A Rich Sabahan KDM (KadazanDusunMurut) Heritage

Front Porch 'natad'

Cooking Space 'dempuran'

Modern Design

Indoor Playground

Bamboo Houses @ Kemabong, Tenom & Apin-Apin, Keningau

Elaborate Designs

'tengkungon' a traditional harp

Magnificent Mount Kinabalu seen from Gipol's home, Sinisian, Kundasang

18 Dec 2011, 4th Advent Sunday

Life on earth is a temporary assignment.
To make the best of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached. Rick Warren


I know this truth almost all my life ~ and yet I still feel depressed, confused, uncertain, afraid. What have I got to show my family, my friends and especially my kids? Have I disappointed them somehow? I receive encouraging words of support and comfort from time to time, and yet there would be times when I feel so lost, so useless, a failure. And the approval that I long to hear from someone dear and not getting it, leaves a deep irreversible scar. I know that I should not allow anything to affect me, as long as I know that I am walking in the light of truth...easier said than done. I am fragile.


All I can do... is surrender and trust in The Lord. Thy Will Be Done!

Monday 28.11.11

Recalling My Original Pursuit

I admit that I am new to blogging. It seems a great venue to practice  writing, etc so I took up the challenge. It’s fun and entertaining, a blog where I can jot down my ramblings and what nots, post articles from other bloggers or writers that I find informative and enlightening. It is also sort of therapeutic for me, for indeed the world of writing is lonesome and sometimes misunderstood. It makes me a loner, in the sense that I haven’t meet or interacted with other writers personally so the journey seems quite lonesome. There are times when I don’t enjoy the company of other individuals who are more concerned with temporal entertainment and pleasure seeking activities. I feel like an outcast and its hard to explain my reasons for not enjoying or appreciating those occasions.

Yet I don’t seem to have enough time to dedicate to this interesting pursuit. Writing is a fantasy world, whereas I live in the harsh reality of existence. How can I survive both worlds? Often times I lost my real purpose or motive for writing, especially on this blog. It’s high time I re-trace my original ideas.

First and foremost, I write for my own pleasure. It’s fun. playing with words and thoughts. It doesn’t really matter if other people don’t appreciate my ideas, but of course, to have fellow bloggers interact and comment on one another’s brainchild is positively motivating. 

I also hope that through this blog I can get some messages and information easily accessible to others, especially those who are too busy with their own blogging and therefore have little time to research on other topics outside of their genre. Oh, I dunno. I am just a crazy old hag trying to gain immortality for myself ~ through something as tedious and technical as blogging.

Fri, 25 Nov 2011

My Currect Favorites


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MpdSWV-9BA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZy74aNNAe4&feature=related

Thurs, Nov 24

Reflections

What would it be like when The Chastisement comes?

As a Catholic, I was brought up to love and trust the Trinitarian God. When I was younger, the idea of Heaven and Hell was clearly explained and somehow it has been the base of almost every deed I do in life. Of course, as I reflect it now, in some ways I wasn’t a devout follower and oftentimes my reasoning runs away with secular interests. I also allow myself moments of relapse and abandonment.

Lately, members of my family are re-awakened by messages we gather from the internet and other social media. There is a site www.thewarningsecondcoming.com which is frequented by myself, my brother, my aunt and some other members of the clan. Timely, I guess, when we had a recent visit from the person who receives the most intimate visits of The Divine Mercy Himself, brother Stanley Villavicencio from the Philippines. He gave several testimonies at some parishes of my diocese. It was indeed a miracle in disguise, for he is such a busy man travelling the world over to give the same testimony and he wasn’t actually scheduled to visit Sabah at the time. Yet God has His own agenda.

The 

Prophecy at Garabandal will now become a reality.

Who will survive The Chastisement? What would the face of the earth be like after The Second Coming? As the messages say, it won’t be The End of the World yet. So many questions in my mind.

Truly these messages are reminding me once again to repentance. Timely, this coming Sunday we will begin a New Liturgical Calendar  year B, and the adaptation of the 3^rd Edition of the English Roman Missal translations.

