let's trick or treat!

Photo's courtesy by google.com 

Do you end up with only one bag full of candy at the end of Halloween? Here's how to end up with two or more! (all text here are from the wikiHow)

1. Think back on last year's Halloween in your neighborhood. Which houses had the best candies, and which had the worst or "so-so" candies? The aim is to bypass those houses only interested in giving out toothbrushes, apples, and granola bars, or those houses where the candies are meted out in small amounts.

A neighborhood with small yards and sidewalks allows you to hit more houses in the allotted time. And apartment complexes with many doors can cut down on walking time.

When assessing who gives out lots of candies, ask friends if they can also come up with such knowledge to allow you to compare notes and target the houses that give the most of the biggest selections. If you're planning with friends, you can also trade later to help even out the candy selection you ultimately receive.

2. Prepare your costume. The quality and fanciness of your costume can affect how many candies you're given. The more interesting, cute, scary, etc., your costume, the more likely that the candy giver will "reward" you for your effort by giving you more candy. Be sure to act in character too, to help complete the effect and totally win over the candy givers.

3. Choose a suitable bag. Use a backpack, a large bag with a drawstring, or a pillowcase to hold all of your trick and treat loot. The bag needs to be easy to carry, able to hold a lot comfortably and strong.

If using a pillowcase and you're concerned it might break or you see it is frayed or even has a hole or two, double it up with another pillowcase.

If possible, also have a smaller basket or container. This will enable you to keep your larger treat bag stashed somewhere safe to return to and refill regularly. Or, if you're in your own street, run home and dump the loot and head out again.

It's recommended that you add a light or reflective tape to your candy bag to help make you more visible after dark.

4. Prepare a map of your intended best candy-giving houses trail. It can be street specific or just a general idea of where to go and where to avoid. This map may help you to keep on track when the foot traffic and parties increase during the night but it can also serve as a reminder of which houses usually have the best candies. Use the map as a reminder of where you went as well, so that you don't back track and waste time or look greedy!

If you're turning up in another suburb known for its amazing candies on Halloween, a map and plan is an absolute must so that you don't get lost.

5. Make a suitable time to start trick or treating. It's best to start early, when the treats are still in plentiful supply in the houses of your neighborhood. Some houses run out early because they're too generous to begin with; you might as well be the first to take advantage of this generosity!

The majority of parents take their young children out at the beginning of sunset, to let the kids have a sufficient time before dark. If you want to start this early, be aware you'll be turning up with the little ones. If you have younger siblings, this can be a good excuse to turn up too, or just offer to take the neighbor's kids with you.

Note that some cities or neighborhoods start to turn off their lights between 8 pm and 10 pm; don't be out treating too late or you'll miss the treats or get the dregs.

Watch the houses that turn off their lights; this is the standard indication that Halloween is over for that household, or that they've run out of goodies.

6. Bring your manners. Grown-ups like manners, it's just the way they're built; accept that being polite will win you more candies than being evasive, gruff, or rude. Compliment the householder on their Halloween decorations. And always say "Trick or Treat?" with a big smile. The evening is about having fun with others; be thoughtful enough to make it seem that each house is worth more than just being a loot filling station!

Avoid lingering at any Halloween parties, haunted houses, or special events. Even though they all look or sound cool, every minute counts while going from house to house in one night. Any obstacle will deter you from your candy goal. Unless you're certain that there is candy to be had at any of these places, consider not even venturing into them. You can always go back and check them out later (mark them on your map).

Don't eat your candies as you're going. The time spent eating them and the sugar high will slow you down!

Double back in a new costume. If you're really keen for more candies, change your costume or mask and return for more. If you do this though, make sure you're not recognizable or the people might refuse to give you anything, or worse, demand that you give back the second lot of candy.

Another tip is to empty your container as often as possible so that it looks as if you've just started treating or as if other people have been stingy; this may encourage people to offer you more candies than if your bucket is full.

7. Form a candy gang. This way more of you can cover greater distances and then share your spoils together. Gather back together at a certain time and place to share or trade candies. Use a trading method on two small candies for a big one or qualities per candy. The trading method works when someone does not like something they got and would like another candy or when they've hit the jackpot and have been given too many of one sort.

