Sunday, February 15, 2009

TORNADO-reading

Xenia's Killer Tornado!!

It was 1974. Richard Nixon was still president. Kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst was still missing. In Xenia, a pretty spot of 25,000 people amid fields of soybeans and corn, American Graffiti was held over at the Cinema. The Xenia Hotel offered a chicken and dumpling dinner for $2.25, but everyone flocked to the A&W drive-in for burgers and root beer floats. That's where five of the bodies were found after the storm.

In all, 33 people died in Xenia's tornado, the deadliest of 148 storms that raged through 13 states during the infamous "Super Outbreak'' of tornadoes April 3-4, 1974. In 16 hours and 10 minutes, 330 people were killed and nearly 5,550 were injured from Illinois to Georgia.

Though the Xenia death toll has been matched by other killer storms, the degree of devastation makes the city's tornado among U.S. history's most destructive. The storm still is studied in colleges by aspiring meteorologists, a textbook case of a rare Category F-5, the most intense of tornadoes.

SHARK =reading

1.

Just the mention of the word "shark" still strikes fear into the hearts of most people. The word evokes images of huge man-eaters, like the great white shark in the movie Jaws, that attack swimmers and divers, tear them to pieces or even swallow them whole. Such brutal attacks can and do occur but not to the extent that most of us imagine. In 1995 The International Shark Attack File recorded 59 shark attacks worldwide of which only ten resulted in fatalities. When you consider how many millions of people work and play in the seas and oceans, such a small number of attacks hardly justifies the shark's terrible reputation. The fact is, sharks rarely attack humans, and when they do, it is for reasons which seem incompatible with our general perception of these creatures as ferocious man-eaters.
2.

One reason sharks attack is territoriality. Sharks, like many other creatures, including us humans, are territorial, and we should be cautious when we swim, surf or dive in areas of the ocean where sharks are common. It is their element, not ours. Sharks are basically curious but usually avoid confrontation. They have a special body language that tells other sharks or large sea confrontation to keep away from their space. Of course, most of us don't understand these signals and if we stay too long in a shark's space, it may attack us. Divers who explore wrecks or reefs are very vulnerable to this type of attack.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Figure of speech

Top 20 Figures of Speech
1. Alliteration
Repetition of an initial consonant sound.

2. Anaphora
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.

3. Antithesis
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.

4. Apostrophe
Breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing, some abstract quality, an inanimate object, or a nonexistent character.

5. Assonance
Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words.

6. Chiasmus
A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.

7. Euphemism
The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.

8. Hyperbole
An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.

9. Irony
The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.

10. Litotes
A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.

11. Metaphor
An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.

12. Metonymy
A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it.

13. Onomatopoeia
The formation or use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.

14. Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side.

15. Paradox
A statement that appears to contradict itself.

16. Personification
A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.

17. Pun
A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.

18. Simile
A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.

19. Synechdoche
A figure of speech is which a part is used to represent the whole, the whole for a part, the specific for the general, the general for the specific, or the material for the thing made from it.

20. Understatement
A figure of speech in which a writer or a speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

Quiz

1. Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor--
Bare.
(Langston Highes, "Mother to Son")
(a) synecdoche
(b) metaphor
(c) irony
(d) pun

2. substituting the word “euthanasia” for “mercy killing" or "killing the terminally ill"
(a) hyperbole
(b) euphemism
(c) assonance
(d) oxymoron

3. I had so much homework last night that I needed a pickup truck to carry all my books home!
(a) synechdoche
(b) onomatopoeia
(c) pun
(d) hyperbole

4. The chug-a, chug-a, chug-a of the train echoed down the hill, while a cloud of smoke rose up to the blue western sky.
(a) simile
(b) metonymy
(c) anaphora
(d) onomatopoeia

5. O Western wind, when wilt thou blow
That the small rain down can rain?
Christ, that my love were in my arms,
And I in my bed again!
(Anonymous, "O Western Wind")
(a) litotes
(b) paradox
(c) apostrophe
(d) anaphora

6. We talked with each other about each other
Though neither of us spoke —
(Emily Dickinson)
(a) metonymy
(b) paradox
(c) synecdoche
(d) personification
7. The earth laughs beneath my heavy feet
At the blasphemy in my old jangly walk
(Billy Corgan, "Thirty-three")
(a) euphemism
(b) simile
(c) antithesis
(d) personification

8. I dig my toes into the sand.
The ocean looks like
A thousand diamonds strewn
Across a blue blanket.
(Incubus, "Wish You Were Here")
(a) chiasmus
(b) simile
(c) onomatopoeia
(d) synecdoche

