Gamma Epsilon Alumni International

GE Alumni Guestbook

2009-06-12T07:39:00.003+08:00

Please visit also the Global GAMMA EPSILON Network at http://gammaepsilon.ning.com/

6 Serious Medical Symptoms

2009-06-10T17:11:00.000+08:00

Some medical symptoms are warnings that you need immediate care. Learn to recognize these six.

By Katherine Kam
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

That new symptom is troubling: the inexplicable swelling in your calf or the blood in your urine. Could it be serious or even life-threatening?

"Your body flashes signals -- symptoms and signs -- that warn you of potential problems," say Neil Shulman, MD, Jack Birge, MD, and Joon Ahn, MD. The three Georgia-based doctors are the authors of the recently revised book Your Body's Red Light Warning Signals.

Fortunately, many symptoms turn out not to be serious. For example, the majority of headaches stem from stress, eyestrain, lack of sleep, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal, and other mundane causes.

But a sudden, agonizing "thunderclap" headache -- the worst of your life -- could mean bleeding in the brain. Being able to recognize this serious symptom and calling 911 may save your life.

Here are six important flashing signals.
1. Paralysis of the arms or legs, tingling, numbness, confusion, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech, trouble finding words, or weakness, especially on one side of the face or body.

These are signs of stroke or a "brain attack" -- in which arteries that supply oxygen to the brain become blocked or rupture, causing brain tissue to die.

Symptoms depend on which area of the brain is involved. If a large blood vessel is blocked, a wide area may be affected, so a person may have paralysis on one side of the body and lose other functions, such as speech and understanding. If a smaller vessel is blocked, paralysis may remain limited to an arm or leg.

If you have symptoms, call 911 right away and get to an emergency room that offers clot-busting therapy for strokes due to blocked vessels. Such treatment, which dissolves clots in blocked vessels, needs to be given within the first three hours after symptoms begin, but newer treatments may work within a longer time frame, says Birge, who is medical director at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga.

Timing is urgent; fast treatment can potentially stop brain tissue death before permanent brain injury happens. "There is a time clock ticking as to when you might totally recover," Birge tells WebMD.

2. Chest pain or discomfort; pain in the arm, jaw, or neck; breaking out in a cold sweat; extreme weakness; nausea; vomiting; feeling faint; or being short of breath.

These are signs of heart attack. If you get some of these symptoms, call 911 immediately and go to the emergency room by ambulance. Shulman and Birge also recommend that patients chew one regular, full-strength aspirin (unless they're allergic to aspirin) to help prevent damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack.

Not everyone who has a heart attack feels chest pain or pressure or a sense of indigestion. Some people, especially women, the elderly, and people with diabetes, get "painless" heart attacks, the doctors say. Being aware of "painless" heart attack signs is crucial: a very weak feeling, sudden dizziness, a pounding heart, shortness of breath, heavy sweating, a feeling of impending doom, nausea, and vomiting.

Both doctors say that it's important to learn heart attack signs and understand them in context. "Everybody has jaw pain. You don't immediately run and say, 'I've got a heart attack,'" Shulman tells WebMD. He is an associate professor of internal medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. "But if you're also sweating and you have some of these other symptoms -- shortness of breath and so forth -- then that's going to tip you off that there's something much more serious happening."

3. Tenderness and pain in the back of your lower leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood.

These are symptoms of a potentially dangerous blood clot in your leg, especially if they come after you've been sitting for a long time, such as on an airplane or during a long car trip. These signs can also surface if you've been bedridden after surgery.

"Anybody is susceptible," Birge says. He adds that such blood clots are more common than most people and doctors realize.

Blood is more likely to pool in your legs when you're sitting or lying down for long periods of time, as opposed to standing and walking. If a blood clot forms in your leg as a result, your calf can feel swollen, painful, and tender to the touch; you should be evaluated. If you get sudden chest pain or shortness of breath, a piece of the blood clot may have broken off and traveled through the bloodstream to your lungs. This condition can be life-threatening, so get to an emergency room without delay.

4. Blood in the urine without accompanying pain.

Anytime you see blood in your urine, call your doctor promptly, even if you have no pain. Kidney srones or a bladder or prostate infection are common causes of blood in the urine. But these problems are usually painful or uncomfortable, which sends people to the doctor promptly.
In contrast, when people see blood in their urine but feel no pain, some take a "wait and see" approach, especially if they just have one episode. "But you can't have this attitude," Shulman says. Lack of pain doesn't necessarily mean lack of seriousness.

Cancer of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or prostate can cause bleeding into the urinary tract; when these cancers are small enough to be curable, they may not cause pain. So don't dismiss this important sign because, according to Shulman and Birge, "blood in the urine may be the only clue for an early diagnosis."

5. Asthma symptoms that don't improve or get worse.
Asthma attacks are marked by wheezing or difficulty breathing. When an attack doesn't improve or worsens, a patient should get emergency care.

If an asthma attack is left untreated, it can lead to severe chest muscle fatigue and death, say Shulman and Birge. Some people with persistent asthma hesitate to go to the emergency room because they've gone so many times before, or they need someone to drive them because they're too short of breath. So instead of seeking care, "They try to hang in there," Birge says, even if they need higher doses of inhalants or have decreasing lung function measurements when using a device to measure how well they move air out of their lungs.

Because asthma makes breathing difficult, the muscles for breathing may tire and the volume of air exchanged by the lungs will decrease. As a result, a person's oxygen level drops while blood levels of carbon dioxide rise. As Birge and Shulman explain in their book, "A carbon dioxide buildup in the blood has a sedating effect on the brain, which may cause you to feel even drowsier. You may lose the motivation or energy to breathe."

"A person with asthma who seems to be relaxing more, who seems to not be struggling for breath anymore -- even though they've been at it for six or eight hours -- may actually be worse. It could be a sign of respiratory fatigue," Birge says. Eventually, the person could stop breathing.

"They're really in a big danger zone," Shulman adds. Patients believe they're getting better when they're actually getting worse, he says. "They become sedated and seem to be peaceful when actually, they're dying."

One of the most important considerations is how long an attack lasts, according to both doctors. "If you've been having labored respirations with the asthma not relenting after a period of several hours, even though you may be apparently doing OK, don't let it go any longer," Birge says. "Get on to the emergency room."

6. Depression and suicidal thoughts.
Few people would put up with crushing chest pain or extreme shortness of breath, but many endure depression, even though at its extreme it can be life-threatening.

"Depression can be a very, very serious problem because people can commit suicide," Shulman says. "Some people will not seek care when they are depressed because they think that they'll be perceived as being crazy or not strong or not manly, and they have to understand that there is a chemical imbalance going on in their brain. It is a disease just like any other disease."

Symptoms of depression include sadness, fatigue, apathy, anxiety, changes in sleep habits, and loss of appetite. Depression can be treated with medications and psychotherapy.
If you have suicidal thoughts, you can speak to someone right away by calling national phone numbers such as 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE.

Speak Up When You Think Something Is Wrong
Doctors are human: They can miss important diagnoses, including heart attacks. A patient's awareness and vigilance can make a difference, Shulman says.

"My feeling is, as a doctor, I want a patient who's informed. I'd rather have a patient who's informed, who's helping me so I won't make a mistake," Shulman says. "And I can be honest and say, 'I'm human. Don't be intimated by me because I have a white coat on. Don't be intimidated by me because I'm using big words.'"

If patients can recognize potentially serious symptoms, they'll have more power when they go to the doctor or the emergency room, he adds. "You have enough to say, 'Well, have you ruled out this problem?'"

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/6-serious-medical-symptoms

GE/GLE Luzon Summit 2009

2009-06-06T18:35:00.000+08:00

Brethren:

On behalf of the Pi Chapter (CLSU), I wish to inform the entire brotherhood of the agreed Zonal Summit of this Frat/Soro, to be held on June 20-21, 2009 at Villa Carlota Resort, Guimba, Nueva Ecija. This Summit (supposedly Summer Camp '09) is JOINTLY organized and sponsored by the National Council and the Pi Chapter (CLSU). The venue (Guimba) is highly accessible from Manila, Cabanatuan and major cities of Luzon.

The registration fee for Resident members (students) is P200, while for Alumni is P700. GE T-shirts will be distributed for the paying delegates () free. There might be more surprises, so please do come and have more bonding with our brods/siss.

It's an overnight affair, so care to block-off now your schedules on this weekend. It's an opportune time to reminisce (among alumni) our college days, and meet our younger counterparts in this Group of Executives (GE).

For more inquiries, contact the Pi Chapter (Brod Darwin Lictawa, Grand Archon or Sis Glaiza, Grand Lambda at 0907-4725980) or the National Council (Bro. Katot at 0917-626-4528).

For the Organizers;
Brod Josh announcing...

Josue S. Falla, Ph.D
Email: joesfalla@yahoo.com
CESO V Director II, BPRE, & Concurrent Chief, TPPD
Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (PhilSCAT)
Department of Agriculture
CLSU, Munoz Science City 3120 Nueva Ecija, Philippines

VISAYAS ZONAL CAMP BULLETIN #1

2009-06-02T18:19:00.002+08:00

BULLETIN #1

ATTENTION: Visayas Chapters (Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Ilo-ilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Southern Leyte)

Preparation Status on GEi-Regional Summit for Visayas (Zonal Camp):
1) Per Secretary General Ernesto "Katot" Burdeos, the official name of the event will be "GAMMA EPSILON INTERNATIONAL- REGIONAL SUMMIT FOR VISAYAS".

2)The GEi Alumni Association of Calbayog already agreed to be the host of the GEi-Regional Summit for Visayas 2009.

3) Program of activities has been formulated.

4) The group decided to make it a 2-day event that is on October 24 and 25, 2009.

5) The venues are already identified, namely:
* Handumanan Building, City Hall Compound (Day 1/registration)
* Haven of Fun Beach Resort, San Antonio Northern Samar (Day 1/program proper and accommodation)
* TTMIST Hostel (Day 2/accommodation)
* Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral (Day 2/city tour)
* Calbayog Museum (Day 2/city tour)> * Christ the King College Museum (Day 2/city tour)
* San Vicente de Paul Seminary (Day 2/city tour)
* Nijaga Park-Art Gallery (Day 2/city tour)> * Cave and waterfalls hopping (optional)
* Sulô Island Café (Day 2/dinner)
* Zah-lug Disco, Marju Krizel Apartel (Day 2/fellowship night)

6) Different committees are already identified and initial members per committee.

7) Invitation letters are ready for distribution as well as sponsorship letters.

8) Bro. Councilor Jim Uy already signified his cooperation on transportation needs and other related concerns.

9) Other details are already being taken cared accordingly.

Please send your remarks/suggestions if any to further improve this preparation status.

Fraternally yours,

Ian Baldomaro
Email: ianbaldomaro@yahoo.com
Vice President for Visayas
GEi National Alumni Council

The story of the eagle...

2009-05-05T10:45:00.000+08:00

The eagle has the longest life-span of its' species

It can live up to 70 years, but to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its' 40's

Its' long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food

Its' long and sharp beak becomes bent

Its' old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to its' chest and make it difficult to fly

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its' nest

There the eagle knocks its' beak against a rock until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it will pluck out its' talons

When its' new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its' old-aged feathers

And after five months, the eagle takes its' famous flight of rebirth and lives for ...
30 more years

Why is change needed?

Many times, in order to survive we have to start a change process

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions.

Only freed from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Sunnie Noel
Mindanao State University
Marawi City
Email: sc_noel@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.msuans.net/mevn

Point-and-Shoot does not preclude thinking

2009-04-18T17:24:00.000+08:00

If you got a new digital camera over the holidays, you probably got a point-and-shoot model. True, if you point that sort of camera at something and push the big button on top of the case, you will take a picture.

That doesn’t mean, necessarily, that you will have taken a good one. The not-so-dirty, not-so-little secret about even the simplest point-and-shoot cameras is that they work best if you know just a tiny bit about what’s going on when you snap a picture.

Otherwise, even scads of megapixels and image stabilization and other ballyhooed features can’t save you from overexposed images and washed-out colors.

Below are some basic tips and tricks. They apply to most of the cameras on the market today, even if the manufacturers have different names for their various features and settings (word to the wise: don’t throw away the owner’s manual). Putting this advice in action won’t make you a great photographer, but it will elevate you to the glorified realm of the "not bad."

SETTING UP YOUR SHOT
Photography is, at its core, about making the most of light. All cameras include a fully automatic mode that sets optimal exposures based on lighting conditions, but most also give the user some degree of manual control to adjust settings.

SCENE MODES The entry-level, basic snap-shooters may offer little to no manual control, but all cameras include scene modes. These are presets that adjust the camera to perform best in a given situation.

Typical scene modes include party, night, portrait, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, sports and kids and pets. In sports mode, for instance, the camera will automatically set a fast shutter speed to freeze the action.

Scene settings are a great place to start experimenting because they help you capture the best shots in specific shooting conditions, and you don’t have to know a thing about exposure.

