dreaming away

as the month of may leaves us with days of unforgiving heat, let me share with you some cool landscapes that i hope will be in my front yard someday.

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i'd love to wake up in the morning and drink to the beauty of these places - right outside my windows, right outside my doorstep.

imagine feasting your eyes on deep blue sea and clear blue skies during the day... and in the night, the flickering city lights!

nothing beats the peace and serenity brought by this lush green rolling hills. it's the kind of country life that can take 10 years off your city-worn-out face

this can be my view or that can be my own house. either way, i'm sure it gives breath taking views from sunrise to sunset.

this scenery can only mean one thing: peace and silence that is only disturbed by the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves and the soft humming of the wind. whatta life!

ok, this is more like a philippine farming area but still one awesome view to have right at your doorsteps. imagine those green rice paddies turning to gold when it's harvest time. and the fresh, cool air that needs no airconditioning. it's one beautiful place to exist.

darn, i dream a lot don't i! hahaha

hotnothot 9

hotnot: the hayden kho scandal getting more and more controversial by the day. spreading horizontally as more and more personalities and cause-oriented groups get involved and vertically as it has grown from a single youtube upload to something that has merited a senate investigation. it is becoming the daily staple of people who loves gossips and controversies no matter what social strata they belong to. and that includes me as well as most of people i know (so you can’t say i’m being self-righteous here). once again, it proved that we, as a race, have the voracious appetite for something sensational rather what is sensible. as for the senate hearing, i just hope they will not waste their precious time delving into this brouhaha and end up with nothing just like the other countless investigations they have already conducted.

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hothot: brillante ‘dante’ mendoza winning the best director award from the recently concluded cannes film festival via his film called kinatay. after almost 3 decades since brocka brought the philippine movies to the consciousness of the europeans, this win is a validation that we have a film industry which is just as competitive as the rest of the world. we may have been snubbed by the oscars for the longest time but this cannes win may be a bit of a slap on their haughty little asses. it’s a pity that dante’s win, a glorious moment for the local moviedom, is eclipsed by the not so palatable issue about hayden.

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hotnot: the growing number of h1n1 cases in the philippines. in a country like ours where proper medication is beyond the reach of most people, a virus like this can mean more contamination and death than prevention and recovery. europe, united states and other wealthy nations can easily contain the spread of the disease by making the vaccines and other medications affordable to most of their citizens. in our dear country, we know it’s an entirely different story. for the most part of it, we will have to fend for ourselves and make sure we minimize the risk of catching this virus.

hothot: susan boyle making it to the finals of britain’s got talent. i think she’ll win it. just look at paul potts. another middle-aged, ordinary looking person who’s now an international celebrity after winning the same reality show. i guess the british voting audience is a lot different from the Americans whose american idol is more particular with looks than talent. afterall, britain’s got talent is a talent competition, not a beauty pageant. and I think this is where the british lot gets it right.

lambert losing

Even before the finale was shown in MBC4, I already knew Kris Allen won the 8th season of AI, thanks to on-line newspapers in the Philippines where they broadcast the show a day earlier. Kaya hindi ko na rin pinag-interesan na panoorin yong final showdown nila.

A couple of weeks back when Danny Gokey was eliminated, na-disappoint na ako. Coz I thought it’s Danny and Adam who deserve to battle it out in the finals. Between Gokey and Allen kasi, it’s Gokey who can put up a better fight against the very versatile and talented Adam. Hindi tulad ni Allen na parang hindi match. Cute lang kasi at pang-boy band ang dating pero kulang sa vocal prowess.

So I was wrong dahil na-eliminate nga si Gokey. And, as if to prove me wrong again and again, hindi pa rin si Adam ang nag-win. It was Allen na sinasabi kong less talented of a singer pero sya daw binoto ng American texters. I wonder why.

In one of the on-line forums, ang isang reason na nabasa ko kaya daw nanalo si Allen is that he got the young vote. Dahil bata pa at mas nakaka-relate ang mga teenager sa kanya, aside from the fact na gwaping nga, kaya sya ang binoto ng mga teenagers na karamihan ay mga babae pa. Adam daw kasi is a bit older na kaya hindi na type ng mga bagets. Eh ano ba naman ang percentage ng teenage vote sa 100 million votes na sinasabi ni Ryan Seacrest? Hindi kaya mas maraming pang-text ang mga may trabaho na, those in their 20’s and 30’s kesa sa mga teenager?