9. And he was rich, yes, richer than a king,
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine--we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked and waited for the light,
And went without the meat and cursed the bread,
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet in his head.
(E. A. Robinson, "Richard Cory")
(a) chiasmus
(b) litotes
(c) antithesis
(d) irony
Land forms

lambak
lamb´ak n. valley

gulod
gul´od n. hill top

burol
bur´ol n. hill

bundok
bund´ok n. mountain

patag
p´atag kapat´agan (ka-an) n. plain, lowland adj. smooth, level, even

anyong lupa
Kapatagan — isang lugar kung saan walang pagtaas o pagbaba ng lupa, patag at pantay ang lupa rito. Maaaring itong taniman ng mga palay,mais,at gulay.
• Bundok — isang pagtaas ng lupa sa daigdig, may matatarik na bahagi at hamak na mas mataas kaysa burol.
• Bulkan — isang uri ng bundok sa daigdig na kung saan ang tunaw na bato ay maaaring lumabas dito mula sa kailaliman ng daigdig. May dalawang uri ng bulkan, una ang tinatawag na tahimik na kung saan matagal na hindi ito sumasabog, tulad ng Bulkang Makiling na matatagpuan sa lalawigan ng Laguna; at ang ikalawang uri naman ay aktibo na kung saan maaari itong sumabog anumang oras. Mapanganib ang ganitong bulkan. Maaari itong sumabog at magbuga ng kumukulong putik at abo. Halimbawa nito ay ang bulkang Pinatubo.
• Burol — higit na mas mababa ito kaysa bundok at ang halimbawa nito ay ang tanyag na Chocolate Hills ng Bohol sa Pilipinas. Pabilog ang hugis nito at tinutubuan ng mga luntiang damo sa panahon ng tag-ulan at kung tag-araw ay nagiging kulay tsokolate.
• Lambak (Valley) — isang kapatagan ngunit napaliligiran ng mga bundok. Marami ring mga produkto tulad ng gulay, tabako, mani, mais, at palay ang maaaring itanim dito.
• Talampas (Plateau) — patag na anyong lupa sa mataas na lugar. Maganda ring taniman dahil mataba ang lupa rito. Malamig at mahangin sa lugar na ito.
• Tangway(Peninsula) — isang pahaba at naka-usling anyong lupang na halos napalilibutan ng tubig.
• Baybayin (coast/seashore)— bahagi ng lupa na malapit sa tabing dagat
• Bulubundukin (mountain ridges)matataa at matatrik na bundok na magkakadikit
• Pulo — mga lupain na napalilibutan ng tubig.
• Yungib — mga likas na butas na may sapat na laki at lawak na maaaring pasukin ng tao at hayop.

Anyong tubig

batis
b´atis n. stream, creek,

look
lo´ok n. bay, gulf

lawa
l´awa' n. lake, pool, lagoon

bukal,
a small stream of water coming from the earth: spring

talon
tal´on n. waterfall

sapa
s´apa' n. brook, creek, stream


TERMS FROM THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
1. Cavite Mutiny - Filipino soldiers in the fort of San Felipe in Cavite rose in mutiny under the leadership of Sergeant La Madrid. The cause was the abolition of some privileges of the Filipinos. GOMBURZA were arrested and killed because of the suspicion that they were involved in the said mutiny.
2. El Filibusterismo - Rizal's second novel, published in 1891 in Belgium, with the financial support of Valentin Ventura, who lent him the money to print the book. Rizal dedicated this book to Gomburza, the three martyr-priests. This is a political novel in which Rizal predicted the coming of the revolution.
3. Insulares - Spaniards born in the Philippines.
4. Kalayaan - Newspaper of the Katipunan, which first came out on January 18,1896, with Emilio Jacinto as editor.
5. Katipunan - The secret revolutionary movement founded by Andres Bonifacio on July 7,1892 in Tondo,Manila. It means KATAASTAASAN KAGALANG-GALANG NA KATIPUNAN NANG MGA ANAK NG BAYAN. It laid down three fundamental objectives: Political,Moral and Civic. The political aim consisted in working for the separation of the Philippines from Spain. The moral objective focused on the teaching of good manners, hygiene, good morals and attacking obscurantism,religious,fanatism, and weaknesses of character. The civic aim revolved around the principle of self-help and the defense of the poor and the oppressed.
6. La Liga Filipina - Founded by Rizal on July 3,1892, in Tondo, Manila, its aims were:
o to unite the whole archipelago into one compact,vigorous, and homogenous body;
o mutual protection in every want and necessity;
o defense against all violence and injustice;
o encouragement of instruction,agriculture, and commerce; and
o study and application of reforms.
7. La Solidaridad - Organ of the Reform Movement in Spain, with Graciano Lopez-Jaena as its first editor. Its first issue came out on February 15,1889. Its aim was to gather, to collect liberal ideas which were daily exposed in the camp of politics, in the field of science, arts, letters, commerce, agriculture, and industry. Known as Sol to the propagandists, it became the mouthpiece of the Filipinos in Spain.
8. Magdalo - One faction of the Katipunan in Cavite, led by Baldomero Aguinaldo, with headquarters in Kawit,Cavite.
9. Magdiwang - The other Katipunan faction in Cavite, led by Mariano Alvarez, with headquarters in Noveleta, Cavite.
10. Noli Me Tangere - Rizal's masterpiece, published in 1887. This is a sociohistorical novel based on facts that Rizal gathered while in the Philippines. It is a novel, but not fiction. The novel gained popularity immediately, but the Spanish authorities, especially the friars whom Rizal ridiculed in the novel, prohibited its reading.
11. Pact of Biak-na-Bato - Agreement made between the Filipinos and the Spaniards, mediated by Pedro Paterno, wherein Aguinaldo and his companions would go into voluntary exile in Hong Kong while Governor Gen. Primo de Rivera would pay cash money to the rebels.
12. Palabra de Honor - Word of honor, or keeping one's promises.
13. Peninsulares - Spaniards born in Spain.
14. Spolarium - The most famous painting of Juan Luna.
15. The True Decalogue - A political tract written by Apolinario Mabini which became the bible of the Filipino rebels.
16. Thomasites - American teachers who came to the Philippines in 1901 to teach English to the Filipinos. The first batch of these teachers arrived aboard the American ship Thomas, hence, they were called Thomasites.