ISO One of the most basic ways to control the light is to adjust the ISO. Doing so will make your camera more or less sensitive to light. Cameras use lower ISO settings of 80 or 100 for photographing in bright conditions like sunny days. Higher ISO settings — 400 and up — enable the camera to capture the details of subjects in lower light. Today’s cameras may include ISO settings of 3200 or higher, but use them judiciously — you’ll start to see "noise," or multicolored specks in images, starting at ISO 400.

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION Exposure compensation can save the day in difficult lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight and strongly backlit scenes. For instance, if you photograph a friend with very bright lighting behind her, the details of her face will probably be in shadow. Set the exposure compensation to a positive value to capture more details of the foreground and her face.

WHITE BALANCE Another useful setting that is available on most cameras is white balance, which ensures that the light source — fluorescent or tungsten lamps, for instance — does not apply an artificial color cast to your image. For instance, white objects snapped under fluorescent lighting often exhibit a greenish tint. To correct white balance, simply select the correct light source from a list that typically includes tungsten, fluorescent, shade or sunlight.

FLASH MODES Most people set their flash to Auto and don’t think about it again (unless they’re trying to sneak in a few surreptitious shots in a museum, in which case they turn off the flash). But auto flash isn’t always the best flash, which is why cameras typically offer a couple of flash settings that can greatly enhance photos.

For instance, if you’re taking an outdoor photo of someone whose face is in shadow, using force flash (or flash on) will coax your subject’s face out of the shadows. Many cameras also enable you to adjust the brightness of the flash, which is useful when snapping shots of subjects in close range. You’ll want to decrease the brightness of the flash so that the image isn’t washed out.

Another useful flash setting is slow synchro (also called nighttime mode), which slows the shutter speed in combination with the flash. With slow synchro, you can get more background detail in dimly lighted scenes, such as portraits shot outdoors at twilight or indoor shots where you want the right amount of flash for your subject, but don’t want to wash out the whole room with a bright flash.

Now that you understand the adjustments to make in order to capture the right exposure, you’re ready to shoot.

AUTO-FOCUS Auto-focus is a two-step process. First, press the shutter button halfway to focus on your subject and set the correct exposure. You’ll hear a beep to indicate that the lens has focused and that the automatic exposure is locked. Press the button all the way down to snap the shot.

OPTICAL ZOOM Most basic point-and-shoot cameras have an optical zoom range of 3X to 5X, which enables you to zoom in (or out) on your subject. Many models also include a digital zoom.
You can tell the difference when zooming in because you can feel and hear optical zoom — the lens is actually moving. If you zoom in after that, it will be silent, because digital zoom is happening deep inside a microchip in the camera.

It’s best to ignore digital zoom because it simply enlarges the pixels and results in inferior images. Also, zoomed-in shots are more prone to the blurring caused by shaky hands. So if you are in close, make sure that your camera’s image stabilization is turned on.

MACRO MODE Macro enables you to move in as tight as an inch to take extreme close-ups of objects. You’ll need to enable Macro mode to ensure the proper focus.

BURST MODE Most digital cameras have a burst mode that snaps off a series of photos in quick succession. It’s a useful feature for capturing a soccer goal or Junior’s quick smile. A caveat is that many cameras will save burst-mode shots in a lower resolution. Also, continuous shooting will not work with flash, because the electronic flash cannot recycle that quickly.

MOVIE MODE Just about any point-and-shoot camera will record a movie with sound (digital S.L.R.’s traditionally have not offered video, although high-end models are beginning to add movie capabilities). Increasingly, newer cameras let you capture video in high definition.

Movie mode is typically selected on a top-level dial. To use movie mode, depress the button halfway to focus and set the exposure, then fully depress to start recording. To stop, fully press the button again. Note that most cameras do not allow you to use the zoom while you’re recording a movie, so you’ll need to decide on focal length before you begin.

Another thing you can and should do: Take a lot of pictures. A whole lot. Play with the settings and see what kind of pictures you get. After all, you’re not going to have to shell out for extra film. (NYT)

http://www.mb.com.ph/TECH20090128146608.html

Gamma Epsilon National ID

2009-04-15T19:51:00.002+08:00

To All Bonafide Members of Gamma Epsilon.

1. The National Office is now ready to issue the National Alumni ID (This is your permanent Number).

2. National ID of the Resident Members. For the Office to give these ID, the Grand Archon should furnish the National Secretariat the Alpha List by batch of the chapter members.

Please provide this office the signature of the Grand Archon/Grand Lambda and the Keeper of the Scrolls for verification purposes. Also we need the contact numbers and email and postal addresses. We will not process the ID if you cannot submit these requirements.

Thank you.

Ernesto "Katot: Burdeos
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile: +63.917.626.4528

Email was received on: Wed 4/15/2009 8:53 AM

Addendum:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Please find these schedules helpful if you are submitting the National ID Forms in person.Thanks.I am a text away.

I will be in these places soon. See you.
May 25, Cagayan de Oro City all the way to Malaybalay City.
May 26, Malaybalay City
May 27, Malaybalay up to 3pm, get down to Cagayan de Oro sail to Cebu in the evening.
May 28, Cebu city, meeting with Dennis Atto, National President of the National Resident Council proceed to Panglao Bohol and have an ocular survey for a possible national activity or Boracay care of Bro Rolly Labios. please make some proposal for a boracay off season meeting. maybe after I come back from Malaysia after june 11 to 18. 2009.

May 29, Panglao, Dumaloan Beach Resort, meeting with Bohol GE transients, Eric Pilapil

May 30, back to Cebu City, Cebu Waterfront Lahug

May 31, fly to Butuan, meeting with Bro Molong Villanueva for the December Regional Summit for Mindanao.

June 1, Butuan City

June 2, fly back to Cebu City
june 3, fly out to manila.

I am attaching the forms again for you to download. dont forget your latest picture, hindi later ha? and also your signature.

Note: for the Pi CLSU chapter, I am waiting for your update on the Luzon Regional Summit, which we have agreed to have it at Carlota Resort in Guimba Nueva Ecija on June 20 and 21, 2009.

Thanks uli.

Bro Katot

Email was received on Fri, 5/22/2009 6:57 PM

12 rules for microenterprise success

2009-02-13T17:58:00.003+08:00

I picked up this little pamphlet in Cebu, City that can be easily put inside your wallet while on coverage last year. It has little snippets of wisdom that any microenterprise owner can use to improve his business.

Prepared by The Academy for Creating Enterprise, an organization that trains small business owners nationwide, the pamphlet is one of those little wonders that has helped thousands of individuals across the country develop the confidence to step into entrepreneurship.
So here are ACE’s 12 rules for microenterprise success:

1. Practice separate entities
Keep business cash and products that you sell separate from your personal money and family use. No family member or employee should ever take money or goods without paying for them. One good way to make this work is to regularly pay yourself a livable salary.
“Attitude determines altitude.”

2. Start small, think big
Some want to get really big, really fast. Too rapid growth, without experience or money in reserve, can kill a great business faster than almost all other mistakes. Learn from costly mistakes when the business is small, then grow at a sustainable pace.
“Anything the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.”

3. Differentiate your business
Selling the same product as your neighbor is bad for business as it drives prices down which then hurts everyone. Make your business different by carrying unique products, displaying your products differently and not locating near your competitors.
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.”

4. Buy low, sell high
To make money in business you must sell something for more than you paid for it. The difference between the price you pay and the price you charge for a product is the gross profit or margin. The bigger the difference, the more money you will make. Negotiate with suppliers for lower prices.
“Winners speak in specifics, losers speak in generalities.”

5. Buy on credit, sell for cash
Many owners have this backwards; they buy in cash and sell on credit. If you can get your supplies on credit and collect cash from your customers at the time of sale, you can carry a lot more inventory and possibly turn it faster. You must, however, pay suppliers on time.
“Compete with someone, even if it’s yourself.”

6. Turn your inventory often
If you buy a product for P100 and sell it for P300 you earn P200. If you do this 10 times a week, you earn P2,000 that week. If you do this 10 times a day, you earn P2,000 that day. Small inventory turned everyday is best.
“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

6. Turn your inventory oftenIf you buy a product for P100 and sell it for P300 you earn P200. If you do this 10 times a week, you earn P2,000 that week. If you do this 10 times a day, you earn P2,000 that day. Small inventory turned everyday is best.“If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”

7. Keep good recordsOne of the important ways to grow a business is to keep simple records. A small business should keep track of five things everyday: cash-on-hand, money you owe, the amount people owe you, sales for the day and the value of your inventory.“Winners keep track of results, losers keep track of excuses.”

8. Increase sales, decrease costsSmart business owners work hard to increase sales, while carefully watching costs. This requires keeping records so you can track sales and understand costs. Some don’t want to offend customers by being pushy or negotiating with suppliers—better to offend than to starve.“Lots of people confuse bad management with destiny.”

9. Make a profit every day.Ask a business owner if he made a profit today and you might be faced with a blank stare. The goal in business is to make a profit everyday—to do that you must buy right, add value, and do correct pricing. Suggestive selling as a way to increase the size of each sale and leads to increased profits.“Winning is a habit, just like losing.”

10. Value your customers.For many businesses, the most valuable asset they have is their customers. If you can build up a group of loyal and repeat customers, then you can count on that much repeat income. You then must concentrate on keeping them happy, plus attracting new ones.“The purpose of an enterprise is to create and keep customers.”

11. Pay yourself a livable salary.One of the biggest reasons small microenterprise owners fail is they take some of their working capital out of their business almost daily, depending on personal needs, without keeping records. This is not good! We suggest that each owner takes a specific amount out each day or week as salary.“We can’t change the results without changing the behavior.”

12. Don’t “eat” your inventory.Eating, giving away or letting others “borrow” your inventory are all ways to lose money and therefore could cost you or your business. Not selling pershable items fast enough is also a way of “eating” your inventory.
Never let anyone take inventory without paying.“Poverty needs no plan. Success requires one.”

http://blogs.inquirer.net/openforbusiness/2009/01/27/12-rules-for-microenterprise-success-part-1/

2nd NATCON in Cebu City on October 24-26, 2008

2008-10-01T14:54:00.000+08:00

TO ALL GE-GLE Members/Alumni!
Please open the following LINKS and read!

Final Announcement: 2nd NATCON
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/08/final-announcement-of-2nd-natcon.html

WELCOME to the 2008 NATCON in Cebu City
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/07/welcome-to-ge-gle-natcon-in-cebu-city.html

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No.4 : Registration
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/05/natcon-2008-bulletin-no-4-registration.html

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No.3 : National Theme Song Writing Contest
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/04/natcon-2008-bulletin-no-3-song-writing.html

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No.2 : Logo Contest
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/02/natcon-2008-bulletin-no-2-logo-contest.html

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No.1 : Reminder/Announcement
http://ge-alumni-international.blogspot.com/2008/02/natcon-2008-bulletin-no-1.html

Posted by the 2nd NATCON Secretariat, Cebu City

Live a Life That Matters..

2008-09-20T21:03:00.000+08:00

What Will Matter
Ready or not, someday it will come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises,
no minutes, hours or days.

All the things you collected,
whether treasured or forgotten,
will pass to someone else.

Your wealth,
fame and temporal power
will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned
or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustations,
and jealousies will finally disappear.

So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans,
and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and looses
that once seemed so important
will fade away.

It wont matter where it came from,
or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end.

It wont matter whether you were beautiful or brillant.
Even your gender and skin will be irrelevant.

So what will matter?
How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought,
but what you built;
not what you got,
but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success,
but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned,
but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity,
compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,
empowered or encouraged
others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your confidence,
but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew,
but how many will feel a lasting lost when you're gone.

What will matter is not your memories,
but the memories that live in those who love you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered,
by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters!

Author: Michael Josephson
Song Playing: "You'll never walk alone"
Original Composers: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

Compiled from the email forwarded by:

Sis. Mila Aldema-Ramos, PhD
USDA-ERRC Agricultural
Research Service, PA 19002
Email: miladema@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.usda.gov/

Final Announcement: GE 2nd NATCON

2008-08-30T23:55:00.005+08:00

Dear Members of the Gamma Epsilon Family
( Alumni and Resident Members )

Deadline for the Registration for the 2nd NatCon is 5 days away, that is Augsut 30, 2008. The purpose of which is to account the number of people intending to attend the said convention because we will only prepare the materials and convention kit enough for the delegates. Also, ID's will be prepared in Manila and ship to CEBU with your name printed on it to avoid the rush. So I suggest that you fill out the Registration Form attached to this email.

Registration is Php 500.00.
This will go to the KIT, ID, TShirt, CD content of the Convention,Venue Rental, Sound Systems and Ad Materials

Board and Lodging is Php 1,600.00
This will go directly to the ECOTECH Center for your Lodging and Food for 3 days.

Transportation: Airfare/Boat Fare is on your own
Please contact the carrier directly. Just indicate in your registration form your arrival date and carrier para masundo kayo sa airport.

