Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Yakap by Charise



I fell in love with Charise's rendition of the song Yakap. I couldn't get enough of it that I kept playing it again and again. It was soulful and tranquil, that it was so hard to ignore. The first time I heard of it, I immediately decided to search the lyrics on the internet, and then this appeared.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Words to Ponder 17

Annihilate(verb) = completely destroy

Illicit drugs annihilate your body.

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Brandish (verb) = to wave or swing something in a threatening manner

You won't make me feel threatened by brandishing your sword.

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Browbeat (verb) = to use threats or angry speech to make someone do or accept something

I don't know what satisfaction he gets by browbeating others.

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Conflagration (noun) = large destructive fire

The conflagration in Aurora killed three people.

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Lecherous (adj) = related to lust

Parental guidance is necessary for children who are watching television as to avoid their viewing of lecherous shows.

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Detonation (noun) = explosion

The detonation of the home-made bomb in an area in Cotabato killed seven people.

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Foment (verb) = to incite something such as rebellion and the like

Incarcerate (verb) = imprison

The Spaniards incarcerated those who attempted to foment a revolution

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Fulminate (verb) = to complain loudly or angrily

He keeps on fulminating about the plan of the government to increase the tax in cigarettes and liquors.

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Fracas (noun) = a noisy argument

Every day I have to endure the fracas between my two neighbors.

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Loath (adj) = reluctant

I am loath to apply in that company.

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Truculent (adj) = easily angered or annoyed, and likely to argue

I don't want to be with Lisa as she's so truculent.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Words to Ponder 16

Rueful (adj) = showing or feeling regret for something done

She gave him a rueful smile and apologized after she had slapped him, mistaking him for someone else.

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Scourge (verb) = to hit someone with a whip

Every day she has to endure the scourging of his stepfather.

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Audacious (adj) = extremely bold or daring

He's audacious for standing up against corruption.

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Chagrin (noun) = a feeling of disappointment or annoyance

To my chagrin, the activities were not as fun as I had thought.

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Affliction (noun) = a state of suffering, pain or grief

How can we help in alleviating the affliction of our brethren?

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Crestfallen (adj) = very sad and disappointed

We were crestfallen when the Philippine team failed to bring home the trophy.

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Desolate (adj) = very sad and lonely especially because someone left or passed away

His parents were desolate for quite a long time when his brother died in a car accident.

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Despondent (adj) = having the feeling of losing hope or courage

The family is despondent about my grandmother's recovery.

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Languish (verb) = to continue for a long time without activity or progress in an unpleasant or unwanted situation

Most of the nurses here in the Philippines languish in unemployment and underemployment, waiting for the opportunity to practise their profession,

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Condescending (adj) = showing that you believe that you are more intelligent or better than other people.

I know someone who's so condescending yet very incompetent.

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Despotic (adj) = autocratic; tyrannical

The Philippines has been once under the rule of a despotic president.

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Haughty (adj) = Showing that you are more intelligent or smarter than others

She's the haughtiest person, I've known online.

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Officious (adj) = used to describe an annoying person who tries to tell others what to do in a way that is not wanted or needed

I had this classmate who was so officious, that he would repeat everything what our teacher had told us to do.

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Pedantic (adj) = overly concerned with minute details or formalism.

Filipinos have the tendency to be pedantic in English grammar.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Words to Ponder 15

Fusillade (noun) = a general discharge or outpouring of anything

The fusillade of questions greeted him upon his arrival.

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Incipient (adj) = in an initial stage

His cancer is still incipient and manageable.

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Enervate (verb) = drain energy; weaken

The Philippines is continuously being enervated by corruption.

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Exiguous (adj) = very small

The income I get as a nurse here in the Philippines is exiguous.

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Meager (adj) = little; not enough

He had once lived a meager life before he became wealthy.

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Measly (adj) = very small

The measly raise in salary did not placate the angry protesters.

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Minutiae (noun) = small precise details

A consummate artist is very particular even to the minutiae of his works.

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Modicum (noun) = a small quantity of something

He doesn't even have a modicum of sense of humor.

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Paltry (adj) = very small

Nursing job is physically and intellectually exhausting, and compensated only with a paltry salary.

