These twelve days were memorialized in a popular song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” written by a gentleman named Drennon.

During the period 1558 to 1829, it was a crime to be a Catholic in England. Catholics were prohibited from any practice of their faith by law – private or public. Anyone caught with things that associated him with Catholicism, such as religious writings, would be severely punished. Devotion to the Catholic faith could get you imprisoned, hanged, or beheaded.

Drennon wrote the “Twelve Days of Christmas” as one of the “catechism songs” to teach young Catholics the tenets of their faith in song, instead of in written form.

It was a great memory tool that aided them in the learning of their faith while still hiding the fact that they were still practicing Catholicism. Drennon helped to prevent these young Catholics from being punished for reading religious books.

Each of the gifts given in this song has a hidden meaning intended to help teach and preserve the Catholic faith. For instance, the “true love” mentioned in the song does not refer to an earthly lover–it refers to God Himself. The “me” who receives the gift refers to every baptized person. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge who fakes injury to lure predators from her helpless nestlings, much in memory of the expression of Christ’s sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered thee under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but thou wouldst not have it so…”
The other symbols mean the following:

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity– the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which relays the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of Creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

The Twelve Days of Christmas differ very little from other religious celebrations, in that they give us a reason to celebrate and exchange gifts.

Initially, people carefully meted out their gifts during the course of the twelve days, as Drennon’s song reflects, to avoid a glut of presents on Christmas Day.

This old-fashioned approach to gift-giving eventually gave way to today’s practice of exchanging gifts on Christmas Day.

Source: http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/12days.asp

I am checking my emails and saw another article from Bo. It was very inspiring and spirit-lifting article. Check it out and be reminded of what God says about your future…

Click here to read Bo’s inspiring article.

Thanks Bo!

Click here to download.

D A
You’re on the phone with your girlfriend, she’s upset
Em
She’s going off about something that you said
G
‘Cause she doesn’t get your humor like I do
D A
I’m in the room it’s a typical Tuesday night
Em
I’m listening to the kind of music she doesn’t like
G
And she’ll never know your story like I do

Em G
But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
D A
She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers
Em G
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
A
That what you’re looking for has been here the whole time

D
If you could see that I’m the one who understands you
A Em
Been here all along, so why can’t you see?
G D
You belong with me, you belong with me

D A
Walkin’ the streets with you and your worn out jeans
Em
I can’t help thinking this is how it ought to be
G
Laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
Hey isn’t this easy

D A
And you’ve got a smile that could light up this whole town
Em
I haven’t seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you’re fine, I know you better then that
G
Hey whatcha doing with a girl like that

Em G
She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
D A
Shes cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers
Em G
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
A
That what you’re looking for has been here the whole time

D
If you could see that I’m the one who understands you
A Em
Been here all along, so why can’t you see?
G
You belong with me
D
Standing by and waiting at your back door
A Em
All this time how could you not know, baby
G
You belong with me, you belong with me

D A Em G

Em
Oh I remember you drivin’ to my house
G
In the middle of the night
D
I’m the one who makes you laugh
A
When you know you’re about to cry
Em
And I know your favorite songs
G
And you tell me about your dreams
D
Think I know where you belong
A
Think I know it’s with me

D
Can’t you see that I’m the one who understands you
A Em
Been here all along, so why can’t you see?
G
You belong with me
D
Standing by and waiting at your back door
A Em
All this time how could you not know, baby
G D
You belong with me, you belong with me
A
You belong with me
Em
Have you ever thought just maybe
G D
You belong with me, you belong with me

Click here to view full article

Thanks Bo!

Poor staffing.

Proper scheduling and perhaps additional headcount for a team/organization will avoid UNREASONABLE OTs. I hope you don’t get me wrong. Practicality speaking, OT means MONEY. But having an OT because nobody can cover a certain time frame and you’re NOT even advised is just not acceptable.

Underman.

