adventures of waray in the city

2012, Year of the Dragon..Welcome...

2012-01-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Before anything else, let me greet each and everyone a very Happy New Year. Let me also express me thanks to my small group of readers for continuing to read and and even taking time to make comments on my posts. You all make my day everytime I open this blog, but, I regret I have again been very negligent. Despite a 2011 new year's resolution to enter more posts, just like other resolutions, its been broken. I have been just quite taken with other pursuits that have demanded much of my time one such lovely pursuit being taking care of my second child.

So I make again a resolution to be more active in this blog, hopefully I get to keep it.

So on to other things. A look at the year that was and hopes and expectations of the year that is 2012.

I would say I had a much better time in 2011 than in 2010. Much of course was due to a more optimistic mindset and enlightened view of looking at my blessings more than what I still hoped to have.

Our baby E_ _ was born amidst a medical emergency that almost threatened my life. She was two weeks premature but thanks to a very competent OB-GYNE and pediatrician, Dr. A and Dr. C, both mother and baby came out fine. Despite coming out earlier than expected, E_ _ was quite big and she occupied the whole of the incubator. Prior to delivery via Caesarian section, I was quite apprehensive, worried as I was about her still not yet fully developed lungs. Hearing her cry out loud when she was taken out of my womb was the sweetest things I ever heard as it told me everything was alright with her, at least as far as her breathing was concerned.

It was also last year that slowly our home started to "take shape". The balustrade and bannister were added to the stairs and rooms in the second floor were put up. A garden laboriously set up by the hubby added some beauty to a house that had been years in the making. It felt good to hear the nice comments from visitors and while a lot has still to be done, am quite satisfied of our home sweet home.

B_ _ also added to my joys as she made it to the top ten in all four sections of her grade in school.

And of course, the best news of all, I lost ten pounds!!!! Hahaha. Which, the holidays have me gaining it back again.

As for 2012, I have learned not to expect too much but just hope for the best. To be patient because, He has a grand plan for all of us and we just need to wait.

My Kalanggaman

2012-01-02T19:44:00.000-08:00

The rates

Snorkeling time

The kiosks

The disappearing sand bar

A view from the our approaching banca

White, white sands and clear blue waters stood out in my friends' Facebook pictures and I knew i just had to go and see for myself this island paradise that had remained unknown until social networking and word-of-mouth plucked it from relative obscurity. Until then, the island was mostly frequented by locals who selfishly kept this treasure to themselves. But this beauty of a place could not stay hidden for long. Soon most everyone in eastern Visayas were braving the 45 minute boat trip from Palompon, Leyte to splash in its waters and take numeous pictures with them that soon got posted on the Internet contributing to its growing fame.

We encircled a date that ran smack into a brewing typhoon. Luckily for us it was way up north where we here in the south could hardly feel its effects except for occasional winds that ruffled trees. The night before we were still unsure if the trip would push through. The breeze was getting stronger. We texted each other and we all agreed we will wait till morning to decide.

Come 4 a.m. and the weather seemed fine.It was definitely a go.

We left Tacloban for Palompon at about 5:45 a.m. and reached the town's outskirts at about quarter to eight in the morning. We then went straight to the Palompon eco-tourism office which managed all trips to the island. There we met the amiable Cristopher whom I had made arrangements and reservations with for our transport to the island days earlier on the phone. He received our entrance fees and led us to the boat we were to ride which to our our dismay was too small for comfort. Too late to realize that after we had already given up our reserved bigger boat to a larger group after supplications from Cristopher. Anyway, small boat or not, we were determined to go and chalked up our now regretted moment of generosity to experience.

The waters were so calm during the 45 minute trip from Palompon to Kalanggaman itself and we entrirely forgot about the typhoon that made landfall somewhere in Cagayan Valley. We would rudely be reminded of its presence some hours later. Soon the island came into view and we were not disappointed. It exceeeded our expectations and we were full of "ohs" and "ahs" as we jumped to shore. Powdery white sand that would give Boracay a run for its money (well, I exaggerate, my friend said the ones in Boracay are finer but Kalanggaman came close).

The blue-green waters were son inviting and in no time we were swimming and jumping in its shores. Surprisingly, the water felt cool despite the heat from the midday sun. The sand bar was amazing. Here waves coming from different directions clashed and sent up waves and ripples. Because of the undertow, swimming is strictly prohibited near the sand bar.

Swimming is not the only activity one can engage in in Kalanggaman. You can go snorkeling on one side of the island and watch the teeming sea life below. Snorkeling and diving equipment are provided by the eco-torism office for a fee. Diving, however, is limited to those who hold valid diving licenses.

You may also watch the beautiful sunset which, regretfully we did not get to see as we went home by 3 pm.

As I said, the island is quite small, reason why the local government regulates its visitors to 300 at any given time. Due to its size, its ecological balance could easily be upset with an uncontrolled nukber of people coming to its shores. The present facilities of Kalangagaman blends well with its surroundings and is limited to the most basic of comforts. There is no electricity and water system is non-existent. You have to bring in your own barrels of water for drinking and bathing. There is a smattering of kiosks which are spaced well enough apart. In my opinion, to add more would be ill-advised.

Despite its semi-primitiveness and lack of creature comforts, Kalanggaman is definitely one place worth coming back too. In fact, we felt that one day was not enought and an overnight stay is recommended to truly enjoy to the fullest the island.

We all made a promise to return and one we are keen to keep with memories and pictures to spur us on.

Muc Ado About Sangyaw and the Sidelights

2011-06-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

The contingent from the municipality of Almeria, Biliran

Don't they look cute?

A very colorful contingent

The kid obligingly gave me a smile

The whole gown is made of the native material "banig"

The Patron Saint of Tacloban, Senyor Sto. Ninyo

After spawning a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), and a much ballyhooed stand off between local traffic enforcers on one hand and provincial officials, mayors, the "other" festival parade organizers on the other, the yearly "official" Sangyaw parade of the city fiesta started on a late note on June 29, 2011. Following "Filipino" time, the 1 o'clock scheduled start of the parade was not followed and it began at almost 2 p.m.

My small delegation of kibitzers consisting of the hubby, daughter B_ _, sister-in-law, my mom, and our "pinapa-eskwela" went in early downtown to secure a limited and in demand parking space for our ancient AUV. The heat was quite much so we had to turn on the aircon intermittently. To add to our woes, a not-too-nice-smell of a run-over dead cat permeated the air were. So, there, we got cooped up as early as 10:30 a.m.. amidst such not so comfortable conditions, so you understand my introductory rant to this post. The parade better be worth it, I mumbled to myself.

However, early on, I was beginning to regret bringing my family to watch as I saw delegations upon delegations of this and that organization. I expected a cultural parade and not an "Alay Lakad" as one kibitzer so sarcastically put it. Finally, after about almost a dozen of such groups clothed in indentifying t-shirts, the dance contingents from the different barangays and schools came through.

They were all clad in colorful costumes and truly, the Sangyaw parade had begun. It was a much better parade compared to the one I saw two years ago and give or take a few years it might catch up with its "rival", the Pintados-Kasadyaan, which had the headstart, which is arguably better in terms of a more lively, colorful parade with beautifully coordinated dance steps. Frankly, I cannot understand this "war" of festivals when we can actullay have one with the "other" retaining their identity and joining the official one. Really, what's in a name when we all profess to be honoring the Senyor Sto. Nino, the patron saint of our city?

The sad story of the festival squabble has shifted the limelight from the fiesta's festivities to a battle that has gone from the the airwaves to the halls of justice. One need not look far for an example and Cebu City's "Sinulog" festival comes to mind. Despite provincial and city public officials who are openly at loggerheads, the "Sinulog" festival has them put all these aside and trot to a unified yell of "Pit Senyor!". Why, I ask, can't we do the same? Anyway, "war" and all, that day we watched under the sweltering heat of the sun a show that came with story bigger that itself.

welcome baby e_ _

2011-06-15T01:21:00.000-07:00

Its an unforgivable sin. While I've talked about events and happenings and sometimes clearly unimportant things, I have neglected to post a most important milestone in my life, in my family's life. Yup, I totally forgot to write something about my now 3-month old bundle of so much joy, my baby daughter e _ _.

She who have somehow managed to wipe out all the day's stresses and mindless worries with just a heavenly smile that makes me all goooey inside. Even as I write this, I remember her at home with her yaya and I silently smile too. I've forgotten all the pain her birth brought me for seeing her was all worth it.

Ate B_ _ is all agog and playing older sister to the hilt.

Yes, yes. The happy moments that Kodak immortalized in its ads makes up for the sad ones. Life is a ball.

Love in Different Degrees

2011-02-17T22:24:00.000-08:00

In much youthful days (ergo: teensomething), I always reckoned love, at least in the romantic sense, to be much like the eternal flame of the Kennedy Memorial, constant and always hot. Married with a kid, another on the way and years later, I've realized it not to be true.

After the intial high of falling in love and settling down with your chosen love/lifemate, love actually comes in different degrees, temperature-wise, in different times. One day your love is full of red-hot passion and the next day its the embers of a dying out fire that has ceased to burn but continues to wrap you in its warm embrace. In the life of marital bliss it is usually the latter that defines most of your times with your better half. Its now up to both of you to squeeze in the former and bring up the romance despite the temptation to just settle in and let the security of a lifelong bond lull you into complacency. For truly, the courtship does not end when the ring slips through your finger and vows are made at the altar.

But then, even without much effort the love just comes at you and you feel like you are back again to those heady times when you felt like your heart is bursting with just the sight of your mate.

Just like the other day when I woke up with great pain and the hubby lost no time in taking care of me. I didn't need to ask, he just understood what I needed and what had to be done. He gave me medicines and made me drink kamalunggay to hasten my recovery. He took care of B__ and made sure I got my rest. After that, even Brad Pitt wouldn't have gotten a second glance from me for my loved one was way, way up there in the attraction scale.

So I came to the conclusion that while the myths of youth have been shattered, with it came the knowledge that the strongest kind of love actually need not be always be 300degress hot, just something that's steady with sporadic burst of flames that puts up the necessary spice for a relationship to last.

The Year That Was and the Year that is to Come

2011-01-02T23:05:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year of mixed emotions. While I generally felt that we had more than our fair share of set-backs than other years, on second thought and upon summoning my deeply buried optimist spirit, I realized that blessings were abundant too.

B__ and I are expecting a baby soon and if I didn't mishear my ultra sonologist, it's going to be a boy. We moved into our new home last June and my sister and brother-in-law welcomed baby I___ into this world. More importantly, the hubby and I had more time together with his forced hiatus from the world of politics.

Seeing the glass half-full rather than half empty might seem hard but doing it is just a matter of perspective. I am thankful for the year that was and I am hopeful for the year that is to come.

Happy New year to all.

Native Bags

2010-11-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

The recent "One Visayas Island Fair" held recently in Cebu City yielded surprising finds of bags made from native materials, in this case a particular kind of grass.

Mind you, it takes weeks to finish one bag and all are hand made. A labor of love indeed.

JOie de vivre

2010-10-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

I was just about to write here how depressed I have been the past few months. Secretive as I am, my friends and co-workers does not realize it though. I try to keep up a happy front, but as janed chua posts in her blog, just because I smile it does not mean my heart does too. I really cried when I read that post because it really hit home. I feel such sadness that has been my constant companion these days. Yet, just as I opened this blog, I came upon a comment of a reader that has somehow inspired me. Unexpectedly, I got a lift from a total stranger.

So, perhaps this post may take on a different tone. My "companion" has for the moment "absented" herself and I somehow feel a little lighter. But I know she will soon back when I'm alone again or just before I sleep and even in the early mornings. I struggle and miraculously I'm able to function though not with such joy that I once was filled with before this envelope of sadness descended upon me. Joie de vivre, a French word, that if memory serves me right meant love of life. I have lost it.

Two pink lines

2010-08-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, two pink lines showed in the pregnancy test kit I took last Friday. It confirmed what I had been suspecting for thepast few weeks, that my little girl will soon be an Ate.

I must admit that this pregnancy was not planned but still, is very much welcome. Five years is more than the ideal time to wait for another addition to our small family.

I'm filled with both excitement and a little anxiety. After all, the hubby is currently in a career shift and the budget will have to be "re-adjusted". Yet, I know, we will cope and the blessing and joy of having another baby will more than make up for it.

Right now, B_ _ is having fits of jealousies and bouts of insecurities. Every night she would cuddle up to me and ask plaintively if I will still love her after the baby comes. Of course, I would say, in fact even more as she will now be a responsible elder sister to her coming sibling. There is much love to go around so B_ _ need not feel left out. In fact, as early as now, seven weeks into my pregnancy, the hubby and I have been involving her in our plans (e.g. where the baby will sleep).

Its been quite long and I have forgotten how it felt like last but I'm sure three expectant souls are eagerly awaiting his/her arrival.

A Fork

2010-05-23T23:48:00.001-07:00

I have always believed that while we may have our own grandiose plans for our lives, there is always that “X” factor, wholly uncontrollable, that either puts the proverbial monkey wrench to all the “best laid plans” or sets out a path that was totally not thought of.

What I am saying is, destiny and fate shall always intervene and reminds us that there are things greater than us that determine the course our lives shall take.

I mistakenly thought that winning was a done deal and all that was needed to be worked upon was to set the margin higher to eliminate all possible protests should there be the eventual proclamation. The discontent was palpable and the demand for change was ringing all through out the town. Caucuses showed the hubby had all but the consensus. The greater efforts were towards ensuring that the lead candidate for the top position would be carried by the then apparent wave of popularity my better half enjoyed. The possibility of losing never entered my mind and back up plans of such an eventuality were never made.

But it was not meant to be and my hubby faced his first ever loss in his 12-year political career. The three days after E-day passed like a blur and he had to face scores of supporters and leaders who came one after the other conducting the requisite "post-mortem", the questions of how and where we went wrong. So, like a true leade, after the battle was lost he took on the dificult job of lifting the morale of his defeated troops. Licking his wounds in private had to take a back seat for a while no matter how much he was itching to get away from it all. I watched him take on a very brave front although I knew deep inside he was hurting.

And for that I started hating the world of politics. I saw soon enough how the sacrifices he made did not amount to anything and how service to the people could never be appreciated in a community whose cries for change got lost in a sea of "green", money and money was all that mattered.

I never fit the model of a politician's wife. I was, still am, fiercely protective of my privacy and was uncomfortable letting in strangers of different stripes and colors into the hubby's home and being made to act like each and everyone is my best friend. But I tried my best because notwithstanding my reluctance, I had to be supportive all the way.

Now this loss. Frankly, I do not know how to deal with it and I know the hubby will find it difficult to change careers mid-stream. Yet it is in these difficult times that we also discover the most important things in life, the one constant that remain unaffected by the changing winds fortunes, political or otherwise. in the end, its all that matters.

What It Really Was

2010-05-18T01:53:00.000-07:00

As the whole country celebrates the apparent success of the automated 2010 elections, in a small inconspicuos town somewhere in the mountainous portion of the island of Samar, people grieve. For despite all it high tech gadgetry, automation still could not provide a truly honest elections that reflected the people's will, at least in this part of the world where almost 90% live below the poverty line.

A combination of guns, goons and gold conspired to show the loopholes and the leaks where dishonest elections could still come out the norm in a much hailed automated polls. For while no one was looking, 1,500 non-resident and under-age persons managed to have themselves sneaked in as as registered voters of this town with a voting population of 6,500.

Readers of this blog who know my true identity might, to themselves say that these are but gripings of a sour loser but I dare say that while defeat may taste bitter it does not distract from the truth of what really happened on May 10, 2010.

It was the day when masterlist of voters had two versions and jeepney loads of total strangers started filtering in late in the afternoon (so as to afford little time to challenge and contest them) to vote for a slate composed of people they hardly knew and trade in their votes, nay, their souls for a few thousand pesos. They came all the way from Tacloban City and Calbayog City in trucks three days before the elections to provide the captured swing votes for a group of candidates in a town where for all intents and purposes many of the former only knew from a map that such town exists. In a place where everybody knew everybody else, the strangers stuck out like sore thumbs yet by some "magical" stroke of a pen and a computer keyboard, they were now officially "residents" and registered voters of the town.

