Are you in?

Iyan ang tanong ko sa iyo ngayon? Masasagot mo? Kung sasabihin mong hindi ka “in”, mabuting bata, nagsasabi ka ng totoo. Kung sasabihin mong “you are in”, anak nakikita ka ng Diyos… you’re a BIG LIAR!

Nasabi ko iyan dahil marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang wala pa sa uso. Akala ko ba lahat tayo updated sa mga ganyan. Bakit naunahan pa tayo ng Europe na super “in” na ngayon, di dahil sila ay fashonista o may bagong high-tech gadget, kundi dahil lahat sila ay NAKAPAGSASALITA NG WIKANG USONG-USO SA BUONG MUNDO.

ESPERANTO ANG TINUTUKOY KO, BABY! Siguro you’re wondering dahil NGAYON MO LANG ITO NARINIG. Nababasa ko na sa iyong isipan ang mga katagang “WHAT’S THAT?” o “ANO IYAN?” Anyway, ang Esperanto, tulad ng English ay isang wika. WIKA. Yun nga lang malaki ang pagkakaiba nito sa ibang mga wika. DAHIL ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE ITO. Artificial. Ibig sabihin, gawa lamang ito ng iisang tao na lumawak sa buong Europa at naging isang trend.

Ang Esperanto ay ginawa ni L.L. Zamenhoff, isang ex-Polish noong (kung hindi ako nagkakamali) 1887. Naging sikat ang Esperanto simula pa noong WWII at matapos ang ilang dekada, umariba ito sa US, Latin America, Brazil, China, Japan at sa ibang parte ng Africa. Sa kasalukuyan, Esperanto ang wikang ginagamit ng mga kabataang Pranses, Italyano, German at Espanyol dahil para sa kanila, “IN” ang sinumang nakapagsasalita ng ESPERANTO. Noong nasa France ako, ang mga kasing-edad ko ay ESPERANTO ang ginagamit sa kanilang batian, kuwentuhan, pati na rin sa mga gimik. Madalas mong maririnig sa kanila ang mga salitang “Saluton!”, “Bonan Matenon”, “Bonan Vesperon”, “Kiu estas via nomo?” at marami pang iba. Kung ikaw na Pilipino at walang kaalam-alam sa Esperanto, tiyak na discriminated ka. Sa Italy naman, ang alternative sa wikang Italian ay ESPERANTO. Kung wala kang alam sa Italian maliban sa Ciao, e puwede ka pa rin nilang asikasuhin by speaking Esperanto with them. By the way, kung mag-aaral ka sa France, Hungary, Italy, at sa ibang parte ng mundo, Esperanto is included in their curriculum.

Dito sa Pilipinas, palagi tayong updated sa mga new trend. Bakit hindi natin gamitin ang Esperanto, sa school man o sa gimik? Esperanto is the language of all. Kung palaging nasa uso ka, try to speak in ESPERANTO. Dagdag pogi/ganda points iyan! And you are ready to face Europe for better jobs!

I’m sure you’re in!

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I love watching movies, dining out, and having coffee with my family and friends. I also love going to the beach to engage in water sports like jet skiing and scuba diving. I enjoy playing volleyball and basketball during my spare time. I like to surf the net and chat with friends. I also like going to the mall to window shop and drive around to relax.

What is your career ambition?
I love fashion and want to pursue it as a career. My ambition is to be top model for the world’s most celebrated designers. I want to travel the globe and work with creative people.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment?
Aside from representing the country in this pageant, graduating from college would have to be my proudest personal accomplishment. I worked hard, finished with flying colors and made my parents extremely happy.

What is something unique that has happened to you; some interesting thing about you?
My younger sister and I went to the same school, from preparatory to high school. The school was just 15 minutes away from our house so my mom would send us off to school on bikes.

photo and interview courtesy of Miss Universe Official Website

photo courtesy of Binibining Pilipinas Official Website

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I love to practice sports, especially dancing. I love traveling all over the world and discovering new cultures. I also like meeting new people and studying law.