Tsaka, if that is the reason, balik tayo sa season 7 and ask why hindi rin nag-win si David Archuleta who is a bit younger compared to Allen? Kung teenage vote ang nagpapanalo, why did the cute and lovable Archie lost to the more mature and sometimes snobbish Cook? Coz it’s cook who can sing better between the two? Yon payag ako. But that contradicts Kris Allen’s win. Coz it’s Lambert who’s more talented between the two. Obvious naman masyado di ba?
So what’s it really? Ganon ba ka-unpredictable ang taste ng American voters pagdating sa kanilang idol?

Coz really, if it is the same voting public who chooses the winner season after season, there should be some pattern established by now. But do you see any?

Season 1 went to a white pop-rock girl in the person of Kelly Clarkson. Then Season 2 to rnb black dude Rubin Studdard. Season 3 to power-belter black girl Fantasia Barrino. Then Season 4 to the country blond girl Carrie Underwood. Season 5 to standards/soul guy Taylor Hicks. Season 6 to the pop teen-ager Jordin Sparks and finally Season 7 to the rocker hunk David Cook.
What do you see? May pattern ba?

What I can see is a broad spectrum of talents, age, gender, skin color and musical genre. Yan ba ang binoboto ng iisang fan base for 8 seasons? Think again.

Which leads me to thinking – hindi kaya ito ang mandate ng AI organizers themselves? Na dapat may variety sa winners, hindi pwedeng may pareho ang musical genre on the same gender/age? Why? To avoid direct competition pagdating sa album sales, what else! and that's the reason why lambert lost. otherwise, agaw sila sa market share ni david cook.

Which means, hindi totoo yang text voting na yan. The winner is eventually determined by the powers behind AI, not the text votes. Darn, was I that dumb it took 8 seasons for me to figure this out? Hahahaa!!!

sofie's first

last night po nag-celebrate ng 1st birthday ang baby ng mga adiks, ang cute na cute na si sofia although her real birthday was on the 20th. at kahit hindi pa makapag-sabi ng kanyang nararamdaman ang bagets, she was obviously thrilled sa nakikita nyang shower of greetings, gifts, love and wishes, not to mention the prayers na sana paglaki nya ay maging isa syang mabait na anak to daddy ricky and mommy weng.

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here's a few pics from the party, more in http://addicquotes.blogspot.com/

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the lovely princess taking her steps towards her second year with her loving parents. si daddy ricky na kahit pagod na pagod ay masayang-masaya and mommy weng who can't help but shed some tears of joy dahil one year old na ang kanyang mahal na dowter!

kumakanta po sya dyan ng sabay sabay tayo! hahahaa

the candle blowing after the birthday song

bonding time naman with the kids

paper dance game with the husband and wife guests

and of course, chow time na led by.... ay sino pa bang mauuna kungdi kami! hahahaa

with tito lolo Raoul on my one side and Ninong Edgar on the other.

and of course, from Dantespeaks...

HAPPY HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY

SOFIE

one funny doctor

got this from a dear friend in jeddah (cesar) who picked it up from misty space blog. i-share ko lang sa inyo kasi kakatuwa. siguro babawasan ko na ang pag-iingles ko. bakit? basahin nyo... hahahahaa

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One wise doctor's words of wisdom:

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Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
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Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

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Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

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Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

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Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

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Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

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Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

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Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

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Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

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Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

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Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
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And remember:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive andwell preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'
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AND.....
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For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
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CONCLUSION Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

eurovision 2009

the eurovision song contest is something i always watch whenever i can. it's one huge song competition among member countries of the european union every year. the 40 or so member countries send a representative, probably one of their best singers, armed with a new composition, and slug it out with the rest of the group. they go through at least two rounds of elimination before the big championship round is staged.

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this year, the final competition show was held in russia with the last 25 competitors taking advantage of the huge and ultra-high tech stage of the olimpiyskiy arena in moscow. it was one heck of a show last saturday night and i was kept glued to the tv, jotting down my own scores until the last performance. however, i couldn't wait for the voting to finish coz it's way past my bedtime already. i took to bed at around 1am with norway leading the votes.

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and yeah, the 23-year old alexander rybak who looks like a younger arnel ignacio won the contest for norway. i didn't agree with the vote. he was ranked 20th on my own scoring with a song that i think is so common and run-of-the-mill type of pop tune.

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the second-placer however, the beautiful yohanna of Iceland was also number 2 in my own ranking. got that one bull's-eye! is it true (her piece) was a beautiful song made even more beautiful by her crystal clear voice.

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third place went to azerbaijan which, in my own scoring, placed 24th among the 25 finalists. ah well, it looks like my taste is quite different from the europeans.

