tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339068802024-03-08T07:40:56.013+08:00From Within My FontanelsHaving unfused fontanels, I can never be accused of having a closed mind.K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-8157322973867877602022-02-23T18:12:00.000+08:002022-02-23T18:12:03.505+08:00Everybody Loves Elaine (written in 2016)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibyNVk4GgOSZ2ehR7tv0Nrh-AZ3O0vUU5XCWh2Lq_1RRKjP7ZU9Ays_5Rw8TlZsHMu3-j-ORACmKiQmQYyDG26poiVXECXH5KxyXgJdVfp0m_eVD1PuUfUtBniZmIn6CNvJpDihw3YCKAA5pk4DfYRsO7ncNDwoXNfzf5-mfOYveHKbjWUSA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="979" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibyNVk4GgOSZ2ehR7tv0Nrh-AZ3O0vUU5XCWh2Lq_1RRKjP7ZU9Ays_5Rw8TlZsHMu3-j-ORACmKiQmQYyDG26poiVXECXH5KxyXgJdVfp0m_eVD1PuUfUtBniZmIn6CNvJpDihw3YCKAA5pk4DfYRsO7ncNDwoXNfzf5-mfOYveHKbjWUSA" width="320" /></a></div><br />Everyone
Loves Elaine<br />
<span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">A Tribute to Elaine Henson: The Philippine
Cycling Community's Darling and Promising Star</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
By Karen S. Crisostomo<br />Feb 2016<br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“One lives in the hope of becoming a
memory." -Antonio Porchia (Argentian poet) <br />
<br />
Elaine Henson was the epitome of beauty, brains and brawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a “jill-of-all-trades”: music, art,
science and sports. You name it, she could do it. It was in the area of sports
that she found her passion. She was a multi-awarded equestrian and a podium
finisher in several sports events. She was a fast runner, a strong swimmer, a
skilled tennis player. She was always willing to try something new…she tried
her hand at rock-climbing, downhill skiing and inline skating. So, it was no
wonder that when she got into cycling she quickly excelled and won a Silver
Medal for track cycling during the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elaine was a PhD
candidate in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland when she
tragically died in a traffic accident in the USA. She was a few months short of
her 30<sup>th</sup> birthday. <br />
She finished her undergrad at UP SPEAR (now known as College of Human Kinetics)
and had a MS in Human Kinetics from Frostburg University, Maryland.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Zpz6Aw3oKMSlFb1chxmPwKkqni4zf7oXq1IsSLNeQ2u8E3jgF5-nWZjMLEH400isee5ENz-fmdGKNZ2Yr9p9qK537mNnz_A2g1gx5v1khtIakn3y2s0w17wykk7LV94J2yCr8xZkJUvfbjgj0B3GfSqKK8OWanH5iZ8LNQK8hLQA5M3jIg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="979" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Zpz6Aw3oKMSlFb1chxmPwKkqni4zf7oXq1IsSLNeQ2u8E3jgF5-nWZjMLEH400isee5ENz-fmdGKNZ2Yr9p9qK537mNnz_A2g1gx5v1khtIakn3y2s0w17wykk7LV94J2yCr8xZkJUvfbjgj0B3GfSqKK8OWanH5iZ8LNQK8hLQA5M3jIg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<u>A Natural Athlete</u></span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Lizette Henson-Villoria, Elaine’s older sister shares:<br />
“Elaine got into cycling because of me. I had switched from running to cycling
because of my then boyfriend-now husband, Leo. I quickly became hooked on the
sport. The Philippine Team noticed me whipping around the Quezon Memorial
Circle and invited me to try out. I said: “Ok,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and can I take my sister along?” Well, guess who won the team trial? It
was Elaine! She had never cycled in a track before but she came in strongest of
the three women who tried out. That day, we got invited to train with the
National Team (I barely lasted a year but Elaine really went for it.) <br /></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhDFJJadiUmouXTVYGl3YaASrtDNuMMuQv2VPRrsrm-4xJmpyEa7jqGjtpY7zkVAfd2p4lrUkTLcVJJNXU0WPPbIMkmbP9b1zgJ0kUBZ_BpJ07oJ5213XSislvDd-u14f3eJ2jh5eYn6ETNSAKdl0Kf7LGQcaDzNkkaKgZAuhDNyVygW1Jwg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="978" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhDFJJadiUmouXTVYGl3YaASrtDNuMMuQv2VPRrsrm-4xJmpyEa7jqGjtpY7zkVAfd2p4lrUkTLcVJJNXU0WPPbIMkmbP9b1zgJ0kUBZ_BpJ07oJ5213XSislvDd-u14f3eJ2jh5eYn6ETNSAKdl0Kf7LGQcaDzNkkaKgZAuhDNyVygW1Jwg=w363-h284" width="363" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nina Wagan (2<sup>nd</sup> from left),
Rey Espinosa, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Elaine (Center) , Lizette Henson-Villoria and Leo Villoria
(right )</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<br />
Coach Bert Oconer , Philippine National Cycling Team recalls with fondness:<br />
“Maraming napasukan na sports si Elaine at lahat yun naging magaling siya. Ang
huling sport na sinalian ni Elaine ay ang cycling. Nagkamedal siya sa SEA Games
nung 1987 sa Jakarta. Maaaring tumuloy siya sa Olympics nung time namin dahil
sa galing niya bilang isang atleta at sobrang determinado siya” <br />
Coach Bert believes that if Elaine were still around today, she would most
probably still be competing and coaching athletes to reach their peak and that
she would be a great asset to the cycling community. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJAAeHlfzi74UsTtyi1NkfLyVQYJ92uaSHR-lv8UMVN7smlskgrw0RruoQr4C0jLmbWW5DL8gzI8vD26CijAkPEgbYqbIcxZuluyhHM4hVv7VFYOBgCvyeH8dvoQ6cnfGpp1DCw5JYP8hsV1-MHbJ-BsFICAEJkqWThRJA4q7fnadzJhUgmQ" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="979" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJAAeHlfzi74UsTtyi1NkfLyVQYJ92uaSHR-lv8UMVN7smlskgrw0RruoQr4C0jLmbWW5DL8gzI8vD26CijAkPEgbYqbIcxZuluyhHM4hVv7VFYOBgCvyeH8dvoQ6cnfGpp1DCw5JYP8hsV1-MHbJ-BsFICAEJkqWThRJA4q7fnadzJhUgmQ" width="320" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Coach Bert Oconer 3<sup>rd</sup> from
left with Elaine right most</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the Boys</span></u><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dave Bercades, Former UP CHK Professor shares:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“We were in UP together when the CHK was still ISPEAR. This was still
the 20th century. The 80s. She was already cycling for the country, so she
could ride with the boys but what she did that got her the most respect, and
this is really important…was eat more than the boys. I will never forget that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /><br /></span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwD1Rp1C9I6QGoDMuxv5ZtVsZBJljJPN_xO-Ctd2ZO1_Rt4JdkckOAcTLcowrPwVoQRLi_RIrgGiCOKlXjBKM4PHoiOljPSyqsB4LkUj3MXOQtY6JVwZpTFqn71bNlEB3QR42NBtYGxTQr0YMldXUglv6w63ij2E0X7pT4C-7Xo9dmTcwfnw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="978" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwD1Rp1C9I6QGoDMuxv5ZtVsZBJljJPN_xO-Ctd2ZO1_Rt4JdkckOAcTLcowrPwVoQRLi_RIrgGiCOKlXjBKM4PHoiOljPSyqsB4LkUj3MXOQtY6JVwZpTFqn71bNlEB3QR42NBtYGxTQr0YMldXUglv6w63ij2E0X7pT4C-7Xo9dmTcwfnw" width="320" /></a></div><br />Elaine
with Dave Bercades and her friend, Chesca Silva-Bowser<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
JV Duque, Gymnast Coach and UP PEP Squad Founding Coach<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">"Elaine was always “cowboy”.Thoughtful and easy to get
along with. She was sweet, soft-spoken and humble. When she mounted her bike,
she was like poetry in motion."<br />
</span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
Rick Reyes, Head Coach, TRAP<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“When we first formed the Philippine Tri Team back in 2000,
we were trying to pinpoint potential members. I remember so many remarked,
"Sayang… Si Elaine Henson sana."<br />
</span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
<u>Gone too Soon<br />
</u><br />
When someone young and talented dies, we often hear the expression, “Gone too
soon.” For me, this was true for Elaine. Her mother, Tita Meldy proudly showed
us Elaine’s trophy cabinet and shared with Multisport Philippines:<br />
“ I used to try to stop Elaine. I would say: it’s too dangerous. You will get
hurt. You’re too young…and Elaine would reply: but Mommy, now is the time to
try and do these things while I can, while I am young otherwise, I might not
get the chance anymore to do anything.” <br />
Tita Meldy adds,“So, we let her. We could not stop her anyway because Elaine
was strong-willed. We even supported her…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She adds wistfully: “Elaine was right. The time to do the things you
love is now. Not later because later may never come. It was so for Elaine. I am
just glad she got to do all those things.”</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaKtwWNG_LZCz2C0O6iSsx5nY1Dxnqr3gznDz8zoOfyBvw6DtH4WrDbvo7cKJwqobuU9FqrMW8qBxLZaNfIS_PIITD4XnU3xj0JDinvk3vOx8c2iY7Y9e-fAdJTaU_Q_xt2thtvJ8LWneSINdXh6hOJrjm6q6Hm5KPIBMmIqguIl0STBKNQw" style="font-family: Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="977" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaKtwWNG_LZCz2C0O6iSsx5nY1Dxnqr3gznDz8zoOfyBvw6DtH4WrDbvo7cKJwqobuU9FqrMW8qBxLZaNfIS_PIITD4XnU3xj0JDinvk3vOx8c2iY7Y9e-fAdJTaU_Q_xt2thtvJ8LWneSINdXh6hOJrjm6q6Hm5KPIBMmIqguIl0STBKNQw" width="320" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, "sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><br />Elaine’s Trophy Cabinet</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><br />
</span><u><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Happy Birthday Elaine!</span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHSTU3tK6bWyGdhN91H7vbyLJRUDJvmYdIdzFoetkC9AN_6Rrg-4GFnCqhRWq0dcq141fc_FyOrCcIjQiZ3cAHPqxPWAtSjEuAk8C_rye8m9wDu257VYMBMAU0AnzizCZDh7_QA0YYir5NuR_xvrcoNJ5qrtadmbBAnJKwf9nTyU8ZnWMSVA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHSTU3tK6bWyGdhN91H7vbyLJRUDJvmYdIdzFoetkC9AN_6Rrg-4GFnCqhRWq0dcq141fc_FyOrCcIjQiZ3cAHPqxPWAtSjEuAk8C_rye8m9wDu257VYMBMAU0AnzizCZDh7_QA0YYir5NuR_xvrcoNJ5qrtadmbBAnJKwf9nTyU8ZnWMSVA" width="136" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Elaine
would have celebrated her 49<sup>th</sup> birthday this Feb. 23. She did
everything that she loved without hesitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She lived life to the fullest and with no regrets. <br />
<br />
We can all take a page from Elaine’s life story: Life is indeed short. Say
“yes!” to life. Do what you love today while you can for we never really know
what the promise of tomorrow may bring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
Author’s note:<br />
</span></u><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In a recent converstaion with some cyclists, the
QC Cycling Club (QCCC) was casually mentioned. I could not help myself from
volunteering the information: “ I own a QCCC jersey…my voice trailed off. It
belonged to my friend, Elaine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
“Elaine?” One of the cyclists asked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
I said: “Elaine Henson”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He responded
with a sad sort of smile: “Oh, I had a secret crush on her. You know that she
passed away right?” <br />
More than eighteen years after her death, Elaine is still remembered with
fondness and continues to live in the hearts of those who knew and loved
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<u><br />
</u>"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." -Thomas
Campbell (Scottish poet)</span></p>
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</v:shape><![endif]--></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK3OMP4pZyoMzLH-TML_tZGf-KX7WTflIgFXr9oChBScNF0uVj9XCpHqoEx1dnHf6fJYLHi3b9pVV8hu9kamVhkbDUphsC5OPWl6L1Y4UiE0_u4Bk__27hRXhza-cDrl_k7HHvSzTchVkMiF7WkREPbJHMR07WwF2fDC7xW_Oj_I4VMLSclw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="623" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK3OMP4pZyoMzLH-TML_tZGf-KX7WTflIgFXr9oChBScNF0uVj9XCpHqoEx1dnHf6fJYLHi3b9pVV8hu9kamVhkbDUphsC5OPWl6L1Y4UiE0_u4Bk__27hRXhza-cDrl_k7HHvSzTchVkMiF7WkREPbJHMR07WwF2fDC7xW_Oj_I4VMLSclw" width="174" /></a></div><br /><u><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In Memoriam<br />
</span></u><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: #373e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Elaine Marie G. Henson<br />
Feb. 23, 1967 – Dec. 10, 1997<br />
<br />
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Spirited lady, lady of will</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">With beauty and intelligence</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our hearts you did fill</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Your very essence</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Like the wind that blows</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">On a hot summer day</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Refreshing, as cool water flows;</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Simple for it's nature's way</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Heaven sent from Olympus</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Down to earth</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Holder of laurels with nary a fuss</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A true winner with so much worth</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">You lived life to the fullest</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now; never in the past</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Always being the best</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">First; never last</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Molded to perfection</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This last race you've won</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">With boundless energy</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Forever you will be</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our triumphant Elaine;</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Our loss, His gain.</span></i><span style="background: #FEFEFE; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">K.S.Crisostomo</span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">December
12, 1997</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 4; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Elaine Henson Memorial Fund</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #141823; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 17.4pt; margin-bottom: 16.55pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the time of her
death, Elaine was a doctoral student at the University of Maryland. As an
international student from the Philippines, a fund was established in her
memory to support graduate student travel to present papers at scholarly
conferences or to conduct research in another laboratory, with special
consideration for those traveling internationally. Pls see link below. </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">Your gift could play a critical role
in maintaining a program, helping a student complete his or her education, or
initiating a new program or project.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><a href="https://sph.umd.edu/department/knes/giving-kinesiology-department"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://sph.umd.edu/department/knes/giving-kinesiology-department</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #555555; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;">The
author, Karen Crisostomo with Tita Meldy Henson</span><span style="color: #555555; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br />
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #555555; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-36788095173067160622017-01-10T12:34:00.001+08:002017-01-11T05:33:12.749+08:00Amazing Alumni Achiever (Triple A) Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
* A late post for 2016 and my 1st for the New Year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Thank you Maryknoll-Miriam College Alumni Association for the award. I am both honored and humbled. </span><span style="text-align: center;">(Homecoming, September 2016). </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: center;">There is still much that needs to be done!! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgFDN1RgaRmFSTJ0UdDgriOn6D9svq5lM-HbVwysFhmn2b225YrF2AxU-ilnodjd2xknqnqCXkIPNXtElGYdKHSJpT5G23aHORhXyRHuyok0XZBtnCbhMz255CdHYMAl1P0QU/s1600/MC_AAA+2016+EXHIBIT+090116+rev4_crisostomo+FA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgFDN1RgaRmFSTJ0UdDgriOn6D9svq5lM-HbVwysFhmn2b225YrF2AxU-ilnodjd2xknqnqCXkIPNXtElGYdKHSJpT5G23aHORhXyRHuyok0XZBtnCbhMz255CdHYMAl1P0QU/s320/MC_AAA+2016+EXHIBIT+090116+rev4_crisostomo+FA.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaPs62xfsgkiKzMaJC_QNPTICDo3Uxq4fb4yLZMVPPzPqqvSjzO0X54xQT9IKKQcrtIH8pLMXEge1zFHcPQBDE7CXKuyTyhIs9AHDff21nyyg_M2dyGiJyB0i6WBWva5_DCH7/s1600/PCM_5273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaPs62xfsgkiKzMaJC_QNPTICDo3Uxq4fb4yLZMVPPzPqqvSjzO0X54xQT9IKKQcrtIH8pLMXEge1zFHcPQBDE7CXKuyTyhIs9AHDff21nyyg_M2dyGiJyB0i6WBWva5_DCH7/s320/PCM_5273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-auvf4fVYOwZi2D5zQ-6Gm8uFdA6AfemSMCrWUkyHOsoF2yZeBYCa7W-tDMl16CND_nPtF1M44Sz5LTNTKuytsVIu7u8zfAxQ6PL6LDkcmyJMsYcKYswSVLNsIfJOs8c53uT/s1600/IMG_20170109_212303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-auvf4fVYOwZi2D5zQ-6Gm8uFdA6AfemSMCrWUkyHOsoF2yZeBYCa7W-tDMl16CND_nPtF1M44Sz5LTNTKuytsVIu7u8zfAxQ6PL6LDkcmyJMsYcKYswSVLNsIfJOs8c53uT/s320/IMG_20170109_212303.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-12210102253809077852016-06-12T02:40:00.000+08:002017-06-12T09:30:27.379+08:00Remembering June 12, 1986... Part 2: First ImpressionsRemembering June 12, 1986...Part 2: the story continues to unfold as time goes by...<br />