OTs can be avoided if proper number of headcounts are met in a team/oraganization. This will minimize OT pays, stressed employees and especially PISSED-OFF employees.

Lack of communication.

Proper cascading of information to the team/organization is a MUST. Asking/texting somebody superior than you just to confirm if you need to extend because the schedule seems to be wrong is DISPLEASING. If OTs are needed, it is appropriate to inform the person ahead of time to avoid HEART ATTACK because the reason is just not acceptable. I hate surprise OTs!

I just HATE OTs…. UNREASONABLE OTs.

Part 1

HIGHLIGHT:  Kung gusto nating mag simula, mag simula tayo sa maliit. We have to conquer our doubts.  Remove the mental block. -Gordon

THOUGHTS:  Thumbs up! Very logical.  I like the way he explains.

Part 2

HIGHLIGHT: 
Q: Which would you rather have POWER or WEALTH?
A: Alam niyo yung dalawang bagay na yan, pag ikaw ay BATA at galing ka sa HIRAP………
THOUGHTS: Very well said, Ms. Philippines!

Part 3

HIGHLIGHT:  Jamby says it was MISTAKE to have a celebrity with her during her political ad way back.
THOUGHTS:  Ouch! sabi ni Juday

Part 4

HIGHLIGHT:  If elected, Jamby would cut his husband’s head, tounge and quarter him if the becomes like the present First gentleman! 
THOUGHTS:  I think she can be a substitute for John in the movie SAW, or perhaps an accomplice  :)

Part 5

THOUGHTS:  Erap must be still sleeping that’s why he’s not here.  He’s too old for this debate and you don’t wanna hear the bell ringing over and over to remind him that his time is up. He loves long intros and never get the chance to answer directly the questions thrown at him(watch HARAPAN debate and ISANG TANONG). Can you imagine reelecting that guy?

Part 6

HIGHLIGHT: Villar says “Simple lamang po ang aking buhay!”
THOUGHTS: I don’t think so. Notice how Villar answers the questions, not only from this debate but from any other interviews and forums. He uses adjectives that are extremely opposite of what he is.

Got this from some comments on youtube, very funny! and I guess it’s true:

Si Manny Villar ang tunay na mahirap.
1 Mahirap hagilapin – di pumapasok sa senado
2 Mahirap interviewhin – ang daming spokesman
3 Mahirap tanungin – ang layo ang sagot sa tanong
4 Mahirap magpaliwanag – ayaw humarap sa imbestigasyon ng senado
5 Mahirap mag bitaw ng pera – ayaw na isoli ang 6.2 bilyon pesos na nakurap nya
Go Money Villar!

Part 7

HIGHLIGHT: How powerful is Kris in shaping Noynoy’s polotical life?
THOUGHTS: Noynoy seems to be ready answering all the questions thrown at him in a timely manner. However, most of the time I see him delivering a speech, he always have this “cheat sheet” which sometimes questions credebility.

Part 8

HIGHLIGHT:  Jamby can you say something good about  Villar? “Yes I can. Maganda po yung pagtina ng buhok nya.”
THOUGHTS:  It is GOOD! That is so sweet of you Jamby. Come here Jamby jamby… that’s it… sit… good girl…

Part 9

HIGHLIGHT: “Power is like honey” as per Jamby. “So when you’re a President, you see the bees run into to the honey, very few run to vinegar.”
THOUGHTS: So are you telling me that there is a tendency of “power tripping” in you once you get elected?

Part 10

THOUGHTS: Gibo is so sensible. I just wonder if ever he gets elected then would he remain the same? Would he be in control of the plane? Or would he be just an assistant pilot and controlled by anybody else?