What is your career ambition?
I want to be a lawyer, and I am a Law and Economy student.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment?
I am very proud of many things, and one of the most important things is to have the best family I could have had, because they love me and they give me their support in everything I need.

What is something unique that has happened to you; some interesting thing about you?
People who know me describe me as a natural and happy girl, independent and someone who loves traveling and learning new things.

What do you want the judges to know about you?
That I am very happy and very proud of being one of the contestants of Miss Universe, and I want to do my best because it is a unique opportunity in my life to learn new things, to know different people and, why not, to win Miss Universe 2008 Pageant.

photo and interview courtesy of Miss Universe Official Website

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?

 
I’m always interested in exploring, developing skills and participating in activities where I can feel useful helping others. My passion is dancing; I feel it is a different way to express myself. In the future I would love to open a school and share my time and experience giving dance lessons, especially to kids. I believe in sharing what is loved the most, that’s how I give my best. Another passion I have is cooking. It is an area where I can explore my creativity and combine it with what I have learned during my studies on food chemistry. I have also taken some gastronomy courses and I would like to study more about the subject. I specialize in desserts, but oriental food is my favorite. What I enjoy doing the most is traveling and learning from all cultures and ways of life. I have traveled mostly to the United States and within my country, which is incredible because there is too much to admire, but I dream of seeing the rest of the world.

What is your career ambition?

 
To finish my studies in Engineering in Food Industries. I want to create my own business in this area with my family. I‘m fortunate to have my mom who is a chef, and shares my dream of combining our knowledge; her‘s in gastronomy and mine in food chemistry, in order to create new and interesting products to sell in our own restaurants. I think there is a big challenge in the food industry; we have to start thinking in ways to make nutritious, economic and delicious food instead of the unhealthy, and over processed food that we are used to eating nowadays.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment?

 
One of my proudest accomplishments has been representing my city and my state in national dance competitions; my group won third place. I’m also very proud of when I helped organize major events in my school, such as conferences. The most important one was a chemistry symposium in which I was in charge of the communications and social area. It was a nationally recognized event that promoted the interest in technology and science, with internationally recognized speakers and thousands of participants.

What is something unique that has happened to you; some interesting thing about you?

 
During my experience as Miss Mexico, I have had the opportunity to assist in some personal development courses. A very interesting one is called “the power journey” and it takes place in Teotihuacan pyramids, an amazing and historical place where our first ancestors lived, the Toltecs. It is said that this place is charged with energy that’s why they do it in there so you can receive it. Since the first moment we got there, there was a woman that captured my attention. She was about 50 years old and had a very sad look. Someone let me now that she had cancer and she only had a one month to live. During the course we went inside the pyramids so we could get in contact with some spirits; for me it was hard to believe in that, but the instructor told me that I should try it. I tried to focus and I just sat waiting for anything. After one hour I started feeling cold and I started to hear a women’s voice; she was trying to say something which I had to be open to receive in order to be reborn, and in that moment I freaked out; I didn’t understand it. After living through that, every person talked about their experience and the woman with cancer told us that she heard a woman‘s voice just like the one I heard saying that I had to be willing to be reborn. I was surprised about that. Someone else heard what I thought had been just a dream. The instructor told us that maybe that had meaning related to her illness and he knew a possible way to relieve her. We got together and simulated a human tunnel so she could pass across it. When she got out of it, everybody was crying and there was something new in her eyes. Time passed, the course finished and I didn’t understand yet what had happened there. A month ago I got the news that she had no signs of cancer. I believe she was reborn and that it was because she mentally decided to do it and also because all of us gave her life with our energy. It sounds weird but I understood how powerful our minds can be.

What do you want the judges to know about you?

I am willing to learn and work hard and I‘m never afraid of change. I truly believe that success is for those who dare.

photo and interview courtesy of Miss Universe Official Website

oh YOU TOUCH MY TRA-LA-LA!!!