<br />
As fate would have it, the rickety old jeep we were riding got a flat tire...not just once but twice. It also experienced a couple of mechanical sputterings..which was not surprising considering the rough, boulder-ridden road we were traversing and the condition it was in.<br />
<br />
With nothing much to do, small talk ensued. The brown curly haired guy was smart and eloquent, exchanging witty banter with my co-teacher, able to divert my attention from the seemingly dire situation we were in.<br />
<br />
After several hours we finally made it to the 1st pitstop which was a roadside eatery, deep in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Real, Quezon. While the rest of the passengers ate and stretched their travel-weary bodies, I decided to check out the small sari-sari store selling cold drinks. I ordered a soda... as I sipped my drink, I glanced around and it was only then that I noticed 'curly hair' having a beer. I instinctively glanced down at my wristwatch...my thought bubble: "a beer? what time is it?" (It must have been midday!).<br />
<br />
I saw our driver emerge from the eatery...time to go. As I handed over my money to the storekeeper, she declined saying "<i>bayad na po iyan</i>" (It has been paid for). Apparently, Mr. beer-drinking, curly-haired guy had paid for my drink.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward present day...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMPE1TC_J4BjvmGdnwGmwYV889Dipz03ZkQMbENcItmK4JSfDfAovn3qTq6yCowOmMG-DnqsTxpsQiegH_yPNcl_SwekUmepfqeaCk_wxr7iQn2PKb7sPgwUnCcXozo5PuAXm/s1600/FB_IMG_1465666255784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMPE1TC_J4BjvmGdnwGmwYV889Dipz03ZkQMbENcItmK4JSfDfAovn3qTq6yCowOmMG-DnqsTxpsQiegH_yPNcl_SwekUmepfqeaCk_wxr7iQn2PKb7sPgwUnCcXozo5PuAXm/s320/FB_IMG_1465666255784.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhVOpaVZJBGrSrMheNflTjCVtuLAd2YP7N4F2k_33PtRDu8KzFFajbZe5K-o_r0xAbut9ezVVdQUhg4xcG2xDw8oAAmVqgoLcAzBgTQOOrJeaAY0tuf1555JN81cgEFUj1pFS/s1600/received_1053428218084210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhVOpaVZJBGrSrMheNflTjCVtuLAd2YP7N4F2k_33PtRDu8KzFFajbZe5K-o_r0xAbut9ezVVdQUhg4xcG2xDw8oAAmVqgoLcAzBgTQOOrJeaAY0tuf1555JN81cgEFUj1pFS/s1600/received_1053428218084210.jpeg" /></a>Here we are now having a couple of beers, discussing bicycles, public mass transportation, the pros and cons of the iconic jeepney, wishing and wanting drivers and operators to be more responsible and mindful of keeping well-maintained, environment friendly toxic fume free vehicles and that they would be more considerate of their passengers and other motorists by practicing road safety and road sharing.<br />
<br />
June 12, that fateful jeepney ride and San Miguel beer will always be remembered as it was destined to be remembered... with much fondness.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-37662227909278555362016-01-05T10:21:00.000+08:002021-06-24T12:21:38.893+08:00Is it Really About The Bike? <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1965442345"></span><span id="goog_1965442346"></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-34c776bd-7fff-ee92-a4ab-323d47d68303" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-34c776bd-7fff-ee92-a4ab-323d47d68303" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm0nF9i00XrqYvhf0o6ffKP8snnmVFd6XNuSPMT1z58G5btFnM-30sqGMseePjirF2j0_THEjaJwfdld6XBJDLoIcBu3THCS8-ntCnjxUD6kVipK8UwK4i8tiaxfqDTKzNOPW/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115428.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm0nF9i00XrqYvhf0o6ffKP8snnmVFd6XNuSPMT1z58G5btFnM-30sqGMseePjirF2j0_THEjaJwfdld6XBJDLoIcBu3THCS8-ntCnjxUD6kVipK8UwK4i8tiaxfqDTKzNOPW/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115428.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-34c776bd-7fff-ee92-a4ab-323d47d68303" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is It really About The Bike?</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Choosing the Right Bike for the New Year</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By: Karen S. Crisostomo</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a bicycle and clean air advocate, I’ve always </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">espoused that biking, whether as a hobby, a sport or as a practical means of commuting need not be fancy or expensive. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQeh72gy1PRKP3fRFuxzC71Eb9TODAC5RD8u4gDsEQOngTXKsnd_cLFxV66DCk4v4Xr7nJlhfS9ACIReAm1T9q3GmohDw-1CeJrrBIUK76AOBgyn9xHW88GHbyWzaRsnDgK-9/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115502.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQeh72gy1PRKP3fRFuxzC71Eb9TODAC5RD8u4gDsEQOngTXKsnd_cLFxV66DCk4v4Xr7nJlhfS9ACIReAm1T9q3GmohDw-1CeJrrBIUK76AOBgyn9xHW88GHbyWzaRsnDgK-9/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HEAVY METAL RED</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been using my 2</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 0.6em; vertical-align: super;">nd</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> hand “Specialized” generic </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bike, “RED”for the past 7 years. I have used it for fun rides, races, and for bike commuting. We have traversed many roads together, traveling long and short distances on practically a daily basis. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through the years, Red has become nicked, battle-scarred and dirty so much so that even a bicycle thief would not give it a thought. LOL!</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-34c776bd-7fff-ee92-a4ab-323d47d68303" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH7XlL31t91TwdFK-qQoKqlw27klLfxhUcrGrI_r2THKx86DkK6PC2F5VgIQ5g63pwBcmrvxrw9ncCsHCy6QCcPnZ1zsXlvUzUw_pepzuyQ55vY7dQhaAFbv3er0XAdnyHB-d/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115520.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSH7XlL31t91TwdFK-qQoKqlw27klLfxhUcrGrI_r2THKx86DkK6PC2F5VgIQ5g63pwBcmrvxrw9ncCsHCy6QCcPnZ1zsXlvUzUw_pepzuyQ55vY7dQhaAFbv3er0XAdnyHB-d/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115520.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 9pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-34c776bd-7fff-ee92-a4ab-323d47d68303" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, no matter how battered looking, Red has gotten me to targeted destinations at roughly the same time as some of my fellow cyclists riding their hi-tech, uber expensive bikes. (Yay for me!) and faster than the gas-guzzling vehicles stuck in traffic (Double thumbs-up for sustainable non-motorized transportation!)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwSN8gOFikwceOWtsJ_FMLO52xh5hlOOABRfHYiANo1zRYAN-8N5J2A0HCul2Rq1gvISQLVPNGXnjysdoGLEgaQ8BC5SECWKEjIkJx1DITh1xKYCiQ1jWHoQGuIDBsP7ATws/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115539.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hwSN8gOFikwceOWtsJ_FMLO52xh5hlOOABRfHYiANo1zRYAN-8N5J2A0HCul2Rq1gvISQLVPNGXnjysdoGLEgaQ8BC5SECWKEjIkJx1DITh1xKYCiQ1jWHoQGuIDBsP7ATws/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115539.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONVERSATION PIECE</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Nov. 2013, while waiting for the BGC Cycle Philippines ride to begin, three-time Tour de France sprint champion, Robbie McEwen, kidded me: </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Time for a new bike, aye?” </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, during the ride, </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he asked if my bike had a name. I answered, “It’s RED although at the rate the paint is going, it may no longer be RED”. We both laughed and he said: “For as long as you’re comfortable, that’s what’s important.” Take note, I managed to chat and smile while pedaling uphill maintaining Robbie’s pace (which was arduous for me.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almost an hour after kick-off, Robbie called out: “Doing good,Karen!” It was music to my ears coming from THE Tour de France green jersey holder and 3x sprint winner. Red and I rolled past the finish line in one piece…and just within seconds after the elite pack. My recorded ride time: 33 Crisostomo, Karen 1:21:55.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVP9yYcCkb-kPxuWEun80uKRh6KAFjfozf3C20UZEYH2GqoDRrMi5n89WLGsOsNuchi51Peviy60031HDrhR7eqB3CA5J8GGIZ5Jv8B4X-8GjYs67XGHdHsshhV1WIBhvoEU-/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115605.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1080" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVP9yYcCkb-kPxuWEun80uKRh6KAFjfozf3C20UZEYH2GqoDRrMi5n89WLGsOsNuchi51Peviy60031HDrhR7eqB3CA5J8GGIZ5Jv8B4X-8GjYs67XGHdHsshhV1WIBhvoEU-/w317-h287/Screenshot_20210624_115605.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NEW BLUE</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Christmas 2013, my husband bought me a brand new Cannondale frame at 50% off from Glorious Bike Shop (great bike store with a café) situated on Anonas St, QC.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For 2 years my new bike adorned our living room wall because I continued to use Red. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, last Jan 2, I finally took BLUE out on its maiden ride and wondered why I had waited so long! Haha</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1FlPyb1b0NLMbcwSN9aNnvOaFrLSsEqwHBdn9-PRFXxf008YzY3VkWN1drKEPh36eKqVQH1u0b-TBfty-g3goIY0W5pWksGoARu0vPGt4bl8RK0_i-Ge2JetEe8UMLAj1GrQ/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115623.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1FlPyb1b0NLMbcwSN9aNnvOaFrLSsEqwHBdn9-PRFXxf008YzY3VkWN1drKEPh36eKqVQH1u0b-TBfty-g3goIY0W5pWksGoARu0vPGt4bl8RK0_i-Ge2JetEe8UMLAj1GrQ/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHOOSING A BICYCLE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If one of your 2016 goals is to get into cycling, here are some practical tips on choosing a bike: No technical jargon here.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, ask yourself, what will you use your bicycle for?</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personally, because I was just so comfortable using Red, I used one and the same bike for various functions:</span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a utility bike</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - for short distance trips that did not require the use of a car. For example bike to the bank; bike to the grocery store, to Church...</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a commuter bike</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">– for traveling anywhere from 5 – 25+ kms within the city to bike to work, attend meetings, events, visit friends.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a racing bike</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – for fun rides, races, mini-triathlons, duathlons</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a bike-packing bike</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – for epic / century rides out of town (100+kms)</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MtnYGlMUY5jivX0tG5Jg0v8XlaCQQHG2SMAnAyf7O34Lvl5QtJfc3uBWHCxkHFxDKYybKjA7dZ0MNcWGrSJkQib_y77TYw8TpJBN3s6cNA2z6OCRXHNvMjc-SiVRMSxIrLrS/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115644.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MtnYGlMUY5jivX0tG5Jg0v8XlaCQQHG2SMAnAyf7O34Lvl5QtJfc3uBWHCxkHFxDKYybKjA7dZ0MNcWGrSJkQib_y77TYw8TpJBN3s6cNA2z6OCRXHNvMjc-SiVRMSxIrLrS/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115644.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, how much are you willing to spend for a bicycle?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzKH65tN6cqJyrUkDvygJ1iyxotRtUTCn5PUms061n3ruTkCCkUFFw5QH8VhXbysKkxATnTBaJlZx5w3sam6mhO9hILnOkfVMYtuCUwRCVqVJrR2xC8b38FwHiBEEOhGno1n/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115732.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nzKH65tN6cqJyrUkDvygJ1iyxotRtUTCn5PUms061n3ruTkCCkUFFw5QH8VhXbysKkxATnTBaJlZx5w3sam6mhO9hILnOkfVMYtuCUwRCVqVJrR2xC8b38FwHiBEEOhGno1n/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruben Mendoza, Michael Liberatore and Rosar Crisostomo, Ateneo Professors, Theology Department choosing their bikes at the MK Bike Station, Caloocan City where one can find a wide-range of quality yet affordable bicycles.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depending on the material used, the type and the brand of the bike, bike prices range anywhere from as low as P2000 to P200,000++.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michael Liberatore opted for an XiX Commuter Bike for approximately P4000 while Geoanna Corneby and Ruben Mendoza both opted to buy folding bikes known for its versatility. I own a folding bike too and it is great for bi-modal trips. An MK Velocity Folding bikes costs around P7000+. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3ZbV3GrO1sg16Rkfcw2vXP_xzndsMquJaTO36XzSyyTvK-VCxtiC5MfzBsv56qrGpgvRR19rYae-9TWYQQrAGV99t2_zGdrhj3lWSqNso7mF6wWEfEyxWRFSuMpilzM19AI_/s1080/Screenshot_20210624_115755.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3ZbV3GrO1sg16Rkfcw2vXP_xzndsMquJaTO36XzSyyTvK-VCxtiC5MfzBsv56qrGpgvRR19rYae-9TWYQQrAGV99t2_zGdrhj3lWSqNso7mF6wWEfEyxWRFSuMpilzM19AI_/s320/Screenshot_20210624_115755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The type of bike that you choose matters, the brand does not. It is the cyclist’s mentality and will to keep going that will determine the way or how much a bicycle is used and enjoyed.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But for whatever purpose that you do decide to take up cycling, be it for recreation, for health reasons, or as a solution to address environmental and social issues such as air pollution and traffic congestion make sure that the bike you get has the right fit and is comfortable. The worst thing you can do is to buy a bicycle (whether cheap or expensive) that you won’t use or have fun using.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I leave to enjoy new Blue, let me end with a quote by John F. Kennedy: “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have other opinions or suggestions, pls. leave a comment or drop me an email at </span><a href="mailto:karencrisostomo@gmail.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: blue; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">karencrisostomo@gmail.com</span></a><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for future posts. I’d love to hear from you.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Photo Credits: Karen and Rosar Crisostomo</span></p>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-67832784404124487662016-01-01T13:48:00.000+08:002018-02-06T18:34:06.465+08:00TRAILBLAZING! Cheers to a New Year! Hello 2016 :) <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Cheers to the new year and to a budding writing career with Multisport.ph (Hinge Inquirer Publications)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://hip.inquirer.net/multisport/trail-blazing/">My 1st article for Multisport Philippines</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By: Karen S. Crisostomo<br />
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December is the month when friends get-together to celebrate good holiday cheer. For internationally acclaimed environmentalist
lawyer, Atty. Tony Oposa, a “Christmas cum Biking Party” with a small group of
friends (yours truly included) to test run and explore a newly carved out trail
in Indang, Cavite is the cool way to party!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alas! As Storm Nona continued to linger over the metropolis,
plans for the Christmas party had to be rescheduled BUT for feisty Atty. Tony
and Coach Patrick Joson, the untrodden trail beckoned. <br />
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Despite the overcast sky, the two surged on to try out the unexplored. Their
curiosity was well rewarded with a nice, shaded trail amidst farm property.<br />
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<u>The Unexplored<br />
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For Atty. Tony, who recently picked up urban cycling in his quest for Road
Sharing and to push the implementation of a 7-year old law which states that
“those who have less in wheels, must have more of the road” (E.O. 774, 2008) it
was his first time to try trail riding.