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Triviality (noun) = something that is not important

I have no time for your trivialities.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Words to Ponder 14

Brusque (adj) = talking in a direct and unfriendly way

Nurses are expected to be friendly and accommodating, and not brusque and snobbish.

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Contentious (adj) = likely to cause people to argue

Let's try to avoid discussing contentious topic at his dinner party.

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Contumacious (adj) = obstinately disobedient

There are students who are so contumacious that they break every single rule there is.

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Irascible (adj) = easily angered; gets angry easily

Cassandra is so irascible that she tries to stay away from the people who might exasperate her.

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Upbraid (verb) = scold

We were upbraided by Ms. Lewis for not passing our projects on time.

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Accolade (noun) = award or an expression of praise

The movie received numerous accolades from different award giving bodies.

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Adulation (noun) = excessive praise

He enjoys the adulation he receives from his fans.

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Aplomb (noun) = confidence especially during pressure

He was able to deliver his speech with aplomb.

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August (adj) = inspiring respect or admiration

An august leadership is not based on the position but on the things done.

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Complaisant (adj) = willing to please others

Sometimes, a person tries to be complaisant just to avoid being ostracized.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Words to Ponder 13

Wager (verb) = to bet

He wagered 20 dollars on that game.

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Bear out (verb) = confirm that something is true

The diagnostic exam results bore out that she has cancer.

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Bowl over (verb) = surprise; overwhelm

We were bowled over by their performance.

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Foible (noun) = minor flaw

Our own foibles make us unique.

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Pertinent (adj) = relevant

She was able to give a pertinent answer to the question asked by her professor.

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Shoddy (adj) = poorly done; poorly made

The essay which I had made was considered shoddy by my professor.

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Disparate (adj) = dissimilar; different

They divorced because of their disparate views on things.

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Ghastly (adj) = horrible; awful

Racism is such a ghastly practice.

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Conceited (adj) = having an excessive praise on oneself

No matter how good one is, if he is conceited, people will think less of him.


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Inconspicuous (adj) = not easily noticed

The actor had tried to be inconspicuous but still failed because the crowd noticed him.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Words to Ponder 12

Inebriated (adj) = drunk; intoxicated

Somebody told me that you had been inebriated when you had gone home last night, alone.

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Descry (verb) = to see something that is not easily seen; detect

My fastidious professor descries even minor typographical errors on our papers.

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Grope (verb) = to search blindly for something

I hate it when power interruption happens in the middle of the night because I am forced to grope for flashlights.

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Wont (adj) = likely; accustomed; used

He is wont to develop diabetes later in life because of his eating habit.

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Swarthy (adj) = having a dark complexion

I do have a friend who is fat and swarthy.

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Pariah (noun) = outcast

It is so hard to be treated like a pariah in another country just because my skin is brown and theirs are white.

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Jeer (verb) = to shout or speak insulting words at someone

You should not jeer on other people because you, for sure, don't want to be jeered at.

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Sneer (verb) = to smile or laugh at someone or something with an expression on one's face which shows dislike and lack of respect

He sneered at his opponent because the latter failed to do the task.

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Dawdle (verb) = to waste time by moving slowly

Don't dawdle because we still have a train to catch.

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Taunt (verb) = to mock, tease, or insult someone to make him angry

The guy, who had been taunted by the five bullies, sought vengeance after six years.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Words to Ponder 11

Munificence (noun) = the state of being very generous

Largesse (noun) = money that is given away easily

Many people appreciate Mr. Smith's munificence for he gives largesse to institutions which promote child protection.

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Salubrious (adj) = favorable to or promoting health

Recuperate (verb) = to return to normal strength after being sick

Providing salubrious environment is important in helping the patient recuperate.

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Virility (noun) = masculinity

Uxorious (adj) = affectionately submissive to one's wife

In the world where virility is put into consideration, how can an uxorious man catch-up?

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Proclivity (noun) = tendency to do something that is usually bad

Paramour (noun) = illicit lover

She has the proclivity to be some old married man's paramour.

