Sentidokomon » What a Small World !

Widespread Information for the Papal visit to Cyprus

Joy Miranda — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:16:06 +0000

(A letter from Mr. Antonis Skoullos, head of the Media and Communication Committee for the Pope’s voyage)

Dear colleagues,

The Papalvisit Media & Communication team is very pleased to announce the launching of the papalvisit website. www.papalvisit.org.cy, kindly sponsored by the Cyprus Computer Society. The objective of the site is to provide to all interested parties, press, visitors and faithful, general information regarding the HF’s visit to Cyprus. In this respect we are populating the site, on a daily basis, with every relevant information and detail which we deem helpful and useful.

In this respect, we would very much like to invite you to provide us with all your corresponding team’s information that you would like to share with all the site’s visitors.

Such information could be, but not at all limited to, eg:

- Spiritual preparation team – prayers, psalms, photos, handouts, etc

- Para-liturgy team – songs lyrics, handouts, preparation photos etc

- Ayios Maronas celebration – program, scripts, photos etc

- Holy Cross – mass program, church history, lyrics etc

- Our Lady of Grace – prayers, psalms, photos, church history etc

- Choirs – lyrics, songs, ‘’partitures’’ etc

- Eleftheria mass – site photos, mass program, prayers etc

- ETC.

General guidelines:

a. You can provide your info in any format (word, ppt, pdf, etc)

b. We need it translated to both Greek and English (where possible French as well)

c. Video and music files

E-mail signature.

In our effort to promote the site and thus contributing into the general visit’s awareness we prompt you to include the below graphic into your e-mail signature. It is already hyperlinked to the site.(see my signature example). Please invite your friends to use it as well. In the case you need some help in how to insert it as an e-mail signature please drop a note to our team member specialist, George Beiti beitis@cytanet.com.cy .

Antonis Skoullos

Nicosia – Cyprus

Tel: +35799630905

antonis.skoullos@oracle.com

“Filipina looks” through the eye of a stranger

Joy Miranda — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:10:24 +0000

Pango ang ilong, maitim, pandak, walang hugis ang katawan…these are the negative descriptions we Filipinas say to most of us. But wait a minute, does ugly physical attributes really mean a thing? Of course! It brings low self-esteem. No self-confidence, often ridiculed by peers, sometimes rejected especially when applying for a job which requires “pleasing personality.” Well, that was before one did not get the chance to come to other places, or countries, where, as observation puts it, what looks you may have differently from their people, is beautiful. To those Filipinas who have the angst and frustrations of thinking they are ugly by physical aspect, read the article below, written by Camilla Imperial which won her an Honorable Mention in the 2002 Asian and Asian- American Essay Contest. Perhaps it would change your perspective about your looks. Just be proud of what you have.

The Beauty In Me

By Camilla Imperial

When I was growing up, I never saw myself as beautiful. Beautiful meant being curvy, having fair complexion, a firm nose, and light colored hair and eyes. I, on the other hand, was skinny, possessed straight black hair and eyes. My nose was small and as flat as a button. And I had no curves. I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, a country in Southeast Asia which was a colony of both Spain and America sometime ago. Both cultures had a great impact on Filipino life, and in almost every aspect of daily living, there is evidence of Western presence. From Hollywood movies to Spanish words adopted in the Filipino language, the Filipino culture has readily embraced Western influence as its own.

When one looks at Filipino show business, he or she will notice that a lot of the prominent entertainers are mestizas or have Spanish or American blood in them. These people, such as Joyce Jimenez or Dingdong Dantes, all have fair skin and beautiful brown eyes. Even though these people have real talent, a lot of their other peers seem to have succeeded in the business based on their looks alone. An ordinary Filipino sees a newcomer mestiza on screen and they almost automatically become the Neve Campbell of Philippine cinema, whether or not they have any acting ability at all. Another thing that I can sadly point out is that there have been Filipino-Americans who went back to the Philippines and became actors and actresses despite not being able to speak Tagalog fluently or even at all. Their acting abilities aren’t exactly outstanding either, and again the public embraces them as a big thing. My sister, who was in theater during her college days, joked that if ever she got laid off, she would just go back home to become an actress and pretend that she didn’t know to speak Tagalog. Unlike me, my sister took after my dad in her mestiza looks.