He says: “</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Trail riding is fun because all senses are on high gear!”.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For
Coach Patrick, a serious roadie for the past 15 years, it was also his first
time to go “off road.” He shares his
thoughts about the experience: “</span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yes, my first time.
Finally there is a place where trails are designed within farm lands and all within one property. Trails
are usually local walk trails that people use that connects from one farm to
another. Not like what we had in Indang,
it was a trail built in the property devoted for trail cycling and designed for
varying skill levels”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The New Trail<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Approximately 70 kms from Manila, the 15 km. Indang
Bike Trail (not its official name) is definitely a biker’s haven to watch out
for;a new adventure just waiting to be explored. Hopefully it will open to the
public early next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-91833798886371876532015-10-06T18:50:00.000+08:002016-01-25T00:23:31.779+08:00Sr. Marissa Lichauco's Gardening 101 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IVM7y5rnr6nu31tSZkUb34vjJymrQPvjC_LfR1TIVzeewF45DF8HXZUzVdaMF1elE7tql5Ol8iHNqrkFlJEDtrH4p0cdcKUORFWpzsSEeWyC69ruR4bS2O6m8KOmlqtSZeJ6/s1600/IMG_20151006_155225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IVM7y5rnr6nu31tSZkUb34vjJymrQPvjC_LfR1TIVzeewF45DF8HXZUzVdaMF1elE7tql5Ol8iHNqrkFlJEDtrH4p0cdcKUORFWpzsSEeWyC69ruR4bS2O6m8KOmlqtSZeJ6/s320/IMG_20151006_155225.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So glad that Sami allowed me to tag along to visit Sr. Marissa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sr. Marissa was the principal in Maryknoll when I was in grade school. As a child, I always remembered her wearing a serene smile on her dignified face. My memory served me right! At 86 yrs, she is still calm, cool and collected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How lovely to see how she has aged so gracefully. And what a wonderful treat to be given a personal walk-through of her garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some take-home pointers from our time spent with her that afternoon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GARDENING 101 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gardening is like writing a composition. It must have the 5 basic elements:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Unity : the garden has the quality of being one as an aesthetic whole</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Cohesiveness: </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">plants must complement one another: they must work and fit together well</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Focus or point of Emphasis: Like an essay, there is a topic sentence; a focal point</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Proportion / Balance: everything in moderation; not too much of anything</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Harmony: orderly and pleasing combination of plants to make a whole<br /><br />Gardening is also like a home:<br />The entrance must be welcoming. The main portion is like the living room where one would like to hang out. There should also be an area for utilities or preparation like a "dirty kitchen"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>A TIME for EXPRESSING GRATITUDE</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raising a large family, my parents must have encountered several challenges in life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sending all 9 of us siblings to the best schools in the country, one can only imagine the horrendous expense of such an endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">my reasons for wanting to tag along...I needed to express my gratitude.</span><br />My mom told me of a time when she and dad faced a financial crisis. She </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">contemplated transferring us younger girls to a less expensive school. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Sr. Marissa learned of her plan, she would not allow it. She waived the fees.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-CnOIijKCEcM4YRW7reLGytX0mBsmeiXdNUolsp9hZTDF6QpnWM7ipLcCO7Ndsu0BmYZMP_grLsz-Zuv_fMRnBDzDKtqSXHwxafkPQup5ochrDeRsc0XmZCn-Z2iPr1lYPHT/s1600/IMG_20151006_153638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-CnOIijKCEcM4YRW7reLGytX0mBsmeiXdNUolsp9hZTDF6QpnWM7ipLcCO7Ndsu0BmYZMP_grLsz-Zuv_fMRnBDzDKtqSXHwxafkPQup5ochrDeRsc0XmZCn-Z2iPr1lYPHT/s320/IMG_20151006_153638.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am forever thankful to Sr. Marissa for her act of kindness and of course thankful for my mom's honesty and candidness in opening up about our struggles as a family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you Sami for the chance to visit and spend time with Sr. Marissa. I am looking forward to the next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Just like Sr, Marissa's garden, life has a way of unfolding beautifully if we tend to it with love and care. It's really all in the fine details.</span><br />
<br />K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-34669699343285910472015-09-03T06:48:00.000+08:002015-09-08T03:19:54.142+08:00Thankful for Everyday Miracles<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJVjF8znoWze5s3vf4RjQ37X42D85-9Kc0fcM4ALMeqgei_PfT3rf2TvmC8FoGEX-lzCOQ3XsUjOrvpt53RrnCq8AjBkEryUGn5w0eDryRhDvM89neVcHKziL4zWWQq_asclx/s1600/IMG_20150902_104031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJVjF8znoWze5s3vf4RjQ37X42D85-9Kc0fcM4ALMeqgei_PfT3rf2TvmC8FoGEX-lzCOQ3XsUjOrvpt53RrnCq8AjBkEryUGn5w0eDryRhDvM89neVcHKziL4zWWQq_asclx/s320/IMG_20150902_104031.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">hugs while waiting for the doctor</span></td></tr>
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Two months ago, after a bout of successive hospitalizations, Mikael's team of doctors held a special mini-conference to discuss "next steps" for him. Their recommendation: an NGT (Nasal Gastro Tube) or a peg inserted into the side of his stomach. The doctors felt that this was the solution to improve and increase the intake of his limited yet nutritious dietary needs, and at the same time prevent further aspiration from occurring.<br />
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Aneka requested to 'hold off'. The NGT was tricky given Mikael could accidentally pull it out while the peg would require surgery. The doctors agreed to give her a month to increase Mikael's weight via oral feeding.<br />
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Yesterday, Rosar and I took our sweet, handsome and brave little warrior, Mikael to see his neurologist (Dr. Robles) and his nephrologist (Dr. Simangan) for his routine check-up and labwork. It was a whole day affair. An undeniably tiring yet fulfilling day spent bonding with him.<br />
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This morning, as I sat sipping my coffee, pondering about yesterday's "*apostolic duty"<br />
I thought about how wonderful it is that Mikael's doctors not only believe and rely on the science of medicine but also believe in the power of prayer and God's miracles.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (apo means grandchild. "APOstolic duty" is an apt and beautiful term I got from fellow "grammy awardee", Lanie Hernando Soriano).</span><br />
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Before we left Doc Robles' clinic, he gently put his hand on Mikael's head and prayed over Mikael. A short, simple but very meaningful prayer. He also added: "Mikael knows and feels he is surrounded by love." Then, when Dr. Simangan arrived, who, by the way, opened up to hold clinic on a Wednesday just for Mikael...she immediately said upon seeing him: "he is proof of God's Grace after Grace." Mikael, whose kidneys have not developed, has Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD 4). He has mild cerebral palsy and cannot see. The results of his lab work, had her shaking her head once more, in awe.<br />
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I am aware that each day of Mikael's life is a MIRACLE. We are thankful for his sweet smiles and rare bursts of laughter. Indeed, life is always full of challenges and struggles. We try to be mindful of turning the mundane into the extraordinary...to see the kindness around us...to recognize and acknowledge His hand in the simple yet astounding everyday miracles that occur. <br />
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We continue to be grateful for how Mikael's presence in our life teaches us to believe, to trust. and to continue living this journey with Him, always in FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mikael's background story: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://chroniclesofthecaffeinated.blogspot.com/2012/08/god-wont-give-me-something-i-cant-handle.html">God won't give me something I cannot handle</a> by Aneka (my daughter, Mikael's mom)<br /><a href="http://exskindiver.blogspot.com/2012/07/marathon-faith.html?m=1">Marathon Faith</a> by Chesca (my sister)<br /><a href="http://thesoftspotspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/09/cheers-for-mikael-epilogue.html">Cheers for Mikael</a> by me</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet smiles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT587hqNppVwQQ3cfLhyPejBkfQkOHUbt9bgX0aa056-FGmIGnJ_9GKyDTr0JSXFUOKS-Mg-otIZ5a0EG09Y0EU-NvOjllGvV7WusXVxsrRSwbgu9MnNO0vwHgkPlX31T5vwUV/s1600/IMG_20150902_152526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT587hqNppVwQQ3cfLhyPejBkfQkOHUbt9bgX0aa056-FGmIGnJ_9GKyDTr0JSXFUOKS-Mg-otIZ5a0EG09Y0EU-NvOjllGvV7WusXVxsrRSwbgu9MnNO0vwHgkPlX31T5vwUV/s320/IMG_20150902_152526.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Joanne, who lovingly cares for Mikael while Aneka is at work</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0qkX8eT-jvp3qazVMfsa9dET_UrppE-x4lQcz3m7Ck95mrihZmjk8M_uLU1VBXe5JIBlNB7F9M6DJiyBcTjL_km6oQnVkPpuYGxYcLZDLjd8heeK55F5lVqK2jOF5_xdziZ_/s1600/IMG_20150902_141453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0qkX8eT-jvp3qazVMfsa9dET_UrppE-x4lQcz3m7Ck95mrihZmjk8M_uLU1VBXe5JIBlNB7F9M6DJiyBcTjL_km6oQnVkPpuYGxYcLZDLjd8heeK55F5lVqK2jOF5_xdziZ_/s320/IMG_20150902_141453.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgV1WXq_Yw3eVGTMyiceXCtmFeOcY5KL4phH34MHuEYIpkvO98xn7O-hxKPuEqWHe7ihVBUrdIemwJhlJ6Pgtpa5mVxslnhYyGaVyv8qhVJSjC35MP6NSdJF7wOt2-0esXC8_/s1600/IMG_20150902_082430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgV1WXq_Yw3eVGTMyiceXCtmFeOcY5KL4phH34MHuEYIpkvO98xn7O-hxKPuEqWHe7ihVBUrdIemwJhlJ6Pgtpa5mVxslnhYyGaVyv8qhVJSjC35MP6NSdJF7wOt2-0esXC8_/s200/IMG_20150902_082430.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-43741395201437291342015-08-30T06:21:00.000+08:002015-09-07T20:45:43.551+08:00Blanchi: Even She Knows That Home is Where the Heart Is AND BLANCHI's BACK!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmvY_J5Q4U_xO9JZ2VmUgmbzYW_E-hCRr_ls_C8AqtSRaFb2wCv4_nUs-NgxH5V8VRIuO7Q3kg6szXL8kSK34at-xufskQJRPNdXohU2esFQzg4p3RX68ew4mBqECjELkQpI/s1600/IMG_20150830_094938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXmvY_J5Q4U_xO9JZ2VmUgmbzYW_E-hCRr_ls_C8AqtSRaFb2wCv4_nUs-NgxH5V8VRIuO7Q3kg6szXL8kSK34at-xufskQJRPNdXohU2esFQzg4p3RX68ew4mBqECjELkQpI/s320/IMG_20150830_094938.JPG" width="180" /></a>Smart pooch! Found her way home...<br />
Blanchi: the high jumper, runs with cheetah-like speed and highly sensitive snoop dog who can auto-pilot her way home :)<br />
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Background story:<br />
August 29<br />
5:00am: Blanchi followed, as Rosar and I biked to Loreland Farm Resort, approx. 5 kms from home.<br />
6:45am: The grp of cyclists (the peloton) left. She thought we were with them and followed. We thought all the while that she was with our friend, Abet. Unplanned, we had stayed behind to help another friend, Maureen attend to other matters for the Mtn Mauraders' 3rd Anniversary Bike and Swim Party<br />
11:00am: We find out 4 hrs later that she is not with them and is missing in action :(<br />
August 30<br />
9:15am: She is back home, safe and almost sound.<br />
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Epilogue: After 3 1/2 days of tiptoeing around...moving sedately and demurely on her red, swollen paw pads...and the bruises on her rump lightened, Blanchi is back to her usual hyper self!<br />
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Tender, loving care is a wonderful cure for pain and definitely soothes and aids in thr healing for a more speedy recovery.<br />
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Welcome back Blanchi!<br />
Rosar?!? Where is your welcome back pat on the head for Blanchi?! Haha<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQi3g3DdTO8kFagFCP9Axr7HRqUimGSF4AqYQ2kjoyd_IAPct2_A9SWDZBY6MuOMW8oEWbWnUgc5-OY0nW8DzkyHNY9rndnhHu7mMXpFCSL_-EujASarfg-5PMYEYh52vySFO4/s1600/IMG_20150831_083533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQi3g3DdTO8kFagFCP9Axr7HRqUimGSF4AqYQ2kjoyd_IAPct2_A9SWDZBY6MuOMW8oEWbWnUgc5-OY0nW8DzkyHNY9rndnhHu7mMXpFCSL_-EujASarfg-5PMYEYh52vySFO4/s320/IMG_20150831_083533.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-56310938569119660722015-08-19T11:13:00.003+08:002015-09-06T12:48:34.121+08:00"Apprehended" by an MMDA Traffic Enforcer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXbYZHGps9J7gMHS6o1gbjbukrLrz4x0xoFUZYsjcVYHVNnqW6b7cnYLvUA5ye_nU2weoQ-lENhK41Ud6i-WWIlWnoc7zzGF3mF-BrmbTf23wvgsd1H27hemmyPu338XNloZM/s1600/IMG_20150611_121639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXbYZHGps9J7gMHS6o1gbjbukrLrz4x0xoFUZYsjcVYHVNnqW6b7cnYLvUA5ye_nU2weoQ-lENhK41Ud6i-WWIlWnoc7zzGF3mF-BrmbTf23wvgsd1H27hemmyPu338XNloZM/s320/IMG_20150611_121639.jpg" width="320" /></a>As we were biking home yesterday, we passed an MMDA traffic enforcer who was apprehending a jeepney driver. As we biked by, he glanced at me...then suddenly, pointed his finger and motioned for me to stop and pull over!<br />
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I was like, huh? Heck, I am on a bicycle! What did I do?!?! I paused, hesitant to stop. I shouted: "Rosar! MMDA guy is calling me, I don't know why?!"<br />
And truly, he was striding with purpose towards me, still with arm outstretched and finger pointing at me. I pedaled back to him.<br />
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He whipped off his helmet, looking agitated, he said: "Pinuntahan ko kayo sa bahay nyo. May bisikletang nakawelding sa bakod niyo, diba? Wala naman kayo. 'Di ba sinabi ng anak nyo na dumaan ako?!? " (I dropped by your house. There's a bike welded to your fence, right? You were not home. Didn't your son tell you?)<br />
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He then stuck his hand out to shake my hand. LOL!<br />
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We had met last June, while I was biking along EDSA , Pasay City during the Edsa Evolution Road Sharing Exercise. I had stopped to talk to a group of MMDA traffic enforcers to exchange thoughts and suggestions regarding the traffic situation. Out of curiosity, they asked me where I had biked from. They were surprised to hear that I biked all the way from Antipolo.<br />
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And that is how Traffic Enforcer Eddie Prado and I met. He is also from Antipolo and is practically my neighbor.<br />
(no photo op)<br />
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Indeed, we meet and make friends from all walks in this journey called life. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8vH1fWFPuj7VKr3JnSoOEET-6rHWEHeC0G6sEO7Q_TofzdL_Mk046z4n_vl0JfJ-lQ0nJVHxMSrzAVIpZCiXxGZCxvawfLtYqUG0eb7X3gaSDv0luFqpNFnhOGZWzUkKB5C6/s1600/IMG_20150628_074954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8vH1fWFPuj7VKr3JnSoOEET-6rHWEHeC0G6sEO7Q_TofzdL_Mk046z4n_vl0JfJ-lQ0nJVHxMSrzAVIpZCiXxGZCxvawfLtYqUG0eb7X3gaSDv0luFqpNFnhOGZWzUkKB5C6/s320/IMG_20150628_074954.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sharing some photos of the sidewalk situation along EDSA, Pasay.<br />
There is much that needs to be done. We need to work together. We have to move out of our "comfort zone of discomfort."<br />
Stop complaining. Be proactive.<br />