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and my ultimate winner? it's malena ernman of sweden who displayed some operatic prowess in her song la voix. too bad she ranked 21 in the european taste.

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here's the clip of the the top 2 songs i liked. give me a shout if you agree. don't bother if you dont! hehehe.

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yohanna - is it tue

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malena ernman - la voix

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hotnothot 8

Hotnot: Only four universities in the Philippines were included in the Top 200 Asian Universities based on a survey by a certain QS Group. UP was in 63rd place, Dela Salle U in 76th, ADMU in 84th and UST in 144th rank. Reportedly, UP officials were questioning the credibility of the survey. They should coz 63rd place for the premiere university of the country is way too degrading. But even before this survey came out, we all know that the quality of education in the Philippines is one of the many things lagging behind. It’s the result of a government whose priorities are limited to self-interests rather than the people’s.

Hothot: Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao riding the waves of her new-found fame. Bukod sa yaman na tinatamasa nya ngayon dahil sa anak na si Manny, sumisikat din sya as one character na kinukuha raw na product endorser ng mga kilalang brand. We should be happy for this simple mom na dumanas ng hirap ng buhay and yet ngayon ay ini-enjoy ang mariwasang buhay. Bilang isang anak, I wish I could do the same to my mom. Yong ma-regaluhan ang nanay ko ng mamahaling jewelries at mabigyan ng isang magarang birthday. Pero bilang isang anak din, pray ko lang na wag namang malasing sa kanyang yaman at kasikatan si Mommy Dionisia. Kasi, there’s this one report na may lover daw siyang DI na hinihingan sya ng 3M pesos! Asus baka makapatay si Pacman pag ganon!

Hotnot: The uncontained H1N1 virus continually spreading over the globe. Malapit na raw sa Pinas dahil according to recent reports, meron nang kaso sa mga neighboring Asian countries natin. Thailand and Malaysia has reported cases of the flu. Malapit na. Wag na sanang tumawid sa atin.

Hothot: The two Davids of AI7 in Manila. Sayang talaga at hindi ako na-tyempong naka-bakasyon. Siguradong manonood ako nito kahit hate ko ang mga open-air concerts.

Hotnot: The global economic crisis inching its way to the Middle East. According to Dubai One’s report last night, may ilang stock markets na sa Gulf Area ang patuloy na nagpo-post ng losses in their trading activities. Una na ang Kuwait where the volume of transactions has gone down by as much as 50% of the usual trading. Sana naman hindi na ito lumala dahil pag ang Middle East ang tinamaan, siguradong marami na namang maaapektuhang OFWs kasama na tayo.

do you have what it takes?

Of the many reality shows that flooded the boob tube, may isang show na ngayon ko lang naa-appreciate. Yong The Apprentice ni Donald Trump. I didn’t really bother na panoorin yon dati but when I had no other choice dahil walang ibang matinong show, ilang episodes din ang nakita ko. That’s when I found it to be quite engaging. Then I started watching the re-runs of several seasons na pinapalabas ng Dubai One Tv.

Nakaka-aliw although sometimes nakaka-irita ang mga bitching, bickering and back-stabbing ng mga contestants. Somehow the show degenerates into the Big Brother mode pag ganito ang pinapakita. To think na well-educated people ang mga contestants with their MBAs or those self-made entrepreneurs who already have successful careers or businesses under their belts. But even their degrees from ivy league schools nor their executive positions can’t contain their sometimes thug-like instincts. Figthing and clawing on each other lalo na pag nasa board room na at ide-deliver na ni Donald yong kanyang famous line na ‘you’re fired’.

But even if the drama is for the show’s ratings lang or yon talaga ang natural nila, it’s one show na may natututunan ako. Magaganda kasi yong mga task na binibigay ni Donald sa mga contestants. It really challenges your managerial and leadership skills. And if you’ll put yourself as one of the contestants, you’ll also see how you’ll fare kung ikaw mismo ang nasa ganong sitwasyon.

How would you run a brand campaign for a luxury car? How would you organize a charity event? How would you sell a sandwich pizza? How would you market at clothing line? Ito yong mga challenges na talagang dapat aware ka sa kung ano ang market trends. Aware ka dapat sa current consumers habits.

Pag nakisali ka sa mga challenges na ito, you’ll realize kung ano na ang level ng intelligence mo, creativity, self-confidence and overall corporate viability. Mare-realize mo na kung ikaw ay magiging applicant ng isang position, ano na ba ang skill set mo that can qualify you to hold that job. Specially if it is an executive post.

