Thought Bubbles...

musings, rantings, and what-have-you, about my own small part of the world, and my 'sometimes' not so-ordinary life...something to read and reflect on, and which hopefully will bring a smile to your face... :)

Monday, September 27, 2004

Another kiddie sick day :(

Paolo is not feeling well. :( He's had a high fever since Saturday night, on and off. I was worried since he didn't have any cough or colds, so was wondering what brought on the fever. He was also complaining of tummy ache and having the feeling of vomiting. So brought him to the hospital for check up yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. Urinalysis was normal. According to the doctor, his tonsils were a little red though not inflamed. So we were just sent home and advised to continue giving him lots of fluids, and paracetamol for his fever.

Hopefully, it's just the flu and not anything serious like dengue. I have to admit, since Paolo got dengue last year, have become paranoid each time the kids get sick. I remember, Paolo was really hit hard by dengue and had to be placed in the ICU unit for a few days since his heart beat was slow/weak and his blood pressure was low. He had to have plasma transfusion, too. And i distinctly remember that after just a few minutes of the transfusion, he felt itchy and got red all over. He developed myocarditis, too. But thank GOD, he survived stage IV of dengue hemorrhagic fever. We stayed in the hospital for a week, but Paolo had to be absent from school for a whole month because of his myocarditis.

I know any parent with a sick child can relate to my feelings of worry and helplessness. Not to mention the sleepless nights. It really is so sad when a child gets sick. All i could do then (and now) is to pray that it's nothing serious and that Paolo quickly recovers.

100 best things about being Pinoy (author unknown)

100 Best Things About Being Pinoy (author unknown)

FROM the 1896 Revolution to the first Philippine Republic, the Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolt, and the tiger cub economy, history marches on. Thankfully, however, some things never change. Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for life. They're the indelible stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins. They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self- explanatory you only need mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from all over this Centennial-crazed country and in no particular order, are a hundred of the best things that make us unmistakably Pinoy.

1. Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat five times a day?
2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes.
Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.
3. Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want.
4. Pinoy humor and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really.
5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable amounts?
6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.
7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.
8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.
9. Beaches! With 7,000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.
10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.
12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot every time we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.
13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and"Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly.
14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle.
15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best.
16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our storytelling.
17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to your seat.
18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeno peppers. Messy but delicious.
19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful gowns.
20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto.
21. Pakidala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well.
22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.
23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven.
24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer.
25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is.
26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.
27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes.
28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort.
29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as Php 3.00, with a complimentary dusting of polluted air.
30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art.
31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.
32. Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.
33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the possibilities!
34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.
35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori.
36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon, longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the guys who put sugar (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum!
37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.
38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.
39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the verticaly-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight.
41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and cholesterol-rich chasers.
42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We'll survive Erap.
43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string.
44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all.
45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it.
46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage.
47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket and help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.
48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot.
49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle East, as well?
50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing.
51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home.
52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well!
53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the sun.
54. Handwoven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.
55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several times.
56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear.
57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for almost anything.
58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global marketplace.
59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV. 60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus.
61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig.
62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos.
63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like one.
64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil.
65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.
66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright.
67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, overaccessorized jeepneys and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it.
68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart- shaped package.
69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.
70. Street food: Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.
71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.
72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.
73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando Malay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women who spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique.
75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers: "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak,""Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and Florante--living examples of our musical gift.
76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness-- especially now that those darned candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!
77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.
78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other.
79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.
80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"
81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.
82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes).
83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime, anywhere.
84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look.
85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans.
86. Filipino Christmas. The world's longest holiday season. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion.
87. Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or referral.
88. Festivals: Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones.
89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, karisa, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm.
90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress.
91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materialize during a wake?
92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.
93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market?
94. All Saints' Day. In honoring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live.
95. Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!
96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them.
97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.
98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spoliarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed ricefields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.
99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.
100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

4 lbs.