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-80674640036040599302015-08-15T23:43:00.000+08:002015-08-16T09:20:50.247+08:00Vision of the Cherubim, Raphael<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early this morning, I decided to take out our old, dusty Bible from the shelf (where clearly it had not been opened nor read in quite a while). After dusting it off, I bowed my head in prayer and asked: Dear God, please speak to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I 'cut' the Bible and it opened up to these pages:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feeling slightly disappointed upon seeing only pictures, I was about to 're-cut' the Bible when I suddenly felt compelled to look closely and read the text beneath the images.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">left page: "And the Lord heard the voice of Elias: and the soul of the child returned unto him, and he revived." 3 Kings 17:22</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">right page: The Vision of Ezechiel <b>Raphael "</b>And I saw, and behold a whirlwind came out of the north: and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it were the resemblance of amber." Ezechiel 1:4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Wow. I had just re-shared </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(on Facebook) </span><a href="http://thesoftspotspeaks.blogspot.com/2006/10/remembering-paeng.html?m=1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juancho's near death experience; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of how I had prayed so desperately for God to spare his life , how he was revived, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of how he had seen Mario Rafael (Paeng) as an angel.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to the Book of Ezechiel to read more and there on the top of the page it said 'Vision of the cherubim." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I am not a Bible expert nor am I claiming to completely understand verses especially when they come from the Old Testament </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT this I know...<br /><br />*Twenty-five years ago today, (August 15) marks the day my own little Mario Rafael passed into Heaven. I sense God affirming Juancho's story and my belief that Paeng is indeed an angel watching over us.<br /><br />* Three years ago today, I also shared a post: <a href="http://exskindiver.blogspot.com/2012/07/marathon-faith.html">Marathon Faith</a> written by my sister, Chesca. She wrote about my daughter Aneka's own experience with death (her sweet little Juanito Rafael, twin of Mikael) and the possible struggles yet to be encountered by little Mikael due to suffering a stroke in vitro ...how we, as a family will face life's challenges... it was almost prophetic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what is God's message for me today?<br />He is telling me:<br />1. </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Just as He did when I prayed for Him to spare Juancho's life fifteen years ago. Just as we have been doing for Mikael these past 3 yrs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Angels do exist and are in our midst. Both Paeng and Juanito must have their hands full.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Have only loving thoughts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Be grateful<br />5. Be strong and keep the Faith<br />6. Believe and His Will be done</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been praying for specific things to happen in my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been praying for guidance...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know and I believe, ALL things, in His time</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-1918641110981407352015-01-28T00:25:00.001+08:002015-01-28T15:31:21.985+08:00Count down to GOLD<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=33906880" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 28, 2015</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />February, my birth month is just around the corner and I will be turning 50 years old.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been feeling somewhat "blah-ish" these past few days...bordering on D. When I feel that way,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I resort to my self-help techniques of dealing with these bouts by thinking good thoughts, believing that all will be well, wiggling my eyebrows, scrunching up and unscrunching my face...relaxing facial muscles and then forcing myself into a smile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When all else fails, I chat with my sister Chesca which I find therapeutic because she always has sage advise to give. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She always includes: <b>Pray. Talk to God</b> (something that our dad always used to say). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also adds: <b>"Your inner turmoil is being used as a battle ground. Who will win? It is up to you and your faith that the Holy Spirit can conquer. Use the D as a gift and opportunity to become closer to God." </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She reminds me as an added feel-good: <b>"Remember Kar, you have soooo many tools and gifts...and incredible not-human biking talent." </b>She has a way with words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that I have managed to keep from experiencing full blown D all these years because of my biking. Some time last year, I got tagged to join a Search for Atleta Ako Ambassador contest and was asked to give my reasons for choosing to be active. I got short-listed. I still don't know who they chose because there has been no announcement but this is what I submitted:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is why I choose to keep moving:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Top 5 Reasons</span> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">WHY I CHOOSE TO BE ACTIVE<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9deMGTRt7Hg7j0V_T3vSqlV_MzFMNSAk_-Sa0xfFA5iTDHHOjUB6b50MlE1r_KEA3sQ4YdlBYUyfPQBDgjqlYODDYwX3IeZQklBv6RxrNPiF8006IAw4xi41q_iE-HUcibn/s1600/Karen+one+less+car+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9deMGTRt7Hg7j0V_T3vSqlV_MzFMNSAk_-Sa0xfFA5iTDHHOjUB6b50MlE1r_KEA3sQ4YdlBYUyfPQBDgjqlYODDYwX3IeZQklBv6RxrNPiF8006IAw4xi41q_iE-HUcibn/s1600/Karen+one+less+car+photo.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9deMGTRt7Hg7j0V_T3vSqlV_MzFMNSAk_-Sa0xfFA5iTDHHOjUB6b50MlE1r_KEA3sQ4YdlBYUyfPQBDgjqlYODDYwX3IeZQklBv6RxrNPiF8006IAw4xi41q_iE-HUcibn/s1600/Karen+one+less+car+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=33906880" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I choose to be active
for the <b>PHYSICAL HEALTH BENEFITS</b><br />
I am 49 years old going on 50. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Being physically active has helped me maintain my weight, have good balance and posture and keeps me energized to continue to keep up with my busy schedule as a wife, mother, grandmother, HR practitioner and cycling advocate.</span> I do not have the aches, pains and
illnesses that many people my age complain about. My heart and my blood
circulation are in excellent condition which means that I do not have to
take any sort of medication. ( I don't even take vitamins)</span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheis1mjRDIa75920kGzr2L5XVfJ0vxsM3A-U5Kzzqac5PmhKVGh_ky8HH-QV6jr9tnSS7gfI9Tf-jRXKrZe2rz6qE3Cx5VWlpPJG9WZUUB4ra9fKdRYRueRR8qFMs5tKBZHpto/s1600/karen+and+Rosar+25+wedding+anniv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheis1mjRDIa75920kGzr2L5XVfJ0vxsM3A-U5Kzzqac5PmhKVGh_ky8HH-QV6jr9tnSS7gfI9Tf-jRXKrZe2rz6qE3Cx5VWlpPJG9WZUUB4ra9fKdRYRueRR8qFMs5tKBZHpto/s1600/karen+and+Rosar+25+wedding+anniv.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> 2. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I choose to be active
because </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">IT IS FUN.</b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">My husband and I went out on our 1<sup>st</sup> date many years ago riding
our bicycles. We celebrated our Silver Wedding Anniversary in style (still on the saddle). It is fun knowing
that our shared passion for cycling has grown into an advocacy that tries to
save the environment and work towards legislation that will benefit all
cyclists.<br />
<br />Having fun relieves stress and anxiety which leads to better mental health and
better relationships.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOTBLN4ReaPgmATiv0Mx4I-1DMZwDFG5mbGIbKnAfELwZAshlKC1glVoTyBYFM1YhozKOyVZJXXck3UUM16A-bc4La-GLgF3gHEimGc4dIPUmCot6P38zcMzId-9fG8KC5eV5/s1600/Anekas+collage+4th+fam+try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOTBLN4ReaPgmATiv0Mx4I-1DMZwDFG5mbGIbKnAfELwZAshlKC1glVoTyBYFM1YhozKOyVZJXXck3UUM16A-bc4La-GLgF3gHEimGc4dIPUmCot6P38zcMzId-9fG8KC5eV5/s1600/Anekas+collage+4th+fam+try.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4th Crisostomo Family TRYathlon 2014<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">3. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: center;"> I choose to be active because I can </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: center;">SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY and MAKE NEW FRIENDS. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: center;">In 2011, we started the Crisostomo Family FUN TRYathlon. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It's a great way to bond with family and friends while staying healthy and fit at the same time<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>building priceless family memories that we will always treasure.</span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #141823; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">As a tri-athlete, I also get to meet many people of varying ages</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQgf-ycfcnDbXM70jefzyfwPMsq3lEP72tThDznZ2h60Wf27plnB4hpfioEeHTSwYNot3MIwCIjFkZv5b4ayuUMRVZWhjEKQYnJ1E0N06kFKrXVV8cs21-neRZi5mSRoGc4sa/s1600/Karen+pole+dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQgf-ycfcnDbXM70jefzyfwPMsq3lEP72tThDznZ2h60Wf27plnB4hpfioEeHTSwYNot3MIwCIjFkZv5b4ayuUMRVZWhjEKQYnJ1E0N06kFKrXVV8cs21-neRZi5mSRoGc4sa/s1600/Karen+pole+dancing.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">4. I choose to be active
because it helps me <b>KEEP MY INDEPENDENCE</b>
as I get older. I am able to carry my weight, lift myself up and stretch with
greater flexibility due to constant exercise. Being active allows me to
continue to do the things I love and even try out NEW things </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5. I choose to be active
because it <b>IMPROVES MY OVERALL
WELL-BEING and APPEARANCE</b> inside and out. A healthy lifestyle keeps me
happy and fit able to focus and appreciate what is important in my life: God,
my family, and the relationships with the different people I encounter daily at
work and at play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Reading this over again and posting photos has made me think: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I have so much to be thankful for</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">2. I should stop worrying and continue to have faith and trust in HIM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">3. I must continue to live in the moment and say yes (although there are times when I think I go with the flow too much..I am also learning to say no)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">4. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">I am turning gold but that doesn't mean I am old (age is really just a number).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">5. I am ready to try something new...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">More collages of our past family TRYathlons through the years</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Crisostomo Family TRYathlon 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyy5JJy8sqa5BEWKFDc52d60abyauGifOedGwKTf57NBwATnGoGovTaYDW9DC1gexjA58PINcStmp4pX5UmM5oWXQ1FUprU_BISERPHDxkLjL3PsiPlSfAe1rekjVjSAEUGhq/s1600/10856567_10152475663346078_5369539233228389622_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyy5JJy8sqa5BEWKFDc52d60abyauGifOedGwKTf57NBwATnGoGovTaYDW9DC1gexjA58PINcStmp4pX5UmM5oWXQ1FUprU_BISERPHDxkLjL3PsiPlSfAe1rekjVjSAEUGhq/s1600/10856567_10152475663346078_5369539233228389622_o.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd Crisostomo Family TRYathlon 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0TvU349KYonnZwhl9P6X2YK_8oy9aaFVGlnxlkICXZGbS7WQGfxn74PG6y7_9DdLILhGsuOFwox_YEmikOYED25GuSyO3U6ipefIRxidB_blSt0xskJ5H_suZrdrHb7D61Tk/s1600/1536714_10152147184851098_501859070_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0TvU349KYonnZwhl9P6X2YK_8oy9aaFVGlnxlkICXZGbS7WQGfxn74PG6y7_9DdLILhGsuOFwox_YEmikOYED25GuSyO3U6ipefIRxidB_blSt0xskJ5H_suZrdrHb7D61Tk/s1600/1536714_10152147184851098_501859070_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd Crisostomo Family TRYathlon 2013</td></tr>
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I am trying to be a minimalist...Trying to follow the <a href="http://www.becomingminimalist.com/decluttering-principles/">10 Principles to Help Anyone Clear the Clutter</a> so<br />
I have been on declutter mode.<br />
In the process,<br />
I have also found gadgets of all sorts (plus stashes of wires/cables). Of course, this is no surprise as I am married to a gadget junkie.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=33906880" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I try to hold back my "<b>Lord JEEZUS!"</b> expletive but somehow it escapes my lips.<br />
I am more often than not met with a cheerful yet calm response from the hubby:<b> "Yes, you called?" </b><br />
Insert sigh here. I was not aware that I had married the "incarnate."<br />
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Back to decluttering and quiet prayer as I try to keep my sanity. Lord, pls help me.<br />
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PS: Que barbaridad, I also found termites! Forbida...I know I am minimizing BUT I did NOT mean an all-out minimizing of structural house and home LOL Now, where is that pest control number?!!K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-20924047278571232992015-01-04T01:32:00.000+08:002015-01-28T01:46:40.216+08:00Treasure Hunt <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71nim4jwZirszoklXPM_wjdmzVPJ4qEaFUAbqT9y2qUCAZ5kx7zcMXZPX2s4ug1hguKdybobMc-j9v17hLcdOjMsGmfJI7s5HFE6ZQTA3yiq4yZeMEiwmeh34ePNPr9K20vFb/s1600/IMG_351395146391671.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71nim4jwZirszoklXPM_wjdmzVPJ4qEaFUAbqT9y2qUCAZ5kx7zcMXZPX2s4ug1hguKdybobMc-j9v17hLcdOjMsGmfJI7s5HFE6ZQTA3yiq4yZeMEiwmeh34ePNPr9K20vFb/s1600/IMG_351395146391671.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mtg at Manila Polo Club</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 4, 2015<br /><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Started the year right with an important and very productive meeting with Senator Franklin Drilon, DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson, DOTC Sec Jun Abaya, Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City, Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City, and Environmentalist Atty Tony Oposa. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the meeting, I got this text message from Mihali: "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you find my letter?!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently, he had written me a letter for Christmas and placed it where he hoped I'd see it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did, but did not realize what it was because the side I saw, was the map used for our family tryathlon. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am glad I did not throw it away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got home, he made me look for it. (I found the letter he wrote for Ros 1st then</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally found mine magnetized on the fridge door among the many other cards, photos, bills and what-nots that make a refrigerator a canvas for literary pieces of art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said, I am glad I did not throw it away. It was worth the treasure hunt. Better late than never...it was the best Christmas gift I received. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is nice to know that you are proud of us, in the same way that we are proud of you. Thanks Hal. Love you!</span><br />