So growing up, I wasn’t exactly a standout from the crowd. No guy back home ever told me that I was beautiful. The campus heartthrobs were always the fair skinned ones who resembled Katie Holmes or some Western actress. Even the boy that I had a long-time crush on was a mestizo himself. Also, back then, there was no Filipino teenager magazine to relate to. We referred to Seventeen and YM whom of course, featured Caucasian stars for the most part. I myself grew up wishing I looked like Jennie Garth of 90210.

Everybody who was naturally tanned wanted to be fairer, and those who were already fair wanted to keep it that way. People slathered on suntan lotion, stayed away from the burning midday sun, and if ever they ventured out, they did so under the protection of umbrellas. Yes, Filipinos back home used umbrellas on sunny days too. And if here in America they sold tanning lotions, in the Philippines there is such thing as a whitening lotion. Block & White Whitening Lotion promised fairer skin in 4 weeks, and even I bought a bottle of two. I don’t think it really worked though.

What a big surprise it was for me when I moved to America when I was sixteen. For the first time in my life, I was noticed physically. My roommate loved experimenting with my long black hair. “Lustrous”, she called it. Girls in my business fraternity complimented me on my brown skin and whined about having to go to the tanning salon themselves, only to have the tan peel at the end of the season. Customers at the optical place I work at asked me whether there were contact lenses available in my eye color. Also, I discovered that being skinny wasn’t so bad at all. I could fit into and wear the latest fashions such as one-shouldered tops. I am also able to hold my own in ballet class. And for the first time, I’ve had guys ask me out, the first of them, a white guy, told me that he never dated an Asian before but he said he was glad he did. He said he loved the fact how I was so “delicate and beautiful, like a doll” and that he could easily scoop me in his arms because I was so small.

At first, I attributed the attention I was getting to the fact that I looked different, even exotic, but not beautiful. I didn’t think that I was really anything special to look at. But slowly, I noticed the irony in things. If in the Philippines people wanted to be fairer, in America, people wanted to be tanner. Stars of Asian-descent like Lucy Liu have graced magazine covers. U.S. ice dancer Elizabeth Punsalan has proved that being skinny has its rewards. An article in Mademoiselle even proclaimed that Filipinos had the most beautiful hair in the world. So yes, I am beautiful, I was just too focused to be someone else to realize it.

The exotic features that make up the beauty of a Filipina is indeed something to be proud of. We have straight, black hair that tumbles down softly in waves against our shoulders. Our dark eyes gaze at you sincerely, captivating you. Our small noses don’t stand out from the rest of our faces, rather it seems the perfect finishing touch. And our skin color is just right: not too pale, and not too dark, just the perfect shade of a golden brown. How I wish the rest of my countrymen would come to this same realization that indeed, being 100% Filipino is something to be proud of. We should accept ourselves for who we are and make the most of it. You don’t have to look like a Westerner to be considered beautiful.

Unfortunately, the mentality that “Western beauty is still the ultimate beauty” seems to prevail in Philippine society up to this day. Why do Filipinos have to travel to abroad to be considered pretty? Why wouldn’t they appreciate their golden skin unless they moved here? That black hair is just as beautiful as blonde, red or brown?

I guess it is simply human nature to want something we don’t have. That we need to be away from something to appreciate what we got. Caucasians want to be tan, Filipinos want to be fair. It is only in America that I was able to see myself as others here have seen me: a proud brown-skinned beauty. I realize now that everyone is beautiful, regardless of race and color. Each race has physical features that they ought to be proud of. But I also learned that beauty is not only in the eyes of the beholder, but in the place where the beholder is. Even though I miss my family and friends and everything about my home country, I am glad that I moved to the U.S. because I learned to appreciate my looks and culture. Ironically, I had to be away from the Philippines to rediscover who I was, the person I lost due to Western influence back home. Yet here I stand on Western land, proud of my roots. I wish that the day would come where my fellow countrymen, regardless of whether they were in America or the Philippines or anywhere, would realize that they are indeed beautiful.

Flash! The New Inter-Christian Fellowship

Joy Miranda — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:13:11 +0000

Posted by Joy B. Miranda (www.sentidokomon.com ‘Life is common sense’) e-mail: joy_scanner@yahoo.com

Carmen Dolores Brazan B. Llauderes is informing everyone that the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Family of Nicosia is sponsoring a New Inter-Christian Fellowship on November 19, 2006 to be held at St. Joseph Hall Nicosia with Guest Speaker from Australia and New Zealand Pastor Alex Meek. All is invited to come and be blessed richly with the Spirit of God.

