Lecture Thyself x_x

hmmm.. what's with this post? Uhm, nothing really. let's just say I'm answering facebook's inquiry - "What's on your mind?" A lot of things are going on right now and I'm so full of realizations. Thoughts keep on overflowing and I know I need to pour them out in any way possible; or else, I might end up a sure crazy fella. So here goes... I know these sound really serious. And though they may have some strong points, these are just to good to be true and easier said than done... ^_^

1. Time is of an essence. Manage your time well; and things you want to accomplish will be done in a way that you intend to.

- Take time to cherish each wonderful day that passes. Reflect on things you have done and those you plan to achieve for the day. Give yourself a time to pray, exercise, plan and do things without haste. With careful planning and time management, you can satisfyingly and successfully seize the day in any way you want.

- Allot enough or more time for your preparations. Plan ahead and do it in such a way that you allocate more time than the right amount needed. As you can see, many things might happen which are beyond your control. So giving more time than you actually call for can suffice to the time you might use up when things go wrong.

- Be wise with your time for your family, friends and other people. More importantly, never forget about your own good. Be selfish at times; and this means saying NO if you’re already loaded. Though you would really want to help other people, there are times that you should take a break. Live your life to the fullest and value time as well as your health.

2. It’s quite easy and more convenient to find or give excuses for our failures. But in the end, all that it takes for you to succeed is to honestly deal with the dilemmas at hand.

- Some people would actually blame others for their misfortunes. And some have even become adept at pointing out reasons which may be the culprit of their bad luck. Reality bites and truth may be ugly; however, avoiding such things will do you no good at all.

- But instead of cursing the heavens, why not move and do the things needed to successfully accomplish your goals? This may be easier said than done. But nothing can be done by merely pitying yourself and blaming the forces of nature. It’s all up to you if you choose to lurk in the darkness or stand out and make a difference.

3. You become what you think about most of the time. So think as positive as you can about yourself; just make sure that you’re not only good in daydreaming. Put your thoughts into remarkable actions.

- Thinking is not doing. And worrying can lead you nowhere. It’ll only worsen your case. Nothing beats hard work and perseverance. Aim and hit the target no matter what. Success is a mindset. The harder you strive to attain your goals, the luckier you get. The more you do your best, the easier and faster you are drawing yourself towards success. Don’t give up if things seem to be more difficult. While failure is inevitable, don’t dwell on it; instead, learn from your mistakes. This would only help you come up with better resolution.

4. Achieving success for your goals doesn’t mean wearing yourself out. Provide time for relaxation. Sufficient rest can fuel up your mind and body well. Take pride in everything that you do. Celebrate success even in the simplest things that you can accomplish. Think positive and love yourself more the way others do. Share and learn from other people especially from those who seem to magnetize success. Be inspired.

5. Make your own path. Find out who you are and why you're here, even in the smallest and the simplest ways. Be diverse but not to the extent that you're already becoming someone who's not for real. Though it's quite tempting to live the way your idols/heroes/fave celebs do, you'll only regret living such a kind of lifestyle. You have your own style though you may think you're nothing or just plain usual. Discover your unique latent abilities and hone it to the fullest. :D

To Our Dearest Mother Earth ^_^

I have always been fascinated by your beauty and splendid wonders. Your magnificence amazes me to no end. I even wish to travel the whole world and tell or show people how marvelous you really are. We all benefit from your entire resources. From dusk ‘till dawn; all throughout our lives, you never fail to provide us with our needs. Indeed, you are God’s way of taking care of us. And yet…

We became accustomed to doing things the bad way. We keep doing our chores and other activities in a thoughtless manner or through the aid of stuff which were inconsiderately fabricated using your resources. People cut, burn, throw or process raw materials taken from you without regard to your welfare. And for that, though I’ve also enjoyed such convenience, I truly feel remorseful.

It breaks my heart to see you in the state that you are right now. The circumstances we’re suffering these days reflect the kinds and seriousness of damages we’ve inflicted upon you. Though it also pains me to know that a lot of people are getting homeless, famished and doomed, I understand that we deserve to be punished. Greed drove many of us to take more than enough. And we didn’t think of rebuilding you as soon as we can.

I, too, have my own iniquities. I even find myself guiltier and more deserving to be rebuked. I, who greatly adores you, am also among those who blindly hurt you and shorten your existence. Unquestionably, those who know what’s wrong and yet they keep doing it are more unforgiveable. Neither excuse nor repentance can pay off all the good stuff you’ve given to us. We can never justify our appalling actions. And no matter how much we make up, damages have already been done. What’s been taken is already gone.

