It's nice to be back! Game time!

Atlassst! I am finally officially back playing one of my favorite sports. Never mind the scourging heat of the sun. I started playing again Lawn Tennis last month. But unlike before, I was playing almost 4 times a week. But now I can't for I have lots to do but I still manage to play Lawn Tennis atleast twice or thrice a week. I'm glad that I am back playing because I also need to lose weight LOLz! I wish I could go back to dancing too. But for the meantime, playing Lawn Tennis is what I shall do. This is my stress buster and weight buster, LOL!

Here are the photos I took at the tennis court where I play.

Angeles City, Philippines

Coach Ric Manalo

Coach Ric is one of the coach or trainer of the Lawn Tennis players in Angeles City. He also trains some players who are taking part on the National Games on Lawn Tennis. His wife and 2 kids are lawn tennis players too. His daughter Nikki Manalo is a champion in lawn tennis. I forgot which division she is included. Also his son Joshua Manalo is also a lawn tennis champion. Coach Ric teaches lawn tennis to kids as early as 2 years old. There is no age limit as long as one can still play tennis. He teach basic, advance and professional tennis. His hard work, patience and skills molds the lawn tennis players of Angeles City. During his time, he won several championships in lawn tennis. I am amazed on how he teaches lawn tennis to kids because in just one week, a kid can play lawn tennis for beginners. There are some kids that really don't have the talent in playing this sport, however, Coach Ric will not give up that easily once he know a kid has a potential in playing lawn tennis. He teaches from morning even high noon until late afternoon depending on the available time of the person he will teach or train.

Here are some of the kids that he teach to learn lawn tennis

These are Alfred and Paula Inofre, they are siblings

Alfred takes the shot and...

Follows through.

Paula or Pau takes her shot and...

Follows through.. nice!

This is Alfred. They call him Red for short. He is 9 years old. Last year both of them started taking lawn tennis lessons from Coach Ric. They only get to play lawn tennis when they are here in Angeles City because they go to school in Manila. I get to chat with them during their break time taking lessons. Red is a shy type kid but once you ask him about computer stuffs and online computer games, he starts to talk and talk, LOLz! At his age, he can already play lawn tennis. I was not able to see them last week for they took a vacation and I hope I could see them next week.

It's a bit difficult to teach lawn tennis to kids because if they don't have the confidence and initiative to learn the sport, they won't learn and would easily get iritated. Coach Ric once told me he taught a 2 years old kid who is still wearing her diaper as Coach Ric teaches her. She can hit 10 to 15 tennis balls. After that she would tell Coach Ric "ayaw ko na (I don't want anymore)", LOLz! Then they will stop the lesson and resumes the next day hehehe.. I saw that kid once, she is beautiful like a little cherubin. I salute Coach Ric for his patience and perseverance in teaching lawn tennis.

I will post more of my courtside lawn tennis adventure next time so stay tuned! =)

Earth Day 2009

Today we celebrate Earth Day. It is the day to be aware and appreciate our home, the Earth. All living and non-living things in nature are on Earth. It is held annually during both spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year.

From the Earth Hour held last March 28, where in all lights from houses, some streets and establishments were turned off for an hour 8:30pm to 9:30pm PST to remember and be aware that mother nature needs our help to keep the earth well maintained and cared for.

There are now many disasters that our world is encountering. From climate or sudden weather change, flash flood, erosion, pollution (land, air and water), earthquake and global warming. If you would compare our surroundings before, now many are taking advantage of our nature and they are not aware of what they are doing which destroys earth.

Yesterday, around 3am Philippine time, there is an earthquake I felt. I think it is around 2 to 2.5 magnitude on the Richter scale. It lasted for a minute and thank God nothing awful happened for I am at work. But some of my co-workers got scared. I was thinking of my family and friends at that time. It's not usual to have earthquakes. The last country I heard that was hit by a massive earthquake was in Italy, were many died.

I no longer enjoy riding the jeepney because pollution hits my nose and I come home with a dirty nose and face. Smoke belchers don't care if they polluted the air with tons of black smoke from their vehicles. Even factories no longer care if they pollute both the air and water. I was watching a show in one of our local channels last Sunday and they featured Pasig River for an advance tribute to Earth Day. What I saw really really made me sad and disgusted at the same time. Let's face it, there are many projects to revive the Pasig River, but how come non is successfully. Why I said non is successful? Because the river is still polluted and other parts of it already produce methane gas because of the garbage piles under the water aside from the garbage along it's river banks. Pasig River used to be a cool and refreshing spot I think in the early 60's. But now, I don't even want to go near it because of the bad smell of the water. Thank you very much for those people who are trying to rehabilitate the Pasig River, I salute all of you.

Here are some photos I found on the Internet that somewhat related to the environment.

People look at an eruption of an underwater volcano in Hunga Ha'apai, Tonga, March 18. The blast is only 34 nautical miles off the coast of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa.

Environmentalists have big plans for robotic fish like this one shown at the London Aquarium. The carp-shaped machines, which cost $29,000 a piece, are being released into sea off northern Spain to detect pollution. The robots mimic the movement of real fish and are equipped with chemical sensors to sniff out potentially hazardous pollutants.

