Year 2005 Predictions

Aries in 2005 - Flexibility
If you want a motto for 2005, the best one to adopt would be "go with the
flow." 2005 will be a year of ups and downs, and only the flexible will
be able to keep from going crazy! All Aries natives may have to tighten
their belts and curb their desire for constant expansion. You may need to
play it cool and curb your spending. You'll be among the first to seize
upon new societal trends to create new opportunities for yourself, as
your creativity will be at an all- time high. You will be more eloquent
and persuasive than usual, and others will identify enthusiastically
with your vision. If you want to start a new creative project or
business venture, your imagination will be working overtime. 2005 could
find you doing well career- wise - and aspiring to climb even higher.


Taurus in 2005 - Tenacity
"Diligence" is the key word for you, Taurus. With hard work and focus,
you will attain at least one important aspiration that has been on your
agenda for a long time. This is the year you'll want to take stock of
your career and ask yourself if you're doing the work you want to do for
the rest of your life. As the year progresses, the more impressive your
ideas and works become. As a result, your finances improve - and your
newfound confidence could attract new love into your life. By the end of
the year, you will have a whole new network of friends and group
activity, stimulating new ideas and taking up your social life a notch
or two.


Gemini in 2005 - Success
Your cycle of learning through the school of hard knocks has come to an
end, Gemini, and now you're going to start reaping the rewards these
"lessons" have left in their wake. As 2005 progresses, the road ahead
will become clearer. You now have it in you to create the kind of life
for yourself that you want. These leaps and bounds forward include love
and creativity. Your learning of concepts of all kinds combines with
extensive group activity, bringing your mind into a whole new space this
year. By the end of 2005 you'll have a whole new start with regard to
your career and your earning potential - and a possible new partnership
to top it off!


Cancer in 2005 - Balance
Finding a balance between your personal and professional lives may be one
of the year's strongest challenges. For the most part, your outward life
this year will go in fits and starts - alternating periods of intense
activity with times of welcome rest. Enjoy the restful periods when you
can. The active ones will be hectic! You'll be making radical changes in
your work habits, but you'll be a lot happier for it, and in the end
you'll know it was worth it. Your love life is full, and any
dissatisfaction with career and money matters fades into the background.
By the end of 2005, you'll feel more confident, more determined, and far
more capable of making the mountains come to you!


Leo in 2005 - Abundance
Pursuing a successful career, along with the usual social and financial
advantages, will be easier this year than it has in a long time for you,
Leo! The most difficult thing might be deciding which path means the most
to you, and where to put your focus. You'll be able to create
opportunities for advancement almost out of thin air. Romance in 2005
will make it a year to remember - and you'll be the envy of all your
friends. Love comes willingly and easily. Money may suddenly become
tight at a very inconvenient time. Yet, this is no comparison to the
advancements you'll make overall, and by the end of 2005, you'll look
back in sheer wonder and happiness.


Virgo in 2005 - Perseverance
Your working life might not go so smoothly this year, Virgo. For much of
2005, you'll be putting your nose to the grindstone. On the bright side,
your finances will be pretty stable. Just don't take it for granted -
you still need to be cautious this year. Your love life will thrive for
most of the year, and any relationship begun or reaffirmed in 2005 is
very likely to be a lasting one. And, you're going to develop a hopeless
romantic streak. In spite of a lot of worry over your career, by the
year's end, you'll see that 2005 has filled your life with prosperity
and accomplishments.


Libra in 2005 - Expansion
Flex your muscles, friend Libra, and prepare for a relatively easy ride.
With beneficent Jupiter in your sign, this is definitely your year,
especially where your social life is concerned. Happiness and enjoyment
lie ahead. If you're not presently married, and want to be, you just
might wed by the end of the year. This is the year you're going to be
doing a lot of travel and learning about your world, as expansion is the
theme. The one department of life that may not quite be as hopeful as
you'd like could be your career, where advancement may be slow and
satisfaction rare. By year's end, you may find yourself seriously
considering a major change - all for the best.