Considering the massive scale and proportions of this operation "flying vultures", it came as no surprise that preparations and executions of the plan started a full year ahead of the polls. The "magician" knew his tricks well and played them with the deftness of someone who had been in his position for quite sometime betraying the public trust reposed in him to conduct a clean and honest elections.

The stage was set. The machine for registartion and validation started disappearing for days at a time from the office where they were supposed to be and when an election clerk was queried as to the computer's whereabouts, a ready answer was: it was being brought to another place for repairs. A check with a higher electoral office, however, confirmed that no permission was obtained from them which was what the law dictated before such a machine/computer could be moved. It was only after seeing the hordes of non-resident voters that the significance of its (the machine) disappearance came to light. Your guess is as good as mine.

Election employees refused to receive written request for master lists of voters and BEI's (the precinct level set of electoral officers) and candidates from the slate were only given the lists with only a few days left for them to exercise their remedies against the "imported" voters. As if that was not enough, the "magician" came up with two materlists, an incomplete one for the other slate and the other the official list carrying hundreds of names that was missing from the first list given to the candidates. The other side was deprived of notices for ERB hearings (the body that approves registration of voters) and they had to rely on the incomplete voter's list to file exclusions cases in court which proved to be costly for the meagerly-financed other side slate. The highest official of the town himself who was taking another crack at his post was seen personally ferrying voters to the precinct and even grabbed the cellphone of a watcher he suspected of calling someone up to report him.

But most depressing of all were the peole themselves, poor and uneducated folks who sold their votes to the highest bidders. Even familial bonds proved wanting when relatives were faced with the tempting offer of money in amounts that could never be seen in their lifetimes. At times I feel anger at these folks but upon deeper thought I realize they are but victims to machinations of people preying on their biggest vulnerabilities. P3,000.00 could already buy them a supply of rice for the whole year. Shading a few circles on a piece of paper for P5,000.00 was nothing compared to months of toiling in the sun to earn just as much. So it was never a hard choice to make and blood relations be damned.

And so I weep for these poor folks who now must pay for the next three years of a government from hell.

Mind Readers in the Ivory Tower

2010-03-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Prior to reading the now much maligned Supreme Court ruling on the power of the incumbent president to appoint the new Chief Justice when the present one retires on May 17, 2010, I stumbled upon the column of Ms. Patricia Evangelist in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. After going through her piece, I dare say it took one non-lawyer to blow to smithereens what is turning out to be a decision that dwells more on conjectures and mindreading than true interpretation of the law.

For a collegial body that has most of the time, if not always, been articulate, coherent and consistent, we read a ponencia* that not only is inconsistent but drives us around in circles as to what it actually means. It just proves my point that an indefensible position is just that, indefensible.

I truly admire Ms. Evangelista for her to-the-point, no mincing of words dissection of the High court's ruling. It reminds me of the story of the "Emperoro's New Clothes". While all of the articles I've read held their punches, owing in large part to the awe and high esteem the Supreme Court, though now in danger, enjoys from the people in general, this columnist said it as it is, a decision that defies logic and reasoning, this from an institution that is supposed to be the last bastion of reason.

Yes, indeed, "the sky will not fall should there be a vacancy" for the Chief Justice position. But more than that, the things that really impressed upon me about the Bersamin ponencia was that the Court took it upon itself to be read the minds of the members of a Contitutional Commission that was convened fourteen years ago. Even Superman could not have that power to go back in time and determine people's thoughts. For try as you might, read it as many times as you can, the wording of the 1987 Constitution is clear: the president cannot make any appointments two months before the holding of a a national or local elections. It does not exempt the judiciary and the framers of the constitution would not have intended it so for the simple reason that if that was their intent they would have included/written it into the constitution. Exempting the judiciary is a significant provision and the framers would not have relied on mere structuring of the constitution to put that point across.

Much ado is made of Justice Florenz Regalado's opinion, but his word is not that of the Court or that of the Con Com. As empasized, the Court, and the ConCom, is a collegial body and a single vote does not a decision make. What was decided and what won by majority rule is the view that the ban is total with the minor exception being only of temporary appointments for vacancies that might endanger public safety or public welfare if unfilled.

Indeed, these are most trying times for the judiciary, a male-dominated branch of government where recent events has shown that it is actually the women who has the balls: Judge Tolentino, for accepting the Ampatuan case without hesitation, and Justice Carpio Morales with her highly incisive dissenting opinion. Now I know why it is a woman depicted as holding the scales in the symbol for justice.

Caution: Escalators Bite!

2010-02-16T00:00:00.001-08:00

People flocking to the mall on Valentines

Last February 14, the hubby and I together with our unica hija went to Robinsons Tacloban with the idea of dining out in one of its restaurants to celebrate Hearts Day. That idea was quickly scrapped with the mob that greeted us as we entered the mall. So many people at a given time in a given place, I bet the restaurants there were making a killing with its sales. Me and the hubby, however, decided to go someplace else more, uhmm, less populated to escape the maddening crowd.

Just as we were about to go outt by "the Mang Inasal exit", we noticed people gathering at the foot of the escalator and looking upwards towards its top that was manned by blue-shirted mall engineering personnel. A few questions thrown here and there gave me the info that a boy's clothing was caught somewhere between the steps just as the escalator was brought to a stop for reasons not disclosed. It took the engineering guys almost an hour to break him free.

Boy trapped in escalator is surrounded by engineering personnel

Angels and Demons, the Movie- What I think

2010-02-02T19:23:00.001-08:00

(Photo credits www.allmovie.com)

What is it with Mr. Brown, has he got an axe to grind with the Catholic Church? This question one is almost tempted to ask in the middle of the movie adaptation of the novel of Dan Brown with the same title.

But I would like to give the author the benefit of the doubt and review this movie absent my own personal views on the religious aspect of it. Why? Because the movie took me for one hell (no pun intended) of a ride and left me gasping for more.

It is basically a whodunit in an unconventional way and Mr. Brown weaves his tale amidst the backdrop of the Vatican with its age-old rituals and traditions. (Warning: spoiler alert). Compared to the Da Vinci Code film, this one is indeed several degrees higher, both in action, pacing, and style. Its tightly edited putting just the right amount of action in some scenes while placing emphasis on the dialogue that makes it so much more than just a plain action thriller. While it may not grant you ephiphany it does provide food for thought long after the credits has rolled in.

The movie starts with the death of the Pope, the highest official in the Roman Catholic Church symbolized by the breaking of the Fisherman's Ring, a ring worn only by those who seat as head of the Church. Following tradition and canonical law, a conclave is convened composed of the Cardinals of the Catholic Church from all over the world tasked to choose the successor to the post first held by St. Peter. The rituals and rules of the conclave really got me fascinated and here in the movie it is central to the plot as would be revealed in the ending.

Upon the start of the conclave all the cardinals are ushered into a big room in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the door is both physically and symbollically sealed. No one is to get in or get out until the purpose for which the conclave is instituted is served: that is, to elect the new leader of the Church and for whom a new Fisherman's Ring will be made and molded. Once a vote is taken, the ballots (I don't know what it is actually called) are burned and depending upon the result, two kinds of dust is burned along with it that would produce either black or white smoke. As any devout Catholic would know, black means the cardinals has not reached a consensus and the Church remains in sedente vacante, without a Pope, while a white smoke would mean that a successor has been chosen.

What makes this conclave so different from other conclaves? Well, Mr. Brown decided to put a touch of terrorism to the plot and had four of the cardinals kidnapped right from their quarters in the Sistine Chapel. And they are not just any ordinary cardinal, they are the preferiti, the strongest contenders to be the next Holy Vicar. Here, the clue is already provided as to what the movie is all about. To add spice to the story bringing with it a Tom Clancy/Die Hard touch, a newly discovered anti-matter is threatened to be used to wipe the Vatican off the face of the earth, literally. All signs point to a centuries old enemy of the Church, the secret society of the Illuminati as behind the abduction and the terrorist threat. Here enters Robert Langdon, played to perfection as before by Oscar winner Tom Hanks, the protagonist in the Da Vinci Code. He had authored a book on the society and the head of the Vatican police, Commander Olliveti, believes he could help greatly in the investigation. Racing against time, the Swiss Guard (the Vatican's equivalent of the PSG and the Secret Service), the local gendarme and Mr. Langdon work through clues provided by symbols and archives of the Catholic church to find the kidnapped cardinals before they are murdered, one by one by the hour in different fashions so sadistic this blogger cringed when watching. This is the part where I really felt uncomfortable, as to why I leave you to find out for yourself.

Ewan McGregor, as usual delivers a most impressive performance. As Carmelango, the Church official entrusted to perform the functions of Pope during sedente vacante, he is most believable as the orphan adopted by the recently dead Pope bent on protecting the Church for the ideals he believe it should fight for. The nuances and emotions he displays can be done only by an actor with a depth such as he has. I cannot give you what that particular emotion is without revealing the twist at the end so its better left unsaid. In this movie it is his character that lingers, and through no fault of Mr. Hanks (it is just that the role of Carmelango is more meatier), Ewan overshadows the academician-protagonist.

The focus on the conflict of the Illuminati and the Church brings to fore what at first seems to be the irreconciliable differences of the Church and science. If you follow closely the dialogue, it is here, in this conflict, that what is perceived to be the anti-Church stance of the author is shown. But upon the end of the movie, I changed my mind. As the Grand Elector said: "Religion is flawed only because men is flawed.."

Didn't I say in the beginning that this was basically a whodunit kind of movie? Oh, yes, because just like any whodunit, red herrings are a plenty and you would think convictions, right or wrong , and beliefs are the moving force that drives these terroristic acts in the movie. Who would have thought that one of the most common of human frailties is behind it all.

Can't Get My Groove

2010-01-10T22:39:00.000-08:00

Its been almost two months since I lasted posted to this blog of mine. Why oh why? Blame it on the mundane requirements of life which has all but snuffed all creative juices in me. I'm at a loss on an interesting topic as subject and putting my social life on hold (indefinitely) is not helping any. Am I turning into a social hermit? My eight to five routine has not seen any deviations for the past two months, its home-office-home everyday of the week. Two people really, really like this development (clue: one is no more than three feet tall and the other has been subject of an article I wrote in a women's magazine). To give them credit, they would want me to enjoy a few nights out with girls in a month its just that they seem to be loving the undivided attention (second clue).

So, rather than bore you with insights taken from an involuntary self-exile, I would much rather keep the posts few and far between in the meantime. Should inspiration strike, then, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, yours truly shall post again.

Massacre in Maguindanao

2009-11-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, 41 people were believed killed with 21 confirmed dead in a brazen attack in the the province of Maguindanao in what may turn out to be the deadliest single poll-related incident of violence in the history of the Philippines. Not even the presence of media men deterred the broad daylight abduction and eventual murder of the female relatives of a political family as well the media persons themselves who accompanied them to cover the filing of candidacy of a scion of the clan. Majority of the victims were women and unarmed and some were raped according to eyewitness accounts of those who came to the place where some 21 bodies were found.

The impunity, done in broad daylight, and the sheer number of victims has gotten this blogger all riled up. Has the lawlessness in Maguindanao reached the point where attacks of such a massive scale can be carried out without fear of justice finally catching up? Are those people responsible for the attack so confident of their power and immunity that killing 13 journalist as well was a risk worth taking?

I am shocked, I am sad and I grieve for the families of the victims, but more than anything else I fear for what has become of our country.

2009-11-16T00:32:00.000-08:00

Raging waters of Tinago Falls

View from the rocks

Deep in the forests of Biliran, in the town of Caibiran is a spot worth taking the less-travelled road for. Its called Tinago Falls and this blogger, unfortunately, has not had the chance to visit. However, judging from friends and colleagues raving reports who have been to the place, its a worthy 3 hour trip from the city. The sound of the raging waters can be heard a kilometer away and so far it has remained untouched by the crass of commercialism (going by the guise of of the great sounding term: development).

For now I will just have to content myself looking at pictures and cross my fingers that I have the time and great company soon to see for myself this beautiful falls. If you are within the area and would want to go there, just ride a van from Tacloban City to Naval, Biliran, a 2 and a half hour trip, then hire a motorcycle or vehicle for hire to get to Tinago Falls which is an additional 30minute trip.

Pearl Island of Guiuan, Eastern Samar

2009-10-27T02:18:00.000-07:00

I learned about this island from a colleague in the office. It is actually an experimental pearl farm operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). I wish I could visit it soon, from the picture, it seems to be a rather bucolic place.

A Sense of De ja vu

2009-09-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

2009 barristers waiting in line

Last Sunday I was back in the place where my life started its inevitable turn, one that I would say with all fervor I most definitely does not regret.

It seemed only yesterday as my thoughts brought me back exactly eight years ago. I was right across the place where I took the exams that was the culmination of a steely determination to cram four years study of law into a six-month review. I was a working student then and could not devote all my time to school, or at least the amount that was ideal. I came to know the word cramming like it was my best friend for life, the shadow of not having been a diligent student always at the back of my mind, fearful that I had too little time to make up for it.

In order to cope with my backlog of missed readings, I sacrificed some lectures most especially those made by reviewers who thought green jokes was par for course and forgot that they were there to educate and not to entertain. I read early in the morning and late into the night broken only by sleep and eating binges, which figures, my overused brain took up all my calories and made me compensate with food. Yes, I ate, slept and thought the law.

As if that was not enough, the distraction of a broken heart railroaded itself into my already very tight schedule and much crowded mindset. Luckily, it happened early on in the review and I had still half of the six months to go. That was so oh very regretful and not worth it, a minor bump on the road. After a few tear-duct induced sniffing in the morning, I was back on track.

This Sunday, as I looked at the expectant faces of parents, relatives, schoolmates, fraternity mates of the 2009 barristers and pure usiseros trying to understand what the fuss is all about, I recall with almost vivid clarity when I was there too in La Salle eight years ago, my hands full with bar handouts and my textbook inside my bag for a sense of security despite knowing there was then too little time to browse through it again before the exams would start.

I patiently waited in line with the others, some with that confident look of thorough preparedness and not a few of those who looked like they were up for the guillotine. I had only three hours of sleep excited as I was and nervous too. This is it, I said to myself, and from the moment I opened the exam booklet and read the first question, I knew with that instinctive gut feel, that despite the unscheduled heartache, cramming for my dear life and all the anxiety, I had a fighting chance, more than a fighting chance.

Happy Birthday To Me...

2009-08-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize till now that exactly a year ago I made my very first post on this blog. Actually, I started months earlier but a blospot glitch made me transfer my posts to here.

A year of intermittent blogging has gone, hmmm, not bad for someone who hardly had the inclination to write a page full article of whatever subject. But I do believe that while we may still hold the wheel (steering wheel that is), our ship is still subject to the winds of yore that may shift or change our direction notwithstanding the preconceived course that we have set for ourselves. Meaning? We never know what tomorrow brings and that simple guy Mr. Gump was wise after all when he compared life to a favorite box of dessert. I never planned to linger long in the blogosphere but what started out as a testing of the waters had turned out to a full blown "kinareer ko" undertaking. Yes, I love blogging, and my affair with it has lasted a year na.

Housecleaning

2009-08-27T01:23:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some housecleaning today, right here on this blog. I decided to take out some blogs on my blog roll and add some new ones. To do this, I surfed around and came up with some really good sites. Some made cry, one made me think really hard and another inspired me while the last one gave me a very good laugh.

Its a colorful blogosphere out there with very talented bloggers. Now I know why their making some newspaper in the USA a run for their money.

Of Free Wifi, Pro bono cases, and Sundays Alone

2009-08-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

I'm making this post from Jose Karlo's coffeeshop, a branch that just opened right inside Robinsons Mall Tacloban. They got Free Wifi but unlike Bo's Coffee down in Avenida Veteranos, a single order of cappucino won't get you unlimited connectivity. After an hour you have to reorder in case you want to stay on the Net in their cozy premises. Might as well, it sure beats having servers start giving you funny looks when you have overslurped your only order of coffee for you almost four hour stay.

