Engadget reported that there were 37 million iPhones sold last quarter. 37 million!!! How crazy is that? As Joset posted on Google+: “Babies born each day – 371,000. Apple phones sold each day – 377,900.” Granted, last quarter includes Christmas, the season for giving. Likely there were lots of iPhones under the Christmas tree. But still, that’s just an astounding number.
Last night, Jeanne and I were seated on the couch when she started a conversation.
Jeanne: Witch.
Me: What?
J: Witch.
M: Where?
J: Outside.
M: There’s no witch outside.
J: Only birds.
M: Yes, birds. And cats and dogs. Did you see those?
J: Yes.
M: And butterflies and dragonflies. What else is outside?
J: And flies, too.
M: Yes, what else?
J: Ladybugs.
M: Yes, ladybugs.
J: Ewww
M: You don’t like ladybugs?
J: No.
M: Ladybugs are nice. They’re red with black spots. What else is outside?
J: Airplanes.
M: Yes, airplanes. Do you like airplanes?
J: Yes!
M: Do you want to ride an airplane?
J: Yes!
M: Where do you want to go?
J: (after thinking) Kang-kong
M: Hong Kong?
J: Yes!
M: You went there before, right?
J: Yes
M: Who was there?
J: Daddy
M: Yes, daddy. Who else?
J: Ate Gretchen.
M: Hmmmm. Was Ate Gretchen was there?
J: (after thinking) No.
M: Who else was there?
J: Mommy!
M: Yes, mommy. You want to go to Disneyland?
J: Yes! And see the big Mickey!
M: Yes, and the big Minnie, too.
J: Yes.
M: Okay, let’s go there again.
Looks like it’s time to save up!
Les, Nino, and I went to Club Manila East for some surfing lessons and practice. It was a blast! The constant and consistent waves of the wave pool were really helpful in getting the basics down pat. The foam boards we’re supposed to be no-brainers but I managed to wipe out quite a few times. Still, I progressed quite significantly. For starters, I was able to pop up. Then I was able to ride the board all the way to the “shore” more than a few times. Maybe a visit or two more and we can then visit Zambales and, eventually, La Union!
If I look back the past few years, I’d be hard-pressed to name an action actress more badass than Kate Beckinsale. Yes, the lead of romance movies like Serendepity and Pearl Harbor. Now, after a short absence, she’s back in the franchise that launched her action career. She reprises her role as Selene, a vampire “death dealer” (that means exactly what it says). The story is frankly ho-hum: The humans found out about vampires and lycans and, with the help of UV flashlights and silver bullets, set out exterminating them. Fast-forward 12 years later and Selene awakens from cryo-stasis, freed by a mysterious benefactor and soon after escapes from captivity. She later finds her liberator, not her mate as she expected, but her progeny. She also finds a world where humans are still vigorously hunting the remnants of the vampires but strangely less so the lycans. Digging through the mystery, she finds a powerful pack of lycans planning on harvesting her daughter as a source for biological fixer-uppers. That’s a big no-no and she proceeded to shoot and slice through the lycans in the coolest, most impossible, matter-of-fact way possible. Did I say Kate Beckinsale is badass? Hell, yeah!
Unless I’m overcome by a serious case of pity, I don’t usually give to street beggars. To me, giving to them is just an quick feel-happy activity that doesn’t really accomplish much. At best, you make someone happy though you’re probably the one who feel happiest (is that selfish or what?). But at what cost? Encouraging them to risk life and limb at the thoroughfares? At worst, you may actually be contributing to aggressive begging and to the exploitation of the weaker beggars (yes, syndicates). Also, you are already giving thanks to the government. Social welfare is one of its functions and part of your taxes goes there. But since the government is notoriously corrupt in so many levels, there is no doubt the social welfare budget have been seriously diminished by the time it actually reaches those who need it. So it would actually be good if you can supplement by giving. But not at the street. And not to the government, they’ve taken enough. The better choices would be the church and NGOs involved in education, livelihood, micro-credit, cash transfers, etc. Make your gift matter. Make your gift count.
Read the reading of the day of the same title on Our Daily Bread. I remember long ago, when my office mates and I visited the pediatric cancer ward of the Philippine General Hospital, I rhetorically asked (on email a day after the visit) why we we’re smiling, giving gifts, and singing when just a room away, someone was dying… and died… we saw the interns wheel away the body of the recently departed child. Soon after that, Bob told me that we were not smiling, giving gifts, and singing because of the dying, we were there to try and bring some happiness to those who live. Indeed what he said is true. Every moment of life is a reason for joy and the memories something to cherish. Wise guy, that Bob (BTW belated happy birthday!)
After Sunday mass and lunch, Michelle went off for a massage and a facial. That left Jeanne and I with at least two hours together. No biggie, I’ve done it before.
First we went to Gymboree where Jeanne had a great time playing alongside the kids. All the other kids were doing the same. I guess the typical visitor still haven’t learned how to play with others. Still it was lots of fun for her even if the interaction with other kids is limited to things like “That’s my ball!”, “I’m still playing with it!”, and “No! No!”. Most of the time, I just let Jeanne romp. Only later did I find out that they recommend you to be a “hug distance”.
Next, we went windows shopping at iStudio and ROX. Jeanne had fun with the white iPad at iStudio but said she likes her black iPad better. At ROX, she had fun with the ramps at the shoe section. I also took the opportunity to look at the gadgets and gear.
It was over two hours when we finally dropped by the Spa. But Michelle wasn’t around yet. So we waited inside and just outside The Spa for almost an hour. Jeanne was getting bored so I took her to Dimensione which I like visiting and which Jeanne seemed to also enjoy. But it was stressful for me with all the breakable stuff within her arms’ reach.
Finally, as the clock inched to four hours with no sign of Michelle and Jeanne becoming cranky and sleepy, I decided to go home. After leaving a text message for Michelle, we I went to the parking and then drove off. Halfway there, Jeanne was already asleep.
Tonight, my uncle and cousins encountered a taxi driver sidelining as a linguist (or is it the other way around?). His name is Vicente (just like my uncle) and he speaks several languages including English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, even Japanese. He seemed to be a smart, learned guy. I wonder which language he uses to teach his kids. Experts say that the best language for teaching is the child’s first language. I expect it would. Of course, the educational material, e.g. books, would also need to be on that first language. It’s easy to say there’s no reason why we can’t develop material for a particular language since the Japanese, Chinese, etc were able to do it. But those languages have millions of users with a huge pool of domain experts. If you are to take that concept here, you’re talking a dozen languages with a few million users each with a smaller percentage of domain experts much more those capable of developing educational material. I say instead of changing the language used at school, change the first language to the one used at school be it primary, secondary, tertiary, or beyond.
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Michelle and Jeanne came home last night. Thanks be to God. Thanks to Michelle for giving me this chance. Thanks also to my family and friends for their prayers and support. Now for the harder part, to live each day as a husband and father as God intends it.