Now that you’re starting to take a toll on us for each and every waste and abuse, I fear that we might lose the one thing that we all should cherish the most. I am hoping that it is still not too late to save you and start anew. With all these distressing occurrences, I can’t help but look back on those days where I can still satisfyingly enjoy the cleanliness of the air I breathe and the water I drink. Every now and then, fear never left my heart and mind. It’s like my dream of exploring the depths of you have shattered.

I know we can still patch things up. As long as we’re alive, we can still restore your beauty and grandeur even in the simplest ways; for the next generations to come. Please allow us to deal with this. Let us realize our mistakes; but I beg you, let those innocent children be safe. Let them feel your true wonder. Let them smile and live freely with abundance and joy. From here on, I promise to take part in saving you.

Mother Earth, I thank you. Please hold on and never die.


- This is in relation to my friend's letter to the World. : )

Over The Seas ^_^

Freedom. Courage. Friendship. Laughter. It's official. Right now, my favorite anime is no longer Naruto (Shippuuden) but One Piece! Yay! ahaha...And I can say that it'll be my all-time fave next to Samurai X (Rourouni Kenshin).

Like Naruto, I took it for granted the time it became popular. I've heard a lot of people liked it and some of my friends kept talking about Luffy; however, I just shrugged it off. I dont know why I'm always like that. Maybe "going with the flow" isnt my usual way and that I want to explore something because I want to and not because it's popular (esp. when it comes to anime.. ahaha). But I dont actually regret not reading the manga/wathing the anime as soon as it got famous. Why? Because I had so much fun continuously reading the manga the moment I started doing so!!! ahaha

But now, I'm catching up with the updates.. Too bad that, like many others, I had to wait for its weekly manga updates. I'm more into reading the manga than watching the anime; though I've been wathing the series now :D

I dont want to compare One Piece to Naruto (Shippuuden) as well as differentiate Naruto's personality to Luffy. I still like Naruto (Shippuuden) as it is. But I truly found myself enjoying every bit of One Piece's pages. There was never a dull moment. ;)

So why do I like.. no.. Love.. ahaha.. One Piece? Well, here are my reasons:

1. The Aspiring Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy - I just cant get enough of his personality. ahaha.. His laugh/grin is contageous and addictive. His honesty reaches the point of being so naive and stupid. This also gets his entire crew in trouble. His craving for adventure would always crack me up. When it comes to exploring the unknown, nobody could ever stop him. The more unknown the place is, the more dangerous, the more fun it is to him. And he tends to be very unpreditable. I just heart him. ahahah. Moreover, he has this incomparable and unimaginable confidence and trust even to those he just met. And need I say that he eats a lot? Way too much that a normal person can never handle. ahaha.


2. The Other Characters - Looking at his crew alone would make you smile at how diverse the personalities of each character is. And with the many other supporting characters, this anime is an "organized riot". From their enemy pirates to the marines, Admirals and the Royal Shichibukais, events would always leave you breathless. :D And there are loads of characters making the entire story more exciting.





3. The Storyline - This anime's plots never cease to amaze and surprise me. The twists and turns in events and facts/information are just so astounding, dreamy and creative. nyahaha.. And the dialogue? Yosh! The humor in it would always brighten your day. Hahahaha! :D It's just so funny and that's perhaps the main thing I like about One Piece. There is action, great story/lesson and all but the comedy part is never missing.

Haaayz... I want more of One Piece!! Hahahah

Pictures Paint A Thousand Words ^_^

Obviously, I'm a fan of images. Whether they are edited or not, I just cant help but adore them. But personally, I prefer the raw ones. I tend to get annoy if I see pictures of nature and other stuff which have been enhanced (esp. those excessively enhanced). It's more satisfying to see the real thing; provided the photo is of good quality. I also dig various works of art. I just admire artistic people especially those who have wild imaginations and unique ways of displaying their gift. So now, I'm going to make this post similar to that of a photoblog. Just this post.. maybe... LOL

Here are the pictures that made me smile and even gasp in disbelief.. nyahahaha

I wonder what it looks like inside.. hmmm

tsk3.. *drool :D

Just in time for Chrsitmas :D

ahaha.. for a fast-food lover? aheeem :D

WHoah! Even trees?!! clap clap :D

The Hypnosis Staircase

Booklover's Staircase

Man-made Islands :D

The Palm Islands in Qatar

The Pearl-Qatar in Doha, Qatar

The World in Dubai

Aha! So that explains it! lol

I'd like to have one of these :))

These are made of tire ;)

Are these churches or something? nyahaha

When All Else Fail... ^_^

Poverty. Natural disasters. Corruption. Terrorism. Unnecessary Innovations. Health Risks/unknown diseases. Pointless Lifestyle. These are the things making lives miserable these days. Well, that is as far as we think it is. We usually blame the forces of nature for all the unfortunate events we're suffering with. Some would even curse those people who cant provide them any help. Others pass the guilt to politicians, racists and other selfish individuals. But is it really worth it? Change ought to start from within. You cant expect others to lend you a hand when you're not even doing your part in saving yourself.

