating the holidays with their families and friends. Well, I also join the tradition somehow but I do not consider myself a Catholic or a member of any Christian religion.

Yes, my readers and friends. I am losing my religion but keeping the faith. It is my personal choice, and I am happy with it. I am neither trying to convince anyone to join me nor I am condemning the Catholic church. But I hope you do not mind if I share my thoughts here.

In my resume, I write Christian Baptist since my wife and children belong there. I have high respect for the pastor and his family, and I consider them as a family friend. Although we see each other frequently, I last went to their church more than a year ago and that was when we were new in the community.

To me, religion is different from faith. In every Christian religion, we can always find loopholes depending on our interpretation of the Bible. For example, we cannot find the term Christmas in the Bible although Catholics celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus Christ.

If we will check the real history of Christmas, it did not begin with Christ. Northern Europeans called it “Jul” (a term remembered in the English word Yule, which now means Christmas); in ancient Rome it was the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, or "the birthday of the unconquered Sun”. Through sacrifices and feasting, pagans celebrated the beginning of the Sun's revival.

Well, I guess this issue is still being debated by historians. Nobody knows when it will end and who will win.

Nevertheless, I also cannot understand why Christmas is being brought up to children as a gift giving day, which is why Santa Claus is getting more popular than Jesus Christ to them. Sad to say, the tradition is being highly commercialized while the poor children feels miserable if they do not receive a new toy for Christmas.

It is also hard for me to accept that I need to pay for the wedding, baptismal, and even prayers for the dead! I always thought that the gift from God is free.

Meanwhile, giving tithes will lead us to endless debate so I will not discuss it here.

But as for me, miracles do not need physical images. I strongly believe that miracles happens everyday and it starts when we still wake up every morning. I should know, there were a lot of miracles that happened to me in which I shared one of them in an Inspirational book.

In the end, there might be no perfect religion but I am pretty sure there is a perfect God whoever He is. I only believe in the things with logical explanation, and it does need to be scientific or biblical.

I have a high respect for any religion, as long as they do not force me that they are right and I am wrong in terms of faith. Faith to me is a freedom to choose what we want to believe in regardless if it is logical or not. If we want to change our mind, we are also free to do so. After all, God gave us this gift of free willing.

Yes, I may be losing my religion but I will be keeping the faith forever.

But if Christmas is all about unconditional love, sacrifice, and forgiving; then I suppose we need to treat each day as Christmas day whatever religion we belong to.

Merry Christmas!

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How to Buy from Street Vendors especially during Christmas

Here in the Philippines, street vendors are almost everywhere and I am not ashamed to say that I am one of them. Actually, I started being a street vendor when I was 10 years old and it was an on-and-off career for me until I turned 19.

But on July of this year, I went back to the streets again to make money. For almost half a year, I have been selling different toys from balloons to toylights and other similar items.

Since I am spending almost the whole day in the streets, I think I can share some tips on how to buy from street vendors especially during Christmas.

First of all, you need to understand how street vendors make money. Most of us buy wholesale items which is widely known for cheap products, then we sell it on the streets and making nearly 100% profit or more on each item depending on the product. For example, a toy that can be bought at Php8 from Divisoria can be sold as much as Php20. However, it is only being sold on a per dozen basis minimum.

The suggested retail price depends on the place where the street vendors are selling. The farther the selling place from Divisoria is, the higher the retail price is since the transportation cost will also be higher.

But definitely, you can ask for a decent discount especially if you will buy more than one. Nevertheless, you should also consider the sun heat and rain these street vendors are enduring just to make money. Besides the fact that most of us do not have a selling permit which means that we can be caught by the authorities anytime.

However, you should be very careful with what you buy. Be strict when checking for the quality and test it as much as possible. Make sure that you really got the item that you checked since they can easily switched it from a defective one. Count your change before leaving since most of them are walking and you may not see that vendor again.

If you are buying clothes, be good in estimating if it will really fit you since you they do not have a fitting room. Shoes can be fitted, but watch out for Peeping Tom.

On the other hand, I strongly suggest that you do not buy canned goods and related items no matter how cheap it is. They are absolutely unsafe to eat. In addition, be a keen observer when buying street foods. Check how they are being prepared, and watch the hygiene of the street vendor before you buy.

More importantly, please do not buy pirated DVD or CD. They are totally useless, especially the new releases of a film or event. Besides, you are not being helpful to the entertainment industry.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of modus operandi that you should be aware of especially if you are alone.

