tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48017838461299357622024-03-11T15:16:42.068-07:00Isports ATBP.Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-79602626386694302272023-07-22T13:20:00.002-07:002023-07-22T13:20:28.167-07:00Bishop Hagemoen challenges pilgrims to be Prophets of the New Millennium<div style="background: #F7F7F8; border: solid #D9D9E3 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #D9D9E3 .25pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;">
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">SASKATOON — As Catholic youth
gear up for the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, Bishop Mark Hagemoen
urged those who participated in the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage Site to embrace
their role as prophets of the new millennium.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">On the Day of Our Lady of Mt.
Carmel feast, hundreds of pilgrims gathered at the Mount Carmel Pilgrimage site
on Sunday, July 16, to participate in the annual liturgical services, and the
day commenced with the recitation of the rosary and Marian hymns, culminating
in a concelebrated mass led by Bishop Hagemoen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa1POtUnpSqP1IVqY7SS6J7-9Ic7e-qGBBPVm9VKmoTwBewvTr5G6shXQqmFFMjPTN2KAMMHvY2acbsjiI-_V-_VPGlZ4pkldovzDiDjdSunml1Nd-Y58XxHf1GNFQFUj5eeosnuCw_295UIljEgUEi7o90u1OSWGd1utfmrYW0DtFgUuk0pudpz9/s2079/DSC_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="2079" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwa1POtUnpSqP1IVqY7SS6J7-9Ic7e-qGBBPVm9VKmoTwBewvTr5G6shXQqmFFMjPTN2KAMMHvY2acbsjiI-_V-_VPGlZ4pkldovzDiDjdSunml1Nd-Y58XxHf1GNFQFUj5eeosnuCw_295UIljEgUEi7o90u1OSWGd1utfmrYW0DtFgUuk0pudpz9/s320/DSC_0176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bishop Mark Hagemoen</span></div><p></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">During his homily, Bishop
Hagemoen echoed the words of Pope Francis, calling on the pilgrims to embrace
their prophetic calling and spread God's word to all. He emphasized that each
individual, through baptism, has received the gift of Messianic prophecy,
becoming a prophet themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">"The pope says, ‘Each of us,
brothers and sisters, is a prophet. In fact, with baptism, let us all receive
the gift of the Messianic prophecy.’ He quotes the Catholic Catechism: A
prophet is one who, by baptism, helps others read the present under the action
of the Holy Spirit. It is essential to read the present, not like the news, but
under the action of the Holy Spirit, who helps understand God's plans and
conform to them," said Hagemoen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK8wYb8sXanii-3v7auGgQbYSHhDWwU9AWXrjTbkojGA3I2Ewq7Ihzyt_2HsEoYnURhjP66OW1lnHsB-RuA9X_Tb0IPqN28gbV3UlPWFT_ewVPrrcBBaD4pxaa0twii-tekRBDMLQmFcPrmkRN6Jxhjtn0sE0MabAzyE236Mzyi9ypT-2SaRJEnzp/s2480/20230716_093331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="2480" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK8wYb8sXanii-3v7auGgQbYSHhDWwU9AWXrjTbkojGA3I2Ewq7Ihzyt_2HsEoYnURhjP66OW1lnHsB-RuA9X_Tb0IPqN28gbV3UlPWFT_ewVPrrcBBaD4pxaa0twii-tekRBDMLQmFcPrmkRN6Jxhjtn0sE0MabAzyE236Mzyi9ypT-2SaRJEnzp/s320/20230716_093331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pilgrims flock to Mount Carmel every July 16.</span></div><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Highlighting the significance of
living according to Christ's teachings, Bishop Hagemoen emphasized that being a
prophet is not limited to mere words but requires actions that bear witness to
Jesus and demonstrate His love and compassion to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">"You and I are called to be
prophets. As a bishop, my brother priests, and Abbot Peter [Novecosky], are
called to be prophets as we live our ministry of priesthood and ordination. You
are called to be prophets. Here is what the Holy Father says: ‘A prophet is someone
who points to God and who, by word and life, shows us how to be like
Christ,'" he added.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU1jyCipFhrqtCo4ST4gZ1mxGlVi2MwUigQ96CIAZGi27tkC-8e-3w9XLW_qmAvhSkA2ZjWAduxHuCnpzteuoGfa5XiLNANWtYh90oAGz3SXpays_gJs7Aajjw5KnhlHqYkJ6VeqyceM4HZ583NH7g6Et0oJTRIYNLroDTExNKVyZfPMOeoac9VP5/s2339/20230716_112648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU1jyCipFhrqtCo4ST4gZ1mxGlVi2MwUigQ96CIAZGi27tkC-8e-3w9XLW_qmAvhSkA2ZjWAduxHuCnpzteuoGfa5XiLNANWtYh90oAGz3SXpays_gJs7Aajjw5KnhlHqYkJ6VeqyceM4HZ583NH7g6Et0oJTRIYNLroDTExNKVyZfPMOeoac9VP5/s320/20230716_112648.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Pilgrimage Site is</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">one of the important pilgrimage sites in Saskatchewan</span></div><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Drawing inspiration from the
biblical figure of Elijah, who challenged the prophets of the false god Baal,
Bishop Hagemoen encouraged the faithful to demonstrate the power of the one
true God through their actions and devotion.</span></p></span><p></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">In preparation for next month's
World Youth Day in Lisbon, Fr. Gerard Cooper will accompany 40 pilgrims from
the Diocese of Saskatoon, while 30 others from the Diocese of Prince Albert
will join them. Together, they will be part of a 5,000-strong Canadian youth
delegation at the international event.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk4OC5LPYYhJHzUEKjB48AzT5HS59sJ9GBuK0MofOq71gtaMPaOtLefi9XnQvLwZXPstdj-sWG1j8MPykUXootY2ECBDqUdyGkv-b1GUQw-H7oaicJman_iiIPvwXaUvRtiyA0wkWUqbOgwKd34uS6d8lTWrRPO-F2IVzv7-3OqBkTSL-7-vsPvcB/s4765/DSC_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3673" data-original-width="4765" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk4OC5LPYYhJHzUEKjB48AzT5HS59sJ9GBuK0MofOq71gtaMPaOtLefi9XnQvLwZXPstdj-sWG1j8MPykUXootY2ECBDqUdyGkv-b1GUQw-H7oaicJman_iiIPvwXaUvRtiyA0wkWUqbOgwKd34uS6d8lTWrRPO-F2IVzv7-3OqBkTSL-7-vsPvcB/w404-h304/DSC_0164.JPG" width="404" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bishop Mark Hagemoen presides over a concelebrated Mass.</span></div><br /><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; margin: 15pt 0cm 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">As the young pilgrims embark on
this spiritual journey, Bishop Hagemoen's message resonates, urging them to be
modern-day prophets, spreading the message of love and hope to the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-70492914384955787862022-06-28T07:30:00.002-07:002022-06-28T08:16:27.945-07:00Papal visit hopes to repair relationship with Indigenous Peoples<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">SASKATOON — The Vatican has released the official itinerary of Pope Francis with the pontiff heading straight to Edmonton to make his first visit to Canada to meet with Indigenous Peoples, especially residential school survivors.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Holy Father will leave Rome on July 24, Thursday, at 9:00 a.m. local time and will arrive at the Edmonton International Airport for the official welcome at 11:20 a.m. the same day. Rome is eight hours ahead of Alberta, which follows mountain daylight time.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The theme of the papal visit is “Walking Together” which will focus on reconciliation and healing the strained relationship between the Catholic church and Indigenous Peoples, especially the survivors of the abuses caused by attending the Canadian residential school system.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pope Francis’ six-day trip is a combination of public and private events and meetings, especially with Indigenous Peoples. The visit comes after a few months when a historic meeting between First Nations, Inuit and Métis delegates in the Vatican early this year.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">His first official function is visiting the former residential school site in Maskwacis in Edmonton where he would meet with Indigenous Peoples and members of the parish community of Sacred Heart. Pope Francis will leave for Quebec on Wednesday, July 27, and will conclude his trip in Iqaluit on Friday, July 29, before heading back to Rome the same day.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Archbishop Richard Smith, the general coordinator of the papal visit said the meetings at the Vatican between Pope Francis and Indigenous Peoples were an unforgettable experience for the pontiff.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“We know that the Holy Father was deeply moved by his encounter with Indigenous Peoples in Rome earlier this year and that he hopes to build on the important dialogue that took place. We pray this pilgrimage will serve as another meaningful step in the long journey of healing, reconciliation and hope,” said Smith.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops president Bishop Raymond Poisson commended all the efforts being done in organizing the event, the fourth papal visit in Canada, and the first since St. John Paul II in 2002.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">“So many people are working diligently to organize this very busy schedule for the Holy Father and participants. We pray for the health of Pope Francis and also that his pastoral visit to Canada will bring reconciliation and hope to all those who will accompany our shepherd on this historic journey,” Poisson said in a statement.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pope Francis will be visiting Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit with his itinerary including a meeting with Indigenous Peoples, a visit to the Lac St. Anne pilgrimage site and celebrating Eucharistic liturgical services. The Pope will be in Canada from July 24 to 20.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The now 85-year-old pontiff, however, is expected to have limited public engagements and attend other public events due to his age. He has been hounded by knee problems, a condition that had the Vatican canceling his scheduled trips to Congo and South Sudan in early July.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">He had a minor knee operation in May of this year and was seen in public in a wheelchair several times. He also had a surgical procedure that removed the left side of his colon in July of last year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpccErObts1KrlstbVT_qRcLuVMW6lMUkJAvWmtDhmXnhcBo_FIXSkJPjcSdyIhBz5aK-fXeaB4qUyHAwOKG9xyelcAUZE5pPJY-aT28eW3edPibqXthKPl2RD9pfcs6UZ1eOCBY6XyZuOI6ffUkmsueQ6UFzdApADHT5fP56EtiurlfETSC8YQ/s1548/WT%20logo%20design%20cmyk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="1548" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpccErObts1KrlstbVT_qRcLuVMW6lMUkJAvWmtDhmXnhcBo_FIXSkJPjcSdyIhBz5aK-fXeaB4qUyHAwOKG9xyelcAUZE5pPJY-aT28eW3edPibqXthKPl2RD9pfcs6UZ1eOCBY6XyZuOI6ffUkmsueQ6UFzdApADHT5fP56EtiurlfETSC8YQ/s320/WT%20logo%20design%20cmyk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-39373289749123124892021-11-23T06:40:00.004-08:002022-10-04T12:44:53.640-07:00A letter to Tatay<p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">SASKATOON—My
father died in February 2018, more than a month after our last vacation in the
Philippines where we get to spend Christmas and New Year with our family and
friends. I have no idea that would be the last time we would see </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Tatay</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">
alive, the last time he would see my family and spend time with two (Macky and
Nathan) of his more than 10 grandchildren, and the last time I would speak to
him in person and my last time to </span><i style="font-size: 11pt;">mano </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">before heading to the airport the
early morning of Jan. 9, 2018.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">He
died while we were back on Saipan, thousands of kilometres away east of the
Philippines; while I was busy covering House and Senate sessions at the CNMI
Legislature or busy hounding the governor about a local or federal issue, and while
I was working on an island surrounded by the ocean in the Western Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">I
haven't mentioned this to anyone—and I'm not sure if <i>Nanay</i> or my sister who was
then taking care of him remembers this—but I got furious at him when we talked on
the phone in mid-February. The raising-my-voice,
shouting-at-the-top-of-my-lings, and showing-my-frustration kind of talk where
I even mentioned the money we contribute for his treatments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">But
he said that he doesn't want to get his dialysis treatment anymore. He just
wants to go back to Nueva Ecija, his home province, and wait for his final
breath in the City of Cabanatuan with his family and relatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">I
was trying to lift his spirits. Trying to convince him to get his treatment and
to get well; we were planning to surprise him and <i>Nanay</i> to tour Los Angeles
before my family—wife and two kids—move to Canada. He didn’t get that chance.
