Just this morning, my mom received a bad news --that yesterday, my uncle got 40% burned because of an LPG explosion. according to her (this story may no longer be 100% accurate as I got the news from my mom, who got the news from my uncle's sister), my uncle noticed that it's been smelling gas in their house so he went near the LPG tank to see what's wrong, when his carpenter's phone rang. Immediately after the carpenter answered the phone, a fast and strong flame surged from the phone, passed through the atmosphere then burned my uncle, his helper who happened to be in the kitchen too, and of course the carpenter -the most injured among them. I wasn't able to grasp the exact incident but I imagined it as a quick fire that just passed through, scorched whatever it touched then disappeared as quick. the house was not burned, there was no big explosion either.

google didn't give me much explanation when I typed in "LPG" and "cell phone" except for a related news here. yes there was an LPG blast --caused by the phone, said by some official, but that theory was never proved.

then I searched mythbusters' site (I do remember this was tested and busted):
http://mythbustersresults.com/episode2

It says:
Using one’s cell phone while pumping gas/petrol can cause an explosion: BUSTED. A properly-working cell phone poses almost no danger of igniting gasoline, even when surrounded by gasoline vapor with the optimum fuel-air mix for ignition. The actual risk comes from an electrostatic discharge between a charged driver and the car, often a result of continually getting into and out of the vehicle. (This myth was revisited in episode 14 and it was busted again.)

but how about LPG tanks? would that make any difference? I'm no guru at this, but one thing for sure is that cell phones can (highly, possibly) ignite LPG. I don't know how, I don't know why, I don't know the scientific basis ...but I do know that it happened to my uncle, who I've considered as my "most gwapo" uncle --moreno, matangos ilong, close to richard gomez during his youth.

so there, I hope this post will avoid the same incident to others ...by telling everyone to PLEASE, BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS when dealing with gas and cell phones at the same area especially when it's indoor. it's ok to be hesitant, it's ok to be doubtful about this matter (or about this myth. whatever you call it) ...but it's a lot better to practice a known precaution by just turning off our phones. wala naman mawawala.

right now I have no idea how my uncle is. all I know is that he's still in the hospital, and will probably there for the next N days. we can't visit at the moment, so this morning I just prayed, asked God to help him recover, then thanked Him that after all that happened, my uncle survived.

Upon entering the office, I unloaded my stuff as always, grabbed my kikay kit then went to the bathroom, ready to spend the next 15 minutes freshening up (hilamos after commute, make up then ayos buhok).

As I looked at myself on the mirror, I then realized how God can take away your face, your skin, your whole body --in just a snap. for a reason you wouldn't instantly understand. and so I offered a tiny sacrifice ...I skipped that few minutes of vanity, went back to my cube, then again prayed for my Uncle, who I hope would recover as soon as possible...

I can't believe it's already christmas! (well, almost)

weeks ago I was pondering too much on how I'd fix stuff before I leave --do errands, settle bills, buy pasalubongs for bacolod, etc etc... now I'm left with just a few thoughts. like how I'd go to the airport tomorrow, plus the fact that I haven't packed my bags and that I'll go home late tonight coz of cie's wedding, blah blah blah... minor stuff (slash vacation dilemmas) you know, problems I'd gladly have 10 times! hehe.

I'm quite jittery as this will be my first parent-less christmas. Though I'm happy for them, I know they have so much to make up after 5 years of not seeing my sister. God's so good, He gave my parents that chance... then gave me the inventados, who can adopt me for the holidays :)

I'm also glad that work's over this year. hehe.

I have a wonderful christmas to look forward to... :)

Merry Christmas everyone! and have a safe new year! :*

today I turned 25 :)

It's not as extravagant as I imagined... but I can say that this day is a lot more special compared to the past days and the coming days of 2008.

for one, I took a whole day off from work just so I could watch tv the whole morning. and yes the ruffles thing pushed through, along with N comfort foods which I started eating (sinfully) last night. I can't remember doing that in my entire AC Corp life!

In the afternoon I went to ystilo (festival mall) for a foot spa and pedicure. then I went to starbucks for a coffee, also to finish my danielle steel book which I left half-read 2 months ago.

then paul and I met up for my birth-date. he treated me to ramen tei, a jap resto in festival which we've been planning to try N months ago. then finally, for dessert, we had choco lava cake at delifrance Ü thanks so much paul! really, I enjoyed the night with you! Ü

I actually planned for a photo shoot in a real studio prior to my birthday (semi-nude, no kidding) as I wanted to keep photos of my youth before I reach mid-20s. I also planned to go out of town, at least within luzon so I could relax and unwind more. but since I'm on tight budgeting due to my bills and coming malaysia trip, none pushed through.

at first I was sad, but now I realize this day's not bad after all. besides, today is just my birth date... I have 12 more months to do all the craziness and adventures I planned for my 25th year :)

for those who remembered, and greeted me through text, call, friendster and ym, thanks so much! and for those who didn't... no biggie, I forget birthdays too. haha!and thanks too Ü for you've been a part of my life's first quarter (that's if I reach 100! hehe)

(just wanna share this. got this link from virg. hehe)
http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20081006-164767/Ateneo-apologizes-over-bonfire-incident

 
(I was tagged by jennina. she didn't force me though Ü hehe)

Rule : Post 10 things that recently made you happy then tag 10 people and force them to post this meme on their blogs.

