There are so many things to be thankful for...

Here is a clip of how poverty and starvation affects the life of a child...

Earlier I read about this article from the Associated Press...

PARIS (AP) - Angry French farmers dumped millions of liters of fresh milk next to one of France's most famous tourist sites on Friday to denounce the slumping cost of milk and an EU plan to end production quotas, which could further drive prices down.

APLI, a small dairy farmer's union that organized the protest, said over 1,000 farmers and 300 tractors took part in the event, pouring 3,5 million liters (925,000 gallons) of milk onto fields next to the famed Mont Saint-Michel. The Medieval island monastery is one of the most visited sites in France and is next to the Normandy and Brittany regions, which are both big milk producers.

What the heck's wrong with these farmers??? They could have given these tons of milk to 3rd world countries instead of wasting it as a sign of protest. If they didn't want to sell it, at least they could have thought of a better way to air their protest. Dumping and wasting wouldn't make a difference.

And then I saw this one on the news...

What do you gain by throwing pies at each other??? A record??? That's nonsense!!! Can they think of other sensible ways to gain a slot in the Guinness Book of World Record??? No wonder America's economy is in rumbles right now... Its a waste, seeing the pies on the floor after the event.

How about the two kids in the 1st video??? Those who toil just to have a decent meal for the day. The people in Africa and other 3rd world countries who would do everything to just have bite of that PIE that Americans just threw at each other or just to have a sip of the milk that French farmers dumped. I think the WEST should change their way of thinking and stop wasting whatever they have right now...

We should be thankful of what we have. Let us appreciate it by using our resources wisely and not spoiling and wasting what little we have...

First drunk when I was 4...

I shouldn't be blogging this. Maybe some judgmental legalistic freaks will come across my blog and think I'm some kind of alcoholic (Beware!!!). I don't remember getting drunk as a kid, Mom just told me and I was like, "gosh, I did that?". I mean I'm not proud of being drunk at 4, I surely didn't do it by myself...

I'm just missing my grandfather who died when I was still 11 years old. And Yes, you guessed that right. He was my first gunner, the one who made me drunk.And, guess what?!?! He is not an alcoholic or "The Bad Influence" of sorts. He is Julian Bahinting Sr., a war veteran, a church planter, a man of faith-my greatest christian hero.He was "the Grandfather" of all time!!! Although I didn't grew to know him that long, still I have so many fond memories of him and things I hear from my mother.

So lets get to the "DRUNK" part. It was during a Festival in our church (FOT 91) held in a five-star hotel in Cebu. We checked-in one of the rooms there, along with the whole Bahinting clan. It was a get together, one happy time for the family. Of course, my grandfather always had a drink in store. I remember it was always the brand "Emperador". He'd drink one small shot every night to make his blood flow normally before he sleeps. But that night was different, I did all the drinking. I don't know what happened, according to my Mom, Lolo Julian offered me a drink jokingly to which I happily accepted. Drink after drink and I was gulping all of it. I don't know what got into me, maybe it was just my curiosity. I had 5 glasses and I wasted in the hotel's family size bed. The bad thing was, I kept talking and moving in my sleep. My uncle's tease me until today, for what happened that night. Hilarious!!! Those funny things you tried when you were a kid.

Yes, we drink and we enjoy the drink. My Lolo always led an example of moderate drinking.My parents allowed me to drink when I was in my youth as long as I do it in good company, in the right place, and with temperance. Alcohol is not inherently evil, it was meant to be enjoyed and drank mindfully. That's what legalistic people and drunkards miss most of the time.

this one's for you Lo!!

I am badly missing Lolo Julian, and his crazy jokes. I don't know what he would feel if he was still alive right now. It's not just what he hoped our whole family should be, coming from our strong christian background. He knows what I mean. See you someday Lo!!!

Broke my right foot...

I didn't actually break it, there would be a cast wrapped around my foot if it was so. I think I sprained my ankle but I also believe some bones caved-in after the impact...

It was when we decided to go to the beach with some excited kiddos. It was Monday, a National Holiday in the Philippines (some religious leader's burial) so I thought of sleeping all day. But I remembered inviting the teens and youth in our small church to go for a swim in the beach a day before. I really didn't mean what I said, who would go to the beach at 6 am in the morning? But they were more than serious than I was.I was still sleeping at 7:30 am enjoying my cozy bed. Then SMS' flooded my mobile phone, questions like, " Are we still going?" and "Are you already at the beach?". For the "sleepy head" I was, I turned off my phone (I cant reply when my phone is off). But, then some of them came flocking our house and I had no choice but wake up and head for the beach...

So I found myself swimming in shallow waters. There were more than 20 of us, I think. It wasn't a bad idea after all. The weather was cooperative. The sun didn't show up that much.I did not have any problem with my fair skin getting tanned. It was high tide, so the water level rose every time.

Then I suggested again (really good at suggestions) to my companions, "Let's play tayokok". A game of running and tagging. Two competing teams with a base for each, where you have to catch someone from the other team and make them your prisoner (I wonder how its called in other places). So that's what we did, even if I already had a shin splint from playing basketball Sunday night. It was my turn, I ran after an opponent from the other team but he was close too their base and someone tried to help him and ran after me. So I made a detour, I jumped at a lower sand slope at the side so that I won't be caught. But unfortunately I landed at a medium size stone and totally twisted my foot clockwise and heard something snapped. I couldn't run or walk afterward. The pain was really agonizing. I had to walk slowly with my left foot, I could not step my sole on the right. I was limping but I'm still alive.

When I was already at home I called up our old masseur, notorious for enjoying inflicting pain on his patients. So there he was, examining my foot and gave his doctor-like-diagnosis (really, you should meet this old man). Then he started twisting my joints and pressing some veins that made me want to kick him. Luckily, my kicking foot was the one injured. So after some bone-wrenching-moments he told me, you wont be able to walk properly for 2 weeks or more. What?!?! I gave him an I-thought-you-were-supposed-to-fix-me look...

So know I'm limping and people noticed that. A 5-minute walk to the office became 15 minutes. I think I need a cane like Dr. House or a wheel chair. Nah. I don't want to look helpless. I just have to endure this for now...

Well, I got some ounce of advice from my 6 year old nephew when I was cutting with a saw some piece of wood for the sound box I was making. He said, seeing me having a difficulty in my walking "maybe we should cut your foot off so that a new one would grow out?". "Good Idea" I told him, "we'll cut yours first and see whats gonna happen" as I gave him a creepy look. He also gave me a I-was-just-trying-to-help look (Kids!!).

Now, I don't know what this blog is all about... Is it about the beach or my broken foot (not that broken really)?!?!