3.0 magnitude earthquake in Seoul, Siheung

Just a little after 6 pm last night, a minor earthquake was felt in Seoul and other parts of Gyeong-gi including Siheung city where I live. I was then infront of my computer when I heard a thunder-like sound followed by a soft but distinct rumble. At first I didn't know what it was. My first instinct was just to run to my daughter who's at the other room to check if she had some accident with some furniture or something. Then I thought maybe it was the upstairs neighbors, their children always run around and drop things. But still I checked out the window for a trace of a thunderstorm or a traffic accident. It's been raining all day. None of those. Just within a couple of minutes, tweets have been pouring in confirming of an earthquake felt around Seoul. People were in their office or apartments when they felt their buildings shake. Fortunate that there were no casualties nor property damage.

One of the first news break is from Stephen Revere of 10 magazine.

"Yes, that was an earthquake you just experienced. Sure it was a mild, 3 to 4 seconds, but it was an earthquake. Details are just coming in, but it appears that is was a 3.0 earthquake centered in Gyeonggi Province’s Shiheung City.
Korean twitter is alight with updates of Koreans from all over the northern part of the peninsula , which seems to be the only place that has felt it. Twitters out of Daegu and South Jeolla Province say that they didn’t feel anything, but the greater Seoul area appears to have all felt it. Most of the tweets are talking about how safe they previously felt from earthquakes, but they are now not feeling as secure as they did before".

Here are the reports on Yonhap, Koreatimes, and JoongangDaily.

Las Vegas models with good English skills

Be a Las Vegas model. OR learn English from her.

please Emil them so they can arrenz a fersonal entrophy.Tengs.
(transcript stolen borrowed from Chuvaness)

Goo Jun Pyo's Vegetarian Meal

Dosirak (도시락) is the Korean term for packed meal or lunchboxes. It is the Korean equivalent of Japan's bento. The ultimate dosirak content has got to be kimbap or rice rolls. Just simple, easy and inexpensive. But nowadays, just like the Japanese counterpart, it has become more sophisticated and has turned into art. Check out this Korean guy's blog for pictures.

This vegetarian dosirak was made on an impulse. Sometime last year, I was gonna join an online contest for bentos showcasing a vegetarian menu but for some reason wasn't able to submit it.

Goo Jun Pyo inspired dosirak includes some small rice balls rolled into some crushed seaweed laver (김) for the Goo JunPyo-style hair(구준표) , 계란마리-gyeran mari or eggrolls, boiled flower-shaped carrots and cherry tomatoes for fillers on the top compartment. On the second compartment- 시금치 ,콩나물 무침 or seasoned spinach and beansprouts , some fried tofu, 호박전 or pan-fried zuccini slices, 팽이버섯 or seasoned enoki mushrooms, cucumber strips tied with spring onion, dongchimi (동치미) strips also tied with spring onion. dongchimi (동치미) is the winter radish kimchi. And some boiled flower-shaped carrots for fillers. I use only olive and grapeseed oil for this meal for that full vegetarian effect.

Pinoy develops new Malaria vaccine

Filipino entomologist and biologist at John Hopkins University Hospital Rhoel Dinglasan discovered a new vaccine against Malaria. This one is called TBV or transmission-blocking vaccine. It actually works by preventing the Malaria-carrying mosquitos from spreading it.

Check out the story on Times magazine.

The Korea Herald also runs a story on this.

This is how a Pinoy scientist looks like. Here's his pic I stole borrowed from Daphne's.

Validation

I wanna share a really inspiring short film - Validation. Starring Fox drama Bones' TJ Thyne and Vicki Davis. Check out what the power of smile can do.




Smile. You're wonderful.

Prayers for baby Emma

This is baby Emma. She was born 10 weeks early at 990 grams on October 21, 2009. She has underdeveloped kidneys, heart and lungs which are causing numerous problems on her fragile little body. After her first operation, her lungs began functioning well and she seemed to be growing strong and healthy. But on a Sunday night a month later, Emma went thru a septic shock. It is a fatal infection in the blood stream that shuts down all the organs. She had gone through dialysis and several surgeries including stitching up a ripped intestine.

As of now, baby Emma has already undergone 10 operations. She has made this far and still showing so much strength. She needs our prayers.

I'm urging you to pray for Emma.

1: Her brain. Pray that there would be no long-term brain damage from all the

challenges she's faced.

2: Her kidneys: Pray that her kidneys would function in perfect health to filter her body and produce urine on a daily basis.

3: Her intestines: Pray that this would also heal as soon as possible.

4: The doctors told us today that her lungs seem to be getting a bit weaker the past few days.

Pray for strength and health for the lungs too.

5: Her heart: Her heart rate dropped quite a bit several times the past few days. Pray it would be strong again.

Your prayer support is Emma's life support.

Check her facebook page.

UPDATE: Eddie and Hyun's princess~ Baby Emma Byun passed away on Saturday morning, Jan. 23. Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for the strength of the family.

My condolences.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

In a few hours I'll be off to some remote island in the west coast of the peninsula. So I leave you this sad song from Gary V. Let your tears flow for this one. Reminiscence of the ghost of your Christmas past.

Or just enjoy this Jose Mari Chan classic with memories from your teens. You know, the school Christmas parties with Jollibee meals, exchange gifts wishing you don't get the picture frame. Hoping that your monito/monita was not your teacher. And yes the puto bumbong, bibingka and tsokolate after the "simbang ligaw" I mean simbang gabi.

But if you're into games like me. I'm sure you'll enjoy Ariel Rivera's Sana Ngayong Pasko with the Flyff twist.

Lastly, here's Sungha Jung wishing you a 메리 크리스마스!

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!

~ Jempres

Pushcart educator named CNN Hero of the Year

Efren Peñaflorida is "CNN Hero of the Year". Although i got the news just moments after it was announced last week, I've only just seen the awarding. Here's a script of his speech.

"Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry," Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. "Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.

"So to each and every person inside this theater and for those who are watching at home, the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve. As I always tell to my co-volunteers ... you are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream, and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be."

Truly remarkable.

Everyone's a Hero

We need more heroes.
Vote for Efren Peñaflorida for the CNN Hero of the Year.
Read about him and his pushcart classes here.
Vote for him here.

Artwork by Mark Gosingtian.

Flowers for Cory

CoryAquino.ph