5 PEOPLE

I'm not sure if it was in Oprah's Show, where I first came to know, about this idea of finding "the five people" who made a difference in your life and tell them, "thank you". With the exemption of immediate family of course, they will always be the first on the list. You can do it through letters or by simply uttering these two words. Then like a chain, request these five persons to do the same.

He or she could be your teacher, an author, a dear friend, an enemy etc... Some might even be a total stranger, a passers by, yet they had taught you a life lesson you will forever cherish.

I really love the idea. Not only that you'll make someone happy, but also the positive aura of contributing something good in this world.

Lucky are those who were able to find their heroes. Their exemplars who could still hear their words, who could still feel the joy and see what they have become. Some are not lucky enough and their "thank yous" were left hanging on air longing to be heard. I will forever feel sorry for my self if I will not grab the chance to say mine.

My husband wrote a piece for her ailing teacher, Mrs. Clarita Sumahit, in this article: My Morrie. Me and my sons thank her too for the great help he once gave to the most significant person in our life who said in his "The Weaver Fish" this phrase, "....that life brings us all sorts of pain. And that we learn from our sufferings, we grow from our agony, we endure the wretchedness even though it would mean that we might loose the ones we love".

In my own little way, I'd like to start saying how grateful I am to these "5 people": Sir Ren, Manang Marlene, My best friend Brenda, Emilio and Auntie Gloria. A letter for each one of you, I hope to compose.

CYPERPUNK'S SCAM

My husband perhaps wanted to pass the "scare" he had last Monday. With his most serious face, he told me that Pa (my father in law) is in Nigeria. He was robbed including his passport and needs help.

Tired and hungry from work, I was startled for a second but I saw "this look" I knew when my husband is not telling the truth or is playing tricks on me. Then he related what really happened. Pa's e-mail was hacked and the culprit is sending a scam letter asking money from all Pa's contacts.

It was kind of Ate Lea, a forumer of Baguio City Online, who wrote us to bring the letter to my father in laws attention. I replied that its a FRAUD and asked her a favor to extend the correction to his friends, groups and sites she's affiliated to.

Here's Lolo Mondax'(how Lukie knew and calls his grandpa) article about this recent inconvenience.


Dacawi: Identity theft (My e-mail was hacked)!


I'M IN Baguio, a mountain city here in the Cordillera, Philippines.
Baguio is where I was born, raised, went to school, and work as a provincial newsman.
I've never been to Nigeria. I did not and never e-mailed anybody to ask for a loan of $1,400.
A hacker e-mailed for me, apparently without my knowledge and consent.


He, she, or a syndicate of spam and scam artists wrote those in my mail list - friends, co-workers and people I've corresponded through the Internet. He, she, they opened their poison letter, entitled "An emergency please," thus:


"Am in great sorrow writing you this note, Just wanted to inform you about something very important, I could bearly think straight at this point, I hope you come to my aid because something very terrible is happening to me now, I need a favor from you now, I had a trip here in Nigeria (sic)."


My grammar is sometimes fractured, but I know the difference between a comma (,) and a period (.). And when to use these symbols of pause. I can spell "barely" and, despite the emergence of new words, will think twice before using "bearly." It doesn't exist in my vocabulary and office dictionary.


The hacker(s) went on to say that "all my money got stolen on my way to the hotel where I lodged along with my bag were my passport was And since then I have been without any money I am even owing the hotel here."


What was stolen - by the hacker(s) - was my e-mail password. They used it to access my directory then sent the embarrassing advisory "to lend me about 1400DOLLAS so I can make arrangements and return back I am full of panic now (sic)...".


Pilar Manno-Marzan, my younger sister in California's Bay Area, called while I was aboard a jeepney for home from work late Monday afternoon. She told me of the spurious note she received. Soon, my son Johann also called just after he downloaded the same.


Soon, I was in the neighborhood Internet shop, only to find I couldn't open my e-mail. I'm not computer or Internet literate to do something about this block.


So I texted fellow newsman March Fianza, asking him to immediately e-mail and warn our mutual friends against falling for the hackers' note.