 latitud –mga pahalang na linya sa mapa o globo.
 Ang latitud ang nagbibigay ng lokasyong hilaga o timog ng ekwador.
 Ito rin ang mga linyang ginagamit upang tukuyin ang klima sa isang bahagi ng mundo.
 Mayroong 3 pangunahing latitud ang globo:
 Ekwador (0)
 Tropiko ng Kanser (23.5)
 Tropiko ng Kaprikorn (23.5)

 longhitud –mga pababang linya sa mapa o globo.
 Ito ang nagbibigay direksyon sa silangan o kanluran.
 Ang mga longhitud ang ginagamit upang tukuyin ang oras sa bawat bahagi ng mundo.
 Ang bawat longhitud na isang digri ang layo ay may distansiyang 111.32 km.
 Sa mga polo nagtatagpo ang mga meridian. Bawat digri ng longhitud ay nahahati sa 60 minuto.

 Ang Pilipinas ay nasa pagitan ng 4’23 at 21’30 hilagang latitud at 116’00 at 127’00 silangang longhitud.
 Ang Pilipinas ay bansang tropikal.
 2 Uri ng Panahon
 Tag-init: Abril, Mayo at Hunyo; Tag-ulan: Hunyo- Disyembre
 El Nino at La Nina, Global Warming

 Dalawang direksyon ng hanging umiihip sa Pilipinas
 Habagat –mula Timog-Kanluran, Hunyo-Oktubre
 Amihan –mula Hilagang-Silangan, Disyembre-Marso


1)prime meridian at

2) international date line



. ang limang guhit sa guhit latitud ay

1)kabilugang antarctic

2)tropiko ng kapricorn

3)ekwador = ekwador o equator ay isang kathang-isip na bilog na ginuguhit sa palibot ng isang planeta (o ibang astronomikal na bagay) sa layong kalahati sa pagitan ng mga dulo ng mundo (pole). Hinahati ng ekwador ang planeta sa Hilagang Hemisperyo at Katimogang Hemisperyo. Ang latitud ng ekwador ay, sa kahulugan, 0°. Nasa 40,075.0 km, o 24,901.5 milya ang haba ng ekwador ng daigdig.


4)tropiko ng kanser

5)kabilugang arctic



Sangay ng gobyerno sa Pilipinas
1. ehekutibo (executive) - kinabibilangan ng pangulo, pangalawang pangulo, at mga kagawaran at ahensiya ng pamahalaan

2. lehislatibo (legistlative) - kinabibilangan ng mababa at mataas na kapulungan (kongreso at senado)

3. hudisyal (judicial) - kinabibilangan ng korte suprema (mga punong mahistrado) at iba pang mga korte at mga hukom nito. Kilalarin sa tawag n mahistrado.


MGA URI NG PAMAHALAAN........
MONARKIYA- kapag iisa lang ang may hawak ng pamahalaan. ang pamunuan ay naipamamana sa mga anak.

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHI- pinamumunuan ito ng hari at reyna ngunit ang kapangyarihan ay itinakda ng konstitusyon.

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY- maihahalintulad sa isang diktator siya ang tanging may kapangyarihang pampamahalaan.

ARISTOKRASYA- ang kapangyarihan ay hawak ng ilang mayaman o matalinong pangkat.

OLIGARKYA- ang kapangyarihan ay hawak ng ilang mayaman o matalinong pangkat.

PLUTOKRASYA- ang kapangyarihan ay nasa pinaka mayamang o matalinong pangkat.

DIKTATORYAL- ang kapangyarihan ay nasa diktador.

TOTALITAYAN- ay isang pamahalaan na ang namumuno ay isang pangkat o grupo.

DEMOKRATIKO- ang kapangyarihan ng pamahalaan ay nasa tao,.

PAMPANGULUHAN- ang pinakamataas na pinuno any pangulo.

YUNITARYO- ang pinagmumulan ng mga ipinatutupad na gawain ay ang sentral o pambansang pamahalaan.

PEDERAL- ang kapangyarihan ay nahahati sa dalawa pambansang nasyonal at pamahalaang lokal.

TEOKRASYA- kung saan kinikilala ang pinuno bilang panginoon at mga diwata o mga anito.

FEUDALISMO- pinamumunuan ng legal at militar, sinusunod na batas ay militar.

KOMUNISTA- pamahalaan kung saan isang partido lamang ang sistema at ang pagkakaroon ng pantay- pantay sa lahat.

KRITORCHY- isang sistemang pulitekal kung saan tumatangap ng pantay-pantay sa hustisya sa lahat ng konseptong karapatang natural.