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Affable (adj) = friendly and easy to talk to

Affinity (noun) = strong liking for something

Mr. Andrew's affable wife has a great affinity for children.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Words to Ponder 10

Retrench (verb) = To change the way things are done in order to spend less amount of money

Recession (noun) = a period of time in which there's a decrease in economic activity and many people do not have jobs

Because the economy is experiencing recession, my family is forced to retrench.

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Profligate (adj) = carelessly and foolishly wasting money; very wasteful

Parsimonious (adj) = very unwilling to spend money

Some people think that I am profligate, when in fact, I am parsimonious.

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Impecunious (adj) = having little or no money

Squander (verb) = use something in a wasteful way

The lottery winner would go back to his being impecunious again, if he kept squandering his prize.

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Patrimony (noun) = property that you receive from your father when he dies

Concordance (noun) = a state in which things agree and do not conflict each other

In concordance to their father's wish, the patrimony  was divided to the three of them equally.

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Gratis (adj) or (adv) = free; for free

Is the food here gratis?

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Pilfer (verb) = to steal something that are not very valuable or to steal a small amount of something

She was caught by her boss pilfering office supplies.

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Pecuniary (adj) = relating to or in the form of money

She transferred to the other company because of pecuniary reasons.

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Filch (verb) = to pilfer

He filched a pack of gum when no one was looking.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Words to Ponder 9

Preternatural (adj) = very unusual in a way that does not seem natural

Foretell (verb) = Tell something in advance

I don't believe in preternatural abilities such as foretelling disasters, seeing ghosts, and the like...

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Temporal (adj) = relating to the world; relating to life on earth

Transient (adj) = not lasting long

All temporal things are transient.

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Skeptical (adj) = doubtful

Sanctimonious (adj) = pretending to be morally better than other people

I'm skeptical on joining their religious group because I have a strong feeling that their leader is just living a sanctimonious life.

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Largess (noun) = money given away easily

Megalomaniac (adj) or (noun) = a person who believes that he or she is so powerful

Megalomaniac politicians of democratic countries give largess to people during election campaign to make sure that they get the latter's sympathy.

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Burgeon (verb) = to develop or grow quickly

Megalopolis (noun) = big city

The burgeoning infrastructures in the megalopolises in the Philippines imply that the economy is improving.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Words to Ponder 8

Astute (adj) = wise; with sound judgment

Cogitate (verb) = to think carefully and seriously about something

An astute person cogitates about the whole situation before doing something.

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Proliferate (verb) = to increase in amount or number quickly

Pensive (adj) = quietly sad; in deep thought accompanied with sadness

After she had known that her cancer cells had proliferated all over her body, she became more pensive than ever.

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Sagacious (adj) = wise; having the ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions; with sound judgment

Ruminate (verb) = to think carefully about something

My sagacious grandfather ruminates about things he has to do.

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Apprise (verb) = to inform

Sobriquet (noun) = an affectionate or humorous nickname; a label

We apprised some foreign fans of Manny Pacquiao, that the athlete is also known in his sobriquet "Pacman".

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Corollary (noun) = a natural consequence or effect; result

Sublime (adj) = utter; utmost; extreme

Poverty is the corollary of sublime greed.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Words to Ponder 7

Crux (noun) = the basic point of something (such as problems, issues and so on).

Avaricious (adj) = greedy

The crux of every war is people's avaricious nature.

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Obviate (verb)  = to make something no longer necessary; to prevent something

Affluent (adj)  = rich; wealthy

The advancement of medical science in affluent countries like the US obviates many risks associated with a serious surgical operation.

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Miscreant (noun) = a person who does something immoral or illegal

Vitiate (verb) = to ruin something; to make something less effective; to lower the quality

The actress's poor portrayal of a miscreant vitiated the quality of the film.

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Ravenous (adj) = very hungry

Delectable (adj) = delicious

I was ravenous that time that even the foods, which do not interest me, became so delectable.

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Blanch (verb) = to put food items in boiling water or steam in a very short period of time

Scrumptious (adj) = delicious

I only blanch vegetables to retain its nutrients while making sure that it's still scrumptious.

Choose Philippines


Parking?


Sleepless Nights?


Popping the Question?