This July 13, another grandslam pageant will be won! After Riyo Mori surprising crowned as Miss Universe 2007, there will be another surprising event in Miss Universe 2008!!! Live in Vietnam!!!

New Crown for Miss Universe 2008

The Miss Universe Organization announced today that CAO Fine Jewelry (a line of the renowned Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) company in Vietnam) has created the coveted 2008 Miss Universe crown.  The winner of the 2008 Miss Universe® Pageant, which will broadcast live on NBC July 13th from the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam, will be crowned with the masterpiece which was designed by Rosalina Tran Lydster of Jewelry by Rosalina and Ms. Dang Thi Kim Lien of CAO Fine Jewelry.

The crown, valued at $120 thousand dollars, is made of 18K white and yellow gold. It is comprised of over 1,000 precious stones; including 555 white diamonds (30 carats), 375 cognac diamonds (14 carats), 10 smoky quartz crystals (20 carats) and 19 morganite gemstones (60 carats). The colors of the jewels chosen for the crown have great significance. The yellow luster of the gold represents the prosperous thriving economy in Vietnam. White, light pink and cognac are the main hues in the crown which represent inspiration and feeling.

TOP PREDICTIONS

MISS UNIVERSE 2008

Eliza Najera

(Mexico)

Siyeeet! I was mesmerized with this woman! Too seductive. I’m tempted to kiss her especially in her lips. Eliza Najera maybe compared to Lupita Jones, Miss Universe 1991! So lupeeeeeeeeeeet!

1ST RUNNER-UP

Dayana Mendoza

(Venezuela)

Venezuela did it again! Dayana is a good catch to represent Venezuela. She has the body and face to become Miss Universe 2008 1st Runner-up. I like her eyes. It makes her beautiful.

2ND RUNNER-UP

Ingrid Rivera

(Puerto Rico)

God! I’m burning! Ingrid Rivera put me into fire! This beauty from Puerto Rico already proved her beauty during Miss World 2005, won as 2nd runner-up. Now, I think she will take again the 3rd place due to her beauty and charisma. I like her!!! Puerto Rico is also a good catch.

3RD RUNNER-UP

Crystle Stewart

(USA)

Wooooow!!! Tantalizing Crystle Stewart is also a good catch! She has the potential to become beauty queen. Her perfect body makes her above from others. I love her!!!

4TH RUNNER-UP

Simran Kaur Mundi

(India)

Totally hottie! Simran is India’s one of the beautiful delegates since Lara Dutta, Miss Universe 2000. Her eyes, lips and perfect curves earned her points. Super delicious!

FINALISTS

Jennifer Barrientos

Philippines

Laura Dundovic

(Australia)

Zana Krasniqi

(Kosovo)

Laura Tanguy

(France)

Samantha Tajik

(Canada)

feast your eyes!!!

photo credits: Miss Universe Official Website

Ilang taon na rin akong nag-aaral ng iba’t ibang mga wika. Nandiyan ang French, Spanish, Italian, Tagalog, Ilocano, Magyar, Greek, Hebrew at pati na rin ang mga naglilipanang mga GAY LINGO- lahat iyan napag-aralan ko na at hindi sa nagyayabang ako (*krus*), fluent ako sa pagsasalita ng mga iyan (kasama na ang huli, ching!)

Pero noong isang taon medyo naligaw ako ng landas. Dapat sana wikang GERMAN ang aking pag-aaralan kaso bigla akong nawala sa sarili kaya nagback-out ako at iniba ko ang wikang balak kong pag-aralan. Napunta ako sa Esperanto. Kung tatanungin mo kung bakit ako nagback-out sa German, ito ang mga dahilan.

