Murphy’s Law on a Tuesday

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, PHILIPPINES – Immediately after the day I changed my mobile number into a vanity number, an error message kept on flashing on my phone screen informing me that I have to delete some data on my phone due to full memory. Gradually, the phone restricted my access to the messages and phonebook which are all saved in my phone memory until the phone did not launch the main menu giving me exclusive access to Gallery and Music Player. I can neither send text messages nor access my phonebook. My poor Nokia Phone.

I do not delete messages in my inbox and as far as I can remember my inbox contains messages since 2005 occupying almost 90% of my phone memory. Believing that deleting all the calendar entries would free up some space and allow the phone to execute the commanded operations, I decided to delete all of the entries (birthday reminders, meetings, anniversary, etc). After kissing goodbye to all of the entries, I was under the impression that the phone will work and will allow me to delete unimportant messages. Unfortunately, it did not work. ;-( Poor me.

I tried importing messages and phonebook entries to the laptop via Nokia PC Suite but my efforts were proven futile. I prayed. I have more than one thousand entries on my phone book and more than three thousand messages on my inbox. I was left with my last option: to press *#7370# and restore my phone to its original settings.

Pressing *#7370# deleted all phone book entries and messages. I was literally disconnected to the world. Gone were the years when phone numbers were safely kept in my long term memory. I tried my luck calling a friend’s vanity number. Lucky me, I got it right. When I told him what happened, he told me I’m in deep trouble. Only text messages hitting my inbox put me on track. The usual “Who are you?” and “Sorry, yada… yada… yada…” became my usual outgoing text. Man, losing all the numbers is crazy and costly at the same time.

Just in case you have my NEW number (TEXT-U-ME), please do forward your contact number. This time, I’ll SYNC it!

* Picture from www.f-secure.com

Celebrating Gmail’s 5ifth Season

Official Gmail Blog: Gmail turns 5

’Twas on January 26, 2006 when I joined Gmail (Gmail was about to celebrate its 2econd season that time). I opened my Gmail account via an invitation. The invitation gave me a sense of belonging to a wholly different email experience. I received an email from Gmail Team on the same day (January 26). I was elated when I read the message title: Gmail is different. I sent a message to the person who invited me thanking her for the invite and predicting the difference Gmail is about to make to my life.

Indeed, Gmail’s approach to email is absolutely different! From my laptop to my cellular phone, Gmail is there to make communication easy. Lots of space! The world will never forget the Google G, white Mvelope (as opposed to an ordinary envelope) with red letter M on the flip side, and the sans-serif letters “ail.”

Keep on achieving Gmail Team! Happy Birthday!

Open a Gmail account today and be different!

To know more about Gmail's 5th year celebration, visit the Official Gmail Blog!

Where did the fireflies go?

Watching the mango tree in the elementary school campus during night time with fireflies hovering around the tree is such a wonderful experience. With all the fireflies blinking and gliding through the air, the mango tree looked like a natural Christmas tree adorned with bright christmas lights. It brightened the mood of those who had melancholy hearts.

As little kids without any responsibilities at home yet, we sat side by side right in front of the mango tree and kept dazzling ourselves with the amazing firefly show. Though the mango tree dwarfed us during the night, the fascinating view allowed us to dream beyond borders. Our appreciation of the thousands of sparkling fireflies made us high spirited and allowed us to dream of a brighter future. We did catch few fireflies and brought it home for our own version of a firefly show. It was a beautiful experience.

It’s nice to know that fireflies have big eyes which allow them to see in many different directions. They also have two feelers which allow them to feel, smell, and hear.

My brief stay in the province during school breaks allowed me to check the presence of the fireflies but it seemed that they felt our plans of leaving them behind. When I looked up, I saw the mango tree impressed its dark shadow on the bright evening sky. The mango tree which used to blink like a Christmas tree turned into a lonely display. Where did the fireflies go?

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand says that fireflies are indicators of non-disturbed ecological systems. I sort of quizzed myself. Who pushed them away? Did I participate in driving them away? Did they say goodbye due to ecological imbalance brought by air pollution? The questions hit my mind like fireflies flying without lights. Even if I had the answers, I knew I cannot bring them back with my sole efforts.

Please help me find them. Let’s bring their habitat back and see them glow on the mango tree for the next generations to see.

Four Nurses from Banton participate in (NARS) Project

The NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Services) Project of the Philippine government is one of the strategies of the government to tone down the impact of Global Crisis. The launching of NARS Project happened on February 9, 2009. NARS Project is a Training-cum Employment Program of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH), and Board of Nursing – Professional Regulation Commission (BON-PRC). This project endeavors to accommodate nurses and appoint them to the poorest communities of the country with the end in mind of improving the delivery of health care services. In return, the participating nurses will acquire new skills which will help them increase their employability.

Sixteen (16) towns from Romblon, identified to be poorest municipalities, are all covered by the NARS Project except Odiongan, Romblon. Though Romblon is short of 22 nurses for the first batch, the two-day orientation and seminar pushed through at Odiongan, Romblon. Deployment for the first batch is from April 1 to September 31, 2009. Application for the second batch will start from August 15 to September 16, 2009. Second batch will be deployed from October 1 to March 31, 2009.

NARS Project has both clinical and public components. Successful applicants will serve three months in a hospital and three months in a community setting, preferably the hometown of the applicant. On the average, five (5) nurses are allotted to each town. Through-out the training, nurses will receive monthly stipend.

The Philippine government has identified four (4) participating hospitals in Romblon province (Romblon Provincial Hospital, Sibuyan District Hospital, Tablas Island District Hospital, and Don Modesto Formalleza Sr. Memorial Hospital) which will house the nurses for the six-month period.

Four nurses from Banton, Romblon were accepted to the NARS Project. As of this writing, they are on the second leg of the orientation and seminar in Odiongan, Romblon. The four nurses are: Gretchelle Joy Fofue Fonte, Ariane Kristil Ferrera Orillos, Hariette Shielle Fetalvero Fabonan, and Nisan Ionie Fallurin Fabon. Initially, Gretchen and Ariane will serve in Banton Health Center starting April 7, 2009 while Hariette and Nisan will work at Romblon Provincial Hospital beginning April 6, 2009 (Monday). The two couples will swap area of appointment after three (3) months.

If you are a registered nurse and want to give back to the community, this opportunity is something you should not miss. However, if you think that this is your ticket to work abroad immediately after the training, I don’t think this is the kind of employment your employer wants. Besides, this project assignment is tantamount to OJT and not a regular employment.

If you want to know more about the NARS Project, just point your browser to http://www.nars.dole.gov.ph/

Let us all give back something to the community. This way, we will be able to build a better nation.