new year predictions for me...

i was somehow intrigued about my horoscope so i searched for some and here they are...

Libra: This is what Bejan Daruwalla has to say to all Librans. Consciousness will remain the key word for you this year. Travel and communication will also be on the top of your priority list, says Ganesha. You will take some very important decisions, which can shape up your future. You will be tolerant towards the needs of others. Your thinking process may lead you to aim for better horizons of life. All your wishes are likely to get fulfilled this year. You are also likely to make new friends. Ganesha foresees an overall happy year for you.


Yearly Astrology Predictions for Libra

Every year brings a horizon where each of us etches new destinations as per our own desires and requirements. Time is the greatest teacher and bestows wisdom through the experiences of life. To make the best of all the positive indications that life can provide for us, it is most important to understand our inclinations and basic nature. For the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra, it is beneficial to understand that the most important factor is balance. This power of harmonizing ability is a very essential and important aspect of the planet Venus that governs Libra. This is the core essence of human society and makes man the most advanced living being of all living beings. Humans dream and there is a dream for justice as well. Key words in the life of a Libra are very often beauty and harmony. The wisdom of Venus also bestows innocence. The innocence when harmoniously matured brings a balance and there is law and order with maturity. Libra is often hesitant as there is an element of judgment involved for all decisions. The greatest blessing that a Libra enjoy is the inherent desire to create a balance in life. You are caring and understanding and do not appreciate those who are inconsiderate. The Libra person wants fame and recognition and seeks an audience for his or her ideas. Librans are usually attractive and have a charisma that may become sexual. On the negative side, a Libra can become emotionally unstable and get lost in indecision as well. A Libra type likes justice and balance, particularly in the realms of ideas. The key to the growth potential is to establish a practical ground to the idealistic mind. This year will be a time when you will want to bring stability to your life. You will bring focus and persistence to your ambitions and give a shape to your dream. In doing this you will feel very optimistic and clear-headed. Your motivation will be high and if you are waiting for something, there is an indication that you may receive some good news. This is most favorable during the first seven months of the year. For the first four months there will be good exposure to social gatherings and you will shine in the company of many as your Libra charm will come to the forefront. Hidden tensions may cause mental fatigue and you must try to keep calm so that you are able to enjoy the benefits of the favors and downplay the negativities. You must guard against random activities as there is a possibility that you may find it hard to keep to your course as the year comes to a close. You must be also careful of what you do with your money now. There is a possibility that you may incur expenditure beyond your budget. This will follow you through the year. You may find that unexpected expenditures are leaving you very little to no savings. There will be harmony which is your basic nourishment for a good life style. Those in creative lines will be calm and your imagination will be very fertile. You will also be drawn to occult and spirituality. Your endeavors will be more refined than most. You will be happy and will find other air sign persons very helpful.