Scorpio in 2005 - Transmutation
Scorpio, you can still expect changes - perhaps major ones - in your life
this year, almost to the point of total transformation. While this is
most apparent in the area of your career, you'll see it showing up in
other important aspects of your life. Your life might take on an entirely
new direction you've never dreamed of. You may also change your
residence during the year. Whether you start the year as a single person
looking for a partner, or you've been married for many years, happiness
in love does lie ahead. Be prepared for new horizons. They may not be
familiar, but they will be fascinating. Don't cling to the banks;
instead, flow with the tide in 2005.


Sagittarius in 2005 - Empowerment
Are you prepared to handle absolute power? If not, you will be soon! Your
ruling planet, Jupiter, will be in a special relationship with Pluto -
called "mutual reception" - in 2005. There's so much punch packed into
this combination that it's almost scary. You'll find the ultimate power
is the ability to choose your own destiny. You'll find practical ways of
increasing your effectiveness in the world by gaining new skills that
allow you to live more abundantly. By the second half of the year, you
will finally feel welcome relief from the tight financial binds that have
hindered you over the past two years. And, a relationship you begin now
will last a very long time - like, for the rest of your life. Overall,
2005 is sure to be a year you won't forget.


Capricorn in 2005 - Resolution
You've got plenty of lucky breaks headed your way in 2005, friend
Capricorn. The long awaited relief you've needed in your love life is
around the corner, and by the end of the year you will feel much clearer
about your partnerships in general. Financially, it could be a lean year,
although some advance planning can help you weather the storm. Your
career opportunities will expand exponentially, and you're likely to
change jobs or positions this year. At times, the pressure on your job
and home life may seem unbearable, but rest assured you will come
through this stronger - and wiser - than ever, as more is revealed and
resolved in 2005.


Aquarius in 2005 - Magic
2005 sees you expanding your intuitive and psychic skills even more,
Aquarius. The mysteries of the universe continue to attract and intrigue
you, as you apply your mystical awareness to the important decisions
upcoming in your life, especially concerning partnerships of all kinds.
2005 is bound to bring at least one major success in the love department,
and your career will be brimming with new enthusiasm and innovation. Not
only that, but travel, adventure, and personal expansion infuse fresh
energy into all areas of your life. By year's end, your creative
decision-making will have carried you to whole new peaks - and a whole
new view from above.


Pisces in 2005 - Self-confidence
It's a big year for you, friend Pisces. No doubt, in 2005 you'll find
yourself pushed more and more out into the world. You'll experience a
new sense of purpose and make plenty of new friends. Expect lots of
surprises and lucky breaks this year, with Uranus bringing the unexpected
in your career, your love life, and the world in general. At some point
during the year, you could pick up a financial windfall, hear of a great
career opportunity, or unexpectedly meet the love of your life. It's
important that you take retreats and plenty of time for yourself to
regenerate, as the rate of change in your personal and professional life
will be fast and unpredictable. Remain calm and confident, and love is
very likely to flourish in 2005. "Expect the unexpected," and enjoy the
ride!

Chronic Pain Hurts

RealAge Tip of the Day
Monday, January 24

Don't put up with chronic pain. Doing so could age your brain.
A small decrease in gray matter is a normal part of advanced aging.
Chronic pain appears to lead to similar declines, a new study revealed.
The longer the study participants lived with chronic pain, the greater was
their loss of neocortical gray matter, regardless of age. Seek treatment
promptly for chronic pain to help keep your brain young.

RealAge Benefit: Actively patrolling your health can make your RealAge as
much as 12 years younger.

From: Health@RealAge.com

Beyond survival! Aim for global competitiveness

MANILA, December 14, 2004 (STAR) By Wilson Lee Flores

(We want to be first; not first if, not first but; but first! - US
President & Pulitzer Prize-winning writer John F. Kennedy)

(Know yourself and know your enemy, then in a hundred battles you shall
have a hundred victories.- Sun Tzu, Chinese strategist, 2,500 years ago)

(When you fear a foe, fear crushes your strength; and this weakness
gives strength to your opponents.- William Shakespeare)

Why do we bury our heads in the sand like ostriches, fear or doubt that
the Philippine economy has the potentials to become No. 1 in ASEAN? Why
is it that our society has been so overwhelmed by this age-old culture of
pessimism - caused by 333 years of psychological bludgeoning by Spanish
colonizers, that we drown in talks on how to survive instead of winning?

