November Agenda: 'Breakaway'...

...from what holds us back in fulfilling our possibilities. ==================================================================== 
by PAM

Make a wish, take a chance, make a change... and breakaway!

Nope, I don't know for sure what exactly this "new adventure" has in store for me and my "travel companions".  Even with maps, compass and well-studied books about the challenging trail, none can prepare anyone to the twists and turns along the way - we know that.  Nevertheless, yep, we're spreading our wings and flying away.  

I have been to a few huge "expeditions" before.  They were all difficult and, in fact, some were close to tormenting.  Just the same, every journey has always been exciting... the experience, always rewarding - in new discoveries, new friendships, and strengthened faith in God.  And crossing the finish line always brought incredible feeling of fulfillment - more so, because they were shared by the worthy people and institutions whose interests I held close to my heart while I struggled to complete the journey.  Therefore, even when anxiety and self-doubt unfailingly weighed me down, I always looked forward to the next adventure - with true gusto!  

This next adventure is going to involve big challenges - almost daunting in breadth and depth.  It's going to be a bumpy ride, and I'd fall down many times, that's for sure.  And yet, I'm sure too, that it will also be interesting, exciting and absorbing - in breadth and depth of new things that I am bound to learn together with my companions in the journey, and the changes that will effect the fulfillment of our possibilities.  And, the outcome could be incredibly joyful, too - in many ways that I'm sure are unknown to us now.  Aside from "combat drills" and "battleground experience", I'm bringing a lot of "ammunitions" with me: prayers, good advice from experienced, wise and supportive mentors, and a lot of support and love from family and friends.  Therefore, I'll keep movin' forward no matter the impediments - one little step at a time... ya can count on it, too!

Alright then... bring it!

*** 
Breaking though that Examination Barrier

Speaking of huge challenges, the Chemical Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines is coming very soon.  It is the exam that will give our graduates the license to sign-on as professional engineers... and, therefore, reiterates the excellent training they get in the University.  

I give the same advice to our Chem.E. Batch 2012:  Don't hold back.  Set out to fulfill your possibilities - your many possibilities.  Go for it, guys!  Godspeed....

***
Breaking through the top of the rankings

So, what makes a University the Most Important in the World?  It's Tech Entrepreneurship, that's what.  And, that's according to Chris Vogel, who is banging the gong for the newest #1 University in the World, according to QS: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or just "MIT" to their many fans.  MIT, considered the hallowed ground of geekiness by the proud, card-carrying S&T geeks, is the University to beat this year.  Ah, finally, a Technology Institute rose to the top!  This only means one thing:  the Technology World is alive and kicking - in a winning way, too!  In 'this World', innovation is the name of the game, and entrepreneurship is the challenge that's waiting to be overcome.  And with all the daunting challenges of this century, the Tech Entrepreneurs have the potential to become the most important human beings in the global economy.  MIT is showing the world how to 'create' these TEs... must we heed, and follow their lead?

***
Breaking through the sporting boundaries

So, Lionel Messi, is the newest father in the football sphere... as of November 2!  We heard that FC Barcelona is ready to offer to sign the two-day old Thiago Messi in La Masia - where Leo was honed to become the living legend that he is now.  Aside from this happy news, the older (feels odd saying that, considering Leo is merely 25 years old) Messi completed his career 300-goal haul in Barca's contest against Rayo Vallecano last week, which they won with a manita, 5-0.  Messi's brace of goals allowed him to break through the 300-goal barrier, reaching 301 - a career high.  So, that's Messi making another case for himself as a worthy recipient of a 4th Ballon d'Or - in a row!  He just won the golden boot, too. Ah, when it rains, it does pour! Barca, on the other hand, remains seated at the top of the La Liga rankings.  Oy, Tito Vilanova, excellent job!

***

Saturday Photo

November Agenda:  God, family and family traditions, 
travel and food with family and/or friends,
...and work - loads of it. 

***

A dose of Bette Davis...

...good music, and anti-flu medicine.
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by PAM

This came on on the radio yesterday evening while I was on my way home...

All the boys think she's a spy... she's got Bette Davis eyes.