This show is another touch of Donald’s genius. Kumikita sya from this show and at the same time nakakapag-evaluate sya ng mga applicants na talagang nagagamit nya sa kanyang business empire. Nai-involve pa nya yong kanyang dalawang anak so it’s free media exposure sa kanilang mag-aama. Not that they need the media exposure. But with the onslaught of Paris’ notoriety on the tri-media, aba dapat lang maging aware din ang mga tao kay Ivanka. Afterall, she’s an heiress far better than Paris.

But bitchy heiresses aside, magandang manood nitong The Apprentice. It’s one reality show that feeds your corporate know-how. Something na pwede mong magamit in your career.

anak ng.... jueteng

I wouldn’t say na maganda ang istorya ng Kubrador. Kasi sa totoo lang, napa ‘ano yon?’ ako nong biglang nag-roll ang credits somewhere in the 90th minute of the film. Biglang nag-rewind ang utak ko and tried to establish kung ano nga ba yong istorya nong film. Biglang natapos na ganon lang. Walang closure ng mga sitwasyon. But then again, ano nga ba ang istorya at anong situations ba ang bibigyan ng closure?

Then I realized, walang istorya ang Kubrador. Kasi, hindi ka nanood ng pelikula. Instead, isinama ka at nakita mo, na-experience mo personally ang buhay ni Amy. Nakita mo kung ano yong mga ginagawa nya sa pangungubra ng jueteng. Nakita mo kung sino-sino ang mga kasalamuha nya kahit sa pangongolekta ng abuloy para sa patay. Nakita mo kung gaano kabait ang mister nya pero medyo may pagka-inutil. Nakita mo kung paano sya hulihin ng mga pulis na bago naman sya lumabas ng presinto eh tumataya rin ng patago.

Maaawa ka sa kanya nong dinala sya sa presinto. 57 pesos na nga lang ang kinita sa pagpapataya nahuli pa at magpi-pyansa ng 10,000 pesos. Maiiyak ka rin nong naiyak na sya dahil naghi-hysteria na si Tatay Nick. Pero kambyo bigla at ako’y natawa nong after magpunas ng luha at uhog eh naalalang i-anunsyo yong patay.

Kung tutuusin, walang interesting na storyline yong pelikula. Parang kinuwento lang yong ilang araw na activities ng isang kubrador ng jueteng. But it has a lot of genuinely strong points kaya siguro na-invite ito to participate in 21 international film festivals.

Saludo ako sa gumawa ng screenplay (Ralston Jover who also penned the story). Simple, natural at hindi mounted ang dating ng mga eksena. Which can also be credited sa Director. Mahirap i-retain ang attention ko kung ganong mga klaseng eksena ang nakikita ko. Para lang akong cameraman sa likod ni Amy. But Jeffrey Jeturian managed to make it interesting dahil ina-anticipate ko kung ano na namang misadventure ang mangyayari kay Amy. Kaya hindi ko binitiwan hangga’t hindi tapos yong film.

At hindi na natin pagdidiskusyunan ang galing ni Gina Pareno dito. Walang acting na nangyari. Si Amy mismo ang nakikita ko. Kahit yong pag-ubo-ubo nya. Was it a coincidence na talagang may ubo sya habang ginagawa yong film? Kasi mahirap peke-in yong ubong pumuputok huh. Kaya naman kahit walang nakakawindang na mga dramatic scenes na tipong nag-iiiyak sya at naglulupasay, humakot ng Best Actress award ang Gina.

In fairness, hindi lang si Gina ang magaling dito. Lahat silang nakita mo sa film. Umpisa don sa mister nyang si Eli, sa apo nyang little boy, sa mga kumareng ka-tsismisan nya sa kalsada, sa mga pulis na humuli sa kanya hanggang sa mga kabo ng jueteng. Lahat sila natural ang kilos. Parang walang script na minemorize. Parang walang blocking na kinabisa. Parang walang instructions na sinunod. They all made it look so real.

Another thing that I liked about this film is that kahit tungkol sa jueteng ang kwento, it didn’t attempt to do a social or political statement na usually ginagawa ng mga ibang pelikula para masabi lang na may social relevance sila. The film was made from the point of view of an ordinary man living an ordinary life which includes jueteng among the many other things na dinadanas nya araw-araw. Walang pretensions. Real life captured on cam. Yon lang.