So what does this mean? Now I know where to go in case I'll be needing a freebie connection for work thats to be done for hours on end. Bo's it will be. Definitely, JK is not practical when your doing pro bono work, just what I'm working on, and you need to look up cases on the Internet.

Gee, there goes my alloted hour, need to order another cappucino...

Beautiful Resorts in Leyte and Samar

2009-07-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Surf Camp, Calico-an Island, Eastern Samar

Cottages

Pool and the sea

The lounge

Caluwayan Beach Resort, Marabut, Samar

Infinity pool

A view of the beach

Ponds

Kuting Resort, Macrohon, Southern Leyte

The entrance

Lanai by the sea

Infinity pool
(Photo credits OTOP Phils. and friends)

Ukay Republic

2009-07-10T00:20:00.000-07:00

A sure sign of the difficult times is the increasing number of ukay-ukay shops sprouting all over the city. Right down along Rizal Avenue, just beside Everwell Drugstore, is a collection of second hand clothes shops that peddles everything from hats down to (would you believe?) underwear!!!

Seriously, there are actually treasures to find such as slightly used branded t-shirts , polos, curtains, bedsheets that look good as new. You just have to be armed with patience, perseverance and, the most important, terrific haggling skills. I, for one, have not mastered the art yet. I do wear my shopping heart on my sleeve and I can't help but show my eagerness when I've had a terrific find (a bargaining no no). One must know how to keep on a poker face and keep the shop owner guessing as to whether or not you have decided on an item. It helps if you walk away at the first price quotation, more often than a reduction thereof would necessarily follow. Of course, they do have to earn their keep, so know when to stop haggling. Remember they are in it for the business and not for charity.

Nonetheless, for the not so fortunate who could only dream of Ralph Lauren, here is the chance to have his clothes at a fraction of the cost, if you don't mind the thought that it has actually touched the skin of someone else and has drowned in his sweat (hehehe). But for the more picky and sensitive bargain hunter, its not only clothes that this shopping haven for the financially conscious has to offer, they also have bags and shoes. If your one resourceful broad (or chap) take the time cause you just might find a Bally in there or even a Gucci with nary a scratch mark and no one's the wiser that it came from ukay republic. A friend, after having sworn me to secrecy on our doggies' grave (hehe), confessed that the long sleeve polos I've always admired her wearing are finds from segunda mano stores. Well, I''l be darned. Who would have thought that my fashion savvy friend sourced her threads this way? As she would say, nasa "carry" yan. I have but to agree, ukay or not, a fashionista will always be a fashionista even in these hardest of times.

Sangyaw and Pintados, the Battle...

2009-07-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

A glance at the title would suggest that the words do not deserve to be in one sentence, at least from this blogger's point of view. This is for a number of reasons foremost of which is that both the Sangyaw and Pintados are celebration of a distinctly religious event, the feast of the Senyor Sto. Nino. Discord has marked this year's festivities and provided a damper in what should have been a unifying occasion for all Waraynons in the region.

A court case has been filed and a TRO (Temporary restraining order) has been issued by a local judge. A visibly irate local chief executive has threatened to hold those responsible for the TRO accountable and from the grapevine, I've heard that certain properties in the city are to be reverted back to the province.

As a backgrounder, the Pintados Kasadyaan is an annual parade in Tacloban held every 27th of June that began sometime in the late 80's and is meant to coincide with the city's annual fiesta. It is spearheeaded by the Pintados Foundation and the province of Leyte and showcases presentations from different towns and cities in region interpreting the pagans' deliverance by the Sto. Nino in the form of dance. When incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez became the city's chief, he reintroduced the Sangyaw, to be the main and focal point of the celebration of the city fiesta, the feast of the Senyor Sto. Nino. From that point on, a struggle seems to have emerged as to which of the two parades, the Sangyaw and Pintados Kasadyaan has the rightful claim as to to being the festival that truly represents the city's fiesta.

But 'nuf said, since I was not able to watch both parades I've included a link here where you can watch slide shows from the event. You may also click here for well-taken pictures of both events.

When A Mall Becomes a Tourist Attraction

2009-06-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Robinsons Place Tacloban, located at Tabuan, Marasbaras, Tacloban City, opened its doors to the public last June 11, 2009. To say that it was one monumental event for the city is an understatement. It eclipsed even the holding of the Palarong Pabansa held recently this year. A major traffic jam caused a slowdown of vehicles on the road approaching the mall and the people inside would put fish in the sardines to shame. It felt like one big fiesta as whole families from nearby towns came on jeeps chartered solely for the trip to the mall. Going to Robinsons was an excursion, a pleasure trip and to be "in" you just had to be there.

As for this blogger, it seemed like a trip down memory lane not too many years ago when I was just fresh from college and was job-a-hunting in Manila. Too while away the time, I spent many hours in between interviews at big malls there and the experience inside Robinsons was just de ja vu. However, unlike its counterparts in Manila, the Robinsons mall here still has many vacant stalls and stores. Perhaps some are taking the "wait-and-see" attitude before making that investment to open a branch or store. The few brave ones, though, judging from the constant ringing of their cash registers for the two days I visited, seems to have made the right decision to gamble on the buying power and habits of the people of Eastern Visayas. I just hope that their good luck continues and their sales does not peter out once the novelty of a new and first mall does. Some of these "brave ones" are: Shakeys Pizza, The Travel Club, Jollibee, GUESS, Levi's Store, National Bookstore, Tom's World, Kamiseta, Book Sale, Gustavio's, Pino Fine Dining, Children's Place and the home or organic stores of Robinsons like Handy Man and Robinsons Supermarket and Department Store.

I stayed for only an hour as the crowd was too much for my clautrophobic taste but I left knowing that now, more than public parks, families can enjoy bonding moments in the cool comforts of Robinsons mall.

Coming Very Soon..First True-blue Mall in Tacloban

2009-06-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Just three days more and Tacloban City, indeed the whole Eastern Visayas shall finally have its first honest-togoodness mall with the opening of Robinsons Place Tacloban on June 11, 2009. This has been a most awaited event in the city if not the whole region and malling is sure to become a family outing every weekends. For sure, this blogger will be there opening day to document everything for you and provide you with a first hand account...

Latest Update on the Ted Failon saga

2009-05-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

The NBI-National Capital Region (NCR) office has released its findings on its investigation into the death of Trina A. Etong, better known as the wife of media personality Ted Failon (Teodoro Etong in real life) the results of which mirror what has been insisted all along by her family and friends: that a distraught Trina decided to take her own life in the confines of the bathroom of the bedroom of her daughter. The NBI came up with its findings after a thourough forensic, testimonial and psychiatric investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Etong's death who was found slumped in the bathroom with a gunshot wound to her head. She was barely breathing when found by her husabnd and some household help and soon succumbed to her injries a day later in the New Era Hospital to where she was immediately brought.

What followed was a veritable media circus and high drama with the Quezon City police district filing charges of obstruction of justice against Mr. Etong, his sister-in-law, Pamela Arteche and her siblings and some household help. Foul play was hinted at and Ted Failon came under scrutiny as a possible suspect.

With the release of the NBI report, it is hoped that the Etong family shall finally be left alone to heal. For them to start their road on understanding why a dearly beloved suddenly decided that life was better ended leaving heart ache and pain for those left behind for whom life still has to go on.

Twilight - My Take

2009-05-18T20:58:00.000-07:00

As is my usual reading habit, I read the "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer all through the night, stopping only when I had turned the last page, which was at about 4 a.m. the following day. The consequences were quite unhealthy. I woke up grumpy at 7 a.m. and got into an argument with my hubby who, (correctly, I admit) pointed out that my nocturnal reading lost me quality time with them (hubby and daughter) as I had to catch up on my sleep the whole afternoon. As if that was not quite a handful to deal with for a sleep-deprived person, I acquired a slight fever later in the day. All of which was reasons enough for me to make a resolution that no matter how engrossing a book might be, lights are out by midnight, or maybe 2 a.m.?

Going back to the vampire-meets-girl-vampire-and-girl-falls-in-love romance with a seemingly dark twist (what can you expect? its about blood sucking creatures for crying out loud), I found myself transported to my tween years when a "Sweet Dreams" novellete was a must-have in every girl's book arsenal (aside from the usual Archie comic books and Sweet Valley High tomes). Take away the fangs, supernatural powers and immortality and you will find the angsts exeprienced by Bella and Edward and most of the characters in "Twilight" strikingly similar to the less critically-acclaimed teen romance series. Fitting in, unrequited love (or admiration, better yet, crush as it was more colloqially termed in my time), ecstasy of realized mutuality in feelings, envy for the almost perfect girl or boy in campus and so many others all find its place in Ms. Meyer's book that's fast becoming a pop classic for this generation of teens and twentysomething (including my contempraries even). But before "Twilight" fans start throwing tomatoes at me, let me say that while this book reads in some parts like a sibling of my teen romance books of yore, it is so more and its thousand of fans that continues to grow in numbers shall fully agree. The prose is far superior and it is as engaging a book as can be with colorful characters and mythical creatures having lived more than a hundred years. As for the female protagonist, so many youngsters can empathize with her and (I suspect it is one of the reasons for the book's popularity) the story of the clumsy and can't-seem-to-fit-in-girl snagging the handsomest guy in school provides hope for some of the languishing wallflowers out there (although Bellas is no pushover in the looks department, having three other admirers apart from Edward, the main man). I particularly like the unique take on the demon-angel angle and treatment of the condemned immortals. Perfect and beautiful yet tragic in the sense that the thing that keeps them alive is what make them a most deplorable and feared creature.

Taken amidst this backdrop, the book, thus, manages, with flying colors, to rise above the usual clicheic teen romance and becomes the latest betseller's favorite with fave reviews to boot.

Did She or Didn't She?

2009-05-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Not since the day waiting for the b_ _ results was I this anxious and apprehensive hoping intensely for a favorable result. Okay, you win, yup, I am exaggerating, but I was on needles and pins two days ago watching my B_ _ take her entrance exams for nursery in a prep school in the city. I was afraid she would flunk it, although the chance of that happening was two in a thousand. Really, now, entrance exams for nursery?

Before you go up and say, "Gee, that mom doesn't have much confidence in her daughter", let me tell you why I was afraid.

Work has kinda doubled these past few weeks and while I believe in tutoring my kid, I felt nursery was no more than play school and kids should not be pressured academically at this stage in their education. Besides, a colleague once confided to me, for as long as they are ready to sit on the potty, they are ready for prep. In other words, I had no time to prepare B_ _ for her entrance exams and was not that inclined to do so vis - a -vis my beliefs about nursery school. But while I sat comfortably ensconced in this thinking, a friend told me that the school actually flunks kids and deny them admission. God forbid, B_ _ was not gonna suffer the indignity of being denied admission, not while I can help it. So, a day before the exams (work would not make me do it any earlier) me and my daughter crammed lessons in colors, shapes, counting and the basic question and answer (e.g. What is your name?, How old are you?).

Come exam day, B_ _ was so excited, she was going to school, so I told her. She behaved so beautifully, no crying and doing everything the teacher-examiner asked her to do. She kinda stumbled on the colors and shapes part, mistaking blue for violet, and calling the oblong bunay(egg), but over-all, I felt she was gonna ace it.

And she did. A month from now, my B_ _ is going to school and Mama couldn't have been more prouder.

Partners and Marriage

2009-05-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

"Partners and Marriage"
by Eduardo Jose E. Calasanz

I have never met a man who didn’t want to be loved. But I have seldom met a man who didn’t fear marriage. Something about the closure seems constricting, not enabling. Marriage seems easier to understand for what it cuts out of our lives than for what it makes possible within our lives.

When I was younger this fear immobilized me. I did not want to make a mistake. I saw my friends get married for reasons of social acceptability, or sexual fever, or just because they thought it was the logical thing to do. Then I watched, as they and their partners became embittered and petty in their dealings with each other. I looked at older couples and saw, at best, mutual toleration of each other. I imagined a lifetime of loveless nights and bickering and could not imagine subjecting myself or someone else to such a fate.

And yet, on rare occasions, I would see old couples who somehow seemed to glow in each other’s presence. They seemed really in love, not just dependent upon each other and tolerant of each other’s foibles. It was an astounding sight, and it seemed impossible. How, I asked myself, can they have survived so many years of sameness, so much irritation at the other’s habits ? What keeps love alive in them, when most of us seem unable to even stay together, much less love each other ?

The central secret seems to be in choosing well. There is something to the claim of fundamental compatibility. Good people can create a bad relationship, even though they both dearly want the relationship to succeed. It is important to find someone with whom you can create a good relationship from the outset. Unfortunately, it is hard to see clearly in the early stages.

Sexual hunger draws you to each other and colors the way you see yourselves together. It blinds you to the thousands of little ! Things by which relationships eventually survive or fail. You need to find a way to see beyond this initial overwhelming sexual fascination. Some people choose to involve themselves sexually and ride out the most heated period of sexual attraction in order to see what is on the other side.

This can work, but it can also leave a trail of wounded hearts. Others deny the sexual side altogether in an attempt to get to know each other apart from their sexuality. But they cannot see clearly, because the presence of unfulfilled sexual desire looms so large that it keeps them from having any normal perception of what life would be like together.

The truly lucky people are the ones who manage to become long-time friends before they realize they are attracted to each other. They get to know each other’s laughs, passions, sadness, and fears. They see each other at their worst and at their best. They share time together before they get swept into the entangling intimacy of their sexuality.

This is the ideal, but not often possible. If you fall under the spell of your sexual attraction immediately, you need to look beyond it for other keys to compatibility. One of these is laughter. Laughter tells you how much you will enjoy each other’s company over the long term.

If your laughter together is good and healthy, and not at the expense of others, then you have a healthy relationship to the world. Laughter is the child of surprise. If you can make each other laugh, you canalways surprise each other. And if you can always surprise each other, you can always keep the world around you new.

Beware of a relationship in which there is no laughter. Even the most intimate relationships based only on seriousness have a tendency to turn sour. Over time, sharing a common serious viewpoint on the world tends to turn you against those who do not share the same viewpoint, and your relationship can become based on being critical together.

After laughter, look for a partner who deals with the world in a way you respect. When two people first get together, they tend to see their relationship as existing only in the space between the two of them. They find each other endlessly fascinating, and the overwhelming power of the emotions they are sharing obscures theoutside world. As the relationship ages and grows, the outside world becomes important again. If your partner treats people or circumstances in a way you can’t accept, you will inevitably come to grief. Look at the way she cares for others and deals with the daily affairs of life. If that makes you love her more, your love will grow. If it does not, be careful. If you do not respect the way you each deal with the world around you, eventually the two of you will not respect each other.

Look also at how your partner confronts the mysteries of life. We live on the cups of poetry and practicality, and the real life of the heart resides in the poetic. If one of you is deeply affected by the mystery of the unseen in life and relationships, while the other is drawn only to the literal and the practical, you must take care that the distance doesn’t become an unbridgeable gap that leaves you each feeling isolated and misunderstood. There are many other keys, but you must find them by yourself. We all have unchangeable parts of our hearts that we will not betray and private commitments to a vision of life that we will not deny. If you fall in love with someone who cannot nourish those inviolable parts of you, or if you cannot nourish them in her, you will find yourselves growing further apart until you live in separate worlds where you share the business of life, but never touch each other where the heart lives and dreams. From there it is only a small leap to the cataloging of petty hurts and daily failures that leaves so many couples bitter and unsatisfied with their mates.

So choose carefully and well. If you do, you will have chosen a partner with whom you can grow, and then the real miracle of marriage can take place in your hearts. I pick my words carefully when I speak of a miracle. But I think it is not too strong word. There is a miracle in marriage. It is called transformation. Transformation is one of the most common events of nature. The seed becomes the flower. The cocoon becomes the butterfly. Winter becomes spring and love becomes a child. We never question these, because we see them around us every day. To us they are not miracles, though if we did not know them they would be impossible to believe.

