Fireworks: To ban or not to ban? BAN

Ang masasabi ko lang, nakakairita ang news na to pero buti nga sa mga nasabugan para magtanda!!! 

Fireworks have a long history in our culture. This was popularized in China during the Song Dynasty by a monk named Li Tian. Fireworks then were gunpowder mix in bamboo shoots. They emit colorful explosions and a deafening sound. According to religion, the sound from firecrackers were used to ward off evil spirits specifically of the beast NIEN (Year) that appears at the end of each year killing villagers. Come 15th century, it had become widely popular in other major celebrations such as weddings, coronations and social celebrations. 

We had come a long way, I believe. Technological advancement and science have developed ways to make fireworks more efficient, sophisticated and through good quality, hazard proof (in the right hands). In this modern age, we have also revised our thinking. Fireworks now are appreciated more as a visual spectacle of colors than a mere loud source of undesirable noise. I vaguely remember when I was a child, two decades back, I would dread the new year's eve because of the deafening sound of senseless explosions. Whenever the neighbors of my father bring out their notorious Sinturon ni Hudas (Belt of Judas), I would try to go under the bed or closet to muffle the noise. I also remember we had a party during christmas and some idiot started a fireworks explosion that sounded like a real dangerous explosion when upon hearing it, your heart will literally jump, your hearing disrupted momentarily and the alarms of cars will tick off.  And just recently, last year, my sister and father were in a minor fireworks irregularity when the kwitis (rocket) failed to launch and ended up in my sister's belly. Though the explosion was faint and the injury does not require a trip to the hospital, it was very traumatic. Surely there were risks involved, them being unprofessionals and the firecracker purchased did not pass quality control. This year finally my father didn't buy any fireworks but purchased really cool torotots (makeshift horn, hooter) instead. 

I'm not saying it should be quiet and plain boring this year, but if there was a very memorable fireworks display I can think of, it's one of those city organized NYE countdown celebrations. A couple of years back my friends and I would meet at Ayala Avenue to witness the fireworks countdown prepared by the city. And I remembered it was magical. There would still be a faint sound of explosion, but it's not deafening. The best part of this fireworks show is the visual spectacle. It was planned, timed and well though of. None of those reckless noise infused explosions. I thought this is how fireworks should be done in any celebration. It's best to be enjoyed in a collective setting, with good quality fireworks, with planned visual spectacle and most importantly with professionals. 

Though the private use of fireworks significantly went down compared to 20 years ago, it's still not enough. People still use senseless and deafening fireworks and irresponsible merchants still sell sub-par quality fireworks to the general public. The result: inconvenience, traumatic experience and painful accidents. According to PDI, the casualties in 2014 NYE celebration was at 400, 17% drop from previous records, but the efforts are still not enough to achieve zero casualties. Governments should crack down the selling of illegal fireworks and parents should be stern enough to supervise their children playing with fireworks  This is where government should really come in and close down those shops selling fireworks. Also this is a call for parents to be firm in not using fireworks and at least supervise their children. I find it quite funny to see pictures of parents holding their devastated children in emergency rooms. Whose damn fault is that? 

I probably have no compassion left for reckless users of fireworks. I hope they feel the insurmountable pain of their wounds. They know very well the risks they are getting into. And I appeal to the government to mean business next year by hunting down these irresponsible establishments selling subpar fireworks. I will also continue to applaud municipalities who have banned private use of fireworks and those who have zero casualties. It's high time to celebrate new years collectively and sensibly. 

2014 Philippine Holidays Y'All!

You know what's the perfect side activity for today while you're munching on your left over desserts?

Planning your 2014 vacation leaves!

I don't know about you but I do come from banking operations and filing for vacation leaves takes a lot of negotiation and race to file first. And for poor workaholic folks who don't really believe in planning vacation leaves, don't just shrug it off and take for granted your privileges. We all need a good vacation in order to be productive. Google it, certain studies support it. And when I say travel, it's not limited tol staycations only. To widen our perspectives and gather new experiences, we need to move around from time to time. Without proper planning, we'll rush, spend more and absorb unnecessary stress.