He was cremated and his ashes were buried with my grandfather and his stepmom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">November
is his birth month. He was born on the 28th and would have been 76 this year. I
never had the chance to apologize to my father. Never get the last chance to say
things like thank you for the sacrifices that you’ve done for your family and I
love you. I would do anything if there’s a possibility to talk to him again or
send him this short note, which would have these words:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Dear <i>Tatay</i>,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">First
of all, happy birthday or happy commemoration on the day that you were born. I
still remember you joyously celebrating it with your <i>compadres </i>where you
enjoy bottles of <i>Cerveza </i>with a side of <i>kalderetang kambing</i> or <i>adobong
itik</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">I
know that one of your greatest regrets is failing to assist me with my college education.
I kept telling you not to worry about that since you’ve already done a lot for
your family, even to the point of working in the desert of Saudi Arabia for 10
years. Your decision to become an OFW to earn more and be a great provider is enough.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">We
know that you love us since you sacrificed your own comfort of being with your
family to endure the desert heat and the feeling of homesickness. A feeling
that I too experienced when I left the Philippines in 2004.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">I
could say that I’ve done fairly when I started my own family. Though there were
challenges and minor bumps everything happened for a reason and it helped
us get to where we are today. I’ve worked hard and I think I’ve achieved some things
that you can be proud of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">Again,
thank you for what you’ve done and I hope, like what Eric Clapton said: <i>would you know my name if I saw you in heaven</i>. Love you <i>Tay</i> and I miss you
very much.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-55831112343314595122021-08-10T07:41:00.014-07:002022-06-28T07:32:46.968-07:00Love, not hate<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">SASKATOON—Black,
brown, red, white, and yellow. These were the colours describing the skin tones of all human beings. Science, particularly the branch of biology and genetics, states that all modern humans share a common ancestor. Whether you believe that or
not, is up to you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So,
if we share a common ancestor, why are there still people who judge a person based
on the colour—how light, fair, or dark—of their skin? Why do some people think
that their skin colour or race is far superior to those who are different and
don’t share their qualities?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It
has been like this for thousands of years. Comb through history and you will
come across hundreds of stories where people judge others for being different.
Indigenous Peoples were called savages by European settlers since they dress
differently and do not conform to the social norms that western society had.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A
few other examples are how people from Africa were made slaves and how the Jews
were treated during the reign of the Third Reich.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Racism
is still an issue despite slavery and school integration being abolished. And
in the age of mobile phone cameras, it can be easily recorded and uploaded on
social media for the netizens to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
have watched dozens of videos where white women call the cops on persons of
colour—an adult male or female, and sometimes involving young kids. Some
incidents made it to the news and some ended tragically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As
a person of colour myself, from the brown race of the Philippines, I’m filled
with mixed emotions whenever I watch these types of videos. I never thought
that I too would experience racism, since Canada is a welcoming community. Two
separate incidents tell me that not all Canadians are open to other cultures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
first incident happened in the summer of last year. I was riding my bike and I
always get off my bike whenever I am going to cross the street, whether on a
pedestrian crossing or with the use of a stop light. I was about to cross the
street, after the pedestrian sign turned green, when out of nowhere I saw a
pickup truck from my left side speeding up and almost hitting me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some motorists honked their horn, as if telling the driver why he
drove ahead despite clearly seeing me crossing. By the way, this happened mid-afternoon and I was wearing a light-colored shirt to make myself seen while
riding my bike.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
guy rolled down his window and shouted that I get off the road, even though I
can cross since the pedestrian light has turned green. I just shrugged it off
and continued to cross the street after hearing his “kind words” to me being a person of colour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
next incident took place a month ago and I was driving this time with my
daughter. I was at a stop sign waiting for the road to clear before driving
off, when I hear a honk from an impatient driver behind me. He then shouted: go
back to your country and learn how to drive. The car’s windows were rolled down
so I hear his words of wisdom directed toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In
both incidents, I was shaking and scared. Mixed emotions filled me. Anger for
their hatred, sadness for the way I was treated, and pity for both drivers for
their closed-mindedness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes,
my skin colour is not white and yes, English is the second language that I
learned from elementary to college, and I speak with an accent. But, that does not give you the right to throw ethnic slurs toward me.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m just sharing my stories. Incidents that I
used to watch on videos posted on social media. The world will be a better
place if we accept other races and cultures. Acceptance and understanding are what we all need.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-25637762563783540372021-08-08T08:08:00.011-07:002022-06-28T07:33:59.512-07:00Promoting Filipino food<p><span style="font-family: arial;">SASKATOON—Festivals
and other outdoor events are back in Saskatchewan after the provincial
government rescinded the health restrictions that were put in place during the
height of the COVID-19 pandemic. And last August 7 and 8, the inaugural
Filipino Music and Food Street Festival was held in downtown Saskatoon where
the local Filipino community came out and celebrated the weekend.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even
non-Pinoys joined the festivities and can be seen falling in line with several food vendors to sample our local dish. Food items such as Lechon (roasted
pig), pancit (noodles), grilled pork belly, crispy fried chicken skin, Filipino-style dumplings, lumpia (spring rolls), taho (soy milk with caramelized sugar),
and banana cue (sweetened fried bananas) were some of those sold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There were
also booths to entertain the kids with balloon animal-making and face painting
while a Filipino dance group under the Filipino-Canadian Association of
Saskatchewan performed Philippine folk dances and another group showed their
Zumba fitness moves to the delight of the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Chris
Rodriguez, known in the local Filipino community as Chris Rod, said he and his
business partner Ferdinand Mendoza organized the event in three weeks since
they were waiting for the provincial government’s announcement on its plans to
slowly ease the COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Saskatchewan. Reopening the
province means the return of all outdoor events and large gatherings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“When the provincial government
announced that restrictions will be lifted, my partner [Mendoza} and I talked
it over. We said let’s do a festival since we want everybody to come out and
have fun. That’s what happened, but there’s some uncertainty after the
restrictions were lifted,” said Rodriguez.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“We applied for a permit and the
other festivals also announced they are going to do outdoor events, so we
decided to do it. This is just three weeks of planning and we only got a few
supporters from the private sector, but the turnout was overwhelming for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even Philippine Consul General Zaldy
Patron made the trip from Calgary to join in the festivities. He said that it was
surprising to see that not only Filipinos showed their support. “I’m happy that
this event took place since this showed to the people of Saskatoon our culture
through our music and food.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I have
seen a large turnout of people watching the event and I'm very happy to see even
the non-Filipinos lining up to taste and try our Filipino food and other
dishes. We also saw a lot of Filipino performers so it's surprising that even
here in Saskatoon, we have a lot of talented Filipinos. I hope that this
becomes become an annual event because we can see that this is well supported
by the community.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">There’s a significant number of Filipinos in the province.
Based on the 2016 Canadian census, an estimated 32,000 Filipinos are currently
living in Saskatchewan with more than 12,000 in Saskatoon and another 9,000 in
Regina.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Expect the food and music festival to be an annual
thing that would feature tasty Filipino dishes. The Filipino community also
celebrates the Filipino-Canadian Heritage Month every June 12 and has been
joining a heritage festival that features the various communities—Ukrainian,
Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc.—that make Saskatoon a melting pot
of cultures.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-75686964432750033992021-06-10T08:15:00.005-07:002022-06-28T07:35:14.036-07:00 Comparing apples to dalanghitas<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Living and working here in Canada, particularly in the city
of Saskatoon in the province of Saskatchewan, I can’t help but compare how local
officials run the government here to the Philippines. I know that Canada
is a first-world country and it is like comparing apples to </span><i style="font-family: arial;">dalanghitas</i><span style="font-family: arial;">
(citrus oranges) but hear me out before calling my head to be chopped off. The
first thing I noticed is how the taxes that you are paying are spent wisely
where even a foreign worker like me can enjoy its benefits.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m still using an open work permit here, still a foreign
worker, while we’re waiting for our papers for permanent residency status.