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-16195348416600232312015-01-02T23:41:00.000+08:002015-01-15T01:14:35.960+08:00HNY 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">January 2, 2015</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">I emailed my sister, Chesca yesterday.<br />In the subject box, I typed: "WANTED: YOU" </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">I had just read her blog and saw that she had gathered together a total of 5 large bags and 3 boxes to be donated to the Veterans plus 15 bags of trash to be thrown away on trash day. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333339691162px;">I wish she could come and help me clear and sort stuff from this li'l house on the hill (Google Earth knows it as Casa Crisostomo).<br /><b><br />Resolution 1</b>: Clear/Sort/Throw (This refers not only to stuff but to other intangibles like 'negatives' that pull me down instead of propelling me forward)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">My New Year's post on Facebook:<br />When making choices in life this 2015, let us not neglect to live, love and laugh <3 Happy 2015 everyone </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i class="_4-k1 img sp_5Em_GKHOCoP sx_f96a5c" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yg/r/N74Yz5v6w2Z.png); background-position: 0px -7850px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #141823; display: inline-block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 25.7600002288818px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;"><b style="font-size: small;">Resolution 2:</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Life is too short so KISS (Keep It Sweet and Simple). Steer away from complications. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Do more, Talk less.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 25.7600002288818px;">Hello 2015 :)</span><br />
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01005052222839198881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-8182310812112024842014-06-03T12:13:00.001+08:002014-06-03T12:13:30.094+08:00Highlight of my Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Highlight of my Wednesday ( May 28, 2014). Happiness is seeing my babies <3 </b></span><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eHUuHFGZZf7UcfthGJxerCowR-RjQ1vxMCKXdz1_ljtXDEXvJVIJ5TIfTLvcewABTffzo2cncEUW2_xbih2iRdxIoEHw_U-99IzA7E9pqruRmJzxFpxd3bAnWqdthVUpvIkG/s1600/10336607_10152504568616098_6636748031472985759_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been a while since my last post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The usual suspect: I have been busy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My dear friend, Marge </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">posted this photo with the caption:</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, </span></span></b><b style="color: #37404e; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love like you'll never be hurt,</span></b><br />
<span class="userContent" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sing like there's nobody listening,<br />And live like it's heaven on earth.”</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="userContent" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">― William W. Purkey</span><span class="userContentSecondary fcg" style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> —</span></b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amidst the "busyness" of my life... this picture reminds me that I must continue to bask and enjoy life's simple pleasures...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and continue to say <a href="https://www.facebook.com/karen.s.crisostomo/media_set?set=a.10152231015421098.1073741846.705146097&type=1" target="_blank">YES</a>! to life's challenges</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo credits: Eddie Boy Escudero<br />occasion: M & T's silver wedding anniversary celebration</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The moves and the grooves...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We renewed our vows in a simple yet beautiful ceremony in front of a small audience of close-knit friends at the small Ateneo College Chapel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because I don't look nice when I cry (and I knew I would not be able to hold back my tears)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I failed to say this to my best friend and ex-boyfriend:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />1. Rosar, I am so thankful to God that He allowed our paths to cross on that fateful day of June 12 ...27 years ago.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Rosar, I LOVE YOU even more now than the day we 1st got married even if:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a. you prefer eating at "karenderias" instead of at posh-looking restaurants</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">b. you buy and keep too many gadgets that clutter up our cute little house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> c. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you answer the question: "how did you two meet?" with: "in a jeep" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> d. you answer the question: "how much do you love me?" with "too much" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Rosar, I LOVE YOU because you accept me the way I am </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After 25 years of being married, I still don't really cook and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still sweat the the "messiness" of the house and other small stuff...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Rosar, I LOVE YOU because you look out for me and hold my hand... and know my moods so well...and you still think that I am HOT!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Rosar, I LOVE YOU because you are the "Mang-Gyver" of my life and because you are who you are (kind, intelligent, loving, caring, sweet, honest, humble, passionate, handsome) and because of a host of a gazillion more reasons that just thinking about them makes me want to cry (happy tears) because I feel so blessed to have you in my life...and well as I said: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't look very pretty when I cry so I will end this with: Here is hoping we continue to: laugh together at your corny jokes, bike everywhere and anywhere till we're old and grey, drink our happy potions, hope for the happiness and success of our children and their children, continue to make wild, passionate love like we're still in our twenties and LOVE even more deeply in the next 25 years or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-595533612656330912013-05-24T07:00:00.000+08:002013-05-28T00:15:13.369+08:00Freaky Friday <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another title to this post could have been: "Love hurts..."</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkbYuVi7_2ayZbvJt63dhinJ7gWEHj4idGLcbAsv9cUnqLeGbBebEqWogGAw48lnLx4ieslrRuGVZCDDVViRno5U3pu3pgpRshjro9vvxarz65jfnUZTP1xDff7Tjq6_nPtDq/s1600/visitor+med+city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkbYuVi7_2ayZbvJt63dhinJ7gWEHj4idGLcbAsv9cUnqLeGbBebEqWogGAw48lnLx4ieslrRuGVZCDDVViRno5U3pu3pgpRshjro9vvxarz65jfnUZTP1xDff7Tjq6_nPtDq/s200/visitor+med+city.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Freaky Friday...it is 4AM and we're back at Medical City.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">The same doctor who saw Rosar last Monday watched us approach with surprise and recognition...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Doctor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">(eyes-wide and eyebrows raised)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">: Sir, What happened?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Rosar (looking sheepish): I dislocated my shoulder (again) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Doctor: Sir, what were you doing?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Rosar: I was hugging my wife </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_9h4gkx sx_4afe48" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y-/r/C4N9eCQc_fR.png); background-position: 0px -651px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; color: #37404e; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; height: 16px; line-height: 18px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> (at 3:20 AM to be exact)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Doctor: sir...?<br />Rosar: Well, I reached over to hug her...as I did, it popped...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">* 2 dislocations just 3 days apart. Rosar has finally agreed to have surgery done on his shoulder.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">* Rosar</span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> wanted me to do the reduction or relocate his shoulder myself by saying "do what the doctor did last Monday." I started to break out into a cold sweat and nearly blacked out!</span>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-6120714438916581812013-05-20T01:05:00.000+08:002013-05-21T01:23:37.953+08:00M is for kissing Mikael on a Monday and ending up at Medical City<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/AVvXsEhc9feurtVSi6yIFCA5uP-iQzys-1vCmgI2CDkVHUg3OuPW8_LAzHZ8tIkcf2bYC9rdcUQGiA_t7p2HgdDbOvQ8A2IO9FnJdRvucTkbeChkxsui3rgkRs5VvYfH07U4zohg-7kk/s1600/IMG02571-20130520-1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9feurtVSi6yIFCA5uP-iQzys-1vCmgI2CDkVHUg3OuPW8_LAzHZ8tIkcf2bYC9rdcUQGiA_t7p2HgdDbOvQ8A2IO9FnJdRvucTkbeChkxsui3rgkRs5VvYfH07U4zohg-7kk/s200/IMG02571-20130520-1713.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">most mobile joint dislocated for the nth time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8e8BAF0VGgv_XUBR7rc2W3hDfglGwQKIwyDEMzAxssmyvQVmjCYEi1JV9bvlnx3k3ExDHUP89Fx_yg2HbfIr3JrlpWXSjOljR8ZZNhXWfZL1hRgsUDnbr482SXrPOyRT6DHw/s1600/IMG02573-20130520-1831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8e8BAF0VGgv_XUBR7rc2W3hDfglGwQKIwyDEMzAxssmyvQVmjCYEi1JV9bvlnx3k3ExDHUP89Fx_yg2HbfIr3JrlpWXSjOljR8ZZNhXWfZL1hRgsUDnbr482SXrPOyRT6DHw/s200/IMG02573-20130520-1831.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">at Medical City</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkfcunu10wV6WHuQfVNQeSkGSX3gBp-Qw731B7K3lQW1toncZex0eHatfAEs5wjINoTt38Ytf3osIuG8KQL5dApBFORQymRitBNdM6GpxkL1NeuIbxLcsNFcn2Ca8BDCbFqBw/s1600/IMG02519-20130510-1534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkfcunu10wV6WHuQfVNQeSkGSX3gBp-Qw731B7K3lQW1toncZex0eHatfAEs5wjINoTt38Ytf3osIuG8KQL5dApBFORQymRitBNdM6GpxkL1NeuIbxLcsNFcn2Ca8BDCbFqBw/s200/IMG02519-20130510-1534.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Mikael</td></tr>
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-7800965514331333172013-05-16T15:17:00.001+08:002013-05-17T11:19:20.439+08:00Looping Around Laguna Lake<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzgvogBMi9bLf243dGPJvwp0iSEEjQ8M5UI_tpdzexldXWFqYOjDpn8F9ogyD9CFTMU5f0bA2FGUjsJv1sxyQoOQUwg7wonv0ljvv1Xozr8gsUaL-NpKpQOKnv9Dd7ZRasZPn/s1600/A+Lakeside+Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDzgvogBMi9bLf243dGPJvwp0iSEEjQ8M5UI_tpdzexldXWFqYOjDpn8F9ogyD9CFTMU5f0bA2FGUjsJv1sxyQoOQUwg7wonv0ljvv1Xozr8gsUaL-NpKpQOKnv9Dd7ZRasZPn/s320/A+Lakeside+Love.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike love by Laguna Lake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago, our biker-friend, Rino, told us about his plan to bike around Laguna Lake with his wife, Judy. (</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Laguna Loop, as it has been dubbed by cyclists,is a ride through several towns that circumnavigate Laguna Lake. Seasoned cyclists do the loop in anywhere from 7 -10 hrs). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since Rosar and I had never done the "Laguna Loop", we latched on to the idea and said we'd like to come along.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Initially Rino was hesitant because he felt that he and Judy might "slow" us down. Aside from the fact that they had never biked more than 50 kms in one day, he also informed us that their average speed would be around 15kph. We told him not to worry about us since this was <b>their</b> ride and we were just 'tagging-along'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rino planned and mapped out the route with approximate ETAs for the designated stop-overs and sent us links to possible venues for spending the night. His route attempted to avoid as much as possible any steep climbs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We finally did 'Laguna Loop" with Rino and Judy last weekend (May 11 - 12). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out our photos </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151662495131098.1073741838.705146097&type=3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Beautiful scenery, great company, same goal in mind: factors that make an epic ride what it is...EPIC :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Pgv0iQ1Chg3etgSKiLK281PQZnXkhNNfP_CCe2t2YVw8k4gEPjVKHTzx77lz6ivIEOjKTsO712Zur5vidRXBg-Pjasqbw9NJFTO9J4_2BrSJnGziRcBkFxfWFs2TarTov5_/s1600/IMG02526-20130511-0821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3Pgv0iQ1Chg3etgSKiLK281PQZnXkhNNfP_CCe2t2YVw8k4gEPjVKHTzx77lz6ivIEOjKTsO712Zur5vidRXBg-Pjasqbw9NJFTO9J4_2BrSJnGziRcBkFxfWFs2TarTov5_/s200/IMG02526-20130511-0821.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy and Rino, beating the hills</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For most part we rode as a group, single file or in pairs. During 'climbs', Rino would call out and say: "go ahead" upon which Rosar and I would gear up, put on some speed and go the distance. Stop. Wait up and hope we'd be able to guzzle some beer while waiting...(but no such luck on finding beer along the way due to the liquor ban for the elections).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPfXDwOMcg4Go685cN9pkBiiBglw7FFQmReS-34E4VKMU2omnWYV4Rp0A65NKRKmL8F39OfYxtE7uZnUjm2AF5o2bfRJdxW30a21GIv2uz39Mq_sYnoGE3zpt1TPVSAmnWQj0/s1600/IMG02544-20130511-1735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPfXDwOMcg4Go685cN9pkBiiBglw7FFQmReS-34E4VKMU2omnWYV4Rp0A65NKRKmL8F39OfYxtE7uZnUjm2AF5o2bfRJdxW30a21GIv2uz39Mq_sYnoGE3zpt1TPVSAmnWQj0/s200/IMG02544-20130511-1735.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, San Miguel Beer with our dinner <br />
(liqour ban to be honored at midnight)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was also one time during the ride, when the heat was close to unbearable and we were separated by a few kilometers that Rino called to say they were going to take a jeep to the next destination (preventive and safety measure against hypertension)...but no such luck on finding available jeeps along the way because most were being used for campaigning so they rested and slept a bit in a waiting shed and then continued biking until we all met up at Siniloan. We biked together once again as a group all the way to Pagsanjan where we stopped for dinner and stayed for the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since it was Mother's Day the following day, there was more of a sense of urgency to finish the ride and be home with the rest of the family. The 2-day ride was enjoyable, relaxed and 'uneventful' ..oh, except perhaps for a). Rosar's having "to go" in the middle of nowhere and b). the "spill" both Judy and I had somewhere in Bicutan. It was good that we were going at a slow pace so no harm was done.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in all, m</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">y cyclo-computer registered a total of 213 kms... it must have been longer for Rino and Judy since they lived farther away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some notes about Rino and Judy:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Rino has diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease. He has had two angioplasties with three stents done 3 years apart. (awesome determination and grit)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Rino and Judy both ride heavy-metal bikes. (Again, it is definitely NOT about the bike)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. This was their first century ride together. (make that double century)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. This was the first time they had ever biked over 100kms in one day.(2 days in a row)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFaB_7VKbF-IOP6I1TeCrYEpGvRUjjgfAsIs8pHUeLnSLVk3xs-Q-ShzaPPOQ9g3pa9RbS1VknQQUV1J97TLr2MKo-4LSumQ74YBpDfbCGQLTy-3-F5rqW5w-G5cHHmOxWFRB/s1600/IMG02547-20130512-0713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFaB_7VKbF-IOP6I1TeCrYEpGvRUjjgfAsIs8pHUeLnSLVk3xs-Q-ShzaPPOQ9g3pa9RbS1VknQQUV1J97TLr2MKo-4LSumQ74YBpDfbCGQLTy-3-F5rqW5w-G5cHHmOxWFRB/s320/IMG02547-20130512-0713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 couples, 4 bikes, 1 epic ride = Life is Good!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They just proved true the statement <b>"If there's a will, there's a way."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some reason, riding with them, made me think of some of the lyrics of the song: "I Can Go the Distance" by Michael Bolton</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I can go the distance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I will find my way if I can be strong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">I know every mile would be worth my while, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">When I go the distance, I'll be right where I belong.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Down an unknown road to embrace my fate, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Though that road may wander, it will lead me to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">And a thousand years would be worth the wait.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">It might take a lifetime but somehow I'll see it through</span><br />