If ever you cannot pay on or before deadline, it is okay, as long as you fill out the FORM and send it to the Secretariat and you can pay at the venue on October 24, 2008.

If on the last hour you decide not to come, You can still get your KIT as long as you pay the Registration which is Php 500.00 or assign it to someone who previously did not signify to come.
For those who wish not to stay in the Dormitory we have big hotels around the area for you at a reasonable price plus the Casino around. BUT you will pay the Registration of Php 500.00 and your MEALS Php 900.00 for three days na yon.

For Cebu Delegates, You have the same Option. Registration of Php 500 and Meals for three days which is Php 900.00.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS, SPEAKERS AND REACTORS, ARE NOT EXEMPTED FROM ALL THESE PAYMENTS SINCE WALA TAYONG PONDO TO SUBSIDIZE YOUR WORK FOR THE CONVENTION. YAN ANG NAGAGAWA NG PADDLE NA YAN? MAYBE SA 2010 PWEDE NA.

REGARDING THE PROGRAM:
1. We will have 4 topics to discuss.
a. Gamma Epsilon at 45 years old sustaining a transformative relevance.
b.The Existing Laws on Fraternities and Sororities and the Pros and Cons of Physical Contact
c. 'He ain't heavy, he's my brother,' The Values and Spirituality of Brotherhood
d. The Psychological, Emotional, and Physical Impact of Initiation Rite

Methodology of Presentation.

We have requested competent speakers for every topic and 2 reactors after the presentation of each topic. An open forum will follow after each topic and or at the end of the day, depending on the time availablity.

After all the presentations the delegates will be divided into groups ( take note of the colored sticker in your ID because that is your permanent grouping). Everyone will be given a chance to talk or motivated to share. A facilitator from the Resolutions Committee will handle the groupings. This is a heterogenious grouping. alumni, resident, boys and girls. ( san ka ba?)

From the ouput of the guided sharing are the resolutions we CAN formulate for the betterment of our organizations and the creation of the National Structure of the Alumni Association and the Resident Councils.

2. Presentation of the GE/GLE National Structure.
( this will include Council Members and their Job Descriptions, etc. )

3. Election of Officers.
After which the National Structure is set-up we will now come together to Elect our Officials taking the mandate of the people in this General Assembly.

First, we need to encourage the Presidents of the different Alumni Associations all over the country to come together to compose the Membership of the National Alumni Council. If the president could not make it, he can designate a proxy if the vice is not also coming. For those alumni who has not established their Alumni Association yet, then they can meet on friday evening, time alloted for their local elections, because the national elections is on saturday yet.
for those who have no alumni association and cannot elect on friday the Committee on Resolutions, have resolved during their 2nd meeting in Manila last August 13, 2008 that whosoever is present from that chapter will sit down as the representative of that chapter in the National Council and can vote and be voted upon to the national office. (Majority is not a factor here because we have not accounted our flock ever since ).

The National Council of the Resident Members ( Composition of this are the Grand Archons currently enrolled during the just concluded semester, since this is already the semestral break ) will also be convened and will have a separate elections for their national officers.

Same procedure will be done for the Council of the Grand Lambdas as their counterpart.

SO THEREFORE, I AM PLEADING TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS TO HELP YOUR CHAPTER SEND THESE KEY PEOPLE TO THIS HISTORIC GATHERING. PART OF OUR HISTORY WILL BENCHMARK FROM THIS INTERNATIONAL EVENT.

4. AN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY NIGHT
TO BE HELD ON THE MOUNTAINTOP WITH YOUR FAVORITE ICED COLD BEEEERRSSSSSSSS, and a Live Band together with Django's Tatak Boracay International entertainment caliber will also be part of the evening while gazing at the CEBU Skyline by night and part of Cebu Strait with the two Bridges connecting CEBU Mainland and Historic Mactan Island (minus-Yoyoy Villame)... bad news ! pay your own beer, no? kaw kaya iinom. Libre ang iced tea at may food din naman, local nga lang!

This night will HONOR OUR FOUNDERS, the living and the Dead, and that for 45 years, buhi pa gyod intawon tang tanan, hehehe, So please prepare your beautiful words (by chapter ) or maybe a token of appreciation being the father, all chapters are encourage to do something, give something, huwag na kiss, something di mabubura kahit maligo sila, hehehe.

On this night we will award the winner of the National Theme Song Writing contest.
This night will also showcase the talents and resources of the organizations.

PAX et Bonum !

ALL THESE WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU ARE AROUND. SEE YOU IN OCTOBER 2008.

P.S.
PLEASE PRINT HIS DOCUMENT AND GIVE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET ESPECIALLY THE REGISTRATION FORMS.
Also there are eGroups that did not allow me to come in so please paki forward nyo lang to, para di naman sila ma deprived sa ating privileges-the right to access information.

IKAW ANG PAG-ASA NG GAMMA EPSILON.
IKAW ANG ATING KINABUKASAN.
LET US WRITE OUR HISTORY TOGETHER.

To all Brothers and Sisters:
Please register now for the GE-GLE Natcon in Cebu City. Please be there!

For more Information please contact:

Bro.Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

Happy 45th Anniversary to Gamma Epsilon

2008-08-26T22:20:00.003+08:00

Mabuhay ang Gamma Epsilon Fraternity and Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority!

Photo during the Anniversary Celebration, see below:

More photo in the GE Alumni eGroup.... click the link http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ge_alumni/photos/browse/7a46

Welcome to the GE-GLE NATCON in Cebu City

2008-08-04T08:30:00.000+08:00

To all Brothers and Sisters:
Please register now for the GE-GLE Natcon in Cebu City.
Please be there!

For more Information please contact:

Bro.Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

Gamma Epsilon Sa Puso, Sa Isip, at sa Dugo

2008-07-30T10:02:00.000+08:00

Dedicated to the GE-GLE Family

(Capo 3rd Fret)

C G Am Em
Malayo na ang ating narating
F C G
Patuloy sa pagsulong ang Gamma Epsilon
C G Am Em
Kahit saang dako ay makikita n'
F C G
May agilang lumilipad naghahanap ng pugad

(Refrain 1)
Am Em F C G F C
Ikaw ako tayong lahat ay magkaugnay
Am Em F C
Iba't iba ang ating pinagmulan
G F C
Nguni't tayong lahat ay Epsilonian

(Use the same chords as 1st stanza)
Anumang balakid nasa landas natin

Lahat ito'y bubuwagin upang pangarap marating

'Wag tayong mag-aalinlangan

Abot kamay na natin ang tagumpay

(Repeat Refrain 1)

Malayo pa ating lalakbayin

'Wag tayong titigil ikalat ang lahi natin

Ipagmalaki sa buong mundo

Na tayo'y Gamma Epsilon at higit sa lahat Pilipino

(Repeat Refrain 1)

(Refrain 2)

(Use the same chords as refrain 1)
Iisang dugo ang sa ating ugat ay dumadaloy

Ito ang dugo ng Gamma Epsilon

Ang nagbigkis sa atin sa habang panahon

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLzyJnXmH1I

Composer:

Bro Noel Nabor
3345 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Mobile No. (626) 241-5493
Email: simpleniceguy4u@sbcglobal.net

NCRC Dental and Feeding Program

2008-07-25T14:08:00.001+08:00

Dental Mission and Feeding Program at Caloocan City sponsored by Gamma Epsilon will be published in Manila Bulletin next week.

Reported by:
Bro. Rolando de los Reyes
Vice Chairman for Internal Affairs (2008-2009)
Gamma Epsilon NCR Council
Email: rolandbandido1210@yahoo.com

For complete photo, please visit: http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ge_alumni/photos/browse/e044

What Happens in Heaven

2008-07-23T13:48:00.003+08:00

This is one of the nicest e-mails I have read and is so true:

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.'

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scrap from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.

The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them.'

I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth..

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. 'This is the Aknowledgment Section,' my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed 'How is it that there is no work going on here?' I asked.

'So sad,' the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments .'

'How does one acknowledge God's blessings?' I asked.

'Simple,' the angel answered. Just say, 'Thank you, Lord.'

'What blessings should they acknowledge?' I asked.

'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish,
you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy .'

' If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .'

'If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.'

'If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world .'

'If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare .'

'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair..'

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

Attention:
Acknowledgement Department: “Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with.”

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Violeta Lamayo
Ontario, Canada
Email: violet3858@yahoo.com

MSU-IIT Rho Theta Alumni Reunion

2008-07-22T11:12:00.002+08:00

For more Reunion photo, check out at http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ge_alumni/photos/browse/b59a

Photo compiled by:

Sis. Daisy Rano
Arizona, U.S.A.
Email: sweetie_djr37@yahoo.com

Rho Theta Reunion in Iligan City

2008-07-09T22:35:00.010+08:00

Reunion Program

July 10:
AM and PM- Arrival and Registrations of GE/GLE brothers and sisters from Luzon-Visayas- Mindanao and abroad.

7:00 PM- Dinner, Practice for the mass songs and preliminary bonding time at Sabac Beach Resort

July 11:
7:00 AM- Breakfast

8:00 AM- Departure from Sabac Beach Resort to Redemptorist Church (just in case we can't have the mass at the venue)

9:00 AM- Eucharistic Mass

10:00 AM-12:00 NN- Groupings by Batches (sharing on the following questions: after MSU-IIT, where have you been? What lifeprofession/vocation/ all are you concentrating on now? Any suggestions from the group?)

12:00 NN-1:30PM-Lunch Break

1:30-3:00 PM- Continue the sharing..

3:00-5:30PM- Assembly Gathering (Here we will discuss about GE NatCon in Cebu and our plans for the next reunion).

5:30-6:30 PM-Preparations by Batches or Group for a presentation number in the evening (be ready with this)

6:30-7:30 PM-Dinner Break...

8:00 pm - "NIGHT OF THE EPSIES"

Part 1:
1. Invocation
2. Singing of the Philippine National Anthem
3. Opening Remarks
4. Introduction of Participants
5. Presentation 1
6.Explanation of Why we are here and what happened?
7. Presentation 2
8. Inspirational Message
9. Giving of Thanks
10. Closing Remarks
11. The Singing of "You Ain't Heavy You're My Brother"

Part 2: Bonding Time!

Note: Digital Photo of the Rho Theta reunion activities will be posted soon here!

Posted by:
Sis. Mary Grace Lapanta
Rho Theta GE Alumni
Email: magracea_lapatha@yahoo.com

Gallstones Removal

2008-06-27T01:18:00.002+08:00

Gallstones Removal (6-day treatment)

This is a useful piece of information that you may have received before. This is true and it works. You can 'google'.

Dr Lai Chiu-Nan to find out more about her and the feedbacks of this treatment.

ps. as always, spread the good things

Pictures first, explanation and procedure follows:

1.. Liver
2. Common Bile Duct
3. Gallstones
4. Gallbladder

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY
by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news. Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone. Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime. Gallstones may not be everyone's concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer. 'Cancer is never the first illness,' Chiu Nan points out. 'Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer.

In my research in China, I came across some materials which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It's a matter of big or small, many or few.

One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloating after a heavy meal. You feel like you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area.' So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Regimen:

1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.

2. On the sixth day, take no dinner.

3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.

4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.

5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.
PS. 1cup=250ml, ½ cup lemon juice=3 lemons (aprox.)

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. 'Usually they float,' Chiu Nan notes. 'You might want to count them. I have had people who passed 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many.'

'Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then.

PASS THIS AND YOU MAY HELP OTHERS!

Compiled from the email of:
Bro. Salome Sendrejas
University of the Philippines-Davao City
Email: sendrejas@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.upmin.edu.ph/

NATCON 2008 Fundraising in Canada

2008-06-14T13:58:00.008+08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Please see the photo of Gamma Epsilon Canada Family and Friends who supported our fund raising campaign for the NatCon 2008.

Pax et bonum!

Bro. Vic Distrito
109 Etobicoke, Ontario Canada
Email: vcdistrito@rogers.com
Website: www.gammaepsilon.ca

GE Canada Family with the Founder Amor Gaborno:

GE Family and Friends in Ontario:

The Ant and the Contact Lens: A True Story

2008-06-04T00:16:00.000+08:00

Brenda was almost halfway to the top of the tremendous granite cliff. She was standing on a ledge where she was taking a breather during this, her first rock climb. As she rested there, the safety rope snapped against her eye and knocked out her contact lens . 'Great', she thought. 'Here I am on a rock ledge, hundreds of feet from the bottom and hundreds of feet to the top of this cliff, and now my sight is blurry.'

She looked and looked, hoping that somehow it had landed on the ledge. But it just wasn't there.

She felt the panic rising in her, so she began praying. She prayed for calm, and she prayed that she may find her contact lens.

When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye and her clothing for the lens, but it was not to be found.. Although she was calm now that she was at the top, she was saddened because she could not clearly see across the range of mountains. She thought of the bible verse 'The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.'

She thought, 'Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every stone and leaf, and You know exactly where my contact lens is. Please help me.'

Later, when they had hiked down the trail to the bottom of the cliff they met another party of climbers just starting up the face of the cliff. One of them shouted out, 'Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?'