So, what better way to do this January 1st? Pencil in your vacations for 2014 :)

I'm doing mine now. And I'll ensure that I'll go to Palawan, Cebu, Roxas...hopefully Batanes, the usual Boracay and at least 2  major international trips during the end of the year.

Muslim Holidays will be separately announced. 
Source: mb.com.ph

Notice that a lot of holidays fall on a mid-week. Time to file leave on those sandwich days!

And please watch out for the annual PTAA (Philippine Travel Agencies and Association) Travel Expo to be held in SMX Pasay City This February 14 - 16! This is the place to get discounted airline tickets, accommodations and overall travel package. 

Pencil in your travel plans, take note of the expo and Go Go Go! Travel like crazy!

Knocked out Dogs

Knocked out dogs. Understood. I can just imagine the stress levels were way up for these dogs since the start of New Year's Eve. Their body clocks have been altered for a day. And anyone who has ever had a dog would know how they absolutely hate anything surprising and loud. Firecrackers are a big no-no.

Dogs react variously. Some just like to hide and endure the noise silently. Other dogs like Harvey run around and get too excited. In crazy moments, they storm and fight the cause of noise. Most of the big dogs like Bruce bark, shake and breathe heavily. Sadly in extreme cases, some fearful dogs are reported to suffer from a heart attack. While some dogs learn to cope on their own, some dogs need help.

I feel terrible for them. Since they have heightened senses, the pop of firecrackers may be deafening.

Next year, I'm asking my vet for some pet valiums of pet sleeping pills if ever there is one.

Or some of the municipalities are already banning fireworks would it be feasible to wait? Kudos to Muntinlupa! When will other municipalities follow? I guess it won't happen next year, huh. Better stick to Plan A. Dog valiums.

Happy 2014

As my first post for this year, I'd like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2014!

Yes! Finally it's the New Year cause I so want to leave 2013 behind! In life we may have good years and bad years and I can say 2013 was a bad year for me. 2010-2012 was a blast, but 2013? You've got to be kidding me! (Inserting: Sarcastic laugh)

The Run Down:

Health

2013:   I'm not a sickly person. I rarely file sick leaves. I don't get fever and cough. Colds are an exception cause I've been dealing with allergies all my life and colds are usually triggered by it. But last year I had a couple of bad stomachs, a really nasty flu which made me skip work for a week and tons of migraines, 2-3 times in 3 months. Can I also say that I didn't have an exercise routine at all and I ate like there's no tomorrow? At least I wasn't hospitalized...yet.

2014:   To have less migraines please. And I don't want to be hospitalized for anything. I still want to continue my allergy-attack free streak and to not have flu. I also plan to keep health as one of my top priorities by exercising regularly (ugh) and eating less fatty foods. I will have to choose fruits over some Starbucks trip. Less desserts. Less Booze. More to facials, detoxifying and wellness regimens!

Work

2013:   I admit, I was very very disappointment on how my work turned out. Part of it is due to the incompetence of higher people around me and honestly I was riding on emotions. I honestly felt I did a good job in the 1st half, but it just wore me off after June. I decided to take things slow and by taking it slow I began to put career at the backseat. I still do my job of course, but it's more of to meet deadlines and do what's necessary. There was a time I dread going to work and as soon as I clocked in the more I wanted to go home. I'm missing the passion to do more. I was in complete hibernation mode.

2014:  Time to get back to my old self! Got to get that passion back to compete and achieve. It may also be a perfect time to reconsider other opportunities. It's time to do more but never reach overdrive.