<br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">And I won't look back, I can go the distance, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">And I'll stay on track, no I won't accept defeat, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">It's an uphill slope, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">But I won't loose hope, 'till I go the distance</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">And my journey is complete</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kudos to this very admirable couple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am definitely looking forward to more rides with them. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-15766347396664636142013-04-24T03:12:00.000+08:002013-04-26T00:57:42.159+08:00It’s Really Not About the Bike…<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3NF9HW3k3iELRu8M8_c7nRfc3RaPtcL1g7psfJmsSH5gOkzpfWlWFOiVAJmoGZQXi0Agai0wRykkb0S2mmxj0gz9x_lTkXEulnfSyV_9n3TxCsrwiASp_og3QOSs4VURLkJa/s1600/DSCF2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNpx00Vly_TckP5POWcSuMGyyQckEl3E3_hwf7pDrTjzmWtLnnVv4X89SrKvqiUzr7hbQW2XZ8x38OmfGsjEpbTTm2nmVa3luuL9cGzYZuv0iAhCQFa4bJraMLe9pa7Rk7AX5/s1600/killing+me+softly.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNpx00Vly_TckP5POWcSuMGyyQckEl3E3_hwf7pDrTjzmWtLnnVv4X89SrKvqiUzr7hbQW2XZ8x38OmfGsjEpbTTm2nmVa3luuL9cGzYZuv0iAhCQFa4bJraMLe9pa7Rk7AX5/s200/killing+me+softly.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkj-QHhsCkn9QOD1Chm9lrJ3B28bIu7rQJ85iGxP-4pqwY7dmUr5JfzCoS5_u165w7sFZ8DekhYDFL0tNtKUP-40Qc5vlN2wOxhbIaKgEcLNt2J3j0E023sxkkbUoiV89o6R/s1600/Dad+and+Me1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltkj-QHhsCkn9QOD1Chm9lrJ3B28bIu7rQJ85iGxP-4pqwY7dmUr5JfzCoS5_u165w7sFZ8DekhYDFL0tNtKUP-40Qc5vlN2wOxhbIaKgEcLNt2J3j0E023sxkkbUoiV89o6R/s200/Dad+and+Me1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Today is the 4</span><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 6.5pt;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"> death
anniversary of my dad. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
remember with fondness the intelligent, funny and gregarious man he was. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What
stands out above his many virtues was his prayerfulness. He would pray while
walking, jogging, gardening and driving. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His
lips w</span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ould be moving and I would hear snatches of: </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Lord, Jesus…Mama Mary…” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He always ended his letters with a reminder to pray.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I often found myself thinking a lot about him and trying to emulate his ways this past year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhasAjie04gWVBDCNtZj_vVxaVdqiBSjzT00oBWK2WRk_Rmv9_Oq3kiUNXrnfB8DR1Z6VzOwGg-oolRd7AraRw0JnIo2xQXMl4PgFnjg58SRLXHZcvJRPjY_biIJ55J5aD6hH3/s1600/IMG02158-20130201-2031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhasAjie04gWVBDCNtZj_vVxaVdqiBSjzT00oBWK2WRk_Rmv9_Oq3kiUNXrnfB8DR1Z6VzOwGg-oolRd7AraRw0JnIo2xQXMl4PgFnjg58SRLXHZcvJRPjY_biIJ55J5aD6hH3/s200/IMG02158-20130201-2031.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last March, our ancestral home in Kamias was <b>finally</b> sold. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The overwhelming process and responsibility of selling property that belonged to 10 owners fell on my shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being the only member of the family left living in the house and in the country, the Herculean task of clearing out not only my things but everything else the rest of my family had left behind when they moved abroad became my burden.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was not easy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was such a difficult experience mentally, physically and emotionally that quite frankly, at the end of that experience, I felt extremely cracked wide open.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will spare you the unpleasant details of selling a multiple-owned house by yourself, but I will tell you one thing for sure that I learned:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pain brings strength.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And strength brings clarity of thought and understanding .<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It also brings forth a list of things that I suddenly remembered I had to be thankful for:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. There is light at the end of a tunnel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. All things whether good or bad will come to an end<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Storage space is both good and evil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. One person’s junk is another man’s treasure<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. 99% of what you own / keep / hold on to: you don’t really need (except maybe for bikes…can’t have too many of those.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. An old house is a storage bin for told and untold stories<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. My dad’s LP of Barbra Streisand’s voice singing: Memories may be beautiful and yet… the way, we were…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. The simpler, the better.. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Less is best including the spoken and written word (even if at times it gives you chest pains)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Home is wherever the heart is<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I believe that :<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is short. Love it , Live it and Just Do It!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73Qq6lq5rzxNjcfcaNZePwgT6wwNIVvdbasa_k0NORnVy55pLYfVH5W88j7OZldNXySrezXhV5-4XqN1zaB0wWRVyhPl3i9cXvjpyzuaHExRpYIIjCDbXHh8ItkN1PTkM18M-/s1600/crazy+crisostomos+do+bicol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73Qq6lq5rzxNjcfcaNZePwgT6wwNIVvdbasa_k0NORnVy55pLYfVH5W88j7OZldNXySrezXhV5-4XqN1zaB0wWRVyhPl3i9cXvjpyzuaHExRpYIIjCDbXHh8ItkN1PTkM18M-/s200/crazy+crisostomos+do+bicol.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A day after the sale of Kamias, I went on an incredibly <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151578802866098.1073741825.705146097&type=3" target="_blank">challenging bike ride with my husband, Rosar and 10 </a></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151578802866098.1073741825.705146097&type=3" target="_blank">other cyclist friends all the way to Legaspi, Bicol. </a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbSrmlo6MAFIozdcDsUvjER4kqo30ZMWK7FagrRAU74c31yW7KSedvSAvXc7EqKNbsQ_0raa9EjodzkF5Mhw6kXwAPaDpX1r5JtouPWToLjVN5rfKkk567-pYurvB3e_g1ylM/s1600/bicolgroupshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbSrmlo6MAFIozdcDsUvjER4kqo30ZMWK7FagrRAU74c31yW7KSedvSAvXc7EqKNbsQ_0raa9EjodzkF5Mhw6kXwAPaDpX1r5JtouPWToLjVN5rfKkk567-pYurvB3e_g1ylM/s200/bicolgroupshot.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traveling a distance of 470 kilometers in 4 days was an amazing test of strength and endurance for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although this was a scheduled trip, I had neither the time nor the energy to train for it due to all that had to be done for Kamias. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the lack of preparation, I pushed thru with the ride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a very difficult ride with lots of steep rolling hills. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first time in all my years of biking, I developed ‘saddle burn’… not just a simple diaper rash looking thing, but a burn that had become open, raw and wounded. I examined my injury and told myself that this was a combination Thanksgiving and a Pre-Lenten Penitent Ride and kept plodding on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I prayed and reflected a lot during the ride: The ACTS <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">A</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">doration<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I praised Him for simply being alive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- for the exhilaration I was getting from being outdoors<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- for the wind blowing against my face <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- for the hot summer sun even if it was such a scorcher <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">C</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">ontrition<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I asked for forgiveness for any wrongdoings I might have done to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I prayed for safety and protection during our bicycle ride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I prayed that IF anything should happen, that I might make it to Heaven’s door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">T</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">hanksgiving <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were so many things to be thankful to God for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">being strong and healthy enough to bike<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my heightened senses during the ride taking in the beauty of the countryside (making me think of the tagline: It IS More FUN in the Philippines)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the numerous refreshing halo-halo stops along the way<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the friendly banter and camaraderie during the ride</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">keeping us (bikers) safe throughout the ride<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the awesome, loving relationship I have with my hubby and kids<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my very special grandchild<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">providing for our daily needs<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">friends and bike buddies who despite my turning down invitations to hang out in the past months, would come over instead and keep me company amidst my ‘busy-ness’ and the ‘chaos’ that was Kamias<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For allowing 2 very dear people (my sister, Chesca and my sister-in-law, Chari) to fly from the USA to be with me and hold my hand as I successfully closed the Kamias deal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxtQzPqqK8OiBkc1PSJvZ2wdHcV2EUSYhawD7Hkapt_uqtsfRqoCY18Y5kw9f0gKQwvYrY7RgSkuPDruZ1N-qJIYwIIsbWnb4-X-uJbjvstYu-O-1avDpahnJbpfNBORoXliw/s1600/IMG02104-20130119-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxtQzPqqK8OiBkc1PSJvZ2wdHcV2EUSYhawD7Hkapt_uqtsfRqoCY18Y5kw9f0gKQwvYrY7RgSkuPDruZ1N-qJIYwIIsbWnb4-X-uJbjvstYu-O-1avDpahnJbpfNBORoXliw/s200/IMG02104-20130119-2010.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3NF9HW3k3iELRu8M8_c7nRfc3RaPtcL1g7psfJmsSH5gOkzpfWlWFOiVAJmoGZQXi0Agai0wRykkb0S2mmxj0gz9x_lTkXEulnfSyV_9n3TxCsrwiASp_og3QOSs4VURLkJa/s1600/DSCF2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3NF9HW3k3iELRu8M8_c7nRfc3RaPtcL1g7psfJmsSH5gOkzpfWlWFOiVAJmoGZQXi0Agai0wRykkb0S2mmxj0gz9x_lTkXEulnfSyV_9n3TxCsrwiASp_og3QOSs4VURLkJa/s200/DSCF2013.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyF7npysIePMVpcovJHCyM_Vor4zPohqPYaoPgAhVKEGCByP0HY6kuhDbh4xaDhgXl3_ohr_DypTYZZ6p26qOh360dnDEI18L99kVFVRac5G8AbqozTf_3SnPrg6VKR_vByhw/s1600/IMG02017-20121226-2113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyF7npysIePMVpcovJHCyM_Vor4zPohqPYaoPgAhVKEGCByP0HY6kuhDbh4xaDhgXl3_ohr_DypTYZZ6p26qOh360dnDEI18L99kVFVRac5G8AbqozTf_3SnPrg6VKR_vByhw/s200/IMG02017-20121226-2113.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I pedaled up long rolling and arduous stretches I reviewed everything that God had been assisting me with like:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://thesoftspotspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/08/living-la-vida-loka.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://thesoftspotspeaks.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2012/08/living-<wbr></wbr>la-vida-loka.html</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- My daughter Aneka’s unexpected and delicate pregnancy with twins<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Burying still-born Rafael and Mikael’s fight for survival in the ICU<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://exskindiver.blogspot.com/2012/07/marathon-faith.html?spref=fb" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://exskindiver.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/2012/07/marathon-faith.<wbr></wbr>html?spref=fb</span></a></span></u><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">-</span></u><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Raising funds for Mikael’s unaffordable hospital stay </span><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://thesoftspotspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/09/cheers-for-mikael-epilogue.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">http://thesoftspotspeaks.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/2012/09/cheers-<wbr></wbr>for-mikael-epilogue.html</span></a></span></u><span style="color: #0433ff; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Our home in Antipolo getting broken into, looted and vandalized <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- the sudden death of our very dear friend, Eric Antonio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- clearing and moving out of Kamias.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clearly, 2012 had not been an easy year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">S</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">upplication<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I endured the pain, I lifted up in prayer all those who reached out to help in our time of need for Mikael. I would rattle of SPECIFIC names in my head: High school and college friends; those who performed and helped out in the ‘Cheers for Mikael’ concert; My refugee camp friends; My bike buddies and their families; Relatives from both my dad and my mom’s side; My in-laws and Rosar’s other relatives. I lifted up my mother, my brothers and sisters and their respective families and all their prayer intentions. I prayed for all of them…I prayed for my children… I prayed especially for little Mikael. Finally, I lifted up my needs to Him asking for continued love, grace and peace in my heart. Of course, I also prayed for a cloud or two to get some respite from the heat of the sun as we biked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I prayed unceasingly in true dad-fashion as this helped keep me going.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer and biking helped take my focus away not only from my throbbing and wounded saddle burn but also from the pain that I had experienced in my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was truly an amazingly miraculous experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now about that bike…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHHZJx5heJNHoYLr3dXQ0r_GkUoiclOOtuXzt9eaMYUIIwEvJOY1PkDKk7q_0-_BpRn-4wnk0iwJmfMkgyWwX2f7cvJ_PH3xtk_yX4Bw7ftK8YM0d-rUCc-j94ImBnNsWEDs/s1600/IMG02344-20130324-1217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHHZJx5heJNHoYLr3dXQ0r_GkUoiclOOtuXzt9eaMYUIIwEvJOY1PkDKk7q_0-_BpRn-4wnk0iwJmfMkgyWwX2f7cvJ_PH3xtk_yX4Bw7ftK8YM0d-rUCc-j94ImBnNsWEDs/s320/IMG02344-20130324-1217.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some strange reason, I am attached to my battered old bike, RED. I have better looking bikes to use but RED is the favored one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although nicked and battle-scarred, Red works just as well as hi-tech, more expensive bikes do (it gets me to the same destination at roughly the same time). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has traveled great distances with me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have taken many roads together…some smooth, many times rough (if you know the Philippines, then you know what the road conditions are like). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our struggles together is what has helped me develop my strength as a cyclist. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We start and finish strong together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think that I have come to realize that my bike represents me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My personal struggles outside of biking have made me a stronger person.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">While there may have been times that I have felt unappreciated by some, the fact remains that I know what I am worth.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I might look nicked and battled scarred (the perils of adolescent acne), I appreciate the people that love and support me for who I am and who I am still becoming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(* I would also like