It's been evident that more and more catastrophes are taking the best from all of us as days go by. Living in this kind of world these days feels like hell already. Thus, people tend to "save their own ships" particularly in terms of surviving the economy, natural disasters, and other sources of "slow death" or paths to entering the gates of hell. Lucky for those who can easily move on.

I'm just wondering. What the heck's going on with the world? Mother Earth is gravely wounded.
Each and every country's been hit with unbelievable super typhoons, flashfloods, earthquakes, tsunamis and the like. It's safe to think that Mother Earth's starting to take its toll on us. Considering how much damage we've caused, it's just plain understandable if we get punished. After all, it's our own actions that triggered all such stuff. I, on the other hand is not just thinking about Mother Earth's wrath. In general, I take this as a preparation...for the judgment day or the so-called - end of the world.

Come on, really. You can laugh at me. But I really believe that God exist. Although I also tend to get confused, there is nothing more that can strengthen me than my faith and trust in His existence. I am not a perfect Christian or someone who really devotes himself/herself to religion or to God Himself. I have my own iniquities and I dont even go to church regularly. I dont walk with all the gospels buried in my heart and soul. I dont even read the Bible as much as I give time reading manga or other fictional books. I am nothing before His eyes. And for that, I feel sorry and scared. I'm not afraid to die; but i dont want to experience all those things mentioned in the "Revelation". I still, somehow, want to be saved.

Oh well, enough of this. Maybe all the things happening to the world right now's just freaking me out. Whether the end is really near or something, only He knows. It's better to think of the worst things now and feel relieved when they didnt happen than to care less and be surprised. Anyway, there's nothing to fear if you know you deserve some consideration. ahaha. I just pray that people should help each other instead of inflicting more trouble. Now is the best time to hold on to each other so we can rebuild not just a certain nation but as much as possible, the whole world. I dont think it's too late for changes and repentance. So, God Bless us all! :D

Extremely Amazing ^_^

I love nature. I have always been fascinated by its beauty. Too bad it's already reaching its limits nowadays. Right? Well, evidently, we no longer have the kind of nature our forefathers used to enjoy. And I just feel sick thinking about.

Come on, I still want to go to a lot of places where I can savor the beauty and madnezz of nature. I want to feel that fresh relaxing breeze... hear the sound of tides... fly with the wind and taste the sweetness of the rain... I just cant imagine the thrill of climbing steep cliffs and those rocky mountains where looking down might just get you killed.. ahaha.. Well, I'm not sure If I can really do all those things. but, if given the chance, why would I say no? :)

However, given the fact that the planet is no longer a safe and beautiful place to live in as days go by, it's just so infuriating that the one thing hindering you from doing all those adventurous endeavors is something unacceptable. Just how monstrous people have become in order to satisfy their selfish goals? I may also have contributed to the damages in the atmosphere or the entire planet. But surely, I have never inflicted something so enormous that can even cause global destruction. And worst, even with the fact that our own actions are the main culprits of the planet's deterioration, most people are just so inconsiderate and unconcerned.

Just take a look at the following wonders nature offer. You should at least be aware of some of the Earth's nature extremes. Hopefully, we all can get back to appreciating the beauty and wonder of the universe as well as to do our best in restoring the planet:


Largest Rock Formation
Ayers Rock is the world’s largest rock formation. It is also known as Uluru.

Located in Australia, this sandstone monolithhas a height of 348 m (1,142 ft). and around 9.4 km (6 mi) in basal circumference.

As I made the research, I was astounded by the many breathtaking and magnificently-done rock formations the planet have...



Largest Coral Reef
Located in the Coral Sea, Australia, the Great Barrier Reef that comprises more than 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands is the world’s largest coral reef system.

In 1981, the reef was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.













Most Active Volcano
Currently, the world’s most active volcano is Kilauea, Located in Hawaii and is made up of 90% of lava.















Largest Cave Passage
The largest cave passage in the world is Deer Cave Located in Borneo that is about 2 kilometers in length and over 90 meters high and wide.














Largest Glacier
The world's largest glacier, the Lambert Glacier, draining an enormous slice of the Antarctic continent.









Highest Cliff
The highest cliff in the world, is Nanga Parbat's Rupal Flank in the Himalayas, that rises 4600 meters above its base.

But according to some sources, the highest cliff in the world, about 1,340 m high, is the east face of Great Trango in the Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan.





Lowest Lake
There is also the saltiest bodies of water and the world’s deepest hypersaline lake. Of course, that's no other than the Dead Sea that is also considered as world's natural spa.