1. Mahirap bigkasin ang wikang German. Para kang laging galit at lumalabag sa karapatang pantao.

2. Masyadong mabusisi ang grammar. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang kaibahan ng B sa β.

3. May phobia ako sa mga hinayupak na Germans! They sucks!

4. Nakakabanas ang assistant na nag-poprocess ng enrollment sheet sa pinapasukan kong language school. Para kasing nangangain ng isang buong elepante kaya umatras ako.

Ayun, napunta ako sa isang Esperanto class. Okay naman ang simula. Smooth. Tapos mabait pa ang professor ko. Marami akong natutunan hindi lang ang grammar kundi ang makulay nitong kasaysayan.

Alam niyo bang isang imbentong wika ang Esperanto? Oo, ginawa lamang siya kamakailan, noong 1887 ni L.L. Zamenhof. Hango ang wikang Esperanto sa iba’t ibang wika tulad ng French, Spanish, Latin, Greek at Magyar kaya smooth lang. Hindi ka mahihirapan.

Sa maniwala ka o hindi, walang bansa ang naging opisyal na wika nila ang Esperanto. Pero kalat na kalat ang wika na ito sa China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico at Togo. Isa itong curriculum elective noong nag-aaral pa ako sa France at sa Hungary, required ang mga mag-aaral na kumuha ng crash course sa Esperanto.

Hindi ka pa rin ba kumbinsido? Heto pa…

Balak ng UN na gawing second universal language ang Esperanto. Maraming bansa na sa Europa ang nagkakasundo na gawin itong international language sunod sa wikang Ingles. Lahat ng mga universities at colleges sa Europe ay may inaalok na course about Esperanto. Mayroon ka nang maririnig na kanta sa wikang Esperanto, pati na rin ang mga romance novels, erotica movies, lahat may Esperanto translation na! Sa Vatican, kasama sa Urbi et Orbi ng Santo Papa ang wikang Esperanto. Lahat ng mga cardinals sa Italy ay nakakapagsalita ng Esperanto.

Kung pasosyal naman ang pag-uusapan, maraming mga elites sa Europe ang ninanais na makapagsalita ng Esperanto kaysa sa wikang French. Oo, magandang magsalita ng wikang French, pero alam mo bang mga pasosyal na Pranses ay Esperanto na rin ang sinasalita. In other words, ang mga PA-KIKAY FRENCH GIRLS ay nais pang magsalita ng Esperanto because IT IS “IN”!

“In” na ngang maituturing ang pagsasalita ng wikang Esperanto sa lahat ng bansa sa Europa and I’m sure kung madidiskubre ito ng mga Pilipino, tiyak na makiki-in na rin tayo. Hindi ba’t laging yumayakap ang mga Pinoy sa concept of “WHO’S IN?”

Anyway, let’s have some few guidelines in speaking Esperanto:

visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

Kung basic everyday conversations ang hanap ninyo, bibigyan ko kayo ng ilang sentences that is commonly used in speaking Esperanto.

for more info, visit: http://mindprod.com/esperanto/esperanto.html

kung gusto mo naman ng DIRTY, as in pang-LIBOG, meron din ang Esperanto. Sosyal pang bigkasin! Hindi halatang vulgar words:

Vocabulary : Vortareto

Kaya ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Speak Esperanto now!

MAY 28 -  THE MOST AWAITED MALE PAGEANT WILL BE HELD IN SOUTH KOREA. IT IS NONE OTHER THAN THE MANHUNT INTERNATIONAL 2008 PAGEANT!

But before the pageant will start, here are top predictions who will  win the title.

MANHUNT INTERNATIONAL 2008

Thiago Testoni

(Brazil)

This man has a great appeal to the opposite sex.  He has blessed with seductive eyes, flaming smile and nice built body.

RUNNERS-UP (IN RANDOM ORDER)

Alexander Janey

(Bulgaria)

This man has tantalazing eyes and the body… he has a potential to become a male stripper!