Libra
Daily Horoscope Weekly Horoscope Sun Signs & You Year Home
For Libra (Tula) Ascendant or Lagna this year indicates gains in Career and financial field, people expecting promotions should get it. Gains through speculation indicated. Love relations are going to be good and educational pursuits are going to give better results. Not a good period for pregnant women.
Career, Incomes and GainsTransit of Saturn over 11th house indicates at this time your principal task is to integrate your individual self with some kind of group expression. The eleventh is also the house of your hopes and wishes, your ideals and objectives in life. During this transit you will find out whether or not you have worked effectively to attain these ideals. Saturn in your eleventh house should bring about the results you have been trying to attain, if you have prepared well. If not your expectations will be disappointed, and it will be clear that you are not going to get what you want. Transit of Saturn over 11th indicates gains in financial field and gains of wealth, it also indicates fulfillment of all desires. People expecting promotion should be happy as they could get the desired results in this transit. You could also expect help from your friends and associates in this transit.
You could also get sudden gains which you weren't expecting earlier on. Transit of Jupiter over 2nd house indicates that it is very important at this time to understand how you use resources, because the chances are that you will indeed get more of whatever you want, within reason. Unfortunately there is a great potential for mismanaging resources with this transit, if you are not clear about what you need and want. It is very easy to get so much of something that it runs your life instead of making your life more pleasant and fulfilling. This is particularly true of efforts to gain more money. What you must do at this time in your life is to look at your overall goals honestly and see what you really must have in order to achieve them. It will be relatively easy to make the necessary changes in your resources to help attain your goals, so plan things wisely. This transit is going to be good for gains in wealth and money. This transit will also provide you new position at work and for over all gains of material possession in your life.
This transit is also good for making investments and purchase of article for enjoyment. People planning on for diversification and furthering their business should do so as this transit will give them the desired success. Transit of Rahu over 5th house indicates if you are taking help of speculation in this period then you could have some gains while indulging in speculative activities, but take care not to overdo it. If you are working in any creative stream then there are indications that you'd excel in your profession in this transit. Your sharp intellect and practical approach towards life will be put to good use.
Love, Family and Social LifeTransit of Rahu over 5th house indicates love, gain and pleasure through children. Your relations with children are going to be good in this transit and in general you'd get the happiness from them. Your love relations could be better in this period.
Education and Traveling Transit of Rahu over 5th house indicates this is a period to derive the desired benefits using your intelligence and your creative abilities. There are also indications that you'd get the best results using your education in this transit. Your sharp intellect and practical approach towards life will be put to good use. Students could face some difficulties in this period.
HealthTransit of Rahu over 5th house indicates if you are pregnant then you need to very cautious in this transit as this transit could be difficult for pregnant women.

LIBRA:This year, your innovative moneymaking ideas will click and past investment will also bring desired profits. You will place yourself in a much better position, both socially and financially. Business front will be good, but handling of finances will require complete professionalism. Your income will see a substantial rise, and you will spend on many things that you had planned long before, making it extremely difficult for you to do any worthwhile savings. Those looking for love will find the romantic front brightening up. However, some minor hiccups on the marital front are possible, but will be easily surmounted. You will enjoy involvement in voluntary work of some kind. An overseas journey is likely to materialise for some. Gains from land are also indicated for some.
Lucky Number/Colour/Stone: 7/White/DiamondCompatible signs: Aquarius, Aries & GeminiSignificant months: July and AugustLucky days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday. Keep a fast on Tuesday. Special focus: Improving communication skills, especially on the marital front. Vastu tip: Wife sleeping on the left side of her husband will avoid estrangement.

the gift of people

christmas has always been a season of joy and happiness... on my part, i feel so blessed because God has always been very unconditional when it comes to EVERYTHING (i can't enumerate all of them). lately besides the other blessings, i saw and receiver a lot of people who has always been good and kind to me all these years. they are these people who cared to listen, share and they never forgot our friendship even though we are separated by a large distance...

yesterday, (friday), december 22, 2006, the FANTASTIC 4- composed by archie villar, abigail albino, ayesha suribas and me (michael casas) had a reunion at G. Mall. i was very happy yesterday because after say seven months of separation, we finally reunited once more. there were a lot of stories, countless and very funny... hahaha... ayesha miss na jud tika ba... and i was so happy when we met once more... abi and archie, kitakits sa school everyday... hehehehe...