Well, that would be startling enough, but you know why the climber saw it? An ant was moving slowly across a twig on the face of the rock, carrying it!

The story doesn't end there. Brenda's father is a cartoonist. When she told him the incredible story of the ant, the prayer, and the contact lens, he drew a cartoon of an ant lugging that contact lens with the caption, 'Lord, I don't know why You want me to carry this thing. I can't eat it, and it's awfully heavy. But if this is what You want me to do, I'll carry it for You.'

I think it would do all of us some good to say, 'God, I don't know why You want me to carry this load. I can see no good in it and it's awfully heavy. But, if You want me to carry it, I will.'
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Yes, I do love GOD. He is my source of existence and my Savior. He keeps me functioning each and every day Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him....I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

This is a simple test. If you love GOD and are not ashamed of all the marvelous things He has done for you, send this to ten people and the person who sent it to you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
'You Gave Me A Mountain'

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Pearl Rivo
GE-GLE MetroManila
Email: jos1_8_9pearl@yahoo.com.ph

Enhancing Relationships

2008-05-18T23:35:00.001+08:00

TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.

A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she Heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."

Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".

NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"

The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you." We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves. If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.

CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS?

A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous , sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."

There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband ,because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.

NO OVERPOWERING

Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."

It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.

It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations..

RIGHT SPEECH !!!

There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.

A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered ,"You should appreciate that you married me. Otherwise, he will be the millionaire and not you."

Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.

PERSONAL PERCEPTION

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey? "Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman." The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..

BE PATIENT .............

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy,I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

During the next 60 seconds, Stop whatever you are doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it is only One minute!). All you have to do is simply say "The Lords Prayer" for the person/s that you dearly love, especially your family!

The Lords Prayer: Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro Ronald Fookson

Email: fookson@gmail.com
Omega Rho Chapter

Mindanao State University

Photo taken in Disneyland last May 15, 2008...

Bro. Ronald Fookson and wife in Disneyland....

Drink Water On Empty Stomach

2008-05-10T05:39:00.000+08:00

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven a its value. We publish below a description of use of water for our readers. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a 100% cure for the
following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes
3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.
6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure/control/reduce main diseases:

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3. Diabetes - 30 days
4. Constipation - 10 days
5. Cancer - 180 days
6. TB - 90 days
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.

Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense .. the Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals ..not cold water. maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

**Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about......I just did!!!**

Compiled from the email of:
Bro. Salome Sendrejas

University of the Philippines-Davao City

Email: sendrejas@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.upmin.edu.ph

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No. 4 Registration

2008-05-04T02:29:00.006+08:00

For more Information please contact:

Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

The Secret to a Lasting Marriage: Embrace Imperfection

2008-04-18T11:17:00.000+08:00

Contributor: Deb Graham

When I was a little girl, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school.

I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned toast."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Debbie, your momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!"

In bed that night, I thought about that scene at dinner…and the kindness my daddy showed my mom. To this day, it's a cherished memory from my childhood that I'll never forget. And it's one that came to mind just recently when Jack and I sat down to eat dinner.

I had arrived home late…as usual…and decided we would have breakfast food for dinner. Some things never change, I suppose!

To my amazement, I found the ingredients I needed, and quickly began to cook eggs, turkey sausage, and buttered toast. Thinking I had things under control, I glanced through the mail for the day. It was only a few minutes later that I remembered that I had forgotten to take the toast out of the oven!

Now, had it been any other day -- and had we had more than two pieces of bread in the entire house -- I would have started all over. But it had been one of those days and I had just used up the last two pieces of bread. So burnt toast it was!

As I set the plate down in front of Jack, I waited for a comment about the toast. But all I got was a "Thank you!" I watched as he ate bite by bite, all the time waiting for some comment about the toast. But instead, all Jack said was, "Babe, this is great. Thanks for cooking tonight. I know you had a hard day."

As I took a bite of my charred toast that night, I thought about my mom and dad…how burnt toast hadn't been a deal-breaker for them. And I quietly thanked God for giving me a marriage where burnt toast wasn't a deal-breaker either!

You know, life is full of imperfect things…and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. And you might be surprised to find out that Jack isn't the perfect husband! He likes to play his music too loud, he will always find a way to avoid yard work, and he watches far too many sports. Believe it or not, watching "Golf Academy" is not my idea of a great night at home!

But somehow in the past 37 years Jack and I have learned to accept the imperfections in each other. Over time, we have stopped trying to make each other in our own mold and have learned to celebrate our differences. You might say that we've learned to love each other for who we really are!

For example, I like to take my time, I'm a perfectionist, and I'm even-tempered. I tend to work too much and sleep too little. Jack, on the other hand, is disciplined, studious, an early riser, and is a marketer's dream consumer. I count pennies and Jack could care less! Where he is strong, I am weak, and vice versa.

And while you might say that Jack and I are opposites, we're also very much alike. I can look at him and tell you what he's thinking. I can predict his actions before he finalizes his plans. On the other hand, he knows whether I'm troubled or not the moment I enter a room.

We share the same goals. We love the same things. And we are still best friends. We've traveled through many valleys and enjoyed many mountaintops. And yet, at the same time, Jack and I must work every minute of every day to make this thing called "marriage" work!

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting marriage relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your married life and lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a marriage where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker!

Have a great day! May God bless your marriage.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Napoleon Albarillo
Ontario, Canada
Email: nralbarillo@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.interpol.int

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No. 3 Song Writing Contest

2008-04-09T12:15:00.002+08:00

Gamma Epsilon National Theme Song Writing Contest

IT MUST TELL THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR BROTHERHOOD, VALUES, LOVE FOR GOD, COUNTRY AND ENVIRONMENT.

Rules and Regulations:
1. Genre includes but is not limited to ballad/jazz/pop/R&B/new wave, etc.
2. Composition must be in English.
3. Submitted entry must be an original composition which should not be shorter than 3 minutes but must not exceed 4 minutes.
4. The entry may have multiple co-writers. Open to all members and friends of members.
5. Entry will be judge equally on melody, composition, originality and lyrics.
6. Submit entry before August 30, 2008. Music in one CD and lyrics in Powerpoint in another CD and must be properly labelled.
7. Contest participants may have to submit a maximum of 2 entries.
8. Pre screening will be conducted in case there will be more than 5 entries.
9. Contest participant will have to render the song or assign someone to sing the composition during the final Judging and Awarding of Prizes which will be made during the 2nd National Convention on October 24-26 in Cebu City, Philippines.
10. Submit sealed entries thru LBC or other couriers to:
The Secretariat, 2nd NatCon
c/o Ernest "Katot' Burdeos
Manhattan Town Homes U2B3
No. 1 F Castillo St. Corner Aurora Blvd.
1109 Brgy Marilag, Proect 4, Quezon City
Philippines

For more Information please contact:

Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

The 90/10 Principle

2008-04-03T01:52:00.000+08:00

by Stephen Covey
Author of the book
7Habits of Highly Effective People

Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life.
What is the 90/10 Principle?
10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.
What does this mean?
We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us.
We cannot stop the car from breaking down.
The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off.
A driver may cut us off in traffic.
We have no control over this 10%.
The other 90% is different.
You determine the other 90%.
How? By your reaction.

You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction.
Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.
Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family.
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt.
You have no control over what just what happened.
What happens when the next will be determined by how you react.
You curse.
You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.
She breaks down in tears.
After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for
placing the cup too close to the edge of the table.
A short verbal battle follows.
You storm upstairs and change your shirt.
Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy
crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school.
She misses the bus.
Your spouse must leave immediately for work.
You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school.
Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.
After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school.
Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye.
After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.
Your day has started terribly.
As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse.
You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find
a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.
Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?
The answer is D.
You had no control over what happened with the coffee.
How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you.
Your daughter is about to cry.
You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time."
Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs.
After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase,
you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus.
She turns and waves.
You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff.
Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.
Notice the difference?
Two different scenarios.
Both started the same.
Both ended different.
Why? Because of how you REACTED.

You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens.
The other 90% was determined by your reaction.
Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.
If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge.
Let the attack roll off like water on glass.
You don't have to let the negative comment affect you!
React properly and it will not ruin your day.
A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic?
Do you lose your temper?
Pound on the steering wheel?
A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!
Do you curse?
Does your blood pressure skyrocket?
Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work?
Why let the cars ruin your drive?
Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.
You are told you lost your job.
Why lose sleep and get irritated?
It will work out.
Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day.
Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant?
She has no control over what is going on.
Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger.
Why get stressed out?
It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle.
Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.
You will lose nothing if you try it.
The 90-10 principle is incredible.
Very few know and apply this principle.
The result?
Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache.
There never seem to be a success in life.
Bad days follow bad days.
Terrible things seem to be constantly happening.
There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships.
Worry consumes time.
Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest.
Friends are lost.
Life is a bore and often seems cruel.

Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged.
You can be different!
Understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It will change your life.
live well.. laugh often.. love much.. have a good life!

Compiled from the email of:

Bro Bienvenido Calvario Jr
Philippine National Police
Email: biencalvs@yahoo.com.ph
Website: www.pnp.gov.ph

The Image of the Father

2008-03-16T22:41:00.000+08:00

I heard The Old Age Story before when I was still a studying Philosophy in Manila. The wordings were not the same of what sister Emilia shared to us but speaks the same thought.

Let me share to you my homily last June 17, Father's Day.

A few years ago I was giving a talk to some Singles for Christ. After the talk, a young man named Manuel came up to me to share a story with him.

When Manuel finished his story, I asked him if he would write it out so that he could share it with other people. Manuel gladly obliged.

Here is Mauel's story, in his own words:
"My father left home [when I was 11]...My whole family was broken [up]. The tears flowed for weeks, except mine.... I began to hate my father, especially for hurting my dear mother...

"I started into crime and drugs. At age 12 I was picked up for thefts... "Now my mother is a Handmaid of the Lord. She hounded me to go on this [retreat]... I knew nothing about it and only registered to get her off my back...

"During one of the large group talks, I began daydreaming about God. Then I visualized myself on my knees before Jesus as he hung on the cross. An enormous weight of guilt was upon me... I...wept for forgiveness. As I wept, God forgave me ..he loved me.

He loved me in all my filth..."I opened my eyes and wiped my tears...At last I knew that God was for real...

"I came off that retreat...high for the first time [in my life] without smoking, dropping, or drinking...I actually had to take the next day off work to think and to pray.

"While I was reading the bible, I began to think about my father. I didn't wan't anything to keep me from getting closer to Jesus, and so I called up my Tatay.

That night I went up to his apartment having prayed for the guidance by the Holy Spirit.

"When I arrived, we sat down and talked about nothing. Finally he asked, 'So what did you come for?' I was relieved he asked me, but I didn't know how to lead into it.

"So I explained how on the weekend I learned how I cannot judge any person for anything, no matter what. Then i asked for his forgiveness for hating him and having bitterness, and judging him...

"He left the room and came back with a folder...Then he pulled out a slip of paper which we both read. [It
was a note I had written him years before.] The note went like this:

"Manong: " 'Who do you think you are, and what are you doing? I hate you and I don't want anything from you ever again in my life.

Your ex-son,
Manuel'

"I was aware of all the pain he must have gone through, having carried that note all these years...I threw my arms around him and tears of forgiveness and love flowed beautifully....

Manuel's story also illustrates the spirit of Father's Day. It illustrates something we often overlook. It illustrates that fathers need forgiveness too.

So often we think of fathers as being perfect. But they are just like us. They have faults too--sometimes big faults.

Yet, beneath these faults is a loving person, a person who will keep for years a painful letter from a pain-filled son.

If Manuel's father had not kept that letter all those years. Manuel would never have known how much his father love him.

The great American father and general, Douglas McArthur. He says:
"By profession I am a soldier and I take pride in that fact--but I am prouder--infinitely prouder--to be a father.

"It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from battle, but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer: "'Our Father in heaven, holy is your Name...Forgive us as we forgive those who sins against us...

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. McRae Escarpe
St. Martin of Tours Parish Priest
Terrace Bay, Ontario
Email: raulescarpe@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.saveourparish.com

Different women in your life ...

2008-03-04T02:53:00.000+08:00

Love the women in your life because...

Respect Her .

Forward this to as many women as possible... they'll love you for it!
Forward this to as many men as you can so that they'll know why women are so special :-) Have a wonderful day!!

Compiled from the email of:

Bro Syd Vasquez
GE Founder 1963
Email: syd_vasquez@yahoo.com

Website: www.gammaepsilon.com

Website: www.gammaepsilon.com

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No. 2 Logo Contest

2008-02-20T06:02:00.003+08:00

To All: Gamma Epsilon Computer Artists

The Convention Committee needs your ORIGINAL DESIGN for our Official Logo to be used in all of our convention materials.

Please submit your entries on or before MARCH 30, 2008 in CD or email.

Format: Corel Draw-Lay-out (Editable)
Prize for the winner: FREE CONVENTION REGISTRATION and BOARD and ACCOMMODATION Plus + + + you name will be published in the souvenir program.

