Do you still remember the tragedy that happened 8 years ago in the dumpsite of Payatas, Manila famously known as the Smokey Mountains? It shocked us when we heard about a massive 50ft wall of solid wastes slid down over hundreds of shanties and undermined number of people. Many lives were taken and many who are left behind still lives in terror of what happened.
Payatas is a mirror of extreme poverty since most of these people who live near the dumpsite share the same story. They came from the provinces to the capital city with the hope to better their lives. Even children at a tender age of 4 years joined in the hunt for food. They look for scrap metals and plastics so they can sell them in exchange for some change to attempt to help feed their family. Some children however are determined to go to school even with an empty stomach.
Layaway has been popular for the past decades and was put into hold and was erased by the rise of credit cards. However, this program which lets the customer put a purchase aside without having to pay it in full upfront has come to a minor come back. Thanks to the credit crunch, layaway has been resurrected just in time for the holidays.
I have started purchasing Christmas gifts for my siblings. I didn’t get to buy much as the prices of gift items have gone up which is not surprising with our ailing economy. Luckily, I didn’t buy all the stuff that I need because Kmart Layaway will come to the rescue of being able to put aside (or reserve) your purchase without spending a lump sum of money. You can pay it every two weeks and when you paid it in full, you can take it home with you. Now, I can continue shopping for the holiday especially that it is coming right up so soon. A 1080p LCD HDTV will be just right for me and Travis to have a nice start of the year with a new Home Theatre system.
The Kmart Layaway program is a better alternative to the credit card to avoid the sky-rocketing interest rates. This is very ideal for those who are in pinch. I say this come back of the Layaway was definitely right on time!
Layaway became popular by allowing shoppers to make incremental payments for larger purchases and gift items. “This holiday we know that savvy consumers want to hold onto their ready cash and don’t want to tie up their credit or incur interest charges on the cost of a purchase. Yet, they still want to make Christmas happen for their families,” said Susan Ehrlich, head of Financial Services, Kmart.
This sad love song has been playing in my mind since yesterday. This song was from a Filipino Band called Zoo from their Album Zoology. It was sung by Arnel Pineda their lead vocalist now Journey’s lead singer replacing the original lead Steve Perry. Arnel Pineda’s life story is very colorful and if one would take the time to read his biography, you will definitely be inspired and be proud of him for having made it this far.
The song is filled with meaning that it brings back all the good times and bad that Travis and I have been through. The song has brought me back to those years and it has filled me now with so much joy that I have made a good decision of taking the journey of life with him.
Hubby,
I will continue to love you and support you whatever trials we have to face. We have weathered storms and it has made us closer and our love stronger. I am always here by your side. Whether we made good or bad decisions, the important thing is we are together. There’s nothing we cannot do if we are together side by side holding each others hands.
Politics is a very sensitive issue. I have been trying to avoid including it in my blog. But my objective for having a blog as a source of information and a place where I store my thoughts and ideals would be put into waste if I will continue to elude from it.
I have no political affiliation. I can’t say I’m a Republican and I am positive that I am no Democrat. Each political party has its own good things and bad. For me, it is just hard to associate myself exclusively in one political party when I am against in some of its views. I for one is against amnesty which is one of the things that the Democrat Presidential Candidate is fighting for. I am tired of raging war against other Nations that seemed never-endless. As never-endless as the support of the Republican Presidential Candidate on the War in Iraq. Just few of the many views that I have in opposition to each party.
When our Nation’s future seems forlorn, a spark of hope has emerged not from a particular person but from a group of people whose common vision is to to reclaim the America that once stand for Liberty and Freedom. The group was spearheaded by the 10-time Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul. His message was clear… hear him and the group of people who are eager to take back America and reinstate the Constitution. It is not just the man… it is the movement!
I may not be an electorate for now. But I’m getting involved for my future and for the future of my kids (when I have them). My views and ideals for this country is in synchrony with Dr. Paul and the members of the Campaign for Liberty.
I am asking you to listen to their views, learn from these people and if you agree with their visions for our country, take some time and become a part of making history happen by taking part of this revolution that has just started… Join the Campaign for Liberty now!
