By right, all Catholics aged 14 and older are required to practice abstinence at least during Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent, and also, all Catholics aged 18-59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday at the minimum. Abstinence means not eating meat (flesh of any warm-blooded animal) and Fasting means eating only one full meal a day (and two more meals if the quantity of both does not equal to one full meal, if really necessary).

To some Catholics, this is also the time of the year of which they “give up” something they really like to do as a sacrifice to God.

For Filipinos, singing of the “Pasyon” is an activity for the whole community. The Pasyon is a verse narrative on the life and sufferings of Jesus Christ, which is written in any major Filipino dialect. And then of course, there is the “Sinakulo”, a Lenten play, usually in verse which narrates episodes from the Old and New Testament. Also, for some specific provinces, other practices are also followed like the Marinduque’s Moriones, of which the locals reenacts the legend of Longinus, the Roman legionnaire who became a Christian, and of course the procession of the flagellants and crucifixion in Pampanga.

Personally, penitence by abstinence and fasting is one thing, but self-flagellation and crucifixion? Err…I think is just too gory….

1. Scottish Title and Land

2. Wiccan Lost Spells and Potion recipes

3. Mutilated Barbie

4. Real Tsansa shrunken head without human skull

5. Bullshit repellent

6. a genuine antique hobo whiskey bottle

7. Four leaf clover

8. Some animal’s skeletons

9. A Serial Killer’s Fingernails

10. A weird tree branch

Click here to visit it.

I started buying books for my own collection in high school. I’ve always been a fast reader and being a student, I bought them from a famous second hand book store chain in my country.  Until now, I still have the habit of buying 2nd hand books even if I can afford to buy new ones—some from a small shop in the city called Q8books and some from the Friday Market (they used to sell 2nd hand books over there only for 1/4 dinar each!).

It was in that Friday Market that I discovered “The Shadow of the Wind” a New York Bestseller written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It’s about the son of an antiquarian book dealer in 1945 Barcelona and how the mysterious book, “The Shadow of the Wind” pulled him in a web of dark secrets. An amazing plot, written in a way that there is a story within a story…Complex yet easy to read…

I wish I could write a novel like that…but then again…I lack one main ingredient…and that would be TALENT!

My husband and I gave her 50 bucks. We were thinking that she is old, and she really looks frail, and if ever she does not use it for medicine, she would probably use it for food. For us, whether or not she is telling the truth, our conscience are clear. She smiled, thanked us and left.

On the last day of our vacation, just before we leave for the airport, I had to pass by the drugstore to purchase some baby vitamins for a friend here in Kuwait. I saw the same lady at the counter. She was counting her 5 peso and 10 peso coins and the pharmacist was patiently waiting for her to finish. I got curious, so I greeted her. She remembered me and thanked me again since she said that was the biggest amount that anybody can give her. She didn’t ask me to give her more money, nor did she imply anything with regards to that…It was actually a short conversation. The pharmacist handed her only one small tablet, which made me ask him “Just one tablet?!”, “That’s all she can afford ma’am…”

I don’t remember how much I gave to the pharmacist, I think it was more or less 500 bucks, and instructed him to give her more of those tablets within that amount and to give the change to the old lady. I didn’t wait, I left after that, but it was one of the happiest moments of my life…And if I had more with me, I would have given more…

Imagine being deprived of food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water and all other common necessities…

Extreme poverty. A terrifying thought isn’t it?

Children being forced to work at a very young age, just so they can have something to eat, not being able to get a chance to have proper education. Mothers who cannot give anything else to their children but sugar water. Families who live in the street, with nothing but cardboard boxes or hugs plastic bags to protect themselves from the rain. People with serious illnesses or the elderly, like that old lady, not being able to get proper medical attention because they cannot afford it at all.

Do you remember the last time u did something for these people?

That’s all folks. Bow!

The said phrase is an English idiom that means “to promise something impossible”. But when it comes to romance and courtship, it usually promising someone the moon pertains to someone (usually the male) promising to do whatever it takes to make the object of that person’s affection happy.

But according to this site not only you can promise someone the moon, you can actually fulfill that promise”—well, sort of. It seems that this site gives you an option to buy properties on the moon. Interesting isn’t it?

Personally I think it would be a unique and wonderful gift. Just imagine your special someone coming up to you and saying “Remember when I promised you I’d give you the moon? I can’t get you the whole thing, but at least I tried… “ and then handing you a proof of ownership of lunar property. Nyahahah! Awesome!

So, what do you think? I think it’s really cool to buy the moon for your loved one! At least some part of it, that is…

I’ll be there…somewhere…lurking… *evil laugh*…Nah, I’ll be assisting the lecturers so you’ll definitely see me over there.

Anyway, for all Filipinos in Kuwait who are interested, there are no more open slots…(BOO!), but, you can still try. Just email Q8PinoyIT@yahoo. com and see if he can squeeze ya in.

Anyway, I ain’t complainin’. Our working hours are now from 9-4 as opposed to the 8-6. I get more time to relax and Ramadan Sales are everywhere. “YEY!” for me coz I only like buying things during sales…mejo kuripot pow akow…(I’m a bit of a cheapskate).

I am still working on some projects these days so I have to postpone creating a new WP skin for me. I just finished finalizing the hawt Norwegian girl’s blog.  I didn’t do anything much for her…but she likes it so I’m happy.