Marriage is a transformation we choose to make. Our love is planted like a seed, and in time it begins to flower. We cannot know the flower that will blossom, but we can be sure that a bloom will come. If you have chosen carefully and wisely, the bloom will be good. If you have chosen poorly or for the wrong reason, the bloom will be flawed. We are quite willing to accept the reality of negative transformation in a marriage. It was negative transformation that always had me terrified of the bitter marriages that I feared when I was younger. It never occurred to me to question the dark miracle that transformed love into harshness and bitterness. Yet I was unable to accept the possibility that the first heat of love could be transformed into something positive that was actually deeper and more meaningful than the heat of fresh passion. All I could believe in was the power of this passion and the fear that when it cooled I would be left with something lesser and bitter.

But there is positive transformation as well. Like negative transformation, it results from a slow accretion of little things. But instead of death by a thousand blows, it is growth by a thousand touches of love. Two histories intermingle. Two separate beings, two separate presence, two separate consciousnesses come together and share a view of life that passes before them. They remain separate, but they also become one. There is an expansion of awareness, not a closure and a constriction, as I had once feared. This is not to saythat there is not tension and there are not traps. Tension and traps are part of every choice of life, from celibate to monogamous to having multiple lovers. Each choice contains within it the lingering doubt that the road not taken somehow more fruitful and exciting, and each becomes dulled to the richness that it alone contains.

But only marriage allows life to deepen and expand and be leavened by the knowledge that two have chosen, against all odds, to become one. Those who live together without marriage can know the pleasure of shared company, but there is a specific gravity in the marriage commitment that deepens that experience into something richer and more complex.
So do not fear marriage, just as you should not rush into it for the wrong reasons. It is an act of faith and it contains within it the power of transformation. If you believe in your heart that you have found someone with whom you are able to grow, if you have sufficient faith that you can resist the endless attraction of the road not taken and the partner not chosen, if you have the strength of heart to embrace the cycles and seasons that your love will experience, then you may be ready to seek the miracle that marriage offers. If not, then wait. The easy grace of a marriage well made is worth your patience. When the time comes, a thousand flowers will bloom… endlessly.

(a score of marriage counselors couldn't have said it better, don't you agree? -waray in the city)

Carigara's New Town Kitchenette,Home of the Tasty Humba

2009-05-04T23:27:00.000-07:00

Its unassuming signage that has remained unchanged

The entrance

Today I went to Carigara, Leyte to take care of the papers of a client and had the chance to return to a place filled with my fondest memories as a child. While certain smells can bring a sharp tinge of nostalgia, nothing can bring back times past stronger and faster then the place itself.

My father hailed from this town and spent most his life there before going on to Manila to take up college and eventually law. When he married, settled down with Mama in Tacloban City and my sisters and I came one after the other, he sent us all to Carigara to spend our summers there. Days would be filled swimming in the bay that fronted Lola's house followed by rides up and down the poblacion in the "pot-pot" (also known as the pedicab which is a bicycle attached to a side car).

A constant in our itinerary then was the New Town Kitchenette down in Brgy. San Mateo, the place where we always bought our supply of the tasty pastillas. Apart from the carabao's milk candies, it offers a very delicious humba (click here for recipe) that has become the favorite of travelers who ply the Southern route of Leyte. It is owned and run by the Cañamaque sisters who got so busy in their "kitchenette" that marriage plans seems to have been forgotten. They have remained "single and unattached" devoting their time and energies to making the delicious dishes that their homey and rustic restaurant has became famous for. Their place is one of the reasons why Carigara has remained to this day the halfway point for lunch and breakfast of weary travelers

On this particular trip, my father and I had again this nemesis of a dish of all hypertensives (it swims in a plate of fats) and the taste has remained. It was just as I remembered it of summers past and just as tangy and with a "melt in your mouth" consistency. Of course, Papa had to double his dosage of Adalat just to make sure his indulgence would not cost him a day in the hospital (knock on wood).

News from Home: Leyte Hosts Palarong Pambansa 2009

2009-04-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Province of Leyte hosts this year's Palarong Pambansa, a competition among elementary and high school student all over the country in various sports starting April 27 to May 3, 2009. More than 20,000 delegate, coaches and school staff are set to participate this year and different schools and government facilities will be used for their accomodations. The Leyte Sports Development Center (better known as Grandstand) has been spruced up to the tune of millions where most of the sporting events such as swimming, track and field and volleyball to name a few will be held. For other games, the Badminton Republic, a private facility for paying members, the Leyte Park Hotel grounds, and the basketball gym over at the Provincial Capitol were utilized for the badminton, softball and basketball events, respectively.

Today, is the grand opening, although the games already started yesterday, with no less than Her Excellency, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Guest of Honor. Various cultural presentations representing the different towns of Leyte over at the Grandstand are expected to be culminated by a fireworks display in the evening at the RTR Park.

With all the fanfare, a fireworks of a decidedly different kind has been brewing between the DepEd, the lead government agency in charge of the event and Tacloban City officials led by Mayor Alfred Romualdez. Sol Matugas, the Regional Director for DepEd, this Region, was told by Sanggunian Panlalwigan in a signed resolution to explain, her comments on a national daily saying they (presumably the DepEd) would not need a permit for the parade on grand opening. It will be recalled that Mayor Romualdez opposed the holding of the event in the city and in fact declined to being co-host with the Province of Leyte.

With the huge number of delegates and other visitors including parents and chaperones of the athletes, Tacloban City is the direct beneficiary, economically speaking, of this year's hosting of the Palaro with all the hotels and lodging houses fully booked for the duration of the sporting competition. Bars, restaurants, coffee shops started showing a significant increase in custoners as early as a week before the start of the games when some of the delegations from the different regions started arriving. Jeepney drivers are more than happy with fully packed jeeps of commuting athletes and other delegates. And not to forget, the much needed publicity and opportunity for promoting the city and the province to the national landscape as the venue of a national event. All these make the hosting of this year's Palarong Pambansa worthwhile nothwithstanding all the backyard political feuds.

The Failon (Etong) Family Saga Update

2009-04-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

Trinidad Arteche Etong, wife of ABS-CBN newscaster and DZMM talk show radio host, died Thursday night at exactly 8:50 in the evening, just minutes after two of her sisters and a brother were forcibly dragged away from the hospital where she was confined and brought to a Quezon City court for inquest proceedings. The manner that the Arteche siblings were arrested (without warrants) was captured on national television and elicited widespread sympathy for the family and outrage at the seemingly excessive force used by the Quezon City police in making the arrests. The scene of a grieving family pleading before the police that they be allowed to continue to be at the bedside of their sister who was battling for her life seemed to have had no effect on the arresting officers. As of this posting, those men in uniform have been suspended by the National Police Commission and investigation over the death of Mrs. Etong has been turned over to the NBI.

Yesterday, a forensic expert interviewed over television declared that forensic findings all point toward Mrs. Etong committing suicide. The entry wound, according to the expert, who was commissioned by Ted Failon to accompany the police gathering evidence at the scene of the "crime", was on the right side of the head of Failon's wife judging from the edges of the wound which curved inward and the exit wound was on the left side as its edges were turned outward. He also said that the gun was pointed perpendicular to the face of the victim bolstering the suicide theory as most suicides with a handgun is made that way.

The remains of Mrs. Etong lie in wake at Arlington Funeral Homes and shall be cremated this week.

News From Home 1

2009-04-16T00:39:00.001-07:00

"Ted Failon Suspect in Wife's Shooting"

This is one of the trade-offs of seeing your daughter happily clapping away at Walt Disney's Cinderella cartoon movie, not watching the news and missing the hottest and latest headline -grabbing story of the month. By 3pm, she has the television all to herself and Mama will just have to wait until B___ finds another diversion.

What was the story? Oh yes, suicide or foul play? That is the most nagging question on everyone nowadays as Ted Failon's wife lie in a hospital somewhere in Quezon City for injuries sustained from a gunshot wound in the head. Both the helpers of the Failon household and Ted Failon, a newscaster on one of the major television networks, say that it (gunshot wound) was self-inflicted with a sucide note apparently left by his wife to prove it. Police, however, state that it was a mere sorry note and could not be conclusively be taken as what it was claimed to be by Mr. Failon,

Based on the stories of the household helpers and Ted Failon, Trinidad Etong was found slumped 15 April 2009, Wednesday morning in a bathroom of the Failons' house bloodied with a gun at her side. Her husband, who just came from the radio station where he had his early morning program, along with his driver and his wife's sister brought her to the hospital where she is now in critical condition. Recent updates have reported that doctors have now declared her as "brain dead".

Police noted certain inconsitencies in the statements of the household helpers and is currently conducting further investigation. As of posting time, Ted Failon has not yet been cleared of his wife's shooting and his driver and helpers has been charged for obstruction of justice for cleaning the bathroom which was the scene of the alleged shooting as well as the vehicle which was used to transport Mrs. Etong to the hospital.

Ted Failon is actually a Waraynon, a native of Tacloban City and was a popular radio broadcaster in the city in his earlier years before he hit it big time in Manila. He was known then by his true name, Larry Etong. He ran for Congressman in the First Congressional District of Leyte against the incumbent Alfred Romualdez, who is now the present city mayor, during the 2001 local elections and won. He opted, however, to return to newscasting over at ABS-CBN and forego re-election where he has been up to this time and can be seen on its daily evening news program, "TV Patrol World".

(source: http://www.philstar.com/, http://www.inquirer.net/)

From Sweet to Bittersweet

2009-04-15T23:27:00.000-07:00

I just came from court this morning and while waiting for my case to be called, I got to hear the testimony of a husband in a protection order case. I was seated beside the wife in the gallery section as the lawyer's table was already full and I was able to observe her demeanour as her husband talked about their marriage that had gone sour. Her face was blank and expressionless with a grunt every now and then with what I surmised was her disbelief at what was being said on the witness stand.

They had a teen age daughter who looked very much like her father and was also present in court that day. I wonder how she felt hearing him say such unsavory things about her mother in front of so many people. Her face was also bereft of any emotion, as if it was but a stranger who was now testifying and she a mere observer and not his child. Was it a front, or was she just so used already of the usual animosity between her parents? I could only guess as I have not read the records of their case nor heard previous testimony. But it is more likely the latter as they would not have gone to this point if it was otherwise, to have the dirty linen of your private life put on display for all the people who go to court to hear.

After his testimony, I watched the husband as he got down from the stand and made his way through the gallery. He had to pass by us, me and his wife as we were seated at the edge of one of the benches. Both avoided each other's glances and if I had not known any better I would have thought they hardly knew each other. Such apathy on faces which in earlier and happier times showed so much love, I would like to imagine. For what other reasons is there for one to enter into a lifetime convenant? Yes, lifetime here in our country as divorce is not legal and judging from the influence of the Catholic Church on our political affairs, might never be, at least in the immediate future.

I was quite sad for them both and their children who had to suffer the indignities of such a public scuffle. But that is life and marriage, a series of both right and wrong choices and the children become collateral damage.

Welcome to another day of drama in Family Court.

Lent, the Essence of Christianity

2009-04-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, sinners, so we can be redeemed and this Lenten season we are reminded of that supereme sacrifice of the Lord. This week is one of reflection and before you hit the beach or take that long ride out of town for some r and r, perhaps it would do us some good if we enrich our spirituality first. Attending a retreat or recollection is recommended as great food for the soul. Now is also the time to realize the meaning of sacrifice even as for some it may go as easy as foregoing meat and for others as extreme as self-flagellation.

Visitas Iglesias, which is doing the Stations of the Cross in seven different churches, starts tomorrow. Then on Friday a re-enactment of the crucifixion is staged in the town of Palo, Leyte which has become a tourist attraction as much as a religious event.

Right now I'm still at the office, hoping that my "mag-ama" gets home in time before the big rush of everyone off from work.

The Many Beautiful Uses for Banig

2009-03-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

I recently went to Cebu City for a convention and during my stay at my aunt's home, I immediately noticed a quaint and pretty bag she hung in the guest bedroom. It's a bag made of banig which she bought at Eva Adona's shop in Basey, Samar when she visited relatives (our side) last month. It would look great with a summer outfit and is a steal at P450.00.

Banig is actually the end-product of tikog, a reed plant that grows in forests and riceland. The stems are dried and then flattened to be woven into the finished product which is the banig. The banig was mostly used as a sleeping mat but budding entrepreneurs such as the Adona couple of Basey, Samar saw the potential of the material and parlayed this business "third-eye" into a thriving handicraft business exporting products to the United States and other countries apart from the local market.

Ms. Adona's store is chockfull of handicfrafts made from the versatile banig. She has floormats, rugs and slippers as well as other household items made more colorful with dye-soaked banig. Auntie B___ also bought a a geometric-designed circular rug which she used in her lanai. Its a good alternative to the more popular Persian rugs for household with asthma sufferers like mine.

(Some information sourced from www.truthforce.info)

Zumarraga, the land of broken promises

2009-03-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

Zumarraga wharf

Old man of the sea, he steered the boat we rode for Zumarraga

Lonely fisherman

Rock formation

Two weeks ago I was asked by my boss to represent him at an event in Zumarraga, Samar. I was quite excited to do this as I have never gone there before and in my research over the Internet I learned that the island-municipality was a naturally beautiful place.

We went via Babatngon, Leyte which is a half hour trip from Tacloban, after which we then rode a motorized boat owned by the family of the mayor which was docked at the Babtngon wharf. The latter's personal secretary welcomed us aboard who proved to be a very able and amiable host. Embarking,I immediately noticed two armed camouflaged men on the boat, perhaps an indication of the bitter political rivalry that is known to exits between the local leaders of Zumarraga and Daram, both island towns that are figuratively a stone's throw from each other.

The trip from Babatngon took almost two hours and along the way we were treated to scenic sights that our host pointed out and named for us. There was the rock stone formations similar to that of Marabut, Samar; white sand beaches that looked deserted except for a few huts, and the ruins of a Spanish garrison meant to deter marauders of the sea.

The waters leading to Zumarraga is a deep emerald green and this could be the reason why the town is sometimes referred to as an emerald of the sea. Yet despite its natural bounty, the municipality has fallen way, way behind in terms of economic progress and the people trapped in a bucolic and yet stale existence. It was once the center of fishing trade in the islands of Samar and Leyte supplying the needs of Tacloban and Catbalogan. But now the fishes are not as abundant as before, the result of enviromental neglect and abuse. Dynamite fishing was said to be rampant and destroyed most of the corals that served as the homes for most of the sea life.

Yet despite the sad tale of the fishes gone elsewhere, the beauty of Zumarraga remain and the smiles on the faces of its people optimistic. Perhaps one day, the promises given would be kept and the waters would teem again with the bounty of the sea.

Charges filed against blogger...

2009-03-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

A hazard of the trade has just become very real. Last week, a fellow blogger was charged for libel before the courts of law. That means the charges against her (she's an eighteen year old blogger) has been elevated from the prosecutor's office to the court. A full blown hearing is expected (if its not dismissed by the judge) and this blogger shall surely be watching its progress.

I cannot say much about it (the post subject of the libel case) as everything is now sub judice but in my opinion its a case of David versus Goliath. A teenager against a family of politicians and government bigwigs, but then the truth shall set you free. We call it the proof of truth and its a major line of defense in libel cases. So, whoever is telling the truth has the upper hand.

I receive this piece of news with mixed feelings. I have always been a firm believer of writing with responsibility and bloggers are not exempt. Unlike, however, with major dailies and publications, not all bloggers come equipped with a a full legal team to evaluate all articels (in this case posts) to check if its libel-free. Everything sometimes become free-wheeling and some bloggers become vulnerable to lawsuits and, worse, criminal charges. So what's the solution? Bloggers should be treated differently from the mainstream media and have a separate set of standards owing to the very unique features of the Internet which is the bloggers venue. I'm not saying that they should be treated with kid's gloves but legislation should be made recognizing that the Internet is not the mainstream media and that not all who post on the Internet are journalists. We have a lot of wise guys in government, they are sure to figure something out, meanwhile bloggers should now beware. Not everyone have a good sense of humour.