Contents of the Design:
Gamma Epsilon Official Seal
45^th Foundation Anniversary Celebration
2^nd National Convention
24 -26 October 2008
DepEd ECOTECH Center
Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines

Theme: Gamma Epsilon Family: Sustaining a Transformative Relevance

( You can also incorporate symbols of Cebu & Philippines )

Furnish us your Name, Chapter name, School and address, year accepted to the Gamma Epsilon and your picture (recent photo).

For more Information please contact:

Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
2008 Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

The Carpenter of our life

2008-02-14T23:45:00.000+08:00

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and he told his boss of his plans to leave and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see such a good worker go, and he asked the carpenter to build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said. “It is my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built.

If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back…

You are the carpenter of your life. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.

Your attitudes and the choices you make today build your “house” for tomorrow…

Build wisely!

Ask God to be the Master-builder of your life!

He will show you how to build a strong foundation for the ‘house’ of your life.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis. Judith Domingo
DAR CARAGA, Butuan City
Email : jmd2158@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.dar.gov.ph

Great Tips

2008-02-08T23:21:00.000+08:00

1. Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove , set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

2. Easy Deviled Eggs
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done; easy clean up.

3. Expanding Frosting
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

4. Reheating refrigerated bread
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

5. Newspaper weeds away
Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic. They will not get through wet newspapers.

6. Broken Glass
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.

7. No More Mosquitoes
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

8. Squirrel Away!
To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

9. Flexible vacuum
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

10. Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.

11. Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

12. Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

13. Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside , just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

14. Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...

15. Goodbye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

16. Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home", can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

17. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.) He told us that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink, ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material - I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. WELL...the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh. That's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film , but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free - that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of th e box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share!

Note: I went to my dryer & tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water & a nylon brush & I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it. The water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddli ng at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about!

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR ADDRESS

BOOK. NOT ONLY COULD IT SAVE SOMEONE'S HOME , BUT IT COULD SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Crisologo Tagupa
Phil-Canada Local Govt. Support Program
Email Address: crxtagupa@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.lgspa.org.ph

NATCON 2008 Bulletin No. 1: First Announcement

2008-02-06T06:50:00.002+08:00

GAMMA EPSILON FRATERNITY
GAMMA LAMBDA ESPILON SORORITY

2^nd National Convention Bulletin # 01

My Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Please Reserve OCTOBER 24, 25, 26, 2008 in your Calendar for our Second National Convention which will be held in Cebu City, Philippines.

The 2^nd NatCon Committee will issue announcements as the preparation progresses.

The venue and the Registration Fee will be announced in the next bulletin that is by mid February since we are still in the process of scouting and comparing prices.

For those who have access to other GE-GLE eGroups please forward this email.

Thanks a lot.

For more Information please contact:

Ernesto ‘ Katot’ Burdeos
Convention Chairman
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Mobile No. +63.917.626.4528
Mobile Fax. +63.917.676.5406
TeleFax : +63.2.371.2970

Things Happen for a Reason

2008-01-11T23:45:00.000+08:00

Beautiful story.... makes you understand that things happen for a reason...

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus.. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor,“ she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained.

The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman,
and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.

When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - By Pastor Rob Reid

Never take someone for granted. Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you’ve lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones...

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Ernesto M. Burdeos
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Phil.
Email: katot_emb@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.cbcpworld.com/laiko

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T07:53:00.000+08:00

Pax et bonum !

Merry Christmas to all GE-GLE Worldwide

2007-12-19T02:21:00.000+08:00

Happy Holidays

The 10 Best Foods You're Not Eating

2007-12-12T21:31:00.000+08:00

By MSN Health & Fitness

There are many superfoods that never see the inside of a shopping cart. Some you've never heard of, and others you've simply forgotten about. That's why we've rounded up the best of the bunch. Make a place for them on your table and you'll instantly upgrade your health—without a prescription.

Beets

These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor underneath their rugged exterior.

Why they're healthy: Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye's powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments - called betacyanins—that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.

How to eat them: Fresh and raw, not from a jar. Heating beets actually decreases their antioxidant power. For a simple single-serving salad, wash and peel one beet, and then grate it on the widest blade of a box grater. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.

You can eat the leaves and stems, which are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply cut off the stems just below the point where the leaves start, and wash thoroughly. They're now ready to be used in a salad. Or, for a side dish, sauté the leaves, along with a minced clove of garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Guava

Guava is an obscure tropical fruit that's subtly acidic, with sweetness that intensifies as you eat your way to the center.

Why it's healthy: Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene—an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer—than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon. In addition, 1 cup of the stuff provides 688 milligrams (mg) of potassium, which is 63 percent more than you'll find in a medium banana. And guava may be the ultimate high-fiber food: There's almost 9 grams (g) of fiber in every cup.

How to eat it: Down the entire fruit, from the rind to the seeds. It's all edible—and nutritious. The rind alone has more vitamin C than you'd find in the flesh of an orange. You can score guava in the produce section of higher-end supermarkets or in Latin grocery stores.

Cabbage

Absent from most American kitchens, this cruciferous vegetable is a major player in European and Asian diets.

Why it's healthy: One cup of chopped cabbage has just 22 calories, and it's loaded with valuable nutrients. At the top of the list is sulforaphane, a chemical that increases your body's production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of cancer. In fact, Stanford University scientists determined that sulforaphane boosts your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes higher than any other plant chemical.

How to eat it: Put cabbage on your burgers to add a satisfying crunch. Or, for an even better sandwich topping or side salad, try an Asian-style slaw.

Swiss chard

Hidden in the leafy-greens cooler of your market, you'll find this slightly bitter, salty vegetable, which is actually native to the Mediterranean.

Why it's healthy: A half cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a huge amount of both lutein and zeaxanthin, supplying 10 mg each. These plant chemicals, known as carotenoids, protect your retinas from the damage of aging, according to Harvard researchers. That's because both nutrients, which are actually pigments, appear to accumulate in your retinas, where they absorb the type of shortwave light rays that can damage your eyes. So the more lutein and zeaxanthin you eat, the better your internal eye protection will be.

How to eat it: Chard goes great with grilled steaks and chicken, and it also works well as a bed for pan-seared fish. Wash and dry a bunch of Swiss chard, and then chop the leaves and stems into 1-inch pieces. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan or wok, and add two garlic cloves that you've peeled and lightly crushed. When the oil smokes lightly, add the chard. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until the leaves wilt and the stems are tender. Remove the garlic cloves and season the chard with salt and pepper.

Cinnamon

This old-world spice usually reaches most men's stomachs only when it's mixed with sugar and stuck to a roll.

Why it's healthy: Cinnamon helps control your blood sugar, which influences your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed 1 g of cinnamon a day for 6 weeks (about 1/4 teaspoon each day) significantly reduced not only their blood sugar but also their triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Credit the spice's active ingredients, methylhydroxychalcone polymers, which increase your cells' ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times.

How to eat it: You don't need the fancy oils and extracts sold at vitamin stores; just sprinkle the stuff that's in your spice rack (or in the shaker at Starbucks) into your coffee or on your oatmeal.

Purslane

Although the FDA classifies purslane as a broad-leaved weed, it's a popular vegetable and herb in many other countries, including China, Mexico, and Greece.

Why it's healthy: Purslane has the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant, according to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The scientists also report that this herb has 10 to 20 times more melatonin - an antioxidant that may inhibit cancer growth - than any other fruit or vegetable tested.

How to eat it: In a salad. Think of purslane as a great alternative or addition to lettuce: The leaves and stems are crisp, chewy, and succulent, and they have a mild lemony taste. Look for it at your local farmer's market, or Chinese or Mexican market. It's also available at some Whole Foods stores, as an individual leafy green or in premade salad mixes.

Pomegranate juice

A popular drink for decades in the Middle East, pomegranate juice has become widely available only recently in the United States.

Why it's healthy: Israeli scientists discovered that men who downed just 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for a year decreased their systolic (top number) blood pressure by 21 percent and significantly improved bloodflow to their hearts. What's more, 4 ounces provides 50 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

How to drink it: Try 100 percent pomegranate juice from Pom Wonderful. It contains no added sugars, and because it's so powerful, a small glassful is all you need.

Goji berries

These raisin-size fruits are chewy and taste like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry. More important, these potent berries have been used as a medicinal food in Tibet for over 1,700 years.

Why they're healthy: Goji berries have one of the highest ORAC ratings—a method of gauging antioxidant power—of any fruit, according to Tufts University researchers. And although modern scientists began to study this ancient berry only recently, they've found that the sugars that make goji berries sweet reduce insulin resistance—a risk factor of diabetes - in rats.

How to eat them: Mix dried or fresh goji berries with a cup of plain yogurt, sprinkle them on your oatmeal or cold cereal, or enjoy a handful by themselves. You can find them at specialty supermarkets or at gojiberries.us.

Dried plums

You may know these better by the moniker "prunes," which are indelibly linked with nursing homes and bathroom habits. And that explains why, in an effort to revive this delicious fruit's image, producers now market them under another name.

Why they're healthy: Prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that are particularly effective at combating the "superoxide anion radical." This nasty free radical causes structural damage to your cells, and such damage is thought to be one of the primary causes of cancer.

How to eat them: As an appetizer. Wrap a paper-thin slice of prosciutto around each dried plum and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the plums are soft and the prosciutto is crispy. Most of the fat will cook off, and you'll be left with a decadent-tasting treat that's sweet, savory, and healthy.

Pumpkin seeds

These jack-o'-lantern waste products are the most nutritious part of the pumpkin.

Why they're healthy: Downing pumpkin seeds is the easiest way to consume more magnesium. That's important because French researchers recently determined that men with the highest levels of magnesium in their blood have a 40 percent lower risk of early death than those with the lowest levels. And on average, men consume 353 mg of the mineral daily, well under the 420 mg minimum recommended by the USDA.

How to eat them: Whole, shells and all. (The shells provide extra fiber.) Roasted pumpkin seeds contain 150 mg of magnesium per ounce; add them to your regular diet and you'll easily hit your daily target of 420 mg. Look for them in the snack or health-food section of your grocery store, next to the peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Compiled from the email of:

Major Dennis Artil
Firearms and Explosives Division
Phil National Police, Camp Crame, Quezon City
Email: raptor_cz98@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.pnp.gov.ph/

10 steps to keep your memory sharp

2007-12-07T03:45:00.000+08:00

Keeping health in mind: 10 steps to keep your memory sharp

From MayoClinic

After 20 minutes of searching, you finally find your glasses resting on your forehead. You've gone to the basement three times in hopes of remembering why you went there the first time. You just poured orange juice into your cereal. Are you losing your mind? Probably not.

Memory loss is a common complaint, and it's typically blamed on aging. People fear that memory lapses are signs of what's in store.

But take note: Dementia - a mental decline advanced enough to affect daily activities, the most common form of which is Alzheimer's disease - is more than forgetfulness. Only about 10 percent to 20 percent of people older than 65 get dementia, so most people who occasionally forget things simply have too much on their mind.

Though it's impossible to predict memory loss, you can do your best to prevent it. To keep your noggin nimble as you age, follow these 10 steps suggested by Paul Takahashi, M.D., a specialist in geriatrics at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and an expert on cognitive decline.

Step 1: Exercise your mind

Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile.

"It is important to experience new frontiers, " says Dr. Takahashi. "Excitement is an important part of learning."

If you continue to learn and challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. Regardless of age, an active brain produces new dendrites - connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps the brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.

How can you challenge yourself? Try:

Learning to play a musical instrument
Playing Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles
Interacting with people
Switching careers or starting a new one
Starting a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
Learning a foreign language
Volunteering
Staying informed about what's going on in the world
Reading

Step 2: Stay physically active

Daily physical activity can help improve blood flow. Some people find it's easier to get motivated when they exercise with a friend. Some choose a favorite pet to accompany them on walks. However you choose to get moving, include these three activities - as important fitness components - in your routine:

Aerobic activity. Activities such as brisk walking, bicycling or swimming slow the age-related loss of aerobic capacity - the ability of your heart, lungs and blood vessels to deliver adequate oxygen to your muscles during physical activity. The net result of aerobic activity is increased stamina and endurance. It also can decrease high blood pressure, which may reduce your risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease and other related conditions.

Strength training. Increasing your strength by using weights or elastic resistance bands can slow or even reverse the loss of muscle mass associated with aging. Strength training also can slow bone loss, cut your risk of injury and make you feel more energetic.

Stretching . Stretching increases the range in which you can bend and stretch joints, muscles and ligaments, helping to decrease stiffness and prevent injury.

"Exercising also helps your mood," says Dr. Takahashi. "People who exercise briefly each day - maybe get some sunlight - certainly have better moods." During the day, you'll be more awake, more alert and quicker on the mental draw. And chances are if you're exercising regularly, you'll sleep better, too.

