Quaere Verum

A whole year has passed...and here we are on the eve of a new one. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2010, full of love and blessings.

Took delivery of a new small city car less than two weeks ago. It's a silver Hyundai i10 5-door hatchback with a 1.2 DOHC 16 valve engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. It's not going to win any drag races, and the looks may take a little getting used to, but it's cheap, easy to drive and park, reasonably comfortable, and most importantly, frugal on gas, a big deal nowadays given the rising cost of oil and concerns regarding global warming. Specifications: Variant: 2009 1.2 GLS M/T Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, 5-door hatchback Engine: Hyundai Kappa , Inline-4, gasoline powered Displacement: 1197 cc Valvetrain: DOHC, 16-Valve Fuel induction: Multipoint fuel injection Bore x Stroke: 71×75.6mm Compression ratio: 10.5:1 Power: 74.9 ps@6000 rpm (local spec) Torque: 11.8 kg-m@4000 rpm (local spec) Power-to-weight ratio: 84.6 ps/ton/11.8 kg/hp/25.9 lbs/hp Rated Fuel Economy: 5.0l/100km/47 mpg Transmission: 5-speed manual Dimensions: 3565mm x 1595mm x 1540mm Wheelbas...

The message goes: As you know, we have plenty of Koreans currently studying in the Philippines to take advantage of our cheaper tuition fees and learn English at the same time. This is an essay written by a Korean student I want to share with you. (Never mind the grammar; it's the CONTENT that counts) Maybe it is timely to think about this in the midst of all the confusion at present. MY SHORT ESSAY ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES Jae Youn Kim Filipinos always complain about the corruption in the Philippines . Do you really think the corruption is the problem of the Philippines? I do not think so. I strongly believe that the problem is the lack of love for the Philippines. Let me first talk about my country, Korea. It might help you understand my point. After the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Koreans had to start from scratch because entire country was destroyed after the Korean War, and we had no natural resources. Koreans used to talk about the Phil...

An 85-year-old man was requested by his doctor for a sperm count as part of his physical exam. The doctor gave the man a jar and said, 'Take this jar home and bring back a semen sample tomorrow.' The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor's office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day. The doctor asked what happened and the man explained,'Well, doc, it's like this. First I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. 'Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then with her left, still nothing. She tried with her mouth, first with the teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing. 'We even called up Arleen, the lady next door and she tried too, first with both hands, then an armpit, and she even tried squeezin' it between her knees, but still nothing.' The doctor was shocked! 'You asked your neighbor?' The old m...

Found this in my inbox. I don't have any personal knowledge regarding the events described, so I can't vouch for its truthfulness. but I really wouldn't be surprised if this e-mail is indeed genuine, as it reflects the sentiments of many following the tragic events of two weeks ago. HOW FRUSTRATING TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS UTTERLY USELESS! Very heroic. Yesterday, at the height of the floods, my sister's husband Rey whose family lives at Provident Village in Marikina, got a call from his brother. They were already at the roof of their 2-storey house -- his brother, his wife, 2 kids, his sister, and their 85-year old dad who just got out of the hospital last week. Not wanting to rely on our USELESS government to rescue them, Rey went to Makati and scoured the stores for a motorized boat that he can buy. At around 6 p.m., he finally found a store at Reposo Street selling a 6-seater motorized boat for over 100k. But since water at Reposo was lagpas-tao, he persuaded the...

O God, Who knowest us to be set in the midst of such great perils, that, by reason of the weakness of our nature, we cannot stand upright, grant us such health of mind and body, that those evils which we suffer for our sins we may overcome through Thine assistance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. - for those who have suffered loss at the hands of tropical storm Ondoy.

Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You this day and all the days of my life. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love. Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have recieved but especially for life itself. Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be. I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowledge of your love for me and ...