Anne's Menu Express

Planning the family menu is one of the important tasks of a mom/wife. If you don't make a plan, for sure you'll be hearing comments like "Adobo na naman" or "Amoy sinigang na pawis ko". So it is best to have a menu plan for at least a week to ensure that there's variety and to have better control of your food budget. However, making a family menu plan is easier said than done. It can be a tedious task and really sometimes you just run out of ideas on what to prepare. But not to fret, we can recourse to ever reliable Anne Soriano. With a very minimal amount you can have a family menu plan for the month. Anne is very experienced in preparing and implementing a menu plan having to manage a household of at least 12 people so you are assured that there's wealth of experience there that you can cull. Visit Anne's website, Anne's Menu Express to know more about her Menu Plans.

Quiet After the Storm

Christmas Day came so fast this year...As expected, Christmas is one of the most hectic seasons we have at www.RegaloService.com...To think that I am in the gift business, this year all my gifts to my family, relatives and friends were all last minute purchases as we got caught up in attending to the orders of our clients at RegaloService.com...Tsk, tsk, tsk, not a good sign...This should be part of my New Year's Resolution -- Prepare for the gifts of family, relative and friends way before the Christmas orders come in at RegaloService.com...Anyway, all the business hassle and bussle, family Christmas preparations, get togethers, reunions and to add, the preparations for my Papa's 75th surprise birthday celebration on the 26th really made Christmas Day pass like a blur...I think I just said a passing "Happy Birthday" to Our Lord days before His birthday...But, really, the Holy Catholic Church, in her wisdom and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, instituted the Octave of Christmas. This is like the quiet after the storm -- after all the swirl, the twirl of Christmas preparations, things simmer down starting on Christmas Day until December 30 allowing one to reflect on the real relevance of the birth of our Saviour. This really is a welcome period to be serenely blissfully alone with the Lord knowing that God so loved us that He sent his Son to save us, reflecting that Our Lord came to this world in total humility and simplicity demonstrating to us that this is the showcase of true pure power and richness...And after being filled with God's quiet love and inspiration, you again are raring to start anew, inspired to be a better person, enthusiastic to be God's soldier once again in the middle of the world --- all of these inspiritation come just in time to celebrate the New Year, to welcome it with renewed hope and the enthusiasm to start again.

Smashing Year-end for Justine

What a year it was for Justine Henin! She started the year taking a leave from Australian Open as she has to attend to her divorce. Everybody thought can she make a comeback with such an emotional upheavel at the back of her mind. But more than comeback she did. She dominated the tennis scene winning the French Open, the U.S. Open, the year-end Sony Ericsonn Championships and a lot other second/third tiered tournaments.

Justine is simply the best...Despite her small frame (just look at the picture below, she's the smallest but she's the toughest), she can out win everybody else with sheer smart quick-minded plays and total determination. What an inspiration!

ALLEZ JUSTINE!

CodeRED's Awesome Pinas Promo

This must be a season of promos. Aside from www.RegaloService.com's True Friends Referral Promo, another exciting promo is currently running and this is CodeRED Magazine's Awesome Pinas Promo.

As CodeRED is a family magazine, it is just fitting to have the promo in two categories, one for parents and another for teens. The parents are to send photos while the teens are to send video clips. Check it out now!!!

What is your color personality?

Took this test -- for fun, for curiosity, for wala lang..
And I got an 'orange'...I am not sure how accurate is this as when they asked what is my favorit pet -- I got to stop and think as I really don't like taking care of pets...so sabi ko "sige na nga, dog!"...

What color is your personality? Your personality is orange! WOW! your an outgoing, and active individual. Sometimes your personality is confused with red, but your much more caring, and warm than red. You like animals, and can comfort almost anyone! Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

If you like to try it, go ahead and click ;-)

Winner Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is the first time I baked chocolate-chip cookies and it was a success!!! It was chewy just the way we all like it here at home. Every bite guarantees a good portion of chocolate chips...Uhmmm...Yummy!!!...Well, I have to confess it was the pre-mix kind from Ghirardelli...It was so easy to follow and so fast to do and the best of all the results were really excellent!!!

Wimbledon belongs to Justin Henin!

Am I a fanatic or what?! :-) ALLEZ JUSTINE!!! She's smoothly winning every game at the 2007 Wimbledon!!! But I am still a nerve-wreck :-/ as I still am crossing my fingers and storming heaven so that Justine will have her first Wimbledon crown this year!!! ALLEZ JUSTINE!!!

