When I was 17 years young (and that was a bit of long ago) I ran into a patrol of soldiers dragging people off the streets for work in a forced labor camp up in some hills in Cebu Province in the Philippines.The time was during the Japanese occupation.

My mother warned me about leaving the house for any reason at all. The year was 1944.American dive bombers from aircraft carriers had already made bombing runs over Cebu City. The largest target the American war planes virtually smashed to smithereens was the San Carlos College building. That was an eternity ago. The short of it is that I escaped from the camp and by the grace of God lived to be 82 years old which is how old I am at present (May 12, 2008).

That incident was probably the greated adventure of my entire life. When I was captured no one, from the camp of those who captured me, bothered to take down my name and address. That omission was my great blessing. I did not live a hunted life after my escape.

I gave thanks to God and His mother, theVirgin Mary, for my escape. What if I did not excape? The thought is frigtening. I'd rather not think about it.

When I was 17 years young (and that was a bit of long ago) I ran into a patrol of soldiers dragging people off the streets for work in a forced labor camp up in some hills in Cebu Province in the Philippines.The time was during the Japanese occupation.

My mother warned me about leaving the house for any reason at all. The year was 1944.American dive bombers from aircraft carriers had already made bombing runs over Cebu City. The largest target the American war planes virtually smashed to smithereens was the San Carlos College building. That was an eternity ago. The short of it is that I escaped from the camp and by the grace of God lived to be 82 years old which is how old I am at present (May 12, 2008).

That incident was probably the greated adventure of my entire life. When I was captured no one, from the camp of those who captured me, bothered to take down my name and address. That omission was my great blessing. I did not live a hunted life after my escape.

I gave thanks to God and His mother, theVirgin Mary for my escape. What if I did not excape? The thought is frigtening. I'd rather not think about it. But I praise and thank God and His and our mother, Mama Mary..

               Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, is credited as the author of the saying that a quiet mind is  the body's best medicine. A quiet mind is a mind free of worries, cares, resentment, anger and ill feelings.Was Napoleon's mind quiet? It's a bet easy to win as taking candy from a baby. Napoleon's mind was a busy mind.. Planning the invasion and conquest of neighboring and distant countries like Soviet Russia, appeasing the rivalries between his generals, acting his part as the Emperor of France, playing his part as a Great Lover,  administering the bureaucracy of his government,, putting together a system of laws like his Civil Code.With all these things to worry about, Napoleon remained healthy until his capture by the English and exile to the Island of St. Helena.

               All men are created equal. Men differ only in virtue, talent, energy and wisdom. Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.The Good Book's advice is this: "The more you talk the more you are likely to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet." (Proverbs 10:19)  As you go through life you will have many opportunities to keep your mouth closed. Take advantage of them all. Remember the adage that men and fish would not be in trouble if they kept their mouths shut.Talk less. Better to be quiet and thought wise, than to talk and bc thought an idiot in the company of people like Albert Einstein. 

               Hey guys, you remember the story I posted here last year about the absent-minded professor and the umbrella he left behind in his former hotel room? I just ran into a tale that's a spitting image of that story. It's a beaut, a lulu. I didn't have the heart to pass it up. So here it is:

               In a train compartment, an elderly, somewhat rugged fellow and a young couple were sitting, The girl looks as if she was suffering from some discomfort. Her boyfriend asks her, "What's wrong, honey?"

              She says, "My head hurts."

              Her boyfriend kisses her forehead and asks, "Is it better now?"

              "Yes," she says.

               Then he asks, "Does it hurt somewhere else?"

               "Here," she replies, pointing to her lips.So the boyfriend kisses her lips.

               "Is it better now?"

               "Much better."

               "Anywhere else?"

              She replies by pointing to her neck. So the boyfriend kisses her neck.

              Annoyed at the pitiful public display, the elderly man butts in and says, "Excuse me Doc, do you do hemorrhoids?"

               HAPPY VALENTINE!!!

               Come February 12 the Chinese in our midst will celebrate their lunar new year and call it the Year of the Pig.The Chinese have quaint traditions. They have animal names for every year. Last year, 2006, was the Year of the Dog. Next year, 2008, will be the Year of the Rat.

               Pig is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac in the Chinese calendar. Believers in Chinese astrology associate each animal with certain personality traits. Yet pigs are known to be dirty animals who love to wallow in mud and are lazy, voracious eaters.

              If pigs are derided in some circles, pigs are also loved in certain quarters. Pork lovers may be found among pork chop and pork sausage gourmets. Some writers are pig admirers. In George Orwell's "Animal Farm", pigs are much admired. The work of teaching and organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally recognized as being the cleverest of all animals. Old Major, a Middle White boar, was well regarded by all the animas in the farm. He called on all the animals to mount a rebellion against the farm owners to gain their freedom from human oppression. The playwright George Bernard Saw had this to say about pigs' "Pigs are my friends. I don't eat my friends."

               Yet, there are those who do not admire pigs. How else can you explain these sayings?

               Don't cast your pearls before swine.

               Don't be a hog.

               I'll believe you when pigs can fly.

               Beware lest you buy a pig in the poke.

               In a pig's eye you won't.

          A boar is an uncastrated male pig. It's a wild animal in forests. It grows a couple of tusks on its lower jaw. These tusks can be lethal. Boars use their tusks to attack animals or humans they believe are out to do them harm. I watched a boar on TV turn against a lioness (a female lion) and pierced its side with a deep wound. The lioness ran away, I figure that if the boar's tusks grew down its upper gums, the boar would be a vampire version of a boar, a proper pet for Dracula.

            I pay heed to a couple of sayings about pigs. These are:

            1. Do not wrestle with a pig. It makes you dirty and the pig enjoys it.

            2. Do not teach a pig how to sing. It's a waste of time and it annoys the pig.

            Now let's turn to the Four Little Piggys. One went to market, the other stayed home. This one had roast beef, the other had none. But this last little piggy was a hot little piggy and he boogie-woogied all the way home.