However, being a foreign worker did not prevent me from receiving benefits that
were also available to legal residents and Canadian citizens like free
healthcare and employee insurance. After all, when I started working here,
local and federal government taxes were deducted from my salary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a health card under the universal health-care system
administered by the Saskatchewan Health Services, which they say is free (sort
of since your taxes help fund the program), and I have been using it whenever I
go see the doctor get my prescription medicine. I do not pay anything and since
I am also under my wife’s private health care, I get my anti-seizure medication
cheaper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">PhilHealth is somewhat the equivalent of SHS’s health-care
system, the only difference is the former is riddled with corruption where
members of the board enjoy perks like millions of pesos worth of stipends,
bonuses, and other per diems. While the lowly laborers and their families in my
home country are struggling to get better health care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Workers here also have employment insurance and it was a big
help to a lot of people, especially me when restrictions due to the ongoing
pandemic tightened up that forced schools to shut down sometime in March and
resume classes online. I received EI once I was laid off by the Boys and
Girls Clubs of Saskatoon. The EI’s equivalent could be the <i>Ayuda </i>given
by the Philippine government either thru the Social Security System (private
sector) or the Government Service Insurance System (public servants).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">A decade or so ago, SSS officials were exposed to giving
themselves huge bonuses and other perks. Insane amounts of money that experts
say could endanger the pension funds of retired workers in the private sector.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Provincial governments (or the Federal) also put urban
planning as a top priority in establishing communities—residential and commercial—and laying out roads. Groceries, shopping centers, restaurants, and
other commercial establishments are built away from the major roads where you
really need to drive out of the major roadways. Circle Drive, EDSA (Highway 54
to the young at heart) in Manila, is very convenient where you can drive from
your home to your destination in 30 minutes or less.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is a lot more difference than I noticed here that is
lacking in the Philippines, but I already exceeded the 500-character limit. My
main point is, to imagine what kind of other services the Filipino masses could have enjoyed if officials in the Philippines if the taxes collected is well
spent and not enjoyed by a few political families that established their
dynasties. Now, I hope I won’t get bashed on social media after this.</span><o:p></o:p></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-22803243313290858452021-06-07T20:33:00.002-07:002022-06-28T07:36:55.927-07:00A new challenge<p><span face="HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><i><b>(This was published in the Saipan Tribune)</b></i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span face="HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><i>https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/a-new-challenge/</i></b></span></span></p><p><span face="HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Last October 4 (2020) was my first day of being an assistant coach under Hollandia Soccer Club. I volunteered this season for a U13 team, Hollandia Tapia. Nathan, our son, plays for Hollandia Ajoboru, the other U13 team under HSC. They would play against each other in a club league since tournaments are still on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The teams are named after the person coaching them. Nathan team’s head coach is Henry Ajoboru, while the squad where I am one of the assistants is handled by Hernan Tapia. Percy Hoff is the club director of coaching and player development and brings in more than three decades of technical and training expertise to HSC after guiding the University of Saskatchewan to two provincial titles and helping the Huskies gain a spot in the Nationals in Edmonton and Winnipeg in the ’90s.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coach Percy, who’s also a part of the training staff that prepared Canadian national youth teams, holds coaching certification from the United States, Brazil, and the Netherlands. HSC, one of the most successful clubs in the province of Saskatchewan, was formed by Dutch immigrants in the 1950s which is why they also adopted orange, the colors of the national team of the Netherlands, in their uniforms. George Vanderploeg helped found the club, as all their players were Dutch settlers in Saskatoon.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Austin Boryski, a former Husky and a product of the HSC youth program is the club head coach. His five-year stint as a Huskie gave the team the 2014 Canada West Conference championships and earned them a spot on the CIS nationals.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">HSC coaches and officials are truly experienced and knowledgeable about the sport and I need to keep up. I have been watching YouTube videos to increase my knowledge of soccer—like positions of the players and other skills. I have the basic idea of soccer or football as known in the whole world, as I used to cover and write stories about the sport, but there is still much to learn and I hope to gain more knowledge from coaches Percy and Austin.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And last Sunday, the two other members of the coaching staff and I helped coach Percy in conducting the first practice of the two teams that have 10 players each. Since most of the kids have played in previous leagues and knew the basics of the game, we only did some passing drills. Coach Percy showed us—the players and the coaches—the proper way of keeping yourself open, receiving the ball from a pass from your teammate, and attacking toward the goal of your opponent.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coach Percy explained to the kids that their foot must resemble a hockey stick when receiving the ball, while each player needs to keep moving on the field and must keep an eye on the position of the defender before receiving the pass from their teammate.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The structure coach Percy wanted to set up as part of an extensive training course (Canadian Child Coaching License) that he and coach Austin completed last year. According to coach Percy, the course provided a full methodology that is focused on soccer technicalities as well as personality development. They grouped the club into three: children (U7-U11), youth (U13-U15), and adolescents (U17-U19).</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The first practice was designed not only to introduce the coaches and players to each other but also to help educate the kids on the latest techniques of the game. Our next practice will be on Oct. 8 and coaches Percy and Austin will let the other coaches conduct the training sessions while they act as observers.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(230, 230, 230); font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a new adventure and challenge for me with football (soccer) now being my second favorite sport after badminton. My appreciation for soccer further increased as I watched Nathan's skill level improve. And with me learning more from the coaches along with the certification and training courses that I am going to attend, I can help Nathan and others further develop their skills. So, challenge accepted!</p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-22766509989387676002021-06-07T20:29:00.009-07:002022-06-28T07:51:37.069-07:00Migration means adaptaion<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>(Wrote this piece for the Alberta Filipino Journal)</b></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>https://issuu.com/alberta_filipino_journal/docs/alberta_filipino_journal_-_may_2021_issue</i></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My current employment here is no way near to what I have been doing in the media industry for the past 20 years. I am currently working, part-time, as a program leader with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saskatoon while also as a substitute educational assistant under the city’s public school system. In both jobs, I deal with school kids from Mondays to Fridays, from 7am to 3:30pm.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being the responsible adult, in a way, could be the best job description for what I do with the BGCS where I come up with programs and other activities for the kids that go to the program. I get to supervise children during the before and after school programs. I get to play games with them—like grounders, everybody it, octopus, Jenga, Uno, Snakes & Ladders, etc.—or we do arts and crafts, and other activities that would challenge them and aid in their development.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, being a program leader, you need to communicate with their parents and their teachers to let them know how the kids are doing while they are with you in the program. You get to talk to them about their behavior, like how would they treat you as their adult friend and also how would they interact with their peers. As the proverb states: it takes a village to raise a child.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">BGCS also partners with Reebok and the Toronto Blue Jays in promoting being active through its BOKS (Building Our Kids’ Success) and Jays Care programs. Both involve various activities to get the kids to be active in a fun environment, with the latter also introducing the game of baseball to the younger generation.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being a substitute EA, meanwhile, is a bit different since you would assist the lead teacher with the day’s lesson—be it in writing, mathematics, reading, language arts, spelling, or social studies. I try, as much as possible, to help the kids learn and understand their lesson for the day.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">You need a ton of patience in both jobs, especially being an EA where you are helping kids improve their reading and language arts skills, solve math equations and problems, or coming up with answers to questions in social studies like: why was the Trans-Canada Highway built along with towns and cities</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coming from being a journalist—reporter and editor, it was not that easy for me. I struggled most of the time, but it was a fun and learning experience for me. You are going to deal with a lot of different kids, who came from diverse different family backgrounds and whose parents have different approaches to raising their children.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In both jobs, I would always encourage the kids to read books. I would tell them that English is not my first language and that reading a lot of different books while growing up helped me widen my vocabulary by learning new words, their meaning, and how to use them properly in a sentence. Hopefully, I could have convinced a couple of them.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am not sure if I would still get the chance to work as a journalist here in Saskatoon or do anything related to the media industry. My writing career has an uncertain future. For now, I would do everything that I can to help encourage these kids in growing up to become responsible adults and productive citizens of this country.</span></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-28330281938000651762021-06-07T20:17:00.002-07:002022-06-28T09:00:57.396-07:00Life in the time of social distancing<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Coronavirus, COVID-19, social distancing, hand washing, sanitizers, and disinfectants became the basic words that we learned early this year. Every day, we’re bombarded by an alarming rate of the rising number of cases, deaths, and the great economic impact brought by this global pandemic.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The information and other data presented to us are disturbing and scary. It makes you think of what would happen to us and what the future holds once this crisis is over. During this time of uncertainty, we can’t help it if we again question God.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why did this thing happen? Why is there so much death and suffering? Why is He not doing anything to eradicate this disease? Why does inequality remain? Am I going to get back to work? What will happen to my family? How are we going to survive after this?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We must always be reminded that our Lord is in total control of everything. We should pause and reflect on our current situation during these trying times. Prayer and meditation would help lessen our doubts and ease our fears.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you know or remember the beautiful poem Footprints In the Sand, there’s a verse there where a man, as he looked back from his past, asked our Jesus why there were only one set of footprints during the times he encountered storms in his life despite following our Lord.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He was totally unaware that during those saddest and trouble-filled times, Jesus chose to carry him. The footprints that he saw were Jesus’ footprints as he carried him so he could get past all of his trials and hardships. He is carrying us during these times.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the first Letter of St. Peter, he says that “we must “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you (5:7)” and “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (5:10).”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is during these times that we must seek God and ask Him to give us strength. The strength that would increase our faith in Him and hold steadfast our love, despite the fear and uncertainty of our future. We must continue to pray and believe in Him, like the way the early Christian martyrs did hundreds of years ago.</span></p></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-12514336100742937382021-06-07T20:15:00.004-07:002022-06-28T09:01:47.187-07:00Pacific islands’ leaders buck Japan’s plan to dump nuke waste into Pacific ocean<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: inherit, serif;"><b><i>(This piece was published by the Pacific Island Times)</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #303030;">https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/pacific-islands-leaders-buck-japan-s-plan-to-dump-nuke-waste-into-pacific-ocean?fbclid=IwAR2MWmx5LaU2nB2c90R0Z3wpz7NvKwTlBy04k2KF2hbdjXEs7pW5sTRrN4c</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #303030; font-family: inherit, serif;">Ten years later, the specter of the