The Final Encore...Francis M

2009-03-12T01:03:00.000-07:00

Mga Kababayan Ko
"Mga kababayan ko, nais ko ng malaman niyo
Bilib ako sa kulay ko
Ako ay Pilipino
Kung may itim at may puti
Mayroon naman kayumanggi
Isipin mo na kaya mo
Abutin ang yong minimithi..."

(Rough translation, as in real rough)
My fellow countrymen, I just wanted you to know
I am proud of my color
I am a Filipino
In a world of white men and black men
The brown race also exists
Just think you can
And your dreams shall be within reach

This song was all the rage then back in my senior year in high school and signalled the start of the rise of Francis Magalona's star in Philipine pop music. With songs like "Mga Kababayan Ko", "Kaleidoscope World" "Man From Manila", "Ito Ang Gusto Ko" all original compositions teeming with patriotic fervor, he established his foothold as the Master Rapper and King of Pinoy rap.

Now, the kingdom is without a king and the Master Rapper is gone.

In the early afternoon of March 6, 2009, the "Man From Manila" lost his battle with leukemia, barely a year after being diagnosed with the terminal illness. He left behind his wife, Pia Arroyo and eight children and memories of a life lived with passion as well as a legacy of Filipino music that shouts, yes, I am a Filipino, and I am proud...

Im Now Up In Stitches Laughing

2009-03-05T01:28:00.000-08:00

As I write, people in the office are wondering if I've just had one cuckoo fly over my nest. You see, I'm now reading the "the heckler's" blog and it has gotten me up in stitches...laughing all by my lonesome. This guy's humor is something although I daresay the subject of his satire don't really find it funny...Excuse me while i go...hahaha, that sure is funny about the Alabang boys firing their lawyer.

News from Home - the first

2009-03-03T21:28:00.000-08:00

(Photo source)

When I started this blog I wanted it to be something for all the Waray-warays out there - "out" there being the big, big world of Cyberspace-. I did not consciously have the the overseas Waray as the target readers, just anyone who had the distinction of having ties and roots in the two islands of Samar and Leyte, of course, Biliran too, although they speak a different dialect altogether. But somewhere along the way, most of the feedback I got was from Waraynons now-based abroad. In their comments and e-mails I could clearly discern a deep longing for home and anything that reminds them of it. My entry on the flavors of Leyte and Samar had a Waraynon transplanted to the land of kiwis drooling as he recalled breakfasts of sapsap (native dried fish) dipped in coconut vinegar and a Fil-Am from Florida who stumbled upon this blog through Google search commented on how my teaser on the alat (basket carried on the back filled with fruits and vegetables) brought back memories of a childhood when the basket represented a means of livelihood. Homesickness indeed finds its cure in the familiar and I have hoped that in my own little way that through this blog I have helped eased that longing.

So it is with the Waraynon abroad in mind that I have started a regular feature of this blog, "News from Home" which will carry tidbits of news which will keep everyone abreast of development here in Waray country. I plan to have it on a bi-weekly basis but bear with me if I can't really keep up with that schedule (still got a day job to do). I will try to make the most of my free time and be a"Korinna Sanchez" on the side (minus of course her logistics). Now if I can only perfect that multitasking bit...

The Waves of Calico-an Island

2009-03-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

World-class facilities of Surf Camp

Infinity pool at the Surf Camp in Calico-an Island

Sometime in April last year, my friends and I went on a trip to Sulangan, a tiny islet at the tip of the province of Eastern Samar to visit the Church of St. Anthony de Padua. The twin images (one on each side of the altar) of the patron saint of desperate cases is known all over Eastern Visayas to grant the fervent wishes of its devotees and judging from the flocks that attends the masses held there, it is safe to surmise that many prayers has found answers after a call to St. Anthony for intercession.

We came on a Saturday and arrived just in time for the nine o'clock mass after departing from Tacloban City at 6:00 a.m., with a brief stop over at Jasmin Resort in the town of Marabut. I saw familiar faces from the city in an "out-of-town folks"-dominated church crowd. Like us, they all came with the hope of answered prayers whispered into the image of St. Anthony. Indeed, faith in a power greater than all of us is a most strong presence in the Filipino's way of life

As if to reward the piousness of the faithful who come to Sulangan, they are treated to an awesome sight of sea and surf as the island of Calico-an is just a 100 meter steel bridge away. In fact before you get to the pilgrim site, you pass by this white sand beach fringed town, a lovely welcome indeed for a spiritual journey for more than anything else, food for the soul was our main reason for coming and the beautiful sight an added bonus.

So just how beautiful is Calico-an? If your a surf lover just like most of the foreigners we saw there, the place where the Pacific rolls its waters is perfect for you. They say the best time for surfing is in the months of November, December and January where the waves are most high and just right for riding. But for a non-swimmer like me, it seemed intimidating even in on a warm month of summer. So me and my friends contented ourselves just listening to the ocean roar while having lunch in one of the restaurants that dot the seascape. Nothing like the sounds of the sea to relax and calm your senses. (During a second trip I made the following month, my family and I stayed at the cove-ringed part of the island where the lagoons allowed for some swimming, and yes, the sand was just as powdery white)

We earlier planned on having our lunch at the Surf Camp (a resort developed by the Aboitiz group) but it was closed at that time. However, the alternative, which was a resto-cum-small-resort, proved to be a blessing in disguise. Its prices were quite reasonable and the food filling, tasty and the straight-from-the-sea fresh. We (five of us) had kinilaw (ceviche) na tangigue, sinigang na lapu-lapu (grouper) , and adobong pusit (squid) all at a surprising P650.00 ($14.13) !!! I wish I could say the same for the room rates, at P3,000.00 ($65.21) per, its quite expensive. But then again with a view of the ocean and the sound of the waves, to quote that famous credit card company's line, the room's natural amenities are "priceless".

Tummies full, we started on the trip back home planning to go back as soon as schedules permitted (So far, it has remained just that, plans, with my friends that is)

So it was that a trip to the Church of St. Anthony de Padua came as a blessing in more ways than one.

Leyte and Samar's Delicacies

2009-03-02T00:44:00.000-08:00

They say, "a way to a man's heart is through his stomach". Well, let me put a new twist to that and say: "the key to a people's soul is their food" (no literary ryhmes shnimes there, but it will do). Indeed, much can be said about a place through a sampling of their dinner table's fare. You have the very precise cuts and shapes of Japanese cuisine which says much of how meticulos the peole from the land of the rising sun are. And how can we forget the native land of sexy Marimar, Mexico with its hot and spicy tacos and nachos?

As promised, here is a post of delicacies and delectable offerings from the islands of Leyte and Samar. Just like Waraynons who are happy and joy-loving people, you will find that most of their food complement a favorite pastime, drinking sessions with the ever-present tuba (native drink taken from the juice of the still uopened coconut bud).

But first, a word of thanks to Mr. Bimbo Tan, OTOP Coordinator from DTI-Region VIII. I borrowed his collection of photographs taken by by Mr. Joe Barrera, likewise of the OTOP Program, documenting the different OTOP products in a 10 day road trip around the region. What follows is a veritable "movable" feast for the eyes. For the information of the many, OTOP stands for One-Town-One-Product, a program of the Department of Trade and Industry wherein a product of each town is picked, showcased and given technical assistance.

Binagol

To begin our food trip, let me start with a personal favorite the binagol, pride of Dagami. The fruit of the "tree of life" is one of its main ingredients. This is not surprising, as said in my earlier posts, the coconut is abundant in this parts of the country. My childhood is rife with the memories of this sticky concoction ensconced in a coconut shell which my paternal lola (she has since passed away) meticulously wrapped in boxes meant for my uncle in Manila.. She would always leave two for me and my sisters to chomp on during our summers by her place in Carigara. You may find these in sidewalks just below Gaisano at the Shopping Center but it is always wiser to buy from a suki or straight from the source in Dagami. Another just as tasty alternative are by-the-roadside-stalls in Calbiga, Samar where its version might just take the word Dagami from binagol and replace it with its own.

Chocolate moron

Bearing no resemblance to its English namesake, another Waray delicacy is the moron – sourced mostly from the town of Abuyog, Leyte. It is a also a dessert of coconut strips and as well as pilit, Philippine fancy rice. Just like most of its sweeter cousins, the moron is prepared using the giniling (milled) method. Not to sweet for it to be banned from the diabetic's table, it retains the flavor of coconut meat and the stickiness of its glutinous rice.

Sapsap

Going into the coast of Carigara Bay, you come along its favored method of preserving fish, drying their catch in the sun with a generous sprinkling of table salt. The market of this town is lined with stall selling all kinds of bulad. There is the sapsap and the dilis, to name a few. It is quite salty and not recommended for hypertensives. Nevertheless, compared to what's sold in the rest of the province, the dried fish of Carigara is still the least in salt content. It is to be expected as most of the people living here derive their livelihood from the bountiful harvests of the sea. Many balikbayans would love to bring this back home with them but it seems foreigners finds its smell offensive. Some even mistook the fumes of frying of bulad as that of a dead rat. But that’s another story. Really, perhaps its an acquired taste, but I do love the smell of bulad in the morning.

Pastillas

Apart from its bulad, Carigara is also known for its tasty pastillas made from pure carabao's milk. I am always reminded by my cousins in Cebu to bring along a pack when I come to visit them. I would end up buying two as I was tempted to finish one whole pack all by my lonesome. There are imitations, ones made from condensed milk and the city shops are littered with them. Its the carabao's milk that makes all the difference so if its not made from it, the taste is really different, it becomes too sweet. So you are sure of getting the real deal, a trip to Carigara would be worth it to buy your stock. My regular suki is Mana Lumen, you cannot be wrong with her pastillas as it is really made of carabao's milk. She lives and cooks her stuff at the Poblacion in Carigara. Just ask for her house from the pedicab driver.

As if the salty fried fish was not enough, I also have an addiction to sisi. This product of shells that sticks to rocks, which also goes by the handle "rock oysters", is one of my usual request when my friend goes home to Catbalogan. It is very cheap, Php50.00 a bottle. But you have to wash it very well as it is very salty. It serves as a very good appetizer and goes well with a dash of calamansi.

The taste of the islands is one unique experience, the different flavors a reflection of the town's unique culture and heritage. For inquiries on where to order, e-mail me at waray_ako_2008@yahoo.com so I can give you recommended stores and sources. (photos courtesy of Mr. Tan)

Friendster vs. Facebook..here in da Philippines

2009-02-25T00:51:00.000-08:00

I have just succumbed to the proddings of my ka-berk and broke my self-imposed limit on one social networking for the self rule. I believed that being on Friendster was enough and getting on another social site would take too much of my time. I didn't want to leave Friendster as my labor of love was there, my very first blog site, thus two was definitely more than I could handle. But after hearing so much about Facebook on the Net, the television and from friends, I decided to give this Harvard graduate's creation a try. Well, so far so good, I'm enjoying it. Perhaps its in the layouting too but the applications are such that its so user-friendly compared to Friendster. The updates are strategically located in the center of the page and grabs your attention. It also has a better application for finding friends and its "what are you doing now?" feature is really fun. The only downside though is that it has no space for a blog which is what has tied me to Friendster.

So which is better? The jury is still out but judging from the many Facebook converts, the verdict is not that hard to guess.

International Foodie Show Goes to Manila

2009-02-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to contribute my two centavos worth of national pride. How? By telling (informing is more apt, kinda lazy today to make a real full-length post about it) you about the Philippine episode of of Anthony Bourdain's cooking show, "No Reservations". Yup, your right, a whole hour is dedicated to showcasing some "gritty but tasty" (his words) Filipino food fare. Perhaps it can entice some of you to make that plannned trip for home if only to savor true-blue Filipino dishes again. One can catch his show on the Travel Channel and its Philippine episode premiered last February 16 in the US. Too bad, cable's not available at my parent's house (some household oversight) so I would have to look for a link on the Internet. Anyway, to read more about it, click here and drool :-).

This One's for the Books

2009-02-12T19:32:00.000-08:00

(Photo source)

I don't know if this guy in robes has lost his marbles, is a Weberian fanatic, or has had a particularly most rigid toilet training but this judge's ruling on ownership of stairs in an apartment building is one of the most absurd one I've read all my life. Maybe the judge was trying to be funny but one's thing for sure, if all courts were headed by someone like him, then God help us.

Native Bags

2009-02-10T23:42:00.000-08:00

Don't you just find these bags lovely? They are made from indigenous materials such as tikog (the material used for banig) and abaca. You may find these at the Pasalubong Center just beside the Cebu Pacific office at the Tacloban City airport. Grab one and support the local economy. For bulk order, click here to contact suppliers.

Be Wary of Texting and Calling Taxi Drivers

2009-01-27T01:01:00.000-08:00

(Photo source)

I just read an article on a newspaper today that get me really disturbed. So disturbed in fact that I just had to make a post about it.

The Philippine Star, a national daily, ran a a story about a Filipino-American, a Harvard law student at that, who got robbed in the taxi he was riding from the airport by the taxi driver no less. It was his first trip here in the Philippines and I'm really sad that it had to happen then. I bet my first thousand dollars on Sponsored Reviews.com( if I ever get to earn that much) that he will think a thousand times before he makes a second trip here.

From that article, I made the following tips for would be travelers, especially those hailing a taxi from the airport:

1. Ride in airport-affiliated taxis only, more so if your all by your lonesome. It might be more expensive but in the long run its definitely worth it;

2. Keenly observe the taxi driver for any suspicious behaviour (e.g. surreptious glances in the rear view mirror) most especially if he starts calling and texting (this is what happened to the hapless Fil-Am of this post), once this happens think fast on how to get off the taxi or at least call someone for help;

3. Have the security guard at the airport take down the license plate, taxi number and ID of the driver, if the cabbie refuses to give his ID, be wary and don't ride his cab (better safe then sorry);

4. Ride only those cabs with the drivers' identification prominently displayed on the front; and

5. Finally, to be truly safe, have someone pick you up at the airport.

Stories like this truly make me sad for it drives away people who would have come to see our beautiful country if not for this bad lemons in our basically friendly basket of hospitable people. I do hope the authorities catch these bandits masquerading as cabbies.

Pay for Blogging?!

2009-01-22T23:49:00.000-08:00

Some genius bureaucrat has cooked this "wonderful" idea of charging certain fees for anyone who posts "content" on the Internet. What does this mean? Simple, bloggers will now have to pay a certain amount in order to continue posting. I just hope that this is a bonafide way to generate revenue and not some thinly-disguised ploy at censorship on the world wide web. As for this blogger, it could mean the possibility of closing up soon. Generating some of the posts here in "adventures of waray in the city" already entails some cost which I never recover as this site does not earn ad revenue. To pay fees on top of it all would be too much down the end of a cost-benefit ratio in maintaining this blog. That would really be sad as this blog and its readers has become very much a part of my life. Anyway, let's await and see further developments. News on blogging community has it that today is the start of a series of public hearings at the National Telecommunications Office (the Philippine regulatory body on all wireless communication and information technology) on this proposal.

The "Bees" Beat Them All in the Sinulog

2009-01-21T00:31:00.000-08:00

Tribu Buyugan of Abuyog, Leyte with its story of "bees" and their conversion to the "faith of the Holy Child" bagged the grand prize in the free interpretation category of the recent Sinulog Festival of Cebu City.

Apart from getting the judges' nod for their interpretation and choreogrpahy, Tribu Buyugan got the crowd all revved up and won third prize in the street dancing category.

Personally, I have witnessed them perform in the local Leyte Pintados Kasadyaan Festival and I do agree with the judges' choice, their the best and one of the mostest dance contingent in the country.

