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The Scent That Led Me Back to the Fishpond

The Scent That Led Me Back to the Fishpond This morning, I harvested a couple of tender tips from my green Malabar spinach. I did not need scissors. I held a stem between my thumb and finger and pinched. It yielded easily—a quiet little snap that told me the shoot was young enough for the kitchen. Then came the smell. It was green, earthy and strangely familiar. For a moment, I was no longer standing beside my balcony garden in Singapore. That scent had opened a door, and through it I found myself back in Pangasinan, beside the fishponds of my childhood. I remembered a plant we called balangbang . The vegetable beside the water Balangbang grew along the sides of fishponds, close enough for some of its leaves to touch the water. It was not planted in neat rows. Nobody had to prepare a garden bed for it, buy a packet of seeds or draw up a feeding schedule. It simply grew where land and water met. Its young green growth could be gathered and brought home. The tender portions were made int...
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Learning AOSP, Balcony Growing, And Now -- Hydroponics!

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 14-Jan-2026 So for those years when I was quiet, or not writing anything, life is going on. 2020, it was the pandemic. I was hired back by my first company here in Singapore , and I stayed for another 3 years. It was around the 3rd quarter of the 3rd year that I got a message from one of my former colleagues who asked if I want to be doing PROMIS again. We worked together back in 1997 in ADI Philippines doing, guess what? Yes, PROMIS. So our past experiences going back full circle. Work, that is. I thought about it, the skillset is familiar, and we're good at it, so I thought about the financial side. There's an increment which is considerable. I did not expect that amount, really. Which I learned afterwards that my full work experience was considered, which is at least 3 decades. Around 17 years was on doing PROMIS. So yeap, that gave me some leverage to catapult my base pay. And that additional amount was needed. Praise God for his wisdom! At the right time, I was offered ...
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Location: Singapore
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After A Long Time...

 It is now December 2025. For a long time, I have not written anything on this blog, after I posted a copy of ' Mi Ultimo Adios ', partly as I am currently brushing up on my Spanish. Really, only now I appreciate the depth of how Jose Rizal has learned, and not only Spanish, but in totality, 26 languages, and as per details in history book, usually served as interpreter for fellow passengers when traveling. Not to mention that the vernacular in my childhood town is steeped in Spanish, just like in Zamboanga , where Spanish was interspersed, married with the local tongue, creating a unique dialect. So what has been happening lately? What's going on? Kids grow up, they leave the next. As one saying goes: There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe That is not always easy, I mean, as a parent. Kids have a more dynamic and flowing energy, but adults tend to be more lethargic and phelg...
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Location: Singapore
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Mi Último Adiós

Mi Ú ltimo Adi ó s original version by  José Rizal Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida, Perla del mar de oriente, nuestro perdido Edén! A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida, Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida, También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien. En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio, Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar; El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel o lirio, Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio, Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar. Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora Y al fin anuncia el día tras lóbrego capuz; si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora, Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz. Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente, Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor, Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente, Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente, Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor. Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo a...
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Location: Singapore
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Commentary: Weighing yourself regularly can help you lose weight but isn’t good for everyone

NEWCASTLE: For some, jumping on the scales is a daily or weekly ritual; while others haven’t seen a set of scales for years. Some may still be scarred by memories of being weighed in public with results broadcast to all. So, is it helpful to weigh yourself? And if so, how often should you do it? Studies show self-weighing may help with weight loss, especially for men, say two Australian researchers. For adults carrying excess weight and who are trying to manage their weight, the answer is yes: Weighing yourself regularly can help you lose more weight initially, and keep it off. But for adolescents or those who have experienced disordered eating, it’s best to keep the scales out of sight. MEN RESPOND BETTER TO WEIGH-INS Most studies have investigated the impact of self-weighing along with other weight-loss strategies such as a low-calorie diet. These studies show self-weighing is an inexpensive technique that may help with weight loss and maintenance, particularly for me...
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Location: Singapore
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Commentary: Let's exercise ownership over our health, not wait for illness to set in

SINGAPORE: It has arguably never been easier to choose healthy options. We know what we should be eating, drinking and doing to keep fit, and the food and sports industries have responded with a raft of new products for every taste from reduced fat muffins to hundreds of calorie-burning classes for every interest and ability level. Chronic diseases in Singapore are on the rise, but there's actions Singaporeans can easily take today to have a healthier heart, says one observer. Even the fast food industry has jumped on the bandwagon. Yet chronic diseases are still on the rise in Singapore. In just one generation, Asia has gone from having one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world, to one of the highest. And this trend is showing no signs of abating. According to the World Bank, half of all global cases of heart disease will be concentrated in Asia by 2030. And it’s not just heart disease that’s on the rise. There are countless other statistics that all ma...
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Location: Singapore
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What is 'social distancing' and how to do it right

On Sunday (Mar 15), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended against any gatherings of 50 or more people over the next eight weeks, in an effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic. Many public schools, libraries, universities, places of worship, and sporting and cultural institutions have also shut down for at least the next few weeks. These measures are an attempt to enforce distance between people, a proven way to slow pandemics. Experts have also been urging people to practise voluntary “social distancing.” The term has been trending on Twitter, with even President Trump endorsing it on Saturday. Answers to your most common questions about the best practises for stemming the tide of the coronavirus pandemic. Still, people all over the United States have been out in large numbers at restaurants, bars and even sporting events, suggesting more than a little confusion around what social distancing is and who should be practising it. This is deeply worrying, ...
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Location: Singapore
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