Urgent need for a printing company here in Singapore. Skilled graphic designer. If interested, drop me a note. Send your CV to mercifulrain@hotmail.com. If you also have an online portfolio of your work, please send the link. If you pass, congratulations, you can pack your bags right away and come to Lion City! 
Basic requirements:
- - able to do graphic designing work (Photoshop, InDesign, or other graphic design software)
- - can manage the shop, responsible, reliable
- - available to take on the job IMMEDIATELY
- - familiar with digital printing
I talked to my mother on the phone few days ago. She told me about one of my aunties from another town, in critical condition, was brought to our town’s hospital. My auntie wasn’t given medical assistance and was not immediately admitted, not until two hours later.
“Why?” I asked.
“I heard that it’s because there was no guarantor…they needed to know who’s going to pay the bills first before they could admit her.”
I was so upset to hear that. I almost laugh in disgust, anger, and disbelief. Goodness!
I’ve heard many stories like that in many city hospitals in the Philippines, especially in expensive private hospitals. I had a traumatic experience with my late auntie who was not moved to the intensive care unit - not until we showed them cash.
I grieve for those who can’t afford even our cheapest hospitals. I grieve for those who come from the mountains, or barrios who don’t know anyone in town who could help them financially. They would just watch their patients die.
When you lose a loved one despite all medical help, prayers, and comfort given - that is one grief to accept. When you lose someone due to sudden deaths, accidents - that is another fact of life. We just all die. But when you lose someone simply because you are deprived of medical help for not showing up cash, or at least a guarantor - that is indescribably outrageous.
In this life and beyond, I am so thankful there is Someone who paid for me already. I don’t need a guarantor anymore. I already have one.
Tourists waiting for the bus.
Couple of nights ago, I competed in the Olympics Women’s 100m Round 2. Of course, in my dreams. Really. This is weird and funny, but I think I have exerted too much effort that I have twisted and strained my foot. I woke up the next day - limping. As I walked to the bathroom, I scratched my head and wondered what happened to my left foot.
“Oh, yeah…I was at the Olympics. Haha.”
I think I will have a series of “In my dreams” stories.
Okay, this one is for real. Few days ago, I’ve read this from the blog of one of my former Sun.Star Cebu editors.
“I feel I am about to develop hemorrhoids from watching the weightlifting events of the Beijing Olympics…”
Haha. Oh, well. I feel like having a heart attack. :-) I was on the bus the other day on my way home and saw on TV the twisted faces of women weightlifters and felt their shaking legs, knees, shoulders…etc. I felt so tense. I froze in my seat. I almost missed my bus stop. Ugh!
This is kind of late, but I say WOW for the grand opening of the Beijing Olympics 2008. I was glued on TV on the night of 08.08.08. Fireworks. Music. Fairies. Cheers. Thousands of performers on stage. China’s display of its glorious history. Spectacular torch relay and lighting of the flame cauldron by a Chinese Olympic gymnast “who appeared to run through the top ring of the stadium”. It was simply captivating!
(Photo by Agência Brasil, a public Brazilian news agency)
Parade of Nations
The other highlight of the opening was the parade of the athletes, coaches, and sports officials representing more than 200 nations. Some of them look calm and fierce -ready for the battle. Many of them were cheery, proud, and just happy to be there. Who wouldn’t be? 
But this one I so enjoyed - I cracked up to see many athletes waving their country’s flags on one hand, and on the other hand was either a handphone (maybe calling their loved ones - “Hey, baby, I made it here!” :-)) or a digital camera! One, two, three, smile! :-)