(Source: Leyte-Samar Daily Express, January 20, 2009)

An Afro-American in the White House

2009-01-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

Decades ago, if I told you someone of African descent would become President of the United States, you would have laughed me off and dismissed my thoughts as pure fantasy incapable of becoming reality in the midst of the then socio-political realities. But now, I daresay AMERICA, you have come a long way from the days of segregated schools and buses as today history is being made. Hours from now as I write, Barack Obama, President-elect would become Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America with his inauguration at the Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.

A truly eloquent man, history will now judge you just as you made history and the whole world watches with bated breath to see if the words indeed truly fit the man and the speeches is but a peek into the action that is to come. Translated: Can he deliver the goods and lift America and with it the world from the worst economic crisis in years?

Rumble in the Golf Course

2009-01-06T01:43:00.000-08:00

After the pepper spray incident at the Embassy at the Fort in Taguig City, now this, a brawl over golf etiquette, rules, etc. in the enclave and gaming grounds of the rich and famous. I have never played golf and thus, am clueless of whatever rules that must be followed but one thing seems to be clear about all this brouhaha involving a high-ranking government official, the gentlemen's sport is not all played by gentlemen. Actually, before I read about this incident I never associated the word "flights" outside that of airplanes, airports and the clear blue sky and in my driving and commuting world "overtaking" is the norm and does not require prior consent. In the golfing world, it is quite different and driving your golf clubs on a tee without shouting "fore" and "overtaking" a prior "flight" can lead to violent consequences as the dela Paz vs. Pangandaman family saga has shown.

Here's the side of the family who alleged being beat up by the family of the cabinet secretary. To get that of the government functionary, visit the phlippine daily inquirer web site.

As of date, talks of an amicable settlement are floating. Tsk,tsk, tsk...This is what happens when tempers flare and all that power goes into your head.

December Weddings

2009-01-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

Apart from June, December has always been a favorite month for weddings here in the Philippines. It is most practical as it is the time of the year when most Filipinos come home for the longest Christmas season celebrated in the whole world and the future bride and groom are most assured that most of their loved ones from all over would be present to witness this memorable event in their lives.

Truly well-planned weddings would not be complete without hiring a professional photographer to cover and immortalize this, hopefully, once in a lifetime milestone. Here in Leyte, we have at par, if not better wedding lensmen who capture your wedding moments with an artistic eye and an instinct of the perfect shot.

Too bad I discovered this after my own wedding, for I would have loved having my wedding portrait done as beautifully as this:

(Photo courtesy of D. Martinez)

Have Some Photo Fun

2008-12-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I got directed to this site from a blog. Check it out. You can make real funny pictures from a template set, just browse for the design you want then upload your chosen picture and the web site will do the rest, here's a sample:

No, she's not a hippie lost in time who just got arrested for smoking Mary Janes, she's actually a relative who's gonna kill me once she's found out I've morphed her pic and posted it here.

For anyone who knows French and translate this for me, you just might get a free ad posting here for your product or anything you want my readers to see.

Happy morphing.

P.S. Makes you wonder whether photographs should have their evidentiary value revisited. Just a thought. :-)

A List of Favorite Christmas Goodies to GIve Away

2008-12-22T18:23:00.000-08:00

They say 'tis always better to give and receive and in the Season of Yuletide many Filipinos take this to heart which is why despite the economic crunch and subprime crisis in the States whose effects that has been felt all over the world, they still come up with their Christmas list stretching budgets to buy gifts for their loved ones. In the days running to D-day (Christmas day), malls are so filled with people making their last minute shopping that you think, "crisis? what crisis?". Oh well, didn't I read somewhere that shops make more on Christmas than the rest of the year combined?

Yet with all the choices available, a few still stand out as good 'ol favorites as perfect Christmas giveaways. Let me name some of them which owe their making it to this list their being timeless, popular, convenient and no-fuss wrapping and of course, with these tight time, cheap.

1. Without a doubt, the ubuquitous fruit cake. A favorite for its longevity, this cake has had the unearned (and unfair) rep of being recycled gifts. I beg to disagree, a good one lasts no more than two days on our Christmas table. I like the nuts, raisins inside and the bittersweet taste of the brandy.

2. Sweetened or Honey-Glazed Pork ham. "The star of the Noche Buena Feast" goes the tag line of a best selling brand. This has been one of my usual gifts for friends and in-laws and, tagline notwithstanding, a Noche Buena in my home is never complete without it.

3. Bakugan. Another one of those Japanese toy creations that has got our kids hooked. Its actually a ball that when rolled transforms into a robot. You get many imitations from sidewalk stores that run from P45.00 to P75.00 but the real and good ones sell for P220.00 up.

4. Vaccum-packed noche buena grocery items. These gift packs contain items that you can use for your holiday feast like fruit cocktail, cream, condensed milk, can of mushroom, spaghetti noodles and perfect no-fuss give aways as it is already beautifully packaged.

5. Novellino wines. I really like their wines, most especially the fruit-flavored ones. Its cheap and comes in lovely bottles. Help the economy and buy one as its maker is a genuine Filipino company and the wines are proudly Philippine-made.

6. Gift Certificates. Actually the most practical gifts as it gives the recipient the choice to buy what they want.

7. A year's subscription of Good Housekeeping magazine. With its practical tips and insightful articles (they were wise enough to include one of mine, hehehe) ), its the perfect reading companion for the married woman with kids; and

8. A lot of loving and goodwill which is free, abundant and enviroment-friendly.

To be HUC or not

2008-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today, registered voters of Tacloban City will decide whether they would want to be part of that elite group called highly urbanized cities. The ratification of the people in today's plebiscite by voting "Yes" to HUC-hood is the final act that would finally sever our ties with the province of Leyte and proclaim our independence as a highly urbanized city fit and ready to stand on our own.

A Loooooooong Christmas Season...

2008-12-16T18:22:00.000-08:00

From the tolling of the church bells in the wee hour of 3:30 in the morning of December 16 which signals the start of the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo to the "Day of Three Kings" which falls on the first Sunday of January of the following year, it is one long Christmas season in the only pre-dominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia. You might say this long Yuletide season is retailers' heaven but in the Philippines it is much, much more than just endless shopping for gifts on every one's favored Christmas lists. It is a time for much-awaited family gatherings and reunions. Relatives from abroad look forward to coming home to savor the unique Filipino Christmas experience which everyone who has left attest is like no other. (For those who can't be here, I hope am not adding to your homesickness.)

Where else could you find the fervent devotion and celebratory mood of our countrymen in the "Simbang Gabi" wherein you wake up even before the roosters signal the crack of dawn to hear the novena mass at 4:30 in the morning? You then come home to a breakfast of puto, bibingka and other native delicacies. You do this for nine days straight until the morning of the day before Christmas. Onli in da Philippines.

Come Christmas Eve, families hear Mass and then gather for a Noche Buena feast. On Christmas day, children then go around houses with Christmas greetings in exchange for candies and other goodies. Not quite unlike the Western "trick or treating" on Halloween.

Yes, nowhere is the birth of Christ more celebrated than here in Pinoy country.

My First Ever Christmas Wishlist

2008-12-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

Its only nine days to go before Christmas and already the papers, the Internet, tv and radio are chock-full of the wish lists of writers, columnists and celebrities (along with the mad dash by companies to have their products included in such lists) and while I may not get the freebies (ooops, I'm not sure, just a lucky guess) that all of the above gets from grateful businessmen and owners of the a-listed products, I do want to post here some of the things I hope to get from Santa this Christmas. It's not just a "me" list but one that includes all that I hope for my family, my friends, my country and this world and we sure need most of that, HOPE, for the difficult times ahead. So here goes:

1. Sony VAIOS laptop to replace my NEO antiquated one (although me and my NEO has shared so many things together it pains me sometimes to let it go);

2. Canon 10 megapixel digital camera in lieau of the Olympus that got "cooked" by my daughter;

3. At least a size 8 body for me to fit into the many "Banana Republic" slacks that my clueless sister bought from the States (who's unaware that post-natal figures expands exponentially according to the number of children had);

4. Another published article to inspire me to keep on writing even when writer's block rears it's ugly head sometimes;

5. LCD television set in time for our newly-built house;

6. A happy Christmas gathering with my sisters and parents together with my daughter and hubby;

7. More readers for this blog and the other one I have over Friendster;

8. Coach handbag;

9. A truly effective concealer for my dark circles so I look my best for the countless Christmas parties ahead (mmm, they say M.A.C.'s got a good one);

10. This wonderful pair of South Sea pearl earrings I saw over at Trinoma;

11. Knock on the noggin on our good congressmen for them to bring their Cha-cha moves from the halls of congress to the dance floor (really now, much urgent things needs their attention and not this ill-timed efforts to change the basic law of the land);

12. Good health for my family;

13. Self-control and discipline to stay on my nth diet despite all the Holiday foodie temptations coming my way;

14. A beautiful wooden living room set for my living room-in-the-making (still is , after four months, sigh...);

15. Family photos/portrait taken by professional photographer in his uber-professional, state-of-the-art studio (now, if I can only convince my very shy hubby to make that pose);

16. Sinfully delicious Red Ribbon Chocolate Fondue Cake without all the guilt (mmmm...);

17. Iphone, or then again a Nokia E series navigator would be better;

18. Less green house gases; and of course

19. For hope, love and prosperity to abound .... Merry Christmas to one and all!!!!

Beautiful Baguio, Part two

2008-12-09T00:07:00.000-08:00

The last time I visited Baguio was in 2000, and just like the first time I went there which was way back in 1995, it also fell on a summer. So when I learned that I was going to the Philippines famed city of pines, I was a bit excited as it was scheduled in December. You might wonder why I was so worked up on a December Baguio trip when the place is also known as the "summer capital" of the country. It because on all my previous trips, the only time I really felt like donning a heavy sweater was in the late afternoons and evenings. Ergo, Baguio was not that cold in the day and what's the point of going there if the weather is just like here in the lowlands? I was curious to experience real cold weather, to feel an almost western hemispher coolness which could only be experienced there in December.

Apart from the temperate weather, I was also eager to see again the beautiful flowers that could only abound in low temperatures. Poinsettas by the roadside as well as sunflowers jutting out from crevices in the concrete was a common sight as my bus weaved its way up the mountains. At some point in our ascent, everything was covered in heavy fog and you could not see anything below the road, not the houses, trees or any vegetation. Truly, this is how it feels like to be up in the clouds.

More than just the fine weather and tourist spots such as the Grotto, the Mansion, Camp John Hay, Wright Park, Philippine Military Academy (the biggest military school in the country whose graduates have gone on to become leaders in the military), and Mines View Park, Baguio City is a place full of warm and friendly people where everyone is literally a trained tourist guide. Everyone I asked for directions were always most helpful and added tidbits or two that would help us in our stay (e.g. the best time to shop at the ukay-ukay stalls). Speaking of ukay-ukay, the city's claim to being the secondhand goods capital of the Philippines is well-deserved. As with all bargain hunts, you just have to be patient and perservering as you wade through clothes, shoes, and bags lumped in heaps or hung by hangers in the different stalls in coming upon valuable finds that look almost brand new and belong to world renowned labels like Gap, Nike, and Burberry. After going through so many stall and exiting empty handed, we soon came upon a corner one and hit pay dirt. The ukay shop had just replenished its stocks and it was full of really fine items. I found so many blouses and long sleeved polos that hardly had any hint of being used and would have taken them all had they fit me. Sadly, only two of the blouses I really liked felt comfortable enough to wear which I immediately bought. At Php150.00 apiece, it truly was a bargain.

Unfortunately for my group, the seminar ended quite late in the afternoon, so we were only able to visit a few of the sights in Baguio. We went by the Grotto where we prayed before the image of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. We also bought pasalubong at the Strawberry Farm. After that it was back to the hotel to prepare for an early morning trip back to Manila the following day.

"Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Baguio"

2008-12-07T01:58:00.000-08:00

Words of one truly proud and enamoured of his city. I'm talking about no less than the mayor of Baguio City. In his welcome speech during my seminar in his city last week, he never failed to punctuate his sentences with the word "beautiful", the adjective ever present as if its the only word left in the English vocabulary to describe the city of pines. Redundant is an understatement but I guess the good mayor just got carried away in his zeal to promote of what to him is the best city in the country. While I'm not totally in agreement, I do say it is one place worth staying and visiting. For one thing, I just love their taxis and those behind its wheels. When I arrived and asked about where I could find my hotel, an obviously proud local, sensing my apprehension when I learned it was far off from the downtown proper, assured me that the taxi drivers of Bguio City are honest and that they would bring you to your destination he fastest way possible without tampering with the meter as was my usual experience in Manila (I know, I know, this revelation about Manila is not good publicity). I soon found out that his was not an empty boast. In all my commutes on Baguio's taxis, not once did I feel that I was being "taken for a ride" and my fare never went above a hundred pesos even though the distance and traffic made such rides a long one. Indeed, the people are doing its best to make their place as tourist-friendly as possible.

Going back to the place that is the closest in experiencing Western weather, I soon found some most welcome and unwelcome of changes. More on that when I get home. For now, I have to do some late minute shopping. Till then...

Bahandi Website

2008-11-20T22:01:00.001-08:00

In keeping with the promise of this blog (see profile) I would like to invite you to visit the recently launched website of the Bahandi Producers Association of Eastern Visayas. It still has to fine-tune some of its features and make it more user and Internet surfer-friendly but at least it is now more accessible to the world via the web. Here you will find the establishments that produced some of the delicacies and crafts I've been blogging about here in previous posts. I urge those who visit to their site leave their comments so the webmaster can have valuable feedback that could in turn lead to improvements. Why so gaga over local producers? Well, because we here in Leyte and Samar have a lot to offer and its time the world get a taste of it.

Gone for a while...

2008-11-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

I know I've been so silent have not posted for quite some time. It seems mundane matters have taken over my mind these days allowing no room for anything else, writing or blogging included. Am I experiencing some writer's block?

You see, usually I would be brimming with ideas on what to place here but lately everytime I sit down and open this blog, the words that previously were swirling in my head would suddenly do a disappearing act. Try as I might I cannot start the flow that should have begun once I open my laptop. I guess it happens to all of us. So let me take a break, rather let me stay on my break till somehow I have found my muse again...

OTOP Visayan Islands Fair

2008-11-11T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hey, just wanted to invite you all to a fair showcasing the best of the Visayan Islands running this week at the Atrium, SM Cebu, Cebu City starting November 12. Here's the brochure which I wish to share with you...For anyone near, hope to see you there.

Our very own, Leyte and Samar with the San Juanico Bridge as backdrop

Loved the way they played on each region's unique and famous tourist destination interspersed with their local products: the white sands of Boracay in Western Visayas; the San Juanico Bridge in Waray-waray country; and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol in Central Visayas.

For the information of all, OTOP stands for One-Town-One-Product, a flagship project of GMA.

"Ma Laki Tian"- this one's good for the tummy

2008-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

There is a small hole-in-the-corner restaurant with a witty name that is the waray equivalent for the phrase, "big stomach" which has tweaked "Waray in the City"s interest. Ma La Ki Tian is a cozy place ideal for dates and small groups who wishes to dine out on comfortable budget. It is pricier than your regular fastfood joints yet affordable enough for the student wishing to indulge a week's worth of allowances for a fine dining experience.

The first and last time I went to Ma La Ki Tian prior to yesterday was during my birthday on a dinner out with my family. At that time I was too busy with my then months old baby to take note of the food. All I could remember then was that the servings were quite small. We had to make double orders as single ones could not be enough for the family that had healthy appetites.

Fast track to today (uhmm, rather yesterday). My friends and I decided to try out the place since it was just a walking distance from our usual coffee haunt at Bo's. Recalling my experience, I mentioned that the place was just ideal with its small portions as we were still full from all that frappuccino's we had earlier. Much to my surprise, the place had truly changed, at least when it came to apportioning its food. The servings were bigger this time and we had some left over when our meal was done. And I must say, the dishes were tasty. The lechon kawali was cooked to just the right amount of crispiness and retained a hardly noticeable sweetness which I really liked. As for the sisig, it was good enough to ask for a second helping. The drinks were priced reasonably and did not follow the formula of some joints that tag it at ridiculous prices to jack up your bill. The bottomless iced tea could be had at P50.00 and there were no admonitions against sharing.