When you do go trick or treating as a group, keep the numbers small. It's less overwhelming for the householder to have a few kids on the doorstep, and easier to give out the candies. It's also less likely to result in trading arguments at the end.

If you have a bike and a bike basket, use them. It is quick and easy transportation.

If you have broken a limb, go with the cast showing for sympathy candy. This works best with younger kids or cuter and less scary costumes.

If you have a family member or friend who drives, ask them to pick you up and drop you off in another neighborhood for different results.

While it may be fun to try on getting loads of candy, stay safe while crossing the street or darting in the middle of roads.

If you live very close to a long street with many houses they may all have candy! You can get tons and some may even set bowls of candy outside to take for yourself (if you want to maximize your candy, take the whole bowl – knowing that you're pretty much a meanie doing so).

If you have a sibling or cousin, this is a must. You both go your separate ways for a while but make sure you are both supervised, then when you come back take her on your street so they can give your sibling/cousin candy-and you.

Some people may say you're too old, so have an excuse. A good, believable one would be "I'm just taking my younger brother/sister/cousin." Or laugh it off and say "I'm yet to grow up and I've still got a sweet tooth!"

Wear something flexible so you can go to more houses without being uncomfortable. Try to wear something that reflects in car headlights for safety.

You'll need a backpack to store extra costumes, back-up candy bags, and anything else you want to bring with you.

If you are really desperate for more candies, take along another basket and say it's for your sick friend or sibling. The karma of such a lie rests with you.

If your parents aren't keen on pillowcases leaving the house, buy some cheap from a thrift store.

If it's toward the end of the night, ask them if they think they're going to have leftover candy that will just get thrown out. If they say yes, ask if you can have an extra piece or two. They might even give you three or four. If they overestimated how much they should buy, or it's a rainy night (and there weren't a lot of trick or treaters), they might even give you more! Just remember to be polite when you ask.

If the person lets you grab the candy out of the bucket yourself, put on a sweet voice and ask, 'How many can I get?'.

Donate the extra! You don't have to eat it all yourself!

Warnings!

If you see that the front lights are off, do not ring the doorbell. It means that they're not participating and they might be annoyed by you doing so.

If it is late (after 10pm), do not go to houses with lights off. They may be sleeping or fed up with the trick and treating.

Try and stick together. Bring a friend or two with you for safety.

Don't scare the little kids to get candy, it's mean and is likely to get you into trouble.

Even though its Halloween, don't eat too much candy in one night. it's best that you save some for other nights and, eating too much can get you sick. Keep a stash to enjoy over the upcoming weeks.

Enjoy your trick or treating! Happy Halloween! 

killua pledge to #icommittodrr

i grow up in a community where roofs and walls are made up of strong materials, where people are busy earning a living, where money has never been an issue and foods are overflowing, where all you have to do is to study your lesson, play and have fun all day and no matter if your place was regularly battered by storms, the destructive forces of typhoon are nothing but a part of history and worst is that you and your brother are overjoyed because in the morning you get your fair share of canned sardines and that's the only time you can ever eat them. 

i have always lived this kind of life, caring for the environment has never been my first priority and i admit that i cant even segregate my own garbage, how much more to the universe and what do you expect from a punk like me? until one day i found myself inside the DRR Team. reading success stories,  listening to drr champions, found myself planting trees in the mountain and mangrove propagules on the sea, visiting depressed communities, witness how they struggle against the different faces of poverty, eat with them, hear their stories and i shared mine then suddenly i realized how pity i was for living that way, always staying inside my comfort zone. so naive about what's happening in the real world. i dont know what motivates me to transform maybe i was touched by those drr videos or was just touched by the reality i had glimpse during those times i was inside a makeshift dilapidated abode  and it just came and i learn to understand it and my eyes get open and i change gradually.