Last night, I was very excited and eager to cook the Fried Chicken Recipe that I learned from my sister-Rema. The first thing I did in the morning was to get the chicken out of the freezer and had it thaw. I got all the seasonings ready and the bread crumbs in handy. I prepared the mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives ahead of time. That way, all my attention will be on my chicken dish.
I started season the chicken drumsticks with onion powder, garlic powder, Italian season, salt and pepper. It already looks good. I poured enough amount of flour inside a quart size Ziploc and added enough bread crumbs in the mixture. I started coating 1, 2 and 3 drumsticks and pan-fried. I noticed that even if I had the fire set to medium-high, the skin starts to burn slowly. So, I investigated and tasted it. To my astonishment, it tasted sweet and came to a conclusion that what I thought was flour turned out to be a confectioner’s sugar. I knew it right there and then that I burnt my reputation along with the chicken on fire.
If Gordon Ramsay was here, he would already be all over my face. I immediately corrected my actions by tossing the breading to the trash and made a new one with just bread crumbs. As for the chicken that has been cooked, I pierced each piece and fry them again to cook thoroughly. The second batch turned out better. But I should’ve used new cooking oil instead of just straining it. Another mistake made… but certainly lessons are learned.
I have had my setbacks in cooking. I’m not a chef but I can cook and I can innovate a little bit. According to TS, it’s not innovation it’s semi-following-the-recipe. Although Travis attempted to imitate Ramsay with his language and tone, he still enjoyed the chicken dish that for me tasted almost like “banana cue”. I love cooking because every time I cook, I learn something. I enjoy cooking because it is how I express myself. It is where I poured my love to those who are eating the food that I have prepared. Now, I just need my own kitchen. For I have just started and I will never stop improving my cooking skills even if Gordon Ramsay will yell, “shut it down!”.
March is a very special month for me. For one, it is the same month that I step my foot on the American soil. March 7 will mark my 1st anniversary. Though my first year has proven to be unproductive and not bountiful for me and my better half, it does not strip us from the hope that we can change and improve our state of living. Read the rest of this entry »
Once you read this post, you may have already noticed the changes that multiply has. Below are some of the things we noticed that has changed and it is for the better. Recipes and Marketplace options are back… so get those ingredients ready coz we’re gonna rock the kitchen!!!
Here are just short list of them:
Re-arrangement of global navigation
New default theme for newly created user (also available for old users)
Additional themes for selection (polled from group)
Recipes and Market are back!
New default posting option (Everyone, Network, etc.)
More options on Custom Filter
Some hardcoded styles in HTML are removed (good news for theme designers)
Multimedia reply, WOW!!! (look at the right hand of comment entry)
more, later…
Some glitches (or unwanted changes) though,
Mini-profile hover is not an option anymore, its a default (I don’t like this)
FilHaven wishes one of the most active members of the Family- RODELYN WILLIAMS!!!May this birthday be the beginning of fulfilled wishes and dreams coming true. You deserve the best things in life coz you have brought happiness to ours by simply being yourself. We love you, Ate Roda!
Everyone would not be surprise if I say that I got a gift today from the lady who dresses like santa on her avatar. of course, that lady does not live by her words coz she never said a thing to me about giving me one but she does llive by her avatar … that lady is Neda Washington.
Day Neds, thank you for such act of kindness. You have not only given me your friendship and this sexy top but you have given me a little more of your power and confidence in wearing a sexy top like this. This top reminds me of “blusang itim” pero yellow lang coz this brings out the inner beauty in you. Read the rest of this entry »
We all knew that it’s gonna be a girl and we have been waiting for her arrival. Finally, Melody gave birth to her baby girl - KAITLYN HOPE SCHIFANO. Congratulations to you and Ralph! We are filled with joy. Now, we got an addition to the FilHaven Family!
Momita made another one just for Kaitlyn.
Last night, I was very excited and eager to cook the Fried Chicken Recipe that I learned from my sister-Rema. The first thing I did in the morning was to get the chicken out of the freezer and had it thaw. I got all the seasonings ready and the bread crumbs in handy. I prepared the mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives ahead of time. That way, all my attention will be on my chicken dish.
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