I dare say, Ma La Ki Tian is indeed worth a second visit.

Ma La Ki Tian is located at Del Pilar St., right across St. Paul's Hospital.

A Trip Down Samar Country

2008-11-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

I adore new places, ergo, I love to travel, with a catch...it has to be someplace which can be reached by plane or if not, by land not exceeding a travel time of one hour and a half (just the distance from work to the hubby's place). Blame it on the nausea that grips me when I'm on a moving vehicle for more than two hours. Yet despite puke bags and Bonamine becoming must-haves on my travelling bag, I managed to go to places that had me sitting on a van for hours on end all for the love of travel...and work. It was for the latter that I crossed the San Juanico bridge for the nth time to deliver a lecture about aged citizens and their rights down in Borongan City, capital of the Estehanons province.

I travelled alone and without any distractions which is why when the bus I was riding crossed the San Juanico bridge, I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of this magnificent steel structure. It remains to be one of the Imeldific's finest contribution to the islands of Leyte and Samar, something that has been greatly overshadowed by her world famous shoe collection. Said to be the longest in the Philippines, the bridge was constructed in 1969 during the Marcos regime and was finished in 1973. It connected the islands of Leyte and Samar cutting travel time to both significantly and built a gateway to Waray country for inter-island travel. I clicked away at the beautiful sights with my Nokia N70, my digital camera having been sidelined when my daughter decided to "cook" it for her teddy bear adding her Papa's cologne for spice and destroying the LCD in the process (aren't three year olds just cute?).

This bridge has seen stunts (an actor is said to have jumped from one of its steels posts), been home to urban legends (children were rumored to have been sacrificed to assuage the spirits of the seas angry from the intrusion) and has even become a favorite shooting spot for wedding albums. Together with the islets that dot the seascape, the San Juanico is indeed one picturesque view, one that makes me proud to be Waray.

By the way, saw some great pictures of this famous Waray landmark on a fellow blogger's site. You may visit it for more clearer shots of the famed bridge.

My Nokia can only do so much.

Handicrafts, atbp.

2008-11-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, there's a cool new site on Bloggers of Noteq that's ideal for the one with "gifted hands", ergo, those who can make beautiful things with their bare hands while being green at the same time. An enviromental handicraft site. Click here for some fun ideas.

America's Race for the Presidency

2008-10-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

I guess I might as well jump in on the bandwagon. Everyone from Tokyo to London, to Africa and from all places that can be reached by the Internet and all forms of media are contributing their two cents worth on the race that is the American Presidential Elections. While Waray in the City maybe thousands of miles away from the center of all the action in Uncle Sam's country, she is well aware that the decisions of whoever gets to sit in that house on Pennsylvania Avenue is sure to affect her dear old Philippines and the rest of the world for that matter. So in the midst of trying to compose a post about a recent trip down Samar country, let me get political and tell you why I 'm for Barack Obama.

Obama is young, he's dynamic and he represents change from the Bush-conomics and war policies that has contributed to America's financial crisis. John McCain is a chip off the old Republican block and not only does he look like the Bush father-and-son tandem but he is sure to to follow their views despite claims to the contrary. Obama may be black (really, just half-Black), however, that does not dictate how well he shall serve as president. Really, I thought we were way past this "color" thing, yet his skin tone remains to be one of the hottest issues raised against him. I've seen him talk and I've seen his record and both are telling me to bet on his horses. Now, let's see if the majority of Americans think the same way. Answers on November 5 or 6. Unlike here, results are immediate and does not last until the next century.

Painting Tips from New Zealand

2008-10-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

I got a response from my friend down in New Zealand country on my help please post. He gave me a website to browse through for all my painting needs. Its a fun and interactive site that I'm sure would be of great help to you as it was for me. Happing surfing...

Help Please...

2008-10-16T22:45:00.001-07:00

We are in the process of painting our house and I would really, really appreciate some tips on sites to click on to get the perfect color. So, if anyone's watching, do drop me a line on my comments section and tell me where to go.

A Personal Note

2008-10-16T19:48:00.001-07:00

A biking contest organized by the group

San Juanico biking

I would like to take this occasion...Now,now, that sounds like the introductory speech for a speaker. Let me do it again...To all the guys who have taken the pain and the time of checking on this blog, I just wanted to let you all know that d hubby's group, the OneWay Bike Club is celebrating its two-year anniversary tomorrow. Eavesdropping on hubby's conversations, I've learned that they will be marking the milestone with a bang, a small bang in a beach somewhere in San Jose. So tomorrow, if suddenly you miss them in their usual haunt right by Magsaysay Bouevard after a morning's biking, you know why.

From here the wifey of a true-blue and fanatic member who have come to accept that most Saturday mornings have been permanently robbed of quality family time (joke, joke, joke, am not being sarcastic, really, d hubby's good health and waistline has been worth it), happy anniversary! May your tribe increase and your pedaling legs stronger.

Embracing a worthy cause, ahem...

(photos courtesy of M.N.A.)

Gerry's Grill now in Tacloban

2008-10-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

I got my first taste of Gerry's Grill's smoking menu back in 2001 at the original Tomas Morato branch, a stone's throw away from the ABS-CBN compound, when I was in the middle of my struggles to have a door-opening prefix and all the privileges it entails attached to my name. It was a time of stretched budgets and an an even more stretched schedule of cramming everything I have learned in four years in a five-month time frame.

Going to Gerry's then was a treat my board mates and I gave ourselves after a grueling week of review with our minds demanding a rest from all that legal gobblydegook that was starting to sound like a foreign language. So before any of us suffered a total mental meltdown (of course I exaggerate, no four-letter prefix is worth a visit to the sanitarium, with due apologies for those whose emotional make-up just couldn't take the wringer that is the B__), we decided to give our brains a rest and our mouths and stomachs a respite from the fare at "Lutong Bahay"(that small carenderia in UP Diliman that has customers eating as if they're in an assembly line). The group unanimously chose the restaurant owing to a tidbit we got that its the frequent haunt of ABS-CBN stars, thus, the best place for star-gazing for us probinsyanas. While there were a few howls of protests, the idea of bumping into Jericho Rosales overrode all objections to Gerry's being a bit pricey for our shoestring budgets .

The bar at Gerry's Grill Tacloban branch

Well, we were not disappointed as the guy himself was seated just a few tables from us looking even more cuter than he was on tv. No, of course we didn't fall all over ourselves getting his autograph. We acted like everyone else in the restaurant, real cool, pretending like we didn't know an artista was in our midst, with a few surreptious side glances when we thought knowing was looking. But pretenses aside, the food was great and the sizzling sisig we ordered was worth the dent it made on our relatively shallow pockets then.

So it was with much anticipation that I awaited the opening of this cool grilled place in Tacloban once I got wind of news that a local businessman had gotten a franchise. My friend and I went for dinner on a Wednesday weeks after its soft opening. As if wanting to dash too-high exepctations for a dining place that carried a nationally-known name, notices that went: "this is just our soft-opening, please bear with us as we are still on dry-run" or words to that effect was plastered on all its air-conditioners prompting me to be as gentle as possible in making this post-cum-wannabe restaurant review. Doing so required me to hold my punches, so to speak, on things that didn't quite satisfy me as far as what I would expect a fine-dining haunt should be. Having said that, let me then talk about the good points.

The staff are ever so friendly, smiling and at your beck and call at the snap of a finger. The interiors are well done and in keeping with all Gerry's Grill branches, has a stone and mortar look dominated by the colors orange and red. The comfort rooms are clean and supplied with all the necessary toilet room needs (e.g. toilet paper, hand santizing liquid, air fresheners, etc.). As for the food, all items were reasonably-priced which came as a surprise considering that the place was a franchise. We tried the chopsuey and the sizzling sisig, a star item as far as the Tomas Morato branch was concerned. Well, the fare did not have us singing endless allleluias but it was not so bad either. The vegetables in the chopsuey was cooked just right and the serving was hefty enough for three people to share. It was good enough for, yes, a dry run but still has a lot of catching up to do in order to come at par with its Manila cousin.

The Tomas Morato Gerry's had that hard to define "f" (f as in foodie) factor that makes you want to return and savor more of its food again, and yet again. Up to now when the many choices of places to eat in Manila confounds me, Gerry's is the dependable resto I go to and I never come away disappointed. I actually have a theory of why what works and what makes a foodie haunt click. Taken from a voracious eater's point of view of course and not a chef or cook. Ask my hubby and he will tell you just how good I am in the kitchen, (hahaha, if you have a taste for roasted, a.k.a. burnt, adobo cooked ala carte style). You see, I totally agree that cooking is an art and just like any art takes passion and skill to make one excel at it. You may have everything right, the exact amount of ingredients, fresh and picked straight from the garden, cooking temperatures followed to the letter and a place with an ambiance thats not gonna send Erap saying: "Ambiance, thats very expensive, i haven't ordered any ambiance" yet if the cooking does not come from the heart, it will eventually show and patrons can always tell the subtle difference.

What's my point? The food in GG Tacloban was more than passable but lacked the zing that makes for one unforgettable dining experience. But lets give it time, there's always room for improvement and for the baby that it still is, Gerry's in Tacloban has enough time to find that zing and its heart, foodie heart that is. Last time I checked the place was still on "dry-run" mode and hopefully is in the process of improving its menu. Maybe by the time we come back, Gerry's Grill Tacloban shall have lived up to its name.

waray in the city gets published

2008-10-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

As I've said in my other personal blog, the first is always something and it applies to everything, including getting an editor's nod for your article. You see, last night while I was buying my groceries at the local 24/7 shop, I decided to check this month's issue of the magazine to which I submitted a very short piece of mine, its not much, just your average everday musing. I browsed through it and and saw in quite large print my whole name staring back at me in one of the pages. It's not a lengthy article but seeing your byline on a national glossy for the first time drew a quite heady reaction, at least for me (last time I got a written work published, if you call it that, was way back in highschool, when my feature on graffiti got all of a one- fourth's page space in the school paper). My sister who has had her poems published before was quite amused at my really giddy reaction but I say: be it a few paragraphs, one page or ten pages, the first publication of whatever you have written is a cause for celebration. Someone, somewhere who's supposed to be the expert on this magazine thing, decides that your thoughts are worth printing and sharing to their thousands of readers. Of course, the money that you get paid for submitting the article is a much-welcome bonus (Okay, I'll be honest, the moolah was one of the reasons why I sent the piece in the first place). So indulge me dear readers just this once and take my giddiness with a touch of "gee-she's so excited-she-got-published-I understand totally-cause it's her first time" reaction. Gloating, is not my thing really, but then again, its the no. 1 homestyle magazine in the country (wink,wink, wink).

By the way, I won't be telling you where to look cause I still want to maintain my anonymity, but for those who have an eensi weensie idea already of who I am though they are not really sure, the article is the direct evidence that establishes conclusively my identity (hehehe).

A Sala Set on Wheels

2008-10-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Onli in Da Philippines. A catch phrase that applies to many things uniquely Pinoy. Sometimes it's positive, sometimes its on the other end, but most often than not, the words imply a humorous twist on an otherwise ordinary of way of life for the lowly Filipino who tries to keep his head high while keeping his mind, body and pockets above water in the most trying of times. Stated otherwise, onli in da Philippines is the Pinoy's penchant to make do out of a bad situation in his most innovative way.

Take for instance the "sala" set on wheels. As early back as my grade school years, the jeepneys plying out-of-town routes here in Leyte and even in Samar, have those little benches in between seats, all the better to maximize its capacity never mind if its not allowed under our laws. When the barker can no longer say, "Pito-pito han ito, lima pala an sakay didda" (The seats are good for seven, only five so far, still two places left) deftly ignoring that the seven meant seven people of normal sizes, the five includes three obese ones, and that for two to squeeze in they must be of the extremely malnourished types, then out come the little benches for more passengers. The eensie weenie discomforts of public commute, yet one has to sympathize with the jeepney drivers, out of every liter of gasoline, every peso must be squeezed and packing them in even as tightly as sardines is the only answer. I would want to include here a picture of such a jeepney but I'm not ready yet for the curious stares I'm likely to get should I take one during one of my public rides. Hmmm, perhaps I can bribe the hubby with an "in house second honeymoon" (hehehe) for him to take the shot...Fat chance.

The Accidental Mountaineer - My Mt. Danglay Misadventures

2008-10-01T23:15:00.000-07:00

I say "Fear Factor" pales in comparison to what I foolishly did half a lifetime ago. I went mountain climbing, me who has had a fear of height since as far back as I can remember. Well, its not really a mountain, but they call it Mt. Danglay for reasons unknown. You can view it from the port in the city, its peak jutting out amongst shorter cousins and is part of Basey, Samar. Its actually a semi, since its more than a hill. Anyway, mountaineering was all the rage then and I still needed some Physical Education units so I signed myself up to an Outdoor-sort of class in the State University's branch here in Tacloban. An option during the class was to go on a real climb somewhere out of town and the place picked was a Mount_____ (name escapes me now) somewhere in Negros Oriental (or is it Occidental?). It wasn't mandatory considering the risk and expenses involved but not knowing what a real climb entailed, I counted myself in. Before we went on the scheduled climb, the group who decided to join went on a practice climb on Mt. Danglay. Guess who was with them? Yap, I was. There were ten of us including our Business Management Professor who was an enthusiast (he once joined a cigarette brand challenge in the United States).

We set off for Danglay early morning by banca (the local canoe) since the San Juanico Bridge was then in a state of repair. We arrived at the foot of the wannabe mountain after a short walk from shore where we embarked. Up we then went carrying with us all the equipment we would need: ropes, lunchboxes and a stick that we used to latch on the ground in order to steady ourselves. We actually had so much fun, the gang being a merry mix of jokers and comedians. Everything went fine for me, no matter how hard, including thrashing and cutting wild grass as we made our own trail to the summit. I was not so conscious then of high we were going up as the initial part of the climb is not that vertical and the grass camouflaged the drop below. Halfway through the top, we stopped for some lunch and had a short rest. I do remember laughing all the time , that's how funny and outgoing my climbmates were. Nothing indicated the fact that soon I would become the punchline once the climb was over. I can smile about it now, but back then, I was so pikon (piqued) hearing the jokes that I even stopped talking to them for almost a semester. But that's me, kinda sensitive at times but mellowed now a bit by the years.

So your wondering now what happened in that climb more than a decade ago? Guess my fear of heights caught up with me and the mountain suddenly took a 90 degree vertical turn. Nearing the summit, we came upon a sheer face of rock that was virtually 90 degrees from where we stood. Almost like a wall. We had to scale it to get to the top, there was no other way. Believe me, if there was I would have found it, I was that desperate not to have to climb that sheer rock. I was third from the last to go, all the girls were already up there, it was just me and our professor left and another classmate. When it was turn, I really panicked, as in the works, I froze and my fingers refused to tug myself up the rope (they called it rappel). What really got it in for me was I cried for my mama, literally. Yup, there i was, dangling in a rope, on a mountain in Samar, just a year short of my twentieth birthday, and bawling myself out. I said, no, I just couldn't do it. Eventually our enterprising professor found a way to get me up there, what that was, i'd rather keep private. Unfortunately for me, the rest of my climbmates were not of the same mindset. They found it worthwhile to tell the rest of the class back in the low and flat land of what happened and for a time I couldn't hear enough of it during classes. Anyhow, soon we got to the peak, and for all our efforts (including my unwilling comedic act), we stayed a mere five minutes. The trip downhill was a lot easier as it was on the other side, and, no, I didn't anymore slip to any crying fits.

Looking back, I said to myself, what actually got into me that I agreed to go on that climb? Facing my fears? Yah, right, like telling a claustrophobe to go try putting himself inside a coffin.
Nonetheless, for all its worth, the experience was still worth it, and despite the punchlines, am quite mighty proud of having done it.

