Online Marketing

I think I already told you about our next-door neighbor Bro Jhun, if not just click on the link. He is a SEO specialist,he owns the domain http://www.eyewebmaster.com/ and while I was at their place last Monday night, he talked about opportunities that online marketing can offer. In short, he told me to polish my skills in writing so that I can work as an online writer for SEO.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, in lay man's term is that  for example, you "googled" about "budget hotel in cebu"  when you pressed the enter key, there is a long list of links that will direct you to hundreds of websites . Human as we are, we tend to click on the first few links until we stop .  If you are a owner of a hotel and you want the world to know in addition to making sales, with the magic of a SEO specialist, the link to your website will be the first on the list of links.  The result: more traffic to your website. More traffic means many people visits your website and comes to know more about your hotel.  

And that my friends is what you call online marketing. 

There are thousands of business establishments around the world, and if they want to make a website, for sure they need somebody to write articles for their web page.  

If only I paid more attention to my Language, Communication Arts, and English teachers , I would have loads of confidence to be a writer.  But then again, there is no skills in the world that can't be learned. 

If you have a knack for writing ,why not try to read about SEO and how it works, and try to write something about it, 

There are three reasons why SEO Writing is becoming a trend in the online community.

1. FLEXIBILITY: There is no specific time for you to work, as long as  there are projects that you can work on, the better. If you are a housewife with kids, you can squeeze in writing while the kids are asleep.  For students this can be an added income and can help them finance their school.
2. HOME-BASED : You will be free from worrying what to wear for the next day . No rules. It helps you develop discipline.
3. SALARY: Trust me, your efforts in writing an article will not be put into waste as the pay is way higher than the minimum-wage . 

When you are in the Philippines, in order for you to survive, you need to exhaust all your talents and efforts to earn extra money to survive.  

This is one way that you can actually say to yourself, that all those student years writing Formal Themes and Essays certainly was worth it.

If you want to know more, you can check Bro. Jhun's page and you can even contact him. 

Good luck!

Toothache

As of the writing my toothache is subsiding, hopefully it goes away. I hate it. It's like my whole system is affected by this tiny tooth. I was literally crying from the pain. It really hurts big time,to the nth power multiply by infinity thats how painful it is. Pain scale of 100, even though the highest point for this is only 10.

Out of desperation , I searched some ways for remedy of toothache.  I was amazed that I don't need to go out at this wee hour of the morning to buy that yellow pill called pain killer, but the remedy for this pain is actually in our cupboard.

Here are some tips that I have discovered.

1. Garlic. Crushed the garlic, and mixed with rock salt,put it on the affected area. "Garlic contains a powerful compound called allicin, which exercises a powerful antibiotic effect. This compound is released upon crushing the garlic and it is believed that this could help slow down any bacterial activity. It should be stressed that this is not a cure however as garlic alone will not be able to halt or reverse dental decay or prevent further deterioration. In fact, all toothache remedies are meant to provide relief and are only temporary solutions that can not substitute medical treatment. Exercise caution when using garlic as it is quite strong and cause skin irritation" (www.home-remedies-for-you.com)
2. Onions. Masticating few slices of onions for two to three minutes every morning helps clean the mouth and at the same time lessen the pain.Onions are popular as traditional toothache relief treatment and you can simply place a slice over the affected area. Onions are high in sodium, rich in vitamins E and B12, and are low in fat or calories. Including onions in your daily diet and simply chewing on a few slices can help prevent and control toothaches.

To be honest I did not follow these instructions because I was too lazy to go down and actually do these things, but what I did was do the good old-fashioned way---ice compress.

After ten minutes, viola..it slowly fades away, but take note, SLOWLY! Nevertheless,  I am still grateful, because the pain is manageable and I stopped crying! boo-hoo!=(

Eye of the Fire

This was taken during the fire that hit Gaisano South, I think this was on the 23rd day of December, barely two days to go and it's Christmas. 