OESPOTIOMO- pinamumunuan ng isang autoridad.

COOPORATOCRACY- nag lalarawan ng pamumuno ng isang korporasyon.

KRYTOCRACY- pinamumunuan ng nmga hurado.

PARLAMENTARYO- pinaka mataas na pinuno ay punong ministro.

AUTHORITARIANISM- ang kapangyarihan ay kinokontrol sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa isang autoridad ng estado o orginasyon.




Three of the most significant imaginary lines running across the surface of the earth are the equator, the Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn. While the equator is the longest line of latitude on the earth (the line where the earth is widest in an east-west direction), the tropics are based on the sun's position in relation to the earth at two points of the year.

The equator is located at zero degrees latitude. The equator divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn each lie at 23.5 degrees latitude. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23.5° North of the equator and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, and southern China. The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5° South of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil (Brazil is the only country that passes through both the equator and a tropic), and northern South Africa.
The tropics are the two lines where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two solstices - near June and December 21.
The sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer on June 21 (the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere) and
the sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21 (the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere).
The area bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south is known as the "tropics." This area does not experience seasons because the sun is always high in the sky. Only higher latitudes, north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn, experience significant seasonal variation in climate.
While the equator divides the earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it is the Prime Meridian at zero degrees longitude and the line of longitude opposite the Prime Meridian (near the International Date Line) at 180 degrees longitude that divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The Eastern Hemisphere consists of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South America. Some geographers place the boundaries between the hemispheres at 20° West and 160° East so as to not run through Europe and Africa.
Civics term

a sketch: krokis

monopolyo- In economics, exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient control over a particular product or service to determine significantly the terms on which other individuals shall have access to it.[1] Monopolies are thus characterized by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide

pakikipagtalastasan- communication

Ang heograpiya isang siyensa tungo sa pagbabahagi (distribution) at pagsasaayos (arrangement) sa mga elementong matatagpuan sa ibabaw ng mundo.
Bukod dito, ito rin ay isang pagaaral tungkol sa mundo; ang mga katangian nito; ang pagsisimula ng buhay, kasama ang buhay ng tao at aktibidad ng tao.
Malayang kalakalan= free trade

Barter= in which goods or services are directly exchanged for other goods and/or services, without the use of money.[1] It can be bilateral or multilateral, and usually exists parallel to monetary systems in most developed countries, though to a very limited extent. Barter usually replaces money as the method of exchange

Datos= data




Direction:

hilaga
hil´aga' n. north

timog
t´imog n. south

silangan
Sil´angan n. east, Orient

kanluran
kanl´uran n. west

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Journey-Lea Salonga

Half the world is sleeping,
half the world's awake
half can hear their hearts beat
half just hear them break

I am but a traveler, in most every way
Ask me what you want...to know

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been.

I have been to sorrow
I have been to bliss
Where I'll be tomorrow,
I can only guess

Through the darkest desert
Through the deepest snow,
Forward always forward, I go..

What a journey it has been
and the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

Forward, always forward...
Onward, always up...
Catching every drop of hope
In my empty cup

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
and they're bound to guide my way

When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in,
what a journey it has been...

What a journey it has been...

When you wish upon a star-Lea Salonga

(N. Washington/L. Harling)
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you
If your heart is in a dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
Refrain:
Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing
Like a bolt out on the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true
(Repeat Refrain and last stanza)

Lea Salonga WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR lyrics

rainbow connection-Lea Salonga

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows?
And what's on the other side
Rainbows have visions
And only illusions
Rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told
And some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Who says that ev'ry wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on a morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
Look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star-gazing?
And what do you think we might see
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Coda:
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound
That calls the young sailors
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la

Lea Salonga RAINBOW CONNECTION lyrics

I am but a small voice-lea salonga

Ako�y munting tinig
May munting pangarap
Samyo ng bulaklak
Sa hanging malinis

May ngiti sa araw
At kung umuulan
Makapagtampisaw
Malayang daigdig
Ng kawalang malay

I am but a small voice
I am but a small dream
The fragrance of a flow�r
In the unpolluted air

I am but a small voice
I am but a small dream
To smile upon the sun
Be free to dance and sing
Be free to sing my song to ev�ryone

Chorus:
Come young citizens of the world
We are one, we are one
Come young citizens of the world
We are one, we are one

We have one hope
We have one dream
And with one voice
We sing...

Coda:
Peace, prosperity
And love for all mankind

Peace, prosperity
And love for all mankind

(instrumental)

I am but a small voice
I am but a small dream
To smile upon the sun
Be free to dance and sing
Be free to sing my song to ev�ryone

Come young citizens of the world
We are one, we are one
Come young citizens of the world
We are one, we are one

We have one hope
We have one dream
And with one voice
We sing, we sing

Peace, prosperity
And love for all mankind

Peace, prosperity
And love for all mankind

someone's waiting for you

Be brave little one
Make a wish for each sad little tear
Hold your head up though no one is near
Someone's waiting for you

Don't cry little one
There'll be a smile where a frown used to be
You'll be part of a love that you see
Someone's waiting for you

Refrain:
Always keep a little pray'r in your pocket
And you're sure to see the light
Soon, there'll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
'Til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone's waiting to love you