a lot of stories warmed my heart from the three of them... but before the chikahan started we first searched for a place to eat, because we were already starving that time. we were actually confused on where to eat, because there were a lot of restaurants and kainans there... but we agreed to finally settle for kuya ed... actually it was the peak time of the buffet store, becuase it was like 12:00 and so there were a lot of people in the store, nevertheless we were able to eat. for me, the store is somehow fair, due to its low price, but the variety of food that it serves somehow discourages me to come back... anyways, as we were eating ayesha suribas, told me about my long time friend Jan Fructoso Lavarez... I was very happy when she told me about him...Jan, miss na jud tika ba... hehehe... regards sa imong mama ha... lipay jud ko na classmate mo ni yek yek... papa bear na diay ka karon ha...=D...after that heart warming and super busog meal, we decided to watch a movie... HAPPY FEET... weeeee... it was the latest movie that i saw after bloodrayne... happy feet was nice and really worth it... it is for children, for the youth and for the young at heart... like me... i was entertained by the movie's nice cinematography and fair storyline... so folks don't take away the penguins's fishes that they may not starve... then the four of us went to the videooke stall of the mall... i sang and we sang... hahahaha... but among us, i garnered the lowest score because yabag ko mukanta... hahahaha... congrats abi for getting the highest scores... hehehehe... more than the scores, we really enjoyed those moments.... then after some singing we felt hungry once more so we decided to avail of the 50% off on the price of all ice cream items in merco. i tell you it is worth it!!!anyways, before we enjoyed the mouth-watering and delicious ice cream bowl, we waited for perhaps 1 hour. it could have been because of the numerous customers availing the promo. as in, there were alot of people inside the store and every minute more and more arrives. it even came to a point when archie's patience was really at the brink... so i helped him calm down... but unexpectedly, i saw a person who helped change the course of my life in some ways. i am talking about my elementary teacher, Mrs. Brenda Belonio-Jacobo. maam hugged me when she saw me and in return, i was so happy like i was in heaven the very moment that i saw her. so we said our kumustahans and all. maam is now teaching at Bolton elementary school, she is married, and has a child... i can't explain in words the actual feeling that i had yesterday. maam, i am very happy na after four or five years nagkita tayong muli. after our memorable conversation with maam belonio-jacobo, i went back to our table and waited for maybe ten minutes more and we finally had our ice creams. we ate and enjoyed the ice creams... i also enjoyed it because finally i once again had a lavishing and satisfying ice cream meal... hahaha. but the day has to end, so we decided to part ways... but before we left, i gave my personalized cards to them. i made it with love and pamugas to make them feel that i care. then abi also prepared something, she gave us the sketch of our faces. it was super carbon copy of our pictures in the yearbook. abi i really appreciate it... hahaha. gipost ko na nga iyun sa wall ng aking kwarto eh... hehehe... then we went to san pedro street for a while and then we saw the colorful lights of the city and we finally part ways.

it was a super dooper memorable days. it was full of joy and fulfillment. thank you Lord for everything. i really felt the love of the people whom you sent me. i thank you Lord for the biggest universe to the quarks that i am living in and living with... Lord, allow me to become an instrument of your love and blessings so that others would see the majesty of your plans amen.AMEN!!!

ad majorem dei gloriam

Michael Casas

a sudden news

the department of science and technology called me up yesterday and told me that i SHOULD be shifting to BS CHEMISTRY instead of BS CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. what? it surprised and hurt me because somehow i was comfortable and already programmed myself to become a chemical engineer and here comes a news telling me to shift. what's the matter? i can't understand it seems that almost all of my decisions and choices in the past months or should i say this year has been disapproved and failed.

for one, i was not selected in the singapore scholarship though i passed the examination. second, i was not able to study in manila with my mat eng course, and just yesterday i was asked to shift to bs chem because they say that addu is a center of excellence and development in chemistry and not in chemical engineering. okay... i somehow understood their purpose. they wanted me to excel in college and acquire a competitive degree in the school where i am in... ok i yeild to your decision

my life this year has been full of redirections as stated by my experiences typed in the previous paragraph. i was not allowed to study abroad and in manila because of greater purpose whose benefits i am harvesting now. perhaps this redirecting in course might as well produce better and more fruitful outcomes with the guidance og God. i know that i can manage to cope up.

with these experiences i could say that God never abandons us in whatever way, instead he allows a degree of hurt in our lives to open our eyes and lives to bigger opportunities which he prepared for us till eternity.

AMEN!!!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Michael Casas

establishing my identity

i recently had a self examination if i could really finish this course of chemical engineering, but of course i cannot have my personal approval to convince myself, instead i've read an interesting article and i copied and pasted its contents in my blog... here it goes...