Laundry hangs outside a student dormitory at a college in Wuhan, China. I think this will help in electricity conservation, don't you think?

I forgot if this is Sunrise or Sunset but it is definitely in Mumbai, India. This is the photo I like most. Let's take care of our environment so that we can see the clear blue sky and rays of the sun not the gray and polluted sky.

I hope by the year 2015, we still have a place to live called Earth if all of us will do something for our environment. Let's start by not using plastic bags and use alternatives to replace plastic bags. Let us recycle. It's true that there is money in garbage but we need to be patient in segregating the garbage in order for us to sell those recyclable materials. Instead of throwing your used plastic bottles of energy drinks or soda and aluminum cans, you can take that home and collate them in one sack and later on you will see that you have just collected recyclable materials that you can sell and turn into money. It's not too late, we can make a change.

"Let's HELP the ENVIRONMENT by starting to RECYCLE"

You're still the man and forever will be...

40 days ago is not an ordinary day for me. 40 days ago, I was eating my lunch while watching my favorite noon time local show called Eat Bulaga. 40 days ago Vic Sotto made a very special announcement but that made the public mourn and shocked. 40 days ago news spreaded like wild fire and fast as a bullet train. How time flies, don't you agree?

Today is the 40th day since the untimely rest of our beloved Francis "Kiko" Magalona. I hope his family, friends and relatives have already accepted the faith that our dear friend Kiko had gone to. I was reading about 40 days after death and I found out that within that 40 days, a soul wanders into the natural and supernatural worlds. On the first day of death, a soul is judged if it will go to heaven, hell or purgatory. A soul do not haunt houses, or walk the earth as ghosts.

In another entry I have read, it said that in these 40 days the soul is tested for sins. Each day for 40 days, a soul goes through obstacles that are called toll-houses. For the course of two days the soul enjoys relative freedom and can visit places on earth which were dear to it, but on the third day it moves into other spheres. At this time (the third day), it passes through legions of evil spirits which obstruct its path and accuse it of various sins, to which they themselves had tempted it.

Then, having successfully passed through the toll-houses and bowed down before God, the soul for the course of 37 more days visits the heavenly habitations and the abysses of hell, not knowing yet where it will remain, and only on the fortieth day is its place appointed until the resurrection of the dead. Some souls find themselves (after the forty days) in a condition of foretasting eternal joy and blessedness, and others in fear of the eternal torments which will come in full after the Last Judgment. Until then changes are possible in the condition of souls, especially through offering for them the Bloodless Sacrifice (commemoration at the Liturgy), and likewise by other prayers.

I just hope and pray that Kiko is finally in the heavenly kingdom enjoying himself for eternity. Kiko wherever you are you will not be forgotten. We will keep on including you in our prayers. May the Lord Bless you and finally rest in peace.




To view my previous post about Francis Magalona please click here and here.

Good Friday: Church and Flagellants

I was sick the moment I woke up last night I have a few rashes on my right arm some on my left arm and on my back. I don't know how I got them. Luckily they are not itchy or else they would become wounds because I can't help but scratch them.But I had to get to work. I couldn't afford to absent myself. Even if I'm chattering my teeth because I am cold at work, I was able to surpass and finished my shift at work. I was praying the whole time asking to get me through my shift. At the end of my shift I no longer feel dizzy and cold. Since I was not able to do Visita Iglesia, I decided to drop by at the church before I went home.

There are lots of people in the church. I reached the church by 7:30am and there will be station of the cross by 8am and the parade of saints later in the afternoon. I can't attend the parade because I need to sleep and equip myself for another night at work and I could not be going to work again dizzy and cold. Actually my head still hurts as I am doing this entry. But I still managed to take some photos at the church before I went home.

Here are the photos of Sto.Rosario (Holy Rosary) Parish Church in Angeles City, Philippines.

The Exterior of the Church

The Interior of the Church

This one above will be used later at the parade

Holy Rosary Parish Church is the biggest church here in Angeles City. It is in the heart of the City. You won't miss it if you go here.

As I am walking home from church, I saw many flagellants in the street near our barangay and people mostly by-standers are in the streets. Every year there are about more than a 100 flagellants that devot themselves to this practice. Good Friday is where most of the flagellants in our barangay lined up to go to pabasa (literal meaning to read or reading) and tell their intentions to God. I think they visit 9 pabasa in one day, some 12. I remember when I was still about 4 or 5 years old, I used to be scared of flagellants and I hide myself from them thinking that they would get me.This time, I followed them going to the pabasa build by my relatives infront of their home. And took a few shots.

First Batch of Flagellants

The KIA service vehicle above is covered with plastic to protect it from the blood stain

Second Batch of Flagellants

Actually I missed another batch of flagellants. The street above is one block away from where I live.

Let us not forget the true meaning of Holy Week. Let us remember that Jesus Christ gave his life for us to live in this world. I know we have different beliefs but nonetheless, faith strengthens ones belief. This Sunday will be Easter Sunday. The day that Jesus Christ came back to life and renewed our faith in Him. Advance Happy Easter to all!