Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.

But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you’ll come with me, and trample a new path.

If I may, kuha ka muna ng PhD sa MIT, tapos saka ka bumalik.

5. Bird flu is real. And, we're the only country in Asia that doesn't have it yet.

The Philippines may incur losses equivalent to 2 percent of the economy because ``there are a lot of people who depend on agriculture for their livelihood,'' Olive said.

Poultry accounted for 12.5 percent of the 887.6 billion peso ($18.6 billion) agriculture output in the Philippines in 2006. Agriculture employs a third of the 33.5 million workers in the country.

6. "I am not a puppet!"

7. Yet another out-of-touch writer at the Manila Times. It really isn't as simple as that. If the election itself is perfect, then maybe we can have this discussion. But for as long as the Comelec is under the executive branch, as long as Garci has not been held liable, and for as long as no one's calling the UNITY ticket on their brash proclamation that their "machinery" will pull them a 12-0 job, we can't blame the electorate just yet.

8. Post Earth Day, we started recycling our coffee grounds for fertilizer.

9. Still can't get over the fact that Mark Gil and Gina Alajar are kissing in a telenovela. They used to be in-laws! Ick! Pwe!

10. I recently realized that Filipinos often leave out the "t" in English words that end with "st". Such as "blood tes" for "blood test", and "tex" for "text", and "las year" for "last year", and "wes avenue" for "west avenue".