Life is unfair

Inimbitahan ako ni Sister Mylene na magbigay daw ng keynote speech sa graduation ceremony sa Sisters of Mary - Adlas Campus noong July 8, 2021. Walang-wala na siguro maimbitahan na available kaya pingatyagaan na lang ako. Hehe! Tinanggap ko syempre kahit na may pag aalinlangan pa sa aking sarili kung ako nga ba ay nararapat. Here's what I told the graduates.

Do you believe in Miracles? I do.

27 years ago, 3rd year high school student ako noon sa Sisters of Mary School nang pumanaw sa sakit si Fr. Al, founder ng SOM. Ang Sisters of Mary School ay isang libreng boarding school para sa mga mahihirap. Lahat ng pangangailangan ay libreng naibibigay sa pamamagitan ng mga donasyon na kinakalap ni Fr. Al mula sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo. 

Trip to Busan and Seoul | Pilgrimage to Sisters of Mary Korea

Kung graduate ka ng Sisters of Mary School, malamang ay isa sa mga pangarap mong gawin ay makabisita sa SOM Korea, kung saaan nagmula ang lahat tungkol sa mga gawain ni Fr. Al.

Tama ba? Kung plano mo bumisita sa Sisters of Mary sa Korea, this is for you. Ibabahagi ko rito ang karanasan ko sa pagbisita sa SOM Korea at ilang tips na rin sa Visa Application at sa pagpunta sa SOM Korea.

Journey to Financial Freedom 101

Few years ago, may post ako sa FB about Financial Freedom. Ito yung mga panahon ng kasagsagan ng mga Sports Car na red bilang pang-engganyo na sumali sa iba't-ibang networking raket. Naisipan kong-ipost dito para mas madali i-share sa mga fellow ASMSI members at iba pang kaibigan at kakilala. Sayang nga lang at walang nagturo sa akin nito noong nag-uumpisa pa lang ako. :-)

2018 Pep Talk with Sisters of Mary Grade 7 Students

29 years ago, isa ako sa mga mapalad na nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makapagtapos ng high school at vocational training sa Sisters of Mary School sa Cavite. Kahapon, bumalik kami ng mga batchmates ko sa school para magbigay ng Pep Talk sa mga Grade 7 students.

Butterfly Releases: Captivating or Cruelty?

I went home last Sunday for our annual Grand Alumni Homecoming. It was a good opportunity to catch up again with my high scool batchmates, schoolmates and friends. Our annual homecoming activity coincides with the death anniversary of Fr. Al, now a Servant of God.

After the ceremony to give thanks and remember Fr. Al at the Virgin of the Poor Chapel, there was a balloon release as well as butterfly release. It's a sort of symbolic rituals rituals celebrating transitions, letting go and hoping that a wish may come true.

Butterfly releases are quite common during the weddings, funerals, birthdays and other celebrations. I've got issue with that.

At first, I thought it was cool. Seeing those butterflies fly again and land on a flower is captivating. But I also saw butterflies that can hardly fly and literally landed on the ground probably due to stress after being stuffed into envelopes for hours.

I look at it as cruelty against butterflies.

Missing Out on Breaking Dawn Movie Premier

A fellow high school alumnus, we fondly call El Kapitan/Capt. USA gave us a surprised visit at home last Saturday.

The running joke for his abrupt trip from his hometown Infanta, Quezon all the way to Metro Manila was to catch the premiere showing of Breaking Dawn Part One, selling one pig in the process. However, watching this movie with so much romantic undertones together with another guy proved to be enough reason not to proceed.

I told him that if he really liked the movie, he can opt to wait for DVD release, filled with features and be among the firsts to own one. Another thing for him to watch out for is a Twilight movie club much like the Disney Movie Club.

Disney Movie Club is the official Disney-owned movie club giving access to great deals on all the best Disney movies.

I'm sure that the Twilight Movie Franchise can come up with its own official movie club given its phenomenal success. Or they might already have. It wouldn't be that hard to compile all the movies in one packaging, include exclusive features and perhaps with that offer the chance to be among the first to see the last part of Breakig Dawn. Twi-hards will surely gobble it up in seconds. Otherwise, if they don't go the same route, they'd be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Hey, El Kapitan / Capt. USA all is not lost on your quest!

Pay it Forward

I have just created a new page for my Gateway to Canada blog - Pay it Forward. My objective is help generate funds for the Sisters of Mary School.

I hope more ASMSI Bloggers would help promote Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc. specially those who are making money online. FACFI now accepts online recurring donation via paypal, it is now easier to donate! A 5$ monthly donation may sound small but it will go a long way.

A pledge badge posted on a blog looks cool. Must ask somebody to create one. Any volunteer, ASMSI peeps? :-)

Happy Birthday, Mina!

