NorthStar Flags

As a kid in elementary school, I had resigned over a hundred times into leading my batch mates in our everyday (or was it weekly?) flag ceremony all because I was class president. As a kid, I never paid much attention to my country. Maybe because I was too busy paying attention to another kid’s. I never enjoyed singing along with the other kids my age during the national anthem part, not that I enjoy it now. I had hoped to be a better citizen during my growing up years.

Now that I have grown up though, all that I had given to my innocent childhood hope is a generous amount of chagrin. I do not see why I should hope to be a better citizen. Besides, all the politicians are working their asses off to be just that. So why compete? But I did hope I had given interest to my foundation of history. I never knew much about it. Not even a tiny bit about our shiny, reputable school flag . But every nation’s flag is deemed reputable right? So that does not make our flag any better than any other nation’s except that it is so much better than Japan’s, with regards to design, that is.

I wish I had given interest in the life of our national hero Jose Rizal in high school, because now that I think about it, his life is really remarkable. But then again he would not be our national hero if his it wasn’t, right? Before I talk about something entirely unrelated here, all I am saying is that, why can’t we be just like elementary kids. Young and innocent, but full of hopes and dreams for our country, involuntarily nationalistic just by their sheer interest in singing the, Lupang Hinirang. I mean, come on, almost everybody has answered Bayang Magiliw once in his life when asked what our national hymn is. I myself am not an exception. Why can’t I be a loyal citizen?

People, I am not talking about patriotism here. I’m just not.

There is a wide array of sports popular in the country today; I’m not talking about the conventional ones. To name a few, there’s korfball, ultimate Frisbee, and the one I like best: flag football. Now I am not sure if it is even played around here in the south, but if it were, I would love to take a whack at it. I read about flag football a few years ago in a magazine and it caught my curiosity. It was something new to my non-sporty self, I’d never heard of it before. The photo in the magazine showed teams of both men and women wearing flags around their waists. That’s really something new now, isn’t it?

A girl named Cheska especially made the sport appealing to me. The way she ran around the vast football field in her sporty outfit made me envious. I have always wanted to be an athlete. I even think I was built to be one. I am not short, I am bulky. But the entire universe conspired to impede me. How poignant. So all my life I had resorted to just being on the sidelines, scrutinizing. How ironic. If I were the athlete, would I want to be under public scrutiny? Maybe not. But I would probably be willing to put up with it. What I would not give to be an athlete.

Sometimes, I even daydream of representing the country – not alone, though, no. I want to be a part of a team – basketball team, or a flag football team, perhaps. We would go abroad, conveying our nation’s flag, and bringing home the bacon. What a one-dimensional dream.

So going back to the unconventional sports, I wonder why they did not consider offering it for gym class here. Why does it always have to be either basketball or volleyball only? Why not korfball? Why not flag football? Surely students would want to gain knowledge of some infrequent sport, something in mint condition, not something jaded or stale.

Marinas are constructed to keep yachts owned by sea lovers. It’s interesting to see different types of yachts tied along the harbor. Aside from all those yachts, the nautical flags that these yachts use are also great to look at.

Actually its not just yachts that use nautical flags, all types of ships use these normally for identity purposes. In military ships for example, these may be used to imitate alphabet signals and it may also identify the status of their fleet.

A universal flag system made up of different colors, markings and shapes were developed after the First World War. This system is currently adopted by majority of countries around the world. A uniform system was developed and adopted to avoid confusion among seafarers across the globe.

Long time ago, nautical flags are used to communicate with other ships across the sea. Aside from communication, they are also used as signals for different purposes. Greeks and Romans were noted for their exceptional use of them during wars. Different symbols and combination may be used to tell other ships of a command coming from a general among others. However, the invention of the radio and other advance communication devices forced these nautical flags to formally retire into the mainstream.

From its militaristic purpose it evolved into something aesthetic. Today, these flags are usually used by yacht owners for aesthetic purposes only. It’s a common way to fully personalize their yachts nowadays. Usually they design logos and later on commission flag makers to make them one.

New technology may have made them almost obsolete, but I think it wouldn’t be much of a trouble if you got one stored in your yacht, there’s nothing wrong for keeping something analog. Who knows? Maybe someday these flags may even save your life.

Marinas are constructed to keep yachts owned by sea lovers. It’s interesting to see different types of yachts tied along the harbor. Aside from all those yachts, the nautical flags that these yachts use are also great to look at.

Actually its not just yachts that use nautical flags, all types of ships use these normally for identity purposes. In military ships for example, these may be used to imitate alphabet signals and it may also identify the status of their fleet.

A universal flag system made up of different colors, markings and shapes were developed after the First World War. This system is currently adopted by majority of countries around the world. A uniform system was developed and adopted to avoid confusion among seafarers across the globe.