Monday, June 3, 2013

Words to Ponder 6

Forage (verb) = to search for food

Carrion (noun) = the flesh of dead animals

I saw a flock of vultures foraging for some carrion.

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Halcyon (adj) = happy and successful time in the past that is remembered as being better than today

Bucolic (adj)= pastoral; relating to the country life.

The halcyon days of my childhood, when I still lived a bucolic life, make me think that, at least, I have lived that way.

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Nocturnal (adj) = done at night; active at night

Arid (adj) = dry; uninteresting

She discussed about nocturnal animals in an arid manner.

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Seismic (adj) = relating to earthquake

Perennial (adj) = existing for a long time; happening again and again

Japan is affected with perennial seismic disturbance.

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Meteoric (adj) = rapid

Simian (adj) = relating to monkeys or apes

There's a meteoric rise in the incidence of people infected with the simian virus.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Words to Ponder 5

Adamant (adj) = unshakable in decision, purpose or opinion

Fastidious (adj) = hard to please

I'm adamant about my decision not to work anymore for my fastidious boss.

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Quandary (noun) = state of uncertainty

Recluse (noun) a person who lives alone

I'm in a quandary whether I should live a life of a recluse or not.

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Assiduous (adj) = constant in effort; diligent

Inscrutable (adj) = difficult to understand

My assiduous effort to solve this inscrutable riddle has finally paid off.

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Clandestine (adj) = secret

Divulge (verb) = reveal; made known

Their clandestine marriage was divulged to public.

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Ensconce = To place oneself in a comfortable position

Arduous = Laborious; Tiring

He ensconced himself on the couch after a long arduous workout.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Words to Ponder 4

Inadvertent (adj) = not planned; unintentional

Jeopardize (verb) = to put in danger

The bus driver inadvertently jeopardized our lives when he had a seizure while driving.

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Tutelage (noun) = guidance; supervision; coaching

Protean (adj) = (of an actor) versatile; capable of playing different roles

Under the tutelage of many great actors he became protean.

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Loquacious (adj) = talkative

Taciturn (adj) = reserved in speech; opposite of talkative; inclined to be silent

The loquacious wife of Mr. Morris suddenly became taciturn after the death of their only child.

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Inextricable (adj)= cannot be separated; cannot be untangled

Vehement (adj) = burning; extreme

There's an inextricable connection between vehement passion and obsession.

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Vivacious (adj) = lively

Endear (verb) = to be loved; to be liked; to be appreciated

Her being vivacious endeared her to the people of Lorenzo Village.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Words to Ponder 3

Adulterate (verb) = to make impure by adding inferior substance

Reluctant (adj)= not so sure of something

I'm reluctant to buy milk products of other brands, I have no knowledge about, because of the fear that it might be adulterated with melamine.

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Facade (noun) = outward appearance

Perfidious (adj) = not faithful; treacherous; deceitful

Be careful of a winsome facade for it might be hiding a perfidious beast.

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Prevaricate (verb ) = lie

Spurious (adj) = fake

Mrs. Morris keeps on prevaricating about her real status in life by frequently wearing spurious jewelry.

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Beguile (verb) = to deceive; to cheat; to mislead

Devious (adj) = dishonest

I was beguiled by the devious marketers into buying the products they were selling.

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Connive (verb) = to get together to do wrong

Contrive (verb) = to plot

They connived to contrive the murder of the king

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Election 2013: Trending in the Philippines


Filipinos are innate fans of election as this is one of the ways one can exercise his power as a citizen of a democratic country. This sudden shift of control from the officials to the people is a controversial event as many things happen during this time. Election campaigns are everywhere, allowing the registered voters to know everything about the candidates, including their platforms, track records, family background and even talents. They sing and dance per request - as if they were authentic performers - to at least fish even the sympathy votes. Filipinos are known to be emotional; it's not enough to discuss things in a dialectical manner, but also in an empathetic way. And one of the best ways of digging into the core is through performing until a wide grin appears on everyone's face.

Though it's saddening to know that people have the tendency to base their judgment according to how well they are entertained, there are still organizations which help in promoting voters' education. The aim is to teach the voters to analyze things first before shading the circle preceding a candidate's name. This awareness movement is a good step in informing everybody of how one vote can change the Philippines. As this has been pushed through, more issues are now made known to everybody.