At Sisters of Mary School Greenhouse (Silang, Cavite)

Mina is one of my sweetest friends from ASMSI. A very soft spoken lady and a super caring wife to her husband, Maximus. I like it when she joins our climbs, she's one of those who's really helpful in preparing foods and makes sure everybody is taken cared of. Really sweet.

She belongs to the 7th batch of Sisters of Mary School graduates and I belong to the 4th batch. She's celebrating her 21st birthday today. So now you know my age. ;-)

Happy birthday, Mina!

Be a Sisters of Mary Technical Institute Scholar | Entrance Exam on December 7, 2010

Do you know anyone who needs and deserves help for high school education? Please pass this information.

The Sisters of Mary Schools (Technical Institue) offers full scholarship in high school with free board and lodging; free medical & dental services & high-quality education. High school scholars will be trained on Electronics, Dressmaking, Industrial Sewing Machine Operation, Advanced Dressmaking,Steno-typing and Bookkeeping, Basic Computer Systems, Call Center Training, Culinary Arts, Machine Shop & Welding, Computer Technology (CADD), AUTOCAD, Automechanics & Driving and Mechanical Processes.

There will be Qualifying Exam for all students (Boys & Girls) at the Sisters of Mary School Girlstown Complex, Biga, Silang Cavite on December 07, 2010. Exams start at 8:30 am to 4pm.

Requirements & qualifications for Incoming Freshmen:

1. must be 12- 15 years old by December 2010; must not have studied in high school
2. must have completed elementary studies or presently enrolled as grade VI pupil
3. must come from poor family with monthly income of Php 3,000.00 or below
4. must not have brother/sister studying in any of the four Sisters of Mary Campuses (Biga Cavite;Adlas Cavite; Talisay Cebu;Minglanilla Cebu)
5. must not have a brother/sister who have graduated at any of the Sisters of Mary campuses
Sta. Mesa Manila, Biga Cavite, Adlas Cavite, Talisay Cebu, Minglanilla Cebu)
6. for elementary graduates - must have a general average of 80% or above on their grade VI card; must present original grade VI card during the qualifying exam
7. for those presently enrolled in Grade VI - must secure Certification from the Principal indicating that they are currently enrolled and have a general average of 80% and above on their grading period
8. must be accompanied by a guardian on the day of examination (for interview)
9. must present original birth certificate
10. Bring 1x1" ID Picture

The Sisters of Mary School was founded by Fr. Al Scwartz. He died several years ago but his work continues. The school is being funded through donations from benefactors around the world.

ASMSI Fun Run Nov 2010

I'm a proud graduate of The Sisters of Mary School Batch '93.

ASMSI Fun Run | Run for a Cause!

I'm not a runner but for the first time I'll be joining a 3k fun run organized by Alumni of The Sisters of Mary Schools, Inc. (ASMSI). This event is open to all so if you are interested, come and join us! It will be held on November 14, 2010.

For more information about the event, click here to visit the Facebook Event Page. You can also register online.

ASMSI Fun Run is actually a fund raising activity for The Sisters of Mary School (SMS) and ASMSI Welfare and Development Center. For those who are just new here, SMS offers free high school and vocational training for the poor students founded by Fr. Al Schwartz. I'm a proud graduate of The Sisters of Mary School and will be forever thankful to Fr. Al, the sisters and donors who make the program possible.

Coron Palawan Getaway

Have you been to Coron, Palawan? If not, I highly recommend that you visit Coron for your next summer getaway.


I went there last month together with 3 friends from ASMSI. The place is really great I call it paradise. :-)



It's our first visit to Coron so we decided to get a package tour which cost us P9,500 each. It includes land transfer, boats, island tour, accommodation and food (buffet). I'm not sure if it's the standard rate but one thing I can say is it's worth it. We can't complain with the food they served for us.



Our island tour includes going to Siete Picados, Banol Beach, Calumboyan Isaland, Kayangan Lake and CYC Beach. We also visited ship wreck sites and coral gardens as well as Maquinit Hot Spring and Mt. Tapyas.



We stayed at Ralph's Pension House. When our agent told us of this place, we searched for feedback about it and found negative comments. We initially asked for another option but we were assured that those comments were not true, we decided to get it just the same. We're glad we did. I'll write about Ralph's Pension House separately. The owner and the staff were all friendly and we enjoyed our stay very much!

More Coron Palawan Getaway pictures here.

Leaving Mad House

In a month or two, we'll be moving out of our rented apartment. The one I'm sharing with fellow graduates from The Sisters of Mary School and the one we've grown accustomed to calling Mad House and lovingly stayed in for over three years.

The owner initially promised that our unit will be renovated and we were to be transferred temporarily on the adjacent unit. However, he had a changed of heart. With the contract not renewed this year, we have no choice but look for a new place.