My heart went out to the employees , I hoped and prayed that it was still a MERRY  Christmas for them, though they lost their job they are still alive. 

Brighter side of things.

I will miss you Gaisano South.

My Life Right Now:The Three Trees

Ever since I heard this story during one of sacrament meetings when I was a missionary it became my instant favorite. It made think of God's love and that He really answers our prayers. He answers in His own will, in His own time and in His own way. It is really easier said than done.

My other favorite quote is that "Patience is tied very closely with our faith in our Father in Heaven , if we get unduly impatient it is like telling Heavenly Father our plans are way more better than His.
I guess I was really impatient. I have not been applying the principles I learned.

It all started when I started planning things in my head that by this time I should be doing this, and I should be doing that. I had set some timeline for myself that I totally forgot the bigger pictures. I forgot that although I am in control of my life but I am not TOTALLY in control with it , because Heavenly Father gave me this life.

Natural man!

May this video reminds us that "His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways" and that what we should do right now in this time of uncertainties is to "Trust God with all our heart and lean not unto thine own understanding; Acknowledge Him in all your ways, that He may direct thy path for good."

Just trust Him, even when the world says the other thing.

STRANGER

What do these pictures have in common?

Comment if you know the answer =)

Language Barrier

The Spaniard's tool in preventing the unity of the Filipinos during their colonization was teach them different languages, well it was good strategy until 3 centuries later, when Filipinos started yearning for liberty.
My uncle who is a German would teach us the language but we never took it seriously, not until my favorite cousin in the whole wide world was formally adopted by my aunt and my German uncle . The whole summer of  2000 was all about sitting beside my cousin and listening to them repeating the words all over again.  If you pronounced it differently it means a different thing. If you know what I mean.  What leads me to this entry was an experience I have with our Japanese guest, who is already old and her daughter was sick, as much  as I want to help her, the Niponggpo was really too much I can handle, in other words "NOSEBLEED" , "EPISTAXIS" , "NASAL HEMORRHAGE".

What I did was just to really listen beyond the words but to actually listened to her , through her actions. No behavior is accidental, it has meanings, so the way you look at the guest, lets call her, Ms, Sailormoon ., you would really sense that she is really worried.

Me (Pointing to her daughter) : Daughter ...Hospital ...Go..Now
Sailormoon: klhds;lhas;lkhdkhdsadhah  (speaking in Niponggo)
Me: ok ok 

after 3 hours in the hospital
Sailormoon: lkjagaijgailag ...... thank you ....thank you... sorry ...sorry

Its funny how a simple thank you and sorry can melt your heart. 

 I wish I know how to speak other languages, I want to learn German, Niponggo, and Spanish. I don't know why I am not fond of French and Italian language , but if you say French and Italian cuisine, that is totally a different story =) 

I think I'll probably put that in my long term goals, to learn a different foreign language =)

People who made my 2011

I was inspired by Bianca Gonzalez who urged people to make a list of the people who made their 2011.
For me, all the people who I met definitely fit into this category. To name a few here they are:

1.  TRISHA ZARA SESANTE LEOPOLDO.  Santa came early this year for us, as another angel has been given to us.My niece was born on 14th day of August 2011. They share the same birthday with my late father. They said she is a carbon copy of me when I was a baby, too bad I don't have any baby pictures.I  only have when I was in my grade school though. She is truly a blessing to all of us, and just to see her grow each day, is like a miracle unfolding right before our very eyes. Love you lots!

2. RHEA MAE SUMALPONG. We met way back in 2007, when we were both an OR trainee, Krystal told me she did not like me at first because I was so talkative, and when we get to be partners for a week we clicked instantly. Maybe for some reasons we are alike in some ways. We love our family and we love sweets after a meal.We share the same sentiments as well.
She was blessed with a good heart, and even though she can go abroad with the help of her parents, she want it the other way. She want to go out of the country and work as a nurse in her own little sacrifices. She taught me things . They told me I brought her out of her shell, but it was her who taught me about life in general. Unfortunately,she did not survived the earthquake tragedy in New Zealand last Feb 2011, the famous line that goes "Good (wo)men, die young" certainly holds true for her. I love you rhee, you will forever remain in my heart.

