Love, Joy, and Peace to everyone.

Love, Joy, and Peace to Everyone.

All aboard! Ship Christmas 2010 is about to leave… We are reminding all the passengers to check all their baggage and bring joy, love and peace to everyone as we take you to the journey of my dream Christmas tree.

Baguio City

RYLI conference 12.16.10

Angels. They always guide us in everything we do and even sneaks in our room whenever we fall asleep to recall all the happy thoughts they have shared with one another. They are my angels. They are my parents. I am always longing for a happy family living in a simple yet peaceful home but though I failed to have one, I still believe that dreaming needs no limitation.

Teacher's camp

Yum.. Yum..

Christmas balls. They are my mentors. They, who taught me how to be coward, to be assertive, and to trust God and my abilities no matter what happens in my life. They, who supported me in my studies and in my emotional and social life. I know that there are many people like them that I will meet halfway, but I hope that one day, I can return the depth of gratitude in my own little means.

Chocolates

Christmas lights. They are my friends who always light up my day and remind me that I have to be happy for having my life. I only have few like them in my heart and in my mind but at least, I know that they are true to me and I can trust them in any circumstances that I may face.

Black Forest

Star. God, the creator of all mankind. He is the most important being in my life, for He is the one who has given all of the pleasures that I have now in my stay in this land.

I am always sad but I know how to manage my emotions and that is my advantage among others. I may say that I have learned in all the failures which came in my life, and that makes me a stronger and a better person. I know that my Christmas is not as glamorous or flamboyant as others are but at least I have a good health and a powerful mind. I spent my Christmas in my father’s house. In his store to be specific. See, I am not happy with my Christmas today but I know that one day, I will achieve my dream to have a Christmas filled with love, joy, and peace with my whole family.

Thank you for riding Ship Christmas 2010. I hope that you enjoyed your journey in my dream Christmas tree!

profiling article for Carmela Gloria Louise Danao

"A mystery unfold"

Intelligence, simplicity, humor, and a crazy yet caring friend.

From millions and billions of people living in this world, only few of them have the guts for me to consider as friends.  And from those people that I care the most, there is only one person that reminds me how lucky I am because I have my world that was rocked by her. Carmela Gloria Louise Danao, a woman with three names but never wore three masks to accomplish all her personas. An honest yet an introvert friend when it comes to her family but can always be trusted when it comes to secrets. I searched her name in Google and I found many people named like her but I searched her name in my heart and found only one unique person, “Carmela Gloria Louise Danao” – my friend.

Carmela is a very mysterious crazy friend of mine who often stops talking for a while as a warning signal of her suggestible laughter and heavy hands that will first hurt you but will later make you laugh as well. She is a simple woman with a very pretty face that hides in her eyeglasses and curly hair. Carmela is my classmate, my friend, and my sister for more than 1 year now. She loves her family a lot though it is sometimes the reason why she cries. As her friend who is always there to comfort her, I know that all of her sacrifices are for her family especially her parents who make all things possible just to support her financial needs.

Like the flow of almost all games in the world, we often need to unlock the hidden mystery to view the whole image that the game intends for us to see. As in the case of my friend Carmela who is very consistent in hiding her life even though I’m her friend, I really grab this opportunity to know her more as I ask various questions about her life but of course, without exceeding the limits of her privacy.
Here are some of the questions that I asked her as my bridge to unfold the mystery about her:
Q: What is the happiest moment in your life?

A: There are so many moments happened in my life that gave me total happiness, but one of those moments that really gave a delightful impact in my heart is when I went at Enchanted Kingdom with my church friends.

Q: What about the saddest moment in your life?

A: as of now, my family faces so many problems that often cause an argument between my mother and me. I really feel sad whenever we argue with simple things because I love my mother so much, if only I can do something to help her solve our problems in life.

Q: And your most embarrassing moment is?
A: Hahaha, it just happened recently and I know you already know about this. It is when I was in LRT 1 and I accidentally rode in the section of the train intended for pregnant, disabled, and elderly. Inside the train, all passengers are looking at my tummy so I really felt humiliated. They thought that I was pregnant. Gosh! I am so lucky that I thought of something to escape that embarrassing incident by pretending that I have a sprain in my right foot.

Q: Allow me to ask this Carmela, I’m just curious why you haven’t have a boyfriend since birth, but anyway, do you even experience loving someone at first sight?

A:  Haay.. Of course, I experienced love at first sight but I think this is an unrequited love because the feeling, I think, is not mutual. I first met him at a competition in Intramuros where he represents De La Salle University-College of Saint Benilde. I was star strucked because of his angelic face and loving attitude. And the rest is a part of God’s will for us…

With this interview, I felt that I’m one step closer to her as she was able to answer my questions without hesitation though I know that she cares so much of her private life. I felt her happiness, sadness, embarrassment, and her dream to be loved by a person that she only met twice in her life. I know that she is a very smart woman but these experiences of her always bother her everytime something or someone reminds her of these events. I know that she is undergoing many problems right now but I hope that she will never forget to share her happiness and sadness as we continue our friendship. There maybe instances of miscommunication but I hope that those moments will not ruin our precious promises and memories.

“Just love, never ask.”  Carmela never asks for something when it comes to love. She may not know him right now, but in due time, I hope that this someone will come and tell her that, “you really don’t need to ask because I will love you as much as you love me without asking of anything from you.”

How-to Feature article

Make Something Out of Nothing

How to Make Money Out of Old Christmas Decorations

By Sarah Jane Rodriguez

S

eptember, October and November are what we call the “Ber” months wherein the countdown for celebrating the birth of Christ ranges, before we reach this very important occasion- Christmas day. Prior to the actual date of this celebration, it is the Christmas decorations which herald the arrival of the holiday season. You will find people getting busy buying accessories, looking and thinking about ideas for decoration and coming together to help the family deck up the house in fineries. Christmas decoration is a very old tradition, and many changes have been incorporated in these yet simple decorations always score over complex and flamboyant ones. So, whatever idea one might have in mind, make sure that he keeps it simple. Decorating ones house for Christmas does not always have to be expensive. Even if you are a little short on money, there are some easy ways though which, you can deck up your home. Buying Christmas decorations every year will turn out to be very expensive, so it is sensible to preserve the decorations of this year to be used in the next year. Be creative, be resourceful, keep in touch with the trends and make your own unique Christmas decorations that can outstand others and make extra income out of it.

There are a lot of Christmas decorations that has been used pervasively by the families all over the globe. Some of them are Christmas trees, Santa Claus’ figures, Christmas lights, candles, Christmas balls, angels, or even Christmas cards. If you have them last Christmas, mind you that don’t trash them because these can lend you an extra income in near future. There so many things that you can make out of nothing by only using your internal senses. These are some suggestions and easy steps to make money out of your old Christmas decors (cited from www.hubpages.com):

1

CHRISTMAS CARDS

You will need, old Christmas Cards, white or colored card, envelopes, Pencil and Ruler, glue, scissors, craft knife.

If you would like some embellishments to give your cards some glitz you will need, silver or gold bows or ribbon, stickers, scrapbook charms, confetti etc, fabric scraps, pictures cut out from wrapping paper etc, glitter, you could even have a cut out photo of yourself.

1. First spread out all your old cards onto a table and choose categories for your cards, such as snowmen/snowflake cards, Father Christmas cards, reindeer cards, personalized cards, and then begin to cut out the pictures you want to use.

2. Next you take your base card and fold it in half, make sure you line up all the sides before you press in the fold, and then run some scissor handles down the line fold to create a permanent press crease.

3. Now decide which image you are going to glue on to your card, you could also stick down a image using a folded up piece of card stuck to the back, you glue the folded up card down instead of the picture giving it a 3D effect.

4. Then add your embellishments, such as glitter or ribbon to give it a more professional look.

5. Write a message at the top or bottom of your card using Glitter Gel pens, or paint.

6. Add your personalized message on the inside of your card, or you could cut out the original phrase or poem from your old card, and stick it in your new card, then just outline it with a colored or glitter pen.

2

GLITTER TREE DECORATIONS

You will need White heavy white paper, Christmas shape templates or cookie cutters, clear drying craft glue, white glitter, scissors or craft knife, hole punch, ribbon or decorative cord.

1. Firstly trace templates on heavy white paper and cut them out.

2. Punch a hole at the top centre of your cut out, if the hole punch is to large, use a pin or tooth pick etc to make the hole.

3. Apply glue to one side of the paper cut out, and then cover it with glitter and leave to dry.

4. Check the first side is completely dry and then turn your cut out over and repeat step 3.

5. Once your decoration is completely dry, dust off any stray glitter and tie a piece of decorative ribbon through the hole, now it is ready to hang on your tree.

3

ANGEL CHRISTMAS TREE TOPPER

This lovely Angel can be used year after year to sit at the top of your Christmas tree. You will need 2 Doilies (8inches each), Scissors, Waxed Paper, White Craft Glue, Toothpicks, 6inch Foam Cone, 1 1/2 Inch Porcelain Doll Head, Paring Knife, Straight Pins, One Can Spray Stiffener, Two Rubber Bands, Hot Glue Gun, Glue Sticks, 15 Inch Gold Ribbon (1/4 Wide), Wire Cutters, Four Gold Ribbon Roses (1/2 inch each).

1. Clip a 1-inch-diameter hole in center of a doily. Lay doily on waxed paper, and apply white craft glue to edges of cut out center.

2. Stick 2 or 3 toothpicks in top of foam cone. Place porcelain head over toothpicks. If head wobbles, use paring knife to thin top of cone.

3. Slip center hole of doily over angel's head. Press glued edge of doily to top of doll's torso

4. Arrange deep folds in doily. Pin bottom of folds to cone to keep folds in place. Place on waxed paper and spray with stiffener. Rearrange folds as needed. Let dry.

5. Cut another piece (about 11 inches long) of waxed paper. Place rubber bands on each end of the remaining roll.

6. Lay out last doily on waxed paper piece. Spray with stiffener until soaked. Place waxed paper roll across center of doily, folding half of doily over roll. Let dry.

7. To form wings, fold top half of doily back up to center fold so edge extends a little beyond center fold. Hot glue in place. Hot glue wings behind head.

8. Remove pins and take angel from foam cone. Find holes in dress to push arms through. Make sure placement looks reasonable before you glue in place. Turn over and apply hot glue to underside of angel dress, where arms stick through, to hold arms.

9. Make 3/4- to 1-inch bow from 1/4-inch gold ribbon. Hot glue under chin. Trim ends of ribbon.

10. Use wire cutters to cut off wire close to bottom of roses. Hot glue roses to folds of dress at bottom.

See, there are so many things in this world that money can’t buy but can only be afford by your creative imagination. The items mentioned above are traditionally used for decorations, but you can always come up with something new. Sell your creativity to others. In this way, you do not only help others but also yourself.  It is all about using your imagination and coming out with some interesting things, so if you have some old Christmas decors, always keep in mind that yes, they are old and rusty but you can always put magic to make some worse things great.

Blindness

Blindness

Terrorism is not new to us, isn't it? But why does it exist? 

"It exists because of hatred and greed. The people involved cannot begin to be tolerant of others who are different. The hatred is usually so ingrained, that this is all these people know. Greed also plays a big part because some people will do anything for money. Terrorism is a big business."(Helium.net)

Jemaah Islamiah (JI) has been one of the most pervasive and dangerous terrorist groups in the world that was founded in January 1, 1993, by JI leaders, Abu Bakar Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar.  Almost all countries in the world were afraid of their existence because of the most catastrophic violence that their ally (Al-Queda) did which was highlighted in the history of America – Twin Tower bombing in New York City. Because of this, the United States of America led- war on terror. Up to now, both forces were still fighting for revenge (U.S.A) and for their rights (Al-Queda). Philippines, as one of the associates of United States of America, entered the scenario. How and why? Well, because unbelievably, Jemaah Islamiah was allegedly seen in the southern part of the Philippines where Abu Sayyaf resides. As a result, the country suffered from negative effects and feedbacks. Many foreign countries implicitly banned Philippines for tourism and many Filipinos are threatened because who knows where the bombs will explode next. We, as concerned Filipino citizens hope that the war between Muslims and Americans will only exist between them, that they will not involve innocent countries. We hope that their war will end because all of us were just humans and with every bullet that they shoot, it destroys not only the person shot but also his/her family. We do not believe for one second that there was any reason that a terrorist, or collaborator of a terrorist organization, has any rights. When one lives their life only to hurt innocent people, then they should be prepared to hurt as well. Learn how to forgive to acquire peace in their living. At the end of the day, they will just realize that all of the things that they were doing were nonsense – waste of time and money.

There were so many techniques lined up to revenge but not terrorism. Do not aim to be a monster just to gain vengeance. The problem here is that the goal is conflated with the method. Just because the goal is admirable, and one side may feel dwarfed by the other, there is still no justification for targeting civilians. War is NOT fair, and sometimes even the good guys are outnumbered by the bad guys. However, no matter how good your cause is, you become evil when you use evil methods to achieve your goal.

Terrorism is always fueled by inhumanity. It is a tragic mixture of hate and politics, but always hate. The first step in the walk of every terrorist is to learn how to hate so thoroughly that you are blind to everything else, including your own blindness.