· Aerobic exercise: Why and how

· Strength training: Why and how

· Stretching: A key component of your exercise program

· Starting an exercise program? Take these 6 steps

Step 3: Eat, drink and be healthy

Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. These contain antioxidants - substances that protect and nourish brain cells. As an added bonus, these foods may reduce your risk of cancer, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

And - you've heard it before - drink water. Water is essential to the human body. Water practically is the human body - making up about 70 percent of your body weight. Lack of water leads to dehydration, which can leave you feeling tired, making it hard to concentrate. So drink up. Here are some tips:

Take a sip at every drinking fountain you see.
Fill up a water bottle and keep it close at hand.
Have a glass of water at lunch instead of soft drinks, coffee or other beverages that may dehydrate you. It's cheaper on the pocketbook and better for your body.

Step 4: Develop a system of reminders and cues

Information comes at you from all directions all the time. Sometimes it's necessary to take extra steps to remind yourself of what's important. Work through the information overload with these memory triggers:

Write it down. Keep a diary, use calendars and make lists.
Establish a routine. Store easy-to-lose items in the same place. Complete tasks in the same order. Change is difficult and takes extra effort.
Set up cues. For instance, put your keys on the ironing board. That way you're more likely to remember to turn off the iron before walking out the door.
Practice repetition. "To help remember a person's name, I'll work it into the conversation several times after being introduced," says Dr. Takahashi. "Repetition ingrains the information in your mind. It's a great habit to get into because it works."

Step 5: Take time to remember things

Normal aging changes the brain, which makes your mind slightly less efficient in processing new information.

But Dr. Takahashi emphasizes that wisdom can compensate for physical changes. "It's true that we lose some capacity for new memory," says Dr. Takahashi. However, experience compensates for this loss. "Older adults can still operate at an extremely high functional level despite

physiologic changes."

Forgetfulness may indicate nothing more than having too much on your mind. Slow down and pay full attention to the task at hand, whatever it may be.

Step 6: Learn relaxation techniques

Do you sit at the table with your shoulders hunched?

Do you catch yourself clenching your teeth? Do you tap your foot or your finger while you're idle? If you find yourself fidgeting or feeling tight, even when you're sitting still, chances are you're not relaxing.

Stress and anxiety can interfere with concentration, so it's important to take time to relax - really relax.

One technique involves taking a mental break from the world:

Lie down or sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed.
Check in with your body mentally. Is it tense? Sore? Imagine the discomfort melting away.
Take a relaxation tour of your body. Start with your toes and work your way up. Tighten every muscle group you come across for a few seconds before relaxing and moving on to the next section: toes to feet, ankles to knees, thighs to buttocks, back to shoulders, arms to fingertips, neck to head, and finally all the muscles in your face.
Breathe slowly, regularly and deeply.
Once relaxed, imagine you're in a favorite place or in a spot of beauty and stillness.
After five or 10 minutes, rouse yourself from the state gradually.

· Managing workplace stress: Plan your approach

· Meditation: Calming your mind, body and spirit

Step 7: Keep a positive attitude

"Happiness plays an enormous role in your outlook on life," says Dr. Takahashi. "Happiness makes you more alert - and when you're alert, your senses are more open to receiving information."

And there's research to back it up. Studies show

that optimists tend to live longer. According to a study published in the August 2002 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, people who scored high on optimism had a 50-percent-lower risk of premature death than did those who scored more pessimistic.

· What's your outlook? The benefits of positive thinking

Step 8: Talk to your doctor

Many factors unrelated to aging or genetics can contribute to memory problems. These include the use of certain medications, poor vision and hearing, vitamin deficiencies, fatigue, depression, stress and illnesses unrelated to Alzheimer's disease.

Depression in particular can cause problems with memory and concentration and often is mistaken for Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Depression can be treated, improving memory and concentration.

If you or your family worry about your memory, get evaluated. Your doctor may be able to determine whether the cause is treatable.

Step 9: Check your levels

Know your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Also make sure your thyroid gland is functioning normally. These tests are relatively easy to take and are good indicators of what's going on inside your body. Older adults who keep their blood pressure in check - and who don't smoke - reduce their risk of stroke.

Healthy blood pressure
An optimal blood pressure level is 120 or less systolic (top number) and 80 or less diastolic (bottom number). Be alert to sustained elevations in either systolic or diastolic pressure.

Healthy cholesterol
Have your cholesterol checked by your doctor every five years - more often if you have a problem with your cholesterol level.

To see if your lipids are at a healthy level, cross-check your cholesterol or triglycerides numbers with the corresponding risk rankings....

· High blood cholesterol

Step 10: Keep your perspective

You're not the only one who's placed a coffee cup on the roof of your car and then driven away. You're not the first person to dial a number only to forget whom you're calling. It happens. Take note of it, but unless you feel it's unusually frequent, don't be concerned.

"We all lose a little bit of memory over time," says Dr. Takahashi. "But years of experience often make up for the little bit of mental sharpness we've lost."

Everyone has difficulty remembering things at times. So don't lose sight of how much you do remember. Wisdom is built from a lifetime of memories.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Rachelritz Valenzuela
Venlenzuela City
Email: rockyritz513@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/

GE Canada Fellowship

2007-12-02T02:14:00.000+08:00

With the help of our Founder, Brod Amor Garbono, we were able to get a spot in the local newspaper to advertise Gamma Epsilon / Gamma Lambda Epsilon. There are more ads to come including a spot on local Filipino TV show..... stay tuned..... we will be updating the website as we move forward.

In the ad, we were trying to get the attention of our brothers/sisters to come out and join our fellowship. We are positive that this ad will finally send the message across. We, Gamma Epsilon Fraternity are back in circulation and we will be bigger and better.

Fraternally Yours,

Brod Sonny Montojo
IBM Canada
Email: smontojo9012004@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.ibm.com/ca/

Meeting with the GE Founder at Tim Horton's

2007-11-19T12:38:00.000+08:00

Greetings to all Gamma Epsilon Fraternity / Gamma Lambda Epsilon Sorority !!!

Attached are the pictures taken today, November 18, 2007 in the afternoon at the Tim Horton's Restaurant.

More photos to come on Dec 1st, when we will have another fellowship at Brod Vic's place.

Also, I have uploaded a small clip to YouTube.com with the title: "Gamma Epsilon Fraternity Meeting in Canada"

Hope this memorable day serves as an inspiration to all existing and new members of Gamma Epsilon Fraternity.

Best Regards to All,

Brod Sonny Montojo
GE Ontario Canada

The Rope

2007-11-16T23:30:00.000+08:00

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Sunnie Noel
Mindanao State University
Marawi City
Email: scnoel2000@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.msuans.net/mevn

The Hipphopoptamus and The Tortoise

2007-11-14T03:28:00.000+08:00

Much of life can never be explained but only witnessed...

NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said .

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.

"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park, told AFP.

"After it was swept away and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately , it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added. "The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it followed its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.

"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God, "Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together."

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Daisy Gay Nakila
Connecticut USA
Email: dcgay_nkl@hotmail.com
Website: www.uconn.edu

5 Donts when you are sleeping ...

2007-10-19T21:42:00.000+08:00

DON'T SLEEP WEARING A WATCH

Battery operated watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health.

DON'T SLEEP WEARING A BRA

Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Go to bed without it.

DON'T SLEEP WITH THE MOBILE PHONE NEAR YOU

Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible. Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if you need to put your mobile phone near you, switch it off first.

DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP ON

People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep.

And finally.......

DON'T SLEEP WITH ANOTHER PERSON'S SPOUSE

You may never wake up again.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Nestor Besas
Saudi Iron & Steel Company
Jubail City
Email: nestor_besas@hadeed.com.sa
Website: http://www.hadeed.com.sa/

Birth Test

2007-10-14T15:07:00.000+08:00

Put your number in the Subject and Pass it on! Have fun!

Your birth date describes who we are, what we are good at and what our inborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and the challenges we are facing.

To figure out your Birth Number, add all the numbers in the birth date together, like in the example, until there is only one digit.

A Birth Number does not prevent you from being anything you want to be, it will just color your choice differently and give you a little insight.

Example March 20, 1950
3 + 20 + 1950 = 1973
1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20
2 + 0 = 2

Keep going until you end up with a single digit number.
2 is the Birth Number to read for the birth date in the example.
________________________________________________________
#1 THE ORIGINATOR
#2 THE PEACEMAKER
#3 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
#4 THE CONSERVATIVE
#5 THE NONCONFORMIST
#6 THE ROMANTIC
#7 THE INTELLECTUAL
#8 THE BIG SHOT
#9 THE PERFORMER
=======================================================
# 1 - THE ORIGINATOR
1's are originals. Coming up with new ideas and executing them is natural.
Having things their own way is another tra! it that gets them as being stubborn and arrogant. 1's are extremely honest and do well to learn some diplomacy skills. They like to take the initiative and are often leaders or bosses, as they like to be the best. Being self-employed is definitely helpful for them. Lesson to learn: Others' ideas might be just as good or better and to stay open minded.

Famous 1's: Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Hulk Hogan, Carol Burnett, Wynonna Judd, Nancy Reagan, Raque l Welch.

#2 - THE PEACEMAKER
2's are the born diplomats. They are aware of others' needs and moods and often think of others before themselves. Naturally analytical and very intuitive they don't like to be alone. Friendship and companionship is very important and can lead them to be successful in life, but on the other hand they'd rather be alone than in an uncomfortable relationship. Being naturally shy they should learn to boost their self-esteem and express themselves freely and seize the moment and not put things off.

Famous 2's: President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Whoopee Goldberg, Thomas Edison Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

# 3 - THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
3's are idealists. They are very creative, social, charming, romantic, and easygoing. They start many things, but don't always see them through. They like others to be happy and go to great lengths to achieve it. They are very popular and idealistic. They should learn to see the world from a more realistic point of view.

Famous 3's: Alan Alder, Ann Landers, Bill Cosby, Melanie Griffith, Karen Roundbutt, Salvador Dali, Jodi Foster.

# 4 - THE CONSERVATIVE
4's are sensible and traditional. They like order and routine. They only act when they fully understand what they are expected to do. They like getting their hands dirty and working hard. They are attracted to the outdoors and feel an affinity with nature. They are prepared to wait and can be stubborn and persistent. They should learn to be more flexible and to be nice to themselves.

Famous 4's: Neil Diamond, Margaret Thatcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tina Turner, Paul Hogan, Oprah Winfrey.!

# 5 - THE NONCONFORMIST
5's are the explorers. Their natural curiosity, risk taking, and enthusiasm often land them in hot water. They need diversity, and don't like to be stuck in a rut. The whole world is their school and they see a learning possibility in every situation. The questions never stop. They are well advised to look before they take action and make sure they have all the facts before jumping to conclusions.

Famous 5's: Abraham Lincoln, Charlotte Bronte, Jessica Walter, Vincent Van Gogh, Bette Midler, Helen Keller and Mark Hail.

# 6 - THE ROMANTIC
6's are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong family connection is important to them. Their actions influence their decisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help. They are very loyal and make great teachers. They like art or music. They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6's should learn to differentiate between what they can change and what they cannot.

Famous 6's: Albert Einstein, Jane Seymour, John Denver, Meryl Streep, Christopher Columbus, Goldie Hawn.

#7 - THE INTELLECTUAL
7 's are the searchers. Always probing for hidden information, they find it difficult to accept things at face value. Emotions don't sway their decisions. Questioning everything in life, they don't like to be questioned themselves. They're never off to a fast start, and their motto is slow and steady wins the race. They come across as philosophers and being very knowledgeable, and sometimes as loners. They are technically inclined and make great researchers uncovering information. They like secrets. They live in their own world and should learn what is acceptable and what is not in the world at large.

Famous 7's: William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Joan Baez, Princess Diana.

# 8 - THE BIG SHOT
8's are the problem solvers. They are professional, blunt and to the point, have good judgment and are decisive. They have grand plans and like to live the good life. They take charge of people. They view people objectively. They let you know in no uncertain terms that they are the boss! They should learn to exude their decisions on their own needs rather than on what others want.

Famous 8's: Edgar Cayce, Barbara Streisand, George Harrison, Jane Fonda, Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, Nostrodamus.

#9 - THE PERFORMER
9's are natural entertainers. They are very caring and generous, giving away their last dollar to help. With their charm, they have no problem making friends and nobody is a stranger to them. They have so many different personalities that people around them have a hard time understanding them. They are like chameleons, ever changing and blending in. They have tremendous luck, but also can suffer from extremes in fortune and mood. To be successful, they need to build a loving foundation.

Famous 9's: Albert Schweitzer, Shirley MacLaine, Harrison Ford, Jimmy Carter, Elvis Presley.

Once you have discovered your Birth Number, forward this email to the rest of your friends, including the one who sent this to you.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro Erwin Jayme
Central Visayas Council
Email: ge_cebu@yahoo.com
Website: gammaepsilonvismin@yahoogroups.com

This is unbelievable!

2007-10-07T21:24:00.000+08:00

Locked your keys in your car? Did you know this? This is a good tip for cars with remote controlled door locks!