And probably that is why this film won rave reviews. For something this simple to be so representative of a real, breathing persona, talagang maganda nga ang pagkakagawa. And I don’t mind kahit feeling ko biglang naputol yong istorya nong mag-roll yong credits. Nagpasalamat na lang ako na nabigyan ako ng chance to take a peep sa buhay ng isang tao na in my real life eh hindi ko mae-experience. And that’s the beauty of this work of art.

roadtrip tayo

So I’m sending my mom back to our hometown in Mindoro. Baka doon sya gumaling at maka-bawi ng lakas. Alam naman natin ang matatanda, they are so attached to their roots para silang tanim na nangunguluntoy pag inalis mo sa kanilang lugar. Hopefully she will absorb the energizing vibes of familiar grounds at magtuloy-tuloy ang recovery.

The town is called Pinamalayan in the middle of Oriental Mindoro. Next to Calapan City which is the capital (and nearest to Batangas area), ang Pinamalayan ang pinakamalaki in terms of land area and population. Ito rin ang trading and business center ng mga kalapit na areas na hindi na pumupunta sa Calapan dahil malayo.

If you’re coming from Manila at magko-commute ka lang, you have to go to Buendia kung saan maraming bus na byaheng Batangas. The trip may take you from 2 to 3 hours, depende kung dadaan ng Star Tollgate which will save you much of the travel time.

Pagdating ng Batangas pier, that’s where your budget comes to play. Kasi kung may pera ka, you can take the SuperCat ferry na 45 minutes lang ang byahe from Batangas to Calapan. Pero sa tiket na 250 pesos (9 years ago pa yon huh) mahal sya compared sa mga ordinary RORO ferry na wala pa yatang 100 pesos ang pamasahe. Yon nga lang, halos 3 hours ang byahe sa RORO. Dito sinasakay yong mga bus na bumibyahe ng diretso to Visayas via the Nautical Highway daw ni Gloria. Dito rin nakasakay ang mga private cars, vans, jeeps at mga trucks na may kargang kung ano-anong kalakal to and from Manila.

Pagdating mo ng Calapan, it’s another 1 ½ to 2 hours ride papuntang Pinamalayan. Again, depende ulit sa budget mo kung saan ka sasakay. You can take an air conditioned van na ang pamasahe eh 100 pesos to Pinamalayan. Kung tipid ka naman, may mga ordinary buses na ang pasahe eh 50 to 60 pesos. Libre ang hot air at pulbos kung summer kaya pagdating mo sa destination mo eh daig mo pa ang na-make over ng lasing na beautician.

Along the way from Calapan, madadaanan mo ang Naujan Lake na sa tinagal-tagal ko na sa Mindoro eh hindi ko pa napuntahan. Madadaanan mo rin ang hometown ni Noli na kahit VP na ngayon eh wala pa ring nagawa sa Mindoro. Bakit? Makiramdam ka sa kalyeng dinadaanan mo, parang crater sa buwan ang mga lubak ke tag-ulan o tag-araw. Buti na lang bawi ka sa ganda ng scenery dahil sa Mt Halcon na napapaligiran ng malalawak na palayan.

Pagdating mo ng Pinamalayan, wag kang maghahanap ng mall. Malaki na dito yong dalawang grocery stores na pinupuntahan ko. At least naka-bar code ang mga tinda dito at may pos system na ang mga kahera. May ilang bangko naman dito pati Mercury drug store. Pero walang Jollibee or McDo. At least may stall naman ng Dunkin at Mister Donut. Ang maganda lang sa palengke namin, marami kang mabibiling fresh produce kasi nga probinsya. Lalo ang sea foods dahil wala pang 2km away ang dagat. Mas marami ang sariwa kesa mga isdang pinatigas lang sa formalin.

You have to take a tricycle ride para mapunta naman sa baryo namin. It’s a 30-minute ride from the town center kung summer. Pag tag-ulan, mas matagal kasi marami na namang lubak na iiwasan yong driver. But this time, up-close and personal ka na sa mga rice paddies. Amoy mo na yong bango ng nahihinog na palay. Pati ang natutuyong ebak ng kalabaw sa daan.

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Ang baryo namin ay maliit na kumpulan ng mga bahay sa tabi ng kalyeng paputol-putol ang pagsesemento dahil nabibitin ang budget. Ke talagang walang budget o iniipit lang ng mga magagaling na pulitiko. At dahil probinsya, lahat ng magkakapit-bahay, magkaka-kilala at makaka-mag-anak.

Kung summer at tag-ani, ang makikita mo ay mga sako-sako ng palay na kung hindi naka-bunton sa tabing kalsada eh nakabilad gamit ang malapad na banig na nakalatag sa daan. Yon ang dahilan kung bakit minsan ang bigas na sinasaing mo eh may libreng bato.