I recently lost 4 lbs. While this would normally be a time for rejoicing for me, am also wondering as to the cause of the weight i lost. I'd like to think that the lost weight is the result of my yogurt-eating, salad-chomping, badminton-playing days. But i really think this is more the result of the sleep lost the past few days. Hmmm... Still, i think i'll rejoice for the weight lost. :)

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Wanted: Globe Trekker host

Was watching a show on Discovery Travel & Adventure Channel and saw this ad for a new ‘Globe Trekker’ host. The show’s producer will be coming to Asia to look for a new host. Hmmm… am tempted… (read my blog last august 12 and you’ll know why). :)

They're looking for someone between 21-40, loves to travel, with a "personality brighter than the bright lights of Las Vegas, wit faster than a bullet train, who thinks he/she is greater than the Great Wall of China". Well, i really wouldn't know about those qualifications (he he he... ;-> ), but i do love to travel! Wouldn't it be sooo cool to actually host a travel show? Wow! I wish! :D

Well, anyway, Globe Trekker is looking for a new face, a new personality to do the show. Too bad the roadshow isn’t coming to the Philippines, though. Tsk tsk tsk... ;-> The roadshow is passing thru Singapore and KL, so anyone interested? Just watch out for the ad on Discovery Travel & Adventure channel to get all the details.

Hands To Heaven

"Tonight, I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight, you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness"

This song by Breathe has such special meaning to me now, since Patrick started singing this to me. Yup, my 4-year old sang this to me and i was sooo surprised. complete with actions ha! Well, okay, he can't really say all the words yet, so it comes out sounding something like this...

"...nyt...i n ... your sweet ress...
Hold me n d...ness
n-nyt u... my... less ness
u reli my ...ness"
:D

Well, you get what i mean. Bulol pa eh! :D But it still sounds sooo nice to hear him try to sing it. And he's in tune ha! :D

Paolo naman loves the song "Lady in Red". Probably because it's one of the songs i sing to him at night so he can sleep. I've sung it to him so many times that he knows the lyrics now, and actually sings this to me. How sweet, no? I feel so lucky (blessed, really!) to have such loving sons. :D

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

AR5 ending

Was watching the final 2 episodes of Amazing Race 5 but had to attend to an important phone call that I didn’t get to watch the last leg of the race. I did get to see who won, though. It was ____ and ____! (I can’t mention who won, as a friend of mine hadn’t seen the final episode either and will just kill me if I ruin the ending for her). :D

Anyway, I already know what I’ll be doing this coming Sunday night. I’ll be watching the replay of the final 2episodes of the Amazing Race. Can’t wait to see how they won!

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Sick Days

I feel another sick day coming on. Since yesterday my throat was sore, and i'm coughing and have a runny nose. So i didn't sleep that well last night. Tossed and turned; thinking about so many things.

Waking up earlier today, i felt a little better. Throat still sore but at least i don't have a headache anymore. No fever, either so this is probably just simple colds and cough. Don't want to take meds yet, so am just taking in lots more water and juice to ease my sore throat.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

Day-off

The trip to the mall was such fun. It didn’t matter that it was the yaya’s day-off, either. First stop was the amusement center. Loaded the kids’ membership game cards which they squandered in less than an hour of play at the different video games. Then off to lunch, which at the kids’ request was flame grilled hamburgers, country fries, and mushroom gravy dip. A little window shopping, then next stop was the toy store. Where else?!

Wasn’t planning on buying anything. But when I saw that the Ravensburger Handmade Art collection puzzles I had been eyeing were on sale (and at 50% off at that!), I was suckered into buying. Two, actually! :)

Bought 2 designs, by Van Gogh and Cezanne. I’ve always wanted to buy those puzzles and complete it with the 2 kids, then afterwards, have them framed and hung in our bedroom. Think it would be so nice once it’s done. Can’t wait! :D

As for the kids, they found “Plug & Play TV Games” which featured 5 games with Disney characters. It was pretty cool since no game console was required, as it said in the box, just plug and play! So it was no surprise that the kids were so eager to get home after I bought it for them.

The kids’ TV viewing have been severely limited, and they’re only allowed to watch TV during the weekends. So the same rule applies for the video games.


