Shocking news posted on Yahoo welcomed me this morning as I was checking my email. A former UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) champ is dead! At 37, Evan Tanner died not due to a fight...
I’m not a big fan of this guy but few people know that I love to watch fighting scenes of all sorts – boxing, kickboxing, aikido, judo, karate, wrestling, etc. I love watching WWE and UFC and sometimes Sumo fights. Maybe inspired and influenced by my dad and brothers or a frustrated martial artist, I’m an avid fan of Jet Li, Jacky Chan, Bruce Lee, aikido black belter Steven Seagal, Jason Statham, kickboxer Jean-Claude Van Damme, Marc Dacascos, Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak Muay Thai artist), some female action stars, and of course our very own unbeatable Manny Pacquiao.
Back to Evan, I never knew this guy as an adventurous person. The story of his death caught my attention because I can absolutely relate! As an outdoorswoman(but a fine lady J and not an adventure extremist), I sometimes try to satisfy my curiosity, challenge myself and face my fears by trying out new things and visiting new places without considering the danger and risks. Sometimes, being adventurous can lead to destruction and death. I’m aware of that but Evan’s story is an eye-opener for me to be much more careful. I still love my life; it’s God’s gift. Yes we should appreciate and explore His creation but we also need to use wisdom and be good stewards of our bodies. Otherwise, we will miss out on more fun and adventures and overlook the most important things in this life.
See Tanner’s full story (http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ys-mmaweektanner090808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Help!!! I got mugged!
Ever heard of the news lately? Almost every day, they have a new victim. Couple of weeks ago, a call center female supervisor was killed inside a cab. She was on her way to work at 2am shift. Few days ago, another lady was shot on the head and is now at the state of coma.
It’s time for our government to dismiss other political non-sense issues and really do something about these. Anyway, that is not my subject in this blog.
I’ve thought spreading the “news” will help a lot of people - not to scare them but to give them awareness, facts, tips and how-to’s.
I am always thankful that I am still alive…
Just like counseling, I would say it’s easier to take it from those who had the experience rather than those who have no clue. But I surely appreciate those who gave me encouraging words during my tough moments.
Anyone can be a victim. You can’t say it won’t happen to you because you don’t look like a possible prospect – rich-looking, “weak”, celebrity, businessman or politician, etc.
Who’s the muggers’ target and where?- Anyone especially female call center workers or those with unusual work schedule – night, graveyard shift or early morning shift. Obviously, because it’s dark and there are few people around and no policemen (Does their presence matter here anyway?). It happens everywhere but is rampant here in Metro Manila area.
What should I do?1. Avoid walking alone along a free way or clear street if you can.
2. IF you have no choice because of your unusual work schedule, check the following practical tips:
-Use bags that will easily tear off or avoid using fancy bags.
-Don’t place your valuables (cellphones, IDs, cards) inside your bag. Put them in your pocket instead.
-Keep a low key and avoid dressing up so as not to attract muggers. No jewelry. Wear rubber shoes when going to work. My pair of rubber shoes really did the job in protecting my feet. If you have dress code at work, better bring your office uniform and shoes then get changed when you arrive in your office.
3. When riding a cab, immediately get the plate number and send it to someone you know. Also lock all the doors. My usual practice now when riding a cab after work is to ask the guard to get the plate number for me.
4. Find a place or apartment that ensures security and safety.
5. Avoid sleeping when riding a cab or a bus. Be vigilant.
What do I do during the mugging incident?
· When a gun or a knife is pointed at you, don’t think twice but immediately hand over your bag or cellphone. Giving it away is the best way to deal with this. Never fight back even if you are a renowned black-belter martial artist or an Olympian taekwondo medalist. I learned that most self-defense experts get killed in their attempt to fight muggers contrary to what we watch on action movies… pretty much like how actors are shown doing stunts without getting bruises.