Well, I think most of you already know that Nile is the longest river, Mount Everest as the highest peak, Angel Falls as the world’s highest waterfall, the largest hot desert on earth as well as the hottest place is Sahara and the coldest on the other hand is Antarctica.

there.. and back again.. ^ ^

Hey, hey, hey! Guess who's back... lol. So when was the last time since I posted something on this blog? Oh my, it's been a month already! Just how irresponsible could I get? ahaha! Oh well, I've been in and out of the blogosphere so it's not surprising I'd be gone and be back again. :P

Anyways, it's not like I'm going to say goodbye to blogging. Every now and then, it will serve as my outlet. Especially now that I seem to be overflowing with thoughts. My condition right now is actually annoying. I promised myself to sleep the moment I get home; but I ended up turning on the pc and pop! here comes the weasel! lol

I've been busy and if not, bored. I even thought that my social skills have been deteriorating due to exhaustion at work. ahaha.. hopefully, I'm just paranoid. But indeed, work has been stressing me lately. Deadlines, pendings, suckers at work and other worris concerning my client seemed to be taking a toll on me. So even if this overflowing of chakra is kind of tiresome since I badly need and want to sleep but just cant, it still feel good since I'm able tobring this upon here.

But hey, I've got good news! It's been a month or so that I never had an absent in my work! ahaha. Well, I was actually threatened at first.. But since I'm the stubborn and "really?!!", "the-hell-I-care" type, I took it as a challenge instead. I wanted to see whether I could really do it or that I wont submit myself to temptations. 'Coz you see, most of my absences were intended not for some a-matter-of-life-and-death reasons. Most of them were just because I was too lazy to work or that I dont feel like going out of the house. ahaha... There were no pressures from my mom so I just take my job lightly so long as I dont really mess up.

That challenge had somehow given me some hard time. There were times that I wasnt really feeling well and yet I had to work. There are also some instances where my mom would want me not to work and yet I cant say yes. I took it as a challenge also to be able to somehow punish myself from doing unneccessary stuffs. And yet, some things never change.

Hopefully, I can keep up to that challenge. I also intend to break a record in terms of lates. I think that would be the greatest challenge for me since I have been constant with my late arrivals whether reporting for duty or meeting up with friends.. ehehehe... Wish me luck. There are also other things I need or want to get done. I am not sure if I can put them to life but I'll really do my best. I just wish that the next time I'm going to share to you something personal, I would be as great like neevr before... ciao! :D

Masters And Servants *part 2

Well, here I am again.. ready to continue what I have started. I'm not really in the mood but there's nothing much to do right now so here goes the other servants and their masters:

Archer - he is a servant who was "accidentally" summoned by Tohsaka Rin; thus making him a product of a failed summoning since Rin intended to summon Saber in the first place. Archer has no memory of his past after he was summoned so he had a hard time identifying his true identity. But according to many resources, he was actually a future representation of Emiya Shirou.

Archer, a nameless hero, belongs to the archer class of course; but is also skilled in swordsmanship (making it an evidence that he is indeed a future version of Shirou since Shirou had been training both in archery and swordsmanship as well as practicing some sorcery).

He is a Faker, an individual skilled at creating imitations of objects through the use of tracing and projection of mental images to form tangible objects. Though Projection is normally ineffective at creating durable or powerful artifacts, Archer’s unique approach to this craft enables him to materialize enormously powerful and accurate copies of the images recorded in his mind. This is another evidence noting Shirou's heightened abilities when reached adulthood.

As a Counter Guardian, a spirit that serves the planet and protects it from disaster, Archer is weaker than heroic spirits in terms of strength, stamina, speed, etc. However, he uses his projection ability to make up for the difference. He gave up his life to let Rin escape along with Saber and Shirou when they were attacked by Berserker. He is subsequently killed in combat against Berserker, but not before killing Berserker six times (Berserker actually has 12 lives).

Rider - a servant summoned by Shinji Matō, Sakura's (Shirou's longtime friend) older brother. Rider is silent, sultry, and vigilant, never hesitating to shield her Master from harm. With Shinji incapable of lending Mana to her, she is forced to seek alternative means to augment her abilities.

To compensate for her weakness, Rider employs covert battle tactics and takes full advantage of territory around her. Her weapon of choice is a pair of long iron nails fastened to opposite ends of a single chain, which she effectively thrusts from distances. She was Medusa in past life. Rider was defeated by Saber (after using her Excalibur) even Rider was on her unicorn; which was believed to be something that empowers her more.

Masters And Servants ^_^

"I have a secret that I haven't told you--- I'm a Mage."

When I had my vacation, I found ample time to go over my copies of anime which I still havent watched. I wasnt able to watch all of them as I have a handful but one anime really caught my attention. It was the "Fate/Stay Night". This anime is actually an adaptation of a PSP game released in Japan and the characters resemble much of those from Ragnarok.