Saturday, September 18, 2004

AR 5

Have been hearing from relatives and friends alike about how the Philippine leg of Amazing Race 5 went. Didn’t get to watch the live, nor the delayed same day telecast, as I was in the office then. So am certainly not gonna miss the replay this Sunday. I have heard enough about the show to know that they aren’t going to have to eat “balut”. :)

I remember an episode in “Fear Factor” when the contestants had to eat a variety of gooey “food”(if you can call them that), including boiled pig liver pureed into a “juice”, and if I remember correctly, a bowl of worms! Yuck!!! And I couldn’t believe that the contestants preferred everything else over the balut! Ha ha ha! I'd take the balut anytime! But then, considering how it was described by the host (“duck fetus/embryo”), I couldn’t blame them either for their being "squeamish" about it. :)

Saturday duty

The weekend I was looking forward to? Ha! Tough luck! Forgot that I had work in the morning. Saturday afternoon was spent bringing the kids to the barber for their haircut, then grocery-shopping. After some rest, went to hear mass. A day well spent. Promised the kids we’d go to the mall tomorrow. Yehey! :D

Friday, September 17, 2004

Busy, busy

It’s a very, very busy day. Heck, it was such a busy week! Am certainly looking forward to the weekend…

Badminton fever

Yup, i've caught the badminton bug. Actually, have been playing for about a year now with some co-workers. We play 2x a week, for 2 hours each. Actually if we weren't busy on the weekends, we'll also play then. Aside from the additional playing days, we're also seriously considering getting formal instruction from a badminton instructor, one who was on the national team, no less!

I can't really say that i've lost weight (or inches, for that matter), but i still do it for the exercise. It's actually quite tiring, but i've got to admit, it's quite fun! Especially competing with other players.

As for the gear, had to invest in a good racquet. Non-marking shoes are next on my list, though they can wait. Non-essential items, but which will nonetheless help to achieve that serious "badminton player - look" are shirts, shorts, jogging pants, skorts, socks, headbands, kneepads, and so on... And they don't come cheap, mind you! Which gives me an idea... :)

Thursday, September 16, 2004

More "goodbyes"

I just found out today that my seminarian friend Gonzalo (who is from Colombia) is going back home first week of October. another sad goodbye. This year, Gonzalo will be the third friend of mine to leave the Philippines. First it was Mario (a missionary brother) who went back to his native Mexico after a 2-year stint here in the Philippines. Next to leave was Juan, an assistant to the ambassador of Venezuela, who left around June of this year. Now Gonzalo. Hopefully, Gonzalo is leaving with good memories of the Philippines. Same with Mario and Juan. ARRIVEDERCI, my friends! And hope we get to see each other again soon. GOD BLESS!

New and improved

Hey, i just updated my blog yet again... and added a link to a friend's blog, as well as added haloscan so i can monitor the comments regarding my postings. I think i'm getting the hang of this. Naks! Actually, can't take credit for it since haloscan was so easy to use. There's an auto-install for blog users like me. Me? Definitely not a techno-geek, no siree! so this auto-install was most welcome!

Besides, have gotten a lot of help from my more "enlightened" friends. (Hey, pepe! thanks again!)

New postings coming soon!
Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

The origin of the barong tagalog

I got this article through email recently (thanks, Jen!) and felt that this was an interesting piece of information about our "barong tagalog".

This was written by a Dr. Flores (i'm sorry i don't know his full name), and wanted to share this with you. Read on. (you learn something new everyday!) :D

================
Nobody ever told me why the barong is the national dress of the Philippines. So I did my research, I'm sure most of you know this but just in case you don't.

During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines (over 300 years from 1561-1889), the barong tagalog was required by the Spanish government for Filipinos (indios) to be worn at most times to show the difference between the rich and the poor. He said that the poor who serve the rich must always be in uniform. Take their chauffeurs, maids, and employees as examples. They are in uniform to immediately distinguish them from the employers.

When the Spaniards colonized the Filipinos, they had to make it abundantly clear who the boss was through the imposition of a dress code. Men were not allowed to tuck their shirttails in. That was the mark of his inferior status.

Second, the cloth material should be transparent so that he could not conceal any weapon that could be used against the masters.

Third, as a precaution on thievery, pockets are not allowed on the shirt.