March did, and told me he was once a victim of the scam note with the same content.


Officemates Julie Fianza and Aileen Refuerzo printed out a copy of the "letter" from their own e-boxes yesterday morning. The only factual part of the note was the end of the last sentence: "I will be waiting to hear from you since I can't access the internet always (without any period)"


When Pilar called her husband Conrad in the wee hours, he readily told her the plea was all scam and spam and said he was going back to sleep.


Embarrassed as I am, I hope he and other friends and acquaintances out there can help me warn others of the hacker's handiwork.


Not knowing who received the scheming beggar's note, it would be awkward for me to e-mail all the people I've corresponded with in line with environmental and professional work. Perhaps Joel Aliping, Art Bulayo, Nick and Bob Aliping, Jorge Pawid, Julian Chees, and others can forward this hastily composed piece should they read it.


I have asked Sunstar Baguio Daily editor Sam Bautista and Jerry Mayona of baguiocity.com to use it ahead of my Sunday column. Still, I can't reach out to all, given the sneaky suspicion that some columns are read only by those who write them and one or two friends.


The hacker(s) must have accessed my password through my reply to a recurrent e-mail advisory for me to update my info, lest my account would be erased. I had the stupidity of finally answering.


Now, here I am, trying to explain.


I've never been to Nigeria, for the travel costs would be hazardous to my wallet. The African country reminds me of a Nigerian I met on a train years back in Europe. Quite friendly, the fellow traveler showed me pictures of his village and his car.


I apologized for knowing nothing substantial about his country, except having come across a copy of "Things Fall Apart," the critically acclaimed novel of respected Nigerian author Chinua Achebe.


Now I'm "No longer At Ease" (to borrow the title of another Achebe book). My jitters are temporary. I know people can easily see through the sting attempt.


I apologize to whoever received the hacker's note in my name. And to whoever sends genuine mail to the hacked mailbox I now can't access.


"Don't worry; we who received that spam know it for what it is," my friend Edmund Bugnosen said when he dropped by yesterday.


I'll open a new e-mail address soon, even as I try to figure out how I can renew my contacts.

MESSAGES

The opening statement was suppose to be, "This is not to flaunt how many messages my inbox accumulates". Then the alter ego said, "Why not?". She's right, why not, if you're to talk about friendship or something good that truly exist in this virtual world.


A month had passed since the April 6, 2009 earthquake that claimed more than 300 lives and left thousands of homeless in L'Aquila Italy (PHOTOS HERE: The L'Aquila earthquake - The Big Picture - Boston.com). I have known about the tragic catastrophe when I opened my email that day. It was Jansel's (an old friend from high school) message I opened first and he asked if we're affected by it. Then there's Izma writing on my Facebook wall among others.


Hours, days and weeks, my inbox was swamped with well wishers and worried families, friends and acquaintances that left me overwhelmed. Even those people whom you thought would care less sent a line or two. There were also those friends whom you greet on every occassion, but fail to reply, and here they are, during moments of disaster, hoping you're spared from any danger. Strangers too, whom you've only met in your blog, forums and social networking left comments on your pages.


Then I posted a "bulletin" on my Friendster profile telling we're all fine and asked prayers for the the victims of the said calamity. Among the many notes sent, here's what my former teacher in English, Ma'am Marilyn, wrote on the comment section: " I heard the news this morning on my car radio about the earthquake there, so the first thing I did when I got home was to log on to send you this note. Just then, I read your bulletin which made me feel a lot better. Anyhow, good to know that you're all ok. Take care, my dear. God bless."


No better words to conclude this post than "THANK YOU". To every one who had thought and prayed for us, the warmth was felt! Your friendship will be forever cherished.

TO OUR DEAR BLOGGER FRIEND JMM AND FAMILY:

I pursued words to console your grief.
Mummed to hear it come, I plead.
Pithy may be uttered in swift,
I welcomed defeat, I must concede.


Such is an ache for a piercing loss.
Empathy may not even give justice
But, its what I have as I say the most-
May his soul rest and forever lay in peace.