Always keep a little pray'r in your pocket
And you're sure to see the light
Soon, there'll be joy and happiness
And your little world will be bright
Have faith little one
'Til your hopes and your wishes come true
You must try to be brave little one
Someone's waiting to love you

yesterday's dream - 14K

We are the children of yesterday's dream
We are the promise of the future we bring
Waving the banner of love to all
To every nation the rich and the poor

*We are the world of the restless and young
And we need a hand to guide us
Helping each other, build each other
As long as we're together you and me

#For together we stand, divided we fall
Together we climb to the top of the world
We can be what we want for the world to see
That we are the children of yesterday's dream

We have the yearning to do what is best
Be someone special from all of the rest
Nation and brothers in unity
Building tomorrow for you and for me

Repeat * and #
Repeat #
We are the dream come true...
That we are the children, of yesterday's dream..

starlight-sharon

Late at night
Lookin' at the stars
I'm thinking of you baby
Wond'rin where you are

When I say goodnight
Turn out the light
I still lay awake
Dreamin' of you
Holdin' me tight

Starlight, starbright
Wish I may, wish I might
Won't you make him love me too
Make him want to hold me too
(And promise me forever)
And wish upon a star
As I do

Wond'rin if I'll ever fell your kiss
In my dreams I see your smilin' face
Trace a finger 'round your lips

I hope and I pray
That maybe someday
You and I together
Will find our way

I'll never stop wishin' on that star
'Til my dreams come true
And I can hold you
And love you

Starlight, starbright

top OPM classic

Sana- Florante

Sana ang buhay ay walang dulo o hangganan.

Sanay wala ng taong mahirap o mayaman.

Sanay iisa ang kulay, sana ay wala ng away

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin ng bawat isa sa mundo.

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin, sanay magkatotoo.

Sanay laging magbigayan

Sanay laging magmahalan

Sana ang taoy hindi nagugutom o nauuhaw

Sanay hindi na gumagabi o umaaraw

Sana ay walang tag-init, sana ay walang taglamig

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin ng bawat isa sa mundo.

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin, sanay magkatotoo.

Sanay laging magbigayan

Sanay laging magmahalan

adlib

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin ng bawat isa sa mundo.

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin, sanay magkatotoo.

Sanay laging magbigayan

Sanay laging magmahalan

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin ng bawat isa sa mundo.

Sanay pag-ibig na lang ang isipin, sanay magkatotoo.

Sanay laging magbigayan

Sanay laging magmahalan

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

List of scholarship available in the Philippines

I tried to compiled different scholarship grants being offered now in the Philippines. this compilation is a just small step in helping Filipinos achieve dreams of a better life through Education...happy scholarship hunting!!!

1. scholarship

Scholarships= PCCI’s

Through the PCCI’s extensive links with various local and international government and private institutions such as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Scholarship Committee; Colombo Plan Secretariat; Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Japan Employers Confederation (NIKKEIREN); the Employers Confederation of the Philippines; Kansai Economic Federation (KANKEIREN); Asian Productivity Organization (APO); Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), members are provided with first hand opportunities to attend training programs here and abroad.




AVAILABLE TRAININGS AND SCHOLARSHIPS


2. scholarship

Special Scholarships

PCAFPD Special Scholarships include memorial scholarships, and individual or group sponsorships. Costs for tuition, books, fees, and living allowance for each student average $1000 per year. For more information about special scholarships, please contact us.

Julia Campbell Memorial Scholarships
There are two special scholarships in memory of Julia Campbell, a Peace Corps Volunteer who was slain in April 2007 while hiking in the rice terraces.


Learn more about Julia Campbell and the scholarships.

Rachel Singer Memorial ScholarshipRachel Singer
Rachel Singer was a Volunteer in Batangas from 1963-65 and worked for t
he Peace Corps in Washington D.C. for several years after her return. For the past nearly 25 years, Rachel was a pivotal player at the New York Blood Center. In addition to her duties as Assistant to the President, she often served as a bone marrow courier, bringing that life source to people all over the world. Rachel was a talented singer who originally stirred our souls in Manila’s pubs, an avid folk dancer, tennis player, runner, and aspiring golfer. But most of all, she was a good friend to all who knew and loved her. At the time of her death from stomach cancer on June 29, 2007 at the age of 67, she was planning a return trip to the Philippines. This scholarship honors her memory and is intended to help complete that circle for her.
Donations can be made online through this website or by mailing a check to:
PCAFPD, Box 100114, Arlington, VA 22210.
Please include a note that your donation is intended for the Rachel Singer Memorial Scholarship.


The Association of Philippine Practicing Physicians of Arizona
APPPA is a membership organization of Filipino physicians founded in 1975 to support the professional development of its members. The group is also involved with community projects and sponsors cultural programs. Like many Filipino organizations in the United States, APPPA has not forgotten its roots. Members have responded to natural disasters in the Philippines and have carried out Medical Missions in Baguio, Naga, Cagayan de Oro and Zambales. The Association sets aside a percentage of its membership dues in a scholarship fund.
The APPPA Board recently decided to work through PCAFPD, and the lucky recipient of the first APPPA scholarship is Vanessa Esquivias of Sorsogon, the oldest of four children of a widowed mother. Vanessa will attend Bicol University in Gubat to earn a degree in elementary education. PCAFPD is delighted to welcome APPPA into its network of supporters.