Why is it that most of the goods in Divisoria and our malls are
imports? When shall we vow to produce more and aggressively export to the
world? Why is it that our eloquent politicians are only blabbering loudly
on headline-grabbing issues like log ban, but few are raising the alarm
bells at the closures of so many major factories and the conversion of
numerous warehouses into badminton courts?

Why wallow in self-pity, fatalism, trying to just plug the holes of our
government budget deficit, how to prevent international credit ratings
downgrade, how to solicit more international aid for typhoon victims? Why
awaken the whole society, plan and act boldly to make the Philippine
economy self-reliant, investor-friendly and globally-competitive?

In competitive sports, isn't aggressive offense the best defense
strategy? Shouldn't we help the Philippine economy be more efficient,
wipe out mass poverty and be a Manny Pacquiao slugging it out against the
best economies of the west and Asia? Instead of just targetting 10
percent, 20 percent or 30 percent yearly tourism growth, why not aim
high and vow to vanquish our neighbor Thailand as ASEAN's No. 1 tourist
destination?

Instead of pessimistically worrying about the rise of new global power
China, SGV Group founder Washington SyCip, JG Summit Holdings founder
John Gokongwei Jr. and shipping tycoon Endika Aboitiz recently told the
Philippine STAR that we should learn to embrace this wave of the future,
make preparations to cash in, learn Mandarin and ensure that the
Philippine economy profits from close trade/investments ties. Why do we
allow India to corner the lion's share of US outsourcing billions, why
not leverage our being America's only former colony and boost our
English-language education nationwide in order to become the world's No.
1 outsourcing power?

Anvil Prize For Global Competitiveness

At the recent December 4 annual election of the Anvil Executive Club
held at Rockwell Club in Makati, the new set of 17 officers immediately
approved numerous new projects including canceling the annual Christmas
reception so funds raised would be donated to the typhoon victims and our
proposal for the Anvil Prize for Global Competitiveness. The officers
went late at night to the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)
headquarters in Port Area, Manila to immediately give the check to PNRC
Chairman Richard Gordon and to pledge more support for their efficient
relief efforts.

After our election as president, we nominated Confederation of Garment
Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) president George Siy and steel
industrialist/Manila Bay Rotary Club past president Jeffrey Ng to be
co-chairmen of this Anvil Prize, which seeks to honor individuals,
groups, corporations or institutions promoting a culture of Philippine
global competitiveness. Other newly-elected officers of Anvil supportive
of the innovative Anvil Prize for Global Competitiveness include EVP Roy
Chua (who will organize the First Anvil Golf Cup and the First Anvil
Badminton Open in 2005), VPs Danny Ching and Alvin Uy of Ortigas Home
Depot, directors Bernard Go of Contract Designs Furnitures, Ronald Alan
Ko, William Co Villanueva, incoming PAREB real estate group national
president Bobby Sy, Wilfred Co of Robinson Handyman/Do It Best, Michael
Chenglay, Jeffrey Cobankiat, Mark Sy Cabilangan, Eduardo Cobankiat and
Charlton Ng.

Anvil Executive Club is an organization that molds future leaders not
only in business and industry, but also in different professions and
civic causes. The focus is on promoting traditional Confucian values,
entrepreneurship and professional excellence. Instead of surrendering to
the onslaught of globalization, giving up, migrating to greener pastures
in the west or other parts of the globe, the consensus of the Anvil
officers and members is to help reform the Philippine economy to become
more globally competitive.

Past Anvil officers include Michael G. Tan of Asia Brewery and David
Chua of Cathay Pacific Steel Corp., both of whose fathers were past
presidents of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce &
Industry Inc. where they are now active; real estate businesswoman and
PACES founder Elena Tanyu Coyiuto; Philippine Amalgamated Association of
Supermarkets (Pag-Asa) president Steve Cua; Ateneo math whiz Prof. Dr.
Queena Lee-Chua, flour mill businesswoman Aileen Uygongco-Ongkauko,
Philippine Association of Electrical Industries president Peter Go
Mangasing, and others. Can these and other Anvil officers help propagate
a spirit of dynamic competitiveness, so that our many obsolete and
inefficient Philippine industries will not perish but become future world
conquerors and top exporters?