Aside from looking for our next home, we are also in need of movers for our things, furniture and everything much like the New York movers. They are companies that help people or businesses bring in their stuff into that famous city with ease.

Where as the internet can be used to search for New York moving companies, unfortunately, that isn't the case yet in here. We are left to ask for referrals, newspaper ads, or worse, postings on walls or electrical posts.

Its hard to leave a place you called home. Bringing in your stuff to transfer makes it all the more inconvenient. It's funny that moving to New York with your things appears a lot easier than us moving to our next apartment, with our things in tow, to the next Barangay.

Happy Birthday Niko!

Because Niko is such a sweet blogger and friend, I wouldn't be surprised if there would be a number of blog posts greeting Niko on her birthday.

Happy Birthday, Niko! Here's to more birthdays to come and to more blogging moolah! :-)

Thanks to Pehpot for the birthday badge she made and for initiating this little surprise for Niko.

My ASMSI Badminton Buddies

Saturday night is badminton night! I'm now back to playing badminton after a long hiatus.

Here's some of the pictures last Saturday at Sheridan Badminton Center with friends from the Sisters of Mary School.

Friends from ASMSI

Amleth in action!

More pictures from last Saturday's badminton game here: http://apolthegreat.multiply.com.

I know how to play badminton and is quite familiar with some basic badminton rules now. But I'm not good at it yet, far from it. I'm actually thinking of getting a badminton trainer.

To my badminton buddies, see you again this coming Saturday!

Concert for A Cause: A tribute to Fr. Al for the Benefit of his Children

As a way of tribute to Fr. Al, the Alumni of the Sisters of Mary Shools, Inc., together with Fr. Al's Children Foundation, Inc. organized a concert for a cause to be held on Sept. 20, 2009 at The Sisters of Mary Girlstown Campus Auditorium in Silang, Cavite.



This concert for a cause will be featuring The Boystown & Girlstown Choir, Mr. Jed Madela, Mr. Dingson Balahadia, Mr. Nyoy Volante and Ms. Aiza Seguerra. Ticket price is at P500. Click here for information on how to buy your tickets.

I was one of those who benefited from Fr. Al's works. I belong to the 4th batch graduates of the Sisters of Mary School, which provide free high school and vocational training for the poor students.

Fr. Al is the founder of the Sisters of Mary School. Six years ago, he was declared as Servant of God and hopefully be declared as Saint soon.

Please help support the operation of the school by attending this Concert for A Cause: A tribute to Fr. Al for the Benefit of his Children. Or click here if you can't attend but wanted to make a donation for the school.

US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney Visited The Sisters of Mary School

I first learned about US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney visit to The Sisters of Mary School Silang Campus last month through World Villages for Children website.



Ms. Marixi Prieto's Philippine Daily Inquirer published a story about it yesterday (page G4).

The day they sang ‘God Bless America’

By Chelo Banal-Formoso
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: July 05, 2009

FROM the where the guests have been invited to stand, one can see the perfect lines formed by the girls, perhaps over 3,000 of them. Only discipline can make lines like these.

And then – their voices strong, their hand movements synchronized, looking like they are lit from within – they sing. God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the ocean white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.

A choreography of emotions and amazing grace, the rendition moves Kristie Anne Kenney to tears. Even the non-Americans among the guests are misty-eyed.

“That you chose to welcome me today by learning a special song that honors my country and my heritage, and to do it so brilliantly, is a very wonderful treat,” responds Ms Kenney upon being handed the microphone. “And I know of no other nation in the world that has that kind of kindness and welcoming spirit.”

It isn’t every day that the US ambassador to the Philippines comes a-calling on the Sisters of Mary (SOM) and their wards at the Girlstown complex in Silang, Cavite. And this afternoon, she comes bearing gifts.

“I brought you some books because if you’re like me and you dream of what else is out there, you can do a lot of that through books,” she says to thunderous applause.

The girls are all in uniforms of blue and white. Marian colors. In this live-in high school founded in 1985 by Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz, reading is highly valued, but so is moral and spiritual formation. The girls are taught to live a life of simplicity, charity, gratitude and joy. Marian virtues.

None of these kids is holding an iPod or a Sony Ericsson phone or any such cool gadget for teens these days. That’s because these girls, and their fellow scholars at SOM Boystown (not to be confused with the facility for juvenile delinquents), come from dirt-poor families of Luzon and Palawan (Visayas and Mindanao are served by the SOM schools in Cebu).

At Girlstown and Boystown, they are given free education, room and board, medical and dental services, not to mention heaps of hope.