to show and encourage others that biking, whether as a hobby, a sport, or as a practical
means of commuting need not be fancy or expensive)</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been said before and I shall say it again: Life is pretty much like a bicycle ride. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You will encounter ups and downs, rough and smooth roads but you have to keep on pedaling to keep your balance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember to stop and rest when you are tired and to drink water (and beer) when you are thirsty. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_nQ60fROzyorHFfoBpyYCpencDVp3x0CKoKpbbEACSalCAsHVZtCzUgfCk4sm2fPU40UJsLcvwlwnTUCgWP1BrIR_uVqBBy9HkKxiVFigp697YpjsooFgol89bwCPgI9mWyl/s1600/I+did+Bicol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_nQ60fROzyorHFfoBpyYCpencDVp3x0CKoKpbbEACSalCAsHVZtCzUgfCk4sm2fPU40UJsLcvwlwnTUCgWP1BrIR_uVqBBy9HkKxiVFigp697YpjsooFgol89bwCPgI9mWyl/s200/I+did+Bicol.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I conquered Bicol</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Above everything, remember to Pray, Pedal and ENJOY the RIDE :)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awesome hubby and children</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAtoe94Trx7lhhTN1CKQWKN93oHWRoaXLsAC_jmMKhhjiYqVKrbUYS-LSiIf6VRI6oMm3Ft590BbMoOHD-lEpEZ36CfDj4s6pKJyLFwfLFesMNl8EiNrvy7wdtnZLAgBBXWOA/s1600/IMG02304-20130316-1012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAtoe94Trx7lhhTN1CKQWKN93oHWRoaXLsAC_jmMKhhjiYqVKrbUYS-LSiIf6VRI6oMm3Ft590BbMoOHD-lEpEZ36CfDj4s6pKJyLFwfLFesMNl8EiNrvy7wdtnZLAgBBXWOA/s200/IMG02304-20130316-1012.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sharing the passion for love and life</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyzWcnftcyczAHuZOsJsLR7YaDU8GRu03jeOfV2HZ0r1dWt1ikd25uY4Wh5fMljIeAX9KawFpAEjB9AiXYEuCqP19nJbptS91SddQSa1go1z04j6q9q_N6Lkye40aesgFoV3O/s1600/IMG02455-20130421-0640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyzWcnftcyczAHuZOsJsLR7YaDU8GRu03jeOfV2HZ0r1dWt1ikd25uY4Wh5fMljIeAX9KawFpAEjB9AiXYEuCqP19nJbptS91SddQSa1go1z04j6q9q_N6Lkye40aesgFoV3O/s200/IMG02455-20130421-0640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet Mikael</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyzWcnftcyczAHuZOsJsLR7YaDU8GRu03jeOfV2HZ0r1dWt1ikd25uY4Wh5fMljIeAX9KawFpAEjB9AiXYEuCqP19nJbptS91SddQSa1go1z04j6q9q_N6Lkye40aesgFoV3O/s1600/IMG02455-20130421-0640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br />
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</span></span>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-26179891490916607842012-09-04T02:04:00.003+08:002012-09-07T01:43:14.651+08:00CHEERS for MIKAEL: Epilogue<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUMni43RaQuJB-EAa9MxXcz9LUGRcn6pg1uHeATNA4PZ-SElGERhcipv8fm4bKJvZ4c9I85WCqxnqa9hud3gqhoPPxij8QDe_fHUmXhH-tNHZlxE82jBTipbNKDyNUiZXUPnJ/s1600/Mikael+at+home+in+kamias_sept+2+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUMni43RaQuJB-EAa9MxXcz9LUGRcn6pg1uHeATNA4PZ-SElGERhcipv8fm4bKJvZ4c9I85WCqxnqa9hud3gqhoPPxij8QDe_fHUmXhH-tNHZlxE82jBTipbNKDyNUiZXUPnJ/s320/Mikael+at+home+in+kamias_sept+2+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mikael sleeping in his crib (at home, Kamias, QC)</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">Dearest Friends and Family,</span></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">After Baby Mikael was born on July 29, 2012, I wrote a letter and sent it out to many of you. T</span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">he response to our need for help was heart-warming and overwhelming.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Right
from the beginning some close friends and relatives shared their
financial resources immediately and helped alleviate worry.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">But
since no one knew how long Baby Mikael was going to be confined at the
N-ICU, a fundraising project was launched to help pay for the rapidly
rising cost of his hospital bill.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/450985548280243/" target="_blank">Cheers for Mikael</a> was called a FAITH and LOVE filled concert because ALL the performing artists lovingly and generously waived their professional fees: <i>Eric Antonio, Baihana: Melinda Torre</i>,<i> Krina Cayabyab, Anna Achacoso-Graham, Chickoy Pura, Dondi Santos, Ebe Dancel, Lara and Mikka Mendoza, Rose, Jon, Itchie</i>, <i>Jonny Salvador</i>, <i>Pio and Miko Tendero, NINE Band: Rene San Andres, Mateo Escueta, Absent (Leo Liban, Anjo Molina, Allan Gallora), Musical O (Marco Dinglasan), and Project ZED (Zaldy delos Reyes</i>). Even the venue, RMT,Ateneo and the sounds and lights company, FORSCINK (<i>Philip, Kathleen and Justin Santos</i>) were so kind to offer their services as a gift.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">As the days kept going by and (the hospital bill kept growing) there were times that I found my faith faltering.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">My logical brain was telling me that if God heals Mikael NOW then the hospital bill will be lower.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Someone told me that God knows what He is doing.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">That the reason that Mikael was still in the hospital was because God knew exactly how much time Mikael needed to be there to heal and get stronger and also how much funds were going to be raised.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">God was going to use this experience to teach us all about Faith, Hope and Love.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">Through
the tenacious perseverance of friends who spread the word, raised
funds, sold tickets (and at times coerced people), helped with the
planning and the logistics, the absolute amount needed was raised or
pledged by the time Baby Mikael was released 33 days after he was
born (and <b>in just 11 days</b> after the call for help)</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">God is so precise.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCENWENGwbE1aPq8FtUfmm1apWNPEKytKp-UIbjT0wqnLMcxQzkFa7sBkPkKOn3gF_P0HOGOSuWQkF6uvu-fK4okH7ZCbxXnkdK4uTxq-ku9miQP7Q42KBkERlJZ_lhnYSWE9/s1600/CHEERS10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCENWENGwbE1aPq8FtUfmm1apWNPEKytKp-UIbjT0wqnLMcxQzkFa7sBkPkKOn3gF_P0HOGOSuWQkF6uvu-fK4okH7ZCbxXnkdK4uTxq-ku9miQP7Q42KBkERlJZ_lhnYSWE9/s320/CHEERS10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">Mikael's final hospital and doctors' fees bills totaled <b>P712,213.00</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">Your love and support enabled <b>"Cheers for Mikael"</b> ticket sales and donations to reach <b>P508,042.78</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222;">I know we will be able to pay the balance of P204,171 through other donations made by family and friends.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">I repeat, God is so precise.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">The Bible verses of Matthew 6:25-27 rings true in our life.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate;"><sup style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">25 </sup>“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you
will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? <sup style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">26 </sup>Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? <sup style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">27 </sup>Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Thank you EVERYONE for letting God use you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Always in faith, hope and LOVE,</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">K-Lo (Kikay Lola) </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">PS: </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">HIS timing is always perfect...Mikael was able to go home the same evening of the concert.</span> </span></span><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/AVvXsEhtokWvVJJy9qUNdlLiUxlGmut02DyOy25kU1Ven86KfVCRZ24r2FZ9zVyjEvLXfq6V-pbX8P8s8jRocMM2zcme_5W-U8r8GJfFn5jmsFQSalbgPDeME31u4ReixHjqTb6Ff3IQ/s1600/IMG01525-20120906-1841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtokWvVJJy9qUNdlLiUxlGmut02DyOy25kU1Ven86KfVCRZ24r2FZ9zVyjEvLXfq6V-pbX8P8s8jRocMM2zcme_5W-U8r8GJfFn5jmsFQSalbgPDeME31u4ReixHjqTb6Ff3IQ/s320/IMG01525-20120906-1841.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikael with his LoKa :) </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-4145238285248405002012-08-05T23:59:00.000+08:002012-09-07T01:19:09.276+08:00Living La Vida LOKA<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87IgteVTMijrRXa8SsOAfeZiNBSkKQtSgCHvDH16NiSKku4jQCJVF-2puXPu1cVfttqXPX_z5hCpXlESjAcCKqjGxn8NeOD8ITn2cccig4tPxjpiLxVJNukQ22se0K4B7Aoph/s1600/cmr3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87IgteVTMijrRXa8SsOAfeZiNBSkKQtSgCHvDH16NiSKku4jQCJVF-2puXPu1cVfttqXPX_z5hCpXlESjAcCKqjGxn8NeOD8ITn2cccig4tPxjpiLxVJNukQ22se0K4B7Aoph/s320/cmr3.jpg" width="212" /></a>My life is like a never ending bicycle ride coming across unexpected terrain every now and then...</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the start of the year, I had written: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;">I am grateful for the goodness and blessings of 2011!!</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;">Here I come 2012.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 100%;">I am ready." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't realize back then what an understatement that was to the series of events about to unfold. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In February, Aneka took us by surprise us when she announced that she was expecting. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, my mind did a quick flashback to that day many years ago when I had made my own announcement of being pregnant. Who was I not to understand the effects and quirks of falling in love..? (another story, another time.) </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy-_Z9i2suv9513lYfc8FsTvo8XYtDKY8zEo2aSLsokgTQ5MYcBcp9hr38Xz1_1X3Ux76Du1DiWQN4kLBKicZa_6yjw1oOh9ZKn1Ia944fn3xdW9DPvt44KAkXoZzaE8dDnwv/s1600/preggy+aneka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy-_Z9i2suv9513lYfc8FsTvo8XYtDKY8zEo2aSLsokgTQ5MYcBcp9hr38Xz1_1X3Ux76Du1DiWQN4kLBKicZa_6yjw1oOh9ZKn1Ia944fn3xdW9DPvt44KAkXoZzaE8dDnwv/s200/preggy+aneka.jpg" width="154" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />The following week, Aneka called us with another round of 'shocking' news. She was not carrying just one baby but two! She was bearing twins!! Her excitement was infused with feelings of anxiety... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I told her not to worry. God won't give you anything you can't handle.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhB2AvS8BTvcxU2VZfx8FaqQiuohIONUsXAMQRVM6fPt-4Bf1Ue6RB7i1WGYnR5znGNC46JprZoO-35hLfaQhVC6lGcyEJW58ATBqIScBv8cm0goJWY04I5qOZEdN36__4MJi/s1600/IMG00643-20120223-1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhB2AvS8BTvcxU2VZfx8FaqQiuohIONUsXAMQRVM6fPt-4Bf1Ue6RB7i1WGYnR5znGNC46JprZoO-35hLfaQhVC6lGcyEJW58ATBqIScBv8cm0goJWY04I5qOZEdN36__4MJi/s320/IMG00643-20120223-1520.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In March, I wrote to my sister, Chesca...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Let me spare you the sordid details of the ransacking and looting that took place up in Antips." Our little house-in-progress which we had been "fixing up" since forever had gotten broken into (again). This time, it was a pretty bad break, the kind you only see in the movies kind of break-in. I told myself to pretend that I had been hit by a natural disaster and to consider myself lucky. We were alive and we still had a house. I even managed to tease my beloved: The thieves have good taste in music and fashion. They took your whole music collection but decided they didn't want your clothes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My humor was intact and so was Rosar's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"When you have nothing, then you have everything" - Mother Theresa</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the summer months of April and May, Rosar and I decided to fix up once and for all the Antips house and move in. It was while we were clearing and cutting the tall, wild grass that had grown all around the house that we were approached by a movie production company. They wanted to know if they could use the house to shoot a film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Location director: "Are you the owners? We've been looking for you for quite sometime...You have a nice house." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me: (with a tinge of pride) "Thank you..."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQnanjzG41C82OdLPXoXvfFgh5F_rlxjSKqQ7Um1l08v9P_JLTnU2hGa8mKG_7nEHNVNkq9te1aykvD87jjUSOoL2RomrTdz4lr4KPyxRYWb01wBATq9GJUYyaJprd8ceSXcp/s1600/fence+decor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQnanjzG41C82OdLPXoXvfFgh5F_rlxjSKqQ7Um1l08v9P_JLTnU2hGa8mKG_7nEHNVNkq9te1aykvD87jjUSOoL2RomrTdz4lr4KPyxRYWb01wBATq9GJUYyaJprd8ceSXcp/s320/fence+decor+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was feeling pretty cool having just had a bicycle welded decoratively to the top of our fence... then my bubble burst when I heard him say: "We've been looking for an old, abandoned looking house to use in our film...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sigh...Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it's really all a matter of perception however the truth is the truth... house repair as we all know can be expensive... We came to an agreement which is why our house will be featured in a suspense-horror flick due to show in cinemas sometime soon starring Andi Eigenman, Venus Raj and Joel Torre...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIDQrXbQJ-RMVe7mSXngGw7g42TKwHI8RkHsALE8oewSWEmM_YgPBSIB0mfzkoXntqszpi1ic17-5lg-p5HQcsbNh6wVeUviwFa-JlLG32APzv5sr4qPaOuR7HRoxwjyDwvD7/s1600/IMG01208-20120516-2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIDQrXbQJ-RMVe7mSXngGw7g42TKwHI8RkHsALE8oewSWEmM_YgPBSIB0mfzkoXntqszpi1ic17-5lg-p5HQcsbNh6wVeUviwFa-JlLG32APzv5sr4qPaOuR7HRoxwjyDwvD7/s200/IMG01208-20120516-2027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JDfEVO8UJCcfxCqzStdfxPfbilvjuifva2wNbcoKw7Rhs7SWjaKe0xjsgic91XTwrrMCoebIc1zKFK_4C9dZCocZ8CCC3LpAQU3-0_Jcj0PY0L25mVfkxAcUAsmMLVluEsCX/s1600/IMG01202-20120516-1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JDfEVO8UJCcfxCqzStdfxPfbilvjuifva2wNbcoKw7Rhs7SWjaKe0xjsgic91XTwrrMCoebIc1zKFK_4C9dZCocZ8CCC3LpAQU3-0_Jcj0PY0L25mVfkxAcUAsmMLVluEsCX/s200/IMG01202-20120516-1553.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of suspense movies let me skip, hop, jump and fast-forward from May to today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aneka gave birth to her twins exactly a week ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The circumstances of the last week of her pregnancy and delivery to Eric Mikael and Juanito Rafael were unprecedented...it is if anything, a real test of <a href="http://exskindiver.blogspot.com/2012/07/marathon-faith.html?spref=fb" target="_blank"><b>Marathon Faith.</b></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The days that followed were highly emotionally charged, tiring and draining days. Meeting with the neonatal specialist, the neurologist, the hospital administration, and claiming little Juanito's body were scenes from a movie that would make it a block-buster hit in reel-life ... however, in real-life, if I was the director, I'd be yelling "CUT! CUT"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday, amidst the gloom, the skies began to clear... Baby Mikael was taken off the ventilator and had begun breathing on his own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The following morning, Aneka sent me this message:</span><br />
<i>good morning</i><br />
<div class="content noh direction_ltr" id="msg.be3afc19cfb39f8c5ecf6cdaccf942f621">
<i>blue bathroom is clogged again</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My response:</span><br />
<i>g'morning anix!</i><br />
<div class="content noh direction_ltr" id="msg.b8dcee072d4b726b1a8dd078a056f70012">
<i>and you say : thank you Lord for today.</i><br />
<i>a clogged toilet? nah, that's nothing!</i></div>