Part 11

THOUGHTS:
Gordon is brilliant. Very prompt. Very direct.
Villar needs to practice ACTIVE LISTENING.
Is Mr. Perlas gay? He talks so gay…eeew

Part 12

HIGHLIGHT:
1. How much a kilo of galunggong and itlog na pula cost?
2. Mambobola?
THOUGHTS:
1. P60.00 per kilo? I don’t know. I don’t eat fish. I don’t eat itlog na pula as well. I eat human flesh…Grrrrrrrrr!!! I’m a cannibal!!!
2. Mambobola pala si Noynoy eh. Good point from Gordon there.

Part 13

HIGHLIGHT: Bigyan ng pagkakataon maging pantay/lebel ang playing field for Villar.
THOUGHTS:Oo nga naman kasi, la naman sya kapatid na artista, wala sayang Nanay na presidente at mahirap lang ang pinagsimulan. Come on! We don’t need dramas and any other LSS-causing jingles anymore!

The only sensible and credible presedentiables for me are Gibo, Gordon and Aquino.  All the rest are just a waste of time but thanks to them the debate had been very entertaining. I enjoyed it. Better watch it and enjoy too.

But seriously, I hope we can choose the right and most credible person to sit the presidency.

I get to know this song when I was still in Baguio.  I played it once when my officemate told me to listen to it then I can’t remember now how many times I played the song over and over .  I just sooo love the song. Very easy guitar chords, nice melody and nice message too.

About the song Luka:

A few years ago, Suzanne Vega used to see this group of children playing in front of her building, and there was one of them, whose name was Luka, who seemed a little bit distinctive from the other children. She always remembered his name, and she always remembered his face, and she didn’t know much about him, but he just seemed set apart from these other children that she would see playing. His character is what she based the song Luka on. In the song, the boy Luka is an abused child — in real life Suzanne don’t think he was. She thinks he was just different.

Lyrics:

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes I think you’ve seen me before

If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble. some kind of fight
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was

I think it’s because I’m clumsy
I try not to talk too loud
Maybe it’s because I’m crazy
I try not to act too proud

They only hit until you cry
After that you don’t ask why
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore

Yes I think I’m okay
I walked into the door again
Well, if you ask that’s what I’ll say
And it’s not your business anyway
I guess I’d like to be alone
With nothing broken, nothing thrown

Just don’t ask me how I am [X3]

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes I think you’ve seen me before

If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was

And they only hit until you cry
After that, you don’t ask why
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore

Fact:

Luka means “wound” or “bruise” in Malay

So I think the boy that Suzanne used to see is really an abused child…

1. They remind me of someone who doesn’t make my day right.
2. They remind me of someone who teaches you how to use google and it makes me feel stupid. –Why don’t you teach yourself google out baboons?
3. They remind me of someone who caused you a bad rating which I find unacceptable!
4. They remind me of someone who doesn’t understand your explanation. –I bet, a technical explanation will be a nightmare for her.
5. They remind me of someone who thinks she’s always right.
6. They remind me of someone who tells you how to do this and that which I find not applicable at all times.
7. They remind me of someone who tells you how to use positive scripting which is I don’t get what kind of positive scripting she’s looking for.  –We deal with foreigners most of the time, they prefer direct communication! Are you even aware of that? I guess not you’re a baboon, how can you talk?
8. They remind me of someone who asks you to wait and stay after your shift for 1 hour for her to finish her task.
9. They remind me of someone who tells you “You can ask for my help”. –Help?! come on! Haha.
10. And lastly, they remind me of HER. A colleague that puts down all your motivation and momentum at work. Most of all, they look almost the same. hehe.

Sounds bitter..? Nah..I’m just trying to practice the freedom of speech thru blogging.

Happy baboon hunting!!!

Then I tried to do chat, just to keep myself awake… First topic is how to troubleshoot Flash.  It might fix my problem with farmville.  But I need to stop, its just not working… Next topic, is blogging. I was told why don’t I try blogging.  Then I said “ok lang”.. then I got this site..then I got this first post… That’s how it all started. Very organized and planned.  Cool isn’t it?

Anyway, I’ll find some time to think and meditate on what would be my next topics and posts. Thanks! See yah!