· Drive-by bag snatchings will not give you a chance to think as this is done very quickly and takes few seconds only. Dragging is part of the muggers’ “trip” or fun. If you have a very durable bag that does not easily tear off then release your hold as soon as you realized what’s going on. But this is a rare case. Normally, it is human’s instinct to hold on to your bag as you try to figure out what’s going on...unless you are trained or you get used to the experience. People who think you are too stupid to hold on have no clue. They have not experienced it and they got no idea about what is really going on during the incident. They don’t understand basic human psychology and the meaning of velocity and motion. I guess they needed to get a taste of it in order to understand. Try to experiment -surprise and grab your friend’s bag or wait ‘til someone does it to you. Let’s check your response and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
What to do if you are a victim?The incident definitely affects not just physical but the emotional aspect. Here’s a list of what has to be done:
Physical
Immediately seek medical attention. Have X-ray & anti-tetanus shots. Cleanse your wounds regularly (once or twice a day). Hot compress is good for bruises. Stay at home and have bed rest. Expose or uncover your wounds but protect them from insects. White fluid & red blood oozing out from your wounds will cause the gauze to stick to them and will be harder and painful to remove when you need to cleanse them.
Emotional
Expect emotional depression, fear and anger as you feel cheated and violated. Prayers work wonders. We needed time to be alone but make sure we are surrounded by our loved ones most of the time. During my distress, what kept me strong was the thought of Christ’s suffering on the cross. What I was going through was nothing compared to His sufferings. That also helped me hope and think that the pain was temporary and I would be well soon.
What to do if your family member or friend is a victim.Listen and be sensitive. You can ask what happened but if the victim is having a hard time talking, just keep quiet. She may be in a stage of shock. If she’s too emotional and crying, don’t be loud and avoid cracking jokes unless she initiated. In my case, it’s embarrassing for me to cry in front of people. So I tried to fight my emotions. That explains why I did not cry that day and the jokes helped. Find a way how to get in touch with the victim by getting her new number if any. Send her SMS message, call her or pay her a visit if it’s okay with her. Sympathize; let her feel that you feel what she feels. Words of encouragement and assurance of prayers are recommended instead of telling them what she should have done. Chances are, you don’t know any better. Be sensitive as the victim is very prone to depression during these moments.
It’s time for our government to dismiss other political non-sense issues and really do something about these. Anyway, that is not my subject in this blog.
I’ve thought spreading the “news” will help a lot of people - not to scare them but to give them awareness, facts, tips and how-to’s.
I am always thankful that I am still alive…
Just like counseling, I would say it’s easier to take it from those who had the experience rather than those who have no clue. But I surely appreciate those who gave me encouraging words during my tough moments.
Anyone can be a victim. You can’t say it won’t happen to you because you don’t look like a possible prospect – rich-looking, “weak”, celebrity, businessman or politician, etc.
Who’s the muggers’ target and where?- Anyone especially female call center workers or those with unusual work schedule – night, graveyard shift or early morning shift. Obviously, because it’s dark and there are few people around and no policemen (Does their presence matter here anyway?). It happens everywhere but is rampant here in Metro Manila area.
What should I do?1. Avoid walking alone along a free way or clear street if you can.
2. IF you have no choice because of your unusual work schedule, check the following practical tips:
-Use bags that will easily tear off or avoid using fancy bags.
-Don’t place your valuables (cellphones, IDs, cards) inside your bag. Put them in your pocket instead.
-Keep a low key and avoid dressing up so as not to attract muggers. No jewelry. Wear rubber shoes when going to work. My pair of rubber shoes really did the job in protecting my feet. If you have dress code at work, better bring your office uniform and shoes then get changed when you arrive in your office.
3. When riding a cab, immediately get the plate number and send it to someone you know. Also lock all the doors. My usual practice now when riding a cab after work is to ask the guard to get the plate number for me.
4. Find a place or apartment that ensures security and safety.
5. Avoid sleeping when riding a cab or a bus. Be vigilant.
What do I do during the mugging incident?
· When a gun or a knife is pointed at you, don’t think twice but immediately hand over your bag or cellphone. Giving it away is the best way to deal with this. Never fight back even if you are a renowned black-belter martial artist or an Olympian taekwondo medalist. I learned that most self-defense experts get killed in their attempt to fight muggers contrary to what we watch on action movies… pretty much like how actors are shown doing stunts without getting bruises.
