Commemorative U.S. Quarter Dollars - 50 of 50

Finally, I have completed my coins through the generosity of my colleague who attended a training. I was hoping to collect these last two coins (CA & NE) personally but my I was sent to another continent…

It was a great day to start working after being gone for almost a month. She handed it to me this morning and I was just happy the whole day…

Though I’m more excited to go home early to see our kids and spend some playing time with them since arriving yesterday afternoon and back to work few hours after. I’m still feeling desynchronous but I have to go after spending a boring training yet enjoying one of our greatest vacations as a couple.

Sometimes, smile begins by seeing the number 50.

Commemorative U.S. Quarter Dollars - 8 More Less

After six years of collecting these coins, I’m glad to have collected 48 out of the 50 states. The remaining are the two illusive states of California and Nebraska. Plus 6 more territories which was released last year namely District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands.

In 2004, Howell and I visited friends in L.A. and invited us to stay in Vegas for two days. While we’re playing the slot machines in Circus Circus, I have won a hundred dollar of quarters. When I’m counting the coins in our room before dinner, I’ve noticed different designs and sorted those and keep them in my bag while the rest I’ve squandered hoping to collect more commemorative quarters.

During my US travels in 2007 and 2008, I have collected several of them. And thanks to our friends Neil and Jacq who even now still sends me my missing ones.

According to Wikipedia, “The 50 State Quarters program became the most successful numismatic program in history, with roughly half of the U.S. population collecting the coins, either in casual manner or as a serious pursuit. The U.S. federal government so far has made a profit of $4.6 billion from collectors taking the coins out of circulation.”

I hope to complete them this year…

Pascual Madrid Laguerta - The Greatest Boxer

It’s past four in the afternoon and its beginning to get dark early, fishermen are getting their bangca and gears ready for the night catch and students were walking on their way home to Bisita while I’m busy playing with my toy, an old bicycle wheel which used to be my dad’s.

Dad used to be a grade school teacher at Boton, the next baryo from us if you’re going to Matnog or Casiguran. We have cousins there and a small rice field which my dad, uncle and older brothers used to toil during summer and harvest time. He uses his bicycle everyday and be back for lunch meal with the family and ride again for the afternoon class and arrived home before five. Classes back then were held from morning till three or four in the afternoon where you can join the flag raising as well as the flag retreat ceremonies.

On weekends, if he’s not busy finishing our concrete house which he build by himself and some friends help for minor jobs, he takes us to the sea which is 20 minutes boat ride from our house. Across the street from our house is a suba leading to Sorsogon Bay on the west side and to Plaza on the east end. We used to have a bonoan where these long bamboos are place in the ground underwater and fishnets all over it allowing small openings for the fishes to be trapped. If not him, somebody harvests the fishes for us which we get percentage of the cash earned from selling them in the market. He used to have a strong arms to do all this work. Our house became a shelter for all sorts during typhoons. It can accommodate most of our neighbors, their pigs and chickens, dogs and cats and sometimes carabao. And we kids loved the typhoon season where we all sleep together, listen to stories, listen to radio and eat hot porridges.

But this night is one of the unforgettable days of my childhood. I can see my dad with his bike and parked it. I can see someone talking to him and then he walked away briskly and sometimes run, so I never got to say hello to him. But I followed him and some others are also following his path. So I was wondering why the commotions and the next thing I knew, we’ve walked for less than five minutes to reach a house of distant cousin and saw him in front of the door and when it opens, he knocked the man down with a single punch.

In my mind, I’m still confused and he went back to the house and I was catching him but people started gathering and talking what just happen. The following hour, we are in a hospital in Casiguran where my mom was admitted. She suffered a heart attack because of the people who are jealous of her public and civic achievements. These people remain the same until we left our hometown for a life in Manila.

A year after, we all transferred to the new schools in the main town of Sorsogon to continue our studies. The following year, my dad tried his luck to middle-east as an OFW and we moved to Manila following my brother while he attends his high school in the seminary in Makati.

Those people who hurt our family did not leave long - they soon died few years after we left. I guess life made a joke on them and may they rest in peace. Our family will always remain a Sorsoganon for our lives will never be same without those memorable moments that made us happy and the struggles that she brought us to make us strong.

That night will always remain as the greatest fight I have ever seen. You will always be our hero and strength and my personal inspiration.

Happy 66th birthday, Papa! We love you!

Ghost Fighter (Yu Yu Hakusho) Action Figures Collection Completed

After two years of non-stop search for Hiei (Vincent), he finally showed up and I did not, could not, give him any tiny bit of chance of hiding again...

Though it cost me a bit much than a regular stuff, for me, of course, it’s so much worth it! Imagine looking for it in every store, local and international, web and underground, even the smallest of toy sellers in the street I would always ask for it but in the end, nothing, nada, NO LUCK!

And from the bountiful jungle of the Amazon, somebody mistakenly made the righteous decision to let it flaunt and allow me peek and seize it. So I can say it’s a destiny for the four of them to be reunited in one box one room…

So the time has come for me to move on and start searching for series number two…

NBA Asia Challenge: Preview

The long wait has finally arrived. And it was also a challenging task to purchase the ticket for the historic battle between the NBA legends and the PBA greats. I was lucky because we were able to get good seats and my cousin was also able to get full access pass and so we were able to go inside the court before and after the game.

Though our local PBA team lost, it was still a great match. I will post more pictures and more details about it soon….

What's in the bag?

Are you wondering why I am all smiles in this picture?


It is because this is what is inside the bag:


I wanted to buy this here in Manila for the longest time now but I find it so expensive. That is why when I saw the Ferrari store in Venice, I did not miss the opportunity of checking out what I can bring home to Manila.

I just want to buy something cheap really but my wife convinced me that I should get what I really want as we never know when we can go back in Italy. And since Ferrari is from Italy, prices here are definitely much cheaper (half of the price if I will buy it here in Manila).

And I am glad I decided to bring this precious home (even if I paid Euro 22 in excess baggage when we took a domestic flight from Rome to Paris. LOL) as it is all worth it.

Venetian Macao 2009 Tennis Showdown

On October 25, 2009, a history will be made in the Cotai Arena as two of tennis’ legendary rivals, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi plays a tennis showdown match. This is the first time that the two will play again against each other since Sampras defeated Agassi in the US Open 2002.

Junior World No. 1 Yuki Bhambri will also play in this showdown against the American Ryan Harrison.

Tickets are now available and can be purchased online. Ticket prices are:

A Reserve Lower: MOP $ 980
B Reserve Lower: MOP $ 780
C Reserve Upper: MOP $ 480
D Reserve Upper: MOP $ 280

My wife and I really wanted to join our friends in watching this game in October but since we just got back from vacation, we have no leaves left and more importantly, we have no more budget for this trip.

But being a sports enthusiast, I am glad that famous sports personalities are now going to Asia so people from Asia will have a bigger chance to watch their idols play live.