Full transcript of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III’s inaugural speech

We were supposed to go to the mall to buy some important items for our condo project but got glued to the TV instead to watch a historical event this morning, the inauguration of a new Philippine president. For those who would like to read the full transcript of P.Noy’s speech, here it is. By the way, P.Noy or PNOY is the new catchy nickname or shortcut for President Noynoy which also equates to “pinoy” or “pinay”, a slang term for a Filipino or a Philippine citizen. I dunno where or who coined the term PNOY but it surely makes the President more endearing to the masses.

The following is the full transcript of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s inaugural speech delivered after taking his oath as the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on June 30, 2010.

His Excellency Jose Ramos Horta, members of the diplomatic corps, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, former President Fidel V. Ramos, former President Joseph E. Estrada, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and other members of the Senate, House Speaker Prospero Nograles and other members of the House of Representatives, members of the Supreme Court, local government officials, distinguished guests, mga minamahal kong kababayan. Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo.

Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan. Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan. Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktaturya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na kami ng dugo at handang gawin itong muli kung kakailanganin.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol. Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.Katulad ninyo ako.

Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa – nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din – talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito, dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat. Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon. Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago—isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan. Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago—isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster—ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon. Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan. Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan. Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga “midnight appointments.” Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami. Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya’t sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan. Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang “puwede na” pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang “emergency employment” ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga lokal na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating buong ekonomiya. Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo.

Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng: · dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo; · serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng PhilHealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon; · tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nananatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga na tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari. Inaatasan natin ang papasok na Kalihim Alcala na magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan na natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan. Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA, OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proseso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan.Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana. Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin, at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan. To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all. Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay-linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon. Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all—may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian. We shalI defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi? Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatang ito. Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan. Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities. We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, “it all works.”

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, walang maiiwan. Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon. Walang lamangan, walang padrino, at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa. Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong—kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko? Kayo ang boss ko, kaya’t hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people’s needs and aspirations. Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito—ang ating mga volunteers—matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabibilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa—nasa inyo ang aking taus-pusong pasasalamat. Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward. Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas. Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

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New discoveries at Mambukal Mountain Resort

“You have not gone to Negros Occidental, if you have not gone to Mambukal!” That would always be Mom’s way of convincing newcomers to visit this mountain resort. We’ve been to this resort many times already and each visit would always bring some new discoveries.

The latest visit we had was last month when we had some guests from Manila. What surprised us was the crowd, we were not used to seeing so many people in the resort that time and there were so many vehicles in the parking areas. According to the canteen owner, Mambukal is usually crowded during summer. Oh well. Another thing that surprised us was the new route going to the seven waterfalls. The boys who acted as our tour guides informed us that a recent storm caused a landslide which made the original route impassable.
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Canon SX120 IS

I love my new digicam, it’s a Canon Powershot SX120 IS. Yes it is one of those “point and shoot” digital cameras but a bit advanced since it has manual focus although I still have to play around with the settings. I still have to read the manual and learn more about the advanced settings so I can maximize the camera’s many features. For now I just take photos using the “Auto” settings.

About gold coins

Before, I didn’t know that there are different kinds of gold coins until I attended a seminar about it. Though I can’t quite remember the details well, I’ll share it here generally anyway.

We need a mailbox!

One time I came home, I saw a letter stuck at our gate. It was beginning to drizzle so I hurriedly got it before it would get wet. It was our phone bill. I then realized the urgency of our plan to have a mailbox into which the mailman can just put our letters in. Mailboxes protect our letters from both vandals and outside elements like rain.

I came across a website for mailboxes with a wide variety of both designs and prices to choose from, with many materials to suit one’s needs - brass, copper, steel, aluminum, powder coated, acid-washed, and more. I clicked at the architectural mailboxes; I might find one for our home. We need a mailbox which has the best warranty and be assured also that it’s a quality buy. 