I am weak and sinful, but no excuses now. I am capable of changing my destiny, if I give myself the chance. MOST importantly, I can trust my Divine Mercy Saviour ~ repentance based on love and trust, rather than the sole fear of hell. I don't know how faithful I would be…I have to keep reminding myself.

Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, I Trust In You.

Wed,23/11/11

Reflections

Sometimes...the only thing we can do, is to let go...

Two years ago, Nov 29, we met for the first time after so many years. I was quite nervous then, I didn't want to meet you but it seemed you wanted to see me and I had no excuse to avoid you. You are always kind and understanding, how could I not have tender feelings for you? It was the most wonderful year sharing thoughts and happenings with you. I appreciate so much the way you spent time for me, and entertained my childish requests. I know it wasn’t easy for you, for you are always occupied and with so many responsibilities at hand. Remembering all those moments makes me miss you evermore. Yet we have other obligations in life. We are not meant to be together. But I will always treasure the memories. Thank you so much for the gift of yourself to me, even if it only lasted a moment. Sometimes I still feel hurt when I see you getting along so well with others while I never had a chance. Nonetheless, the memories are enough somehow. Have a wonderful life, dearest.

Last Sunday in Rugading

Journal: My Own


Last Sunday in Rugading

How the time flies. Seven weeks ago, I was ignorant and skeptical concerning the short course that I half-heartedly applied for. In fact when I received the phone call that confirmed my acceptance, I almost turned it down. How pathetic! Had I known then the excitement and satisfaction that I would experience throughout the course I would have jumped at the opportunity without the slightest doubt. Anyways, I did enroll myself.
    Taman Sri Rugading has been our home for the past weeks. Our hostel is on the top floor of this four storey apartments. The apartments are clustered by twenty homes on each building and alphabetically named.We live on block S. There are several convenient stores nearby as well as the daily night market. On weekdays, we ride on a chartered bus to and from Wisma Kosan where we had our courses at Internet and Computing Central. This weekend we had to do extra classes to finalize our course projects.
     I felt uneasy about missing this Sunday Mass. Gratefully I was able to attend Mass at St Simon, Likas. It is by far the most prestigious church in the neighbourhood. The parishioners are undoubtedly from amongst the more privileged people in town. Rev Fr Cosmas Lee is a dynamic preacher, who explained the significance of today's readings and also of the Third Edition of the English Translation of the Roman Missal, which the Catholic Church would simultaneously begin adapting next week, the First Sunday of Advent, which also marks the beginning of the Liturgical Calendar Year B. I feel truly loved by Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Universal King,whose feast we celebrated today. He is indeed my all in all, no greater Love than Him alone.
     Accordingly, I have learned much from this course, "Creating Motion Graphics and Special Effects For Video". Understandably, this is a very expensive sandwich course which JPSM sponsored for the benefits of bumiputras. At the same time I feel refreshed and invigorated living and learning among and together with all these young people. I am the eldest in a group of forty trainees. Some of them just finished SPM last year. I feel old and yet young at heart. The paradox of seniority! The other course is "Basic Programming and Web Application", twenty trainees each.
      I admit that I was one of the slow learners. Visual technology was a stranger to me then. Nevertheless, through the patient encouragement and selfless generosity of Sir Ismail Hj Osir, I emerge now with high confidence and expectations for a hopeful and fruitful future.
     I tried to upload the short 10 seconds video with special effects that I made as one of three final projects required by Sir, but the intricacies of technology defeats me once more. Perhaps I will be able to upload my works one day.
     There are four more days left before we go our separate ways. I will always treasure the memories this experience gave me... 
     ~ The opacity for the future is still in it's feathered state; it needs a bit of rotation and animation and application of special effects. Then it would be ready for queue and very soon, it could be rendered and transformed to a format that can be applied, opened and viewed. Happy Rendering, everyone!!!

Happy Quotes

The three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Addison

To Platonic love I offer this thanks,

     when needing something like naturalism

When writing poetry and drawing blanks,

     I often settle using Platonism

I have been seaching ever more,

     hoping again to sing your praise.