...and, boy, was I glad!  It drowned out the noise of Friday night traffic and the nagging Friday exhaustion to a fine cruise into the Quezon Ave./Araneta Ave. underpass. :)  "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes... yes, a hit from the '80s, what else? ;)  The best way to slow down after a constantly spinning and terribly looong day, and a loooong, loooooooooong week!  Don't get me wrong, it was a very satisfying week in terms of bonds forged, established understanding, encouraging words from the people who matter, lots of good vibes and smiles - all very good reasons to hope for very good days to come.  But bones, muscles and this head are aching now (wait, do fats hurt, too?) - that all-familiar recipe for flu - therefore, they 'cry' for anti-flu medication.   

So, while I endure this 'bitter pill', is it too much to ask for a 'bonus track'?  No?  Really?  So, how 'bout this then...

Thunder only happens when it's rainin'....

..."Dreams" by one of the best bands the world has ever known, Fleetwood Mac.  Stevie Nicks is so awesome - idol!  Some 'bonus track' it is, yeah?  Ya bet!  Oy, life is good!

Awright, it's Saturday, and the Membrane Tech work is still a mountain to climb, and my intellectual 'hiking boots' have reached their mileage limit - any form of traction whatsoever is gone.  I need to recoup.  Therefore, I think I need (and deserve!) some football time for now.  Who's playing?  Aw, please say it's Barça!

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

Playtime...

...with "The Hobbit"!
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by PAM


My name is Philip, it's been 28 hours since I last 'set foot on the ground' - like 'normal' human beings do.  Of course, there was that four-hour sleep... but that doesn't count as an interruption in my current state of being, just because I dreamt about 'backpulsing' bacteria, retained by 0.45 micron-pore size microfilter from some tropical beverage under refrigerated temperature and about a hundred kPa of transmembrane pressure in a cross-flow membrane module, using either carbon dioxide or compressed air.  Geez, don't I know it! Sleep should be 'off-limits' - anything work-related not allowed. But, yeah, I've been floating, stuck on this Membrane Technology 'cloud', trying very hard to prevent my energy level and my capacity for logic from going 'flat line'... especially that a menacing 'deadline' is staring me down like a true bad, bad, BAAAD one-eye bandit! And there's a huge que of intimidating deadlines behind it, too.  Therefore, I'm holding my breath as I try to work, work... and work some more!  

But... I cannot take this anymore!  I need a break!  Therefore, playtime!  ;)

And what better way to spend a break from this mind-numbing work - on a weekend, mind you - than with some "Middle-Earth delight"?  Some awesomeness from the genius mind of J.R.R. Tolkien + some lushness of creativity from the richly imaginative mind of Peter Jackson + stratospheric budget that I'd duel a mean Uruk-hai for (a la Aragorn) to get for my research project (o, ya! ha!)... and look at what we've got here...   

For over the misty mountains cold/ To dungeons deep and caverns old/

We must away, ere break of day,/ To find our long-forgotten gold.

..."The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"!  Oy, epic!  And, it's snickering its way to us in hurried little steps with no signs of stopping.    Then again, imagine if it stopped!  It's rolling, rolling now in thunderous promise of adventure... and we can't hide our excitement!  Our precious... "long-forgotten gold".  Oy, December, why can't you come any sooner??

"O! Tra-la-la-lally/ here down the valley! O! Tril-lil-lil-lolly/the valley is jolly!"  Oh, yah, Bilbo Baggins is young again... and so is Gandalf, our fave wizard!  Therefore, y'all, Middle-Earthlings... unite!  Bring out your worn-out paperbacks and review.  Prepare for our next "World Convention"... coming soon in theaters worldwide!  Boy, I can't wait!

Riiiing....  Alright, that's all the time I have... back to "the cloud"!  Ugh!  Oh, well....

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

    

Yoohoo... football?

No reply.... Huh, basketball? Come in, basketball....
====================================================================
by PAM

I think I might be juggling just about too many things these days.  It's either that, or I haven't really gotten 'my groove' back after 'slowing down' for a few months. How do I know?  Well, because I missed this - the first El Clásico of the La Liga 2012-2013 season... 

...and I'm only writing about it, three days after the fact!  Right, right, and right again, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid faced off, with the Los Blancos looking to chip the 8-point lead of the Blaugranas who now sit on top of the Primera División Table of La Liga with Atlético Madrid - ouch, for Los Blancos!  The current La Liga title holders, Los Blancos, are currently in #5 but, of course, that doesn't put a dent on José Mourinho's Jupiter-esque ego... at least, from his outward posturing in his press conferences.

