When It Rains It Doesn't Only Pours But It Floods

Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day. 

We use to say these above phrases during our childhood days. Times when heavy rains incessantly drenching our surroundings. Times when we desperately want to go outside to play but we can't because of massive rains. And time when what we received were more than what we asked. 

We will say like "Tama na Ulan, tumigil ka na! As if we have the power like that of Superman or Batman or any cinematic heroes that we can command a thing or manipulate a situation to put halt to it. 

The news I saw on TV about the continuous monsoon rains makes me sad. Being in the rim of countries frequently stricken by calamities, we always feel helpless when calamity strikes us. All we do is to just prepare. But even then, our preparation isn't enough to combat these kinds of disaster. While watching the news, my mind was busy thinking of how can we extend our help in the fastest time it could allow. It has been our tradition in the community where I belong to extend help through donations (either in cash or in kind) to those mostly affected by any natural calamity. 

Inspiring People: "The Better Samaritan And A Good Soul Unfolded In Rugged Clothes"

It always fuels me to write stories of inspiration and hope. It always motivate me to continue to touch people's lives as I encounter one along my journey.

More so, it is equally delightful to hear and read stories of such sort. Of those stories that are heart-warming. Of those stories that triggers a weary soul that despite how difficult a situation still manages to smile and ready to fight and move ahead for life. Of those stories that melts our heart because it touches our emotional core in a positive way. Of those random act of kindness. Of impromptu situations that positively changes a person's view of life afterwards. 

Today, let me share with you a great story of a good-hearted young man strangely meeting a man that inspired him in myriad of ways who despite his horrible situation finds no reason to resign from life.

The Petite Boxer - The "David" Of Our Times

Mark Anthony Barriga - you may have lost your fight for a quarterfinal slot in boxing but you've done you incredible best to fight toe to toe with a former Olympic silver medalist Khazakh. What you have shown in the ring was pure gallantry. Fighting for your country and knowing that you're the only hope for a medal contention was quite an enormous challenge.

The weight of expectations in your shoulder wasn't easy to bear yet you've focused and showed the whole world that a Filipino fighter never back down. That a Filipino fighter is always mission-ready to accept whatever challenge he may in. The slimmest margin of 1 point (17-16) was enough of a testament and proved that you were up on the world stage. That a story of David fighting a Goliath wasn't a myth but a true legend. And you've gracefully displayed it on the ring and helped us remember the story.

That "Kaboom" Moment

That “Kaboom Moment” –is a self-coined phrase synonymous to “awkward moment or kill time moment” wherein you’re not expecting a thing to happen and yet it happen in a very awkward situation. Uhu? Did I get it right? LoLs.

It’s nothing special actually, just a little rant or a trivial outburst

I had this idea while I was walking toward the office for my night shift.

v  That “kaboom moment” when you’re dressed up properly, office attire with neck tie and all when you just quickly realized while walking along towards your office that you forget to insert a hanky in your pocket and you need to wipe your sweats because it’s super duper hot (extreme humid weather) temp. is like 50+ degrees and when you reach your office you’re sweating so much as if you just get out from a bath room, Kaboom.

v  That “kaboom moment” when you realized that you fail to bring extra clothes to change the wet one. And you’re right in front of an air-conditioning unit. Kaboom!

v  That “kaboom moment” when you’re about to go home, you’re in a hurry because of “call of nature” urgency when out of the blue, your boss call you up to do something for him that will cost you at least 5-10mins. Your face is twisted  and trying to hide na may pinipigil ka. Nag decide ka kasi na doon na sa flat mo pasabugin. Kaboom!

Stand Up PHILIPPINES, Way To Go MARK!

In this XXX Olympiad, our country--the Philippines had sent 11-Athletes to represent our country in different events. The Chief De Mission is Mr. Manny Lopez -Vice President of the Philippine Olympic Committee. 

To run down the qualified athletes, they are : Boxing - Mark Anthony Barriga, Swimming - Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Khing Lacuna, Archery- Mark Javier and Rachelle Ann Cabral, Athletics - Rene Herrera and Maristela Torres, BMX Racing - Daniel Calauag, JUdo - Fili-Japanese - Tomohiko Hoshina, Shooting - Paul Brian Del Rosario and Weightlifting - Hidilyn Diaz. Hidilyn was the flag bearer during the Olympic Opening Ceremony. The first woman to carry our nation's flag

While it has been observed that our contenders were slowly bowing out of their respective competition, one man raises our hopes as he brilliantly delivered in his event. The main man of the hour is non-other than MARK ANTHONY BARRIGA - Boxer extraordinaire.