Long time ago, nautical flags are used to communicate with other ships across the sea. Aside from communication, they are also used as signals for different purposes. Greeks and Romans were noted for their exceptional use of them during wars. Different symbols and combination may be used to tell other ships of a command coming from a general among others. However, the invention of the radio and other advance communication devices forced these nautical flags to formally retire into the mainstream.

From its militaristic purpose it evolved into something aesthetic. Today, these flags are usually used by yacht owners for aesthetic purposes only. It’s a common way to fully personalize their yachts nowadays. Usually they design logos and later on commission flag makers to make them one.

New technology may have made them almost obsolete, but I think it wouldn’t be much of a trouble if you got one stored in your yacht, there’s nothing wrong for keeping something analog. Who knows? Maybe someday these flags may even save your life.

Anybody would agree that you can never be considered a car fanatic if you don’t have a fancy for motor sports. All car enthusiasts once dreamed in their lives to drive their very own cars in the racetrack.

Watching a race over the television is quite exciting and it’ s hard to fully appreciate the game if you are not acquainted with the rules on the race. So it is quite important that before you watch a race, you need to read a little bit on the basic rules or you could have a friend who knows them to acquaint you a bit about it.

Aside from the rules in a car race, it is also important to remember the different signals an official waves during the race. These signals are very important because these signals tell the driver specific instructions that they may not receive during the entirety of the race.

These signals are what we conventionally see as racing flags. Usually, it is the grand marshal of the race who waves it at the stand near the finish line. Sometimes when the road course is relatively unconventional, there are other officials stationed at strategic positions at the race track to communicate the signals to drivers who cannot see the main stand.

There are two types of racing flags, the instruction and the status flags. Instruction flags signal each driver for an instruction. A black flag instructs a racer to proceed to the pit stop until further instructions because of a rule violation or car defects. A status flag on the other hand dictates the racer of the recent status of the race. A green flag represents the beginning or the restart of a race.

With those on mind, you’d be able to appreciate more the beauty of each car race.

Engaging in short term relationships has become common for men and women these days. In just a blink of an eye, a man would meet and have a relationship with a woman and as the same way they met, in just a blink of an eye, too, they would go on separate ways.

This isn’t any wonder anymore as facts will tell us that the average number of divorced families is ever increasing each year. One of the most common effects of these broken families and relationships are kids being left to grow insecure and emotionally unstable. And then again, there is high tendency of creating a cycle, with these kids doing the same thing when they, too, have their own personal relationships in the future.

This makes me think hard about the value of a wedding flag. Is just merely for a show? However, there are also valid reasons why a relationship has to end. Why stay in one home without any relationship at all, a good one? Is it merely for the kids? Or is just for the sake of being together?

When I knew about my parents relationship, how they met, how they lived up to every commitment they made during the time when they were just starting with their relationship until deciding to settle down, I was encouraged and inspired. So I grew up feeling and learning the value of relationship and family. But not until the time I was informed that my parents have to live separate lives. It never became easy for me and my siblings. Handling the issue and its effects to us emotionally was really a torment.

So, what are those wedding flags for?

I tried understanding the reasons between both parties and tried putting myself in the situation. Will I do the same and come up with the same actions and decisions? What will I do?

Relationship is complicated as it is inspiring. The deeper one goes the deeper the wound gets. The joy one feels is as much pain one gets.

But come to think of it, if you were to ask me? I still want to get married with the right guy in the future. After all, it’s all about taking the risk and giving it my best shot. And that’s what matters most.

Ancient History shows how Paganism and Christianity contradict each other and fought for their existence. Christmas for many people is a merry celebration, where kids and adults alike give and receive presents from their love ones, friends and families. With seasonal flags all over we know that Christmas, is the most celebrated season celebrated globally by almost everyone.

However, there are ancient customs that barely survived in the rural parts of Australia, Switzerland, Bavaria, Slovenia, Western Croatia and Italy that will turn every Christmas season scary. Krampus and Perchten are one of those that still exist up to this day with interpretations like that of a Halloween celebration.

Being part of a European tradition, Krampus is one of closely related figures who accompanied Saint Nicholas. In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by an incubus , a Demon in male form are supposed to lie upon with sleepers, especially women, in order to have sexual intercourse with them, according to a number of mythological and legendary traditions.

During the first weeks of December, young men would dress up using wooden masks or Larve, sheep’s skin and horns, to look just like Krampus. They roam around frightening children even adults too with rusty chains and bells. There are also rural parts in the Alps that include slight birching specially of young women. It is typically applied to the recipient’s bare buttocks, although occasionally to the back and or shoulders using a birch rod of Krampus.