♣ Successful BIR POC Presentation
♣ Buying a new Danielle Steel book
♣ HelloPol for Precon exhibit
♣ Attending mass with Paul
♣ Saturday night foodtrip with Paul
♣ Sunday night HBO with Paul
♣ Mama's pork teriyaki for breakfast
♣ Chowking's spicy wanton noodles
♣ Paying my last gym fee
♣ Finding the bug in my web service code

listed according to date. not by happiness level. hehee. I'm tagging my friends who I often see in my LJ friends page... aldrich c, bev, bianca z, carla p, charles, cza, lee, kai, mela & tasj Ü
 

I'm blogging here more often now. It's my old blog actually (older than my LJ and blurty!) which I just decided to revive. I'll be checking my LJ friends page still once in a while Ü

Arroyo orders release of P750M for GSIS, SSS ID system
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:04:00 02/19/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the release of P750 million to speed up the implementation of he Unified Multi-purpose Identification (UMID) system, her spokesman said Tuesday.

The UMID, which is different from a national ID, aims to unify the ID systems of the National Statistics Office (NSO), Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Arroyo ordered Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to release the amount at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after SSS president Corazon dela Paz briefed the President on the status of the UMID.

"The President ordered Secretary Andaya to release P750 million to complete the requirements so that the UMID will be implemented," Bunye said, "This will further accelerate the implementation of the unified multi-purpose ID system."

Paul showed up after work, with a long stem rose! cute suprise, knowing that thursdays are not paul-days. I even had plans of spending the whole night at the gym. At late afternoon I had a hint though ...coz when I told him that queza and I will hangout in ATC for a while after work, he immediately said that he can join us and that he can pick me up by exactly 6pm. that was 5:30. dlsu-alabang trip normally takes an hour! I then asked him what happened to his thurs night agendas, he just said "wala", no explanations, no dot dot dots, no smileys. I asked him why his messages are weird, he said "may ginagawa ako e" ...then again take note it was already 5:30 and he could pick me up by 6. hahaha! apparently he didn't have plan B excuses. hehe.. :P 

anyway, it was really sweet. it was still a surprise, as i thought he just made it a point to see me on valentine's day. but no, he had something for me, and the thought of carrying that long box from casa susana made him more gwapo hehee.

to cut the long story short... queza backed out before paul came coz she can't wait for an hour (she gets out at 5, me at 6), so paul and I had dinner at d'mark's then had dessert at dulcinea. it was impromptu for me, but for him it's all planned. hehe. ay ay, the churros were heart shaped!!!

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then we just spent the rest of the night watching the finale of amazing race asia 2.  frustration frustration.... marc and rovilson didn't win. they're not even the 2nd! they're the last! adrian and collin won, then the 2 girls. and it's all because rovilson was the one who had to arrange the country flags in order based on the sites they visited, but it was marc who had a better memory. bad move, sayang sayang. I still love them though for doing great in most sites. and for being the comedians! ang daming makulit na hirit, chill lang maglaro, not tensed yet so good. at least they're not total losers ...I dunno if it's true, but I read from somewhere that they already have $20,000, free gas from Caltex, 4 Sony Handycams and a tour to South Africa. cool!

A friend and I talked about Valentine’s Day just a while ago. Then I realized how my views about it have changed over time. I used to be jittery during Valentines Day, for the simple reason that I always want something special during this season, yet I don't get it from someone who I'm expecting to do it.

I'm not really into mushy Feb. 14 stuff, you know... the flowers, chocolates and stuff... not really that. It could be anything, big or small, extraordinary or not, anything that was prepared just for me by my special someone coz it's that once-a-year chance to show that his girl's so special or because there are some things during the past year to compensate for. You know what I mean?! I'm not mushy but I guess I've been a hopeless romantic. I'm sure at least 2 or 3 girls out there understand me! hehe :D

Now, I'm just so happy with Paul. That I almost forgot that tomorrow's Valentines Day! I am so apathetic about it now. I guess he has done so many special things for me already, that he doesn't have to do anything this season to make me feel special.

He makes me feel that I am loved ...whenever he shows that he cares for me ...whenever he's happy over something great I've done ...whenever he tells me that he loves me ...and whenever he prays that we'd always have a God-centered relationship.

Even through little things, I know I'm loved ...whenever I receive that "good morning my palangga" message each time I wake up ...when he picks me up in the office and brings me home safe ...when he makes potato salad for me ...when he tries to cook the dishes that I love ...when he reminds me of the things I tend to forget ...when he makes sure I get the best part of the pizza, when he makes sure I sleep first before he does ...when he ...ok you know what, this blog post's not enough!

Every day’s so much better than one Valentine’s Day! I'm so unworthy, yet I'm so blessed, what more can I ask for?! Ah well there's more to ask actually. I pray that God would teach me how to love him the way He wants me to. And that I can be with him forever. :) *punas luha* (tears of joy hehe)

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

 
We watched the premiere of The Bucket List (Paul and I, and some CCS faculty), a fund raising thing for St. James’ Singles Apostolate.

It’s a cute movie, both funny and heartwarming. Tear-jerking too, coz some scenes are really touching. Ah well, I just don’t know …mababaw talaga luha ko pagdating sa ganyan e haha. Though at several scenes, I heard some “aaaws” from the audience :)

It’s a feel good movie, letting you realize that life is short so we must make the most out of it ---we must do the things we love yet we haven’t done. Like skydiving! Haha I like that scene!

After watching, I suddenly wondered what’s in my own bucket list. ok, skydiving is one. Bunjee jumping is one. Spelunking from Lumiang to Sumaging is one. But at the top is the one-night stay at least in Burj Al Arab. I wish I’m a millionaire too. Hehe :D