All Right, So What is a Chemical Engineer?
It is true that chemical engineers are comfortable with chemistry, but they do much more with this knowledge than just make chemicals. In fact, the term "chemical engineer" is not even intended to describe the type of work a chemical engineer performs. Instead it is meant to reveal what makes the field different from the other branches of engineering.
All engineers employ mathematics, physics, and the engineering art to overcome technical problems in a safe and economical fashion. Yet, it is the chemical engineer alone that draws upon the vast and powerful science of chemistry to solve a wide range of problems. The strong technical and social ties that bind chemistry and chemical engineering are unique in the fields of science and technology. This marriage between chemists and chemical engineers has been beneficial to both sides and has rightfully brought the envy of the other engineering fields.
The breadth of scientific and technical knowledge inherent in the profession has caused some to describe the chemical engineer as the "universal engineer." Yes, you are hearing me correctly; despite a title that suggests a profession composed of narrow specialists, chemical engineers are actually extremely versatile and able to handle a wide range of technical problems.

So What Exactly Does This "Universal Engineer" Do?
During the past Century, chemical engineers have made tremendous contributions to our standard of living. To celebrate these accomplishments, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has compiled a list of the "10 Greatest Achievements of Chemical Engineering." These triumphs are summarized below:

The Atom, as Large as Life:

Biology, medicine, metallurgy, and power generation have all been revolutionized by our ability to split the atom and isolate isotopes. Chemical engineers played a prominent role in achieving both of these results. Early on facilities such as DuPont's Hanford Chemical Plant used these techniques to bring an abrupt conclusion to World War II with the production of the atomic bomb. Today these technologies have found uses in more peaceful applications. Medical doctors now use isotopes to monitor bodily functions; quickly identifying clogged arteries and veins. Similarly biologists gain invaluable insight into the basic mechanisms of life, and archaeologists can accurately date their historical findings.

The Plastic Age:

The 19th Century saw enormous advances in polymer chemistry. However, it required the insights of chemical engineers during the 20th Century to make mass produced polymers a viable economic reality. When a plastic called Bakelite was introduced in 1908 it sparked the dawn of the "Plastic Age" and quickly found uses in electric insulation, plugs & sockets, clock bases, iron cooking handles, and fashionable jewelry (see OIL). Today plastic has become so common that we hardly notice it exists. Yet nearly all aspects of modern life are positively and profoundly impacted by plastic.

The Human Reactor:

Chemical engineers have long studied complex chemical processes by breaking them up into smaller "unit operations." Such operations might consist of heat exchangers, filters, chemical reactors and the like. Fortunately this concept has also been applied to the human body. The results of such analysis have helped improve clinical care, suggested improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic devices, and led to mechanical wonders such as artificial organs. Medical doctors and chemical engineers continue to work hand in hand to help us live longer fuller lives.
Wonder Drugs for the Masses:
Chemical engineers have been able to take small amounts of antibiotics developed by people such as Sir Arthur Fleming (who discovered penicillin in 1929) and increase their yields several thousand times through mutation and special brewing techniques. Today's low price, high volume, drugs owe their existence to the work of chemical engineers. This ability to bring once scarce materials to all members of society through industrial creativity is a defining characteristic of chemical engineering (see Plastics above, Synthetic Fibers, Food, and Synthetic Rubber below).

Synthetic Fibers, a Sheep's Best Friend:

From blankets and clothes to beds and pillows, synthetic fibers keep us warm, comfortable, and provide a good night's rest. Synthetic fibers also help reduce the strain on natural sources of cotton and wool, and can be tailored to specific applications. For example; nylon stockings make legs look young and attractive while bullet proof vests keep people out of harm's way.
Liquefied Air, Yes it's Cool:
When air is cooled to very low temperatures (about 320 deg F below zero) it condenses into a liquid. Chemical engineers can then separate out the different components. The purified nitrogen can be used to recover petroleum, freeze food, produce semiconductors, or prevent unwanted reactions while oxygen is used to make steel, smelt copper, weld metals together, and support the lives of patients in hospitals.

The Environment, We All Have to Live Here:

Chemical engineers provide economical answers to clean up yesterday's waste and prevent tomorrow's pollution. Catalytic converters, reformulated gasoline, and smoke stack scrubbers all help keep the world clean. Additionally, chemical engineers help reduce the strain on natural materials through synthetic replacements, more efficient processing, and new recycling technologies.