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<i>smile! the sun is shining out here. how about there?</i> (she was in Kamias while I was up in Antipolo)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suddenly, I started crying... not because the toilet at home was clogged again but because of a dawning realization</span>:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recalling spontaneous and separate conversations with each of Aneka's doctors, they had all admitted belief in a God that can change and defy outcomes despite scans and test results...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just knew in my heart, Mikael was going to be alright. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWu6NKs3hAajdcLuL2UZ_zHal_TnipOVY7DbpnVOQxUw-uR9xDdAESv-_hPPYQT9nb7x4cKZMNcMk5Xg4vi8GDsrcFTBveT9V5zQqqx7NjC-IWB_v2jRDWMOWok8SENE0DNB7/s1600/MIKAEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWu6NKs3hAajdcLuL2UZ_zHal_TnipOVY7DbpnVOQxUw-uR9xDdAESv-_hPPYQT9nb7x4cKZMNcMk5Xg4vi8GDsrcFTBveT9V5zQqqx7NjC-IWB_v2jRDWMOWok8SENE0DNB7/s320/MIKAEL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Every child is a gift from God"</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then with tears still in my eyes, I started laughing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God is a funny God, too...how He revealed his message to me that morning was pretty unique...it was no 'message in a bottle...' but rather 'a message in a clogged toilet.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The weekend has been a weekend of miracles.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I posted on my facebook account yesterday:</span><br />
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<i>As we all continue to pray with grateful hearts and expectant
faith...let me share with you the power of all our LOVE combined:
continuing Mikael's Marathon: results of leg 2: blood test results: all
negative: no sepsis as feared. liver ok. no more distended tummy. skin
tone- healthy and pink... he also got moved to another type of incubator
(less expensive, lower tech needed) - a very good indicator - that he
is improving!!! Thank you everyone for all your prayers...let's keep
at it as God works HIS wondrous miracles everyday ♥</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Faith Hope and LOVE.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love conquers all... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may now call me K-Lo, <b>Lo</b>la <b>Ka</b>ren or LOKA for short...a fitting name, all things considered.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-26302287850092049412012-01-31T08:08:00.007+08:002012-02-01T08:30:10.982+08:00For a Very Brief Moment, My Heart Skipped a Beat...<span style="font-family:verdana;">Yesterday, at around 2pm, the phone rang ...<br /></span><br />Ros: Kar, phone call for you (mouthing, I don't know who it is, I did not ask the lady's name)<br /><br />Me: Hello, Good afternoon.<br />Lady (formal voice): Hello, good afternoon, is this Karen?<br />Me: Yes? Who is this please?<br />Lady: Hi Karen! This is Henri...<br />Me: Henri Olmos? Hi Henri!!! pause.....How are you? pause...<br />Henri: Hi karen. I'm fine and you?<br />Me: I'm fine...... pause....<br />Henri: um, Karen, Mihali is alright. He is here in the clinic (Henrietta or Henri for short is the Ateneo College school physician and she was my grade school and high school classmate) .... He is alright....just some scratches....<br />Me: Mihali? (Chest CONSTRICTING, Heart THUMPING and managing to keep voice calm and steady) <span style="font-size:85%;">(I knew Mihali had used the motorcycle)</span> Did Mihali have an accident?!!! (heart beating loudly in my ears and beads of perspiration building up on my brow and my kili-kili (armpits) Is he alright? What happened....?<br />Henri: He is alright. Yes, he had an accident.....right outside Gate 2. Just some scratches on his arm..He is OKAY. Here, he will talk to you.....<br /><br />Calm conversation with Mihali then back to Henri.<br /><br />Henri: Karen, Mihali didn't want me to call you because he didn't want to stress you out because you're already stressed out daw as it is. I told him, I have to call you and will tell you not to get mad at him. So, don't get mad at him ha, promise!! Don't get mad at him when he gets home. ok?<br /><br />Me: hmmm ok...yes, yes, i won't get mad at him (thought balloon: bahala daddy niya magalit sa kanya )<br /><br />This is the note I emailed to Henri:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Henri dear, I realize this is the 2nd time you've called me on my landline and both times they were for Mihali (1st time was last year because we had to take him to the ER due to severe abdominal pains).... parang, I'd like to get a phone call from you inviting me for a beer, perhaps??? para ma-iba naman <span style="font-size:85%;">(<span style="font-size:85%;">for a change</span>) </span>???!!! para di ako ma stress out tuwing marinig ko name mo sa phone <span style="font-size:85%;">(so i don't get stressed out every time I hear that it is you on the phone)</span>??!! hahahaha Thanks for taking care of my son!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Admittedly, it was a pretty 'stressful' day and as I am </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">wont to do when I am feeling down, I wrote a short message to my sister, Chesca:<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">I had a pretty stressful day...1. intriguing email re the firefly brigade.... 2. Call from Ateneo doctor - Hali had a minor spill on motorcycle - he is okay... 3. News of Raul's death....husband of Nancy Pe, remember him? So sad and so sudden.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Chesca's brief but wise response:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes I remember him.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Sad,</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Stressful.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Triage it.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Firefly Brigade is kulangot (booger) in the scheme of things.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Comfort Nancy</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Be grateful for Hali's being okay</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> and for Rosar's being alive.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Hugs Kar.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As usual, she has managed to assuage my stress.<span style="font-size:85%;"> Thanks, Ches!<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I truly have so much to be thankful for.<br />My heart is now calm.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /></span>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33906880.post-67493461062917762732012-01-10T08:42:00.010+08:002012-01-19T11:46:54.351+08:00Highlights of 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGofCkCgbBSZRvVEPm69XtTg2N03whLPzBOr5vi2nldpYixopOioK36Za6uWQKfOrS3J_DavQlt7pPjSrjcpGlv6uBpWhgMv9QYx9lDoI9rQgZGEPMujWjXiJ6jComo_BpuQjX/s1600/402352_10150443399221078_547301077_8762676_547477285_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGofCkCgbBSZRvVEPm69XtTg2N03whLPzBOr5vi2nldpYixopOioK36Za6uWQKfOrS3J_DavQlt7pPjSrjcpGlv6uBpWhgMv9QYx9lDoI9rQgZGEPMujWjXiJ6jComo_BpuQjX/s320/402352_10150443399221078_547301077_8762676_547477285_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696169380667865906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I can't believe just how fast the days have been going by!!</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I was just getting used to writing 2011 and having the words "twenty-</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">eleven" roll off my tongue and here we are now, already 10 days into the N</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ew Year!!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />So before the year actually takes o</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ff (as if it hasn't) let me just share the <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS of my 2011 </span>listed chronologically<span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br />1. Preparing for and celebrating Rosar's Surprise 50th Birthday (March 23). The photos gathered for the video spoke volumes of what a great husband and father Rosar is...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">See <span style="text-decoration: underline;">video presentation <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1518786984515&set=t.705146097&type=2&theater">here </a></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> and photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150114847591078.281314.547301077&type=1">here</a><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaf7XZivDOUEr04T7UAJyj8pjBwJ7HVVNtRGX5hyphenhyphenpceH-KafT-LKrP9vEw8ybvMOPOLDUCR8uDhkPfHrlgdxq8i1dcLIo3jIQTEdhtn_0fBoiK7qcbU_9UT2UMdPfGpJkFziU/s1600/188947_10150114848466078_547301077_6804389_5677469_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguaf7XZivDOUEr04T7UAJyj8pjBwJ7HVVNtRGX5hyphenhyphenpceH-KafT-LKrP9vEw8ybvMOPOLDUCR8uDhkPfHrlgdxq8i1dcLIo3jIQTEdhtn_0fBoiK7qcbU_9UT2UMdPfGpJkFziU/s320/188947_10150114848466078_547301077_6804389_5677469_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695950785693680114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">2. The WHOLE FAMILY BIKING 150km</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">s f</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">rom Quezon City to Infanta, Quezon Pr</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ovince (April 21). A great family bonding experience and adventure where we only had ourselves</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to rely on to push, motivate and inspire one another to reach our destination. (N</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">o SAG v</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ehicle --Support and Gear). It was awesome to see the children's smiles and happy dispositions </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> despite the heat and the distance.<br />See photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150228500506098.361214.705146097&type=1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here and </span></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150232019021098.365052.705146097&type=1">here</a></span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG_WA5B5B831dA3cazN8DAeg9T5y-EydmJeDp8udMP5_roWLpWFuGjsGXJJBp2GAjGAjy_UfBqRWO9rXS6i71xD20Di3-jMyZ7sSUTyrXoiwn9uGAKo94qsgPbK2TfE74sNF3/s1600/Crisostomos_to_Infanta_April_2011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKG_WA5B5B831dA3cazN8DAeg9T5y-EydmJeDp8udMP5_roWLpWFuGjsGXJJBp2GAjGAjy_UfBqRWO9rXS6i71xD20Di3-jMyZ7sSUTyrXoiwn9uGAKo94qsgPbK2TfE74sNF3/s320/Crisostomos_to_Infanta_April_2011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695950791252041602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">3. Celebrating our 23rd Wedding Anniversary with a LIBRENG KAPE (Free Coffee) Special for cyclists (October 8). It was a unique and simple way to share our blessings with people who also share our passion for biking whether by choice or by force of circumstance...</span><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOec4K3qdsRsAtVYV2cCR6i03seY7gpk_c9RLRtIcik8qyoVEzRGc7uMoXZIAmd_E8ms95szDEho1Jacna3Oz5YC01xQyIiXlcoVCMwDGyXmgcRdlprvehHZAsbm5G1QaDmRmh/s1600/299283_10150311420891078_547301077_8219755_22410538_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOec4K3qdsRsAtVYV2cCR6i03seY7gpk_c9RLRtIcik8qyoVEzRGc7uMoXZIAmd_E8ms95szDEho1Jacna3Oz5YC01xQyIiXlcoVCMwDGyXmgcRdlprvehHZAsbm5G1QaDmRmh/s320/299283_10150311420891078_547301077_8219755_22410538_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695950806153820402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">See pho</span><span style="font-size:100%;">tos <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150410428071098.414497.705146097&type=1">here</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">4. The 1st Crisostomo Family FUN Mini-Triathlon (December 24). 150m swim, 10km bike ride and 3km run held in the campus of Ateneo. "Health is Wealth".<br />I always say: We're rich in love and health.</span><br />See photos <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150432521471078.353651.547301077&type=1">here </a>and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.262123787182885.61034.100001557973489&type=1">here . </a><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7Gz-DNjVKEoHhKgAQgverysJL1EVamLsCPa7atltGdY8WbU7dcRI6wwI-tOe8e3CSy54v4m6VKUhrkYyYNMfJbKj5EE3zQG2A54gXtOQGPuzfZrBsyYkcw_5zchClmDTgBF4/s1600/Family+FUN+Triathlon+Dec+24+2011.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7Gz-DNjVKEoHhKgAQgverysJL1EVamLsCPa7atltGdY8WbU7dcRI6wwI-tOe8e3CSy54v4m6VKUhrkYyYNMfJbKj5EE3zQG2A54gXtOQGPuzfZrBsyYkcw_5zchClmDTgBF4/s320/Family+FUN+Triathlon+Dec+24+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695953396897136226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br />5. A Family </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Tr</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">ip</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"> to Pagudpud, </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ilo</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">cos Norte with my cousin, Pearl and her children December 26 - December 29). The opportunity to relax and bond with one another: to see more of the beauty of the Philippines -- truly this was a treat and a blessing. (<span style="font-size:85%;">thanks, Pearl). </span></span><br />See photos <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150562949456098.439139.705146097&type=1">here</a> </span>and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150562763346098.439100.705146097&type=1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here </span></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ZDBRtXZlWmZz4tnvvJrjnZ3q2BJlzburOhY63Clp_moFkHUGSP5NpKobK3Z1PlbOBrZlQT66gZlok3lYZ4v4Sm4SopFdJOtFbvUZ4gbGlCn7IJK0kAJTn0QVQy_pC6qBxau/s1600/397408_10150443311916078_547301077_8762100_261952141_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3ZDBRtXZlWmZz4tnvvJrjnZ3q2BJlzburOhY63Clp_moFkHUGSP5NpKobK3Z1PlbOBrZlQT66gZlok3lYZ4v4Sm4SopFdJOtFbvUZ4gbGlCn7IJK0kAJTn0QVQy_pC6qBxau/s320/397408_10150443311916078_547301077_8762100_261952141_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695950810273719842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">LIFE IS GOOD!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A wonderful husband, great and smart kids, good health, </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">time to bike,</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> an abundant supply of hugs and love from family and friends ...what more can I ask for?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As my good friend, Marge points out: "You have an almost perfect life... " "Almost perfect...?" I ask. "Yep, you could do</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> with a little more money"... </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(hahaha, I agree! She is right :) </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">She says this as I lament over exorbitant expenses for house repair and termite extermination...</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Life certainly isn't perfect but it is those 'little' imperfections that make the good times stand out, rendering me more appreciative of what I have, who I am, and who I am with.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">I am grateful for the goodness and blessings of 2011!!<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Here I come 2012.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">I am ready.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This year...<br />I shall continue on my path of simple joys and happiness...<br />I shall de-clutter. Give-away. Donate. Throw and /or Sell</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I shall give the termites less to chew on and myself less to lament about.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">“When you don't have anything, then you have everything.” </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">― </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/838305.Mother_Teresa">Mother Teresa</a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">LIFE can only get BETTER! </span>whoohoo!! :)<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFmmEqZBoAg8rbv-k6JLAb6-3Os4fbkzK0Ry-Kj5Ub5udoVqiLEI9F2FBbiWnKePpLcDf6JY1a_JhuOOQnL8zGGmRJP0486cntKL_VT3UV_1aYQHk3tOOPeX6gAO73TQMxRmk/s1600/Kren_Bangui.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFmmEqZBoAg8rbv-k6JLAb6-3Os4fbkzK0Ry-Kj5Ub5udoVqiLEI9F2FBbiWnKePpLcDf6JY1a_JhuOOQnL8zGGmRJP0486cntKL_VT3UV_1aYQHk3tOOPeX6gAO73TQMxRmk/s320/Kren_Bangui.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696169389248051730" border="0" /></a>K-Kixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11248202081831891328noreply@blogger.com1