Former Anvil director Berck Y. Cheng first met his bride Lisa Y.
Gokongwei of Summit Media/Entrepreneur magazine at an Anvil event. An
Anvil member told us, instead of Summit Media licensing foreign
periodicals like Cosmopolitan, Entrepreneur, Seventeen and FHM, maybe
Lisa and her staff can export to the West their own homegrown brands like
Preview or Yes magazines instead? A former Anvil member is Agriculture
Secretary Atty. Arthur Yap; can his tenure possibly see the day the
Philippines will again export agriculture like sugar and other
commodities like decades ago? Another former Anvil member is Chamber of
Thrift Banks past president and Asia Trust Bank president Dionisio Ong.
Ong actively espouses the idea that encouraging small and medium-scale
entrepreneurs with world-class quality standards is the true hope of the
Philippine economy.

Better Math For Global Competitiveness

Did you see the recent comic episode in Sen. Jamby Madrigal's
"Pythagorean theorem" and "elasticities" jargon in discussing cigarette
tax issues, causing other senators to laugh in bewilderment or suffer
from headaches? Was Madrigal making sense or just spewing out fancy
theories to impress the gallery? How come most of our politicians in the
Senate appeared like clueless students who just flunked algebra exams?

This column recently received an e-mail from the Mathematics Trainers'
Guild, Philippines (MTGP) asking assistance for private sector
sponsorships for their hosting of the 2005 Philippine Elementary
Mathematics International Contest (PEMIC 2005), a five-day competition
set for May 2005. Government supports this major project through the
Department of Education and the Department of Science & Technology, but
these state agencies are unable to give financial support.

PEMIC 2005 hopes to gather over 50 teams, including those from
Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran,
Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore,
South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. The math trainers of the
country are inviting sponsors to support this major event, which seeks
to promote the country's international image and to elevate the
mathematics standards of Philippine schools to world-class levels.
Interested sponsors can contact Dr. Eduardo de la Cruz at 734-7371 or
text 0917-3502686, or Roberto Degolacion at 0917-3246302. The vice
president for internal affairs of MTGP is Lucy O. Sia, my former
trigonometry math teacher at Grace Christian High School who is legendary
for being quicker than a calculator in solving the most puzzling math
problems mentally.

One of the best ways to promote global competitiveness in the
Philippines is to upgrade mathematics education nationwide. How can we
ignite a national entrepreneurial revolution of many of our people, even
our politicians who control the state coffers, do not know how to count
well? How can we have economic progress, industrial growth and
technological innovations if we do not mass produce more engineers and
technical experts proficient in mathematical principles?

Beyond Survival

Societies and individuals should work and dream beyond mere economic
subsistence and survival, but aim higher for excellence. After the
European Jewish refugees and others fought a guerrilla war against the
British colonial regime and resisted attacks by Arab armies, they went
beyond survival and sought to build a vibrant free enterprise economy in
their democratic state of Israel. When Lee Kuan Yew-led Singapore was
kicked out of Muslim-ruled Malaysia in the 1960s, their leader shed tears
on national TV but worked not only for survival of the resource-poor
city-state but built it up into a world-class economic powerhouse.

After the South Koreans fought back the Communist hordes invading from
North Korea in the 1950s with the US, Philippines and aid from other UN
allied nations led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, they not only worked for
survival of their war-torn nation. They dreamt and built up South Korea
into a mighty industrial power rivaling former colonizer Japan in ship,
steel, automobile and electronics exports globally. When the Chiang
Kai-Shek regime was booted out of mainland China by the Communist
revolution of Mao Zedong, resource-poor and backward Taiwan province
under the Kuomintang/Nationalist leadership pursued a policy of national
self-reliance. Taiwan not only survived Cold War era threats and
diplomatic isolation, the dynamic free enterprise economy has prospered
to become a globally competitive world leader in information technology
(IT) and high-tech exports.

We should demolish our society's age-old culture of pessimism, go
beyond survival of the Philippine economy with dependence on OCW dollar
remittances, but we should export more and woo more tourists into our
shores! We shouldn't just be fixated with log ban debates, but implement
an aggressive reforestation campaign so that we can someday revive the
once robust Philippine lumber export industry, inspired by the US example
of efficient forest management. Instead of only shouting with sound and
fury for less corruption and less pork barrel funds to solve the
government budget deficit, let us woo more investors, encourage the
launching of new enterprises, support existing firms, so that the state
can collect more tax revenues!