If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on your (or someone else's) cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person on the phone (at your home) press the unlock button of your remote controlled key fob (clicker), holding it near the phone on their end. Your car doors will unlock... saves someone from having to drive your keys to you, or calling a locksmith.

Distance is no object....cyou could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk!).

Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out, and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!

Personal Note: I locked the car & had my youngest daughter call me while I was far away from the car. I clicked "open" into the phone and I could hear the car doors unlock through her cell phone. My daughter confirmed that sure enough the doors opened.

Pass this on to your friends.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Romeo Salvador
Email: romelen@sbcglobal.net
Website: http://support.sbcglobal.net

Mud and bricks make artistic, durable architecture

2007-10-02T01:31:00.000+08:00

RED bricks form the major building blocks of this building that houses the World War II Holocaust Memorial in Washington D.C. Similar red bricks are being used in other old cities in the US.

Mud and bricks make artistic, durable

architecture in old U.S. cities

Text and photos by

Manuel T. Cayon

SANTA FE, New Mexico—An average American would feel almost like being in another country when one enters this oldest town of the United States.

The mud houses that were typical of the old pueblos of the Spanish era dot, the sprawling desert plains of Santa Fe, where water is at once the key issue as what confronted the then Spanish conquistadores, to whom many of the old Spanish-speaking families would trace their roots.

Far from the ornate city hall building in Philadelphia designed in the elaborate fashion of Victorian architecture in Europe, besides other traces of English and French architecture elsewhere in the old cities of the US, that of Santa Fe is low-key but embedded with as much folklore and the rich cultural tradition from the old Spanish conquest of the New World.

Mud clay houses of up to two floors high dot the avenues of this city of more than half-a-million residents of mixed national and ancestral origins, whose ancestors carved a rich trading post between southern US with Mexico and other northern countries of South America.

The houses of what once were the pueblos of old settlements have largely remained intact in terms of the materials used and, in many instances, of designs and structure.

Mud clay is abundant in the place and construction companies have provided the raw materials in brick form.

From afar, the coffee-brown colored houses appear to blend well with the vast grayish brown panorama of desert plains, and authorities said that the mud houses have their ecological uses: heating the homes during autumn and winter, and cooling the inside during spring and summer.

With mud abundant around, the pressure on the environment is also less than the requirements of the construction industry in the other US cities.

The nation’s capital, Washington D.C., has also adapted the old practice of using the red bricks for its building materials, both for traditional and environmental considerations: to preserve the architectural tradition, to utilize locally sourced materials, and to serve as thermal-regulator.

In both cases of either mud or brick materials, the urban planners have adapted them both for aesthetics and durability, attested by the tenacity of the houses and buildings to withstand weathering, war and calamity.

True Love...Worth Reading

2007-09-29T21:35:00.000+08:00

It was a busy morning, about 8:30 , when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife , I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is." I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. I had to share it with you all.

Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have".

I hope you share this with someone you care about.

I just did.

Compiled from the email of:
Bro Jerry Corrales
15190 Kellen Court, Riverside California
Email: jerrycorrales@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.vna-ic.org/physicians.php

Top 20 Schools in the Philippines

2007-09-23T00:18:00.000+08:00

-- Bro Nestor Besas [nestor_besas@hotmail.com] wrote:

Mabuhay ang MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology and Mindanao State University-Marawi City as one of the finest school in the Philippines.

-- Bro Renante Jamero [janreche@yahoo.com] wrote:

Cheers to Urios College now Father Saturnino Urios University of Butuan City .Gamma Epsilon dwells in the 14th finest school in the philippines.

-- Bro Kiko Trinidad [kiko_trinidad@yahoo.com] wrote:

Cheers to UPLB! Gamma Epsilon dwells in the 2nd finest university in the entire archi!

-- Bro Ronald Fookson [fookson@gmail.com] wrote:

Congratz! Pax et bonum!

TOP 20 SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES
This statistics is a result of the study conducted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), based on the average passing in the BOARD EXAMINATIONS OF ALL COURSES of all universities and colleges in the Philippines. This study is concluded every 10 years.

Eleven schools come from Luzon, two from the Visayas and seven from Mindanao.
1. University of the Philippines (Diliman Campus /Luzon)
2. University of the Philippines (Los Banos Campus/ Luzon)
3. University of the Philippines (ManilaCampus /Luzon)
4. Silliman University (Dumaguete City / Visayas)
5. Ateneo deDavao University (Davao /Mindanao)
6. Ateneo de Manila University (Manila /Luzon)
7. University of Sto. Tomas (Manila /Luzon)
8. Mindanao State University(Iligan Institute of Tech/ Mindanao)
9. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Manila/Luzon)
10. Saint Louis University (Baguio City / Luzon)
11. University of San Carlos (Cebu City / Visayas)
12. Xavier University (Cagayande Oro /Mindanao)
13. Mindanao State University (Main /Mindanao)
14. UriosCollege (Butuan City /Mindanao)
15. Polytechnic University of the Philippines(Manila/ Luzon)
16. De La Salle University (Manila /Luzon)
17. Mapua Institute of Technology (Manila / Luzon)
18. Adamson University (Manila /Luzon)
19. Central Mindanao University (Bukidnon/Mindanao)
20. University of Southern Philippines (Davao /Mindanao)

If your school is one of the listed top performing schools in the Philippines listed above, please repost this and be proud you are among the top!

GE Fun Shoot 2007

2007-09-17T06:00:00.000+08:00

The GE Fun Shoot was held last 15-September-2007 at Armscor Firing Range attended by GE Brothers!

Bro Maj. Dennis Artil prepares to draw:

Bro Nap Albarillo in a draw position:

Bro Ruben Sumait in firing position:

Bro Gen. Majhal Guzman's double tap firing:

Photo: Contributed by Bro. Ruben Sumait * * *
GE Fun Shoot Trainors: Bro Dennis Artil and Bro Nap Albarillo***

God Always Answers Prayer

2007-09-13T00:44:00.000+08:00

When the idea is not right, God says "No"
No- when the idea is not the best
No- when the idea is absolutely wrong
No- when though it may help you, it could create problems for someone else.

When the time is not right, God says "Slow"
What a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer at the snap of the fingers. Do you know what would happen? God would become your servant, not your Master. Suddenly God would be working for you, instead of you working for God.

Remember: God delays are not God's denials. God's timing is perfect. Patience is what we need in prayers.

When you are not right, God says "Grow"
The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness.
The cautious person must grow in courage.
The timid person must grow in confidence.
The critical person must grow in tolerance.
The negative person must grow in positive attitude.
The pleasure-seeking person must grow in compassion for suffering people.

When everything is all right, God says "Go"
Then miracle happen:
A hopeless alcoholic is set free!
A drug addict finds release!
A doubter becomes a child in his belief.
Disease tissue responds to treatment, and healthy begins.
The door to your dream suddenly swings open and there stands God saying, "Go!"

-by Dr Robert Schuller

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Wilhelma Fuchs
Email: wilhelma_fuchs@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Freedom of Simplicity

2007-08-26T05:50:00.000+08:00

By Bo Sanchez

Happiness is not found outside of you. It doesn't come from cars, clothes, cash, or Caribbean cruises. Happiness is found within. But how can you find it if you don't have the simplicity of time and space to discover the most important things in your life?

How can you search the depths of your soul if you are too busy impressing others, acquiring wealth, protecting your properties, and paying your debts?

Simplicity is not about the external either: living in a doghouse, eating in Hepatitis joints, wearing rags.

Let me define what it is: Simplicity is living from the core of your being.

A TREASURE MAP OF HAPPINESS

Simplicity will point to you where and what and who the gold is in your life. Let me share with you the seven powerful lessons I've learned on simple living:

1. LIVE ON LESS, AND DELIGHT IN THEM MORE
Some take their pleasure dining in classy restaurants, trips to Europe , and owning the latest home theatre-equipment. I've chosen the simple path: If I can simply be with my wife, or take a quiet stroll under a canopy of stars, or play with a child, or read a good book in my home, or laugh with friends over a pizza, I consider myself richly blessed. Focus on what you have and not on what you don ' t have.

2. STOP RUNNING AND WALK INSTEAD
Here ' s the truth: The person who has covered the greatest distance does NOT win, but the one who has most enjoyed the journey does. Stop running around chasing your own tail! Get off your hurried pace and learn to breathe. Replace doing with being. Learn to say no to invitations, appointments, and commitments, activities and events that will rob you of your focus. Learn to say "yes" to rest, to tranquility, to quietness.

3. YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR WEALTH
I own very few things today. Because I am more than the brand of my watch, the logo of my shoes, the name of my car. I believe that if in my soul I deeply respect and value myself, people around me will sense that , and they too, will value and respect me-whether I ' m wearing Armani or not.

You are more than your wealth.

4. AVOID BUYING ON CREDIT
I don ' t believe in borrowing from credit cards. (For convenience, I use one card but I pay the whole amount at the end of each month.) If I need something really bad, I save up for it. Sometimes, at midpoint, I realize I don ' t really need the darn thing and give up the whole idea. The only exception I feel we should enter into a credit is when buying a non-depreciating item, such as housing or land. I believe we should always live within our earning capacity. Proverbs 22:7 says, "Those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders."

5. GIVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
If I content myself with P250 shirt instead of P4,000 Lacoste, I can help others more. Trust me, there is immense pleasure! You will find that the empty thrill of owning a diamond ring on your finger pales in comparison to the joy of handling a piece of bread to an orphan child. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The Old Testament of tithing, or giving 10% of your income is a good guideline to follow. The New Testament challenges us to give with a cheerful heart. (When you ' re cheerful, you may give more than 10%!) Make it a habit.

6. SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
Saving is essential to being good stewards of the money that God "lends" to us. Saving is an important way of providing for our future-both for our needs and to be generous to others. I recommend that you save at least 10% of your income. I can almost hear you now: "Bo, that ' s impossible!" Oh yeah? Well, how did you live three years back when your salary was one-half its present amount?" Sacrifice. Many of our needs are actually wants. Is cable TV a need? Will you suddenly die if you can't watch CNN or HBO? Are those new golf clubs essential to your existence? Invest in time deposits, long-term stocks and housing.

7. BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET
Make a list of all your monthly expenses, according to categories. Make also a list of irregular expenses-those that don't come monthly. Set up another savings account for these expenses and put in a little money each month. To differentiate this from the savings account, we call ours "freedom account" because it frees us from worrying about them when they suddenly attack. And stick to your budget!

ONE LAST WORD BEFORE WE CLOSE
Balance. Don ' t take living simply to the extremes! Living simply doesn't mean living in deprivation. There are special days when we can eat in a fancy restaurant. Or, when we splurge into a vacation. Very rare, yes, but my point is that you take living simply NOT as a rigid goal-but as a happy process towards the goals of generosity, inner peace and holiness.

Compiled from the email of:

Ronald H. Fookson

Email: fookson@gmail.com
Visit the Camiguin Island Beach Club

Website: http://www.camiguinisland.net/

Ronald Fookson's Family Photo in Camiguin Dec 27, 2007

Enjoy the Coffee

2007-08-05T15:39:00.000+08:00

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. "The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything."

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Mayet Maniquez-Balmadres
Sydney, Australia
Email: cyrilbal@acay.com.au
Website: http://www.sydney.com.au/

10 Easy Steps to a Healthier Heart

2007-08-03T00:27:00.000+08:00

Even if you follow just the first 7 steps below (and don’t smoke, of course), you’ll reduce the chance of having a heart attack by as much as 90 per cent compared to a typical person your age!

1. Walk for 30 minutes a day every day, no matter what – then phone someone.

2. Know your blood pressure and do whatever it takes to get it down to 120/80 or below.

3. Eat 30g of nuts a day.

4. Learn your HDL numbers and do what you can to raise it to 50 mg/dL.

5 Eat ten tablespoons of tomato sauce a week. Tomato sauce is loaded with blood- pressure- slashing potassium.

6. Floss your teeth regularly. By avoiding periodontal disease, you prevent inflammation in the arteries which helps you heads off heart disease.

7. Eat no more than 20 g of saturated fat a day and as little trans fat as possible.

8. Read labels and reject food that lists sugar as one of the first five ingredients.

9. Have a glass of wine or beer today. 7 drinks on Friday night is not the same as one every night!

10. Eat 9 servings of colourful fruit and vegetables a day.

6 Numbers Can Save Your Life

Keep track of these six health measurements that can warn you of trouble ahead.

Daily kilojoule needs. How much food do you actually eat? In a perfect world, you’d eat just enough to provide fuel for your body.

Waist size. Of all the ways to measure whether your weight is affecting the health of your heart, waist size is one of the best.

Cholesterol counts. It is important to know not just your total cholesterol reading but also your levels of bad LDL cholesterol and good HDL cholesterol.

Blood pressure. BP is the force of blood against the walls of your arteries – rises and falls naturally during the day.

Triglycerides. Triglycerides are made from the fats and carbohydrates you eat, which are converted into a form that can be stored in fat cells.