· Drive-by bag snatchings will not give you a chance to think as this is done very quickly and takes few seconds only. Dragging is part of the muggers’ “trip” or fun. If you have a very durable bag that does not easily tear off then release your hold as soon as you realized what’s going on. But this is a rare case. Normally, it is human’s instinct to hold on to your bag as you try to figure out what’s going on...unless you are trained or you get used to the experience. People who think you are too stupid to hold on have no clue. They have not experienced it and they got no idea about what is really going on during the incident. They don’t understand basic human psychology and the meaning of velocity and motion. I guess they needed to get a taste of it in order to understand. Try to experiment -surprise and grab your friend’s bag or wait ‘til someone does it to you. Let’s check your response and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
What to do if you are a victim?The incident definitely affects not just physical but the emotional aspect. Here’s a list of what has to be done:
Physical
Immediately seek medical attention. Have X-ray & anti-tetanus shots. Cleanse your wounds regularly (once or twice a day). Hot compress is good for bruises. Stay at home and have bed rest. Expose or uncover your wounds but protect them from insects. White fluid & red blood oozing out from your wounds will cause the gauze to stick to them and will be harder and painful to remove when you need to cleanse them.
Emotional
Expect emotional depression, fear and anger as you feel cheated and violated. Prayers work wonders. We needed time to be alone but make sure we are surrounded by our loved ones most of the time. During my distress, what kept me strong was the thought of Christ’s suffering on the cross. What I was going through was nothing compared to His sufferings. That also helped me hope and think that the pain was temporary and I would be well soon.
What to do if your family member or friend is a victim.Listen and be sensitive. You can ask what happened but if the victim is having a hard time talking, just keep quiet. She may be in a stage of shock. If she’s too emotional and crying, don’t be loud and avoid cracking jokes unless she initiated. In my case, it’s embarrassing for me to cry in front of people. So I tried to fight my emotions. That explains why I did not cry that day and the jokes helped. Find a way how to get in touch with the victim by getting her new number if any. Send her SMS message, call her or pay her a visit if it’s okay with her. Sympathize; let her feel that you feel what she feels. Words of encouragement and assurance of prayers are recommended instead of telling them what she should have done. Chances are, you don’t know any better. Be sensitive as the victim is very prone to depression during these moments.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Absence Makes the Heart Go Fonder? Or Wander?
Well, this is really a million dollar question for many couples and singles.
LDR or long distance relationships - does it really work? Some people would say no and some would say yes.
Someone told me it does not work. She was in a relationship with a man, seldom spent quality time with him and preserved her purity until it ended after 10 long years. He said he got someone else pregnant. Few days ago, my roommate who’s been in 3 years LDR told me they broke up. She has not yet recovered. (No wonder why for couple of weeks now she’s been staying late every night because she couldn’t sleep.)
Is there a secret to a lasting relationship? Many believe it is physical intimacy. Is it?
LDR, I believe, requires a lot more effort than the regular one. You might ask, “Hey, do you have the right to say something about this subject?” And I would say “yes” and “let us see”. I have yet to come up with the complete list of answers on what keeps it working if it does really work.
I totally disagree that physical intimacy is the ultimate secret to a successful relationship as many people believe in. In fact, I’ve seen many relationships outside marriage that are falling apart because of intimacy. It does play an important role within marriage but outside marriage, it puts the relationship more vulnerable and prone to separation. You’d say,”Oh, it all depends on the level of commitment and love.” But my questions are: “How do you define love?” and “How deep a ‘deep commitment’ is?” Another question is: What motivates a man to pursue a woman if he’s getting all the benefits of marriage?
Ironically, I’m surrounded with friends having failed LDRs. One friend of mine told me after interviewing several male OFWs that men really have a problem with fidelity. This information really causes doubts and fears especially those who are in this situation.
But so far, it is true, as the saying goes, that it takes two to tango. Both parties should cooperate and exert the effort to keep the lines of communication open and the relationship ongoing. Finally, I would say a God-centered relationship that is built on friendship, mutual trust, love & commitment guarantees a successful relationship whether LDR or not.