Fearless and bold offense - not pessimism and fatalistic surrender - is
the best defense against the onslaught of globalization. We do not have
the luxury of time to delay far-reaching socio-economic reforms. We must
shape up and compete, or we shall stagnate and be left inexorably behind.
Let us make the Philippine economy more efficient and globally
competitive!

* * *

Thanks for your messages sent to wilson_lee_flores@yahoo.com,
wilson_lee_flores@hotmail.com or P.O. Box 14277, Ortigas Center, Pasig
City. Suggestions, jokes and even criticisms are welcome!

From: lquesada@newsflash.org

Susan, stay put / biblical warnings

MANILA, January 7, 2005 (STAR) HERE'S THE SCORE By Teodoro C. Benigno
- A name that has soared into our political stratosphere is Susan Roces.
Suddenly she is a name that counts, that has barged into our political
consciousness like a comet. Her husband Fernando Poe Jr. had to die, a
virtual martyr to the cause of the poor, before Ms. Roces found her
voice. It was a voice that rang true, utterly devoid of political
mumbo-jumbo, a gust of exhilarating wind that could say in one sentence or
two what our professional politicians would pontificate in the better
part of an hour.

Ms. Roces was and remains an extremely attractive woman, a movie
actress in her own right, moving, talking and gesturing with an elegance
that easily impressed the onlooker. And yet she didn't talk really very
much until she took on Karen Davila of ABS-CBN and Mel Tiangco of GMA-7.
Then she poured it on. Then we realized how hurt and aggrieved she was -
and, of course, FPJ - by the cavalier, at times brutal, media treatment
of FPJ during the presidential campaign. Still, he persevered. But the
price was too great to pay.

In a word, Susan Roces accused both networks of somewhat marginalizing
coverage of her husband, relegating him to an unhinged hanging garden of
Babylon while giving other presidential candidate, like President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, the works. This was very obvious, she said, FPJ'S
overflow crowds were bumped off the screen, giving the impression he had
a scant following when the opposite was true. He had the biggest, most
adoring crowds.

She was, of course, right.

Not only was FPJ not given panoramic treatment on the nation's two
largest TV stations. He was - and I feel quite guilty about this - dumbed
down by media as an ignoramus, fit to be entombed by the Guinness Book of
World Records, a pretender, and a quack. Now that we look back. He was
not. He was a lonely pilgrim on the road to Malacañang, honest and
sincere, who loved and cared for the poor. All right, the job was too big
for him, too daunting, a whirl into another world he new very little
about. He could have messed it up. But isn't GMA, with all her education,
messing up things right now?

But did FPJ have to be cheated? Did his Filipino citizenship have to be
cast in grave and scandalous doubt? Did the elite, the powers that be,
and this includes the Church, have the moral right to dump FPJ and
virtually award the presidency to GMA?

Now, in hindsight, I don't think so. And this is why Susan Roces and
their legion of followers have drummed up the courage - after FPJ's death
- to point their accusing finger at the elite and the powers-that-be.
That's why GMA is scared, fearful that the hungry crowds in Paris in 1789
would replicate themselves in Metro Manila. And what's why the
scandal-ridden military wouldn't have the nerve to take over power,
knowing the public would blow their boots off in massive street
demonstrations. .

But I have this to say for Ms. Susan Roces.

By staying on your side of the line so far, you have done the nation a
great lot of good. You have shown us the face of honesty, integrity and
courage, a widow's face wreathed in simple and stirring eloquence,
calling a spade a spade without the drawn blade of arrogance. Stay that
way, Susan. Don't ever be inveigled by voices around you, calling upon
you to formally head the opposition, run the presidential streak to
Malacañang. These are the very voices that ruined FPJ, that lined his
course with thorns and thistles. In the end, he was bloodied, and possibly
died of heartache.

Yours would be a role already honored and rendered proud by Eleanor
Roosevelt, widow of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. By Sonja Gandhi, widow of
Rajiv Gandhi, by Loretta King, widow of Martin Luther King. They resisted
all offers to enter politics. Instead, they became the revered symbols of
the opposition, even the nation, whipping in the wind like a flock of
white birds only when it was time to speak. And they were universally
loved.

You must have tumbled from a cloud or rainbow somewhere. Stay that way
Ms. Susan Roces. There's nobody quite like you.