Marco Polo Plaza Human Resources Dept. when not in uniforms

 3. MARCO POLO PLAZA CEBU HR FAMILY. I was officially unemployed last March 2011, and though I am a mere Reliever Nurse in this company, they never let me feel that I was an outsider but rather a part of the family. They thought me in their own little ways that contributed much to my growth not only professionally but personally as well. To my fellow Nurses -Ms, Elfie, Ms.Jenna, Ms.Louise: Words are not enough for all the good things and the values you have inculcated in me.It was really a pleasure working with you! Ms. Menie, Ms, Aimee, Ms, Chona,Ms, Kit and Ms. Karen, I love you!

4. Ms. JULIE MARIE NAJAR, our Resident Manager. Many may be intimidated by her, but she is really lovable. She taught me to be really accurate in the things that I will report and on the things that comes our from my mouth =) She is an epitome of a woman with class, grace and wisdom.

5. DAISY MAE QUINTANA .  We were friends since college, and she is really my idol. She sacrificed alot. I miss our heart to heart talks, although we rarely see each other with our busy schedule, what she said to me the last time we saw each other made my day.." Whatever you have learned on your mission is much more compared to what you lost."  Thanks bru!=) (Bru is our petname)

6. BIANCA PAMELA ACIBO a.k.a Bianx, She is my classmate in my Masters. She is really fullof wit and charm, and accepts you for who you are and what you are. Mind you , she is a board placer in the Nurse's Li censure examination, yet she is really humble.

 7. MY CO-SWIMMING INSTRUCTORS AND MY STUDENTS

Swimming is not a stranger to me, but teaching , it is. I am still a neophyte. I thank my swim students for their dedication and their love to me. They inspired me to be a better swim teacher, though I am teaching it only part time, but nothing really compares to seeing your student actually learned from you. To all my students thank you, you have motivated me to never stop learning as learning is a never ending process.

The Belles of the Swim Instructors

My fellow swim instructors who are more experienced than me yet younger than me . Thank you for your humility in teaching me at times I have difficulty with my students.

Marvin: my chat partner and who thinks beyond his age. He is the Bruno Mars of the City Sports Club Swimming Instructors.

8. ROSSVETH & GIAN LOPEZ

As what they say, good things comes to those who wait. Their love story is 11 years in the making,  These two inspires me to live better each day and follow the strait and narrow path. They finally tied the knot and be sealed for all time and eternity last Oct 29, 2011.   Veth and Gian   . 

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven and true love waits. Everybody can have their own happy ending.

 

9. MY FAMILY !

 

Back: (L-R) Kuya Kernn,My nephew Tristan(my frenemy)Mama, Ate Iste holding Trisha

 Front: Kuya Ione and Me

My Brother following the footstep of  my late father.

 

My family has always been the source of my strength and inspiration. Although we have our ups and downs, we still manage to have a close-knit relationship, and that no matter what happens we will always have each other backs.

My older brother, Kuya Kernn graduated TOP 2 in his law class of 2011. He was one of the few who never questioned of my decision to go on a full-time mission. He owns a huge heart.  He taught me to dream big, big enough to motivate me to achieve it.

Webster, the love of my life

10. WEBSTER DABON APARRI . I am really lucky to be loved by him, the past 372 days were full of adventures. Surviving 9 months of our relationship into a long distance relationship and him packing his bags and leaving his job and family to come here in cebu to be near me. He is the most patient and loving person I have ever met in my entire lifetime, next to my papa of course=) I love you aimer, thanks for loving me in whatever body shape I am in , and looking forward for our next adventure this year---getting hitched!