Perchten however is observed during the last week of December and first week of January. The costume consists of a brown wooden mask and brown or white sheep’s skin. Perchten was originally derived from the German word peraht which meant as a warning against the sin of vanity. It is associated with midwinter and the embodiment of fate and the souls of the dead. Indeed, a scary way of celebrating the Christmas season.

It might be fun for some but as for me I’d like Christmas or the whole weeks of December to remain a season of giving and love, never would I want to observe it frightening children nor hurting women. Wouldn’t it be better if the seasonal flags for Christmas to always remain as symbols of a joyful festivity in the eyes of both the young and old.

Ancient History shows how Paganism and Christianity contradict each other and fought for their existence. Christmas for many people is a merry celebration, where kids and adults alike give and receive presents from their love ones, friends and families. With seasonal flags all over we know that Christmas, is the most celebrated season celebrated globally by almost everyone.

However, there are ancient customs that barely survived in the rural parts of Australia, Switzerland, Bavaria, Slovenia, Western Croatia and Italy that will turn every Christmas season scary. Krampus and Perchten are one of those that still exist up to this day with interpretations like that of a Halloween celebration.

Being part of a European tradition, Krampus is one of closely related figures who accompanied Saint Nicholas. In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented by an incubus , a Demon in male form are supposed to lie upon with sleepers, especially women, in order to have sexual intercourse with them, according to a number of mythological and legendary traditions.

During the first weeks of December, young men would dress up using wooden masks or Larve, sheep’s skin and horns, to look just like Krampus. They roam around frightening children even adults too with rusty chains and bells. There are also rural parts in the Alps that include slight birching specially of young women. It is typically applied to the recipient’s bare buttocks, although occasionally to the back and or shoulders using a birch rod of Krampus.

Perchten however is observed during the last week of December and first week of January. The costume consists of a brown wooden mask and brown or white sheep’s skin. Perchten was originally derived from the German word peraht which meant as a warning against the sin of vanity. It is associated with midwinter and the embodiment of fate and the souls of the dead. Indeed, a scary way of celebrating the Christmas season.

It might be fun for some but as for me I’d like Christmas or the whole weeks of December to remain a season of giving and love, never would I want to observe it frightening children nor hurting women. Wouldn’t it be better if the seasonal flags for Christmas to always remain as symbols of a joyful festivity in the eyes of both the young and old.

My Birthday: A Tribute for My Mom!

For most mothers, it is normally a great deal to get busy preparing for the first birthday party of their children. As a mom myself, I understand the feeling so well. It’s the most awaited date amongst the many important dates of my life

The first birthday party of my son is also my first year as a mother. We celebrated it together. Her birthday is my birthday as a mother too. Logically, I officially became a mom when she came out of my tummy. Not all mothers view it that way and not all eldest children see it that way either.

I should say being a mother is not just celebrated during Mother’s Days but also during the birthdays of their eldest child.

I began to appreciate my mom in a different level when I became a mom myself. Since, I am her eldest daughter, it means that every time my birthday comes also marks her birthday as a mother. So, my birthday party is a tribute for her many years of dedication as a woman who faces the hurdles in taking care and protecting her God given children with a brave and gentle heart.

During birthdays, birthday flags are all over the house with photos and colorful greetings giving the celebration a joyful mood. Everyone does have his own way of celebrating birthdays but as for me and my family, we do it just like the usual way but with a twist. My eldest daughter’s birthday party is also a celebration for me as a mother. In the same way, my party as the eldest child is also a celebration of my mom’s bravery and sacrifice. Indeed, the party is not mainly for the birthday celebrant but also for the mother.

Whenever I look at my daughter’s first ever birthday flag, it reminds me that being a mother never is an easy job but it’s a career that has to be taken seriously. It is a kind of fulfillment that gives limitless joy every time.

I am not a perfect mother but I’m striving hard to be the best for my children.

I have been using the plane as a mode of transport for years, so I thought I was totally acquainted about the whole layout of the airport itself. However, when I last visited the airport I saw these weird looking airport flags around the runway. I was curious so I started researching about them.

According to history books, flags have already been used to identify different kingdoms. China has been one of the proponents for the creation of them. Aside from identifying their kingdom, it has been used as signals in wars to synchronize the movements of their massive armies. The Chinese concept was borrowed and later on became an indispensable item for the kingdom. An ancient invention that is still very applicable up to this moment and to the years to come.

Today, it has been used in airports as a signal for incoming vehicles (usually planes) that there are obstacles along the way. An airport flag could be seen a hundred yards away and are usually 3 feet by 3 feet in size. The color is specifically chosen to be really vibrant especially during the daytime. Its usual color is checkered international orange and white.

After understanding the use of those markers and airport flags, I realized one thing. Everything has a specific purpose regardless of its size and shape. Just like those markers and flags on the runway, it may be insignificant for common people riding the airplane but for the pilots and the workers in the airport it is an indispensable item which may save them from disaster.