The Greatest Olympian Of All Times - His Swimming Highness MICHAEL PHELPS

Michael swam into history when he took the gold along with his Team USA friends (Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, & Ricky Berens) in the 4 x 200M Freestyle Relay finals earlier tonight.

August 9, 2012

August 9, 2012?

What’s with August 9? What’s important about this date?

I hardly noticed that I almost forgot my “2^nd Blogversary Contest”. I didn’t know I was drifting too far busying myself with lots of things and I undermine the idea that August is fast approaching and perhaps my blogger and non-blogger friends might be losing patience in anticipating my entry for the contest. I know some of you are excited to see it and eventually join. And disappointing you is far from my plan.

For first time visitors or rare visitors, I started blogging last August 9, 2010. My very first blog entry then was "Starter's Delight". Nahhh..nope...don't think of it as maybe about food or sort of that. It's just nothing. It was pure blah-blah of anything. That post was really created last August 2, 2010 but I failed to publish it on that very day and so it fell on the 9th day of August which makes this blog's "birthday". Advance Happy Birthday blog..LoLs!

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan Kareem! - phrase used by Muslims which literally means "Have a generous Ramadan". 

When this crescent moon is sighted on the last day
 of Shaban it means Ramadan officially begins

It's the Holy month of Ramadan where I'm currently based at. Basically, Ramadan observance follows Shaban, the eight month of the Islamic calendar. Unlike, says, January, Ramadan and Shaban do not have the fixed number of days. Each month can have 29 or 30 days depending on when the first silver of the crescent moon is sighted by the naked eye. If, on the 29th day of Shaban, the crescent moon is sighted, Ramadan has begun and Muslims begin fasting on that morning. If the moon isn't sighted that night, Shaban last 30 days. And Ramadan will begin the next day whether the moon is sighted or not. 

2012 London Olympics: Swimmers To Watch - 200M Freestyle -Men

In a pool surrounded by world-class and top caliber swimmers, there are always many possibilities. Possibilities that a defending champion can be out-swam by the underdogs, that a record holder can potentially be outwitted by the neophytes, that an upset is a thing that can happen in a pool. Anything can happen. It's the human spirit that pushes a neophyte to win and the same that triggers a champion to emerge on top again.

200M Freestyle - Men

A classic example of this scenario was during Sydney 2000 Olympics where the hometown hero and crowd's favorite to win the 50M Sprint Ian "Torpedo" Thorpe suffered a devastating loss to his greatest rival in the pool Peter Van De Hougenband of The Netherlands. It almost made Ian cry as he was expecting to pull-out from the water a champion. He felt that he brought so much disappointment to his home turf. 

I guess you've done reading or browsing my previous two entries: 2012 London Olympics: Swimmers To Watch - 100M Freestyle - Men and 2012 London Olympics: Swimmers To Watch - 50M Sprint - Men. 


So, it's time to to go a distant swim lap and let's find out who's who in the 200M Freestyle - Men.

2012 London Olympics: Swimmers To Watch - 100M Freestyle- Men

Yesterday, I've written all about my predictions of who to watch out for in this category - 2012 London Olympics: Swimmers To Watch - 50M Sprint-Men and I'm sure some of you are quite enthralled and would be planning to watch whom among my top 5 picks will dominate. Will there be an upset or can the current holder maintain his gold medal standing? If you're clouded with doubts , I too have some qualms as the field is very intense. I'm sure some of the contenders will give the champion a run for his medal. And we may never know that someone not from my listed strong contenders will snatch a gold medal as a surprise victor in 50M Sprint.

In swimming, I've always been fascinated to a number of swimming superstars in their contemporary times. In Barcelona 92 and Atlanta 96, it was my Russian swimming idol Alexander Popov that I have been hooked watching. In Sydney 2000, it was the hometown hero "Ian "Torpedo" Thorpe" who caught my attention. Too bad he failed to qualify in the trials for this year's Olympics. That time, Michael Phelps was just a rising name. In Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, it was my great idol Michael Phelps who had the biggest splash in the pool garnering gold medals after gold medals. He totaled 8 gold medals in Beijing making him as the most decorated swimmer in Olympics History. 

Today, let us swim a little further as I give you my boldest predictions of who to take a closer look in the 100M Freestyle - Men category.