Category: General

Ruthell Moreno’s inspiring story

Published by Ellen on March 29, 2012

Ruthell Moreno2 — Another Antiqueña excells

During graduation season, inspirational stories of triumph over adversity are in abundance. Which is very good.

Iloilo writers Hazel Villa and John Kevin Arevalo submitted to VERA Files and Yahoo the story of Ruthell Moreno, who is graduating summa cum laude, Bachelor of Special Education,major in Teaching Children with Mental Retardation from the West Visayas State University.

Ruthell, who is from Antique, is only the fourth summa cum laude of the College of Education (COE) after its founding as a Normal College more than a hundred years ago. The COE is a Center of Teaching Excellence and consistent placer in the Licensure Exam for Teachers.

In last Tuesday’s WVSU recognition day Ruthell, with a Grade Point Average of 1.23, received more receive university level awards: Most outstanding student teacher, Student of the year, Proficiency in SPED Award, Academic excellence award, an award from the Philippine Association for Teacher Education, Journalism Award, Rotary Award, Abelardo Alegre Ledesma award for excellence in culture and arts, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr Academic Excellence Award and two awards from Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

She also delivered the valedictory address in behalf of the graduates of 2012.

Hazel and John Kevin said, the story of Ruthell, 24, known to friends as “Che” could have been any regular story of an intelligent young woman making the most of her resources and abilities, except for the fact that she has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or lupus, an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body.

The graduate

Published by Ellen on March 27, 2012

Facebook is full of posting by proud parents in their children’s graduation rites. Double pride for parents with children graduating with honors.

But the award-winning post,for me, was by journalist Isabel de Leon of the Manila Bulletin. Last week, she posted: “Scoured the entire Recto Avenue for a toga for my Petchay who’s graduating this Sunday.

“Found the toga and the cap. At dahil di ako sure kung may award na matatanggap ang apo ko, ibinili ko na rin sya ng gold medal. (And since I’m not sure if my grandchild will get an award, I also bought a gold medal.)”

Who can top that?

Recto Avenue, as we all know, is where you buy what you can’t get in school: fake diplomas, school ring, medals, etc. etc.

Enjoy ang summer ngunit ingat

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2012

Tag-init na.

Kahit na paminsan-minsan ay umu-ulan, talagang summer na. Ang sarap magbabad sa tubig. Dumadami na ang mga tao sa beach at swimming pool.

Sa pinupuntahan kong gym,Fitness First, at siguro sa ibang gym, mas marami na ang nagwu-workout. Siyempre ang gustong pumunta sa mga sosyal na beach, kailangan may ipakita ka.

Napansin ko nga, sa mga department store, naglabasan na ang kanilang mga pang kasuutan para sa summer. Marami na ang bumibili ng swimsuits.

Merong iba kasi na nagpa-fashion show sa beach. Kung ‘yun ang kanilang hilig, pagbigyan. Sa beach naman, busy lahat sa sariling lakad at gimik, hindi na rin naman mahalaga kung pang-Miss Universe ang katawan mo o hindi. Ang mahalaga ay malusog ka, wala kang sakit at nae-enjoy ka sa iyong ginagawa.

Si Jinkee at ang kambal niyang si Janet

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2012

Jinkee and twin sister janet — Before the Belo makeover, 2010.Thanks to Malaya for photo

Birthday ni Jinkee Pacquiao at ng kanyang kambal na si Janet Jamora noong Huwebes (Enero 12) at pinakita sa television silang magkatabi.

Hindi nga naman masyadong malayo ang mukha. Maayos ang trabaho ni Vicki Belo.

Nag-uusap kami ng aking mga kaibigan tungkol sa report kung paano pinaganda ni Belo si Jinkee at naawa kami kay Janet.

Di ba ibang-iba na ang mukha ni Jinkee. Sexy at glamorosa. Kailangan daw gawin ito ni Jinkee dahil malikot daw ang mata ng boxing champ sa mga sexy na artista na nakakasalamuha sa showbusiness. Di ba showbiz na rin si Pacquiao?

Sabi ni Jinkee dati, ng tanungin siya tungkol sa mga balita sa mga babaeng nauugnay sa asawa niya, “Ayaw kong magalit. Magpaganda na lang ako.”

At sa tulong ni Belo, talaga namang gumanda.

Mapayapa at masaganang bagong taon!

Published by Ellen on December 31, 2011

Sana natuto tayo sa mga nangyari sa iiwanan nating taon. Sana magiging mapayapa at masagana hindi lamamang sa taong 2012, kasama na rin ang susunod…

May we all have a blessed and meaningful Christmas!

Published by Ellen on December 24, 2011

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be…

Giving meaning to suffering

Published by Ellen on October 30, 2011

agony in the garden — Agony in the garden

One of my favorite quotes on life and death is from the cartoon character Bugs Bunny passed on to me by fellow journalist Minnie Cadeliña.

From Bugs Bunny’s treasure chest of wisdom: “Don’t take life too seriously. After all, nobody has come out of it alive.”

Death is a sure destination for all of us. It’s a question of when and how for each and every one of us.

Another wise advice is from Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple Inc., whose time finally came last Oct. 5.

In his speech at Stanford University in June 2005, a year after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jobs, the inventor life-changing gadgets, called death “the single best invention of Life.”

Here’s what Jobs shared: “No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Visionary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies at 56

Published by Ellen on October 6, 2011

From MSN

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and former CEO who invented and masterfully marketed ever-sleeker gadgets that transformed everyday technology, from the personal computer to the iPod and iPhone, has died. He was 56.

Apple announced his death without giving a specific cause. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” the company said in a brief statement. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”

Steve Jobs’ 2005 speech at Stanford University

Jobs had battled cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began — before resigning as CEO six weeks ago. Jobs became Apple’s chairman and handed the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.

By the time he turned the reins of the company over to Cook, Jobs had become one of the business world’s greatest comeback kids.

My favorite photo of William and Kate Canada visit

Published by Ellen on July 9, 2011

I’m a fan of Prince William and his wife,Kate Middleton , who is now Duchess of Cambridge.

I follow closely coverage of them. In their recent trip to Canada my favorite image was the one taken during their visit to Yellowknife, the capital and largest city of Canada’s remote Northwest Territories, last July 5.

It was reported that one of the activities the young newlyweds attended was a game of shinny or street hockey. Prince William participated in the game, report said, and it was observed that “his technique was excellent.”

Kate, on the other hand, declined because she was not wearing appropriate shoes. Here’s a cute photo with a cute caption:Here’s a close up of those high heels that prevented Kate from playing “shinny.” Maybe she should have borrowed the slippers.

More photos:

An appeal for a 68-year old Fil-American mother in jail in Borongan, Samar

Published by Ellen on July 3, 2011

Yesterday morning, I got a letter from someone who introduced herself as Josie Studer. She is a Filipino-American, based in the United Sates but comes home often to her parent’s hometown in Hernani. Eastern Samar.

She was asking help for the release of her 68-year old mother who was arrested last June 26 as she was coming out of the church in their town. Since then her mother, Josephine Rodriquez Mckee, has been staying in jail in Borongan, Samar.

Part of Ms Studer’s letter:

“My mother suffers from a heart condition that is supervised by her doctor in U.S. At the request of friends and family, Gov. Nicart (Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart Jr) sent a physician and ambulance to assess her. Her blood pressure index was recorded three times to be 170/110. The doctor sent written recommendation for medical attention via the jail warden to Judge Cesar Abit. The judge denied her medical treatment.

“It has now been five days without medical attention. This is an extremely dangerous situation because her condition makes her a candidate for a stroke.”