infamous Fukushima disaster continues to haunt Japan and the rest of its
neighbors, for that matter.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Pacific
island nations and neighboring countries howl in protest over Japan’s April
announcement of its plans to dump 1.2 million tons of nuclear wastewater into
the sea. This plan, according to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, was an
“unavoidable and realistic option” that would help the recovery of the
communities in Fukushima.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">The
wastewater, which Japanese officials claim would be diluted first to reach
safety levels, is from the Fukushima nuclear power plant that was severely
damaged and became inoperable after a 9.0 magnitude quake jolted the region
more than a decade ago. The earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that further
devastated the coastal area of northeastern Honshu.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">The
fisherfolk of Fukushima, neighboring countries like China, South Korea, and
Taiwan, and the leaders of island nations in the Pacific have opposed the
decision, warning of its impact on the region’s fishing industry which was
crippled after the series of disasters that took place on March 11, 2011.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Tokyo
Electric Power operated the plant before the disaster, and Japanese
officials said there is no way to remove the radioactive material tritium from
the water and is not harmful when released in small amounts. They also said
that other radionuclides can be reduced to levels allowed for release that
would not cause any harm.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">The
Japanese government is looking to begin releasing the diluted nuclear
wastewater in the next two years which would take a decade to be completed. Their
decision is based on policies that they had come up with, making sure that
water safety levels are met with Suga adding that his government would take
extra measures that would “prevent reputational damage.”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">The
plan to release nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean may also cause a ripple
effect on the fishing industries in the region where nations that export
seafood and other marine products could lose millions of dollars in revenues if
demand would drop because of fears of contamination.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">The
Pacific region and its peoples became the unwitting victims, who carried the
burden of the nuclear age. Atolls in the Marshall Islands, an island country
composed of more than one thousand islands and islets, became the nuclear
playground of the United States from 1946 to 1958 where more than 20 nuclear
weapons were tested including a weaponized hydrogen bomb that was more than
1,000 powerful than the atomic bomb that leveled Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Vanuatu
politician and activist Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, as reported by the Guardian,
reminded Japan that it too had experienced the damaging effects of the nuclear
age. She challenged Japan and the other nuclear states that “if it is safe,
dump it in Tokyo, test it in Paris, and store it in Washington.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">“Keep
our pacific nuclear-free. We are people of the ocean, we must stand up and
protect it,” added the activist of the non-governmental organization Nuclear
Free and Independent Pacific movement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">On
Guam, Sen. Telena Nelson said Japan’s plan threatens the islanders’ way of
life. “The dumping of radioactive waste would only impede our efforts to
utilize marine life resources that benefit our environment, our economy, and
our culture,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Federated
States of Micronesia President David Panuelo is not convinced by Japan's
assurance that the treatment of contaminated water before dumping would
reduce radiation presence to levels set for drinking water. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Panuelo
said this does not guarantee that planned wastewater discharge would not
pose any harm to the environment and the island nations' livelihood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">“I
strongly believe it would be highly fruitful, and demonstrative of our close
friendship and cooperation, for the government of Japan to engage in a formal
and multilateral dialogue with countries whose livelihoods depend greatly on
the health of the Pacific Ocean," Panuelo said in a letter to Japan Prime
Minister Yoshihide Suga.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #303030; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0cm;">Experts,
scientists, and environmental groups are divided over the impact of water
discharge. Both sides are armed with contrasting opinions and studies. But only
the future generation will find the truth.</span></p><p></p>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-84063213523201999702019-12-19T07:39:00.001-08:002022-06-28T09:03:13.895-07:00It’s not new, but ‘birth tourism’ is a growing CNMI industry<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>(This story was published in the Pacific Island Times, where I currently do freelance work. I used a pen name back then to prevent any conflict with the Saipan Tribune. The Pacific Island Times is a Guam-based magazine with </b></i></span></span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>veteran journalist Mar-Vic Cagurangan as publisher.</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2017/12/05/It%E2%80%99s-not-new-but-%E2%80%98birth-tourism%E2%80%99-is-a-growing-CNMI-industry"><span style="color: black;">https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2017/12/05/It%E2%80%99s-not-new-but-%E2%80%98birth-tourism%E2%80%99-is-a-growing-CNMI-industry</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;">Birth tourism is an issue in the CNMI and it was again thrown into the spotlight a few years ago after the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered an
alleged large-scale operation on the island of Saipan following a tip made by a local physician.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US">Birth
tourism has become an underground industry in the CNMI with pregnant Chinese
women flocking to Saipan to give birth on U.S. soil, which </span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">automatically provides American citizenship to their newborn child. Most of these women leave the CNMI after
childbirth and receive their babies’ U.S. passports.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Early
morning or late in the afternoon or in the evening, groups of Chinese pregnant women can
be seen walking along the Beach Road Pathway on Saipan to exercise their legs since this
is one of the prenatal activities that helps in having easier childbirth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It
has allegedly become a lucrative business in China where travel agencies were even reportedly offering tour packages to Saipan. From the airport, these
Chinese pregnant women are picked up and housed in an apartment already
reserved for them. During their clients’ stay on Saipan, they will be helped by
caretakers by cooking their meals, cleaning their rooms, and washing their
clothes. These caretakers, usually employed by the one who picks them up at the
airport, are reportedly paid $1,000 a month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These
pregnant women can enter the CNMI once they have proper documentation and since,
according to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, just giving birth is not a
basis for you to be denied entry in any state or territory since there are no
U.S. immigration laws or regulations that bars pregnant foreign nationals to
enter the U.S. or prohibit such practice. Chinese tourists also enjoy a visa waiver
program under U.S. immigration and are allowed to stay in any U.S. state or
territory for only 45 days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Coming to the U.S. to give birth does not, in and of
itself, render an individual inadmissible,” said US CBP San Francisco Field
Office program manager and public affairs liaison Frank Falcon. "Or, if a
foreign national, has overcome all grounds of inadmissibility. There is no
inadmissibility ground within the U.S. immigration law that prohibits the birth
of a child in the U.S.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Falcon added that CBP officers determine the admissibility of a
traveler or any individual who is applying as a temporary visitor based on
their inspections but must first overcome all grounds of inadmissibility. Foreign
nationals can also get medical care and other treatment provided that they can
pay their own bills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“As with any traveler, CBP will examine whether or not the
traveler is admissible. The intent to enter the U.S. must be consistent with
the visa/entry documents presented for entry. Including the requirement that
the traveler not [to] abandon foreign residence, has no intent to return, will
be able to maintain status while in the U.S., and be able to provide for all
attendant costs while in the U.S. (including medical and personal costs) and for
return.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Airlines also implement a policy of not allowing heavily pregnant
women or those who are due to give birth to travel due to safety issues. Women
who are 32 weeks pregnant are allowed by air carriers to board while asking for medical certificates for those who are 35 weeks in their pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Statistics</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;">In 2016 numbers alone, from
the Commonwealth Health Center, show an increasing trend of tourists giving
birth in the CNMI. From only 314 in 2014 to 383 in 2016. Back in 2009, there
were only eight recorded child births from Chinese parents and that jumped to
282 in 2012, or 3,000 percent. The numbers continue to increase as they spiked to
another 150 percent from the current data.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;">Foreign parents have also given
birth to 715 babies from Jan. 2015 to Sept. 2016 where 692 of the total number
were by Chinese women. The 2015 calendar year also had 379 childbirths by
Chinese nationals. There were also 15 babies born to Korean parents, five
to Filipinos, two Japanese, and one Russian during 22 months. All of
these babies are now U.S. passport holders and their numbers could possibly
increase as the 2017 calendar year is about to end next month.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;">The increasing numbers had the
Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. implementing a new policy of not processing the
documents of newborn babies until all medical bills are settled by their
parents. There were some incidents in that woman who gave birth allegedly leave
the CNMI without settling their medical bills after getting their child’s U.S.
passport.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">CHCC is following the provisions of the Emergency Medical
Treatment and Labor Act—a federal law requiring patients, including women who
are in labor, who are admitted to emergency care to be treated regardless of
status or ability to pay the medical bills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Busted</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In November 2017, the FBI uncovered a large-scale birth tourism network on Saipan based on
an anonymous tip that led to the investigation of Sen Sun’s alleged operations.