* * *

Many of my readers were quite struck by my recent column titled Why,
Lord, Why? in the wake of the tsunami that struck at South Asia with a
devastation that was almost biblical. Eventually, 200,000 people will
have died in that "shock and awe" upheaval. It's only now on our TV
screens that we see the extent of the destruction, and we are dumbstruck.

So I figured, in this reeling world massively stunned by the tsunami,
believer and non-believer would still be mesmerized by more passages from
the bible on "calamities". Here is the prophet Isaiah on God's wrath:

"For I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves
roar - the Lord Almighty is his name. The Day of the Lord will come like
the destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go
limp, every man's heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and
anguish will grip them; they will writhe like woman in labor; they will
look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.The stars of heaven and
their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be
darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for
its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance
of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man
scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I
will make the heavens tremble and the earth will shake from its place at
the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. ' Isaiah
3: 6-13).

What follows are portions of the Book of Revelations on the Destruction
of the Earth:

"Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air and he had the eternal
gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth - to every nation, tribe,
language, people. He said in a loud voice: 'Fear God and give him glory,
because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the
heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

"And out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying 'It is
done!' Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,
and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has occurred since man has
been on earth, so tremendous was that quake. Every island fled away and
the mountains could not be found. From the sky, huge hailstones of about
a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of
the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

"And the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were
seared by the intense heat. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and
there was no place for them. And I saw the dead. Great and small, standing
before his throne and books were opened. Another book was opened, which
was the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had
done as recorded in the books.

"Then I saw a new earth and a new heaven for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away. There will be no more death or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was
seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the beginning and the end."

These words, these stirrings from the Bible have a strange effect on
me. Again, I ask the Almighty why He poured His wrath, if indeed He did,
on a cluster of relatively poor and primitive countries in South Asia.
Then stretching my imagination, I ask again is the tsunami in South Asia
simply a prelude? Will there be more such tsunamis this time in the West
where the wanton and the wicked, the rich and the affluent live in
prodigal splendor?

I don't know. All I know is that the tsunami in South Asia has blown me
sky-high, where my usual bearings and store of knowledge cannot answer
all the questions. It is also possible the tsunami in South Asia was
intended to make humanity realize life simply dangled from a piece of
string, and in this circumstance nobody was rich or powerful or poor and
powerless.

Is that why the world has come together? Why America now realizes that
9/11 with just under 3000 casualties was not the big thing it was blown
up to be, and that it too could be ravaged by a tsunami against which it
wouldn't have much defense for all its military might? Why everybody,
white or black, brown or yellow, feels it has a bounden duty to succor
the stricken of South Asia?

Again, I am just asking questions. I don't really know.

Early on, before the tsunami, I wouldn't have given the passages I
extracted from the Bible much of a tumble. But there they are, each word
quivering before me, of an Almighty but vengeful God who wrought
creation, but finding out creation had spun only fool's gold and the
insolence and ingratitude of man would now crush it by making the earth
shake as it never shook before? And the seas rage as they never raged
before?

Honestly, I don't know.

From: lquesada@newsflash.org

How to dress for your date

There’s been a sea change in store windows. No longer are models baring their
midriffs. Pants are rising higher and skirt hems are dipping lower. Demure
styles, decorated fabrics, tailored, tweedy jackets and nipped-in waists define
the new look. While women over 40 raise a cheer to discover clothes they can
really buy again, it’s time to reassess your dating wardrobe.

If you’ve been away from the dating scene for a while, you may need a major
overhaul. Or, you could make do with a few new pieces. It depends on what
you’ve got and where you’re going. Let’s look at the possibilities.

Coffee: Your first meeting with an online acquaintance should be someplace
public where you’re not committed to a lengthy time. No business suits, please;
you’re not interviewing for a job. And no paint-splattered blue jeans; you’re
not refinishing a chest of drawers. Casual slacks with a fine wool sweater
should do the trick.

Dinner: Find out where you’re going. Straight-leg jeans with tailored shirt and
cardigan sweater are fine for a burger joint or the neighborhood pizzeria. If
you’ll be sitting down to a white linen tablecloth, you’ll feel more
comfortable in a pencil skirt with a silk blouse. Enliven your outfit with
accessories like antique-looking cameo pins or a beaded purse. Mixing and
matching is the way to go. Sarah Jessica Parker’s star turn as Carrie Bradshaw
on Sex in the City taught women that it’s okay to pair expensive designer togs
with funky finds from thrift shops.