i told myself its time to change. its time to care. its time to open my mind,  its time to live the way i should live and its payback time for those wrong inconsequential stuff i committed. i signed as community facilitator, trained for high angle and life support rescue, read more success stories, research more, participated in all forms of capability building training's and imparted all my learning's to my family,  joined in all clean-up drives, give talks during information education campaign and convince them to reform their historical and inherited way of living and beg them to participate in any DRR event, i have  learned to segregate, planted more trees and now how i love too see  them growing, i teach my young kin's to plant more flowers and paint the walls lively, bought them a whistle and enrolled them in swimming more importantly is that i learned to share with what i have.

i see how my community change, more did i see myself changing  and even that of our local officers from the government i was in, They are committed, effective and accountable DRR planners and implementors shifting from being reactive to proactive and making sure that drr are mainstreamed in every program and  projects they have. making sure that the community no matter how complex or un-united have strengthened their capacities.

i know for myself that i am far from being a drr champion but at least i keep on trying and changing.  i wont promise to commit one hundred percent but the discipline and the very little way im doing in no time i will get there!

ako si killua, blogger
#icommittodrr

my friday smells...like this :)

i am a perfume lover and i love my friday smell! i say no no to make-up just a hypoallergenic baby powder.

and youre going back to america!

you never know how happy i am that you're going back to america. you're aint fit her ate madel. america is your world. goodluck!

I want to live the rest of my life the best of my life.

For the last 28 years my life has never been that good and never been that bad. I have perfect flaws which tell me I am a full bloom human! I’ve done a lot of crazy things. I’ve committed a lot of mistakes. I’ve been to different places. I was loved and I loved in return. Things aren’t always the same day by day. I try to live the best I could. I lost my father when I was 25 but life moves on and I prefer to be happy. I got my very first job when I was merely 19. And I proved to myself that I can survive the days better than any other do and i believe that now i can defend my ground better. 

I had always been a positive thinker. I seldom say no. and even if you dont agree as for myself I know I was always a good kid. I fought my brother over the box of chocolates. I wear everything I feel like wearing even if it doesn’t fit me. I love watching cartoon network which has been the ultimate avenue to dissolve things stacked up in my mind and the k-pop helps me to learn asian languages. I am a 50% Ilocano, 25% tagalog  but the attitude I have made me a pure blooded bicolano.

For the last 28 years I have eaten the food I wanted for breakfast, dinner and brunch. Spaghetti has been my national anthem. I even cooked for myself the food I wanted and eat them even if it tastes awful. I was lucky to get a good education. Lucky to taste every specialty they got in town . Learn to speak English. Lucky to wear the shirt and the shoes I want. Lucky to have a lot of slippers and comfortable bed where i get the freedom when I want to sleep and leave the bed. I have hated and loved the Mondays and Fridays and weekends too. I have learned to deceive the alarm clock when it says 6:60 and its time to wake up. Countless shouting of mom its not yet time my alarm said its not 7:00 and its 6:60! There are too many episodes of drag me by the hair to get me up and the nth count of banging myself to the wall too. I just love sleeping. I have drink tons of vitamin c and paracetamol too. I have been robbed not just once but twice.

I have sung a lot of songs. I downloaded a lot from itunes. Watching movies have been my top priority. I lost count of my toy soldiers, knights, cowboys, pirates and tiny robots. I have learned to love my work and had professionally managed to master the art of cramming and  had successfully beat the endless episodes of deadlines. I have become aware of the outcome of irresponsibility too.

Wow! 28 years and counting! I want to thank god for giving me life and for mom for bringing me to the world. for my brother lao for loving me and mom. Likewise to all my relatives who are always there for me. For filling in the gaps I can’t afford for. For providing me everything I needed. For loving me unconditionally. And for all of you who kept on believing in me. For keeping me as a friend, for listening to all my stories. For scolding me that i had been too much.  For teaching me what I need to know and for molding me to become a better person.

Life has a lot to offer we just have to be positive and enjoy our every second on earth. we just have to be contented of what we have and work hard to get every little dream we want. and remember that no matter how tough the day was... we have to make it through! I didn’t usually ask god for much but I know for myself he is always there for me. For this year and the years to come I will make sure to live the rest of my life... the best of my life.

thats kool fever!