So, does LDR really work? I would say the answer is yes and no.
LDR or long distance relationships - does it really work? Some people would say no and some would say yes.
Someone told me it does not work. She was in a relationship with a man, seldom spent quality time with him and preserved her purity until it ended after 10 long years. He said he got someone else pregnant. Few days ago, my roommate who’s been in 3 years LDR told me they broke up. She has not yet recovered. (No wonder why for couple of weeks now she’s been staying late every night because she couldn’t sleep.)
Is there a secret to a lasting relationship? Many believe it is physical intimacy. Is it?
LDR, I believe, requires a lot more effort than the regular one. You might ask, “Hey, do you have the right to say something about this subject?” And I would say “yes” and “let us see”. I have yet to come up with the complete list of answers on what keeps it working if it does really work.
I totally disagree that physical intimacy is the ultimate secret to a successful relationship as many people believe in. In fact, I’ve seen many relationships outside marriage that are falling apart because of intimacy. It does play an important role within marriage but outside marriage, it puts the relationship more vulnerable and prone to separation. You’d say,”Oh, it all depends on the level of commitment and love.” But my questions are: “How do you define love?” and “How deep a ‘deep commitment’ is?” Another question is: What motivates a man to pursue a woman if he’s getting all the benefits of marriage?
Ironically, I’m surrounded with friends having failed LDRs. One friend of mine told me after interviewing several male OFWs that men really have a problem with fidelity. This information really causes doubts and fears especially those who are in this situation.
But so far, it is true, as the saying goes, that it takes two to tango. Both parties should cooperate and exert the effort to keep the lines of communication open and the relationship ongoing. Finally, I would say a God-centered relationship that is built on friendship, mutual trust, love & commitment guarantees a successful relationship whether LDR or not.
So, does LDR really work? I would say the answer is yes and no.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
New superhero WALL-E!!!
WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class is a humble, cute and adorable trash-compacting robot with sort of emotions. When I saw the trailer, I thought the setting will remain on that wasteland filled with garbage which is the Planet Earth after 700 years, abandoned by human beings who went out to live outside on spaceship.
WALL-E’s lonely life began to transform when EVA (Extra-terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) came into the picture. Indeed, it was a spectacular film! There was very little dialogue especially at the first part of the movie and yet it’s amazing how emotions were communicated and demonstrated. It was a simple story yet delivers a great message. It supports the save-the-earth and “go green” campaigns and movements. Oh yes, I believe it is possible that men’s creation may rule us in the future. We may be controlled and become servants of our own inventions. We can be very dependent and engrossed with technology and forget or neglect more important things in life.
So before you throw your trash out in the street, remember Wall-E, a simple robot who made a difference. Like Wall-E, let's save the earth and go green! :-)
Just few stupid thoughts:
1. Though we know that WALL-E & EVA lived happily ever after, I wonder how they will have their offspring someday.
2. How difficult it must be for M-O to do its job on Planet Earth. Remember that maintenance robot that cleans the dirt and inspects everything for foreign contaminants?
So before you throw your trash out in the street, remember Wall-E, a simple robot who made a difference. Like Wall-E, let's save the earth and go green! :-)
Just few stupid thoughts:
1. Though we know that WALL-E & EVA lived happily ever after, I wonder how they will have their offspring someday.
2. How difficult it must be for M-O to do its job on Planet Earth. Remember that maintenance robot that cleans the dirt and inspects everything for foreign contaminants?
Friday, August 22, 2008
Ambush Interview
Honestly, it’s exhausting to share your story over and over again. I’m sure, many of you would agree. I usually attend funerals and one thing I always make sure of is to keep quiet instead of asking the family members who are left behind unless they open up. I know how exhausting it is as they keep on telling the same story if you know what I mean. ..