At first, I was kinda skeptical watching such anime considering its typical theme - battling to gain something of an enormous power. But as I delved myself into it, I realized that I liked it. For me, the characters are awesome (though the main character's looks resemble Ichigo from "Bleach".. but just a bit softer.. lol) and the way they linked them into legendary heroes was quite astounding.

"Shirou Emiya lost his parents in a fire when he was young and was later adopted by a sorceror by the name of Kiritsugu Emiya. Although he was full of admiration for his adopted father and yearns to become an ally of justice, Shirou has limited powers and was unable to become a strong sorceror like his father. That is until one fateful day, he was drawn into the Holy Grail War and had to summon a female "Servant" known as Saber in order to protect himself.

It turns out that the Holy Grail War involves a series of battles among powerful sorcerors to fight for the possession of a relic that will grant one's wishes, the Holy Grail. There are altogether seven "Masters" who can summon their respective "Servants" from different classes known as Saber, Archer, Rider, Berserker, Lancer, Caster and Assasin. These "Servants" have to hide their names in order not to reveal their weaknesses to the enemies."

Servants are the reincarnations of legendary souls from all across time. These resurrected Epic Spirits possess superhuman characteristics and wield powerful artifacts or abilities called Noble Phantasms. Servants use "mana" to keep them going and one thing that could replenish their mana is to devour human souls. Only one Servant can be summoned in each war from one of seven classes. However, the Caster was the one who summoned the servant assasin, which She used as a "gatekeeper".

Masters have what they call as "reiju" or command mantra which if activated can issue an irrevocable order to the servants. When all three Command Mantras are used up, Servants are no longer obliged to serve their Masters, and as such, may freely choose to turn upon their ex-partner. In the event of a Master's demise, a Servant may choose to bind him or herself to another Master.

The Masters and their Servants:

"I ask of you, are you my Master?"

1. Saber - a female servant that appeared for Shirou. She is considered as the best servant and is actually preferred by any Master. Saber, who happend to be "Arturia" was said to be a descendant of King Arthur. Her weapon, of course, is the Excalibur and her Noble Phantasm is the Avalon.

"You are my Scabbard.. and I am your Sword."

Saber initially fought with an invisible sword due to the incomplete and "unconscious" summoning process. But later on, Shirou was able to materialize her sword after returning her Scabbard which Saber thought was nowhere to be found. She later then realized that Shirou was "her scabbard" since Shirou's stepdad who happened to be Saber's previous master implanted that inside of him as his form of protection (the reason why he heals quickly).

Legendary speaking, the scabbard was said to be stolen from King Arthur shortly before the Battle of Camlann which maybe resulted to his severe injuries and even death).

She is superb in fighting but the most deprived when it comes to doing that. That is because Shirou prefers a "no fighting battle".. LOL. Saber is bewildered by Shirō's "protective" tendencies, and believes his erratic and reckless behavior jeopardize her chances of winning the Holy Grail War. Instead of being the protector of the master, Saber was the one being protected by Shirou... Now I think you get the idea of what might happen between the two of them.. ;)

Although Saber's previous Master - Kiritsugu, was the one who actually won the previous war, he forfeited the Holy Grail's power by giving Saber the command to destroy it (resulting to the river of fire that killed many people including Shirou's family). Saber was then defeated by a "golden" servant who have countless Noble Phantasms which He perhaps accumulated over the years (He's actually my fave! for reasons I cant explain.. lol). That golden servant seemed to really like Saber that she want to become his possession! Unfortunately, Saber was the "no strings attached, say-no-to-romantic-commitments" type. LOL

OMG! as in OMG! bwahaha.. I think I have said too much for just a single entity! nyahaha.. Sorry I got carried away that I even became a spoiler!!! ahaha :P I'll just leave the rest for my next post. Getting tired already and I still have to sleep again.. ahaha.. :D "Feels great to do something you're really fond of."

Roaming Rome ^_^

"The Glory That Was Greece; The Grandeur That Was Rome."

Rome, particularly the Vatican City is undeniably on a hot seat nowadays due to the rising and falling of issues and critics that the movie "Angels and Demons", a movie adaptation of Dan Brown's book is facing. Ever since the "Da Vinci Code", Dan Brown and Ron Howard (director) dealt with loads of criticisms but nevertheless, their work of art was astounding and something many people can never forget.

One thing that hooked me into reading and watching "Angels and Demons" is my inclination to history and breathtaking architectures. Evidently, "Angels and Demons" were full of magnificent structures and watching the movie just got me daydreaming. When and how on earth can I go visit Rome and many other historical places? *sigh*

As a result, my love for historical structures was again awakened. Rome is one of the many places I want to visit. And if given the chance, I'd be oh so willing to sacrifice a sound sleep just to go roaming around Rome. Lots of things can surely amaze me in Rome: churches, buildings, palaces, monuments, gardens, bridges, baths, basilicas, forums, gates, walls and many more. You name it. haaayz... thinking of those stuffs and going them over the Internet just makes me want to drool.. ahahaahah :D

Rome has unique and fascinating history, thousand churches, palaces and fountains; It is where behind every corner and building lays a secret to be discovered, a legend to be told and history to be revealed.