And since tag-ani at may pera ang mga tao, wag ka nang magulat kung sa kainitan ng tanghali eh may mga nag-iinuman sa tindahan ni Tiya Coring. Sabagay kahit naman hindi tag-ani at walang pera, gin ang paboritong past-time ng karamihan ng lalaki dito. Lalo na pag tag-ulan at malamig. Kaya maiinit ang katawan. Kaya ang ending, maraming batang nanglilimahid na may akay na bunso, may kasunod pang nanglilimahid din na bata. As in parang hagdan, sunod-sunod ang size pero karamihan underweight. Malnourished, undernourished nandon na lahat. Wala na ngang makain dagdag pa ng dagdag sa populasyon.

Pero kung nong unang panahon eh pag-gawa ng bata ang libangan pag-kagat ng dilim, may ibang activities na ngayon. Dahil malapit sa sibilisasyon at inaabot pa ng poste ng kuryente, bawat bahay may tv at dvd. May 24-hr mahjongan kay Pinsang Mario. May videoke rin sa tindahan ni Aling Edna na paboritong tambayan ng mga lasenggo. Kaya marami na namang umuuwi ng lasing. Madadagdagan na naman ng mga nanglilimahid na bata sa kalye.

Kung adik ka naman sa cel phone, wala ring problema. Nasa bandang likod lang ng bahay namin ang tower ng Smart. Kaya malakas ang signal, mag-text o mag-tawag ka na hangga’t gusto mo. May e-load kay Janet.

Since walang masyadong gimik sa baryo namin, tumambay ka na lang sa terrace ng bahay ko para malibang ka. Ito kasi ang nerve center ng baryo namin, talo ang barangay hall. Lalo pag nandon ako. Nandyan si Taning na nagtitinda ng puto at bibingka pag umaga. O si Tiya Pisik na laging may nilalakong meryenda sa hapon. Hindi rin umaabsent ang mga nagtitinda ng isda, gulay, kumot, picture frames, eskaparate, santo nino, sala set na kawayan at energy saver na bumbilya. Pwedeng cash, pwedeng utang, pwedeng hulugan, your choice.

Nandito din ang lahat ng klase ng gusto mong kahuntahan. Lalo na in between season ng taniman o anihan ng palay at walang trabaho ang mga tao. Lahat ng klaseng kwento, chika at tsismis, masasagap mo dito. Minsan, ikaw ang sasawa sa dami ng taong dumadating, humuhunta at umaalis. Minsan hindi ako makatulog pag tanghali lalo’t may naririnig akong kwento kung sino ang kumabit kanino!

Pag nagsawa ka sa mga magtitinda at magchi-chika, mag-survey ka na lang. Bilangin mo ang mga dumadaan sa tapat ng bahay. Ilan ang mga dalagitang paroo’t parito na ke babata pa eh kumakarengkeng na. O yong mga binatilyong may mga uhog pa pero kinakarir na ang pag-eemote sa mga karengkeng na dalagita. Bilangin mo rin ang mga nanay na may kargang bata. O may bitbit na labada. O yong mga tatay na may bitbit na manok na panabong. O yong may bitbit na gin. Nakasampay pa ang t-shirt sa balikat at parang pinag-mamalaki ang bundat na tyan.

At kung batang magugulo ang bibilangin mo, bilis-bilisan mo. Sabi ko nga sa yo, masisipag ang mag-asawa dito sa gawaing bahay. Sa gabi nga lang.

Kaya ang baryo namin, walang asenso. Iwan mo ng sampung taon, pagbalik mo ganon pa rin ang itsura. Iwan mo ulit ng another ten years, pagbalik mo, ganon pa rin. Naglakihan lang ang mga bata, nagsipag-asawa at nagsipag-anak ang mga karengkeng na dalagita at binatilyo. At nagsitanda lang at nawalan ng ipen ang mga dating mag-asawa, naging lolo at lola na. Pero ang buhay ganon pa rin. Mabagal, boring, nakaka-antok at nakakapanghina. Pag walang ani, maraming maghahanap sa iyo para mangutang. Pag tag-ani at may pera, ikaw naman ang maghahanap ng mga pina-utang mo.

Tipikal na buhay probinsya. Something na hindi ko ma-appreciate noon. At kahit hanggang ngayon. Pero ito ang lugar ng magulang ko. This is where their roots are. Dito rin ako pinanganak at lumaki. Kaya sa ayaw o sa gusto ko, I have no choice kungdi balik-balikan ang lugar na ito. And since babalik na dito si Madir, siguradong dito na naman ang susunod kong bakasyon. My first homecoming after another 9 long years na hindi ako umuuwi. Darn!

here's one for all the moms

here's my tribute to all the moms in the world - particularly to my mom who, as you might have noticed by now, i love dearly.