Nikolaos Kavouris

(Greece)

This Coffee Prince was good enough to win the second Manhunt Title for Greece, but for analyst, he was only a runner-up. Nikolaos actually broke the chain of Greek pageants that the pageant usually brought a mascular handsome man to be sent in Manhunt, like being send to Mister Universe body building instead. Contrary, Nikolaos was cheesy young man that is only applicable for “cute roles”

Nguyen Van Thinh

(Viet Nam)

Vietnam wins with this one. This is the hottest Asian who will participate the said pageant. He has a greater sex appeal compare to other Asian delegates

Lin Shao Hua

(Taiwan)

Another Asian jackpot!!! Lin Sao Hua, like Mr. Bulgaria, has also a potential to become a male stripper!!! Hehehe!

OTHERS WHO WILL MAKE IT TO THE TOP

Jetsen Rodriguez Silva

(Dominican Republic)

This teenage model was so hot at his age. He has a great smile, I think. But he has no match to Johaney Albor, last year’s representative to Manhunt International.

Risto Kask

(Estonia)

Another good catch. We think that Estonia chooses the best one since the first join in Manhunt International.

Tarek Naguib

(Egypt)

This Egyptian hottie is the best among the middle-eastern delegates. We guess, if Cleopatra so this one, she will forget his man, Mark Anthony! Tarek was an Egyptian god of beauty!

Alejandro Moreno

(Mexico)

Another teenage hottie. If you see this one, especially if you’re a kikay teenage girl, you will not resist this prince charming!!!

WORST MANHUNT DELEGATE OF THE YEAR!!!

Rikesh Raj Shrestha

(Nepal)

Sorry to say, but this man has not qualify with our criteria. he’s better to become a boxer, not a ramp model.

 Jeffrey De Bruyn

(Curacao)

His smile was good but we hated his hair! So curly! T thin if he shaved it off, he will the be more handsome.

Yang Yao

(China)

We are not pleased at this man. he’s handsome but very far to Jefferey Zhang.

Sam Whitman

(England)

Whew! Another flip-flopping man. He’s handsome but too young. He looked like a 15 year old nerdy teenager.

Chad Loh

(Malaysia)

We like his posture and his eyes but he is more like a priest than a model. His face was too innocent-like. Malaysia’s delegate last year will be better.

Marvin Wijangco

(Philippines)

This man was handsome but too “thin” compared to other delegates. His charisma was so far compare to Roldunne Mendoza and Iago Raterta. Marvin needs more muscle exercise to be able to made it to the top.

I’ve been asked by my friends and ka-berks: for me what is the essence of being a man? I just remember just in Miss Universe 1994 when Sushmita Sen of India asked the similar question (essence of being a woman). Let’s think what is the purpose of MEN in the world.

For me, being a man is not just like you are handsome, macho, playboy, or whatever. For me, they are REAL MEN if:

1. THEY ARE GOOD HUSBAND TO THEIR WIFE. very simple, the real man is not based for being a womanizer. They are faithful in their one and only wife. He doesn’t abuse his strength and he respects his wife as his long-time companion. The real man is a gentleman.

2. THEY ARE GOOD FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN. A real MAN is good, not only to his wife, but to his children. He must be responsible, hardworking, patient, loving and understanding to his children.

3. THEY ARE JUST, FAIR, BRAVE AND HUMBLE. a real MAN is just because he only believes in truth. He treat others equal and not abusing his authority and strength. He has his own principles in life. He is fair in fighting. He doesn’t make foolishness, stupidity and other bad things to others. A man is also brave, not on fighting others, BUT HE IS BRAVE IN FACING HIS LIFE AND THE REALITY OF THE WORLD. He likes facing challenges and he doesn’t give up easily. And of course, he must be humble and obedient to others.

4. THEY ARE MODELS OF THE SOCIETY. a real man must be a good role model. He doesn’t abuse his privilege as a man like being a drunkard, drug addict, etc. They do not commit crimes.