Traditionally founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, Rome began its great development beginning from the 10 century BC till it became first a Republic and then the centre of a great empire, the Roman Empire.

- Rome is in the Lazio region of central Italy on the Tiber river (Italian: Tevere). The original settlement developed on hills that faced onto a ford beside the Tiber island, the only natural ford of the river.

The historic centre of Rome was built on seven hills: the Aventine Hill, the Caelian Hill, the Capitoline Hill, the Esquiline Hill, the Palatine Hill, the Quirinal Hill, and the Viminal Hill. The city is also crossed by another river the Aniene which joins the Tiber north of the historic centre.

There are around 900 churches in Rome in total, aside from the cathedral itself, some others of note include: the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the Basilica di San Clemente, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane and the Church of the Gesu.

One of the symbols of Rome is the Colosseum (70–80 AD), the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. Originally capable of seating 60,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial combat.

A list of important monuments of ancient Rome includes the Roman Forum, the Domus Aurea, the Pantheon, Trajan's Column, Trajan's Market, the Catacombs, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Ara Pacis, the Arch of Constantine, the Pyramid of Cestius, and the Bocca della Verità.

Rome is a nation-wide centre for higher education. Its first university, La Sapienza (founded in 1303), is the largest in Europe and the second-largest in the world, with more than 150,000 students attending.

The works of the architects Borromini and Bernini, masters of the Baroque, left an indelible and representative sign to the city, embellished by a great numbers of palaces, villas, and fountains. Many works of art by the greatest artists of Italy and the world are gathered in the famous museums of the city and of the Vatican.

Miyazaki Madnezz ^_^

I've been digging Hayao Miyazaki's animated films lately and I never thought I'd enjoy watching them. Been fascinated by modern animation that I took for granted one of the pioneers of great animated films.

Miyazaki's films display an obvious trace of classic yet prominent kind of japanese animation that kind of looks like western too. Most of his films contain not the sort of action (although "Princess Mononoke" displayed many brutal scenes) that you can find in many japanese animations nowadays; but they truly depict astounding storylines.

Miyazaki has used traditional animation throughout the animation process, though computer-generated imagery was employed starting with Princess Mononoke to give "a little boost of elegance". Miyazaki's films often emphasize environmentalism and the Earth's fragility.

Anime directed by Miyazaki that have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award have been Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in 1984, Castle in the Sky in 1986, My Neighbor Totoro in 1988, and Kiki's Delivery Service in 1989.

1997's Princess Mononoke (Mononoke-Hime) centers on the struggle between the animal spirits who inhabit the forest and the humans who exploit the forest for industry. The film was a huge commercial success in Japan, where it became the highest grossing film of all time, until the later success of Titanic; and it ultimately won Best Picture at the Japanese Academy Awards.


Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001) is the story of a girl, forced to survive in a bizarre spirit world, who works in a bathhouse for spirits after her parents are turned into pigs by the sorceress who owns it. Released in Japan in July 2001, the film broke attendance and box office records with ¥30.4 billion (approximately $300 million) in total gross earnings from more than 23 million viewings. It has received many awards, including Best Picture at the 2001 Japanese Academy Awards, Golden Bear (First Prize) at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival, and the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.


Howl's Moving Castle is a film adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' fantasy novel. The film premiered at the 2004 Venice International Film Festival and won the Golden Osella award for animation technology. On November 20, 2004, Howl's Moving Castle opened to general audiences in Japan where it earned ¥1.4 billion in its first two days.



Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika, 1984), was an adventure film that introduced many of the themes which recur in later films: a concern with ecology and the human impact on the environment; a fascination with aircraft and flight; pacifism, including an anti-military streak; feminism; and morally ambiguous characterizations, especially among villains. This was the first film both written and directed by Miyazaki.


Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), adapted from a novel by Eiko Kadono, tells the story of a small-town girl who leaves home to begin life as a witch in a big city.


Time to go for some good old stuffs. hahaha. I've already watched Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke. Next in line would be Kiki's Delivery Service. I dont know if I'm going to watch all or most of Miyazaki's films since I still have loads of other stuffs (anime/movies) to dig in. haha... Goodluck to me.. :D

Salute To Moms! ^_^

Mothers are irreplaceable. You can always find another lover after a breakup or other friends to hang around if some cant be available. But your one and only mom, no matter how annoying she is, how demanding or "irresponsible", she will always be your one and only mom and nothing could ever change that. Face it, no matter what happens to you especially during the bad times, you will always end up going back to your mom for some comfort and guidance.

