How true this gem of wisdom is for the present times. We are greedy for many things - money, power, recognition, pleasure, comfort, possessions. Would it not be better if we live in contentment and peace with what we have ?

As lent deepens, find out the needs of your nearest marginalized neighbor or your church and put your resources where your prayers are.

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Anyway, we were "released" from the Medical City with the fear of eating anything looking quite ameobic. I missed being fussed over by Hubby who should be turning a year older this Monday but the kids were there as well as my apo, Amanda. She was frightened at the sight of grandma hooked up to IV fluids and antibiotics, but relieved that she had no "body bags" like her lolo whom she misses. Junie kept the lines burning from Vancouver and moment I arrived home, I was watching my Monchu on the webcam already.

I liked the three big windows in my room where I could watch the sun rise slowly over the hills of Antipolo. The orange hues breaking the darkness and finally exploding into a brilliant, white orb was dazzling to me and always brought a sense of awe of the Almighty’s power. It also made me grateful for the gift of life.

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The evening after we were discharged, we felt brave enough to eat out. We had to a cosy dinner with three exceptional Vera Perez sisters - Marichu ( Maceda), Gina (de Venecia) and Bechay Napkil and three "soul sisters" of mine, Maridee Rodriguez , Star columnist Joanne Rodriguez, and Gypsy, Gina’s faithful media aide. The three were all birthday celebrants.

More than the Japanese grilled "guindara" (which was delicious after a diet of crackers and "lugaw" it was the company of kindred friends that lifted up my spirits.

Gina, of course is Speaker Joe’s "Babes" and not-so-secret weapon while he is the windbeneath-her-wings in all her social projects like The Haven for Women and Children and lately, INA for mother who have lost a child.

"Manay" Ichu has just resigned from a film group which is the industry’s loss, but she stands by her performance there. I will bet she won’t be inactive as she lives and breathes film. Bechay is the sprite in the family who cheers up Gina whenever she’s blue, by her own confession. The creative Bechay loves her role as the happy, carefree younger sister.

And don’t worry about elections in 2007. There will be, if the heat of local politics is any sign. Gina is being kept busy by local politics as Joe is running for his third and last term as congressman in his district. We have no doubt his constituents will bring him back to Congress!

* * *

And speaking of the film industry, we had a good chat with former MTRCB chief Chuchi de Vega , when she visited us with Lyceum chums Mimi Gumaru and Lucy Enrico when we were confined.

Chuchi had just come from inaugurating the Dr. Guillermo de Vega Memorial Library of the Mowelfund, which is celebrating it’s 32nd anniversary. Dr. "Gimo" was her husband who was executive secretary of then President Marcos in the early Martial law years when he was able to attract the best and brightest young technocrats. De Vega was also appointed by Marcos as chairman of the then Board of Censors for Motion Pictures and he revived the film industry with his enlightened policies on censorship. He wrote a book, "Film and Freedom: Movie Censorship in the Philippines" was made available during the library’s opening.

The Library will house a wide collection of film books and magazines, a photo archive of film personalities and other information on the local film industry. Also there are 250 photos of the Manuel Conde ("Juan Tamad" to film buffs) estate and Nick De Ocampo’s personal photo collection taken from film shot by British cinematographer Bill Janesen. The films are " Zamboanga", "Kamay na Bakal" and " Sunset Over Corregidor."

We talked about her favorite project and that of Nick, a film historian. Old Filipino films, like the classics starring the incomparable stars of yesteryears - Rogelio de la Rosa, Carmen Rosales, Mila del Sol, Leopoldo Salcedo, Anita Linda, Tessie Agana, Rosa Rosal, Tita Duran, Pancho Magalona atbp. and which are still available in grainy six reels will be restored and preserved for future generations.

This is an ambitious project but one that needs to be done right away. Many are already lost, or fading away, in other countries or in private collections. The ones that can be found will be preserved in DVD form, Chuchi said.

So for local film buffs, hold your breath. You might still be able to watch the original "Darna", "Dyesebel" " Burlesk Queen" "Genghis Khan" if Chuchi and Nick are able to galvanize enough interest and funds for their project.

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Notes…Happy birthday to my "ate" Dr. Cielo Munson Rivera, PhD, tomorrow. She is a feisty cancer survivor and a great friend and the founder of Fairchild Learning Center.