For words, I very much adore,

     lacking me in several ways.

~ Curtis Foster

Can men and women have platonic relationships?

77

Just Friends: Tony Rebel and SwadeBy SpiffyD

Can’t see we’re just friends, they say I’m bunnin’ my lady

Some criticize and say, mi ha mi cake and ah eat it up

They can’t see we’re just friends, they say I’m secretly loving you (Oh no)

They say we coulda never live so and nuttin nah gwaan

This is the chorus of a 2002 reggae song by Tony Rebel and Swade. The song addressed common perceptions that men and women cannot be just friends without there being more to it. Indeed, when some women know that their boyfriends have a lot of female friends, they may be somewhat uneasy.

Guys might be even worse, since they know the tricks that fellas (including themselves) may try with “friends.” In fact, some might argue that it is what female friends are for. As the reggae tune suggested, many persons just don’t buy the notion of men and women being “just friends” too cheaply.

Whether it’s because of the “friends with benefits” phenomenon, or knowledge of how the bonding process occurs, there may be some overtones to relations between the sexes. That many relationships commence with friendships also reinforces the idea that friendship may be just a starting point for greater things.

Many persons refuse to believe that it could just be, without anything else happening. However, there are several obvious reasons for the existence of truly platonic relationships.

No romantic attraction

Not everyone is heterosexual, so that fact automatically undermines the idea that men and women cannot be friends. However, even a heterosexual male or a heterosexual female may not be attracted to each other for various reasons.

Perhaps it’s the absence of physical attraction or maybe you don’t think the person is the type that you can have an intimate relationship with. After all, the dynamics of a romantic relationship are much different.

When one or both parties is not interested, it would stay in the friendship zone.

Source: 123rf.com

The only issue with low levels of attraction is that it can morph into attraction later on, especially if a strong emotional bond develops. Even though there are different levels and types of attraction, there are some friends whom you would simply not perceive in that manner.

The type of love that obtains here is Philia, as opposed to Eros. Often, it’s the case that one friend has some level of attraction while the other does not, but sometimes mutual non-attraction may exist.

Friendship history

Some friends may have tried dating, or were actually a couple once upon a time. This can alter the perception of the relationship to others, or can have bearing on the nature of the interaction between the pair. However, it does not necessarily mean that it’s impossible to be friends with a person of whom you have carnal knowledge. However, the situation would be a tricky one, since there could easily be residual feelings or the temptation to drift back to the golden days.

The friendship foundation

I knew a fella who required his female friends to be within his physical attraction threshold. The funny thing was that he resembled a Rugrat more than a stud, but that’s beside the point. In that case, the friendship is not completely platonic to begin with. However, if it is based on good conversation, empathy and shared experiences, thoughts or secrets, then it has a better chance of remaining platonic.

What is your "just friends" quotient?

Have you experienced truly platonic relationships with the opposite sex?

•  Yes
•  No

Fidelity and high-mindedness

What makes humans superior to other animals is our mind. We do not have to be victims of our impulses and desires. Unfortunately, some folks do not have that mental fortitude to ignore lingering feelings, regardless of whether they’re in a relationship or not. However, even if there is some level of attraction, a disciplined mind can ensure that a friendship remains platonic, especially if it is patently apparent that pursuing more would not be ideal.

Conclusion

Although many persons might raise eyebrows at your friendships with the opposite sex, it is possible for things to be strictly platonic. Sometimes, friendships develop into more, and the chances of that happening may exist for some time. You may even hear of friends who were married to other persons getting together after they divorced their spouses.

It is in our nature to wonder what it would be like with a friend of the opposite sex. Some psychologists argue that it is merely a process called “love mapping.” Just because this occurs at some point does not mean that it not platonic; your mind merely toyed with the possibility.

Someone I knew used that as a basis to convert a friendship into an unlikely relationship, with unhappy results. They did not want to just be friends, but for those who make more prudent decisions, there’s nothing wrong with being “just friends” with the opposite sex.

What is Platonic Love? I know it until now.

65

By Danicalele

What is love?