Read the full story - The day they sang ‘God Bless America’

This is the part of Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney's speech that I liked most:

“You should be very proud of the great opportunity you’re being given here"

I am a proud graduate of the Sisters of Mary School and I'll be forever grateful for everything that I've learned and received from the school, from Fr. Al. Without the Sisters of Mary School, I can't imagine what my life would be like now.

Thank you to all the the benefactors of The Sisters of Mary School!

Baguio City Tour: Food, Arts and Adventure

Together with a couple of friends from Sisters of Mary School, we decided to make use of the long holidays by making a 3 days and 2 nights Baguio City Tour.

Chippy. me and Rhei

It was Rhea's birthday last Friday so it's also a sort of birthday celebration. But if there are three words to describe this trip to Baguio City, these would be Food, Arts and Adventure.

Day 1: Thursday (April 9, 2009)



We left Manila on Thursday, 2am via Victory Liner and arrived in Baguio City after 6 hours. Upon arrival at the Baguio City terminal, we immediately bought our return ticket and then headed to a friend's house for a FREE breakfast (Thanks, Liza!). After breakfast, we finalized our itineraries before we went to Mountain Lodge and Restaurant to check in.


First stop, Mine's View Park. I served as their photographer.


Then we had lunch at Mine's View Park Hotel. I ordered grilled fish fillet and strawberry shake. Yummy!



After lunch, we're supposed to drop by at Botanical Garden but decided to visit Kidlat Tahimik's Oh My Gulay Restaurant first because it was raining at that time. We just had coffee there since we've just eaten our lunch. We feasted our eyes on Kidlat Tahimik's art works.


Next stop, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. At the foot of the stairs going up to the grotto are vendors selling candles, flowers and foodies. According to the vendors, the color of candle you should offer depends on what you want to pray for (red for love, green for quick money, orange for good health, etc.). I was expecting that Chippy will get a red candle but she didn't. She bought a white candle which according to her covers everything. Best buy, I must say. :-)



From the grotto, we headed to Burnham Park. We just walked around the park and then had dinner at Solibao Restaurant. We ordered sinigang na sugpo and lechon kawali.



After dinner, we dropped by Ayuyang Bar to check who's playing. We're hoping to catch some live acoustic music but without luck. So we just went to Cordillera Coffee at SM City Baguio to have some coffee. They're offering free wifi and fortunately, I have my netbook with me. I took that opportunity to check emails and adsense income. It looks like adsense clickers are on vacation, too! hehe!

At around 9pm, we went back to Mountain Lodge and called it a day.

Baguio City Tour: Day 2 (Wright Park, Botanical Garden, Baguio Arts Guild and Tam-awan Village)

Baguio City Tour: Day 3 (Strawberry Farm, Camp John Hay, Cafe by the Ruins)

I can't remember how many times I've been to Baguio City, but there's one thing I'm certain, this trip is the best!

I'm back!

The month of March is almost over and I just realized that for the first quarter of 2009, this is just my 2nd entry for this blog. Boy was I really busy with work. But before my 2 avid readers totally ditch this blog from their reading lists, I figured I have to update this blog somehow. I also don't want Entrecard to kick this blog out of the program for being inactive. hehe!

So here are some updates.

Pia got sick 1st week of March and was almost confined due to diarrhea. And just last week, she complained of head ache, stomach ache and had on and off fever. Got her tested for dengue and fortunately it was negative. But she's ok now. School is almost over and we're planning a summer trip to Bohol.

I visited my Alma Mater on March 15, 2009 for our Annual Alumni Homecoming. As you may already know, I'm a proud graduate of the Sisters of Mary School. It always feels good to be back to a place you consider your home.



An officemate offered free accommodation at a beach resort in Subic owned by her cousin. And so to Subic off we go. We also went to Zoobic Safari and had a close encounter with tigers. Will write about it if I find time. Pictures are here.



I bought a new domain name for my NZ Immigration blog. I hope to double my adsense income with the addition of this new blog. With the current global financial crisis, the more it is important to have additional income streams. :-)

ACS Employment Opportunities for SMS Graduates

Here's another employment opportunities for graduates of The Sisters of Mary School.

Photo from Susie Achacoso Cruz
Advanced Contact Solutions, Inc. (ACS) and The Sisters of Mary School signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which will provide financial and technical assistance to the school and employment opportunities for its graduates.

On September 24, 2008, ACS will conduct screening for Customer Service Representatives & Technical Support Representatives to be held at SMS Computer Laboratory, SMS New Bldg, Girlstown Complex, Biga, Silang Cavite.

The Sisters of Mary School provides free high school education and vocational training to poor but deserving students. It also helps find job for them after graduation. Aside from ACS, the school has tie ups with different manufacturing firms in Cavite and Laguna.

The Sisters of Mary School was founded by Fr. Al Schwartz.