Anyway, it would've been awesome to have seen Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exchange fire power in Camp Nou live, but the match aired in Manila at 2:30 in the morning of Monday... and I had to work early in the morning.  The main men of Barça and Los Blancos brought the 'surprisingly calm' match to a 2-2 draw... keeping Barça's lead at 8 points.  Crissy looked in the zone, opening the display of goal-making mastery between the two closest rivals in this generation of football greats with a powerful kick that Victor Valdes had no hope of stopping... and then closing it, too, with another fine finishing despite injured shoulder.  But it has to be said, Barça's incredible "little magician" kicked the best goal of the match via that blistering free kick that made Spain's #1, Iker Casillas, looking less than the best goalkeeper in the world that he is... but it's Messi - awesomeness in its purest form.

 As for individual supremacy on the pitch this season, right now, Leo and Crissy share the lead with Radamel Falcao of Atlético Madrid in the Pichichi top goal scorer race with eight goals each. Leo won the award last year, and Crissy the year before. So, this season is going to be tough... and with Falcao making it a three-man race... well, it looks like I need to work hard to make my sked open up for some La Liga time.

I need to check out the next El Clásico sked, and mark my calendar accordingly. :)

***
A menacing growl to ruffle feathers

Speaking of clásico in sports, let me mention something extremely important in this part of the planet while we're at it.  The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers are looking to stop the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles from claiming a 5-peat in tomorrow's second match of the best-of-three series in the 75th UAAP Men's Basketball Championship.  The Eagles have a one-game win advantage to spring from after holding off the Tigers in an exciting 83-78 first match last weekend... but the 'wounded' Tigers are looking ready to tear down the score board with big shots to go even, and bring the duel to a third game.  Uhm-hmmm... looks like the Smart-Araneta Coliseum will be a roaring 'jungle' of gold and blue tomorrow.  

Let's enjoy the match... but let's keep the spirit of sportsmanship alive and well, people. So, while my color is gold and white... may the best squad win!  

Go, USTe, Go USTe!  Raar....

***       

Yep, I just turned in my very first basketball-related post when I thought I was ready to write about golf after watching Bubba Watson win the right to wear the green jacket in Augusta, Georgia last season, and after seeing the highlights of the Ryder Cup just a couple of days ago where Europe beat USA with an epic comeback. I'm sure my students are snickering behind my back after witnessing my resistance to acknowledge basketball as a "beautiful game", too. Nope, not giving in just yet. I maintain that basketball can be exciting... but "beautiful"?  Nah. :)  And yet, yeah, I just started using a "Basketball" tag in my blog!  Oh, well... there's always a first, ya know! ;)

***
Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

Saturday Photo

World Teachers' Day + 1 day
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by PAM

Something red, something fresh, something thoughtful, something true....

Yesterday was a tough day... actually, it has been a tough week even when two days were no-class flood days (again).  In fact, the no-class days tightened the already very (very) tight schedule in the University... the deadlines looked more 'deadening' than ever before. ;)  Just because by noon, it was already feeling like a really long day, I almost abandoned the idea of dropping by the lab (Research Center), but something told me that, perhaps, I should go... besides, the lab is a 'happy place', and I could use 'some happy' that afternoon.  And so, I made time and dedicated my remaining 'work energy' to drop by.

I got to the lab really late in the afternoon, dizzy from all the swirling weights in my head... but I'm glad
No memo, but a note... of the thoughtful variety.I did drop by because, as it turned out, something was waiting for me there, which chased the problematic weights to disappearance.  I found 'something red, something fresh', wrapped in a decorated cellophane and plastered just above the door knob.  Attached to the 'packaged freshness' was a 'packaged sweetness' that encouraged one to take a break - it was Kit Kat, bebeh!  A little note explained the reason for all that thoughtfulness:  World Teachers' Day.  

So, we do have a day!  Wow!  More importantly, wonderful people remember 'our day', and they go out of their way to make us feel special, remembered, and appreciated - in their own little but extremely thoughtful ways.  Ah, the heartwarming and in-quantifiable perks of being in a 'not-for-profit' profession - oy, heaven! :)

Thanks, guys - for the presents, text messages and e-mails! You made 'my day'.  And happy belated Teachers' Day to my colleagues!  Cheers!

***        

October? How did you get here so fast?