Food, "It's What's For Dinner":

Plants need large amounts of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to grow in abundance. Chemical fertilizers can help provide these nutrients to crops, which in turn provide us with a bountiful and balanced diet. Fertilizers are especially important in certain regions of Asia and Africa where food can sometimes be scarce (See NITROGEN). Advances in biotechnology also offer the potential to further increase worldwide food production. Finally, chemical engineers are at the forefront of food processing where they help create better tasting and most nutritious foods.

Petrochemicals, "Black Gold, Texas Tea":

Chemical engineers have helped develop processes like catalytic cracking to break down the complex organic molecules found in crude oil into much simpler species. These building blocks are then separated and recombined to form many useful products including: gasoline, lubricating oils, plastics, synthetic rubber, and synthetic fibers. Petroleum processing is therefore recognized as an enabling technology, without which, much of modern life would cease to function (see OIL).

Running on Synthetic Rubber:

Chemical engineers played a prominent role in developing today's synthetic rubber industry. During World War II, synthetic rubber capacity suddenly became of paramount importance. This was because modern society runs on rubber. Tires, gaskets, hoses, and conveyor belts (not to mention running shoes) are all made of rubber. Whether you drive, bike, roller-blade, or run; odds are you are running on rubber.

Source: pafko.com/history/h_whatis.html by wayne pafko...

well atleast i have some grounds to consider... some sort of inspiration. i know that i will make it... i will succeed...

michael casas
ad majorem dei gloriam

PASKO NA NAMAN

pasko na naman o kay tulin nang araw, paskong nagdaan, tila ba kung kailan lang, ngayon ay pasko tayo ay mag sayawan, nagyon ay pasko tayo ay mag-awitan... hahaha.

i'm so happy na natapos na ang exam... everything was over as in... but atleast over for the prelims... hahaha... i actually jumped for joy after i answered the last number of my filipino exam and the announcement of my english teacher that we wuld be having the exam by january. yes. this is gonna be a great christmas.

knowing this gave me a sense of fulfillment that atleast my prelim of sleepless nights has been over. and now, i am off for a great celebration, christmas. later na yang midterms and finals for today has enough worries and tomorrow. and yes my optimistic self is resurrecting with grerater strength and promise from the overflowing love of God. i can't contain my joy... thank you Lord Jesus...=D

as usual christmas would be a fanily affair with the relatives and all... and not to mention the food and stress free days... i'm very happy because atleast i culd recharge and loosen a bit. i wish to be in a reflective mood this christmas secluding myself from the harshness of this materialistic world. i want to be free... i want to break the bndage of this selfish and opportunistic world. i want to live in my dream world. in short i am just dreaming... purely dreaming... but atleast i'm not a hypocrite to hide my dream and real desire in life. neverthe ess i also have to face my reality... why am i getting doses of these things na i am supposed to celebrate? i think it is part of celebratin... to know that you are alive in the dynamics and beauty of your dreams...

but more than dreaming Michaerl, please be reminded that christmas is the time for self reflection for the second coming of the Lord... =D... oohhh... REFLECTIONS ha... sounds interesting and familiar... hehehe...

more than this celebration my heart is full of thanks which i cannot contain, but a big part of it goes to God and my family... thanks for everything...=D...

what more can i say? merry christmas and a happy new year to all...

michael casas
ad majorem dei gloriam.

Stress

a week of terror and testing has come to my life. i never imagined that college could be this stressful. mas stressed pa ako ngayon compared sa pisay days ko... hay nako, i think the the phrase "with age comes greater stress and responsibility." it seems so hard to juggle my sonship, my academicas and social life. grabe jud. never the less it was fine though cough, flu and backpain has stuck me. it is really hard. hay nako...as my classmates would say, maka sunggo ang engineering. and that is someho true.

actually, few hours ago i was under that sunggo mode. grabe jud, five exams in a row... and they were no ordinary exams.... they were EXAMS... so could you ever imagine me to be free from stress? of course not... that seemingly negative word is becoming familiar and actually part of my vocabulary once more. and take note at level three or four this time...