Douglas R. Watts Memorial Scholarship
Doug Watts (Group 1) served in the barrio of Rizal, Casiguran, Sorsogon from 1961-63. Doug had a great interest in the natural world and marine life in particular. While in the Philippines he explored the sea shore life and inspired Filipino children to be curious about the sea and the balance of life. A native of Hampshire, Doug had a BA and Masters in biology from the University of New Hampshire. Following Peace Corps service, Doug taught in the Trust Territories schools on Palau in the West Caroline Islands. Later Doug joined the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, which took him all over the globe and gave him a chance to indulge his insatiable appetite to experience exotic places and cultures. Doug died on September 22, 2002 of a massive heart attack. He is survived by his wife Liz, their three children, and two grandchildren.

Soledad Tejada Memorial Scholarship
Soledad TejadaSoledad Taopo Tejada, known to most PCVs as Mama Choleng or Mama Ying, welcomed volunteers into her home in Catanduanes for over 35 years. Mama Choleng was a head teacher when she first began working with PCVs. As she advanced to principal and later to district supervisor, she remained a foster mother to all PCVs in the province. The home she shared with her husband, Pio, was a place for volunteers to meet, relax, and share their experiences. She looked after them with tender care, especially when they were sick, but when she felt they were out of line she also admonished them to be good -- just like a real mother. The parents of the PCVs often wrote to thank her for her warm concern for their children. Her daughter, her nephew, and one grandchild all married PCVs. Mama Choleng died suddenly in March of 1997 at the age of 76. As a token of their appreciation for all she did for them, volunteers of Catanduanes established a scholarship in her name.

BIMAK Scholarship
BIMAK is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the Igorot heritage among Filipino-Americans residing in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. BIMAK is acronym for Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Apayao, Abra and Kalinga, the provinces comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region in Northern Philippines. It is a community where the members, who are away from home, celebrate the cycle of life the Igorot way, re-rooting themselves to the strong values of their past. It also aims to give assistance to brethren back in the Cordilleras. BIMAK has partnered with PCAFPD for a number of years, making scholarship contributions in honor of Pamela Johnstone Moguet, BIMAK member and PCV in the Philippines in 1978-1980. Pam died of breast cancer in 1994 at the age of 38.
Pam and Henry Moguet
Pam and Henry
Moguet
Maureen Joan Carroll Scholarship
Peace Corps/Philippines
Group 1 members donated over $5000 to establish a scholarship to recognize fellow group member Maureen Carroll. The award acknowledges Maureen's leadership over the years to keep Group 1 folks in touch with each other and her long and dedicated service as a Board Member of PCAFPD.

Past Individual Sponsors
Many thanks to the following people who have sponsored scholars in the past: Lynn Gorton, Martha Allshouse-Hull, Mr. and Mrs. Rey Bald, Lane and Jill Johnson, Chris and Glen Newhall, Dr. and Mrs. Jay Slosberg, and Allen Rothenberg.


Maureen Carroll and Ron Peters

3. IMSFI=Scholarship

Frequently-Asked-Questions

    APPLYING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

  1. How do I apply for a scholarship?
  2. You can apply in one of two ways:

    • Pick up a scholarship form at the PUP Alumni Office.
    • Go to IMSFI.org, click on the scholarship form tab and print.

    Complete the scholarship form and essay, including all necessary transcripts, referrals and sealed photos and send the address listed on the application form.

  3. What are the eligibility requirements for scholarship consideration?
  4. Students whose family income is P_____ and below must possess a 2.0 grade point average (B) and be involved in community service.

  5. What does my scholarship cover?
  6. The scholarship will cover all your tuition and book expenses during your college education. You will have to maintain a 4.0 grade point average and your grades will be reviewed at the close of each year.

  7. When will I know if I have been granted a scholarship?
  8. The IMSFI scholarship committee continually reviews scholarship applications. They will contact the individual(s) who have won the awards by the end of the current school year.

    MEMBERSHIP

  9. Why should I become a member?
  10. Think of IMSFI as a vehicle where you can give back to the community by helping us raise the necessary funds to further our youths' education. It's not only about the money; it's about the joys of fulfillment, when you know you're part of an organization that cares and is really working for the good of our youths.

    DONATIONS

  11. How much should I donate?
  12. Donation is personal to you and what your means allows. On behalf of the children, we are grateful for any amount you donate. Every little bit helps.

  13. Is it tax deductible?
  14. Yes. Your donation is tax deductible. Please see the donation tab for details on how to receive a donation receipt from IMSFI.

  15. What is my donation used for?
  16. 100% of your donations go to the IMSFI scholars to pay for their tuition, books and any other educational expenses they incur relating to their studies.

Meralco foundation

About MFI PDF Print

MFI Foundation Inc. (formerly Meralco Foundation, Inc.) is a non-stock, non-profit science foundation that has provided quality training and education in the Philippines for more than 30 years.

Guided by its goal to see every Filipino pursuing a dignified and gainful way of life, MFI reaches out to serve in both the industry and agricultural sectors.

