ANZAC DAY 2012 at BULLI Beach

Australia celebrates ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day on April 25. Initially, this day every year is a commemoration and remembrance of those who fought and died at Gallipoli, Turkey on April 25, 1915. Today, all those soldiers who fought in the succeeding and new wars are being honoured and remembered.

ANZAC DAY is a public holiday. Aside from remembering the heroes of the wars, it is also family day. We celebrated our Anzac Day with family and friends at Bulli Beach in Wollongong. 

However, instead of swimming in the clean, blue and wavy water of the beach, we settled in walking along the grassy paths of the coastlines due to strong and ghastly wind during that day. Literally, we went on "wind swimming". The pictures posted here shall tell you why.

Before heading to Buli, we had our lunch at my cousin Gloria's friends at Campbelltown - the Saulog family. The Saulogs came from Olongapo City as we did. Belinda Flores-Saulog also studied at Olongapo City National High School where I graduated. At their house, I also met Sara, younger sister of my classmate Susan Mercado. I also met another Susan's sister later at night.

Although we did not splash in the water as we expected, the day was still fun and relaxing!

DepEd Releases ALS A&E Oct 2011 Results

The results of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Examinations taken in October 2011 has been released by the Department of Education (DepEd). It took about 6  months before the results are released partly due to the delay in the bidding process for checkers.

Click here for the complete list of passers:
 ELEMENTARY 
 SECONDARY A-K
 SECONDARY L-Z

The Entrance - Central Coast, NSW, Australia

On April 15, 2012. we were invited by my cousin Glo and her husband Jess and daughter Jasmine for a an escapade at The Entrance. The Entrance is located in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wyong Shire local government area. The Entrance gets its name from the channel of its northern border that is the entrance to the Tuggerah Lakes. The town is bonded by water on three sides. It has a population of 2,632 as of 2006 census.

There is a merry-go-round in the park for the kids to enjoy.

The fountain is a good place for the kids to refresh themselves.

One of the attractions in The Entrance is the feeding of the pelicans at 3:30 PM everyday. At the day of our visit, there were many Chinese tourists who were fascinated with the birds's stretchable beak. The caretakers were the ones who feed the pelicans. After that, they asked donations for the purchase of their food - fish. They also sold pelican plush toys.

I guess it would be more enjoyable if the caretakers let the tourists and visitors feed the pelicans. They can also generate fund if they sell the fish for feeding and do not rely much on donation. Also, they should change the plush toys they are selling for $10 to a much bigger size.

Easter Treat and Feast 2012

Aside from Christmas, Easter is the time of the year where Christians around the world look forward to. Not only to renew their faith, Easter is one holiday to have a family reunion.

I had my Easter Sunday with family and relatives in the house of my cousin Glo and her husband Jess to celebrate Easter Sunday and the birthdays of her son Jonathan and daughter Jasmin in this month of April 2012.

One Direction Heads to Sydney

One Direction or 1D, the fast emerging boy band from the UK and in the world is heading to Sydney to perform live at major entertainment events. The British-Irish band is composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis  Tomlinson. 

The group placed third in the 7th series of The X Factor after each of them individually auditioned and failed in the "Boys" individual category. Their winning soared them to stardom as they released their first single " What Makes You Beautiful?". The song won the Best British Single award during the Brit Awards on February 21, 2012.

The hottest boy band for the moment, One Direction will be performing at the following venue:

1) Hordern Pavillion, Sydney - April 13, 2012 , 2:30 and 7:20 PM

2) Hisense Arena, Melbourne - April 16, 2012

3) Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane - April 18, 2012

Ticketek announced that the concert was surprisingly sold out. This weekend, teenagers became hysteric when the first souvenir shop for 1D was opened in Sydney. Young girls queued outside the store a day before the actual opening.

Channel 7 announced that One Direction will be interviewed but not performing on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 on its morning show Sunrise. Yesterday, a group of youngsters already camped out of Channel 7 at Martins Place but they were persuaded by police to go home. 

Niall Horan

Liam Payne

Zayn Malik

Harry Styles

Louis Tomlinson

(Note: Owners of the images posted here who wish them remove, please email me.)