By the turn of the century a new middle class began to emerge among the Filipinos. These were known as the principalia. They have mastered Spanish laws and were able to obtain title to lands. They became successful in business and agriculture and sent their sons to be educated abroad. They were privileged to build their houses in the poblacion around the plaza near the seats of power. Only a member of the principalia could be addressed by the title DON, and only they were allowed to vote. They had all the trappings of power and status, but for one undeniable fact: they still had to wear their shirttails out, if only to remind them that they were still Indios.

What the Spanish authorities did not smother out was the Filipino's will power and determination to psychologically conquer their colonial masters through improvisation and reinterpretation. The Filipino's stylistic bongga (flashy dresser) was a reaction against the overt discrimination and insensitive oppression of the Spaniards.

For example, Filipinos were forbidden to use imported silk and fabrics for their Barong, so they ingeniously used pineapple leaves to weave the pinya jusi cloth of the Barong, turning the outfit into such delicate material, of luminous silky rich mixture much finer than silk. And to add insult to injury, they hand-embroidered the front with such exquisite abandon: calado and hand-work all over.

Palgrave, the ethnographer noted, "The capitan's shirt was the native barong, of fine and delicate fiber, embroidered and frilled;
it was light and cool and not tucked in the trousers." (Corpuz, 74)

The Barong Tagalog gained its power, prestige, and status when President Quezon, the first Filipino president, declared it the
National dress. The status of the lowly inferior Barong thus became another symbol of Filipinos' resistance to colonization.

After World War II, Philippine presidents began wearing the Barong Tagalog at their installation into office and on every formal state occasion. In contemporary times the Barong Tagalog is the power dress. As an abogado de campanilla, you cannot afford not to wear the Barong Tagalog when arguing a case in Philippine courts. Today, every visitor and foreign dignitary invited to a Malacanang Palace state function must, by necessity, and dictated by protocol, be dressed to the nines in a Barong Tagalog. The invitations specifically say come in "Barong" instead of the traditional "Coat and Tie".

Thus, every one invited to dinner at the Presidential Palace and in many Filipino homes will unknowingly and unwittingly have to experience directly what it feels to have to wear his shirttails out, to suffer the indignity of having the material of his barong
transparent so that he can not conceal any weapon; and horrors, to be accused directly of incipient thievery by having no pockets in his barong to put the silver.

So, when El Senor Spanish Ambassador is invited to a state dinner, you can say, "Aaaah, what sweet revenge!"

Mabuhay ang Pilipino !
----------------------------
Written by Dr. Flores, a Math Professor

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Playboy in the making?

It was Paolo's field trip last Sunday, and Patrick and I accompanied him to the theater to watch a play. While at the theater lobby, the kids were goofing around as usual. Since it was cold, i asked Patrick if he wanted to wear his jacket. Then added, "what do you like?"

to which my simply precious 4-year old replied, " i like ... GIRLS! " , then laughing out loud. Grabe! That comment really floored me. And the way he said it... he was actually looking around at the female students around him! Gosh, i don't want to be a grandmother while so young! :)

There was this other instance when Patrick was younger (3 years old or so). My yaya recounted an incident which happened while they were at a drugstore. While waiting in line, Patrick had tapped a teenage girl who was in mini skirt. When the girl looked down at him, Patrick made a "woo-hoo" sound, sort of like his version of a whistle. Gosh! Where does he come up with these things? So unlike his kuya Paolo who's the shy, quiet type! Paolo takes after his mommy. :) Patrick, a future playboy? I pray not!

Monday, September 13, 2004

On being a Filipino

Here's a site which was recently recommended to me by a friend of mine. It includes lists on "The Best Things about being Filipino", "48 ways to know if you're a real Filipino" and so much more! Read it and enjoy! :D

http://www.jeepneygang.com/bola/lists.html

Sunday, September 12, 2004

Book idea ?

Still haven’t finished reading “Running From Safety” by Richard Bach. Basically it’s the story of a younger version of Richard Bach (“Dickie”) and the present-day one, and their “conversations”. It has an interesting enough premise. What would the older Richard Bach write in a book for his younger version to guide him in his life?