Mothers differ in various ways. Some are sweet and some are super strict. Others may be carefree but most are anxious. You may find mothers who are disciplinarians as well as mothers who can just be your best friend. But one thing is common and constant, their love for their children. As such would mean their everything... their life. And no matter how great the sacrifice they would make, it's nothing compared to the satisfaction of seeing their children safe and well.

So no matter what kind of mother you have, it pays to give them what they deserve. You may not hear them asking anything for all the things they've done and given to you just like God who constantly gives His love and blessings without pressuring us to call upon Him. But simple acts of appreciation in the form of warm embrace and sweet kisses can truly make them feel so loved.

This Mother's Day, I'd like to greet all the Mothers in the world and salute them for all the things they've been through which are way incomparable. Their strength and faith can never be matched nor shaken by any circumstances the cruelty of life can bring. Kudos to all our Mothers!!! :D


Ma,

I am so sorry. Thank you. And I love you. *mwahugs*

Catching Up....

Well, Mother's Day is fast-approaching and I'm way anxious on what to give my mom as a gift. She deserves it... Every mom does. Lately, I have been depending lots of things to my mom.. especially the household chores... been quite so guilty for not being able to help.. but I just cant help it. Poor mom... Anyway, I'm planning to treat her exclusively.. but I bet that wont be possible coz we have a "bug" taking a vacation at home... hahaha.. cant wait for that little creepy creature to go home.. :D but truly, we're having a great time with her.... :D

For me, Mom's day should be celebrated everyday and not just on a particular occasion. So hopefully, you get to appreciate your mothers for all the hard work she'd been through and thank her everyday... For mothers, small things count... so a simple hug and kiss can make her feel better... and that's one thing I wasnt able to do for my mom.. tsk3... Geesh, I just get so emotional whenever my mom is involved... She and the whole family is my weakness.. but also.. my strength. :D

To catch up, I'd like to share some of these quotes intended for Mothers:

It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it.

My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his. – Oscar Wilde

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle

Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort. ~John Lancaster Spalding

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep

The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown

[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. ~Emily Dickinson

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. ~Erich Fromm

Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.
If I was damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o'mine.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done.

No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones. ~Harry Truman

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb

Never marry a man who hates his mother, because he'll end up hating you.

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but
whose place no one else can take."
-- Cardinal Mermillod

"When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk you'll end up as the pope.' Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso."
-- Pablo Picasso

The Greatest Sacrifice x_x

I had a busy day... a tough one... it even made me realized a lot of things... When I decided to take a break.. I went over stuffs that could lend a hand in freeing my mind and body of the exhaustion... At first, I didnt know what to do or where to find it... then suddenly, I checked the blog of a new acquaintance... It was like.. I was lost and there I found the light... haha

When I watched the vid embedded into Jam's blog.. more like a post... I felt my heart pounding so fast that I barely breathe... My world seemed to slow down and I savored each minute watching the vid. Creepiness came over me... there was a shivering sensation that brought about certain deep realizations... and for that, I consider that clip from a movie.. the best one that I streamed for the day... Hopefully, you'll watch so you'll know what I'm talking about...



This is one of the best representations of the bible verse John 3:16

It was so heartbreaking.. but inspiring all the same.. i wonder if people nowadays can also make this kind of sacrifice...

"The Rest Is Still Unwritten"

"Unwritten"
Natasha Bedingfield


I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Hold Thy Breath o_X

These past few days, I just cant help but complain about riding on a public utility vehicle. Why? because more and more annoying people tend to get the best out of your day. And usually, your encounters with those people are just so dreadful you even want to die in a blink of an eye.

The worst part of riding on a jeepney (or falling in line, walking on busy streets, or something like you dont have a choice but mingle with a lot of people in an elbow-toelbow mode) especially if it's kind of "bumper to bumper" or "your skin next to mine", is the tendency to ride or sit next to somebody who has a "power". A power to blow things up... including your brain, senses or just everything about you. And if you happen to experience this in the start of your day, then you can expect a very fowl mood indeed or a very sick feeling that would somehow, last a day or two. lol

For me, they are the "flame throwers". A kind of flame you would never wish to have. Some give off just a faint smell but mostly, something powerful that can make you sick or even make you cry. My last "close encounter with THIS kind" was very very dramatic. I almost fainted and vommited, wet my hanky with tears while telling myself (I should never ever ride on the driver's side of a jeepney). My hanky has lost its function because the "power of that guy in sando throwing off a hell-of-a-flame that seemed the reason why hell is burning" got the highest score on me.

