Worldwide Box Office Records

Narito ang update sa WORLDWIDE (domestic + international) box office grosses ng 'recent' releases ng Hollywood:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, $1065.3M as of December 20, 2006;

The Da Vinci Code, $753.1M as of August 27;

Ice Age: The Meltdown, $656.5M as of July 20;

Casino Royale, $587.9M as of February 11;

Night at the Museum, $523.5M as of March 4;

X-Men: The Last Stand, $456.4M as of January 1;

Cars, $455.6M as of October 19;

Mission: Impossible III, $395.8M as of September 3;

Superman Returns, $390.1M as of November 2;

Happy Feet, $366.0M as of February 25;

Over the Hedge, $330.0M as of November 5;

The Devil Wears Prada, $310.7M as of december 3;

The Pursuit of Happyness, $287.1M as of March 4;

The Departed, $280.1M as of February 25;

Borat, $254.1M as of March 4;

Eragon, $240.0M as of January 28;

Click, $233.5M as of January 31;

The Holiday, $190.8M as of March 4;

Open Season, $183.3M as of January 7;

Flushed Away, $175.2M as of February 7;

Déjà Vu, $166.6M as of February 11;

Miami Vice, $163.6M as of November 26;

World Trade Center, $158.7M as of November 19;

Ghost Rider, $155.5M as of March 4;

Saw III, $155.2 as of February 18;

Blood Diamond, $151.2M as of March 4;

Rocky Balboa, $141.0M as of March 4;

Dreamgirls, $139.3M as of March 4;

Charlotte's Web, $137.4M as of March 4;

You, Me and Dupree, $129.3M as of December 3;

The Prestige, $101.5M as of January 28;

Babel, $96.8M as of February 11;

Little Miss Sunshine, $94.2M as of February 15.

an email from my Langga

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged
plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from.

Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his, "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the
morning,

"Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?"

"Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy.

"From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the
road...that way I can see that you are home safe...."

"Thank you father ... "
"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in
this church right after school?"

"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker.

Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am not that hungry.
Look, this is my last pair of slippers ...I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken... but it is okay....at least I am
still going to school.... Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school .... please help them get to school again, please God?

...Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother.... God, you want to see my
bruises? I know you can heal them.... Here... here and .... oh ...blood ...I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is
just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us....Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren't you
excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you ..... but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..." then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend .... youcan accompany me to the other side of the road now"

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,playfully dashed in.

"Hello God! I ......"

"P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!"

Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the street I will
have to pass by the back door of this church ...not only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here.... " Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang pulled
his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!! (does the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan ka!!!

So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in.

There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy ...

Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He came and carried
the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked,

"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?

Do you know this child?"

The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up and answered,

"He was my best friend .... " was all he said. He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His heart.

He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight.

The crowd was curious ...

On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He consulted the
parents of Andoy.

"How did you know that your son died?"

"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He brushed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something..."

"What did he say?"

"He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift ... I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I
cried tears of joy .... I could not explain it, Father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a deep sense

of love inside ... I could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now but...tell me, Father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should know because you are always there ... except at the time of his death ......"Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with

trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no one ..... but .. GOD...."

If you love this story, please. pass this on to your friends.

I just did!

 

 

 

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Now that's room service! Choose from over 150,000 hotels
in 45,000 destinations on Yahoo! Travel to find your fit.

‘Ano’ .. from YOUNGBLOOD of INQUIRER.net

YOUNGBLOOD
'Ano'
By Alexander C. Tan
Inquirer
Last updated 03:00am (Mla time) 03/08/2007

My mother is a woman of few words, and her favorite word, judging from how frequently she utters it, is "ano." It's her all-purpose word for just about anything. Purge it from her vocabulary, and she would probably be rendered speechless.

"Anuhin mo nga 'yung ano ng ano baka kasi umano yung ano," she told me one time. Unless you're a mind reader, there's just no way you would know what she wanted. But I have learned to infer what she means from the context (in this case, it's an hour before lunch and there's something cooking on the stove) and her gestures (she makes a knob-turning action and points in the direction of the kitchen), and I find it relatively easy to decode her fill-in-the-blanks messages. In this particular instance, she was saying: "Hinaan mo nga 'yung apoy ng niluluto ko baka kasi umapaw 'yung sabaw." ["Turn down the flame so that the broth will not boil over."]

Being the playful youngest son that I am, I usually feign a confused look even after I have deciphered her cryptic instructions. This frustrates her and sends her into a fit of head-scratching, stuttering and pointing. And then we both have a good laugh over it.

She's a funny lady, my mother. No doubt, I inherited my sense of humor from her. But, like me, she can easily turn serious and sentimental. On Christmas Day, while I was comfortably napping in her rocking chair, she sneaked up from behind and gave me a card. "Ano, pasensya na, 'yan lang ang ano ni Mama mo," she whispered before quickly slipping away.

I opened the card and read:

Always Be True to Yourself, My Son,
for There Is Greatness Within You

Throughout your life, I hope you will always
pursue sensitivity and kindness
as your chosen way.
Your sense of humor is wonderful;
hold on to it.
Being able to laugh at the world
will see you through many hard times.
Guard against bitterness and sarcasm;
they can destroy you.

Be yourself: the world will benefit
from your talent and humor.
Search for people who love and
appreciate you for who you are
and who encourage you to improve.
Don't be satisfied with less
than all you can be,
for you have greatness within you.

Not her original words, but surely her heartfelt sentiments for me. The message couldn't have been more fitting and touching. I was deeply moved (one blink and a gulp to hold back the tears).

On the left panel of the card she had written: "I love you with the love of the Lord... Just me, Mama." Her own words, in her distinct handwriting.

I went to her and embraced her and held her in my arms for a long time. I didn't need to say anything. For she, the woman who gave birth to me and insists on seeing greatness in me, understood exactly what I wanted to say.

Sure, I can decode Mama's endearing "ano" language. But the truth is, try as I may, I can never ever understand my mother more than she understands me. It's just ... "ano."

Alexander C. Tan, 28, is the creative head of a publishing house in Mandaluyong City.

TV Ratings March 6, 2007

Narito ang overnight ratings ng mga programa ng GMA 7 at ABS-CBN 2 noong MARTES (Marso 6):

SiS 12.9% vs. Homeboy 12.7%;

Yellow Handkerchief 16.3% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 21.6%;

Eat Bulaga 22% vs. Wowowee 22.7%;

Daisy Siete 17.8% vs. Inocente De Ti 13.7%;

Muli 14.9%, Princess Charming 15.4% at Full House 16.7% vs. Kapamilya Cinema 12.7%;

Jewel in the Palace 16.9% vs. Sineserye 15.5%;

24 Oras 29.3% vs. TV Patrol World 25.2%;

Asian Treasures 34% vs. Sana Maulit Muli 23.7%;

Super Twins 32.5% vs. Maging Sino Ka Man 24.6%;

Bakekang 32.8% vs. Maria Flordeluna 20.9%;

Jumong 25.2% vs. Pinoy Big Brother 20.5%;

Starstruck 15.4% vs. Princess Hours 18.1%;

Bahay Mo Ba 'To 12.4% vs. Bandila 8.6%.

dAi2_ug_.jpg

dAi2_ug_.jpg, originally uploaded by arleighmac.

Char!

at_d_c.U.jpg

at_d_c.U.jpg, originally uploaded by arleighmac.

Char!

San Juanico Bridge

San Juanico Bridge As Seen By the ISM Team II, originally uploaded by Biologist Buliklik.

the most beautiful suspension bridge in asia. truly a magnificent structure on the eastern part of the philippines.