Where did September go?
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by PAM

One person I know called me yester-, er, a few days ago to make an appointment, tentatively for a day in October.  I penciled the appointment on my calendar... an e-mail came soon after, and a definite day was marked on my calendar.  It looked so far ahead from my "you're here"  day.  Today, the same person
Please say you have more of this, October. Thanks!
(Photo: AFP/Getty Images via UEFA website)called and cheerfully reminded me of my October appointment.  I looked at my calendar... surprise!  My "you're here" smiley points to October 1.  That can't be right!  I've only seen one UEFA Champions League match, one FC Barcelona La Liga match... and I've checked out the Barclays EPL Table only once - since the 'new' season started!  Can't be right, nah way!  Except that... it was right!  Wow!  In a hurry much, October?  Oh, well....

Alright, October, look here... I think we need to talk. August was 'weepy' and way too rainy, stormy and 'floody'.  September was volatile (just check out CNN, BBC, GMA News and ANC  headlines), and full of personal whoa- and whaaaat-inducing surprises - both pleasant and unpleasant, hilarious and perplexing, eye roll- and grin-inducing.  To be sure, the first -ber month made me whistle a whistle without a sound - several times... hmmm, nah, countless times!  But we got through just fine... in fact, maybe how we survived September was only a little short of fantastic, and that's nice.  So, October, please be reasonable, okay?  It's a real plea.  Alright, now that the humble appeal has been taken care of... you may now begin.

Here's a prayer... and my very best best wishes!

Let's do this!!!

***

Heroism, arrogance... and the RH Bill

Whew! 
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by PAM 


The past couple of days, the country saw two contrasting pictures: one, which is of a hero of a boy in the person of 13-year old Cris Valdez who won the International Children's Peace Prize, and the other, a picture of an arrogant man, in the person of Antonio Trillanes IV, who framed his self-important sneer in a powerful Senate seat and supposed Palace favorable connection (according to him, anyway).

***
Ah, what a proud national moment!

Cris Valdez, or "Kesz", is a true national hero.  He grew up amidst poverty, in a place where garbage scavenging was the way of life, and yet, he brought joy and hope to many, many impoverished children in the Philippines... and incredible pride to the whole nation.  He started as a pupil in the 2009 CNN Hero Efren Penaflorida's "pushcart classroom", and later became a volunteer himself.  Through his "Championing Community Children" charity, he shared with other children whatever little he had, which was almost nothing materially, but a lot in the form of education, new
Cris Valdez... Pinoy Pride.direction, and hope for a brighter future.  He is a wonderful example to us, adults, showing that, really, all of us are capable of making a difference in this world if we keep our eyes - and hearts - focused on unselfish goals, and forget about flattering ourselves with personal glory.  

Congratulations, Kesz!  Thank you for making us proud, and for being a shining example of heroism, a beacon of hope, and an inspiring compassion-in-action.     

This boy makes me think once more of the RH Bill, and why I am opposed to it - in its original version... and I hope those who favor it think harder, too.  This is a boy who has nothing - I mean, nothing - just a generous heart.  This is a boy whose life is the very definition of economic poverty... and yet, because of his values - Filipino values, to be clear - he is being a positive force that drives the wheel of hope towards better future for this country.  Through his generosity, he is sharing this good news of hope to other children who are also engulfed in poverty and hardship.  

So, really, in this population dispute, is it the current number that is actually problematic or is it the erosion of values?  And just what is the RH Bill addressing, the supposed problematic number or the erosion of Filipino values?  And which one can solve the other... will the problematic number be erased by rekindling and reinforcing our Filipino values, or, can the reduce-the-number-by-all-means reinforce our values?  And which possible scenario will lead us to a better future... and our children to a more joyful life?  Really now... please!

I would love to talk about this more.  Later....     
   
***
My goodness, Sen. Trillanes!

Aaaargh, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV!