MFI fulfills its noble purpose through these operation centers:The MFI Technological Institute (formerly Meralco Foundation Institute) oversees MFI’s flagship program - the Industrial Technician Program (ITP) which offers post-secondary, non-degree courses on industrial technologies especially to less privileged students. These courses are offered with scholarship on selective basis.

MFI-TI is also home to the MFI Training Program which offers certificate short courses for people who are already in the workforce. MFI Training is available under the following technologies: Automotive/RAC, Electrical, Electronics, IT, Instrumentation, and Mechanical (tool and die), and also on soft skills training like human resource development programs and interventions.

Aside from its main branch in Ortigas, quality MFI training is also available at MFI-TI’s newest branch in Calamba, Laguna.MFI-TI also co-manages the Tarlac Training Center which is situated at the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac City.

The MFI Farm Business Institute, currently an institute in its formative stage, aims to provide quality education and training programs for the agri-business sector, and to serve as a catalyst in the development of agri-entrepreneurship. It addresses the growing need for both formal and non-formal education in the agri-business sector which will help transform the farmer into a farmer entrepreneur. It targets individuals and communities from all economic strata, gender, age, educational and professional background. Its proposed human resource development programs for the agri-business sector are geared towards industry and enterprise development that will pave the way towards community economic development. MFI-FBI operates the Jala-Jala Farmers’ Training Center in Brgy. Punta, Jala-Jala, Rizal. It also supports the Bais Family Farm School in Bais City, Negros Oriental.

MFI is an ISO 9001:2000 certified organization and recognized as a “Model Center of Excellence” by the Asean Economic Minsters-Japan Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee, as attested by the Department of Trade and Industry Center for Industrial Competitiveness in industrial, technical and vocational education.
The Government of the Philippines has started the implementation of the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Project by the assistance of the Government of Japan in Japanese Fiscal Year 2002.
The objective of the JDS Project is to provide Philippine nationals with opportunities for obtaining master’s degree at Japanese universities in order to support human resource development policy of the Government of the Philippines, and eventually to extend and strengthen the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and Japan.
The main target groups of the JDS Project would be young government employees who are expected to engage in formulating and implementing social and economic development plans and to play leadership roles in the Philippines.
For the JDS project in the Philippines, the “Common Agenda” has been settled for each field as follows:
  • Public Administration:
    • Building Institutional Capacity for Better Governance
    • Advancing Decentralization and Regional Development
  • Economics:
    • Ensuring Balanced and Stable Fiscal Management
    • Promotion of Sound Market and Industries
  • Business Administration:
    • Providing Sound and Attractive Business Environment
  • Information and Communication Technology:
    • ICT Policy to Create Wider and Advanced Usage
  • Industrial Development:
    • Industrial Development Policy for Global Competitiveness

Every Applicant is expected to share his/her own view of how the knowledge acquired in Japan will be utilized to the development of the Philippines, by tackling one of the Common Agenda for the applying field of study. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to relate the Common Agenda and the research plan, as well as your current work.

Applicant’s perspective for future career plan shall be one of the important factors to be considered for the selection of JDS project.

25 scholarships will be offered to study in Japan for commencement in 2009-2010.

Qualifications and Requirements

*This is the re-opening of Application for the field of Economics, Business Administration, and Industrial Development
* Deadline of application: January 21, 2009

  1. Nationality:
    Must be a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines.
  2. Age:
    Below 40 years old as of April 1, 2009.
    (Those who were born on/after April 2, 1969)
  3. Occupation:
    Should be a civilian government employee.
  4. Work Experience:
    Currently employed in government with permanent status and with at least 2 years work experience at the time of application.
  5. Performance Rating:
    Has a performance rating of at least “very satisfactory” in the organization at the time of nomination.
  6. Academic Background:
    Should have a Bachelor’s degree relevant to the target fields.
    For ICT field, Applicant is required to have a bachelor’s degree in ICT or equivalent.
  7. Degree:
    Has not been awarded foreign scholarship for Master’s degree.
  8. Responsibilities of JDS fellow:
    When selected as a final successful candidate, he/she is required;
    1. To sign and submit the pledge to follow the conditions deemed necessary as JDS fellow. (If a fellow violates any articles of the pledge, the scholarship may be cancelled.)
    2. To fill out an application form of the university.
    3. NOT to change university and/or field of study.
    4. To attend the pre-departure Japanese language training in Makati City on full time basis (April to June 2009).
    5. To participate in briefing orientation and Japanese language training in Japan (mid July to August or September 2009).
    6. To contribute to socio-economic development of the Philippines with the acquired knowledge upon return to the Philippines.
    7. To be in good condition physically and mentally during the stay in Japan as an ODA Scholar.
      *If there is a drastic change in fellow’s health condition including pregnancy before and during his/her stay in Japan, or/and if the accepting university considers his/her condition is not suitable enough in the pursuit of academic goal, scholarship is subject to cancellation, based on the decision/guidance of university and the Operating Committee of the JDS Philippines.

Scholarship

Local Scholarship Program (LSP) - Philippines

Source: Civil Service Commission


A support mechanism on the process of professionalizing the ranks in the bureaucracy, the government-wide Local Scholarship Program (LSP) administered by the Civil Service Commission primarily aims to provide government employees with educational opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skills toward career and personal growth and advancement.