One day, Plato asked Socrates: "What is love?"
Socrates said: "I ask you to pick a strain of the largest and most golden grain through this piece of rice paddies, but there is a rule that you can’t go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back with nothing.
Socrates asked him why he came back with empty-hand?
Plato said: When I walked in the field, I had seen a few strains with particularly big grain, but I always thought there would be a bigger and better one in front, so that I didn’t pick them up; But I found that the grain I saw is not as good as the last one, and finally I picked nothing.
Then Socrates meaningfully said: "This is love."

Another day, Plato asked Socrates: "What is a marriage?"
Socrates said:" I ask you to cut down a tree which is the strongest and thickest through the forest, but there is a rule that you can't go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back with a tree which is not as strongest as thought.
Socrates asked him why he cut this tree?
Plato said: when I walked through the forest, I saw a few good trees, and this time, I learned the lesson of grain and saw this tree still good, so that I just choose it for I'm afraid I miss the chance though it is not the best. 
At this moment, Socrates said:" This is the marriage."

On another occasion, Plato asked Socrates:"What is happiness?"
Socrates said:" I ask you to across the field and pick a flowers which is the most beautiful, but there is a rule that you can't go back and you can pick only one."
So Plato began to do this. After long time, he came back and held the most beautiful flower.
Socrates asked him:"Is this the most beautiful flower?"
Plato said:"When I crossed the field, I saw this beautiful flower and I picked it up and recognizing that it is the most beautiful one, while I saw many other beautiful flowers later, but I still insist on this one is the most beautiful one so I took it back."
At this moment, Socrates said:"This is happiness."

Plato, one day asked Socrates:"What is affair?"
Socrates asked him to walk through the forest again without any rule and can walk back to choose the most beautiful flowers on his way.
Plato went out with confidence, after two hours, he took a gorgeous flower but slightly off,
Socrates asked him:"Is this the most beautiful flower?"
"I have been looking for two hours, and found this flower is the most beautiful, but it is wither down gradually during I came back" said Plato.
"That's an affair?"

And one day he asked Socrates again:"What is life?"
Socrates asked him to walk through the forest without any rule and can walk back and forth to choose the most beautiful flowers on his way.
Plato had previous lessons and went out full of confidence
After three days, he still didn't come back.
Socrates had to go into the forest and find him, finally he found Plato has already lived in the forest.
Socrates asked him:"Have you found the most beautiful flower?"
Plato pointed to the flower beside and said:"This is the most beautiful flower."
Socrates asked:"Why doesn’t bring out?"
Plato answered:"If I take it off, it will wither quickly. Even if I don't pick it up, it also will wither sooner or later. So I just live beside this flower when it blooms, and find the second beautiful flower when it withered. This is my second flower which I found here."
At this moment, Socrates told him:" You know the truth of life"
.

Platonic Love or Romantic Love: Ways To Tell

72

By beamingscribe

Falling in love is probably one of the most mystical phenomena one could ever experience. When you fall in love, you succumb to a gamut of human emotions--joy, sorrow, excitement, and sometimes, even depression. Falling in love becomes a bit more perplexing if you find yourself falling in love with a close friend. Now, this is where denial and rationalization enter the picture. Initially, you become confused as to what you are feeling. Then you ponder whether what you’re feeling is only an extension of the platonic love you feel for a friend.

The key here is self-introspection. There is a need to confront yourself, look in the mirror and ask yourself the following questions. Honest answers, however, are necessary for you to gauge if the platonic feeling you have for a friend is blossoming into something romantic.

1. Have you changed?

Did you suddenly become self-conscious on how you look, what you wear and what you say in front of your friend? Have your feelings changed? Does your friend’s presence suddenly becomes enough to make you feel ecstatic? Do you find yourself putting your friend under a microscopic eye, pondering and extracting meanings on what he or she says or does?

2. Do you think of your friend 24/7?

One always keep a friend in mind; however, thoughts about a friend does not perpetually cross one’s mind every second of the day and every day of the week. If you find yourself thinking of your friend practically all your waking hours and before dozing off to dreamland, then it might be a sign that you are falling in love with your friend.