5. THEY ARE GOOD SERVANTS OF GOD. A real man must be a good servant of God. I didn’t say a man must be saint, but he must have fear with God. He must do good things with his entire life, devoted his life to God, and offer his success as a man to God.

THESE ARE THE FIVE ESSENCE OF BEING A REAL MAN.

Masakit man isipin ngunit malapit nang mamatay ang course naming “ECONOMICS” hindi lang sa Letran pati na rin sa ibang mga colleges and universities tulad ng San Beda, U.P. UST, Ateneo, etc. Kami ng dito sa Letran, PITO (7) lang kaming nagtitiyaga sa demand and supply, opportunity cost, scarcity, eck-eck. Ceteris Paribus. Buti pa yung course na Management, Coomunication Arts, I.T. at Hospitality Management sa Letran hindi nilalangaw. Samantalang yung course namin, hindi lang nilalangaw, INUUOD na! Grabe kung pwede lang pwersahin yung mga graduating highschool students na kumuha ng kursong ECONOMICS dito sa Letran e ginawa na ng Org namin. “MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN” - yan ang motto ng mga certified demand and supply busters! Katwiran naman ng mga estudyante na kumukuha ng mga in demand na course tulad ng nursing, e, MALAKI DAW ANG SWELDO.

Ngunit maraming hindi nakakaalam sa mga kabataan ngayon na ang “ECONOMICS” course ay makapagbibigay sa kanila ng malakingsweldo kaysa sa nursing, I.T. or HRM. Ayon sa survey na ginawa sa Amerika, ang mgha Ekonomista ang may pinakamalaking sweldo kumpara sa mga ibang propesyon. Heto ang detalye (SWELDO NILA ANNUALLY):

ECONOMISTS- $49, 960

ENGINEER- $47, 110

COMPUTER TECHNICHIAN, SOFTWARE DEVELOPER- $40, 250

CIA AGENT- $38, 960

US ARMED FORCE PERSONNEL-$27,610

DOCTOR- $ 27, 550

NURSING- $37,2C50

iLAN LANG YAN MGA SIKAT NA PROPESYON NA DOMINANT SA STATES. Kung mapapansin niyo na malaki dihamak ang sweldo ng mga ekonomista kesa sa mga ibang propesyon. Pwera pa diyan yung mga stocks, and shares at mga iba pang raket ng mga ekonomista. Kaya yung mga ekonomista, 40 years old pa lang retired na! Bakit? MAYAMAN NA SILA. THEIR MONEY IS WORKING FOR THEM, sabi nga ni Robert Kiyosaki. Yung mga Nursing, “THEY WORK FOR MONEY.” Nakita mo yung difference?

Talagang marami kang benefits na makukuha kung Economics graduate ka. In-demand ka sa mga companies sa Makati. Yun nga lang marami ang hindi nakapansin na malaki lang ang sweldo dahil ang iniisip lang nating mga Pinoy ay, “kahit anong natapos, basta malaki ang sweldo.” Kahit nga siguro kung malaki ang sweldo ng katulong kaysa sa nursing e, marami sa atin ang magpapa-alipin na lamang…

 sad to say…

ANO, SHIFT KA NA SA ECONOMICS?!

FINEARTS - Drawing lagi ang sinasabi

ENGINEERING - Hanggang plano lang

PSYCHOLOGY - may saltik

CRIMINOLOGY - Bantay sarado ka

I.T. - Bobolahin ka lang sa internet

EDUCATION - tuturuan ka lang ng kung anu-ano

MASSCOM - Puro pacute lang

LAW - Sinungaling

DOKTOR - Puro salita lang

ECONOMICS - Titipirin ka lang

NURSING - MAALAGA, MAPAGMAHAL, LOYAL, UNDERSTANDING, CUTE, MAGALING PUMORMA, SAYA KASAMA, MABANGO, MALINIS TIGNAN, MATALINO,  ANDYAN LAGI SA TABI MO, SAAN KA PA? =)