Home improvement and DIY projects

With our family’s upcoming get-together in the next few months, you bet we’re all too excited, especially since we will finally be seeing our new baby niece. Other than the excitement, it’s a bit stressful also to think of the preparations here at home particularly the availability of the rooms for all of us. There was a proposal to do the repair of the old kitchen and convert it to another unit with its own bedroom, toilet and bath, mini-kitchen, living and dining areas, but it seems like we don’t have enough budget for that.
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On getting a college degree

Last weekend we had a visitor here at home, and in our conversation we talked about education and getting a degree. This young guy still has not graduated from college, thus we encouraged him to continue his studies as we know that with a college degree, he can get better job offers in the future. Well, it seems like he’s more interested in opening a retail store than going back to school. But he says he plans to continue with his studies for the next school year and he plans to take up civil engineering although he still has not decided which school to go to.
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Wanted: More storage space!

Lately, we’ve been thinking of renovating the old kitchen and making it into a separate one-bedroom unit, like a bachelor’s pad, with a mini-kitchen, bathroom, dining and living areas. The challenge is where to transfer all the stuff there, so we can clear up the whole area before construction work starts. Oh well, my uncle suggests building another shed house at the backyard.
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On hair dyes and turning 70

My mom will be turning 70 soon, but she really doesn’t look her age. Actually she looks years younger especially since she’s very much active, both mentally and physically for her age. One thing though that would give a clue about her age is her hair which is starting to have some grey streaks especially in the front hairline. We urged her to dye it but she refuses, saying she will be turning 70 soon and finds it bothersome to maintain such regimen.
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Go, go, gold!

Businessmen usually look for solid and safe investment, and they turn to precious metals, one of which is gold. Land in many places is thought of as also a good asset.  But in countries which have a small area of land, real estate cannot be trusted for investment as obviously it’s not generally available. That’s why people are advised even by governments to invest in gold – or buy gold coins.

This precious metal, which has a physical backing, one can hold and keep, has a stable and solid worth, as compared to even the national currencies which is only backed by paper or notes. That’s why, even with the slight going-down of its value recently, due to the Greek financial situation, people still look forward to its bouncing back, which is sure to happen. So - go, go, gold!

No to plastic bags

My sis and I would usually bring used plastic bags whenever we go to the market. When a vendor is about to wrap our purchases in plastic, we tell her not to use it and instead just put the items in the plastic bag we bought. It’s our small way of helping the environment. Saying no to even just a single plastic bag not only lessens the use of non-biodegradable materials but also encourages environmental awareness among others so they too would use less plastic products.
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Read up on pharmacy reviews

Nowadays, online shopping is a fad, for the computer-literate only of course. Even my cutie sis, when she was pregnant, found shopping online more convenient, especially with her extra-small size. Even buying medicine online has already become a popular practice because of its convenience. For this undertaking however, it’s advisable to do some research on online pharmacies, i.e. websites selling generic or brand name prescription medicines.

Dealing with unreliable online pharmacies may not only cause you your money but also your peace of mind, what with the long wait in case the medicine needs replacement. This is just to mention one inconvenience.
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Another busy Saturday

Yup, even if it’s a weekend, I can’t help but still be busy as ever. This may be a good sign that I have lots of wealth-related activities on my lap these days. LOL. The problem is that I can’t work continuously because of the power failures that would surprise us anytime during the day or evening. So now we’re really tempted to buy a generator because of frequent work interruptions caused by the brownouts.
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Health is wealth? Of course!

It’s really a must to be in good health. I’m saying this as I just read a friend’s status on Facebook sharing her doctor’s remark on her cholesterol test results, “Your cholesterol (level) is excellent.” Her HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides met the required optimal levels and she’s happy about it. Wow, that’s admirable indeed!

