National Heroes Day Celebration

National Heroes' Day is a public holiday in the Philippines. It is celebrated every last Sunday of August. This is to commemorate the heroic deeds of our leaders and to emulate the minds of the younger generation on how our heroes fought for our country and gave us freedom. This is also celebrated in order to give honor to other heroes who are not remembered with their own legal holiday.
Let us be thankful to them because they were the one who fought for our country. Below are some of the heroes of our country. We are proud to be a Filipino.

Jose P. Rizal

Melchora Aquino

Benigno "Ninoy Aquino

Gabriela Silang

Marcelo H. del Pilar

Andres Bonifacio

Emilio Aguinaldo

Miss Venezuela Won the Miss Universe 2009

Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez won the 2009 Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas on Sunday night.
The other top-five finalists were runner-up Ada Aimee de la Cruz, followed by Miss Kosovo, Droga Ganusha; Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; and Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez.
Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.

“Nahiusang Katawhan Nakigdait sa Kalibutan” (“One People in Communion with the Earth”)

Happy 24th Kadayawan Festival! The Theme for this year is "Nahiusang Katawhan sa Kalibutan" (One People in Communion with the Earth) Kadayawan is a thanksgiving celebration for a bountiful harvest. Basically, it is a comemmorative event for the life and culture of the Indegineous People which is always associated with land. They expressed thier thanksgiving to the spirits by dancing.

This year’s celebration has two main components:

Lumadnong Kasaulogan (Indigenous Peoples Festival) - the core of the Kadayawan Festival showcasing our indigenous peoples’ culture and arts.

Subay sa Lumadnong Kagikan (Contemporary Indigenous-motivated Celebrations) - showcases the impact of the indigenous culture and traditions to contemporary artists and communities.

The festival started from Aug.17-23. There are lots of activities prepared by the organizers. The highlighted part was the Indak-indak sa Kadalanan (Street dancing).

Varieties of Durian

One of the two common varieties found at different fruit stands in the city is Arancillo, which is also considered as one of the oldest varieties in Davao City. Arancillo, named after former BPI-PhilFruits director Vicente Arancillo, is considered as the best variety because of its delectable taste.

Found first in Catalunan Grande, Arancillo durian has a 30 percent edible portion but its drawback is its ripe fruits can easily be spoiled during continuous downpour.

The other common durian fruit found in fruit stands is Puyat. Unlike Arancillo, Puyat has a stable character that does not easily get rotten and still tastes luscious even during rainy season, the chief of BPI-PhilFruits Fruit Crop Section says. Its fruit may weigh as much as seven kilos and its tree can bear as many as 100 fruits.

Among the durian trees with high resistance to sickness are Chanee, Monthong, Lacson 1 and 2, and Karnyaw which all originated from Thailand.

Chanee, Loquias said, is the first variety to have spread among durian farmers, and which preceded the Arancillo. Its first fruits, he said, may taste like sweet potato but its sweet taste can be savored in its second and third fruiting.

Monthong, another durian variety, can also be found at BPI-PhilFruits field though only a few farmers are planting it. Loquias said Monthong once became popular but when it bore fruits, they conducted comparative analysis and found that the variety farmers claimed as Monthong was actually Soriano and Obusa durian which have not been recommended by BPI-PhilFruits for failing to meet the criteria set by the research center.

The Soriano durian, which originated from Kapalong, Davao del Norte, looks nice from the outside but when it matures, the bottom part of the fruit tends to rot until it opens up, inviting fruit flies.

Loquias said the Soriano durian tree at BPI-PhilFruits has been there for the past seven years but its fruit quality hasn't improved despite the care and fertilization they have given to the tree.


Mamer durian, known among Dabawenyos as native durian, is considered as the best native variety in Calinan. Named after Mamerto Fernandez, Mamer durian with a 25 percent edible portion is common in Barangays Serib and Dumalang in Calinan.

Another Calinan durian which is also registered as a variety with NSIC is Alcon Fancy. But this variety, with thicker flesh and edible portion reaching to 40 percent, rarely turns up in fruit stands as durian lovers usually buy them directly from farms that produce them like Alcon farms in Tugbok.