What a beautiful world!

Joy Miranda — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:24:33 +0000

By Amor E. Zaulda

Let us release those long day stress! View another nature images! Wander in the beauty of Disney Castle and Golden Maple Leaves!

What a beautiful world!

Joy Miranda — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:06:43 +0000

By Amor E. Zaulda

Two more breath-taking images today! The moon and star on earth (which is the standard emblem of Moslems, I supposed) and the Mirror Lake (nature at its best!)

What a beautiful world!

Joy Miranda — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:55:57 +0000

Sentidokomon is posting 2 images daily out of 24 images sent by Amor Zaulda, originally from Libacao, Aklan, Philippines, now working as an International Forestry Officer for United Nations detailed in Kosovo. Obviously, Amor’s field of work speaks about nature, and the beauty that surrounds and defines it.

She says, “It’s true, our Almighty God created a really beautiful world! You only pass this way but once…I have never seen so much beauty contained in one email. Have a blessed day to everyone!”

Enjoy the therapeutic view of Breithorn Peak, a pride of Switzerland, and an image titled ‘Deep Autumn’.

Flash! Jesus is Lord Church (JIL) Cyprus Turns Three

Joy Miranda — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:53:22 +0000

Jesus is Lord Church (JIL) in Cyprus headed by Pastor Marilyn Buenaobra will be having its third year anniversary celebration on Sunday, September 24, 2006 at JIL Church in Limassol (located at 28 Oktober Street- corner Eleftheriou Venezelou St. behind Shining India Shop, Limassol) from 10:30 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon.

Said occasion will be graced by the Guest Speaker Pastor Amalia Jovero, the resident Pastor in Rome, Italy, who is said to share notes about the theme: LET US BUILD THE WALL OF JERUSALEM – (Nehemiah 2:17).

All is invited. Come and be blessed! For more details please contact Pastor Marilyn’s or Estella’s numbers +357 99054638/ +357 99837092. (By Carmen B. Llauderes)

Flash! El Shaddai Larnaca turns 12

Joy Miranda — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 09:06:46 +0000

The El Shaddai DWXI-PPXI Larnaca Chapter in Larnaca, Cyprus headed by Ms. Nimfa Guzman celebtares its 12th year anniversary on September 17, 2006. A program is being prepared for the celebration which will be held at Terra Santa Catholic Church, Larnaca, from 12 noon to 4:30 in the afternoon. Everyone is invited! (By Carmen B. Llauderes)

Flash! INTER-CHURCH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP (ICF)

Joy Miranda — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 15:25:45 +0000

Carmen B. Brazan Llauderes is informing everybody that JESUS the Savior Fellowship through Pastor Maryann Gagarin will be hosting the Inter-Church Christian Fellowship (ICF) on Sunday, September 10, 2006 from 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Esychylou St., 75 G. Ledra, Nicosia.

Carrying the theme: Is Anything too Hard for the Lord?, Pastor Gagarin expects participants from Larnaca, Limassol and other places in Cyprus. It promises a very fruitful interaction and sharing about the Lord’s goodness towards His children. So if you have nothing to do this 10th of Sunday, go there and be a part of the ICF!

The Bird that I am

Joy Miranda — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 22:21:53 +0000

By Joy B. Miranda

There are times that I feel so moody… I am a disciplined person and when it comes to work, I do not and never show attitude. That’s just not my kind. I am flexible, can adjust easily to any confronting situation. Somehow there are only moments which I feel pretty low. Living abroad is still the strangest feeling I get each night when I am about to retire to bed. After a day is done and I lie down to say my prayer, I still could not help my tears from falling…wishing my family is here, just an arm away to hug and kiss…Homesick!

I may be travelling and work at places which I never imagined to set my feet on, still, there is no place like home! When I was asked what would I be once reincarnated, I plainly said that I will be a bird. And yes, that is what I am. Irregardless of what risk could it encounter along the way, this ‘bird’ in me uses its wings to fly and soar high to see the beauty of a life’s journey. Bravely though, a single bird with vulnerable wings had only its common sense to survive in a vast cloud of bumpy skies. Yet it continues to fly, sometimes high or other times low, because the determination to see the sun of success in its every journey gives strength to its wings.

One day, before the sunset, the bird will fly back to its nest. One day, I will kiss my home hello and there will be joy within. And well, it is worth the fly.