Movie: No one can see you in the dark, so you want to be comfortable. Dress in
layers so you can add and remove coverage according to the indoor climate,
which can change as the air-conditioning kicks in or the crowd fills up the
theater.

Party: This is the classic opportunity to call your hostess and ask what she’s
wearing. Casual and dressy are easy enough. It’s “dressy casual” or “casual
dressy” that are confusing. Pair some dressy pants with a casual top and a
chunky necklace, or a dressy silk blouse with tight black jeans and high heels.

Opera: It’s not often, but sometimes you find yourself in a ritzy setting like
a big charity gala. What you want is a resale shop where people who go to a lot
of fancy dress balls recycle their gowns. You can frequently find a great
bargain on designer wear. Black is always slimming, but color is coming back.
Simple, classic styles won’t date you like big shoulder pads and elaborate
sequins that scream “Dallas” will.

Just make sure that whatever you wear fits — no fat rolls over your waist, no
tents hiding your curves. And make sure it’s clean — no shoulder stains from
baby spit-up. Check for moth holes, split seams and missing buttons.

Need help? A trusted salesperson at a high-end boutique can help you find what
looks best on you. Armed with that knowledge, you can find similar items at
less pricey shops.

Some amazing facts

Coca-Cola was originally green.

The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start
with.

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

There are two credit cards for every person in the United States.

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on
one row ! of the keyboard.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men!!

You can't kill yourself by holding your breath.

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

People say "Bless you" when you sneeze because when you sneeze, your heart
stops for a millisecond.

It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest
tongue twister in the English language.

If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a
sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents great king from history.
Spades - King
David Clubs - Alexander the Great
Hearts - Charlemagne
Diamonds - Julius Caesar

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

If a statue of a person in the park on a horse has both front legs in the
air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the
air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the
horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser
printers all have in common? Ans. - All invented by women.

Question - This is the only food that doesn't spoil. What is this? Ans. -
Honey

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

A snail can sleep for three years.

All polar bears are left handed.

American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each
salad served in first-class.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.

Shakespeare invented the word 'assassination' and 'bump'.

Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

The ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

The electric chair was invented by a dentist.

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to
squirt blood 30 feet.

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over
million descendants.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear
by 700 times.

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

Most lipstick contains fish scales.

Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different

And finally 99% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

From: JeanAustria@astec-power.com

Boracay: sweeter the second time around

MANILA, January 5, 2005 (STAR) By Jerry Donato - It was my second visit to Boracay after two years and I came without any expectation. I thought I wouldn't be that thrilled anymore about soaking in the pristine waters, availing myself of banana boat rides, walking along the powdery sand and haggling for island souvenirs. I was wrong.

 

       Truth is, when SEAir recently flew me to this paradise, I discovered that there's a lot more to expect in Bora, the hibernation haven for those who want to escape city life.

 

       Seven kilometers long and two kilometers wide, Boracay boasts of a treasure trove of hotel resorts that offer one-of-a-kind island hospitality and comfort.

 

       Escondido and Surfside, my homes for three days and two nights, made my visit much sweeter. Staying in both resorts is extremely relaxing and satisfying (even in terms of their design, facilities and budget). Both hotel resorts offer a different kind of relaxation to anyone who wishes to make them one's home away from home.

 

       Poised at Station 1 near a mountainside, Escondido Beach Resort stands regally in Spanish-Filipino fashion. Living up to its Spanish name, this resort is a hideaway within a hideaway.

 

       Veering away from Boracay's brand of festivity and merry-making, Escondido provides guests privacy and time to contemplate.

 

       Owned and managed by former city dwellers Greg Keyser, his wife Chicklette and their friend May Velilla who handles the resort's marketing in Manila, the resort is fit for travelers who prefer a homey ambiance. This is the reason why Greg, Chicklette and May, all Boracay lovers, opted for a provincial atmosphere to answer the travelers' relaxation needs.

 

       Straddling over a thousand-square-meter lot area, Escondido shows off Filipino heritage in its fixtures. The resort's well-appointed rooms, two of which are suite rooms, showcase Filipino style and ingenuity.

