For whose womb I stayed for nine full months.

For whose hands cradled me to sleep.

For whose voice lulled me sweetly when I cry.

For whose arms rocked me in my sleepless nights.

For whose lessons I kept up to this day.

For whose life I look up to.

For whose nights are filled of prayers for me.

For whose dreams are all for my well-being.

For the woman I called mama.

Thank you.

(Think again before you say that this is a paid advert, because it isn't. I just happen to love their blog, that's all.)

Have you read Kiko Pangilinan's article about the Philippines having genuine hope?

Yeah.

And...?

I didn't like it. I thought it's a kiss-ass article. I was more impressed with the readers' comments.

You don't like Kiko?

Nah. Neither Sharon.

Me, either.

(Picks my nose, clips the hair protruding from my nostrils).

But you believed in Kiko's points?

None of it.

None?

Jim, the commenter, wrote it better. At least Jim's not a kiss-ass. I think he's a teacher.

I think so too.

(Curses. There's another hair to clip!).

You are no longer hopeful of the Philippines?

Of course, I am!

So why didn't you like Kiko's article?

Because he's a politician. Worse, he's a presidentiable. Nothing true can come out of any politicians.

At least you must have a positive view about the topic? Or something?

Discipline. That's what we lack. If only Filipinos would individually discipline himself, then there'll be change. (Scoffs). Especially those politicians! They're actually our servants, you know?

Uhum.

And please let's not be mayabang. I think all Pinoys are nauunahan ng yabang all the time. We should always be humble of our achievements and never, ever rest on our laurels. If we are better now, strive to be the best.

Am I sensing something here?

I'm being serious. We cannot be the best unless we are disciplined, true to our words, honest and willing to commit.

That's why you made a committment to Ako Mismo?

That's why I committed to doing something in Ako Mismo. We can no longer be apathetic about the Philippines. We have a voice; we needed to be heard. All Pinoys must take the burden of making the Philippines better.

Being serious, heh?

Talks of patriotism always anger me.

There's another hair to clip.

Shit. You're right.

Why I'm not surprised. I told you there are better designs than yours. And you thought you did well. Well, you didn't.

But I joined only for fun.

Soothe yourself, lick your wound, smile. The point is you cannot beat them.

I said I only joined for fun.

Whatever.

Azel's design is nice. Actually they're all nice.

You could have done better.

Yes, I could have done better. But you must admit that my post in Ako Mismo is good.

Yeah. After writing such a lame pledge.

Hey, that's not lame. To promise one's self that you're going to be better is something that's not at all lame.

But you could have put something more concrete.

Like what?

Like...like...putting up a foundation for a free education. That would be nice. Ala'Ophra in Africa.

Am I Ophra?

(Chuckles). I forgot. You're poor and you're an OFW.

Just what do you mean by that?

You're poor. You don't even have a decent savings for yourself. That's because you're an OFW who thinks you can help everyone.

Sorry?

Aren't all OFWs like that? They think of helping everyone of their relatives and in the end forgetting about themselves.

Are we like that?

Yeah. And if you will not change, one of these days you'll find yourself penniless, jobless and cursing those people you've helped because they cannot help you in return.

I won't be like that.

Won't be like what? Poor? OFW? You're not going to be an OFW forever. And pleeease...don't consider yourself rich because you're not.

I'm satisfied with what I have.

(Rolls his eyes). Defeating lines of defeated people.

Hey, I'm not a defeated person.

Whatever.

I said, I'm not!

Fine! But remember what I'm going to tell you: You're not defeated YET. But if you don't change your ways, you'll BE.

What ways? What ways?!

Don't loathe. That's all.

Loathe? What loathe? Where are you?!

(And then I saw my own reflection once again).

[Thanks to Pink Tarha from whom I saw this Ako Mismo site.]

In response to Kenjie's call for the design of PEBA 2009's badges, I (without prior knowledge in color combinations and totally inept of Photoshop) literally toiled nightly to come up with a decent design entry.

(My boss also told me I'm color blind so please pardon me for any color mismatch in these badges).

Haven't you noticed yet my endless excuses? Ehem, I'm just being dramatic. Paawa ba. Frankly, I wanted this to be better and I guess, given more time, I could come up with a better design. (And by then it's already PEBA 2011!).

Below are my produce.

Size (400 x 354)






Size (200 x 180)



Size (200 x 180)


Here's the PSD file for the winner badge in case someone wants to modify it. I wouldn't mind as long as it's to be used for PEBA. (To download it from http://www.4shared.com/, login using your Google account).


This addendum is based on Yanah's comments (see below) about including a reason for the design.

Perhaps I could just explain about my color choice.

I chose light and heavy tinted gold (if it's not gold to you then it validates my being color blind) because it's for a blog contest. Whoever wins this contest gets a badge that is colored gold. Secondly because gold is the color that's akin to winning the top prize.

Why the butterfly? It's in the original design of PEBA done by Kenjie and noticeably, it represents the colors of the Philippine flag.

Saudis read from left to write. And being in Saudi, I'd go for the best topic first.

Manny Pacquiao won! In under six minutes! And I thought Aling Dionesia being in America and Martin Nievera singing the National Anthem will be jinx to Manny. Well, Aling Dionisia's prayers must be really effective. Just kidding. I believe it's all because of Manny -- his dedication, his tenacity, his patience, his perseverance.

I'm proud of you Manny Pacquiao! (But I still won't vote you if you run in the next elections!)

Greater

Google Analytics amaze me! You just don't know what information I've managed to get from it since I installed it in my blog some...ah...months ago (I think). If you want to sign up for it (you can use your Google account), visit this Google site.

The great-er thing about this is that I saw the figures of my blog visits! Yehey! I have constant visitors!

Here's a screenshot of my top 20 visit sources during the recent month.

This is the full image of the screenshot.

I don't know what the number represents. All I know is that I'm grateful to you guys and I hope you come and visit me constantly. So thank you to those Pinoy bloggers in My Top 10 Visitors This Month: The Pope, Kenjie, Sardonyx, Azel, RJ and NJ. And thank you too Google, Blogger and Expat Blog!

(And of course, those others in my analytics' list, thank you, thank you, too).

I've a post (whew! after a few days of being in a lull). And yes, I'm almost finished with my PEBA badge. Tonight, perhaps, I'll post it. Great!