Rest in Paradise, Nanding

A Sad News for Batch 63

Batch mates, Belen sent this news about Leonardo Sto. Domingo ,he died of heart attack last night, May 29. I will post other details as soon as I receive the latest from Belen.

Memorial Shrine of Pope John Paul II in Morong, Bataan

Hundreds of visitors flocked to the Bataan Technology Park (BTP) in Morong for the unveiling of the Blessed John Paul II memorial shrine last May 2.

BTP Inc. used to be a refugee center for some 400,000 Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians who escaped conflict in their countries during the late 1970s.

Blessed John Paul II, then the pope, visited the center during his first trip to the Philippines in 1981.

While most of the "boat people" did not know who he was, BTPI officials said his presence uplifted the refugees' spirit and demonstrated the late Pope's immense love and concern for "all the children of God."

A life-sized statue of Blessed John Paul II was constructed in the shrine out of cement and sand by Conrado Balubuayan of Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

It depicts the late pope standing on top of a boat with a family of refugees.

The shrine is meant to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Blessed John Paul II's first visit to the Philippines and celebrate his beatification May 1 .
From ABS CBN news

Friendship

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by doubling our joy and dividing our grief.

Hospital week

Two weeks ago we had our lab week,but last week it was hospital week.I gained a few pounds because we have food everyday,that's why I'm trying to lose some of it but it's very hard.It's easier to gain than lose.Anyway,here's some of the pix from the celebration.

Walk for a Cause

In support of the Save the River Campaign ( San Vicente River ), we, along with other NGO's and civic minded Orionese, participated in the Walk for a Cause on 19May. We also managed to donate some funds. We also hope that the people of Orion were made aware of the sad state of the riverand will contribute towards saving it. The fund raising is a continuing process to sustain the periodic clean up of the river.

The Guns of Corregidor

Really, really big guns! The 18 inch shell is bigger than my body. The view is spectacular, swimming is excellent! Definitely better than Arlington!

RIVER CLEAN UP

Last Friday the 13th of May, the Orion River Clean Up Project was launched with the USA core group and various NGO's & GO's participating. The project is aimed at saving the San Vicente river which is heavily silted and garbage strewn. The Rotary Club of Orion for it's part has put signs and slogans along the river to instill awareness among the people of Orion against throwing of garbage into the river. As an NGO, we are only a small cog in the wheel but hope to contribute however small. May 19 will be a fun walk to generate funds for the clean up project. Maybe Batch 63 can participate as a group

Punta de Udyong Resort

This is a new place in Orion, an Inland Resort for weddings, birthdays , reunions and summer outings. It is spacious and landscaped . It is located in Sta Ana, Barangay Balagtas .

What's Going on with our Blog?

Something weird is going on and I am not sure what it is.

I am posting as orionjri but as I write, my post is being published as by Josie. Josie's name also appears under my earlier post.

Rolly's posts appear in his real name.

Is this happening on your screen?

Does anyone know what is going on here? I sure don't. Let's just hope the blog survives this.

Update 1:
Still signed on as orionjri I checked our permission page where the bloggers' names are listed. It appears that the problem affects only my email addresses and Rolly's. My email addresses list me as Josie and c_, whilst Rolly's shows his full name.

I still have no idea why or how this happened. Let's hope Blogspot fixes this problem or that it is only occurring at my end. Will check again later.

Update 2:
I went to my Google account and reviewed my details. Weirdly, my "nickname" is shown as Josie. I have altered it back to my original posting id and Blogspot updated my posts.

Rolly, if this is happening on your screen and you do not want your full name shown please check your Google account just to make sure that your details have not been altered. Good luck.

Apologies to you, JJM.

Update 3, Saturday 14 May:

More Blogspot weirdos: Comments on recent posts have been deleted. Will they be restored?

What A Smile ,Pres. Mike !

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Gentlemen of JRI Batch 1963 who are living abroad, don't miss the chance to be as happy as our President... come before the fiesta on 2013 . Enjoy the fiesta and our Golden Reunion !

PARADA NG BAYAN

Mothers' Day and the Pacman fight,

aside, here are some fiesta images. You guys should enjoy one of these come 2013! RSJ

Happiness Gene’ Discovered

A new study has identified a gene that determines our natural happiness level.

The 5-HTT gene regulates the transport of serotonin (“the happiness drug”) in the brain, according to research published in the Journal of Human Genetics. People with the functional variant of the 5-HTT gene tend to lead happier lives.

As a person inherits the gene from both parents, there are three variations--long-long, long-short or short-short. The long-long version is the most efficient.

In the study, over 2,500 participants were asked the question "How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?" with five possible answers; very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, very dissatisfied or neither.

Respondents' answers were compared to their version of the 5-HTT gene found in their DNA...Commenting on the results, which are published in the Journal of Human Genetics, study leader Jan-Emmanuel De Neve said: "It has long been suspected that this gene plays a role in mental health but this is the first study to show that it is instrumental in shaping our individual happiness levels."

He cautioned that the 5-HTT gene is not the only reason for happiness levels.


"The results of our study suggest a strong link between happiness and this functional variation in the 5-HTT gene. Of course, our well-being isn't determined by this one gene - other genes and especially experience throughout the course of life will continue to explain the majority of variation in individual happiness," Dr De Neve said.

"This finding helps to explain why we each have a unique baseline level of happiness and why some people tend to be naturally happier than others, and that's in no small part due to our individual genetic make-up.” (Full Story )

Mother's Day ..... May 8 , 2011

Origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher.

Ladies from Hawaii??

Indeed , a Hawaiian costume can help one look and feel like you are in the islands.This is why the ladies in the picture feels the fresh, floral air that energizes and the warm, tranquil waters.The ladies are all retired teachers and this picture was taken in one of their activities . Look how lovely they are; Rosa Villegas Balmaceda , Luz Torres Saul,Ofelia Florendo,Mercedes Guzman and Belen Buenaventura Almazan .

continuation of Eddie and Annie's visit

A Day with Ofelia Florendo

Last Sunday,we had an unplanned trip to Morong to see Ofelia upon learning that her mother passed away April 26. It maybe a sad circumstance,but we got to see Fely whose last attendance to the Batch series of reunion was in 2007. That's a happy thing of course.

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Na miss ko yung sa araro, hindi tuloy ako nakatikim ng bringhe ni Emma. Wala bang kasunod yan? Nasabit tuloy ako kay Anthony Taberna instead of.

Hindi ko malaman kung nangunguha ng picture itong fotog na ito o kumakain ng mais!