It’s really a bummer when your birthday comes and you’re out of dough. No, I don’t really celebrate my birthday, but I do want to treat my kids, after all, Iron Man 2 is still on. But I guess it’s not happening.

Anyway, because it’s my birthday, I thought of making a special birthday post.

What would make a birthday post special? What haven’t I done on my blogs yet? If only I could do the cartwheel, I would. I used to do it before, but I was younger then… much younger.

Then I remembered Vince’s talk on iBlog6 -- “You don’t need good looks and talents… just guts!” Or something to that effect.

So I took my guitar and my digital camera and did the unthinkable! I recorded a video of myself playing the guitar and singing!

If the succeeding videos (yes, that’s an ’s’ there) caused you to lose your appetite or has brought you either sleepless nights, or worse -- nightmares, remember I’m only doing this because it’s my birthday, and blame Vince, who was a VERY convincing motivating speaker during iBlog6.

Tip: Best viewed with your monitor dimmed and your speaker volume turned low… very low.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMtsXrJU3WQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdsQHCt4tBA

I remember an old joke which goes, “Look, I played on the white keys and I played on the black keys, but you sing on the crack!“

Sorry, if I sing out of tune. Just remember it’s my birthday and then, just blame Vince (sorry, Vince. It’s my birthday).

The last video (finally!) was the reason I mustered enough courage to take a video of myself, so I can feature one of my ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS! It’s a Tagalog song called Heto Na Naman Ang Puso Ko, I wrote on July 12, 1992.

This time, I seek your indulgence… never mind the singer, just listen to the song.

Thank you.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlD21BexeoI

And as my favorite line goes… “That’s all folks!”

Today, May 8 is my birthday, and I turned 41 today. Honestly, it was supposed to be an ordinary day, as I never really celebrate my birthday… especially now that I have no more reason to celebrate it.

However, an ordinary birthday was made special by a book that I received from the mail today… a book that was sent to me by the author himself. He sent it to me last month through postal service to save on cost of freight.

And what better day for it to arrive than now? Curious what the book is all about?

It’s a Classic Kapampangan Dictionary given to me for free by the author Mr. Ernie Turla. He is one of the founding member of the ANASI, an organization who is actively campaigning to promote and preserve the Kapampangan language.

This book would definitely be a great help to me as I explore and rediscover my native tounge – the Kapampangan language, which I promote in my Kapampangan blog.

Thank you very much Mr. Ernie Turla!

Now, what does this book has to do with the title of this post? A lot actually. This Kapampangan dictionary means a lot to me, and it really made my otherwise ordinary birthday special. And this joy I’d like to share to three bloggers.

I am the Struggling Blogger, but there are also other struggling bloggers like me, and I hope the three winners in my previous contest wouldn’t mind if I give their ad space to this three bloggers. After all, they have already been extended up to today from April 30.

Anyway, the three bloggers that I have identified to share this special day and put their widgest on my sidebar, from today until June 8, 2009 (one month) are….

Elmot of Ani-Mo!!!, my little contribution to Jan’s appeal to help him increase his Alexa rank. I hope that his 1-month stay here can do something to achieve that goal.

Fifi of I Heart Tibby, another newfound blogger friend I met through Jan’s blog. From what I gather though, she’s not really a newbie blogger, but a returning blogger. I hope she stays for good now, and continue to share her thoughts with us.

Goddy of A friend name Goddy, and his blog name couldn’t be more appropriate. As he keeps on visiting and supporting me even though I don’t always return the favor because I am always busy. He has wisdom in his posts, that’s why I want others to get to know his blog too.

Now, I’m not saying that these three are really struggling bloggers. They got their set loyal readers, but I believe that they deserve to be seen more… and wouldn’t it be nice if my friends, your friends, their friends… become one big network of blogger friends who always support each other?

That would make the blogosphere a safer place to be.

You’ll get to know more of these bloggers, and some more when I revived my Bloggers Connection soon.

And this is how I celebrate my 41st birthday!