I could not remember how many times I was asked about what exactly happened to me and what the details were. That morning after the incident, every time someone would come into the office (each one has different work schedule) I was being asked and it initially helped me to open up. That included the nurses and the security group when I was interviewed to get my statement. When time came for the company doctor’s turn, I was tired. I wanted to record everything and do playback every time somebody else would ask (one reason why I blogged my story so I could just point them here at my website if they want to know the whole story). When I came home, I had to tell my family every detail. It is different if you are sharing it to someone who loves you because you know they are concerned and they really care.
I thought I’m done already in telling my story to people until yesterday afternoon. I went to visit my friend in my old apartment where I used to live (about 2 years ago). To my surprise, a group of people swarmed around me and did ambush interview! Yes, they knew about it. They live just right across the police station where the incident was reported. They were talking out loud, all at the same time, asking me questions. Some were giving their comments and opinions as if they were there and witnessed the incident. One sounded as if it was my fault! I really felt bad and wanted to freak out, cry and shout “Shut up!!!” I could feel they were just interested about the news and they really did not care about me. I just knew one person there, the one who initially greeted me. She announced it to the group that I was “the victim” and so everybody came and surrounded me.
I really wanted to cry! It didn’t feel good to be the center of a very loud discussion. If you were there, you would think there was a fight going on. Now I understand why some movie actresses freak out or cry during ambush interviews and pres cons… Yes, it’s true! Especially if they are being accused or they are being interrogated about a bad rumor. Being sensitive is what most people need to practice.
I could not remember how many times I was asked about what exactly happened to me and what the details were. That morning after the incident, every time someone would come into the office (each one has different work schedule) I was being asked and it initially helped me to open up. That included the nurses and the security group when I was interviewed to get my statement. When time came for the company doctor’s turn, I was tired. I wanted to record everything and do playback every time somebody else would ask (one reason why I blogged my story so I could just point them here at my website if they want to know the whole story). When I came home, I had to tell my family every detail. It is different if you are sharing it to someone who loves you because you know they are concerned and they really care.
I thought I’m done already in telling my story to people until yesterday afternoon. I went to visit my friend in my old apartment where I used to live (about 2 years ago). To my surprise, a group of people swarmed around me and did ambush interview! Yes, they knew about it. They live just right across the police station where the incident was reported. They were talking out loud, all at the same time, asking me questions. Some were giving their comments and opinions as if they were there and witnessed the incident. One sounded as if it was my fault! I really felt bad and wanted to freak out, cry and shout “Shut up!!!” I could feel they were just interested about the news and they really did not care about me. I just knew one person there, the one who initially greeted me. She announced it to the group that I was “the victim” and so everybody came and surrounded me.
I really wanted to cry! It didn’t feel good to be the center of a very loud discussion. If you were there, you would think there was a fight going on. Now I understand why some movie actresses freak out or cry during ambush interviews and pres cons… Yes, it’s true! Especially if they are being accused or they are being interrogated about a bad rumor. Being sensitive is what most people need to practice.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Cheerleaders?
Oh yes, these cute little creatures amused me during those times of distress and boredom.
Aren’t they lovely?
Due to insistent public demand, here they are:
You might ask why these pics were taken in the midst of my agony. Got 4 reasons for that:
1. My eldest brother and his wife wanted to send those pics to our favorite cousin and her husband (the one who first heard the news from me because he was online – thanks to Internet technology and Yahoo). I did not know how to get in touch with my family back home since I didn’t have a hard copy of their contact numbers. So the news came all the way from Hawaii to my family in Pangasinan.
2. For my “honeybunch” who wanted to see pictures of these since he was also out of the country. He was the first one to call me. :-)
3. For my HMO in case they run into problems. Well, the hospital could not start accommodating me because my HMO was requiring a lot like police report, etc. I suppose they wanted me to go out of the hospital’s emergency room in Dagupan and go back to Manila to get the police report and all that. Got their approval after few hours of waiting in pain and several phone calls that would not get through. I was asked to prepare incident report (as if I was still at work). So got those pictures taken in case they would ask for additional requirements or proof.
4. I needed then to avail of sick leaves for more than a week. Got proof in case of discrepancies or disapproval of my leave application. Thanks to our Senior Manager and my Supervisor!
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