The other registered durian varieties are Atabrine (native) and Duyaya (Durian and Biyaya) which was named after farmer-scientist Severino Belviz of Calinan.

The other types of durian not yet in the market but are recommended by BPI-PhilFruits are Malaysian D101, Malaysian D24 and M-Dur 88 which are found sporadically in the Davao region.

Many for those who are first time to test or smell this fruit really don't like it but as when you used to taste it you really like this fruit. They said it smells like hell but taste like heaven. Once you taste it you will love and long for it.

2009 Kadayawan Festival in Davao

The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festival in the city of Davao. Its name derives from the friendly greeting "Madayaw", from the Dabawenyo word "dayaw", meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.

Today, Kadayawan has transformed into a festival of festivals, with a number of spin-off festivals in the region. The festival honors Davao’s artistic, cultural and historical heritage, its past personified by the ancestral “lumads”, its people as they celebrate on the streets, and its floral industry as its representatives parade in full regalia in thanksgiving for the blessings granted on the city. A celebration that interfaces the three aspects: tribal; industrial and; arts and entertainment. The festivities are highlighted with floral floats, street-dancing competitions and exhibits that showcases the island's tourism products and services.

The most exciting during this celebration is the presence of different fruits especially the Durian. You can see a lot of it along the streets.

source: wikipedia

Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Any lump or cyst in the breast that grows bigger or does not disappear after a menstrual cycle should be seen, examined by the doctor. If you feel something unusual on your breast always consult your doctor about it, do not wait for a longer time wherein it is already malignant. Be vegelance to your health.

Warning signs of Breast Cancer:

1. Lump in the breast
2. Unusual change in the shape and size of breast
3. Puckering of the skin of the breast
4. Dimpling of the skin of the breast
5. Discharge or blood from the nipple
6. Lymph nodes or a lump at the underarm or neck area
7. Swelling of the upper arm

It is recommended that women before reaching 40 years old should do the following:

1. Monthly Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
2. Physical examination every 3 years
3. Baseline mammogram at age 35-40

And for women 40 years and above should do the following:

1. Monthly BSE
2. Yearly physical examination
3. Yearly mammogram

Uses of Honey

Honey is one of nature's wonders. Honey has been around for a long time and yet we know little about it. It is nothing more than nectar gathered from the blossoms of many flowers by bees. It is then taken into the beehive and changed by the worker bees. Worker bees remove the liquid from the nectar. The finished product is heavy syrup with 12 to 20 percent moisture and 80 to 85 percent sugar. It is a good source of quickly energy for the human body.

Honey comes in many flavors depending on from which flower the bees gather the nectar. Milder flavors of honey include Mesquite and Cotton. Orange honey comes from citrus areas. There are many flavors of wild flower honey. The flavors vary from year to year. Not only are the flavors varied but honey also comes in many different forms. Comb, chunk, fine textured, liquid, and even solid honey that are sometimes called granulated, are all forms of honey. In the United States, we are most familiar with liquid and fine textured forms. Liquid and fine textured honeys are recommended for baking.

Baking with honey works well with a few helpful techniques. Measuring honey can be a problem because of its thickness. A non-stick cooking spray works best to rectify this problem. Just lightly spray on the cup, spoon, or container being used to measure the honey. Lightly buttering or greasing will also work. Using honey instead of sugar can easily be done by reducing the amount of liquid in your recipe by ° cup for each cup of honey that you use. A pinch of salt will help to bring out the sweetness of honey. You will also need to use 1/12 to 1/15 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey you use in addition to the baking powder already in the recipe. This helps to neutralize the acidity of the honey.