Pulse rate. Your pulse is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Regular monitoring of your resting pulse first thing in the morning will help you see if your exercise regimen is strengthening your heart.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Pearl Rosales-Cuanan
Sydney Australia
Email Address: pearlroses_2000@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.sydney.com.au/

Going Bananas

2007-07-30T23:41:00.000+08:00

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest
ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassiu! m and ma gnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 'eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Bombit de la Cruz
BioMerieux S.A. (France)
Email Address: bzurcaled@yahoo.com
Website: www.biomerieux.com

The Old Age Story

2007-07-09T00:10:00.000+08:00

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 year's old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their Window. The Father asked his Son, "What is this?" The Son replied "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd Time, "What is this?"The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".

After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, "What is this?"

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".

A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, "What is this?"

This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had
maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary: -

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated. I rather felt affection for my innocent child".

While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So...

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word; be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents. From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me. They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".

Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave. When I am old, I do not want my child to repeat the words when the crow perches on my window".

Cheers!

Compiled from the email of:

Bro Jess Lim
Qatar Petroleum Company
Gamma Epsilon Qatar Alumni
Email: gammaepsilonjlim@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.qp.com.qa

Lessons in Life

2007-07-05T03:40:00.000+08:00

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win e! very argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. ! But t he second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will! .&nbs p; Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Emy Pedrosa
University of Southern Philippines
Davao City
Email: emiusep@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.usep.edu.ph

A Letter to a mother

2007-06-25T23:47:00.000+08:00

A Mother passing by her son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up.

Then she saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to "Mom" With the worst premonition she opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Mom,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Dad and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion...Mom she's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy. In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it. Don't worry Mom. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love,
Your Son John

P.S. Mom, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer.

I love you Mom.
Call me when it's safe to come home.

Compiled from the email of:

Sis Daisy Gay Nakila
Groton, CT
Email: ahabekmot@yahoo.com
Website: www.gammaepsilon.ca

Healthy Habits That Aren't

2007-06-13T00:20:00.000+08:00

By Maggie Koerth-Baker
MSN Health & Fitness

Using anti-bacterial soap

You may be tempted to take a biological jackhammer to every microbe that dare touch your family, but the fact is there’s a lot we don’t know about the long-term effects of common, household use of anti-bacterials. According to the Centers for Disease Control, these chemicals have been shown, in the lab, to kill off only weak bacteria—leaving the tougher ones to reproduce. That’s led many medical experts to worry that anti-bacterial soaps might be contributing to the rise of stronger bacteria, capable of fighting off our attempts to kill it. So far, this theory hasn’t been proved in a real-life setting. What has been proved, however, is that washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap isn’t anymore effective at preventing disease than hand washing with regular soap. First reported in a 2004 study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, this discovery led a Food and Drug Administration Expert Advisory Council to announce the next year that there was no proof anti-bacterial soaps lived up to their advertising claims. Bottom line: It’s just not worth the risk.

Sitting up straight

According to a study presented in 2006 at the annual conference for the Radiological Society of North America, so-called “perfect” posture might actually be contributing to back pain. Go ahead, call your mom and gloat. But make sure you get your facts right. When this story first came out last November, many newspapers incorrectly reported that slouching was the better way to sit. The problem turned out to be a “slanguage” barrier. In England, where the story was first reported, “slouching” refers to reclining backward, which is, according to the study, a great way to relieve pressure on your lower back. Translated into American slang, however, the news reports gave many people the impression that hunching forward was healthy, when, in fact, it’s actually worse than sitting up straight.

Following a low-fat diet

Significantly cutting the fat in your diet is supposed to lead to weight loss, cancer prevention and a healthier heart. Turns out, those promises might just be empty intellectual calories. In 2006, the Women’s Health Initiative—a several-billion dollar, eight-year study of the effects of low-fat diets—finally came to an end. The results were shocking. Not only did the women who followed “fat-free diets” show no decrease in cancer or heart disease rates compared to their fat-eating counterparts, but they also weren’t any skinnier. And, the researchers said, the study probably applied to men as well. If you follow the medical literature, however, there’ve been plenty of studies, dating back to the early 1990s, which show low-fat diets aren’t as effective as they’re made out to be. In fact, there’s even some evidence that the behaviors they inspire might be harmful. A 2007 study in the journal Human Reproduction found that women who carefully avoided full-fat dairy products were more likely to experience a certain type of infertility.

Trusting your eyesight to carrots

If you think these vegetables will improve your vision, think again. While carrots do contain vitamin A, which is a major player in keeping your eyes working properly, you really only need a small amount of it—and no matter how much vitamin A you consume, it’s not going to magically eliminate your need for glasses. In fact, if you eat too much vitamin A, you can end up with a toxic—although not usually fatal—reaction. The idea that more carrots means better vision might actually be a relic of a World War II-era military disinformation campaign. According to the online World Carrot Museum, British intelligence began spreading the myth during the blitz as a plausible explanation for why their fighter pilots were suddenly able to spot Nazi planes at night. In reality, the British had simply developed a better radar system and didn’t want the enemy to find out about it.

Taking antioxidant supplements

They’re supposed to reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease and even diminish the effects of aging, but, if you take antioxidants as a pill or some other drug-like form, chances are they aren’t doing anything at all. The basic idea behind the hype is that antioxidants, chemicals found in fruits and vegetables, can help reduce damage to various parts of your body by balancing unstable chemicals known as free radicals.

Without antioxidants, free radicals start trying to stabilize themselves—often by swiping molecules from your DNA, damaging it in the process. So far, so good. The free radical-fighting power of antioxidants has been demonstrated in the lab and people who eat plant-heavy diets are less likely to suffer from the diseases linked to free radicals. But, as Dr. Lisa Melton wrote in an article in the August 2006 issue of New Scientist magazine, many studies have shown that people who get their antioxidants from popular supplements receive none of the health benefits. In fact, Melton cited a few studies that even suggested antioxidant supplements were leading to worse internal damage, including a 1992 study by the National Cancer Institute that had to be cancelled after the patients taking beta carotene supplements actually began developing higher rates of lung cancer than those taking sugar pills.

Drinking eight glasses of water a day
Admit it, this is one healthy habit that’s a royal pain. Luckily, it’s also completely unnecessary. For some people, eight glasses a day might actually be far too much, leading to sodium deficiencies and potentially life-threatening water intoxication, caused by kidneys not being able to keep up the intake of liquids. In 2002, a kidney specialist tried, in vain, to find any scientific evidence supporting the eight-glasses-a-day myth. His report, published in the American Journal of Physiology, concluded that this standard health advice was complete and utter bunk that, like many urban legends, stemmed from a tiny grain of truth. Apparently, the dietary guidelines provided by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council do say that humans need 1 milliliter of water for each calorie of food—adding up to about 10 cups a day. However, the same guidelines also say that we get most of this liquid from the water in solid food. There’s no need to drink more.

Buying “all-natural” health products

Certain natural health products and supplements might have some value, but the label “all-natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe.” Don’t feel too bad if you’ve leapt to that conclusion, though. It’s such a common mistake that the Canadian National Health Network began an education program aimed at making sure consumers were aware of the risks inherent in natural health products. According to the CHN, some natural health products might be toxic if you take too much, others can trigger unexpected allergic reactions, and still others react badly with medically prescribed drugs or with individual health issues, like pregnancy or heart disease. And, while the CHN reviews and labels natural health products for safety, most of the ones in the U.S. haven’t been tested or proven effective. They can be sold as long as they don’t claim to be able to treat or cure a specific disease. The best thing to do, before you start taking any supplement or look into any alternative cure, is to talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to help you make the best decisions for your body.

Relying on sunscreen to save you from skin cancer

Why is this healthy habit a bust? Because you’re probably doing it wrong. According to Dr. Francesca Fusco, spokeswoman for the Skin Cancer Foundation, people tend to not use enough sunscreen or use it consistently or use it early enough in life; they also often aren’t using a sunscreen that’s truly effective. Some of her tips for proper use include: Putting sunscreen on over any medication but under makeup; using the equivalent of a shot glass or two to cover your whole body—even under clothes—and then waiting at least 30 minutes before you go outside; and always using a sunscreen that contains the ingredient mexoryl. That last one is a biggie. Sunscreens without mexoryl—which is, to say, most of them—only protect against UVB wavelengths of light. But UVA waves are dangerous as well—possibly more so, considering that they can damage your skin without causing sunburn, leaving you unaware of your risk.

Compiled from the email of:

Ronald H. Fookson

Mindanao State University

Email: fookson@gmail.com

Website: www.msumain.edu.ph

HighTech Machine

2007-06-07T22:17:00.000+08:00

A married couple went to the hospital to have their baby delivered.

Upon their arrival, the doctor said he had invented a new machine that would transfer a portion of the mother's labor pain to the father.

He asked if they were willing to try it out. They were both very much in favor of it.

The doctor set the pain transfer to 10% for starters, explaining that even 10% was probably more pain than the father had ever experienced before. But as the labor progressed, the husband felt fine and asked the doctor to go ahead and kick it up a notch.

The doctor then adjusted the machine to 20% pain transfer. The husband was still feeling fine.

The doctor checked the husband's blood pressure and was amazed at how well he was doing.

At this point they decided to try for 50%. The husband continued to feel quite well. Since the pain transfer was obviously helping out the wife considerably, the husband encouraged the doctor to transfer ALL the pain to him.

The wife delivered a healthy baby with virtually no pain.

She and her husband were ecstatic.

When they got home, the mailman was found dead on the porch...

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Vic Distrito
109 Etobicoke, Ontario Canada
Email: victor@distrito.ca
Website: www.gammaepsilon.ca

Brain Damaging Habits

2007-06-02T23:47:00.000+08:00

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered, increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

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The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.
2. Not urinating in the morning.
3. Too much eating.
4. Skipping breakfast.
5. Consuming too much medication.
6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.
7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.

Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to "schedule."

Because:

Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.

TAKE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH......

Compiled from the email of:
Sis Ligaya Esquivel
Email: ltm0124@yahoo.ca
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/grandechelon/

Balls Theory

2007-05-12T09:26:00.000+08:00

Interesting observations with an AMAZING conclusions:

1. The sport of choice for the urban poor is BASKETBALL.

2. The sport of choice for maintenance level employees is BOWLING.

3. The sport of choice for front-line workers is FOOTBALL.

4. The sport of choice for supervisors is BASEBALL.

5. The sport of choice for middle management is TENNIS.

6. The sport of choice for corporate officers is GOLF.

AMAZING CONCLUSION:
The higher you are in the corporate structure, the smaller your balls become.

Compiled from the email of:
Bro. Jerry Corrales
15190 Kellen Court, Riverside California, U.S.A.
Email Address: jerrycorrales@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.vna-ic.org/physicians.php

Mind Exercise

2007-05-11T10:04:00.000+08:00

Read out loud the text inside the triangle below.

More than likely you said, "A bird in the bush," and........
if this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see
that the word THE is repeated twice!
Sorry, look again.

Next, let's play with some words.
What do you see?

In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter). It's all very physiological too, because it visualize the concept that good can't exist without evil (or the absence of good is evil ).

Now, what do you see?

You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read the word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion?

What do you see here?

This one is quite tricky!
The word TEACH reflects as LEARN.

Last one.
What do you see?

You probably read the word ME in brown, but.......
when you look through ME
you will see
YOU!

Do you need to look again?

Compiled from the email of:

Bro. Salome Sendrejas

University of the Philippines-Davao City

Email: sendrejas@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.upmin.edu.ph/

Miracles for my brother!

2007-05-07T13:02:00.000+08:00

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! "And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick... and I want to buy a miracle."

" I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. " His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the Pharmacist said, softening a little. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."

The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

" I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money." " How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago. "One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. "

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live, I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a Surgeon, specializing in Neuro-Surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of thr events that had led them to this place. That surgery,her Mom whispered "was a real miracle I wonder how much it would have cost?" Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child..

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.. I know you'll keep the ball moving!

Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you! A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

Today I pass the friendship ball to you. Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you.

MY OATH TO YOU...
When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.
When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.
When you are worried.....I will give you hope.
When you are confused.....I will help you cope.
And when you are lost....And can't see the light, I shall be your beacon.....Shining ever so bright.
This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?.....Because you're my friend.

Signed: GOD

Compiled from the email of:

Sis. Norma Hechanova-Guia
Mindanao State University
Email: guia_norma@yahoo.com.ph
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCnursingparamed_2006

111811952457911

2007-05-02T22:25:00.000+08:00

Pray this even if you dont feel like it. It will only take a minute...

You never know when God is going to bless you! Good things happen when you least expect them to .

Change the number in the subject box when you forward it by adding one.

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.

And It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

If you prayed this prayer, change the number in the subject box before forwarding the message so people can see how many people have done so.

God Bless. Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves.

God, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please.

Compiled from the email of:
Bro. Ian Baldomaro
Di-Catalyst International Corp.
Email Address: badong_1963@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.spectrumtrading.net