It got me to thinking about my own life. If I could, what would I say to my younger me? Warn me of wolves in sheep’s clothing? Be less trusting/gullible? Go out with friends more? Worry less about what other people think? Hmmm…so many things to say. Advice on love, money, friends, career, and life in general. Hmmm, I think I could write a book on that subject alone. Maybe something for my kids to read. Hopefully, advice they'll find useful. Let me sleep on that.

Saturday, September 11, 2004

Antics

In church earlier tonight, the kids were restless, especially Patrick. I didn’t bring Patrick any milk as I wanted to prevent him from sleeping. Halfway through the mass, the little one started acting sleepy and positioning himself to lie down on the pew. When I stopped him, telling him that sleeping was not allowed in church, he just pointed to the Santo Entierro (the figure of the dead Christ, lying down). I could only shake my head and laugh as I understood what he meant. Tuso talaga! HA HA HA! :D

I really find the kids' antics so funny. Even the elderly couple beside us found it difficult to stifle their laughs especially when Patrick started lipsynching the words to the final mass song, together with 'operatic' swaying of the arms. Paolo naman is fond of knock-knock jokes. Each time he hears a new one, he tries it out on me. The kids' can really make me laugh. Am thinking a career in show biz for the kids may not be far behind. Future stage mother? ;-> HA HA HA! :D

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Relax...

Walking home earlier tonight, i had a lot in mind. I had just come from my second interview, and was processing all the information in my head. Expectations (theirs and mine), the nature of the job, things to do, people to see... so many ideas and thoughts running around in my head. It's enough to make me dizzy. But at the same time, excited and exhilarated by things to come, what can happen, what will happen... ahhhh!

Was so caught up in my thoughts that i didn't realize i was walking so fast, and almost missed the spot where i was to take a ride home. Oh well. Better to think about these things now while i'm awake rather than have these thoughts invade my dreams.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Large blog?

It’s official! I have a large blog! (kinda sounds like a dirty word! Ha ha ha!)… Anyway, I was re-publishing my blog after adding a new post, and whereas before it took less than a minute to update my blog, now it took forever! Okay, okay, that’s an exaggeration. It actually took at least 8 minutes (yep, I counted). Well, blame it on my enthusiasm in posting, and updating my blog. He he he… :D

Russian siege

A friend recently sent me a powerpoint file with pictures of the victims during the Russian siege on a school. Imagine, 250 dead, mostly children! It was so sad! Seeing pictures of children, half-naked, being taken out of the school on stretchers. Soooo sad hearing their stories, of how they weren't fed or given water. My heart goes out to the victims, and their families who were affected by this act of terrorism. So inhuman for these terrorists to prey on children. Heartless and ruthless!

Today being Mama Mary’s birthday, let us all pray that this sort of terrorism doesn't happen ever again, in whatever part of the world. I also pray that the terrorists be brought to justice and receive their just punishment. If not in this world or during their lifetime, surely and certainly, in the hereafter.

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Book heaven

While my kids' look forward to visits to the toy stores, for me, it's the bookstore. The kids have gotten used to accompanying me to the bookstore, and have grown to love going there, too, and poring over children’s books while I scour around for bargains, he he he..

I remember when I was much younger (and could afford to), i'd spend hours at the bookstore. I'd pore through the bookshelves, but not necessarily buy. More like "by and by". Ha ha ha! The bookstore was the perfect place for me to while away the time. I'd make a list of books i'd like to buy, save my allowance, then hit the bookstore during their bi-annual sale! (Tightwad that i am.) :D

Recently bought myself a copy of Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate". I remember reading this book way, way back and I remember I loved the book. So when I got a chance, finally get myself a copy. And I re-read the book in one day! Just last Sunday, actually. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and with book in had, I got into bed after lunch, started reading, and didn’t put down the book until I finished it. :D

On my bookshelf are a number of books I haven’t read yet. Titles like “100 years of solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “Seabiscuit” by Laura Hillenbrand, “Snow falling on Cedars” by David Guterson, “The Horse and his boy” by C.S. Lewis, “In the name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco, “The Rainmaker” by John Grisham, as well as classics by Shakespeare (“Macbeth” & “The Merchant of Venice”) and Ernest Hemingway (“True at First Light” and “The Sun also rises”). Yes, I admit it! I haven’t read those classics. Shame, shame on me! I remember I tried reading “War & Peace” years back, but for the life of me, couldn’t get past the first few chapters! Just trying to remember the names was such a chore for me! My loss, I guess… So many books, so little time!