Some of them will offer you their goods and services for a very cheap price. Once you stop to check the item, there might be some people who look like they want to buy too. But the truth is, they are pickpockets and snatchers just waiting for the right timing. This is why you should not wear attractive jewelries while on the streets, as well as using cell phone.

Another old trick to fool people is when you go to church, and it is most common to Catholic churches. There are ladies who will pin a religious item to you, pray awhile then ask you for payment for the item. Therefore, it is like forcing you to buy from them. This strategy usually happens when you are alone, or with your young children. Be very careful to react because that lady is not alone, and you might be hurt. If you do not like to buy, then do not allow them to pin the item to you.

But generally speaking, most street vendors are kind and they just want to make money. I happen to know some Muslim street vendors, and all they want to have a decent living since their place is always at war.

Buying from street vendors is fine, only you should be a smart buyer.

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My Christmas Work Experience in Japan

Six years ago, I had my first and only Christmas work experience in Japan. I was fortunate to be chosen by my former employer to undergo production training along with other 9 fellow Filipino co-workers.

Actually, I was a Manufacturing Supervisor in my job but my work in Japan is to be a production operator. It did not matter to me at all, anyway. Although I have to leave my family for six months, it was fine with me since I will receive a salary way up higher than my basic pay.

Anyway, we left Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at around 4am on December 8, 2003 and arrived at the Narita Airport, Japan at around 7pm the same day. Their time zone difference I suppose is only one hour.

It was winter so the weather was very cold although snow has not been really falling yet. The next day, we had an orientation about our job and started to work. Before we went home, we learned that the temperature is 5 degree Celsius and we were freezing to death.

It did not take a week when the snow started to fall. I used to wake up earlier than everybody so I was the first one to witnessed the falling snow. It was really amazing for a first timer like me, so I went down and played with it.

A few days later, it was raining snow which started to file up in the streets. All of us played outside and did not care if our Japanese neighbors are laughing at us. In fact, we made a Snowman. Well, it was really a Snow woman as you can see in the photo. By the way, I am the guy in the middle wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Then, Christmas day came and it was an ordinary working day for us according to their culture. When we got home, we had a small party along with some Japanese co-workers. We called our families in the Philippines, and the Japanese were amazed how important it is to communicate with our family.

As the days went by, we learned so much about their culture and vice versa. More importantly, we realized how serious they were at work. This is one of the great lessons I learned in life, to give your best in what you are doing.

Unfortunately, our contract was cut to less than 5 months since we will be replaced by Chinese workers who will receive a lower salary.

But in general, we enjoyed our stay and I hope I can have the opportunity to work in Japan again. However, I still want to live here in the Philippines together with my family.

As they say, there is no place like home.

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Jessica Soho cooks with Presidential Candidates for Philippine Election 2010

For its Christmas and 5th Anniversary episode, GMA7 top rating show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho will be featuring eight presidential candidates for Philippine election 2010.

Besides discussing about their plans in 2010, these presidentiables will share their talent in cooking as each of them will actually cook their favorite recipe especially for Noche Buena right in front of Jessica Soho herself and in national TV.

Among them are Sen. Noynoy Aquino, Sen. Richard Gordon,
Former Department of National Defense Secretary and Administration bet Gibo Teodoro, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Sen. Manny Villar, Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes who is the youngest presidential candidate, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and Environmentalist Nicky Perlas.

I am sure that this is an interesting episode, as these presidential candidates will test their pressure in the kitchen heat.

Apparently, this episode will be aired tonight at GMA7 at 9pm and I will surely not miss it.

Enjoy!

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Manny Pacquiao Worlds 2nd Greatest Ever Boxer celebrates 31st Birthday

This afternoon, Manny Pacquiao will throw a party as he celebrates his 31st birthday. The special event will be held in General Santos city, Philippines where he is also set to run for Congress in the Philippine Election 2010.

It is expected to have 2,000 visitors including friends from local show business, boxing, and politics. This of course will include his coach mentor Freddie Roach, while Miguel Cotto and Riky Hatton who both lost from Pacquiao were also invited.

As an additional birthday gift, Pacquiao was chosen as the Worlds 2nd Greatest Ever Boxer which was made through online voting.


The late Sugar Ray Robinson, who was the first fighter in history to win five divisional world championships in the 1950s landed in the first place.

As announced yesterday, online voters picked Pacquiao next after Robinson (175-19-6, 109 KOs) in the greatest ever list, one notch ahead of the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Although Pacquiao now campaigns at welterweight, he earned his nomination in the featherweight division, owing to his career-making triumphs over future Hall of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez in the 126-lb wars.

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