My immune system has gone crazy because I am suffering from high fever for two days now. My head hurts like thor hit it with his hammer. My eyes feel like popping out. I never got fever for the last ten years and never felt like this or I doesn’t remember how is it like to have fever. I used to take vitamin c that keeps me away from fever but yesterday wasn’t my lucky day it was raining mad and I forgot to have my umbrella I run a short distance to get home and I didn’t take a bath and so the result I got fever. Maybe this implies that I am somewhat normal. (^=^)

Every time I cough my head feels like it will burst in pain. I didn’t do anything but sleep. Mom told me to sleep. It’s such a boring theme. I don’t want to go to rest time but my inner me told me I have too. I feel like I am lazy today. My temperature sometimes goes to 39.7, then 38.4 back to 39.2. Maybe it is the price of abusing myself that much. Right now Im taking too many drugs for fever and I hate the taste of antibiotics but the doctor told me I have to be on antibiotics no matter how I complain not to give me one because it is killing me. I feel itchy. I cant stand my own smell, the doctor and my mom forbids me from taking a bath because im chilling. Good thing there is this kool fever I feel relieved every time I put them on my forehead.

As I wrote this I feel a little bit ok. Staying at home and sleeping all day is somewhat boring. But I get along with our new nanny and the neighborhood since they’re checking on me I feel so lucky they had me checked. they even give me ramen and porridge. I guess its enough. I will be better soon.

a road that leads tomorrow

We often see a lot of people complaining about work. A majority of them regard working as an extremely hard, vapid and low earning affliction. They always dream to live a happy life without working. But in reality, it’s is not possible to live without doing work. Each individual needs to work for various reasons, no matter whether he is the son of the billionaire or a layman struggling with poverty. To the best of my knowledge, the most common reasons for people to work are to acquire enormous knowledge, money and to enjoy life.

Firstly, people work to sharpen their skills as well as to learn many aspects of knowledge to solve the problems that helps them to overcome difficulties. Work gives us wisdom. Without working no one can improve his/her skills, knowledge and intelligence. Thus those who work hard enjoy a wonderful life.

Secondly, people work to realize the value of living by producing large amount of goods and services. A farmer is not a farmer until he plant crops; a teacher is not a teacher until she teach classes. They all have their responsibilities and they also win our respects because of their contributions to the society. That’s the meaning of life, which gives us courage and confidence to exert our powers to build a happy home.

We work to keep us healthy. We can communicate with each other during work. Meanwhile, we are helped and encouraged. We have to work to relieve our pressure. When you do something you are very competent, you will view it as a kind of entertainment. You even find joy from them. If we don’t work, we will become torpid and fat.

At the outside, it might seem obvious that jobs are just to earn our daily bread. But we explore the facts beyond the selection of job, there are myriad of factors that go together in selecting a job. Earning money might be a priority because no one likes to live in penury, but it is not the only determining factor. I feel that the selection of a job based on remuneration might be apriority for entry-level aspirants who are in searching for their first job. But once people climb up the corporate ladder there are other factors one looks for. Going by my own experience I would say job satisfaction, recognition is society and realization of a long dream or vision will become the deciding factors as we progress.

With the information technology (which is the most human resource dependent industry) growing at an exorbitant rate, Human resource managers have a tough time to understand what is really needed to retain the cream of talents in their organization. Recent studies show that job satisfaction and recognition are the prime factors that matter to the best talents, of course not to mention a competitive compensation package.

Every man has a vision, and continuous progress in the realization of their vision gives a great feeling of satisfaction and moral boosting. I believe that without this vision we would never have our soldiers sleeplessly safeguarding our country. ‘Serve with honor’ is the mantra which keeps them going strong. It is the same sense of responsibility and pride in serving the humankind that propels the doctors to serve the people without looking at their watches.

Every job is important and has their pros and cons. But it is still our social stigma to weight a person based on their profession. It is this stigma which instigates the people to be finicky in the selection of a job when it comes to social recognition. Even in a social gathering the treatment given to a so-called executive is totally contrast to that of an ordinary low profile truck driver. Yes, people love to be recognized and it does matter to have a job worthy of it.

