Trip to Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh is the largest city located in the southern part of Vietnam, used to be called Saigon. It is bustling, dynamic and industrious place you could imagine. That's why it is the economic capital and cultural trendsetter. It is also considered to be the heart and soul of the country, yet within the fast development of the place, timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture are still preserved.

Such place has been called the "Paris of Asia" for its magnificent French villas and wide bloulevards with so much trees just like in Paris.

A lot of places and buildings should tourists see like the building attached. It is the Presidential Palace where the French political officers used to reside. Another signicant place is the Cu Chi Tunnel. This extensive of nearly 500km Viet Cong tunnels used in the French Indochina and American wars have preserved the complete facilities from kitchens to printing presses and even the street signs. Tourists were allowed to crawl on the maze and it is unbelievable.

With very rich culture and cheap place to shop, a tourist should visit this again and again.

Laughter's The Best Medicine

Sandro
Originally uploaded by Princess Em.

Every time we laugh, we temporarily forget our problems and lift our spirit positively.

Every time we laugh, our fears are gone in our system and we become true to ourselves.

Every time we laugh, tears come out from our eyes as a sign of joy and feel great inside.

Every time we laugh, we show our greatest smile in the world without hesitation not minding if we have great teeth or not.

There are other statements we could say about laughter but to sum it all, it is the best medicine we do have to stay young and live long. So keep laughing..

CSI

CSI
Originally uploaded by Princess Em.

"Contentrate on what cannot lie. The evidence.." - Gil Grissom

CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigation. This dramatic tv series produced by Anthony Zuiker evolves around the team (may it be in Las Vegas, NY or Miami)of forensic CSI who solves crimes by studying the evidence. Heading up the "graveyard" shift is Gil Grissom, senior forensic officer.

Previously, I don't watch this series because I thought it is boring and with the same plot which is simply solving crimes. But everything was changed when a friend of mine bought a complete copy of season. Since I started watching the first series, I did not stop watching until I finished the whole season.

Such series is very informative and we learn the techniques used by the forensic team in solving crimes which we thought are impossible to solve. Nevertheless, evidence is very important and that is where they start to solve such crimes.

However, I am just wondering. Does the forensic team makes mistakes also even with the evidence they have? Will they know if evidence is tampered or not?

Mommy, You're the Best

Month of May is very special to us because it is the birthday month of Mommy plus it is also the Mother's Month celebration.

I believe Mommy is a fulfilled woman. She's a great mother to everyone, a grandmother loved by kids and a friend with unconditional love.

As a mother, Mommy is very lenient, patient, generous and most of all the most loving person I have ever met. She may be strict in some ways but you would not feel it coz she will give you the freedom to experience the shortcomings or consequences of the actions you have done. However, she never forget to give you all the advices a child should know, hence, I am so full of that. She is patient in the sense that she always understand you eventhough your doings are terribly wrong already. For Mommy to have that very long patience, I considered that as a virtue already. Too bad I did not inherit such attitude. Mommy loves to help anyone who needs it. Mostly, she's the one left nothing on her hand and sometimes people she helped tends to abuse her. However, she does not get angry at all. According to her, "Bahala na Diyos sa kanila". For Mommy to be a loving person, she's the best. All her grandchildren love her dearly especially Sandro, the youngest grandchild and the most terrible kid in the clan. His day is not complete without having an argument with her Lola. But when night time comes, he never forgets to give a kiss to his Lola. I guess it is a sign how much love Mommy showed to the family and everyone subconsiously return it to her.

Mommy is my best friend. She is my best critic but one thing nice to her, she only says good things about me. It is not her cup of tea to say negative stuff because according to her they will just give you more wrinkles and make you look not good. When we had the second chance to have a vacation in Australia together with my brother Dennis, it was one of the best vacations I had. Mommy and I were like friends and enjoyed every second of being together. We slept in one bed and went together to all the shopping we did there. I was even amazed to her strength. I never saw she got tired and always on the go whenever we go out of the house. She never complained to the weather or the long trips we did. Of course, I love the things she bought for me.

Mommy now is almost on her last quarter of her life. As a daughter who seldom sees her, I make sure she experiences all the good things in life the most I could do before she leaves us. It is a fact that one day, Mommy will be with Daddy and I do hope when that time comes, I have fulfilled all the things Mommy wants in life.

To Mommy, you're the best Mom. You may be not perfect in some ways but for me you're almost on the perfect score. I love you so much and I know I don't say it to you often but I really do. Thank you for everything...

Animo La Salle ...

DLSU
Originally uploaded by Princess Em.

De La Salle University is the alma mater of the family. All five of us finished engineering courses there and that is the reason why the younger Balinas generations are looking forward also to study there.

My oldest niece, daughter of one of my brothers is now going to college and of course all she wanted is to study in La Salle. Initially she was so upset because she did not make it on the first choice course she chose. Most of us were advising her that it does not matter what school you will be going as long it is the best school to offer you education on that particular course.(Except our brothers who are hard core La Sallian). Apparently, the child's priority is La Salle. Bottom line, she made it on the reconsideration process. She is now in for AB English course which she believes it is the course that will bring her to success in the future.

Honestly, I chose La Salle before simply because I was pressured also of the family background. From the brothers of my Mommy, they were La Sallian already. Being the youngest in the Balinas family with all the siblings studying there, I thought I had no option but also to follow their footsteps. According to my family, if you did not pass in La Salle, my other school options are only UP or Ateneo with a quota course. Outside those, you're not as intelligent as them... WHAT A CRACK! That should not be the case. I should have listened what my heart said before then look for a school may it be here or abroad that offers the best for the course I chose.

La Salle is probably one of the best schools in Manila I should say. Aside from that, your classmates and friends that you meet there will eventually be your connections in the future that will assist you to your success. Let's face it, most of the students there are children of the high bracket of the society who influences the economy of the country, may their parents are business people or high ranking officers of different companies here and abroad.

As the Balinas family grows, it simply shows La Salle will always be part of the family. It is a school not by choice but a priority. But for me, I will teach my children to listen what their heart and mind say and from there, we will move forward whatever it costs.

Religion By Faith

Religion By Faith
Originally uploaded by Princess Em.

Since birth we are baptized to a religion applied by our parents. We do not know the impact of this to our lives but we are stucked on that dilemna that we have to follow the rules embedded on it.

The oldest religion we know is the Ramon Catholic. Many of the religion leaders were former Catholics who went to other ways opposite to the catholic practices and formed new religion groups. To name a few, Protestant, Mormons and Born Again Groups and they are now multiplying and lots of Catholic followers have joined them.

Choosing different religion group not the same to your birth's religion is not a sin. It is a matter of choice that you have fulfilled. Hence, it is a choice by faith. Most important is the belief you have for God eventually the religion you have embraced follows.

I was baptized as Catholic and will die with same religion. It's my faith I followed and not dictated by anyone. I may have witnessed most of the religion practices through friends and relatives and cannot deny I was almost convinced to join some of them. But the faith I have for God is so strong and I see it through Catholic practices. Hence, it is my choice by faith. Nevertheless, not in my wildest dream to condemn anyone who are non-Catholics but will always respect their beliefs as they respect mine.