Sun was supposedly overstaying Chinese tourists that accept pregnant women that
wanted to give birth on Saipan as his clients where he houses them in an
apartment in Garapan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These
pregnant Chinese women wanted to have their babies obtain U.S. citizenship and
in return, they could also become one after their child becomes eligible to
petition them when they reach the age of 21. They are paying thousands of
dollars from a birth tourism ring that has connections in mainland China only
to get the chance of giving birth on Saipan.<o:p></o:p></span></span><span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 140.65pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sun
has been bringing most of his clients to the Marianas Medical Clinic near
downtown Garapan for regular prenatal checkups and childbirths. He’s been
allegedly operating an unlicensed business that offers package trips to
pregnant Chinese women to give birth on Saipan to have their babies obtain automatic U.S. citizenship.</span></span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-10245841149567270592019-11-08T14:05:00.002-08:002022-06-28T09:13:20.156-07:00Fish transshipment and management<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The global transshipment industry had been vital to the world
economy. It makes sure goods and other products reach their destinations fast
and on time. It is one of the backbones of the world’s commercial fishing
industry, a multimillion-dollar network composed of refrigerated cargo vessels crisscrossing
the seas and transporting the fish and other seafood caught from the ocean to
shore. The practice of transshipment covers a wide range of seafood products
like the popular tuna—bigeye, skipjack, and yellowfin—salmon, mackerel, and
crab where thousands of fishing vessels transport the catch from the sea to the
markets and producers until it reaches your plate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But while it speeds up the process of transporting fish and
other edible marine resources, it also has damaging effects like the lack of
conservation and management efforts due to overfishing which further threatens the
improvement of the health of diminishing fish stocks. As the global population
increases by a rate of 1.08 percent annually, especially in underdeveloped or developing
nations, so is the appetite of consuming the earth’s resources which includes
marine life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
And here lies the problem in the global transshipment
industry—where economies of several small island nations in the western, south,
and the central Pacific oceans are heavily dependent on fishing. A report released
by global think-tank PEW Research this year showed that illegal, unreported,
and unregulated transshipped products could reach an estimated over $142
million—most of which are misreported or underreported by licensed fishing
vessels.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even if fish transshipment happens in seaports, proper
oversight and regular checks are not guaranteed with some ports lacking
sufficient inspection capacity and protocols.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sea transshipment is a global practice in the fishing
industry. However, the illegal practice of unregulated and underreported transshipment
fishing, not just only harms the livelihood of authorized fisherfolk, but also
downplays the conservation and management efforts being done by various
international agencies that aim to put an end to the practice of global
overfishing. There are also reports that transshipment is also linked to human
trafficking and the transport of illegal drugs and weapons. It also opens up
the possibility of poaching, especially certain endangered species that are considered a delicacy in some
countries.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fish transshipment may not be harmful as it looks and some
may think that it speeds up the process of production in the fishing industry,
but most of the trade is being done far out at sea—escaping the watchful eyes
of authorities. Corrupt fishing vessel operators have the tendency to
manipulate or falsify their records containing the species of fish and the amount
they caught or transferred in various catch locations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regional Fisheries Management Organizations data released
that said activities seemed to be widespread in every part of the ocean. Authorities
have no control and could not monitor all activities—even the legal ones—of the
transshipment transfers. The degree of these transactions is often inadequate,
whether or not they are done in line with all regulatory requirements or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
RFMOs or also known as Regional Fisheries Organizations are
regional fishery bodies, international organizations that are dedicated to having
a sustainable management of marine and other aquatic resources—particularly in
the international waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans where highly
migratory species are present.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some RMFOs may only focus on certain species of fish that
can be found in certain areas or they may have a wider range of marine
resources living in a particular region. Regardless of their area or species
that they wanted to protect, their mandate and effective implementation of
regulations help open up ways how to go against illegal, unregulated, and
unreported fishing vessels that are part of the said unlawful practice in the
global transshipment trade.</div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-65897043148485129932019-08-10T00:55:00.004-07:002022-06-28T09:09:57.870-07:00Human impact reaches Marianas Trench<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span face="Helvetica, sans-serif">The
Marianas Trench continues to be a mysterious place for scientists and human
beings in general. It remains one of the most inaccessible places on our planet
where species of some known and unknown creatures inhabit the area. That’s why
it was surprising to know that radioactive material was detected in one of the
most remote regions in the Pacific.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
Marianas Trench is a crescent-shaped trough located in the Western Pacific
Ocean. It is believed to be roughly 2,550 kilometers long and 69 kilometers
wide, with a depth of 36,201 feet below sea level. It is located 200 miles east
of the Marianas island chain, in between Japan and Papua New Guinea. Despite
its remote location, this has not stopped humanity to have an environmental
impact on its unique ecosystem.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A group
of scientists, led by earth experts from the Shanghai Ocean University, found
traces of the radioactive element Carbon-14, which dates back from the nuclear
weapons detonations conducted in the mid-1940s. Traces of the said radioactive
element, according to the science and technology website scientificamerican.com, were
discovered in some deep-ocean creatures such as shrimp-like crustaceans that
inhabit the trench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
Marians Trench, which is the deepest part of the planet, has not yet been fully explored and a large number of sea creatures have yet to be discovered and cataloged by
researchers and other individuals conducting studies on this unique habitat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Traces
of Carbon-14 only showed that anything can get through even in one of the most
uninhabited parts of the planet. Carbon-14, measured in levels, is a
radioactive isotope produced when neutrons from nuclear reactions collide with
nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere. Carbon-14 can also be produced at a lower
level from cosmic rays that bombard the earth’s atmosphere. A decade of hydrogen
bomb testing in the Pacific during the 1950s has also doubled the atmospheric Carbon-14
levels, where smaller amounts decayed over the years but some managed to spread
and taken in as carbon dioxide by plants and eaten by animals and humans alike.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Despite
the findings, it remains unclear whether Carbon-14 from those nuclear bomb testing managed to creep its way to the depths of the Mariana Trench. Traces of
the radioactive material would have been detected in about the next 1,000 years
through natural oceanic circulation. Researchers found out that the water
samples taken from the Trench do have traces of Carbon-14, but at a low level than they have been expected as its radiation takes a longer travel time from
the surface to the depths of the ocean.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">However,
higher levels of the element were detected in the tissues and contents of the guts of crustaceans that inhabit the Trench and were caught using the
traps left by researchers. Carbon-14 could have reached the deep waters through
other means, much faster than the natural way—possibly from the carcasses and
other wastes of creatures that can be found above water. It is possible that
the radiation from the animals exposed during the nuclear tests was passed on
to the crustaceans when they eat their remains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Radioactive
residue from the nuclear weapons testing, and in areas after the Chornobyl and
Fukushima disasters were also detected in mountain glaciers that were
considered remote areas and seldom visited by humans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This and
the results of research at the Marianas Trench proved that radiation from
nuclear bombs can be distributed through oceanic circulation where it even
reaches the remote areas on our planet. Glaciers in the arctic region could
still have radioactive elements like Americum-241, a product from decayed
plutonium. It is possible that radiation from Americum-241 could be released as
temperatures continue to rise and the polar ice caps thaw.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Scientists
believe humans had drastically changed the atmosphere of the planet, from the
seas to the skies and its entire geological landscape. One reason behind this
is the nuclear bomb testing done before like on some islands in the Pacific.
The evidence found on crustaceans living in the deepest waters of the world is thought to be distant or a remote possibility. But now, humans had also
contaminated the farthest depths of the earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Microplastics
broken down from pieces of large plastic substances along with microbeads and
synthetic fibers were also discovered inside the crustaceans that were tested
from the Mariana Trench.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The question now is, will human influence continue to reach the deepest part of the
ocean, which could further destroy another ecosystem on our very fragile
planet? It may take years, but the clock is now slowly ticking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>(This piece was based on research done by scientists from the Shanghai Ocean University and was published on the Scientific American website)</b></i></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-56879733376718499042015-08-05T02:21:00.002-07:002022-06-28T09:10:32.039-07:00ALIVE<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkRtYs_hFtdUzr-_i7sicuzW7WLbLhbYZRBF4W3bR4eNtEA1heBGJPxNhznRVLaNABP51ilD4cYfFqN3qpLE4XxIXyakyzGwrrm01JKA2zEoFVcRQg0iAewjiDDarh3fFEMbjBUcI/s1600/11846458_10200875493527070_784532513_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkRtYs_hFtdUzr-_i7sicuzW7WLbLhbYZRBF4W3bR4eNtEA1heBGJPxNhznRVLaNABP51ilD4cYfFqN3qpLE4XxIXyakyzGwrrm01JKA2zEoFVcRQg0iAewjiDDarh3fFEMbjBUcI/s320/11846458_10200875493527070_784532513_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photos courtesy of Ronnie Lanuza</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This is a celebration of my second life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the car I’m driving last Friday afternoon, July 31, was hit by a speeding bus, I’m glad to be alive. Alive with just minor cuts and bruises on my face and body, and a fractured collar bone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But if you saw my car, you will think I didn’t survive the accident. The blue Mazda MPV, named “<i>Sky</i>” by my daughter, is a total wreck.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The incident, or accident, happened at the intersection of Bank of Hawaii and Smiling Cove Marina at around two in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3kuRJKbrOt8EyJdh5HST2CxsS1YAkNvpquneeFrwXV9i4kPcve7X5W1EbVaeGafFX5JkEn979-Xucn382CV-Op3O6zuYbNzHvaujUFilWAcxfawEZ9G-t5pkjhItF2HkHMnoePV8/s1600/11845967_10200875491927030_1450502742_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3kuRJKbrOt8EyJdh5HST2CxsS1YAkNvpquneeFrwXV9i4kPcve7X5W1EbVaeGafFX5JkEn979-Xucn382CV-Op3O6zuYbNzHvaujUFilWAcxfawEZ9G-t5pkjhItF2HkHMnoePV8/s320/11845967_10200875491927030_1450502742_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was waiting for the stop light to turn green. When I saw the green light, I went ahead and started to drive. Out of nowhere, a speeding tourist bus, heading North of Saipan, rammed the van that I’m driving. My one-week-old car was a total wreck, unrepairable.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time, the reporter who regularly writes news, became part of the news.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thank you for your help former <i>Saipan Tribune </i>sports reporter Brad Ruszala and to the men and women of EMS and CHCC.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I owe you my life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRH7PxXh2DvVNgv3sMzFkyEb7NWG4ULgACxWmYj8we8PDqZJdSyuffoZZB9rtSXz5ibKMJJB7MvKOcqCEaWDmDDb7PBqa5bqFwsF62uE1hlraxUunnTyRQ_GzBXOTSQRlynDe6D9Z/s1600/11830652_10200875494447093_1451806248_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRH7PxXh2DvVNgv3sMzFkyEb7NWG4ULgACxWmYj8we8PDqZJdSyuffoZZB9rtSXz5ibKMJJB7MvKOcqCEaWDmDDb7PBqa5bqFwsF62uE1hlraxUunnTyRQ_GzBXOTSQRlynDe6D9Z/s320/11830652_10200875494447093_1451806248_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-3203052772391313872015-03-30T15:46:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:12:20.106-07:00Costly decision for Joe Miller<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7dMfCn8Oe67Ha60Tc6ujFT9ds4ERJboWnTQppDcRY-VjgVADRYSM7UEy71eTw4f3lhRQqpg9QqhLAuK1dG9zdW-otq1EP9vhuuzgDfaUme5uyT2PoN6Ry7sWwTyCv43gahJUwPru/s1600/IMG_9009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7dMfCn8Oe67Ha60Tc6ujFT9ds4ERJboWnTQppDcRY-VjgVADRYSM7UEy71eTw4f3lhRQqpg9QqhLAuK1dG9zdW-otq1EP9vhuuzgDfaUme5uyT2PoN6Ry7sWwTyCv43gahJUwPru/s1600/IMG_9009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Saipan, CNMI—Choosing to use a pair of tires with tubes proved to be costly for Joe Miller as the Filipino bet finished sixth among the pros that competed in the 2015 XTERRA Saipan Championship last Saturday here in the United States territory’s largest island.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">The two-time XTERRA Philippines Filipino Elite champion completed the 1.5-kilometer swim at Micro Beach, a 40K bike ride around the steep hills of Mt. Tapochao, and a 10K run through the rugged jungle trails in three hours, 22 minutes, and 33 seconds.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Miller submitted times of 22;:10 </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">in the swim, 1:37:46 in the bike, and 1:01:12 in the run legs in his first try in the Crown Jewel of the Global XTERRA Circuit.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">He was 22:08 behind Australian Ben Allen, who claimed his fourth XTERRA Saipan crown with the fastest time of 2:40:25, 13:09 slower than the record held by International Triathlon Union World Championships gold medalist Olivier Marceau of France (2:27:16) in 2007.