Relationships

2013:  I've had the chance to rekindle friendships. That's one of the good things I've achieved this year. But this year is also a year I've considered to cut friendships as well. It's not personal, it's just the way it is. We're getting older and I don't think we need to waste time on people we think we're friends with just because. It's sad to cut ties because who doesn't want friends? But we're not living in a cheerio bubble. People change, things change, relationships come and go. Connections either sizzle or fizzle. That goes the same for not focusing on the good ones as well. I've had complaints about me taking for granted people who care for me, well that's the ultimate let down.

2014:  I plan to keep good relationships close and rebuild relationships that matter. It's time to at least devote an aspect of my life to nourishing relationships. I know, it's so not me, but at least it's time to try. I'm 30 for crying out loud. I may have lost lots of friends in the 20's, but I don't mind keeping a few friends in tact, as long as the quality is real and stronger than a 2 year contract. I may not be the clingy and affectionate type ever, but believe me that I value friends and I value good relationships. I guess I am willing to make it work.

Money

2013:  Ayayay. Where do we start? Just like work, I let this aspect of my life go to waste. It was shameful. To be honest, I haven't done a productive with money. Everything's devoted to pure enjoyment and expense. This is by far my worst...financially. I remember the times when I still had meager salary but I was able to save. But in 2013...hell no! It seemed all my money's going out the window and no...they're not investments. Everything was for temporary and shallow joys in life. Most of it are for emergency expenses. Shame. Shame Shame. I am disgusted by my 2013. I may not have debts, that's true, but I ate out of my savings and I don't even have a solid investment. Honestly, I don't even want to talk about it.

2014:   It's not too late to start, that's the bright side of things. At 30, probably I can still turn things around. I over enjoyed myself too much in 2013. It's time to get serious and actually save. It's time to also try some investments. Not everything is for temporary pleasure only, right? Time to cut down on book shopping, intensive dining out (which takes out a huge chunk of my salary) and worthless material acquisitions just because it's cute and I'm feeling impulsive. It's the time to NOT OVERINDULGE, but it's time to be an adult when it comes to money.

Reading

2013:  This is one of the strengths for this year. I turned into a reading monster. Every week I try to finish a book and start a new one. My book acquisition doubled turning my desk into an emergency shelf. I've literally ran out of space to house my new collection. Book acquisition and book reading were phenomenal this year.

2014:  Continue what I've started and will religiously catalogue books the entire year. I initially wanted to catalogue my library before 2014 starts, but I realize it will be a year-long process. That's fine, at least I started already with my log book. Also, will try to look for a free library software to at least take advantage of technology. I'm looking forward to new books, new reviews and excellent work coming my way this year.

Writing

2013:  Very weak. That's all I can say. You can judge by the posts of this blog. Also, I've stopped writing some of my short stories. All successful writers would always say to write at least a sentence in a day. Well I haven't done that. I write at a whim and it got me nowhere.

2014:  Time to turn things around. Just like my resolution the previous year, I will try to post one entry per day. I'd like to think of what my theme this year would be like: "What made this day awesome?" or "365 days of my life: Day 1." I have a friend who captures great images she encounters in a day. She dubs it as 365 Days, 365 photos of my life. I plan to emulate her scheme. And of course, I plan to continue writing stories brewing in my head. This is the perfect year to start.

Travel:

2013:   I was not able to step out of the country this year, a very drastic change from the previous years. What a waste of perfectly good time and weather. Shameful. I used to go gaga over travels, but this year even my domestic pursuits fail in comparison to previous years.

2014:   Travel? Travel to far off places while I'm young and able. I plan to snag a certified travel buddy soon. If God permits, I can work out a Europe trip. If not, probably a New York Trip. I plan to go to Palawan and visit Cebu and Roxas often. Yes, I plan to travel lots this year.