I believe that working is a tool by which we can make a key to the gate of knowledge; it is a road that leads to tomorrow, and it is a prescription that keeps us fit. All in all, working provides us so much that I love work.

Mangrove blooms in May too :)

I never thought that mangroves blooms on May too :)

a letter to me

hi self!

yes I am you.

I am writing to you from a short time. its just that i feel like writing to you.  I am doing this because you currently are having a bad time. I am here to tell you that things will get a whole lot better. I do not have an anxiety-based disorder, I am not wiser, not cleverer, not braver and certainly not stronger than you. 

We are the same person temporarily separated by a simple understanding.

This letter is written to present another option, another way of thinking, a way of thinking that worked for me, it also makes no claims as to be the best strategy or the only strategy ... it is the simple honest conclusions of a self admitted 'layperson' for no charge.

I am not an expert, I don't ever want to be an expert.  I'm just being me.

 

You don’t have an illness, there is nothing wrong with you.

so how have you been lately?

does your head spin?

what did the doctor's told you about your unstable BP? you now reached 130. and its high for you.

maybe its time for you to slow a bit. you've been abusing yourself lately. that you forget to run. you lacked enough sleep. not even your vitamin c.

dont you know its good for your health too?

have you ever count the minutes in the day you're happy and you're not busy?

good thing there was this internet for you always failed to say hello to your family. you spend more time with the e-environment and you are tired of the real world. you know that you dont like the things that are happening now on earth but look at your surroundings it is still a beautiful world and you have a lot of marvelous things to do with it.

you keep on fighting with your brother over little things when you love him that much.

if you keep on doing stupid things then you will get old even you're just turning 28.

its not the end of the world little girl. what was it? was it still the harvard thing? i promise you that you will have that harvard dream two to three years from now. cheer up and keep going. you are always at your best in everything you does.

i've heard about nervousness? chill!

Relax for everything will turn out fine!

Relax; stretch, breathe in and out. Just remember that whatever ordeal or situation you're about to face, you'll pass through it immediately. If you pass it, unscathed, you succeed. If you fail, you can always try again. Don't dwell on your failure, because for sure, life will give you other opportunities. Don't let your nerves overpower you. With a little perseverance and confidence, you can pass through it. 

guess you should write like this for yourself that often.

love

of course you :)

across the mangoves!

i cant find the apt word to describe this friendship.  for me you are my sister.  the coolest sister on earth.

I will just have it ramble after all you know what I mean. You can use the translator and google it anyways..

i like you because you like choco chips.

i love you because you love me and lao. but that boy used to get all that you gave to me.

no matter how tough your work is you still comply on all my request. you are my best editor in chief!

each time ive crossed paths with the soul eaters or psychic vampires you are always there for me.....you cheer me up when i feel blue and I couldn't deny that joy and when i talk to you on anything no matter how bad the day was i feel that i am alright.

Being cheerful makes you fun to be with. and you never hated me when every time i was like a child who keeps bothering you with the same thing over and over again. 

you are a good listener too. you listen to all my angst and grievances all that matters to me.

when i cant bear my throat because of choclates you always reminds me that it is bad for my health and its my fault after all. 

you wake up me for ignorance… that life is difficult and I have to keep that in mind. I am so thankful to god because I have found a good and reliable friend in you. You never know that I never get the feeling of anxiety that you might disclose to everyone every little secret I told you. With you I can share my secrets freely.

I can freely talk to you on any matter and can discuss the most important topic of my life in a light manner. Your gigantic sense of humor makes me laugh even in the most serious situation and make me feel relaxed and happy.

As much as I remember I was like a caterpillar when I met you but you never try to mold me according to your needs and desire. But love me and accept me the way I am. With that i am forever great full. 

Maybe the very best reason why our friendship got this long is that I learn to respect every detail of you. You are mature and sensible.

The ample amount of love and respect I have in you and you with me makes me pray each day  that our friendship will last until you see an apple in an orange tree.

For your attention, for your care, for every smile, every word ..Thank you very much for being in this world my sister and my best friend.