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Miller said he was supposed to use tubeless tires but decided at the last minute to change to tubes thinking it would give him more traction on the trail bike leg after testing the course two days before the event.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">A heavy downpour bridging late Friday night and early Saturday morning changed the layout of the course, making the bike and trail run legs muddy and slippery.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">“I was a bit disappointed with my performance. I kept on slipping on the trail since my tires have tubes in them. I was targeting fourth but still managed to finish against a strong field of competitors were some I’m not that familiar with,” said Miller.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTOxtu83DdKgwLPmDCmCK8DzRK3zg9Ai0mS7XBtgXKTI97GCm4dKrcTn_1DkLgQGcS_9LitpqUN7NeICky9F3ba42eCCnJrFbNpsi6jKEhdxqLoZIRMMQDi2mHRONTokjqGYyA-fy/s1600/XTERRA_Run2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTOxtu83DdKgwLPmDCmCK8DzRK3zg9Ai0mS7XBtgXKTI97GCm4dKrcTn_1DkLgQGcS_9LitpqUN7NeICky9F3ba42eCCnJrFbNpsi6jKEhdxqLoZIRMMQDi2mHRONTokjqGYyA-fy/s1600/XTERRA_Run2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">He said XTERRA Saipan is not like the XTERRA Philippines course. “In Albay, it was sandy and rocky but not that sharp. Saipan has a rocky terrain and the rocks here are sharp increasing your chance to encounter mechanical problems so you have to really be careful.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">“It was really a challenging course. I’m a strong mountain biker but had difficulty navigating the course because of the mud and heavy rain,” added the first-year pro, Miller.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">“Still, I completed the race with no flat or other problems with my bike, and no injury in my first try here on Saipan,” said Miller, who experienced two flat tires in last month’s XTERRA Philippines to finish in sixth (3:10:48).</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">The former mountain bike racer will also make XTERRA stops in Guam (April 11) in New South Wales, Australia (April 18), and Malaysia from May 1 to 3 in Langkawi.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">“I want to complete the Asia-Pacific Tour since this XTERRA circuit will also be part of my preparation for the finals in Maui, Hawaii. I’ll first return to the Philippines after XTERRA Guam before heading to Australia,” Miller said.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">He said that he’ll focus more on improving his swimming and running since he already has the skills in mountain biking. “XTERRA’s course is a perfect fit for me. I used to race against Philippine national team members in various Mt. bike races but coach Noy Jopson encouraged me to try a triathlon.”</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, sans-serif">Miller said that he’ll be back next year after falling in love with the XTERRA Saipan course. “I didn’t know that there were a lot of Filipinos here. I’m going to be back next year and will bring other Filipino triathletes.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-19172091412018645932015-03-27T07:24:00.002-07:002022-06-28T09:14:23.764-07:00Pinoy bet Miller tries his luck on XTERRA Saipan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6uH8h8I5oIZ4YoXKg_z4y68KcNy2mwQMeD-l8WXKf5UcVXXZM47aF9E28mw83wJAtoAESZzkuV6xOsld00NNL1dYBkvsRcIQt27Aq2AFTwSyaJT6qrlWWC77M9RpcGQW4j6dttrK/s1600/IMG_8886.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6uH8h8I5oIZ4YoXKg_z4y68KcNy2mwQMeD-l8WXKf5UcVXXZM47aF9E28mw83wJAtoAESZzkuV6xOsld00NNL1dYBkvsRcIQt27Aq2AFTwSyaJT6qrlWWC77M9RpcGQW4j6dttrK/s1600/IMG_8886.JPG" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Filipino triathlete Joe Miller used to hear stories from
fellow pro Ben Allen of Australia and two others on how beautiful and
challenging the XTERRA Saipan Championship course was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">On Saturday, the first-year pro and former two-time XTERRA
Philippines Filipino Elite champion will finally try his luck in conquering
the first stop of the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship Off-Road Triathlon
series.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“A lot of the pros that I used to compete with like Ben,
Jacqui Slack, and Daz Parker used to tell me stories about XTERRA Saipan. How
beautiful and challenging the course is, and that I should try competing in
it,” said the Zamboanga City native.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“I trained for 13 weeks for XTERRA Saipan and I’m targeting
a third or fourth-place finish. I really wanted to see the result of my
training that’s why I’m pushing myself hard. I wasn’t satisfied with my
performance in XTERRA Philippines and I’m craving more. I want to challenge
myself,” Miller said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">XTERRA Saipan starts with a 1.5-kilometer swim at Micro
Beach and transitions to a 40K bike leg around the hills of Mt. Tapochao before
finishing off with a 10K run through the rugged trails.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Miller, whose grandfather is an American, said that he used
to compete with Allen, Great Britain’s Daz Parker and Jacqui Slack, and South
African Bradley Weiss. All four have been urging him to come and compete on
Saipan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“They’ve been asking me to come and join them on Saipan.
Particularly, Ben, because we became good friends and I even lived in their
house when I competed in Australia,” said Miller, who arrived on Saipan early
Thursday morning and despite coping with jetlag went out and tried the XTERRA
Saipan’s bike leg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The four-year triathlete, who will be competing as a pro for
the first time this year, said that he now knows why a lot of his colleagues
have been coming back to compete in XTERRA Saipan after seeing the course that
will go through the jungle of Mt. Tapochao.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">“I tried the whole trail in the bike course since it was
already marked. It was challenging but I saw the beauty of the island and now I
know why the other pros keep on coming back to compete here. I will try the run
portion,” said Miller, who is hoping for a Top 5 finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Miller, who relocated to Mactan City in Cebu province when
he concentrated on his blossoming triathlon career, said he was on his way to a
Top 5 finish in last month’s XTERRA Philippines in Albay but both his tires got
flat that’s why he had difficulty catching up with the lead group of pros.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He managed to finish the race in 3:10:48 to still end up at
sixth place among the pros in the men’s division and 20th overall. “I’m a
strong mountain biker since that is where I started racing before slowly
transitioning to triathlon. But there’s nothing that you can do if you
encountered mechanical problems. Hopefully, I won’t encounter the same problems
that I had back in XTERRA Philippines.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Completing the Asia-Pacific series is another reason why
Miller decided to join XTERRA Saipan. The series also includes stops in Guam on
April 11, Australia on April 27, and Malaysia on May 2 and 3.</span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-66740315459909722502014-11-18T21:12:00.001-08:002022-10-04T13:00:26.815-07:00Hay naku! Huma-haiku<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333;">Ms. Elisa Cruz, my English and Filipino teacher in my junior and senior years, respectively, at San Sebastian College's high school department, introduced me to the Japanese poetry called haiku.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">A haiku is characterized by three lines in a 5-7-5 syllabic structure.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Now, I decided to review my past tweets and posted them on my own blog.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">I'm used to writing news and sports stories, but a friend of mine told me to sometimes get out of my comfort zone.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">I'm not much of a literature or poetry kind of guy, so bear with me in my attempt to write haiku.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Daybreak</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Gentle morning breeze.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Waking me up at this hour.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">I went back to sleep.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Horizon</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">A bird takes its flight.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Free to widely spread its wings.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Soaring with the wind.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Meditation</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Deafening silence.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Teach me to see the real things.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">The world's true colors.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Night</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Neighbor's dog howling.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Other dogs are joining in.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Disturbing my peace.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Setback</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Humbled in defeat.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Choosing to do what is right.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Retreat and regroup.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Expectations</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">Broken, tired, weary.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">No chance to become happy.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">It's frustrated me.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><br /></span> <span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Earth</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Mankind or kind man?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">We see only destruction.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Mother Nature cries.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Labor</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">My day's work is done.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Now, time to rest and relax.</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19.6px;">Tomorrow again.</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span></span></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">Inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender:</span></span></span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Southern water tribe.</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19.6px;">Where Katara lost her mom.</span></span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="line-height: 19.6px;">Powerful bender.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Zuko</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Manipulative.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"I need to redeem myself."</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Get back my honor."</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Muse</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">An inspiration.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">One spark will ignite the flame.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Solving mysteries.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Serendipity</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Tiny grains of sand.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Fate connects all of our lives.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Thinking in between.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.6px;">Perspective</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Life of each person.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">We've our </span>own<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> stories to tell.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Roller coaster ride.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Joy</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">With each passing day.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Seconds. Minutes. Hours go by.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Aim for contentment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Guilt</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Turning back the time.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">If you have lots of regrets.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Correcting mistakes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Crossroads</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Take the first step.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Each journey begins with it.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Traveling the road.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Kindness</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Helping people's lives.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">What goes around, comes around.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Paying it forward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Doubt</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Who, what, when, where, why.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Questions every people ask.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Searching for answers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Destruction</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Horrors of mankind.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Nightmares, haunt everyone.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Deafening silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Midnight</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Neighbor's puppy barks.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Is restless at the moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Silence, back to nap! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Searching</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Time to heal old wounds.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Rekindle bonds of friendship.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Leave the past behind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Letting go</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Lost souls find their way.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Return to your innocence.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Submit to freedom.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Ordeal</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Bad dreams torment you.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Restless soul, no peace of mind.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Put away your fears.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Wrong</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Evil things lurking.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Waiting to pounce on the weak.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Vigilance needed.</span></div>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Light</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Rising sun bows down.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Says goodbye for just a while.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Resting in the west.</span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-4226754590014464862014-11-18T20:18:00.001-08:002022-06-28T09:18:35.752-07:00Quotes and sayings<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am not a guru nor a philosopher but most of the time,