Components of the Local Scholarship Program:

  • LSP-Masteral Degree (LSP-MD)
    • Established in 1993 through CSC Resolution No. 93-299
    • Provides qualified government employees with a one-year scholarship grant to pursue masteral or post graduate studies
  • LSP-Bachelor's Degree Completion (LSP-BDC)
    • Started in 1996 by virtue of CSC Resolution No. 967300
    • Offers undergraduates in government a maximum of two-year scholarship to complete their studies and earn a college diploma
  • LSP-Skilled Workers in Government (LSP-SWG
    • Instituted in 1994 under CSC Resolution No. 94-2380
    • Affords a short-term (not exceeding six months), continuing skills upgrading or enhancement training to first level government employees holding clerical, trades, crafts and custodial service positions

Qualifications & Benefits of the Scholar

Type of Scholarship QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS BENEFITS OF THE SCHOLAR
LSP - MDC
  • Bachelor's degree from a college or university recognized &/or accredited by CHED
  • Permanent status of appointment for 3 years at the time of application
  • Performance rating of at least Very Satisfactory for the last 2 consecutive rating periods
  • No age limit provided the service contract will be complied
  • Good health as evidenced by a medical certificate from a gov't physician
  • Has not earned a masteral degree; but employees with masteral units only &/or on thesis writing, & those who have availed of short-term courses whether local or foreign are qualified to apply
  • Has no service obligation being served during the period of scholarship
  • Nomination of the agency head
  • Co-terminus employees may avail on meritorious cases provided the service obligation will be met & the employee is not related to the agency head within 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity
  • Study on official time
  • Relief from all duties and responsibilities during period of scholarship
  • Tuition & school fees not exceeding P30,000
  • Book allowance of P10,000
  • Thesis writing assistance of P10,000 for thesis program or P5,000 research assistance for non-thesis program
  • Entitlement to receive regular salaries, allowances & other benefits as provided by law for the duration of the grant
  • Period of scholarship shall be credited as continuous service
  • Special incentive of P100,000 to top 10 qualifiers consisting of P80,000 for tuition, book & other school fees, & P20,000 for thesis writing, research or policy paper & other similar requirements
  • The scholarship may be availed of within 2 school years after qualifying in the program

Note: Once awarded the scholarship, the scholar shall no longer be eligible for nomination to any local or foreign training scholarship grant.

LSP - BDC
  • Permanent appointment in 1st or 2nd level position in gov't
  • Completion of 2nd year college studies
  • 2 years work experience in gov't
  • Performance rating of at least Satisfactory for the last 2 consecutive rating periods
  • Not more than 58 years old as of last birthday
  • In good health
  • Certification from applicants' former school or any other school where they intend to enroll attesting that they need only 1 or 2 years to complete college
  • Study on official time
  • Relief from all official duties & responsibilities for the duration of the scholarship
  • Tuition & other school fees not exceeding P15,000
  • Book allowance of P2,000
  • Period of scholarship shall be credited as continuous service
  • Entitlement to receive regular salaries, allowances & other benefits as provided by law for the duration of the grant
LSP - SWG *temporarily suspended since 2001
  • Open to all gov't employees in the 1st level positions (clerical, trades, crafts & custodial services positions)
  • Permanent/temporary appointment
  • At least 1 year service in gov't
  • Performance rating of Satisfactory in the last rating period
  • Not more than 58 years old
  • In good health
  • Applicants who are interested in skills upgrading courses must be presently performing jobs relevant to the course applied for & must have the basic skills &/or related experience
  • Training fee not exceeding P3,000
  • Attendance in training on official time
  • Regular salaries & allowances such as PERA for the duration of the grant
  • Travel & per diem allowances if grantee attends training in another region, province or municipality

Note: Employees with pending administrative cases may apply & qualify for the LSP. However, should they later be found guilty of an administrative offense, their scholarship grant will be automatically revoked & they will be required to refund to the CSC and their respective agency the amount that has been paid for the grant.

World's richest

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  • Thursday, January 22, 2009

    Barack's Inauguration speech



    (CNN) -- Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and the nation's first African-American president Tuesday. This is a transcript of his prepared speech.
    In his speech Tuesday, President Obama said America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

    In his speech Tuesday, President Obama said America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.


    Click to view next image

    My fellow citizens:

    I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

    Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.

    So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

    That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. Video Watch the full inauguration speech »

    These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

    Watch with CNN
    Watch the historic inauguration of Barack Obama with CNN and the best political team on TV
    Live coverage all day

    Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

    On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

    On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

    We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

    In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

    For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

    For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

    For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

    Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

    This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

    For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

    Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

    What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

    Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

    As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

    Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

    We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

    For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

    To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

    To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

    As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

    For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

    Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

    This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

    This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

    This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

    So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

    "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

    America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.



    A fresh start...



    A new beginning ..
    a new smile
    in this era of hope
    faith,love and joy
    reigns in the heart

    winter has ended
    spring will come
    birds will chirp
    color will be the star

    all should feel the energy burning
    gather the blessing in the air
    for forever bliss is near...