Dress Code for Churchgoers

Just yesterday, the Archdiocese of Manila issued an instruction for churchgoers to dress "decently" when attending the Holy Mass, meaning, no shorts, no sandos/sleeveless shirts, no mini-skirts, no plunging necklines, no show-your-bottom pants...I can already hear some people saying "What you wear to Church does not matter, what matters is what is in your heart and your relationship with God." Well, you know, one's relationship with God manifests on how one dresses when he/she attends the Holy Mass. If one really knows, believes and loves God, he/she will put care, respect and delicateness in the way one dresses when attending the Holy Mass because it is in the Holy Mass that one gets to witness an actual physical miracle (transubstantiation - bread and wine becoming body and blood of Jesus, our Saviour), it is in the Holy Mass that one gets to receive, in physical and spiritual form, God Himself (Holy Communion). What can be more awesome than this! If one has a deep interior relationship with God, then, this will manifest even in aesthetic details like dressing up for Mass -- because as they say (and as I have learned from Oprah), LOVE IS IN THE DETAILS!!! Just think about it, if one goes to Mass wearing something straight out from watching television -- what is it trying to say ,"Hey, I don't want to be bothered thinking of what to wear and besides, this is comfortable. And it is already a good thing that I even go to Mass." What this person really is saying is that "God should not be a bother in my life. I don't want to go the extra mile for God because I don't know what He means to me. God owes me because I am going to Mass today." Now, is that the kind of attitude proper for a creature to take towards his Creator? Or even for a child to his parents? Or even an employee to his employer? The Church is not saying to wear "branded" or new clothes all the time...Just wear something that will show respect to Our Lord. Isn't it that when one goes for a job interview, we try to wear something decent to give respect to the person interviewing us and for us to show our best? Should we not be doing the same for our Creator -- we bring to Him the best of ourselves both inside and out. Sometimes, I get to go to attend Mass at the parishes of the "rich and famous" and how sad it is to see some of these "rich" people going to Mass in their shorts, collarless shirts and havaianas looking like they just arrived from their beach clubs. These people I am sure have more respectable clothes in their closets and can very well afford to buy clothes appropriate for worship, but why can't they use these material blessings to praise God. All of the material blessings we have all come from God, and we can only offer them back to God to give thanks and give him glory. Why not thank Our Lord by showing him in His physical presence that we appreciate what He has given us and that we wear them on His Banquet! So, yes, what you wear matters!

Hail to the Queen of Clay!

YES! YES! YES! Justine Henin is again the Women's Champion in the recently concluded French Open. Making her the undisputed Queen of Clay of this generation. She won this title 4 times already and this is her 3rd consecutive win. I already mentioned in one of my old posts that Justine's my favorite because of her powerful at the same time sweet backhand. She started to be my favorite when she was against Serena Williams in the 2003 French Open championship and looking at the builts of these two women, I thought Justine was the underdog -- and so I rooted for her, until she did get to win the title. From then on, I am a fan. And whenever I watch her play, I really get nervous because although you know she's really good, you still can't predict if she's going to win or not...It is really nerve wrecking to watch her. Just like this French Open championship versus Ana Ivanovic -- the first two games, Justine was not doing anything right and to think that this is Ana's first grandslam. It is a good thing that eventually Justine was able to control her nerves so she was able to get hold of the game. Then, Ana this time lost her nerves that is why the game was uhhmmm boring as Ana was no match to Justine's powers. But I think Ana has lots of potentials as this is just her first grand slam -- I am also getting to like the girl! But Justine is still my No. 1! ALLEZ JUSTINE!

Allez Justine!

It is French Open Season...and I am getting excited and at the same time nervous...because I want Justine Henin to win!!! Allez Justine!

The Hemin Bread Saga

Just to give an update on what eventually happened to the Hemin Bread...Well, I actually did follow the procedure -- though not really to the letter. There was a time when I forgot to mix on a given day and got home at 3am so I mixed it before going to sleep. And I am not sure if I counted the days right - is Day 1 the day you receive the dough or is it the day after? Anyways, I tried to do it the best way I can. Finally, the 10th day came and I can't find 3 people who are willing to receive a piece of the 4 part dough. Can you imagine, not even my own Mom would like to receive it! Anyway, so I kept my part of the dough added it with the required milk, sugar, flour, baking powder and baked as instructed...It was smelling good and yummy...Finally it was cooked...but nobody in the house wants to eat it! The household staff thinks it is 'panis' (rotten) already. I tasted it and it seems ok but I also can't seem to eat some more. Only my father got a good taste of it -- and he seemed to like it! Or he may just be hungry that time -- I don't know. Well, I have not heard of any news that my father got a stomach ache or anything like that so it must be really ok. But then, there is still 3/4's worth of baked Hemin Bread sitting at home...Any takers?