3. Do you long to communicate with your friend every day? Do you feel upset if your friend does not call or send messages daily?

There is a bond between friends that transcends distance. Friends may not call each other every day, but still remain friends. Think about it! Some of your friends do not call you every day, and still, you consider them friends. So what is the reason behind this longing to hear from a specific friend every day of your life? This is something you might need to think about.

4. Do you find yourself wanting to be alone with your friend?

If your friend invites you to hang-out, does it upset you to know that your other friends are tagging along?

5. Do you put your friend’s interest above your own? Does making your friend happy makes you happier?

Do you give up your favorite chocolate bar for your friend? Do you lend the person your last centavo when he or she is in dire need? Do you buy the person insurance when you don’t even have your own? To sum it up, if it makes you happier to see your friend happy, then it might be a signal that you’re falling in love with the person.

Falling in love is an emotion and therefore, not rational. You just feel it. In case you have discerned that your love for a friend is blossoming into intimacy, the next question is, what are you going to do about it? Whatever you decide on, you will never run out of options. You can try to forget about it, bury it deep within or kill it. The flipside is you might want to let the other person know how you feel. Either way, it’s your call.

http://cupid51.hubpages.com/hub/Platonic-love-the-divine-interpersonal-relationship-does-it-exist-A-short-story

By cupid51

Platonic love - the divine interpersonal relationship

In this twenty first century, the term “Platonic love” is seemed to have lost its relevancy. But it is a fact that thedivine interpersonal relationship between a man and a woman still exists in some part of the world. You may judge yourself when you will go through the short story bellow (although I term it a “story”, it is a fact and it is about a friend of mine!)

Manik used to like Mita (changes manes) when he was in high school. Mita (a friend of Manik’s younger sister) was a student of primary school. Mita’s family was very poor and unfortunately her father also died at that time. It became difficult Mita’s widow mother to bear the expanses of her education and decided not to send her to school any more.

Manik noticed that Mita was not coming to School and he asked her sister the reason. He was from a rich family and used to get a handful of money to meet his personal expenses. He decided to bear the expenses of Mita’s education. The same was conveyed to Mita’s mother. She was little hesitant at first, but finally agreed. She might have dreamed the futurerelationship of her daughter with Manik.

All these I came to know when Manik was in final year in a Engineering college. I was one year junior to him but yet we were good friend.

I used to notice that Manik was a different kind of boy. He had very few friends. In the hostel two to three boys had to share a room. But Manik was alone in a room. I was very curious to know how he could manage that.

That was the starting point of our closeness. I came to know that Hostel Superintendant had allotted several students to his room, but nobody could stay with him. Because he used to study when others prefer to sleep. As a result those students flew away to other rooms. The Super also couldn’t take any action against him because studying more time is not a violation of byelaws of the Hostel.

It was very amazing to me. But at the same time I was eager to know the reason why he was behaving like that. I found that sometimes he used to be cruel to himself. He was skipping meals very frequently. Finally one day he told me the whole story.

It was when Mita got a job in a primary school as a teacher. She as well as her mother were almost sure that Manik will marry her. But neither of them ever talk about their marriage. Finally Mita’s mother Manik’s family and put up the proposal. They also knew everything and accepted Mita as their daughter-in-law.

Then what was the problem? What lead to this situation? It was none other than Manik himself. Manik had no other girlfriend, he still loved her.

Manik had a funny (I thought in this way only) feelings. Do you know what was that?

He explained this to me when I repeatedly asked. He had helped Mita from the bottom of his heart and he had no intension of getting any reward for that. Now if he would marry Mita, it would look as if he liked the girl and took the opportunity of their family tragedy and financial situation to compel her as well as her family to persuade the relationship.

This is a story when I was in college, and now I am almost an old man. I don’t know where Manik is now. I lost his address when we shifted our home to a different place. Manik also left his old house. Now there is no way to know whether Manik and Mita were still waiting for each other, or they have been married (which seems impossible as far as I know Manik).

Still I am unable to give some name to their love. Is it platonic love? I don’t know. Can anybody tell me?