especially when my mind is wandering to another place, I think of words, those words become phrases, and those phrases become quotes or sayings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Here are some that I came up with and posted on Twitter. Some are self-explanatory,
while others are quirky or out of this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Enjoy reading...</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why let anger and hate consume or control your life? Detach yourself from the chains that hold you down.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #141823;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good
and evil are always at war within ourselves.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Climb a mountain to see blue skies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every journey begins with one small step. The adventure
continues...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Get out of your comfort zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">When we're angry, our judgment gets clouded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The choices we make shape our future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Give me courage and strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In humble silence, I submit!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We are but a tiny blip on the radar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Let God be our judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Football players are goal-oriented. Sprinters are always in
a hurry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We are constantly searching for answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Always, keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Social media made stalking a lot easier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sometimes, you have to step on the brakes. Slow down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Leave everything behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good things happen when you least expect it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Back to the Stone Age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thankful for another year, and that I continue to breathe,
for the blessings that come in bunches or in trickles like rain in the desert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We must co-exist even if we have different beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm a journeyman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Even heroes need a helping hand sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We can learn a lot from the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Was expecting a fastball but the Pitcher threw a curveball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I observe in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Here's a serving of humble pie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I still believe in miracles. No matter what lies and stories you fabricate, the truth will come out. Judgment day will come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Death will someday come knocking at our door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Why did the waiter quit playing tennis? Because he is
required to serve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Expect the unexpected and lower your expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I face my own problems no matter how difficult it is and I
always try to find a solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Men who physically, emotionally, and psychologically abuse
their wives or girlfriends are cowards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lying and making up stories to cover up those lies are
perfect qualifications for a person who wants to run for public office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some people are afraid of change. But change is good. Change
for the better to improve your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every relationship needs T.R.U.S.T. Truthfulness, Respect,
Understanding, Simplicity, Thoughtfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Blaming is what impossible people do, and they do it well.
Remember, impossible people can do no wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Easter is the commemoration of our freedom from sin through
Christ our Lord's resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pause, pray, reflect, repent and change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some things are not meant to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Finding the strength to forgive the people who hurt you is a
courageous thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nobody's perfect, we all make mistakes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We must learn how to stand up each time we stumble and fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Treat others the same way you wanted to be treated. Pay
it forward. What goes around, comes around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Humility is a sign of maturity. Owning up to your mistakes
is not a sign of weakness.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We gain wisdom as we age.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You must first respect others, for you to receive
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Faith, hope, and love are some of the treasures that no
person can take away from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We may look like a worthless lump of clay, but with our
Master's hands, He can turn us into a useful pottery jar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Laughter lightens our souls and refreshes our spirits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some people gain wisdom as they age. Some age without
wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Be part of the solution, not the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We see things differently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We will be judged according to our works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you a blessing or a burden to other people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">May we 'die' and be resurrected with Christ this Lenten
season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Aside from the traditions (Palm Sunday, Visita Iglesia, Way
of the Cross, Pabasa, and Salubong), may we find the true meaning of Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Good things happen to those who wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Learning is a continuous process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You can no longer bring back the lost hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm not a psycho, I'm just special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We need to fight fire with fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Your priorities begin to change as you grow older.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some people are good at digging the dirt of others, but fail
to find the mud splattered on their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some people can't handle the truth that is why they come up
with lies and other stories to cover up everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In the end, when our time comes to face the Lord, He will
not ask us how many times we prayed each day. If we recited the entire rosary's
20 mysteries? How many hours were we spent kneeling at the altar? If we memorized
the bible from cover to cover? How much do we contribute at church? Or even if we
made various offerings in His name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The question we must expect from God when we stand in front
of Him is how we treat our fellowmen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Did we spread lies, makeup stories, malign and falsely
accuse other people? Did we fool others to advance our own personal
motives? Or did we cover up the truth to protect a family member?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">All things happen for a reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Some people are still living in the stone age, when in fact
we're already in the new millennium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We need to let go of things that are dragging us down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Funny how, sometimes, our lives are intertwined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In today's age of camera phones and selfies, some of us are
more concerned with looking beautiful outside instead of enhancing our character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dark clouds cover the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hoping that all women who are victims of any type of abuse
may find the courage to fight back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Children are the first casualties of every conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You must first respect others, for you to receive
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pride has its positive and negative effects.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I control my own destiny. People around me can give their
advice. But in the end, I'll be the one who'll make the decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You should really practice what you preach. That's why I
don't preach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">You reap what you sow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Faith, hope, and love are some of the treasures that no
person can take away from you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We may look like a worthless lump of clay, but with our
Master's hands, He can turn us into a useful pottery jar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Is peace merely an absence of conflict?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Be an optimist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Knowledge belongs to everyone,</span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-32767924020341055402014-10-31T21:29:00.005-07:002022-06-28T09:19:42.087-07:00Two blinks and a wink<h3>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">So sorry for this Halloween-related story.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">October 31, Saipan time, was my second straight Friday of walking from my friend's place on Quartermaster Road to the Saipan Tribune office at JP Center in Garapan.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The distance is around three kilometers more or less and some 20 minutes of brisk walking. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It was a cloudy afternoon, and except for a handful of </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">tourists wandering and taking pictures of the lagoon, the Beach </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Road pathway had less foot traffic that day.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">As I get near Triple J Motors, and the </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">building where Mega Byte and Hardt Eye Clinic was located, I saw an old Asian-looking man slowly walking beside his bicycle, which has a basket in front of the handlebars.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He was wearing an orange-hued undershirt and an unbuttoned checkered polo, and black pants.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I knew that in a few minutes I would come across the man since we were on the pathway. But in just one snap, as he passed by some trees, he vanished. </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was amazed, stunned, and surprised by what had just happened.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">So I decided to went around the tree just to check if he stopped and rested for a while. No bike and not a single sight of the man.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I told myself, that maybe he crossed the street, but cars traveling along the northbound and southbound lanes of Beach Road did not stop. And if the cars did stop, I would have seen it because CNMI drivers are courteous to pedestrians and switch on the hazard lights of their cars if someone was about to cross the street.</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm not forcing you to believe me, I just wanted to share my story of another encounter with a different kind.</span></span></h3>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-31476139613601977742014-10-24T23:35:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:20:29.711-07:00Breast cancer patient fundraiserSorry for this promotion but this one is for a good cause.<br />
<br />
A friend, colleague, and talented lens person, Jacq Hernandez (http://jacqhernandez.blogspot.com/), was recently diagnosed with Stage II HER2-positive breast cancer.<br />
<br />
Jacq used to work as a photographer for the Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Pacific Daily News in Guam.<br />
<br />
She is now connected with the Manila Bulletin in the Philippines but some of her photos were also used by the Associated Press and Agence France Press.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
It is a treatable form of cancer but medication, chemotherapy, and radiation are too costly.<br />
<br />
That's why a group of her friends decided to have this fundraiser to help with her mounting medical bills.<br />
<br />
Any amount would be greatly appreciated.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your support and understanding.<br />
<br />
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jacq-s-get-well-fund/x/8931368Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-8084022585639431112014-10-23T21:45:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:21:18.158-07:00Weather you like it...Rain or Shine. Sun and (then) Rain.<br />
<br />
I'm not promoting a particular brand of house paint in the Philippines. It was actually raining when I was writing this.<br />
<br />
Instead, I just wanted to describe and share the weather conditions/situation on Saipan.<br />
<br />
One minute, the sun's shining. Spreading her warmth and cheer.<br />
<br />
And just before you say:<br />
<br />
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.<br />
<br />
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.<br />
<br />
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.<br />
<br />
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?"<br />
<br />
Dark clouds assemble and, just at the same time when I'm waiting for my clothes to dry under the sun after doing my laundry, the rain slowly falls down.<br />
<br />
I have to run outside the house and get my newly-washed clothes but in less than five minutes, the sun is out again.<br />
<br />
Mother Nature has a sense of humor.Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-12601589861170794952014-10-16T07:44:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:23:05.955-07:00A brand NU day...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Saipan, CNMI—UAAP basketball games were never
aired live here in the Western Pacific. Not even the best-of-three finals.</span></span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">Though,
TFC put out an advisory that the FEU-NU title showdown will be simultaneously
aired to all of its subscribers.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">It
turns out the CNMI was not part of the area where the games will be shown live.