Honey boasts many medical benefits. Honey has aided in bad coughing spells for years. An effective mix for coughing is to peel and finely chop one pound of onions. Add two ounces of honey and æ of a pound of brown sugar in two pints of water. Simmer gently over low heat for three hours. When cool, put in an airtight container and take four to six tablespoons a day. As in any illness, it is best to consult a doctor. It is also a mild laxative. People have also boasted that chewing the thin wax cappings sliced from the comb of honey once a day for one month before the start of the hay fever season greatly reduces hay fever symptoms. Chewing these cappings has also helped sinus sufferers.

source: lutongbahay

Handog ng Pilipino Sa Mundo- A Tribute Song For Cory

I was in grade three that time when the 1986 EDSA Revolution happened. At my young age I was not able to appreciate what was happening during those time. I heard songs over the radio and seen on television thousands of different types people rallying in the EDSA Shrine singing songs like "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo", "Bayan Ko" but never realized what they are fighting for, until it was part of the philippine history which being taclked in the subject where it was explained to us the significant of that event under the leadership of Pres. Corazon Aquino. It was with Cory Aquino that we were able to achieved democarcy for almost twenty years of dictatorship of the Marcoses. It is really sad that Pres. Cory has died but her legacy will remain in our hearts. I hope this song will always remain in every Filipino's hearts. It is really a beautiful song, every words will make you realized what the Filipino people are fighting for.

Di na 'ko papayag mawala ka muli.
'Di na 'ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
'Di na papayagang mabawi muli.

Magkakapit-bisig libo-libong tao.
Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.
Sama-sama iisa ang adhikain.
Kelan man 'di na paalipin.

Ref:
Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo,
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat.
(Mag sama-sama tayo, ikaw at ako)

Masdan ang nagaganap sa aming bayan.
Nagkasama ng mahirap at mayaman.
Kapit-bisig madre, pari, at sundalo.
Naging Langit itong bahagi ng mundo.

Huwag muling payagang umiral ang dilim.
Tinig ng bawat tao'y bigyan ng pansin.
Magkakapatid lahat sa Panginoon.
Ito'y lagi nating tatandaan.
(Repeat refrain two times)

Coda:
Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan.
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat!

Thank You July Entrecard Droppers

Blog hopping and blog dropping are really very important activity in building up traffic for a particular site as well as in building up a community. I really enjoyed doing it and besides I learned a lot from the postings of my fellow blogger. I gained more friends from around the globe whom I am connected with. That is why I would like to extend my heartfelt thank you to the following top droppers for the month of July. And thank you also to all who visited my page for the month of July.


Myspace Thank You Comments & Graphics


Mom's Place
Living with Purpose
We live to tell God's Amazing Grace
Yashiro
Your Free Virus Removal
My Life's Perception and Inspiration
Realising The Dream
Lesbian Dating & Relationships
Live for Life
Research

My Out of Town Trip

To my fellow bloggers and friends in the blogging community, maybe you are wondering that I was very silent (no postings and chat either in the shoutmix) for the past six days, it's because I was out of town to accompany our recruitment team and conducted entrance exams for incoming freshmen to Surallah, Banga and Marbel South Cotabato. I had a good experienced to the place. In fact I had gained extra pounds(lol) because we ate a lot. Actually we're back in Davao City on Sunday night and had my rest day on Monday. I supposed to work on Tuesday but I need to accompany my mother to the doctor for checked-up. And on Wednesday it was declared by the President as non-working holiday to pay respect for the burial of President Corazon Aquino who passed away last August 1, 2009. So, it was indeed a long vacation for me. I need to double time for the missing days for my blog hopping. I need to have my droppings now.

Bayan Ko

I think everybody is familiar with this song 'Bayan Ko". This is a trademark song of Pres. Corazon Aquino during the EDSA Revoultion in 1986 the fall down of the Marcoses. The Filipinos will really missed you Madame Cory!

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya.

(the english version of the song)

My country the Philippines
Land of gold and flowers
With love in her palms
She offers beauty and virtue.
And of her modesty and beauty
The foreigner was attracted
O, my country, you were enslaved
Mired in hardship.

Even birds that are free to fly
Cage them and they cry,
Much more a beautiful country
Shall long to be free.
Philippines my beloved,
Cradle of my tears and poverty
I'll aspire,
To see you truly free.