The Secret

I have just read "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne and it really got me excited. Although sometimes I feel like it is quite leaning towards New Age. However, with an open mind and with an open heart, one can discern the wisdom in what is being said in the book. The DVD I think is not yet available here in the Philippines. I have been visiting Amazon.com pondering if I should order online now or should I wait until it is available here. Anyways, I am re-reading the book and am writing some margin notes on it to point out the parallelism to Christian teachings (Christianizing The Secret?)

Hemin Bread from Padre Pio

I just received today from a neighbor a dough of Hemin bread supposedly from the Vatican and has some connection with Padre Pio...I am still debating with myself whether to continue with the whole procedure or not as I hate chain letters...Now, is this considered to be a chain letter? Maybe a more of a 'chain activity'...I love Padre Pio and I am not sure if this 'breadmaking' thing is doing him good or harm? On the otherhand, he's already a saint so nothing can harm him...Should I crossover to doing this or just stay put and let it be...Anyway, let me think some more...

Post post: For those who are interested to know what happened to my Hemin bread, check out this sequel post.

Unconventional Fund Raising Event

I attended last night a Fund Raising Event at the Prince of Jaipur...Yap, a fund raising event in a bar! It was an unusual night as there was a mini-concert to soft launch a music CD produced by a new movement, CGE (Citizenship by Good Example). The sale of the CD will benefit Working Hands Scholarship Foundation. The music CD is composed of patriotic-indie-rock songs. The singer and guitarist in last night's mini-concert was a priest--so there you go, how unusual can it get - a fund raising event for a scholarship foundation with a priest singing in a bar! Well, it was fun and fund ;-) Congratulations to the organizers for a successful event! To know more about Working Hands Scholarship Foundation and if you are interested to give a donation, just go to their website http://workinghands.infosolv.net/

Cross-over to the Entrepreneurship Force

It has been awhile since I got to blog here at Daily Crossovers...Well, I am glad to say that my small crossovers has now brought me to be an entrepreneur full-time. A cyber entrepreneur at that...There were days when I doubted the steps I had taken but I found myself enjoying it more and more and finding self-fulfillment in it all...It is challenging, nerve-wracking, a tough mountain to climb...But it is definitely fulfilling, exciting and enriching...So on I go to this new adventure of being a cyber-entrepreneur...and wish me luck! :-)

Superman Returns!

My hubby and I watched "Superman Returns" the other day...Well, I liked it :-)
The film started like a "virtual ride" with you virtually having a tour around the universe journeying from Krypton to Earth...and of course, the superman theme song was playing in full orchestra making you feel like you are really flying and swishing through outer space...It was exhilerating that right after hearing the last beating of the drum from the theme song, the child behind us says "Ang saya! Ang saya-saya!" loud enough for Superman to take a bow ;-)

Superlate Post on Wimbledon

I know Wimbledon is already out of season...just like the World Cup...but it is only now that I found time to post something on the women's championship. As made obvious by my previous post, I am a fan of Justine Henin-Hardenne. At first I was really apprehensive with how she is going to fare on grass as she has always been praised for her game on the clay court. But when I heard that she won at Eastbourne which was sort of the "warm-up" for Wimbledon, I said to myself - may pag-asa. So I was so happy to see how easy it was for her to reach the finals without losing any match (set? game? ano ba tawag don? sabi ko na sa inyo, I am not a tennis player - a J.Henin-Hardenne fan only). However the inevitable happened, my favorite lost to Amelie Mauresmo...Henin-Hardenne committed a lot of errors and Mauresmo's serves were really superb...well, it is not yet Justine's time to earn that prestigious Wimbledon title...Better luck next year...