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sa ugoy ng duyan, a haunting song that reminds us how that caring and soothing lullaby hummed tirelessly by our mothers has lulled us to our innocent sleep. something that reminds us that it is her nurturing and unselfish love that guarded us during our helplessness and nurtured us to be able to help ourselves.

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to you mom and all the moms in the world - you deserve a big, big thanks and a happy day to go with it.

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ohayo gozaimasu

this one's long overdue. i asked for these pix with the promise that i'll feature it here in DS but never really got around to doing it. here it is anyways.
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no it's not angelu de leon - just my pamangkin Minette (Mrs. Ozawa) who's in Tokyo with her Mom (Ate Emie) who visited her for a few months. Same Ate Emie who flew back to Pinas a couple of days before i flew back to KSA last March.

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Minette, do take care of yourself hija.

later than sooner

Got another scare the last few days when my mom went back to hospital just a couple of weeks after she was first admitted. That is why since Monday I was a walking zombie – living life by the hour, by the minute, moving, talking, working and doing stuff I’m supposed to do on a normal day – but at the back of my mind something ‘s bugging me big time.

It’s the usual what ifs. What if her condition worsens. What if she doesn’t go through this as we hoped she would do. What if the antibiotics, dextrose and pills don’t do the trick anymore. What if… what if… what if…

The situation is ominous. We – my brothers and sisters and I – know that something inevitable is looming. We know that that thief is lurking just somewhere nearby and he would snatch dear mom from us any moment.

I’d like to think I’m preparing myself well for that. But hey, we all know that nothing can prepare us from situations like that. I might be projecting myself as the rock of the brood - encouraging my brothers and sisters, telling them all to be strong, convincing them everytime that everything will be alright. But the truth is, I’m scared as hell myself.

Before, I would turn off my roaming before going to bed. I told people back home not to text me while I’m still sleeping. I’m that imperious not to let them cut my sleep short for unimportant messages. But nowadays I keep it open 24/7. And my heart seems to skip a bit every time I hear that incoming message beeping.

For now she’s off the hook. She responded to the medication and has regained some strength. I hope and pray she’d go on and fully recover. I still promised her that I’m gonna buy a plane to fly her to some vacation spots she’d want to see. She laughed weakly. But that laughter gave me a bit of faith that the thief isn’t gonna come this time. At least not for now.

Obama talked about the audacity of hope in his book. I’d say it’s the audacity of faith in my case. I still have faith in what a sincere prayer can do. And this time, that prayer is still quite effecitve. And I can still hope for a few more chances to wish my mom a happy mother’s day personally.

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And from this day onwards, I’d work on convincing myself that I can truly be strong and prepared for whatever happens. And I’d better work more on some of my jokes to give my mom a few more laughs.

solo travel tips

I love traveling and seeing new places. It’s one of the luxuries I’d definitely do if I only have the extra funds. I’d love exploring Europe. Wala nga lang akong pera kaya hindi ko magawang puntahan ang mga gusto kong makita like Amsterdam, Vienna and Paris.

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Aside from KSA, I’ve had a few travels na rin naman all within Asia. Kaso lang, jinxed yata ako pag nagta-travel. Dahil palagi akong nag-iisa pag bumi-byahe. For whatever reason the Good Lord has, I’ve been going to foreign countries all by myself! Mahirap at minsan nakaka-kaba. Being alone in a strange place definitely takes away much of the pleasure of exploring and enjoying the sights.

But just like any other experiences in life, marami akong natutunan sa pagta-travel mag-isa. And this is what I’m gonna share with you, in case na kayo ang makaranas maging solo traveler. A few tips while traveling on your own:

1. Know the culture. I usually do research pag may pupuntahan akong bagong lugar. I do quick reads on the culture particularly the dos and donts relating to their traditions (and in some areas their religion). You wouldn’t want to get in trouble just because of your ignorance of what is sacred, offending or illegal to the local culture. Imagine mo na lang kung hindi ko alam na bawal magkalat ng kahit ano sa streets of Singapore, baka unang lakad ko pa lang (1997 pa ito) na-cane na agad ako!