But who knows? I might end up getting the 300 bucks?

Now according to teh rules, I have to choose an article in his blog, of which I decided to beeee *drumroll please*…. “Spam Na Naman!”.

Thing is, my office email addy is always being bombarded by ‘em “canned meat products” (they’re called SPAM, people, S-P-A-M!), :

SPAM Type No. 1: Emails promising me that they can get mah…*ehem* longer and bigger (I’M FEMALE…I DON’T HAVE THAT, DARN IDIOTS!)…And v*agra? WTF???

SPAM Type No. 2: Emails telling me I won some lottery.

SPAM Type No. 3: Emails from some African millionaire’s lawyer begging me to help ‘em sorta smuggle ‘em dineros.

SPAM Type No. 4: Emails telling me I had just inherited a fortune.

SPAM Type No. 5: Emails telling me I can get all the girls I want (The hell?!).

Suddenly, it got me thinking, if all those were true, and if I was male, I would’ve been a “well-endowed” and “very energetic” multi-millionaire wiff lotsa hawt babes. And of course, I won’t run out of money coz my other rich relatives, who happens to have me as their heir, will just keep on konking off, one by one (for some mysterious reason)…leaving me all their moolahs. Wow! That is just so kewl!

Reason No. 1: Got 2 projects from a very sweet (and very hawt, if I might say so myself) lady from Norway. Muwahahahah! Keep ‘em moolah’s coming! Btw, if you have any .NET jobs fer me…you know where to find me.

Reason No. 2: Got nominated to be the Filipino Blog of the Week! If you, dear reader, can just click on the link, look for that small poll on the mid-right-hand side…click on that check-box beside the crimsonheavens item..and click the “VOTE” button. IN short, PLEASEFRIGGINVOTEFERME!

Reason No. 3: Still waiting for one…but am sure this is going to be one friggin FIIINNNNNNEEEE day .

…and I did get paid, people! The mode of payment we used was different–not through the site, which we outta do, but I did use part of the payment to upgrade to a Gold membership. I am still bidding for new projects for additional moolahs. *kaching kaching kaching*

For all ya people who are interested, just click on the banner above, register and start bidding. Of course you have to be very patient as there are lots of competition, but hey, if you do get lucky and win a bid AND if you do good work, there’re lotsa possibilities to get return business. Do some affiliating to, if ya want…

Reason No. 1. We have not subscribed to any of the Filipino channels due to the fact that I, myself, had thought that it’s would be a waste (I don’t like watching TV AT ALL). I would probably (again, I would have to stress), PROBABLY watch the news, but that’s it;

Reason No. 2. I don’t read Filipino magazines & newspapers (online or printed). I simply had no interest to just start reading (I confess I’d rather read other things); and

Reason No. 3. I dun have any close Filipino acquaintances (neighbors or friends), except for Mr. Systems Analyst, with whom I get most of my “what’s happenin” info from. And most of the time, I get really embarrassed for being such an ignorant idiot coz the conversation usually starts with “Have you heard about…?” and of course, me answering, “Wozzat?” or “No.” and him giving me the which-hell-hole-have-you-been-in look.

However, I know I should be AWARE (Yes, you should, you bad, bad, girl!) and it is such a shame that I am more informed about what’s happening in my hubby’s motherland than mine. I mean, come on, finding out about what had been (and still is?) a huge Philippines high society (do we have any, really?)scandal by stumbling on the whistle-blower’s blog itself, BY ACCIDENT, is the limit. It’s been going on since MARCH fer Gawd’s sake! I dunno, some might call me shallow, but I find it more interesting than most of the countless government scandals I’ve read/heard for the past oh, I dunno, 26 years of my life (Personally, I think these graft and corruption scandals too depressing and also REDUNDANT that I dun wanna hear about ‘em anymore…Besides, who elected ‘em buggers anyway?). Anyway, back to what is now called Gucci Gang scandal, sure, a lawt of em’ uber rich kids go haywire, but hey, these OUR own rich kids (well fine, some say that they’re nothing compared to their other relatives), from OUR own elite families. One of ‘em reminded me of those British nobles who wasted their lives and used their noble blood to swindle people in the 19th century or something. And I like Brian Gorell…and so weirdo-me finished reading ALL HIS POSTS in just one day! I do feel for him and I think it’s great that HE’S DOING SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT HE ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN. Am tellin ya’ll who’ve not read the thing: READ HIS BLOG! So there!

Hmm…wot else? I’ll get back to you (whoever you are) if there is anything else to share. For now, AM GONNA GO READ SOME ONLINE VERSION OF A DECENT FILIPINO NEWSPAPER. Pray that I make this a habit.

Isn’t Mana a beauty?

Mana was the band leader and guitarist of the famous Japanese visual kei band called Malice Mizer. Mana rarely smiles and speaks in public and answers interview questions by whispering to a band-mate who would then relate the answer. Mana is also a fashion designer and a model.

Pics of Mana here:

And the MTV of the song “Beast of Blood” by Malice Mizer:

By the way, to those who don’t know:

Mana is male. He is also straight.

http://www.anime-eden.com – Free Anime and Manga
http://www.mangafox.com – You can read manga scantilations online for free.