You are what you eat.

A regular cheeseburger has a calorie of 400-500 per serving. 

Photo by David Ellis Franco

Obesity now a days is becoming a concern in every place in the world. There was a time that I was near being one at 22 years young. Eating carelessly is the culprit but carefully choosing the right food is imperative in order to lose the bad habit and yet being obese. There was a time that I'm having a frequent heart-burn, one weekend night it's like my heart was being pinched literally, I was in great pain. I survived and that served as a wake up call. 

"I came to a realization that I have to correct my weight or else I might suffer worse -- a heart attack -- which was really scary, I don't want to die yet."

With proper exercise and healthy diet - I toned my weight from 220lbs to 196lbs. That's sheer 20 kilos
which I managed to burn. I remember the days when I was sicked with oatmeal and pineapple (good sources of fiber which effectively cleans the digestive system) thus impaled at the bed at the end of the day having an insatiable appetite. A tough battle but indeed winnable.

My mind set was I need to lose weight that's why I chose healthy foods that compensate my objective. I started to incline myself with vegetables, anything green captivated my appetite. Protein is more important than fat, I set aside pork and had lean meat like fish. Of course just a cup of rice along the viand. After meal instead of looking for a conventional desserts, I preferred having refreshing fruits. Organic food are better than process made. Indulging ourselves with the creation of God is a good idea just like the Spartans did on their time (Caesar salad is one of the favorites today). Healthy foods in moderation plus a regular exercise of 15-30 minutes per day is a propensity towards winning the battle over obesity. 

We don't have to deprive our appetite with the food that we want to have however it pays to read its nutrient content, awareness is knowledge. Point of the matter is we have to be responsible enough to know how to take care of our body. We don't have to be wrong in order to be right. The initiative of choosing the right decision for a healthy living equates to a quality lifestyle. Having a healthy body is priceless - health is wealth. 

Life is better with company.

Photo of the day by David Ellis Franco

Life is better with company, everybody needs a co-pilot. These lines were said by Ryan Bingham, a character in the film 'Up in the Air' played by George Clooney. He is a person who doesn't acknowledge commitment. His job is to fire people relentlessly. Don't get me wrong, his not an emo or a bad guy, he's just doing his job--the perfect guy to end a commitment such as career. However it's unbelievable for Ryan to state something which is contrary to his philosophy. A statement that convinced a man with a cold feet minutes before the wedding. Amazing like Batman. 

Even a real pilot needs a co-pilot. Journeying life alone can be so empty. We are humans, we have feelings, hence we need affection. Having a significant other is a blessing, the person who deserves love and respect. It's always good to have somebody who'll be there and give us a helping hand. At the end of the day it's nice to rest next to someone who inspires us to live another day. An inspiration that makes us push the envelope even under the hardest circumstances. 

It takes optimism to make a safe landing. Have a good flight! 

Why track record of a politician is important.

Yesterday, me and my grandmother had a talk about politics regarding the presidency over breads, hotdogs, and eggs. It was a heated discussion, we both didn't want to get out of the kitchen.

My grandmother is a Noynoy supporter which made me throw the question WHY? She says "Noynoy Aquino is clean slate, therefore he'll not be a corrupt president" -- I just laughed -- I can't believe my grandmother was fooled by a promise. A promise isn't the best credential a presidential candidate can bring to the table, it's like a father telling a story about how good Santa Clause is. A citizen is eligible to exercise the right to vote at the age of 18, the legal age that the constitution allows one's mind to be rational in order to decide the leader of preference, rational enough to know that Santa Clause is nothing but a myth.

It's only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away. - Boyzone

I can try to consider Noynoy Aquino's promise if only he was an outstanding statesman but it wasn't the case. He didn't do anything significant for his district in Tarlac City as a congressman. Where did the 70 million peso pork-barrel was allocated? I hope he didn't corrupt it. Moreover he was never seen standing on the podium debating, rebutting, working his butt, at the congress. In the senate either, he didn't stand for a substantial issue, he was at the sideline having a comment or two, playing it safe. Worse thing is he can't make a law, 0 authored law as a senator. A clear incompetence. Tell me how can I seriously take a 'Noynoy Aquino' promise? I just don't get it why many people consider him to become a president.

All of them can promise a sanctuary, bottom line is, it's just a word which is so easy to speak but not action. Credible-politicians dwell on their achievements because they're proud of what they've contributed while callous-politicians resort to pathetic acts which intends to cover the truth of being an underachiever.

Results lasts for lifetime, excellence lasts forever. - Bret Hart

Track record embodies the intention of a politician. Experience elicits result which is an effective way to assess one's performance, from there we can think the qualifications and capabilities as for the position. Facts don't lie thus it enlightens a curious mind. I know that a politician has a gift of rhetoric however the best basis of judgment is through their accomplishments. As the old saying goes, "action speaks louder than words."

Presidency should be earned.

To win the highest position in land, obviously it should be earned. If someone is aiming for the seat at the palace of course it will be a long and a tough journey, meaning services will be rendered, countless time will be occupied, own treasury will be shelled out, and many more beyond being a statesman. But what I've mentioned are circumstances which is water under the bridge, to be a public servant is a devotion for whatever intention. Now if your candidate took a shortcut, there's a problem. It takes investment to be in power hence it empowers. But after all, the question for every powerful politician is 'what have you done for your country?'

"Ask what not your country can do for you--ask what can you do for your country." -John F. Kennedy

 

Politics has no room for a tragedy like Ondoy.

Our time today is saturated with multimedia, it's being advantageous for the campaign of a politician as every air wave of stream now a days has a lot of catchy ideas, star-studded endorsements, sympathetic endearments, quip statements, and a hundred more ways of advertisement which are about to get your attention thus it can penetrate to one's mind and plant a message that tells 'please vote for me'. The immense advertisements can be misleading, its purpose is dearly to convince the viewers/listeners-- yes it can be manipulative but at the end of the day, isn't more convincing if the decision is in accordance to his/her standards not because of a commercial.

Gimmickery is pathetic - politician's way of undermining the intellect of the sovereign Filipino to vote who's the most deserving. We have the power to empower the right people for the job. Tricks can do nothing to a thinking mind. An evaluation to know 'who really a candidate is?' and 'what's his/her accomplishments?'-- important factors for a rational decision. 

Ano na ba talaga ang nagawa nila para sa Pilipinas? Let's ask ourselves, do we want an incompetent leader who's only embellished that's why it appears nice but only equipped with personal ambition? A promise of honesty is just a word after all, instead let's look to their track record and see who's a real noble. Let's practice our rights to elect the candidate who truly earns our votes. Nevertheless we can always look back if we get lost, "Presidency should be earned."

Wag natin pairalin ang emosyon sa pag boto, ibigay natin ang karapatan na manuno ang isang lider na karapatdapat.

Track record, reputation, experience, and intellect are the qualifications I'm asking in order to win my vote. I can let the advertisements inform me, thanks though, but the whole point is it can't decide for my vote. Hopefully you can also be prudent too for a better future of our country.

Riverymaya - Lipad

Harapin ang hamon ng pag-asa -- This line is a perfect opener to state the message of the song. I find it quite very challenging, yet it states hope in every challenge which makes me want to strive more. The song is full of hope and motivation. It will wake up the fighter inside you.

Anyway I'll vote for Gibo Teodoro if not only for his party, ain't want to discuss politics though. So go hear the inspired music of the light at the end of the tunnel, it's never late to have a change in us. Have a nice day!