life is moving onwards and not backwards. and yes we are getting older and not older. with that fact, i think i have to also accept it that life is also hectic yet fulfilling. i heve the authority to succed and trample my stressors. i am more than the challenges that i face for God do not give problems beyond my control...

drama aside, honestly kapoy jud mag college. nagbisaya na ko para maconvey ang akong stress. really, it is super tiring... grabe siguro it is becoming literal that you have to really sweat it out before you become a chemical engineer. but this is a challenge and an invitation for me to improve... i know that i can do it... and i will make it...

calculus, chem, ana. geom, es... i will prove to you that i could hold you with my two arms and absorb you in my one brain and internalize you in my one heart and live you out though my one soul. char! may pagkamalalim ako ngayon ah... hehehehe...

so muc about stress, writing this article makes my nose clog and my back ache. better leave stress behind. i hate it. but i can never avoid it. i'd rather make it my friend... as if noh... hehehe,

updating my REFLECTIONS

after how many years i have updated my blog. i am so thankful that atleast i have managed to write (or type) these thoughts despite the hectic engineering life. anyways... just now, i realized that there is a sleeping entity within the deepest recesses of my soul trying to be freed trying to soar. i think it is a desire of an unknown kind, a longing for something, a drive to do more things... what could that be... i'm feeling empty... i don't know what to do with those desires... am i stresses or what?

looking inside... i think i'm feeling this because i am so preoccupied with my lessons, my academic load, my work, my family relatinships.... I NEED TO STOP... breath in breath out...take a break my friend... in this hectic and stressful life only God could help you go through smoothly. calm down... relax... relax... relax... relax... relax....

i am really stressed... really tired... i need to have a break...
LORD... replenish my soul with your unending love and grace....AMEN!!!

Michael Casas
Ad majorem dei gloriam

writing... writing and writing

english 13 has become a challenge and an inspiration to me this semester.
for one, my teacher is so good with a super great experience in writing... idol ko siya when it comes to writing... she is so good, i just can't describe the vivid details of her writing prowess...
second, the subject is super extraordinary... which means that i have to extract the last juice of creativity from my brain. but of curse i am looking at it as a great opportunity to grow and become a better writer.
finally, the course itself is so inspiring because it impies that i have to update my blog more often so that somehow i could improve to some extent my writing skills...=D

i know that i could successfully master the skills needed to become a competent writer of english compositions.... hopefully...

i know i can do it...=D

michael casas
ad majorem dei gloriam

hohohohohoho... merry christmas

hahaha... pasko na!!! time flies so fast... i mean grabe jud... it was just like june starting a seemingly hunprepared and uncertain semester and suddenly it is now december ending one term of the second semester... hehehe... but isn't it a wonder that i am here writing this blog entry today to express my joy despite the expectations, pressures, competitions and challenges in this engineering life? well sounds peculiar maybe, but true... i'm just happy because Christmas is in the air... hearing christmas carols lifts up my soul, seeing glittering lights uplifts my heart and reading inspiring messages from lived ones uplifts my shattered self to a higher level of existence...
to all of you guys reading this blog entry...
may the God of love pour out His blessings to all people who seeks it with sincerity=D...

God bless you all and take good care and have a blessed christmas...=D

michael casas
ad majorem dei goriam

i'm not settling for less!!!

God is so good!!!
i managed to do well and excel in my mathematics exam, but really i think that what i have taken up is not enough...
i managed to finish 2 exams in chem... but i think i could probably have done more if i go beyond...
i finished three stunning reports in my humanities subjects... but i think i missed out looking into the gist of the project...
i managed to finish another horrible week of this second semester... THANK God kaayo!!!

but... am i doing things well or should i go beyond?
my first semester in addu was fine... but i was not contented of its outcome in a sense that it left in me a craving for more information, a craving for more lessons, a craving for new things and in short a craving for more learning... but well, my teachers this sem, if they hear me say these would probably tell me that... "you are responsible enough and you ought to do it on your own... all the while you are already a college student"
shucks... they're right... oh my gosh.... more pressures and expectations coming up my way....

LORD... help me...

Michael Casas
ad majorem dei gloriam