Dogs

2013:  How can I forget 2013? I nearly lost my Bullmastiff to an acute renal failure. It was a 2 week devastating turn of events. I was depressed. I couldn't care less about work, my time and my relationships. My eyes and heart focused on my gentle giant. I was crying in supermarkets. It was that bad. I never experienced grief, but it was as if my heart will be pulled out from my chest. It was a stressful time for me psychologically and financially. And of course, Harvey my JRT would also share his own darker moments. He had a emergency case wherein I had to rush from work at 8 pm and bring him to the vet to be confined because we thought he swallowed rat poison, which turned out to be false alarm. Also just recently, a minor surgery for a knife deep cut in his neck c/o of his rough play with Bruce. Unbelievable. Probably I spent 60,000 PHP in all their medical costs. That 60,000 pesos EXCLUDES 1,000 per week food grocery, 600 per month vitamin bottle, 300 per month knick  knacks, 1000 per month salary and 500 per month water and bath supplies.
             One major happy thing for 2013, aside from the fact that my dogs are still alive and well, is that my family and I adopted a puppy from our irresponsible neighbor.

2014:  Good health, please! And no physical accidents. I don't want to go through what I had to last 2013. It was hell.


Summary: See what I mean by shitty? Out of all the major aspects of my life, only reading came positive. The rest were shadowed by dark ages. I didn't get to formally study on something nor finished writing stories. I wasn't able to save and spent a lot on useless things (now that I think of it). I didn't lose weight and I don't think I have a healthy lifestyle (far from it). And I took for granted relationships and didn't focus on work that much. Wow. Talk about nailing it right through the head. 

But that's why I am recognizing them for what it is because I have to make peace with them. I know now what my 2013 looked like and please kill me if I didn't do anything about in 2014.

Moving on in 5...4...3...2..1!

Happy New Year Folks! I don't know about you, but I'm already digging 2014.

Slow Down December 28

December 28. It's one of the days between post and pre-holidays that I simply know that Christmas is finally over, but then again I'm still anticipating another round of merry making. It's either by this time I would savor or get sick of the multiple reheats of all leftover food. I usually feel absolutely bloated from all the happiness, tangible and intangible, that I've consumed. So 28 and the days in between Christmas and New Years are days that I take it slow...and reflect.

What I usually ponder on these days would be how my 2013 turned out and what I'd like my 2014 to shape up. Simply to close the past and prepare for the future.

For the past there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. I don't cry over spilt milk. I just acknowledge it for what it is and let go. All that's left is to highlight are the good ones and remember the bad parts to learn from it. I can cuss a word or two, sure but there's nowhere to go but forward. Leaving a year has never been my problem.

Cause I always like new starts and change. New Years are perfect symbols of that. It's a celebration to start the year right and on a clean slate. It's that time to at least attempt to kick off that resolution and hopefully stick with it. Probably it's a perfect day to start saving and ironing out one's finances. Or it's a perfect day to look at the calendar and plan your vacation leaves to travel to places you haven't been last year. It's the best opportunity to take advantage of the positive feeling and turn things around your way. In my previous posts I always stress that I enjoy the new year. To start of it off, group my new year into quarters. First Quarter is to shape up my goals and setting the tone for the year. Second Quarter is usually the hardest with follow throughs. Third Quarter is nailing it full steam ahead while Fourth Quarter is left to be honest with oneself and start assessing what you still can and can't do. I know it's a bit rigid and neurotic, but it helps you get through the year to constantly know your destination. I prefer to not to flit around day by day without a clean goal or perspective. For those who haven't done the year as a road map or in quadrants, I suggest you try! :)

But of course, no matter how we try to turn things around let's not forget that we are imperfect humans living such imperfect lives. There will be challenges and there will be dark moments in every year. It's just a matter of turning old a year wiser and stronger to withstand any hardships in life. That's what I always hope. I hope my 30 years of existence brought me at least an ounce of wisdom and strength.

Well I didn't intend for this post to be lengthy but might as well get a freehand in it.

And to be honest, 2013 was a shitty year for me. There's nothing wrong recognizing that. There were a lot of dark ages and frustrations in 2013 and there's nothing wrong in recognizing that. We have good years we have bad years. But thank you that it's ending and I'm still here. Never been happy to move on to another year. 2014, here we come!