So I have to use my imagination following the do-or-die match on Twitter.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">Thank you internet and social media.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">It was one helluva season for NU.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">Looking back, the odds were stacked against the Bulldogs.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">They were always fighting for survival:</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">* Playoff for the No. 4 spot with UE where they defeated the Red Warriors, 51-49.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">* Faced top seed Ateneo in the semifinals and overhauled the Blue Eagles' twice-to-beat advantage, 78-74 and 65-63.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">* Forced a winner-take-all match </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">after scoring a 62-47 win over FEU in Game 2. The Tamaraws took the opener, 75-70.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="line-height: 20.7px;">* Ended six decades of futility, frustration, and anguish following a 75-59 victory in the decider.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Coach Sonny Paguia was the first person that came into my mind when it was clear that the UAAP crown is going back to M.F. Jhocson Street</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He could be considered the longest-serving UAAP mentor, though I'm not sure about this. I came to know him as NU's coach when I began my sports writing career as a young staff writer of the UE DAWN way back in the 1990s.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">He must be smiling and jumping for joy up there.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Also, take a bow Glenn Khobuntin and Troy Rosario, you are now part of NU's history.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Bulldogs now are in unfamiliar territory for they're entering Season 78 next year as defending champions.</span><br />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></span>
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Expect an exciting Season 78.</span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-36686025604799032622014-10-13T20:32:00.003-07:002022-06-28T09:23:57.636-07:00The elements<div style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #292f33;"><span style="font-size: small;">We’re like air. Soothing as the summer breeze
or a deadly swipe of a charging storm.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: #292f33; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUxEtjOCoydXoPTme2-BuqzRdJjLjOKSPYeki517T84qX7KFbMJ1RMjpuuhhAifKoluJRxN_lJQb4cL1U6B-7KIwBPk9QCnWHLcsRCZF7vGLQ5FemllSGueiS9yPt_ATLT1kbqpJ1/s1600/IMG_9215.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUxEtjOCoydXoPTme2-BuqzRdJjLjOKSPYeki517T84qX7KFbMJ1RMjpuuhhAifKoluJRxN_lJQb4cL1U6B-7KIwBPk9QCnWHLcsRCZF7vGLQ5FemllSGueiS9yPt_ATLT1kbqpJ1/s1600/IMG_9215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 15pt;">We’re like water. Calm, similar to a gentle flow
of a stream or the wild rush of a raging wave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilhIVPZGwdlK4DIVKVYsKDasT93dNs2arzgEPCrc0xlRl4IxLVrdqRS2wzP9M4_IgRZvB-VDcW-OTGHbBfl_Y7aMTIO6ozpo8DYW5NcQmIxTDkioQCuobWP3qkPASpdODNEX11ixO/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilhIVPZGwdlK4DIVKVYsKDasT93dNs2arzgEPCrc0xlRl4IxLVrdqRS2wzP9M4_IgRZvB-VDcW-OTGHbBfl_Y7aMTIO6ozpo8DYW5NcQmIxTDkioQCuobWP3qkPASpdODNEX11ixO/s1600/IMG_0587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33;">We’re like earth. Like a patch of barren land or a speck of dust carried by the wind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8cAwGxFDN3yt1TsRXUN3xh_F5Zkhv6JW8KdcsxaE3ps4rxocUijTD_sU_2gRL46JHiOiDycADa1RGzSu5oEEqxw7PkESKfxsu8FhqfLHKdd8elYRvE_mM2-s-DPUE5A4frwEAJ97/s1600/Earth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8cAwGxFDN3yt1TsRXUN3xh_F5Zkhv6JW8KdcsxaE3ps4rxocUijTD_sU_2gRL46JHiOiDycADa1RGzSu5oEEqxw7PkESKfxsu8FhqfLHKdd8elYRvE_mM2-s-DPUE5A4frwEAJ97/s1600/Earth.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 15pt;">We’re like fire. Giver of life and warmth or a destroyer of things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QHFMeCQMegYJ-_kokoLHrISosGKExhzNmtsjw4W50EFj0uPzlEGn5NFPXFsXt6jwMqfvIvQgFN_K-rSU4y-XF4ZTgGtqbwm6ntRahLbuZDIDAZZsniEQoAjCyPzUfWIuSOmqAwuq/s1600/IMG-20141003-00585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QHFMeCQMegYJ-_kokoLHrISosGKExhzNmtsjw4W50EFj0uPzlEGn5NFPXFsXt6jwMqfvIvQgFN_K-rSU4y-XF4ZTgGtqbwm6ntRahLbuZDIDAZZsniEQoAjCyPzUfWIuSOmqAwuq/s1600/IMG-20141003-00585.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; line-height: 15pt;">We need balance in the universe. One can’t live
without the other.</span></div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-6137418204595467772014-10-13T20:09:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:24:33.332-07:00Still kickin'Alone in a two-bedroom house, behind a thick row of assorted trees, I collected my thoughts and decided to access my blog.<br />
<br />
It's a little bit cloudy outside, nature's sign of impending rain. Maybe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DV1HlmOjYWSPpvJIKtxlE2tWFu-uLXhUs57CvNL8b9RcUGhLbbuVdI_brk3knPUK1sZ1ThtbkLUfDz0A4j0EndwLwJxprFCZRdM7uJtxGqLzl8F1w8HX-bkUGZirlHJ2LJSTNVZ/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-DV1HlmOjYWSPpvJIKtxlE2tWFu-uLXhUs57CvNL8b9RcUGhLbbuVdI_brk3knPUK1sZ1ThtbkLUfDz0A4j0EndwLwJxprFCZRdM7uJtxGqLzl8F1w8HX-bkUGZirlHJ2LJSTNVZ/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">They're not vultures.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It has been more than four months since I posted something on my blog.<br />
<br />
Either I'm too tired after work or I have no inspiration to write.<br />
<br />
In other words, I'm just too lazy. Hahaha.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9P-4L8KsMDShb7QdeP6KZoVA5-iek7sf2U6iCgLKB7RxIEeImmHx84yx8MAhpg8OF8a_-MV7V-9cpwCghfeGLArUaJ4UwbN5W0CEu9uTa5YTPVGQyoYhTjNaaFzoG3FkSkr7OcDg/s1600/IMG_9180.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9P-4L8KsMDShb7QdeP6KZoVA5-iek7sf2U6iCgLKB7RxIEeImmHx84yx8MAhpg8OF8a_-MV7V-9cpwCghfeGLArUaJ4UwbN5W0CEu9uTa5YTPVGQyoYhTjNaaFzoG3FkSkr7OcDg/s1600/IMG_9180.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>All know the Way, but few actually walk it. -- </b></span></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 14px;">Bodhidharma</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm currently in "exile" in the US island territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. Hahaha!<br />
<br />
Chose to come back and work here again after leaving the island paradise of Saipan six years ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5rgEMDTGKk4evVFK54eCpn1akQ4JvDRbYW5w8A_E2XvsyUdH665hoRb87OnljmJmyuRGGUIZ9LOdvHTBp97sOWg58NQdoTzoEPJ1BhO0Pv-R_HKnjFi2MtR_AJbTPBEZ4JlhbXQJ/s1600/Trees.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5rgEMDTGKk4evVFK54eCpn1akQ4JvDRbYW5w8A_E2XvsyUdH665hoRb87OnljmJmyuRGGUIZ9LOdvHTBp97sOWg58NQdoTzoEPJ1BhO0Pv-R_HKnjFi2MtR_AJbTPBEZ4JlhbXQJ/s1600/Trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: small; text-align: start;">We're all travelers.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I will try to be active again and post updates of my misadventures here on Saipan.<br />
<br />
JAI HO! Bollywood, here I come!<br />
<br />
<i><b><u>(Photos were taken using my old and yet still functioning BlackBerry Curve 9320.)</u></b></i>Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4801783846129935762.post-27981130228151109022014-06-04T20:19:00.001-07:002022-06-28T09:24:55.723-07:00Marquez looking beyond Pacquiao<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Ageless Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez is thinking of challenging one of the other welterweight champions for his next fight later this year instead of facing Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao for the fifth time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
According to trainer Nacho Beristain Marquez (56-7-1, with 40 knockouts) is looking for a rematch against World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. or International Boxing Federation titlist Shawn Porter (24-0-1, with 15 KOs) as his next opponent when he makes his ring return.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
"We are looking at the possibility of a fight for the welterweight title, but with another fighter,” the 74-year-old Beristain in an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
This could be bad news for Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who is trying to lure Marquez into agreeing to face Pacquiao (56-5-2, with 38 KOs) a fifth time in what could have been one of boxing’s most storied rivalries.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A second fight between Marquez and Mayweather (40-0, with 26 KOs) is expected to rake in huge pay-per-view (PPV) after their first meeting on September 19, 2009, generated one million buys where the former suffered a 12-round unanimous decision loss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Beristain added that he is no longer interested in seeing his ward fight Pacquiao a fifth time since Marquez had already proven himself when he floored the Filipino boxing icon in the sixth round two years ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
"I hate for Marquez to face him [Pacquiao] again because they have fought 44 rounds. I think it’s already enough to leave intact his win than Juan had against Pacquiao, which was historic, and he doesn’t need to spoil what took place,” said Beristain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Pacquiao and Marquez’s first meeting in 2004 ended in a controversial draw while the former defeated the Mexican by a split decision in their rematch after four years. Pacquiao again defeated Marquez via majority decision on November 11, 2012.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Their last bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on December 8, 2012—where Marquez scored a sixth-round KO victory—generated 1.15 million PPV buys, which is much higher than the 500,000 PPVs Pacquiao raked in when he faced Brandon Rios.</div>
Addicted2Sportshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08181118004845907816noreply@blogger.com0