Hooray for J.Henin-Hardenne

I gave a sigh of relief when Justine Henin-Hardenne won the 2006 French Open making it her 3rd French Open championship. She once again proved that she is the "Queen of Clay". It is not often that I watch sports on tv but whenever J. Henin-Hardenne plays I always find myself watching...until eventually, I find myself rooting for her. My first taste of J.Henin-Hardenne's tennis was also at a French Open tournament in 2003. I already admired how she played the game then. But I started rooting for her I think when she was up against Maria Sharapova in the Quarter Finals of the French Open 2005....of course, most people (or men) were rooting for Sharapova being the more "appealing" player...But then J.Henin-Hardenne proved to be the better and smarter player (Sharapova was the stronger hitting one) so she moved on to become the French Open 2005 Champion beating Mary Pierce...From then on, I became a certified fan of J.Henin-Hardenne. But ever since 2003 I am always looking out for her at every tennis grandslam. There were times though that she was not playing due to health reasons so I was so happy when she came back to play again in full-swing last year but this time she just chooses the tournaments she is going to join. The only grandslam she has yet to win is the Wimbledon. I hope she wins it this year. You just have to see how sweet her backhand swing is. And she really plays smart although lately she seems to be playing less of her drop and volley shots. I notice that this time she's going for the baseline. I hope I can see more of the running game...but what do I know? I am no athlete. I usually start with buying equipment (tennis, golf, badminton, etc.) and then everybody (including myself) just gives up on me ever learning the sport...But anyway, as long as I enjoy watching J.Henin-Hardenne with the illusion that I have the same sweet backhand swing...that can do for now ;-)

having a great time with friends

i am here now at dome shang mall with two of my wacky best friends - laughing out loud that people at the next table are staring at us - i hope they think we are not crazy people - but who cares hehehe

More on Da Vinci Code

I just can't help it but I need to post more things about this subject....I am just concerned about how some people are saying "Chillout!!! It is just fiction!"...Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those who are calling to boycott the book or movie...nor do I call for the excommunication of Dan Brown...I am just concerned that people seem to be indifferent...Yes, the book is just fiction BUT...

1. I mentioned this already in my previous post - When writing about fiction, the rule is the foreground (the characters, episodes, plot, etc) is of course fictitious, however, if a writer used non-fictional elements (e.g. historical events, actual institutions, actual places, etc.), the writer has to be responsible enough to be accurate on these elements. The problem with DVC is that a lot of references were made on non-fictional elements that are not at all accurate and then some people think that it is really true. History Scholars, Art Historians, Bible Scholars and Theologians, not to mention members of Opus Dei, are all saying that there are so many errors in the description, depiction and referencing on these non-fictional elements that they don't know where to start. Just to give you examples (note that these are just few of the errors in the DVC story background):
a. History Scholars - In DVC, it was mentioned that Emperor Constantine declared Christianity as the State Religion. Historians say Constantine legalized Christianity but it was Theodosius decades later who declared Christianity as the State Religion.
b. Art Experts - In DVC, the depiction of St. John at the Last Supper was too feminine for comfort. But art experts says that that is how young male scholars are depicted in rennaissance paintings (and even art students know that).
c. Theologians - In DVC, it was stated that it was just Emperor Constantine who declared that Jesus is God and that before that people believed that he is just mere man. It is clear in the Bible that the apostles believed that Jesus is God and even in the Acts of the Apostles, that is already what the Apostles are teaching and that dates back to at least 300 years before Constantine.
d. Opus Dei - In DVC the villain is an Opus Dei monk. There are no monks in Opus Dei. It is not in the charism of Opus Dei to be monks and to be secluded from the world. Plus, the head of Opus Dei is not based in New York as stated in the book. The Prelate of Opus Dei is based in Rome.

2. Yes, it is just fiction but instead of praising how well the book is written, I just wonder, don't you think we should feel insulted because:
a. the book is so badly researched - it is an insult our intelligence
b. the book is implying that the Church all this 2000 years has been fooling its believers from time immemorial - doesn't that feel like an insult to our family? (that is if you feel you are part of the family of God)
c. the book is implying that Jesus is just man, not God - isn't that an insult to God himself after all that he has done for us? Is it going to be that mock trial at the Sanhedrin all over again? Isn't that an insult to our dignity as man as well? Because if Jesus is not God, then how can he redeem us? Thus we do not merit heaven? How can we call ourselves sons and daughters of God then? So what does that make us?

When one says "Yeah, it is just fiction so there's nothing really to be uptight about. Besides we all know the author, the publishing house and the producers of the movie would just like to make money", it is like saying "You are making money out of saying false and malicious stories about me, my father and my family but in fairness ha, the story was well written." Duh? How can we be so dense? How did our culture has become so callous that we cannot anymore realize when our dignity as a person is already being maligned, worse, we even welcome it.

So what is the proper Christian response to DVC?
1. Study, study, study...Brush-up with Catholic doctrine and Church History
2. Take this opportunity to educate those who would want to be clarified
3. Pray for yourself, for all Christians, for those who have or are going to read the book or watch the movie and pray even for the author and producers of DVC