Why, oh, why... why do you have to be such a... such a... 1, 2, 3... 10... such a funny senatorial clown?  You make most of the nation laugh to bitter tears!  You're a soldier... you're supposed to behave like a gentleman. Hmm... no, you are supposed to be a gentleman, sir! *sigh* 

So, yeah, after those national feel-good 'Robredo days' and the emergence of Robredo-like brilliant young leaders and public servants who embody the Filipino values - hardworking, respectful, honest, family-oriented, God-fearing, compassionate, and of positive behavior,
JPE vs. Trillanes. Show down... the sewage.
(Photo: Lyn Rillon/Inquirer)especially during stressful times - we see a picture of the exact opposite in the person of Sen. Trillanes. He provoked the Senate President, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, into 'crossing verbal swords' with him... on the 'hallowed floor' of the Philippine Senate, no less - for the whole nation/world to see. JPE, of course, plunged into the provocative political quicksand. *sigh*  It was like a national backpedaling from the pleasantly glorious sunny days of integrity-in-public-service of the past few weeks to the nauseatingly shameless politicking-for-personal-gain. And we thought that that sort of politicking had been tossed and buried with the distant past as government officials and public servants set out to follow the Robredo example.  Sen. Trillanes had to ruin our 'national good governance groove' with his Senate take over plot against the incumbent Senate President... and whatever good intentions he had (if there was any... at all) were lost in that stormy misconduct avalanche.  And then, when his own arrogance-powered plot blew up violently to backfire on his own self-important sneer, he resorted to a low-class tasteless response and walked out like a frustratingly hard-headed brat, and then took to the press the next day to inflict more damage - not just to Enrile, himself, and the Senate, but also to the good guys at the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Palace... but most importantly, to the nation!  Boy, talk about eroding values!  *sigh* 

So, just what exactly was all that 'oust-Enrile plot' about, Sen. Trillanes?  I hope that this is not about giving in to 'persuasive external forces' to weaken the anti-RH Bill hard line? I hope that this is not another straying off from 'daang matuwid'. You guys can't help yourselves, can you?  *sigh*  

***    

Saturday Photo

by PAM

Cozy...

Yep, he's a 'piece of work'!  But he usually tries to be independent... and can be cutely inventive, too, whenever he does.  For instance, when he can't get anyone to switch on his little electric fan for him or sit with him under the cool shade of the mango tree outside on scorchingly hot days, he'd usually just lounge on the cool floor by the window, cozy up among the curtains like a real 'diva dog' and stay happy and contented like that... until bath time!    

***

Aaaww, Andy!

Finally, A MAJOR!!! ============================================================================
by PAM 

And no tears, too. 

Spotlight on Andy Murray, the new "King of Queens"... sweet!
(Photo: Clive  Brunskill/Getty Images)

And so, it goes... Andy Murray, the "perennial #4", always in the semis, sometimes in the final, always the one who came close, and not quite taking the biggest prize. Well, not tonight in Queens. Tonight, he had the audacity to appoint himself as "the one". He barked himself into gritty fighting mode from one point to the next, got the New York crowd on his side, eyeballed Lady Luck... she blinked, gave him a smile, and Andy quickly snatched the winner's cup from Novak Djokovic. No catastrophic hiccups this time, no emotional blinking.  Aw, relief! 

September 10, 2012... a date to remember, the day Andy Murray finally won his first Major Title at the US Open, becoming the first British man to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry did in 1936 in Wimbledon.  The dream is finally realized... at the most glorious time in Men's tennis no less, when four of the most talented and ferocious court warriors share the name of greatness - equally now!  The Australian Open "quadrant" held by Djokovic, the French Open by Rafa Nadal, Wimbledon by Roger Federer, and now, the US Open by Andy Murray... all the finals of those Majors were played between any two of the four, plus the 2012 Olympics final.  Yeah, Andy is definitely one of the "Big Four" now... and he has the silverware to show for it, too - and it ain't flat, it holds water!  

The Djokovic-Murray US Open final was a championship match peppered with drama, which lasted just a few minutes less than five hours under extreme conditions in the cavernous Arthur Ashe arena. Two of the toughest "iron men" of tennis measured each other up, the Serbian with blazing eyes stretching his bronze body to near plasticity, the Briton howling wolfishly to scare off whatever defeat demons left lurking in the corners of his mind. Murray brought the "big house" down when, in the fifth set at 4-2, he broke Djokovic on the latter's serve and stared the exciting chance to serve up the championship point to Djoker.  And the Briton triumphed emphatically, 7-6(10), 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2, to the delight of the New York crowd. 

Congratulations, Andy! Tennis fans cheer for you... it's been a loooong journey, but you found your way - through all the winding roads of heartaches and disappointments. If only for that, your victory is the sweetest, not just for you but for us, tennis fans, too. It's your time... and it's the right time. Awww-woooo! 

***