2. Know the place. I also download maps of the area where I will be staying. Para magkaroon ako ng ‘feel’ of the area. At least alam ko yong mga landmarks para pag naglalakad ako, I have a sense of direction. Para hindi ako tanong ng tanong. Coz this is one thing you want to avoid. Pag nahalata kasing bago ka sa lugar, you can easily fall prey sa mga masasamang loob. Besides, pag may idea ka about blocks and distances, you can avoid unnecessary taxi fares sa mga lugar na pwede mo naman palang lakarin.

3. Know a bit more. Dapat alam mo kung ano ang forex rate para hindi ka naloloko whenever buying something. Dapat alam mo rin kung tag-ulan or mainit sa pupuntahan mo so you can bring the proper gear. You should also know at least a few basic conversational phrases. Hindi ko lang ito masyadong nagawa sa lakad ko noon sa Guangzhou (back in 2001) dahil madalian. All I learned was xiexie na hindi pa yata tama ang pronunciation ko kaya hindi rin ako maintindihan ng mga tsekwa! hahahaaaa.

4. Don’t go scrimping on your hotel budget. Hindi naman sa sinasabi kong gumastos ka unnecessarily pero may mga bagay na hindi mo dapat tinitipid. One is your hotel accommodation. Book in a fairly reputable hotel. You wouldn’t need a room in a 5-star hotel but definitely not in a seedy place. If you’re alone, mahirap mag-stay sa isang patakbuhing lodge or inn where security, even your comfort, can be an issue. Natutunan ko ito when I went to Dubai in 2007. Katitipid ko, ang napuntahan kong hotel, parang hotel sa Ermita. May band sa 3rd floor playing all night long kaya kahit 8th floor ako, puyat din ako kinabukasan. Dami pang tambay sa baba na tingin ko mga shady characters!

5. Watch what you’re eating. Iniiwasan kong kumain sa mga road-side food stands. Ke nagtitipid ka or just being adventurous, I don’t go for it. Mahirap madale ng food poisoning in a foreign land at nag-iisa ka pa. Hindi rin ako sumusubok ng mga masyadong exotic food dahil nga sensitive masyado ang tyan ko. I don’t want to end up in a hospital bed suffering from whatever instead of doing what I’m supposed to do in that country.

6. Avoid blings. Back in 1997 nasa Johor Bahru ako (Malaysia) and one of the guys (Pinoy din) in the tour group was wearing a scandalously big piece of necklace. Galing din siguro ng Saudi (hindi ko kinausap coz he looks mayabang). I’m sure the tour guide wasn’t hitting on him when he reminded the group na iwasang mag-invite ng unncessary attention. Malaysia is still a muslim country and a huge piece of gold na suot ng lalaki is something na hindi common sa mga local residents. At siguro, hindi lang dahil sa culture. Sa security mo na rin as a traveler. Remember, Manila doesn’t have the exclusivity when it comes to pick-pockets and muggers.

7. Keep organized. Lalo na yong pera, passport, credit cards and plane ticket. Hold it close to you, as much as possible, never let it out of your sight. I usually sleep in my hotel room with these things safely tucked under my pillow. And when I’m out of the hotel, a beltbag is always the best way to keep them safe. Pwede rin yong mga secret pockets na nasusuot sa legs to keep your money safe. At syempre, wag magdala ng sobrang cash. These are the times when credit card serves you best.

8. Establish a contact. I usually establish some rapport with the front-desk officer of the hotel. In the absence of someone who watches your back, sya ang pwede mong maging contact in case may mangyari sa yo. Sya rin ang nakaka-alam ng movement mo, in and out of the hotel. So I try to establish some sort of connection, kahit sandal lang, to that person just in case.

9. Don’t be too adventurous. Pag ako lang, I explore the city during daytime. And most of the time, I’d go on organized tours. Para may sasakyan, may guide at syempre may feeling of security ka instead of doing it all by yourself. Iniiwasan ko ring gumimik sa gabi. Bangkok lang ang naging exception ko kasi hindi mo talaga maiiwasan ang nightlife dito! Hahahaa. But in other places, iwas na lang ako sa unnecessary lakad para less ang risk.

10. Something hygienic. There are two things na lagi kong dinadala at hindi inaasa sa hotel: toothbrush and bath towel. I don’t feel comfortable using disposable toothbrushes. At mas lalong hindi ako comfortable na gumamit ng bath towel na hindi ko alam kung ilang libong singit na ang pinag-kuskusan! Ginagamit ko lang yong towel to wipe off and dry my feet.

These are just a few things na magagamit mo when traveling alone. Although the biggest thing is yon pa ring pag-iingat. It’s not your place and you’re alone so keeping safe is always the best option.