I think you got the idea. What I did? I went off that jeepney and rode another one after praying to have a better ride even if it would cost me a lot. it wasnt just my lucky day. I was cursing thinking of what happened but forgetting about "the smell of his poison" for it kept on making me feel sick whenever my senses would remember it. I had been so fragrant that day or did my best to look, smell and feel fresh but for what? For some flame thrower to take not just the spotlight out of me but even scared the hell out of me taking so much of my energy.

I just dont get it. Why are some people who have body odor and the like just cant seem to notice or realize that they're making others sufer?!! Ok, it's already taken that most of these people cant seem to notice that they already stink. But knowing you have such fowl odor, you should be as aware of when you might be exposing your secrets or "unconsciously giving off a pety source of air pollution". And do your best to keep yourself clean and fresh. Personal care products (added with tremendous cleaning efforts) wont actually run out.

And for God's sake, please... you people, or should I say.. flame throwers... PLEASE STOP WEARING A SANDO OR SLEEVELESS!!!! much more... stop exposing those "portals".. huhuhu... you're making this world a much dreadful place to live in.. nyahahaha o_O

Tame The Flame Dragons o_O

I have always been fascinated with dragons even when I was just a little kid. Dont actually know why, but dragons can really trigger my interests. That is one reason why I fancy watching shows or movies with dragons around. Dragonheart is my all-time favorite movie with regards to a dragon and Flame of Recca was one of those dragon-inspired anime I like.

I had once watched an anime about four brothers who happen to have various dragons residing on the very depths of their body such as the white, blue, red and black dragon which they can use if need be. They are actually transforming into a dragon! The characters are awesome and the storyline is not predictable. Sadly though, I forgot the exact title of that series and I dont think the title that was given was the original one so I'm having a hard time looking for that anime. I so badly want to watch that again.. :( (but if this anime rang a bell to you, kindly inform me with the title please.. :D tnx)

And with regards to my post, I am actually directed to sharing you the 8 Flame Dragons of Recca:

Recca uses his flame with the form of 8 flame dragons which are usually the spirits of former Flame Masters. Each spirit or flame dragon has a unique personality and distinct dragon technique or power. However, Recca has to tame them first before he can use their help. And if they have decided to be his ally (after a fight in a "mind dessert"), they then burn their names into Recca's arm which can be summoned whenever needed. Certain flame dragons work together to effectively help Recca.

1. Saiha (En Shin, The Fire Blade)

>>> He is one of the stubborn flame masters Recca encountered and had a difficulty taming; but in the end was able to master the technique which is a blade coming out from his arm that is able to slice through anything.

2. Nadare (Dan En, The Flame Ball)

>>> She is one of the dragons Recca can control skillfully and happened to come out of her own will to help Recca and his mother. This flame master is a smart and confident master of her fireball attack. She joined Recca together with Saiha at the same time.

3. Homura (Ben En, The Fire Whip/Strength)

>>> This flame dragon has the power of a strength enhancing flame, who came to Recca during the time that he was kind of "dead". By challenging Recca whether he is truly the person he can fight with even with his condition, he (Homura) burned his name unto Recca's arm the moment he stood up to continue his life and his fight with Kukai.

4. Setsuna (Shun En, The Fire Flash)

>>> His name means "Lord of the Dead" and he is a blind dragon with the ability to see using heat sensors. This flame master, when he was alive was cruel and arrogant, somewhat depicting that of his name. His fight with Recca was the most excruciating since he really wanted to kill him and not merely have a fight. Obviously, he was not happy about having to see his name wriitn on Recca's arm which happened unexpectedly.

5. Madoka (Kekkai En, The Fire Barrier)

>>> He can generate an "impenetrable" shield making him a dragon mainly intended for protection. His barrier was able to help Recca save loads of people from severe harm and taming him wasnt much of a problem.

6. Rui (Gen En, The Fire Illusion)

>>> She is able to draw up an illusion of all kinds or out of anything she desires to make use of; making her known as "The Mistress of Illusion". The way Recca fought with her in the desert was one of the amusing encounters.

7. Kokuu (The Fire Beam)

>>> This flame dragon who appeared as little perverted old man with a scar over one eye can make a large fireball and shoot a beam of fire with it. He has this crush for Fuuko which has become so evident. Kokuu usually appears in human form more frequently than the others, and seems to have some kind of friendship with Resshin. He didnt have a fight with Recca but instead trained Recca how to properly combine multiple dragons into one attack by stealing his 6 other dragons just before he got to fight Kurei. He then rendered his help to Recca the moment he mastered the technique.

8. Resshin (Absorbs Bodies; transforms the dead into living Flames like Kurenai)

>>> Resshin is the leader of the dragons, and most likely the most powerful. He is the spirit of Recca and Kurei's biological father, Ouka. Like Kokuu, Resshin does not fight Recca in the desert. While he lends his assistance to his sons when they fight against Mori Kouran's clone, he does not give his power to either.