One serious issue being battled is vote buying. There are a lot of diatribes against the illegal act but it's still existent because many patronize the idea that those who can give money can assure good governance. This of course is not true, for this evil deed signifies how dirty one politician can be. I don't mean to provide a didactic speech or to name names to be lampooned. This is a serious issue which has to be addressed, and the people have the power to change things, if the wicked will not be given the power to rule once more. Election is one of the best times in which one can voice out what's right, choose who's earnest, and be treated like a boss.

Secondly, violence during election is rampant. Nobody's safe, especially in those areas where greed is overvalued by many. It pains me to know that one can easily hurt, otherwise kill, an innocent person just to be sure to have a seat in the government. Gun ban has been issued by the Commission on Election to avoid the occurrence of such practice of coercion. Many have been captured because of this, yet there are still more, walking with the civilians, blending in, ready to attack when ordered. People may have the power, but it does not include invulnerability; that's the weakness enemies see and use for their advantage.

The very least Filipinos can do is to be wary of their surroundings; to identify who's the villain among those who claim to be allies; and to vote wisely. Election happens every three years only; one vote on that day may change the shape of everyone's future. I'm a Filipino, I'm part of the team, and I'll vote wisely.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Words to Ponder 2

Winsome (adj) = sweetly or innocently charming

She can easily be distinguished from the crowd because of her winsome appearance.

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Comely (adj) = pleasing in appearance

You have taken your comely face from your mother, whose beauty is timeless.

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Pulchritude (noun) = physical beauty

Your pulchritude is beyond compare.

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Urbane (adj) = reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc

She's not only beautiful, but also well-mannered; her urbane character makes her standout

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Ethereal (adj) = heavenly; celestial

I never thought an ethereal place like this could exist.



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Please leave a comment

Polish R and L



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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Random Thoughts of a Raconteur-Wanna- Be

It's already 2:41 a.m. here as I'm writing this sentence. I'm already sleepy but I just can't doze off. There are a lot of things running in my head - from losing weight to gaining wisdom. Yes, you read it right, I've written the words "losing weight".
Having an endomorphic type of body is difficult. I easily assume a round shape, and losing excess fats does not come easy. I've been trying to avoid eating starchy and sugary foods since I've read that a low-carbohydrate diet is indeed effective in getting rid of the extra inches on one's waist. I tell you it's not easy a task for me, because we Filipinos love rice - and that's what I have to stay away from. I, somehow, give myself a chance to consume a cup of my favorite. If I would have to choose between a cup of rice with a tasty chicken barbecue, and a whole chocolate cake, I would be choosing the former. I don't really have a sweet tooth, so I don't have a hard time letting go of desserts than with a value meal.

So far I have lost 13 pounds in less than 60 days. I'm planning to shed more fats by engaging into a more intense workout. I have actually watched a promotional video of an exercise program called "Insanity". I think it's effective since many people talk about it. I'm quite skeptical because I'm afraid I cannot keep up with the demands of the program. Another factor which concerns me is the price of the DVD. I bet it is expensive and I can't afford to buy such as of the moment; there are a lot of things in which I have to spend my money with. I wish I could receive this gift on my birthday on the 20th of May - I would be delighted to have this.
Anyway, it's already getting very late. My eyes are starting to roll and I might just doze off without knowing. I'll just have to end it here before anything goes gibberish.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Speak Like A Native English Speaker


My first video post which could be of help to you. Please leave a comment after watching the video. Thank you.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Words to Ponder

Callow (adj) = immature

Bullying someone does not make a person strong but callow.

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Capricious (adj) = given to sudden change of mood or behavior.

I don't like hanging out with capricious women.

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Fortuitous (adj) = happening by chance

I don't think that what's happening in our lives is just fortuitous.


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Indeterminate (adj) = not exactly known or defined

She accepted the love he offered, even though their set-up was indeterminate.

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Impetuous (adj) = acting quickly and rashly

Sometimes we become impetuous, especially during the time when our emotion - good or bad - is at its peak.


Please leave a comment. The more comments I receive, the more posts will come.