Old age and disability are two things we oftentimes think are enough reason for dependence. But dependency is not dictated by age and physical limitations. Dependency is a state of the mind. And so, those who treasure their independence should be happy to know that there is a very safe way to pursue their independence.

NMEDA helps the independent-minded to choose their cars and equipment for safer driving on the road. NMEDA provides a list of their qualified dealers so that the buyer is assured of the safety of the products that they purchase. It is also important to note that aside from being a qualified dealer the buyer should also make sure that the company where they are buying their cars and/or equipment has passed the Quality Assurance Program (QAP) to be qualified as a QAP Dealer. If these are not enough, the buyer may approach NMEDA Dealers and QAP Dealers to personally attend to their special needs so that the products they purchase from the company can be refined and/or customized to meet their specific needs. If need be, they should be provided with training before they are allowed to take out their purchase and be allowed to hit the road to independence.

For more information about the qualified dealers in your area, please go to the NMEDA homepage and fill-out the dealers locator button.

And so, I now have the biggest monitor for blogging and internet browsing.

Cool!

(But hubby needs to hurry up. Have my laptop monitor repaired asap… or buy me a new one!).

While I appreciate other mom’s desire to be friends with my son, I also have a need to protect my son to be the boy that he is right now - free-spirited, sometimes naughty, sometimes stubborn. I don’t want him to be a model child. I don’t want him to be an unrealistically well-behaved child. I just want him to be him.

While I also appreciate other mom’s obvious desire to be my friend, I have a need to be just me. I have a need to be friends with whom I please to be friends with. I have a need to treat my son the way I deem it proper to treat him.

Imagine a boy of 4 years (international age) not having friends or playing with other kids. When asked who his bestfriend is, he would readily utter my son’s name… just because he is the only boy he has played with. I have no problem with them going to school together. The mom enrolled him in Kinder Liebe because my son goes there. But that means seeing the mom morning and afternoon - daily - and listening to her ranting. Spare me!

Little Dynamo would sometimes ask me to ride his bike first with his friends before going up to the house. Sometimes I agree - sometimes I don’t. It depends. This mom told me, “But if he rides his bike, my son would also want to ride his bike”. So?

After awhile my son asked for ice cream because his favorite playmate also asked for ice cream from his mom. We were walking towards the convenience store when this mom asked me, “Are you sure? Do you buy him ice cream everyday?”

“No”, I answered. She saw me bought ice cream for my son the other day.

“But if you buy ice cream, my son will also want ice cream. I’m afraid it’s going to be a habit”. Duh! I continued walking ahead.

She’s obviously not friendly with the other moms with whom I am constantly conversing with every afternoon. While she was by my side, the other moms would just look our way but didn’t make an effort to include us in their group. That is something I am not used to! Perhaps aware of the awkwardness of the situation, she justified why she isn’t socializing with the other moms.

Then goes the rant about how she wants her eldest to continue studying violin but how the violin class would often spark a fight with her daughter who doesn’t want to study violin. But the daughter would be left behind by her peers if she doesn’t study any musical intrument, she reasons out. Almost all children here in Korea learns to play a musical instrument. And so on…

I felt exhausted. I felt robbed of my time to be with people I have the pleasure to be with. I need to find ways to avoid this kind of day again!

Now, I have two handsome boys. Still have a handsome husband and intend to have him even when our hairs grow gray.

But…

Although my weight doesn’t reach 52kg (I didn’t reach 60kg even when I was pregnant) BUT my waistline grows bigger and bigger. Grrrr… I stopped baking. But I can’t stop buying… and eating!

I sleep less… and lesser. When the boys sleep, I do all the house works. That means cleaning even in the middle of the night. It has become a habit.

The day isn’t complete without coffee. I tried to avoid it but I can’t. It has become part of my system.

I have a need to read… and read… and read. But I am taking care of an infant and a toddler. Whewww! So, I am reading even in the most inconvenient position. And books end up tattered.

I had been living here in Korea for the past four years and so I always end up confused about my age. Am I 34? Am I 35? Was I 33 before August 14 or was I 34? Oh heck, you’ll understand me when you are living here. LOL.

Yeah, another year has passed but please bless me with more. Thank you.

Cane River is about four women slaves of different generation who, silenced by their time’s social mores, struggled to rise above the condition of their birth. They were born slaves because of the color of their skin.