 

       In the rooms are cabinets, bauls, tables, beds and a wooden coat and hat holder. Most of them have a deep chocolate color.

 

       Complementing these are paintings, frames, vases and interesting items like old plantsa (iron), grinder, timbangan (weighing scale) and poso used as base for lampshades. Almost all of the decor and furniture were sourced from the different regions of the country. The tables in the resort's bar and dining area are made of capiz windows transported from Isabela.

 

       Modern amenities accompany the resort's characteristically Filipino designs. They make one's stay a blend of old and new, native and foreign, exotic and outlandish.

 

       All rooms are air-conditioned, and have cable TV, in-room safe, electric thermos, telephone/intercom system, hot and cold showers and refrigerators. The suites have a mini kitchen with microwave oven and a bathroom that has a jacuzzi.

 

       Though more than a hundred steps from the beach front, Escondido is close to all local and commercial establishments. After just a few steps from the resort, one can see the only church in the island. Just nearby is the island medical clinic and some small resort hotels, bars and clubs. Visitors can ride the tricycle to shop for food and souvenir items in the talipapa area.

 

       After a day-long walk and frenzied partying, guests can stay in one of the resort's three cabanas or nipa huts to feel refreshed. There, they can have massage or enjoy the outdoor ambiance since the cabanas stand on the hillside.

 

       The pocket gardens with assorted flora help one to relax even more. The green bottles transformed into candleholders, tables with caretela wheels and chairs from years old and huge trees add to the tranquil mood.

 

       Should guests prefer to hie off, Greg and Chicklette and also the front desk officer can make arrangements for the visitors' choice of outdoor activities like island hopping, snorkeling, wind surfing, banana boat riding, motor and mountain biking, horse back riding and even golfing.

 

       But before one burns calories, one should feast on the resort's gastronomic treats of Filipino food and also continental dishes.

 

       Guests can enjoy their meals in the bar, the dining area located at the second floor, or the small table set up just right outside their rooms. Chicklette personally does the marketing and preparation of food.

 

       Escondido, of course, is not the only place to have a dream vacation in Boracay. There's also the resort and spa, Surfside.

 

       Located at Station 3, the southern part of Boracay, Surfside boasts of 14 hotel-type rooms - seven de luxe rooms, four superior rooms, two family rooms and one junior suite. Each room has a telephone with IDD and NDD access, cable TV, facsimile service, Internet access and deposit box.

 

       But before guests can unload their baggage, a welcome letter that says, "It is our pleasure to be of service to you in any way," is the first thing that catches their attention. This sets the tone for an ultra-comfortable stay.

 

       More than the pleasure one can experience in the resort's rooms and interiors, one can experience bliss at the Yasuragi Relaxation Spa, the only authentic Japanese style spa in Boracay.

 

       The spa offers services that soothe one's body, spirit and mind. Attended by the resort's able masseuses, one can avail of either the facial massage, foot massage and scrub, pedicure and manicure or the Boracay massage.

 

       The reinvigorating Bora massage is a mix of Swedish and Shiatsu. This certainly destresses the body, helping improve blood circulation. The signature massage is perfect for those who play and work hard. All spa services are reasonably priced.

 

       Before the massage starts, guests are asked to have a hot or cold shower. They can also soak in the dry or steam sauna. There are also clean and relaxing towels and kimonos in the spa.

 

       To savor their stay in the island even more, guests can proceed to the relaxation lounge at the second deck of the Yasuragi Relaxation Spa after the massage. It overlooks the panoramic view of Boracay's calm waters, white sand and lush greenery.

 

       Enjoying one of these relaxation activities is ideal after strolling around the island, swimming, touring, shopping and scuba diving.

 

       Relaxation in Surfside doesn't end there. Guests can dine at the resort's Nagisa Coffee Shop. Here, they can pamper themselves with sumptuous Japanese and other Asian cuisine. Visitors can also have an enjoyable conversation in the built-in cottage made of Mahogany trees.

 

       After traversing from one end to another end of Bora, it's time to return to Manila with a refreshed feeling.

 

       Having the chance to stay in these resorts, I must say, Boracay experience is sweeter the second time around.

 

From:   lquesada@newsflash.org