Am currently reading Richard Bach’s “Running from Safety” and Dr. Paul Hauck’s “How to bring up your child successfully”. The first is a novel from the same author of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” while the latter is a book on RET (or Rational Emotive Therapy) for use in rearing children.

Next on my list of books to get are "Swift as Desire" by Laura Esquivel, and "Love" by Toni Morrison. Read a review for these 2 books and was encouraged to look around for it. But then who knows when I’ll finally get a chance to read them. Oh well.

Monday, September 06, 2004

Summer...

Arriving at the office this morning I was sweating from the heat! And to think these are the “ber” months, I was expecting “brrr” and not “grrr”! It’s so hot here nowadays. If not for the occasional rains it would seem really much like summer! Summer in September. Thank GOD for airconditioning! :)

Saturday, September 04, 2004

Toys, toys, toys!

Birthday parties galore. Seems like we've been going to birthday parties every week this past month. And with 2 kids of my own, have been a frequent visitor to the toy stores (to buy gifts, naturally). And also to ogle at the toys! Am so surprised at the wide array of toys available in the market. Walking/talking robots, electronic toys, mobile making kits, Harry Potter collectibles, puzzles, and more! It's enough to make me want to be a kid again. And take note, since I don't have any daughters, it's not girls' toys I'm interested in. So while my kids find it a treat to go to the toy store, I let them as for me, it's like being a kid again, too. And besides, it feels so good to watch children play, and hearing their hearty laughs, with nary a care in the world. :D Makes me want to be a kid again... sometimes! :)

Friday, September 03, 2004

Dear

I remember an instance when i asked Patrick to get me my things. When he brought them to me, i said, "Thank you, dear!"

To which my cute 4-year old replied, "Di ako dear! ako si Patrick!"

HA HA HA HA HA!!!! :D

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Worthy pursuits

My kids are growing up soooo fast. I remember when Paolo was still a baby... He was big-- 7 lbs. 10 oz.! He had curly, brown hair and was (still is!) fair skinned that he'd actually be mistaken for a girl. But when he turned a year old, his hair became straight. He was such a sweet and happy baby. Always smiling and giggling, and he just loved to have his picture taken. Show him a camera and his whole face lights up to a wide smile! :D

Patrick was also born quite big -- 7 lbs. 4 oz.! Though not as fair as his kuya, we knew he was also going to be a lot fairer coz the skin around his ears was fair. And when he'd cry, his whole face would crumple up and turn really red like catsup! Ha ha ha! Patrick was not as giggly as his kuya, and i remember then, Paolo was the only one who could make him laugh. Just playing peek-a-boo with his kuya, or hearing his kuya's fake laugh, would make Patrick laugh, too! :D

Just thinking about these things now makes me smile. Time flies so fast. Paolo is in second grade now while Patrick will also be again starting Nursery. sigh. I was showing my friends' pictures of my kids and a friend commented. "They're growing up to be fine young boys" and i remember how proud i felt hearing that. :D

Am really working on giving my kids great childhood memories that they'll treasure as they grow older. They're not gonna be mine forever, i know. Just a few years from now, they'll shy away from their mommy's kisses. Binata na eh. So for now, i'll make sure to always hug and kiss them and DO my very best to be a good parent, and love them unconditionally. Love them not "because", or "if" ... but just love them, PERIOD. Isn't that a worthy pursuit? :)

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Gas prices going up, up, up...

Bad news greeted me when i woke up this morning. Gas prices again going up! And with it, surely the prices of basic commodities as well as utilities (water, electricity) will also go up. Sad, bad, terrible news, not just for car owners, but for everyone living in the Philippines. A case of the oil companies getting richer, while the rest of the Filipinos getting poorer. ..tsk tsk tsk... :(