Bahandi Trade Fair 2008

2008-09-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

(graphics and layout by Jet Amago)

"Bahandi" means treasure in the Waray-waray dialect and on September 26-30, a fair of Eastern Visayas treasures will be on display at the 2008 Bahandi Trade Fair. This includes the best of food, handicrafts, wooden furniture, bags, accessorie, household items, and eco-tourist spots that the islands of Samar and Leyte has to offer. This is an annual event of the Bahandi Producers Association of Eastern Visayas (BPAEV) with financial and technical assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Office VIII, CITEM and OTOP.

I urge those in the area to visit as prices are most reasonable and way below Metro Manila quotations. The hardwood living room sets are bestsellers and a steal if you compare it with high-end shops with quality on a par if not better...And for those who have been following my other blog, http://everythingwaray.blogspot.com/, you can find in this fair the delicacies I've written about such as the pastillas of Mana Lumen; the moron of Abuyog, and the binagol of Dagami. No need to wait for pasalubong from visiting relatives. Catch it while you can, just drop yourself at the Shaw MRT station and take a walk for some good exercise on your way to SM Mega Mall mega trade hall where the fair will be held.

Waray Goes To Manila

2008-09-18T19:34:00.001-07:00

NAIA 3

My family and I were gone to Manila for a week. We arrived there on Thursday and the first thing that greeted us was the spanking new Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. Stepping out of the airplane tube and into the airport, it was a far cry from the old Manila Domestic Airport with its outdated equipment and peeling infrastructure. Everything is spic and span with toilets clean and working. The NAIA 3 is modern and its a mostly steel and concrete structure. Here, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) personnel do go by their slogan, "We go the extra SMILE" and are friendly and ready always to assist. At a glance, it is comparable to first world airports that I have seen on movies and the tv. There are walkalators for the weary travelers at certain parts of the quite long hallways. A word of advise for those who would like to save on their travels, the "official" taxis are the yellow ones and are found on the taxi waiting line but if you go a little further away, the ordinary taxis are there which have a cheaper flag down and per kilometer rate.

The only mild irritant of our NAIA 3 experience was the "express" counter of one of the local airlines on our trip back. I had to get our e-tickets which we purchased over the internet and we waited for almost an hour and a half in a line that was barely moving. Luckily, I had already adjusted to Manila timelines determined by the traffic gridlocks and set out for the airport five hours before our departure time so we arrived there with a good two and a half hours before boarding time. Nevertheless, waiting this time was not a chore owing to the good airconditioning system and comforable seats that were all over the place.

The NAIA 3 Departure area with the check in counters in the background

Malls

As soon as we unpacked, off to Trinomal Mall we went as it was the nearest one from where we were staying. It is just off North EDSA and right across SM, however, traffic is quite slow as it is on a busy thoroughfare. It has a well-designed common square with landscaped trees and fountains, a trademark of all Ayala malls. You can find all major brands here including foreign ones like Debenhams and the GAP. At the time of our visit there was a sale for "high-end" names for BPI credit card holders and I got a GAP blouse at 5o% discount. My daughter had much fun on the children's rides located on the uppermost floor and the hubby got the record for the heaviest "smash-on-a-hammer" winning us 10 points. Yup, my better half is on the muscular and biggie side, so people hesitate to mess around with me (hehehe).

Php100 WIFI

As I've said earlier, our trip was mall-filled and the gargantuan Mall of Asia was on our itinerary. We went on a Sunday when traffic was lighter (you would have noticed by now, most of our trips are determined by the heaviness or lightness of the traffic, that's how big it figures there). Well, as they say, it indeed is the biggest in Asia and the boast is not an empty one. We confined ourselves to the North wing as the scooters were only available for the aged and the handicapped. Short of feigning illness, there was no way we could get aboard one to go to the other end and walking was out of the question in a place so big. There were so many people and I guessed it was because they wanted to escape the infernal heat. It was here that we went into a Gloria Jeans coffeeshop that charged Php100/hour for access to its wifi internet connection. A highway robbery considering that its even offered for free in other java joints and its only Php20 per hour in Internet cafes and I rightly told the cashier so. But we had no choice as we had to buy our airline tickets over the Internet. But still, the place had one of the best chillers around, try the vanilla caramel chiller, real yummy.

Traffic, traffic, traffic

Daily sight on Taft Avenue, bumper to bumper traffic

While I have been born, raised, and lived in a city, Tacloban, it is nothing compared to the big metropolis that is Metro Manila. Traffic,while a minor irritation and lasting only for 15 to 30 minutes during rush hours and only on Mondays and Fridays here, in Manila it is a horrendous hours long gridlock that people have to live and contend with daily for the whole of the week. It is such that intineraries have to be carefully planned so that you don't waste the day stuck in traffic. Travel from Quezon City to Makati takes two hours to two hours and a half on rush hours so we skipped the latter. We also always looked for streets that escaped it that one time it got us into trouble. We entered a one way road and got cited for a ticket as my sister's pleadings and feigned tears did not get us off.

Honest taxi drivers, "magulang" taxi drivers

What's the difference between an honest taxi driver and an unscrupolous one? Two hundred pesos. That's the fare gap between the taxi we took upon arriving at the airport that took us to my sister's place and the taxi we rode in to get to the airport on our trip home. It was the same route, same non-rush hours yet the first charged us more than Php400.00 while the latter charged us only Php200.00. The good apples are always thrown in with bad ones and its always the latter that gives all of them a bad name. The hubby gave a generous tip to the honest one and a mean stare for the not-so-honest one.

Fine Food

I've always make it a point when I travel to dine in an establishment that has no franchise in where I live, so on this vacation, we ate at a Chinese restaurant and a Japanese place that had no branch in Tacloban. We tried Super Bowl at Asia Mall, a Chinese restaurant. I liked its eggplant stewed in a secret sauce. Delicious. The lemon chicken, however, was too sweet for my taste. We also ate at Teriyaki Boy, for almost authentic Japanes cuisine. I whined about the small servings and in reply my sister gave me a lesson on Japanese eating culture. That's why they are so slim because eating is an art that is savored not only enjoyed and is done in small morsels, so she said. Well, I still say the price of the maki is too big for three small pieces. Again, sis said its because the ingredients are rare and authentic, thus pricey. As for the sashimi, I still have to acquire a taste for it.

Shopping

If for anything else, it's the shopping choices that's so aplenty in Manila that holds the greatest attraction for me. I had to control my shopping urges or else I would have made me and the hubby incur humongous credit card debts and have us eat bulad (dried fish, a poor man's fare)for the rest of our lives (of course I'm joking) to pay up.

There are so many stores and brands to choose from, from clothes, household items, make-up, food and so much more. I stuck to much budget though, and had enough left of my pocket money to put in the bank. Yes, that's how thrifty I am, when everyone would rather spend all their money on a vacation, I like to keep some left for the porcelain piggy. But that did not stop me from buying things on sale. Got some curtains with 20% of the price slashed off, clothes for my daughter, clothes for me, uhhmm, for the hubby, I let him do his own shopping, which he actually prefers (hehehe).

Back from a Break, Manila Airports, Long Queues, Malls, Traffice, No Yaya atbp.

2008-09-18T19:34:00.000-07:00

I'm back from a week long vacation. I was supposed to go there for business and pleasure, but due to some kinks, miscommunications, bureaucratic red tape and circuitous processes in the legislative branch of government that does not serve its purpose, the business part was not attained, but thankfully, the pleasure part was. My family got real quality bonding time and I got a crash course in how to mix mama duties with household ones, budgeting and itinerary planning. It was just me, the hubby and my three year old daughter sans yaya-cum-household help and while it was quite tiresome, it felt great to take care of our baby all by our twosome. It was bonding heaven and in a both-parents-working-household, its a rarity that must be treasured and strived for. The hubby took care of the cooking and washing of our daughter's clothes and I was responsible for bathing her and washing the dishes. We stayed at my sister's house in Quezon City that was steaming hot in the afternoons so we took refuge in malls that was nearby. Trinoma Mall was just a fifteen minute commute by taxi and in the week that was we were a regular fixture with our stroller where our baby was comfortably esconced. For more of metro malls, watch out for my coming posts on our Manila trip.

All in all, the vacation was well worth the expense, time away from work and sweat from the sweltering Manila sun.

Off on a Break

2008-09-09T02:22:00.000-07:00

Guys, I will be taking a long-awaited vacation with my family, so waray in the city will be quiet for a while. Yah, I know, I can connect anywhere but this time there will be no distractions, just me, d hubby and my baby. Will be back in a week...Ciao

A Funny Felllow Called Pete

2008-09-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

I'm now on panic mode. Was lying down last night and happened to look down below. Guess what I saw, just my tummy and nothing else!!!!!! Golly mia, mama mia, am I turning into Pete, the funny guy of my grade years?

For those of you out there who had the lucky break to have your elementary years in this then laboratory school, now university in the city known for its, ahem, quality education, and you had Miss C. as your teacher in Grade One, then you have an inkling as to who Pete is. (Oh,oh, this post is getting warm as to my real identity).

For those in the dark, let me introduce you to Pete...

Pete is a funny fellow.
Pete, who's Pete?
He's a boy so fat that he CAN'T SEE HIS FEET AT ALL
My, he's so fat.
And you know, he eats five meals a day.
Five meals a day???....

For the rest about Pete, view in the comments section from those in the know (calling all you you-know-who-I'm-talking-about, please answer)

Abortion Roads No More

2008-09-03T01:24:00.001-07:00

My hubby read my post about flights to Borongan and took exception to my mention of Samar's "abortion" roads. He said, and I quote, "Di na gud duro ka lubak-lubak an kalsada, asphaltado na an kasagaran han tikadto ha Catbalogan"(It's not that pot-holed anymore and most of the road to Catbalogan is already asphalted) end of quote. In fairness, it really is a lot better than a year ago. This pock-marked stretch of the national highway has now undergone a "facial" but if you ask me, what it really needs is a "diamond peel". Its smooth sailing, or should I say driving, all the way from Tacloban City to Paranas, Samar, but from thereon, on certain portions of the road, the motions of the car imitate the undulating waves of the sea (if you get my drift).

The "diamond peel", er construction and rehabilitation, is still ongoing and hopefully by the end of the year (fingers crossed) the infamous roads would have totally erased its "killer" moniker.

Travel Light

2008-09-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

It seems Cebu Pacific Air has taken the phrase "travel light" to a whole new level with its newest "go-lite" promo. This is how it works, you get a P200 slash from your "go" fares if you check in with only a hand-carried luggage. Neat, huh? And to make sure you don't try getting around its "no-bagage-check-in-rule", they will slap you P100 penalty over and above the P200 that you have to pay back in case you try sneaking in the baggage come check-in time.

Now that were on the subject, why not "travel light" indeed without all the excess emotional baggage? Time to unload all past grudges, long-standing insecurities, unresolved fears and needless worries and anxieties. It's just a drag lugging all these around when you can have an "oh-so-light, I-am- free, life-is-good, I-can-do-it " feeling when you don't have that proverbial chip on your shoulder.

So take my advise as you journey down this avenue called life and "go-lite". Make friends with your enemies (if that's not possible, then forgive then in your hearts), kiss and make up with your estranged loved ones, go climb a mountain and overcome your fear of heights, sing in front of the mirror, "I am beautiful, no matter what they say..."(with apologies to Cristina Aguilera), go call that boy/girl that caught your eye, and keep faith, leave to God what is beyond your control (huwag naman kay Batman). Easier said than done? Then repeat after me, "I am beautiful no matter what they say, words can't bring me down..

Good News for Estehanons (Eastern Samarenos)

2008-09-02T00:17:00.000-07:00

SeaAir now have flights to Borongan Airport twice a week!!! For all of you who wants a faster way to the eco tourist spots of Samar, flying is now a way to go and you can kiss those "abortion" roads good bye...

Will Still Be Posting in Everything Waray

2008-09-01T00:38:00.000-07:00

Guys, I will continue to post in my everything waray blog, so do visit it still just as you do here.

Just came from Samar and inspiration struck as I saw one of those people carrying what is known as an alat, a native basket made of uway, a kind of grass that grows in Samar. Why not a post about them? Tried to interview one of these alat-carrying folks but failed to catch them as I woke up late on Sunday, the town's tabo. They are there only from 5 to 6 in the morning and left by the time I arrived there. I will do my best to wake up early next time on my return trip to Samar so you can get a glimpse of the life "behind an alat".

The Banig of My Childhood

2008-08-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

It was no thicker than two cartolinas and measured two by three meters. Yet it was big enough to contain the memories of a languid childhood and siestas in the afternoon.

A colorful banig from Basey, Samar

Many years back when we were still between the ages of nine and thirteen, every afternoon on school breaks, my sisters and I gathered in the sala and set aside the sofas to spread out the banig on the floor. We packed our then still slim bodies across it and tried to catch the sleep that proved to be elusive in the wake of anticipation of the playtime that was to come. So we closed our eyes and pretended to sleep when Mama would come around to check or else forfeit the snack that was to be our reward for taking the afternoon nap.

Then on weekends, my cousins, aunts and uncles on my mother's side would converge at lola's house and the result would be one fun ruckus. We slept on the floor, on banigs rolled out in the sala while the adults played mahjong.

We bought the banig from from the stalls lining the street immediately after the post office building, just below the Gran Hotel that never was. There you would find(and still find) all sorts of banig (sleeping mats) made from the "tikog", a reed plant that thrives in swampy areas. There were the colorful ones which are more expensive and then there were the simple mats which could only be rolled as it was too thick to fold unlike its more colorful sisters. All these mats were sourced from the small coastal town of Basey, Samar, the place where the paraglaras (women weavers) make the banig beneath its cool caves.

The banig we used to sleep on many years back has long been tucked away and is now frayed at the edges. It has since been replaced by the new one I bought, and like in my earlier years, my daughter now sleeps in it for afternoon naps after being lulled to a slumber by the tv and a bottle of "susoy" (milk). The banig of my childhood has now come full circle.

(Photo courtesy of Bimbo Tan of OTOP Phils.)

My Blue Ocean

2008-08-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

I am a baby to the world of blogging having discovered the joys of "at-the-click-of-a-button" online publishing just this July. In the beginnng words like "html", "css", "widgets", "templates" were as comprehensible to me as French, meaning none at all. In time I could talk about them with the working knowledge of wannabe techie. I learned by assimilation and I learned by osmosis, visting other blogs and different help groups and fora. I posted my queries and got my answers in nanoseconds (a new kind of time division in the virtual world)

I started with a very personal blog, one that contained mostly musings, ramblings and occasional rantings. Then I made one that had a specific market in mind, a niche, you would call it, catering to people of my hometown who have gone on to search for the veritable greener pastures and have uprooted themselves from the place they called home. But then a technical glitch occured forcing me to make but yet another blog. Just in time as I came upon a discovery in my blog surfing, my niche was not a niche after all. So many blogs were made for the same purpose and contained similar posts that my site was drowning in the ocean of millions of blogs. It was time to create my blue ocean. My blue ocean in a sea of "waray waray" blogsites.

So what is to be expected from this blog? As its title suggests, it shall contain stories uniquely "waray-waray", of what makes him tick and what sets him apart from the rest. A post shall be a story in itself and, if time and inspiration permits, worth retelling. I do not have yet the means of how to achieve this, what I only have now is the vision. But as they say in the movies, "it started with a dream...".

HOme is Now Also Here...

2008-08-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new home... I decided to add this new blog as a technical glitch happened in my earlier blog.

I'll be building everything from scratch and the task is quite daunting. Stay with me as I still have to get my bearings. Just like moving out in real time and in the real world, moving in the virtual world means a lot of adjustments to make.

But I will continue to make posts in everything waray until waray in the city gains enough viewership. Just like a mother hen, the former will still be very much around until her chick, waray in the city, can cluck on her own. Or I might decide to continue maintaining both blogs so do visit both.

To all that have taken the effort to click on the link from everything waray, I'll endeavour to make this a better blog. Hope you return for more. Till my next post...