I have read and watched about slavery and discrimination but this is the first time I was drawn into the hearts and minds of the slaves. I couldn’t imagine not owning my own person. I couldn’t imagine being uncertain about where I will be tomorrow. It will be my life’s nightmare to be separated from my children - because my masters decided to do so. It would be hell to be informed - after the fact - that my husband is on his way to another place because my masters decided to do so. I couldn’t even describe how it would be not to own your own body, to be available at the whim and the pleasure of people society declares to be above you. And how degrading could it be to line up like a horde of animals for auction? Whoever bids the highest for you owns you from thereon until he pleases… and off you will be up for sale again. All these emotions and more were endured by Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene and Emily.

But they were four strong women who dealt with their circumstances differently in different times in the most circumspect way they can. They had the edge because of their beauty. They had the edge because they were women. Each of them died victorious in the limited way they were allowed, knowing that they were able to win some of the battles they chose to matter.

He is Senior Inspector Rolando del Rosario Mendoza.

Former Senior Insp. Rolando del Rosario Mendoza was a multi-awarded officer who was cited in 1986 by Jaycees International as one of the 10 outstanding policemen of the Philippines.

In January this year, he was ordered sacked by the Office of the Ombudsman together with four other policemen for allegedly extorting P20,000 from Christian Kalaw, a chef at Mandarin Hotel, who was also said to have been forced to swallow a sachet of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

The officers reportedly accosted Kalaw for illegal parking, driving without a license and use of illegal drugs on April 9, 2008, in Manila.

Administrative charges were brought against Mendoza. He was relieved as chief of the Mobile Patrol Unit and dismissed by the Philippine National Police on Feb. 16, 2009, with all his retirement benefits forfeited.

A recipient of 17 awards and commendations, Mendoza was fired in spite of a recommendation by the PNP Internal Affairs Service and prosecutors that the case against him be thrown out after Kalaw failed to attend proceedings against the officer.

Inquirer.net 8/24/10

Read more about him here.

He has served his country and his profession well. From my innermost gut, I don’t think he will resort to such an action if he does not feel strongly about the injustice done to him. Yes, the end doesn’t justify the means -the Philippines is taking the brunt of this drama - but if we are to follow this melodrama from its very beginning, we are likely to understand where Senior Inspector Rolando del Rosario Mendoza was coming from. It’s shocking to read this (follow the thread from the original post Crooked Manila Cops Get Served by Viral E-mail):

1. andres rizal April 6, 2009 at 1:47 am | #19 Reply | Quotewhats the update with regards to their crminal and administrative cases? its been almost a year now.. anyone?
2. andres rizal April 30, 2009 at 10:25 pm | #20 Reply | Quotenow i have the latest information about these cops.. based on records that a friend gave me.. they were all cleared out from their ciminal charges.. why? the story that this so called “chef” is full of crop after all..it was all fabricated, just to cover up the whole true story, first of all he was not even a regular chef at the said hotel, we was just an assitant there and not in a regular basis..the time that he was arrested for a traffic violation, he was not even connected with tha hotel anymore..
3. andres rizal April 30, 2009 at 10:34 pm | #21 Reply | Quotethis is the other part on why these cops was cleared, the story that this chef gave to the authorities was not supported by any evidence… itproves the viral e mail that was loaded last year all over the net is an imaginary one, just to cover up a family problem..imagine the abuse that can be done to our computers now,destroying peoples lives with the use of an e mail…
4. andres rizal April 30, 2009 at 10:48 pm | #22 Reply | Quote

My freind from la salle told me this story, that this Christian Kalaw is really a drug addict..the time that the incident happen last year the father of Christian wanted him to take a drug test, Christian afraid of his father then admitted that he will be tested positive if the drug examination will be taken.. Christian Kalaws parents could not take the shame from having a drug addict son.it was then that Christian made a story that these cops forced him to swallow shabu..just to cover up his dependense from illegal drug, and to prevent further disgrace of the family they diverted the story to the cops…just to show others that they dont have a drug addict son..

Now, where oh where is Christian Kalaw?

This is her personal vindication after having been dethroned - and reinstated - as Bb. Pilipinas - Universe. Hers is a story to inspire young women.

This is a welcome news to a country who has been dismayed and angered by the way the hostage drama was handled yesterday.

Congratulations, Ms. Venus Raj.

And thank you.

This Louis Vuitton teddy bear now in the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju Island is the world’s most expensive teddy bear. I had a grand time posing with the world’s most expensive teddy bear while holding my own precious teddy (baby dynamo).

I can’t help feeling that I am not entitled to being comfortable:-(.

Jeju Island is also known as the “Honeymoon Island”. Your visit to the island would not be complete if you don’t visit “Love Land” - the only sexual theme park in Korea.

I think it is better to visit the place at night. While we were leaving the park at around 5 pm, couples were coming in. Check out some of these architectural pieces from the park: