Been long time since last post. Several things has happened and all good here in the Philippines, despite wave of typhoons and kidnapping of an expatriate by radical ransom gangs.

Soon as I get things under control, there will be such posting much frequent than before. Stay tuned.

 

Ricky

Lately I am been unable to be productive because of heat wave in the daytime.  Now it is highest peak of summer season in the Philippines. Schools are out and I went with my wife Roxanne to graduation party of our friend Love B., who just graduated from Mindanano University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.) 8 a.m. yesterday morning.

My sunburn had been gone with skin peeling, mostly down on my leg. I never put on sunscreen lotion below my waist. What was I thinking just before we Deaf took on tire tubings down upriver Cagayan de Oro? Blame it on rushing time when our jeepney parked on basketball (as staging ground) and with all the excitement  with dumping rafts and lifevest  fitting. I should have upgrade to SPF 30 or higher.

Biggest thanks to my Mom and her husband for mail me her 85w power adapter for my Mac mini. It took 1 1/2 months for US priority Mail to get in here. Mine is still in one of 2 bags that BRENDA JONES hijacked from me when she insisted me to pay 28 unused lodging nights in her freezing basement. As Ernest Hemingway remind me, I was lucky enough to separate my Mac mini and its case in my daypack when I visited my brother Mark and sister-in-law Renee and 2 nephews Cody and Caiden. My multi-million dollars novel manuscripts were not with her but mine.

But no work can be truly perform while our bedroom is windowless and we get all of heat. At night time army of misquitos do come by in open cool night air when this damn PC is overheat and swelting with fans. We will move downstairs sometime in June this year.

APPEAL FOR THE VICTIMS OF FLASHFLOOD/FLOODING and SEA SURGE (Flooding: Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Northern Samar, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur,  Marawi City, and Iligan City; Sea Surge: Aringay, La Union, Surigao Del Norte, Sulu, Palawan, Lanao del Norte) January 15, 2009 1:35pm

The tail end of cold front affecting Bicol Region and Eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao from January 7-12, 2009 triggered the occurrence of continuous rains which caused flashfloods/flooding, landslides and sea surges in some areas of the country. Severely affected were Cagayan de Oro City, Gingoog City, and the provinces of Misamis Oriental and Northern Samar. High tide associated with big waves likewise occurred in Aringay, La Union, Surigao del Norte, Sulu, Palawan, and Lanao del Norte. To date, records of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) Disaster Operations Center show that 29, 489families composed of 145, 047 persons were affected.11 persons were reportedly dead, 2 are still missing, and 7 were injured. Houses were either totally or partially damaged. The PNRC staff and volunteers were mobilized to provide first aid, rescue operations, and emergency evacuation. PNRC also provided emergency food ration and served hot meals in evacuation centers. Moreover, PNRC welfare desk was set for psychosocial support to affected individuals.     As of now, rains are continiuosly experienced in Cagayan de Oro City, Gingoog City, and Misamis Oriental. Barangays in low-lying and coastal areas were put on alert for possible evacuation. Displaced families temporarily seek shelter in 78 evacuation areas with no food and clean drinking water, making them vulnerable to health risks that may aggravate their present condition.   With your help, they can once again cope up with and get through this calamity.   Their most urgent needs are the following:  Non- Food Items: mats, jerry cans, blankets, mosquito nets (to be distributed to families who are still staying in the evacuation centers and whose houses were damaged) Food Items: rice, noodles, sardines, sugar, coffee Hygiene kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, sanitary napkin, shampoo, face towel, comb   PNRC prefers cash donation so as to save logistics/ shipment cost which can still be utilized to purchase food or non food items. (Source: Philippine National Red Cross)

This region has been declared natural disaster few weeks ago after 12-14 days of rain result in flooding. Many houses in low lying and shacks and those on hillsides has been affected by flooding. Roxanne’s aunt in Salay (a town north of here) was destroyed and we help her with money to establish foundation posts to reconstruct her family home. We are on westernmost edge of Cagayan de Oro City, and on the hill. Because of rain from Jan 3rd to night of my landing, the 16th, my next day flight on Cebu Pacific was canceled and they rebook me to leave 36 hours later, Monday morning.

Glad to be back with my wife. Four rocky months without being together is terribble, and Americans has not improve her imag, especially to me since no one will find warm and caring heart with selfishless motative to be hospitality.

Yesterday ( Feb 2009) two technicans was sent down from Smart Bro (stands for Broadband). Here is the picture of them in our humbling bedroom.

My international flight will end in Manila on 10:15 pm 16th. Next day I will onboard Cebu Pacific home. See ya on Sat Jan 17th in Cagayan de Oro. Like MacArthur had said, I shall return to the Philippines.

Feb, not March, would be month of leaving North America. Now search See ya and Happy New Year.

John 16:32-33

“Listen, the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when you will be scattered, each of you to his own home, and you will leave me all by myself. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!”

International Standard Version (©2008)

After all, the chief business of the American people is business. They are profoundly concerned with producing, buying, selling, investing and prospering in the world. 
~Calvin Coolidge, thirtieth President of the United States

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction. 
~Erich Fromm, social psychologist, psychoanalyst, and humanistic philosopher. 

Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community. 
~Andrew Carnegie, American industrialist and philanthropist

A man can be destroyed but not defeated. 
~Ernest Hemingway, novelist, short story writer, and journalist

I am set to return the Philippines in first week of March 2009. Cagayan de Oro few days afterward. Meet me at MacArthur Marker PNHS in…

General Douglas MacArthur Marker, one of world's biggest hat in Cagayan de Oro, the Philippines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… Macabalan wharf, the old pier, next to current Port of Cagayan de Oro. We-my wife Roxanne and I-will inform you when in less than 48 hours prior my homecoming with my wife. I am cordially invite City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula and city hall staffers to witness my homecoming, which coincide to 67th anniversary of dramatic PT Boat escape from Japan Navy.

General Douglas MacArthur, General of America Far East Army and Philippine Army, escaped from Japan Occupation Zone in Manila Bay and arrived here few minute after 7 o’clock on March 13, 1942. There he and his entouraged went up to Del Monte Plantation, stayed there for 3 says before US Army Airforce Bomber picked him up and dashed for Darwin, Austrailia. From there he made famous “I shall return” speech.

Good bye North America.