Hmmm… I’m wondering about my own cholesterol level results. It’s been more than two years since I had my medical exam and I really am planning to have another one soon. Aside from being busy these days, I’d also need to set aside budget for that, considering how costly medical exams and laboratory tests can be. This is why I can really understand some people who say they don’t have budget for a doctor’s check up. I know they’re not only apprehensive of the results, they’re also fearful of the cost of medicines they’d have to buy when the doctor hands them over the prescription sheet.
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A new pair of skinny stretch jeans

I went out this afternoon, amidst the sun’s scorching heat, to do some errands. And since my second errand was to ship some items at a courier service located in a nearby mall, I did some shopping as well, considering there was a sale going on. I went home at past 6 PM already, tired and hungry but so happy with my purchases, a light-colored lycra top and a pair of skinny jeans, both at 10% off.

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Health benefits of saunas

Whew what a tiring day it has been! Now I just want to rest and wishing we have a full-featured sauna here at home so I can easily indulge myself to a relaxing and therapeutic treat. Speaking of saunas, I have experienced this in the place where this tradition originated, in Finland. It was fun and relaxing especially when I was with my nephews and niece. And with the tiredness I feel right now, I just miss that experience of feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after an hour at a sauna.
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First aid kits as trip essentials

First things first before you get too excited about going on a hiking trip, mountain climbing or any nature-tripping activity. While most travel bugs prepare the basics when going on a trip, from personal toiletries to communication gadgets, it’s important to include a first aid kit among your trip essentials. When exploring the great outdoors, one needs to be protected and safe if a medical need arises. The forests and nature parks can be stunning places to explore and discover but it’s best to be prepared for its wild surprises.
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On public transportation

I’m off to do some errands today. Ugh. I’m not in the mood for getting out of the house coz I have gazillion things to do, but then… there are some people you just can’t say no to!!! LOL. Anyway, I will be just be commuting via a public jeepney, so I hope it won’t take me that much time to get from point A to B. I don’t really have any problems with riding public transportation, my only complaint is when the driver doesn’t only stop for passengers, but also wait for them to appear, and sometimes that could take about 5 precious minutes of your time!
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Happy birthday big sis!

It’s big sis’ big day, the day she turns 18?!… Hmmm, let’s just keep her age a secret! I still don’t know how she’s going to celebrate this special day with her hubby and kids. Well, I bet they would at least have some hearty meal at home or in some special restaurant somewhere. For our part, we will also be celebrating her birthday here at home with some special dish and maybe some ice cream for dessert. We usually offer a thanksgiving Mass during birthdays of family members, so tomorrow we’ll be going to the church in the afternoon.
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Managing email alerts and other online distractions

When you receive an email, how soon do you write back? Do you reply within minutes of reading the email or do you just scan through it and go back to it later, depending on its urgency? Personally, I don’t readily reply to emails unless they’re really that critical. Whenever I have some pressing deadlines, I usually disable my email alert program so there would be no distractions popping up every now and then.
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Clear vision

I just changed my pair of contact lens late last year as I noticed my vision getting blurry. I had an appointment with the optometrist here in our city but unfortunately I was not satisfied with the pair of lens I got when I tried it. Thus I decided to have it fitted in Manila since we will be staying there for a longer time.

Now I’m using my new pair although I can’t really see that clearly at far distances as it’s a monovision pair of contacts, the left is for far distance and the right is for near distance, so there’s a sort of meeting ground in between, i.e. not very clear for near and far distances. Anyway, I also got myself new eyeglasses to use as an alternate pair. The optometrist told me that contact lens wearers should not rely all the time on their lenses but should also use eyeglasses alternately so the eyes can also breathe without any lens covering them.
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Afternoon downtime

Whew, I just had some terrible stomach cramps this afternoon. What else caused it but my monthly period? Huhuhu…I was just lying in bed and feeling the pain since lunch time and until early evening. Lesson learned: Don’t eat acidic foods (i.e. citric fruits like mango and pineapple, or banana and coconut meat) especially a week before my monthly period comes.
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