Being Proud to be Filipino

My girlfriend who is now working in another Asian state was complaining, rather lamenting over the issues or race and views of other nationalities to our own kinsmen. Well, she never told me of anything that is really below the belt, but I assume the feeling of somehow being racially discriminated against is annoying as it can be hurting.

We are not the only race in the world that are being prejudiced, the Indians for instance, are also subjects of discrimination in many countries they reside. Chinese and other East Asian people like Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are subject of discrimination. I think, all people in the world have somewhat angst against the other, Americans would be prejudiced in many Arab nations, the Chinese on certain English-speaking countries, the Whites in South Africa, and the list is endless. Meaning, racial discrimination (I hate to admit), is a fact of life. We, Filipinos are also guilty of the very thing we complain. We name names, Instik Beho, Belekoy, Chinhua Kuripot are some of deregatory names we call our Chinese brothers, who despite of their different culture and clanishness, are still Filipinos. Our Indian-Filipinos or those PIO (People of Indian Origin), were hilariously named as Bombay, 5-6 were some of the many names we call our Filipino Indian citizens. American, despite the fact that some worship their color, would at times receive taunting and several jerks from us.

But generally, Filipinos are non-discriminative. We value our guests, we value foreigners and aliens as if they are our masters. This is part of the Filipino trait that we have high regards for those visitors and guests, or other nationalities who visit our homes or villages. We show our exquisite culture, we treat them with pasalubong they could never carry, and we accomodate them as if they are royalties in our abode.

Filipinos are also very adaptive of other culture. Unlike other cultures that cannot imbibe the ways and means of the countries they choose to reside in, Filipinos can blend well and adapt almost like a native. We have the natural linguistic ability to quickly learn language, to embrace another culture (sometimes forgetting our own), practicing other ways and means of the foreign land.

But the problem with us, is that we cannot be proud on our own country. Like many of us, we are too disastified with our own government and our own people that we are the first who take negative issues against our own motherland. We never fail to criticize our government, our systems (well, they are indeed true), that we never stop talking even if we are in the presence of other nationalities who may have a bad impression on us. Our media, the Filipino cable networks appealed so much to the pity of the world to project our masses as opportunist, poveryt-stricken, hopeless people getting chances on daily gameshows. We report even the lowliest crimes, that will show the Philippines as unsafe place, where rallies are here and there, petty crimes are almost every minute and scandals are rampant. We never covered up our own naked skin in the open and even wash dirty lines in public.

Filipinos must learn to be proud of their heritage, show to the world their ability everywhere they go, they must exude the kind of quality Filipino workers are, be proud of our places, our country and our land. Instead of talking so many bad things about the Philippines, let us slowly and bit by pit, piece by piece spread the wonderful things about our native land.

Talk about the hospitality of Filipino homes, the world-class beaches, the hard-working trait of Filipinos, our star-rated artists, our talented people, our inexpensive tourist spots, our value for family and friends, our religiosity, our penchant for food, our joyous fiestas, our great traits.
We must always show to every color in this world, every culture that we are disciplined, kind, thoughful and happy people. We must always project that indeed, Filipinos are one of the best people in this planet. We can, if we just start on our own little ways.

It's time to change the labels, it's time to change for the better. click to continue...

The thoughts of a lonely man

We actually prepared for this, prayed about this and dreamed about this, but you can never tell you can hurdle the pain of being left alone when things are now moving before your very eyes.

I am used being alone. I live with it. But being alone when in fact, you don't have to, is more difficult. How can you tell yourself you are not alone? How do you convince yourself? Rather how do you fool yourself?

When Donna left last week, I was lonely but it never really hit me and occurred to me until the first night that I realize I cannot call her the way (and as long as I want to), I cannot text her and get same quick replies I am used getting. Come Saturday and Sunday. The thought of being so different and unable to do the things you are used doing like chat over coffee, strolling or watching movies or fireworks or just driving around make you insane more than the thought of being one. It was so melancholic that you cannot even tell yourself to sleep it over. You want to cry and scream but who would hear you? You want to talk to someone but your permanent and only audience is not around, you want to embrace and make someone feel your affection but its object is absent. Now, you convince yourself you are not lonely. No, you are not.

When the night comes, when your idle hours toll, you text and get no quick replies, no sudden calls. You have to wait, and you have to budget of course the expensive rates. It was difficult but you have to bear with it. Sometimes, I ask, telecommunications company don't connect. They connect people conditionally. Only if you have money to spare for some precious words. You can't even hear. But this is the reality of life, one must leave and one must stay.

For me, I will exhaust all my resources to get connected, take all my money to buy me a plane ticket and be there, just be there, and feel her and be with her even for some days. Those will be so precious, but I know, it will always be worth it.

Counting costs for a loved one is not really costly after all. When you realize staying in a mental instiution is more expansive than spending on travel costs and cellphone loads.

Just thinking aloud. click to continue...

The New Hippiest Philippine National Symbols

Here are the list of the new Philippine national symbols. I don't know if others have the same list, but I think we should consolidate all of them and turned them into one big pile:

PAMBANSANG:

Kamao: Manny Pacquiao (fist of fury)

Finger-Foods: Kwek-Kwek, Siomai, Fishball, Squidball at lahat ng may balls. (collective sense)

Pamatid-Uhaw: Sago, Gulaman at Halo-Halo (in trio-combo)

FM Radio Morning Program: Tambalan ng Balasubas at Balahura (Nicolehiyala at KrisTsuper)

NoonTime Show: Eat Bulaga (sorry, ayoko sa Wowowee)

Past Time sa Umaga: Unang Hirit (talagang Kapuso-kung Kapuso!)

Past Time sa Gabi: Korean Telenovela

Past Time Barkada: Videoke Singing (wholesome!)

Mall: SM malls...

Fastfood: Jolaybee (Jollibee, bida ang sarap!)

Alien Hero: Kokey

Mode of Transport: Jeepney, pa rin.

Tabloid: Abante Tonite

Pampasabog: Methane Gas...(sosy)

Mode of Communication: TxtN

Palengke: Divisoria (and also Baclaran)

Personal Property : Cellfone (na dapat lahat ng Pilipino, meron)

Female Game Show Host: Kris Aquino

Tsismoso at Tsismosa (sa Showbiz): Manay Lolit at Tito Boy A.

Pasyalan: Luneta at temporarily defunct Baywalk

Motel: Sogo (short-time); Kabayan Hotels (for more wholesome ones)

Internet Networking: Friendster

Inumin: Gin Pomelo (all other flavors) and SanMig Light

Cheapest Airline Carrier: Cebu Pacific

Betting Game: Lotto at Super na Mega pa, Lotto

Online Game: Ragnarok at DOTA (Defense of the Ancient, asteeg!)

Could anyone add more? click to continue...

On Methane Gases, Fishing Blasting caps and Real Bombs

Say it all with Bombs!

The first instance of allegedly bombings, which according to the police turned out as, methane gases (which we all know came from human excreta, urine, and other human and animal wastes), that exploded in Glorietta was one big blow on the police and the mall owners in the country. Imagine, a poor-me human wastes can blast off almost an entire building! I imagine, the power of human wastes as it build up to form a powerful weapon against their dumpers.
But the possibility of terrorist attack in Glorietta was outrightly dismissed by the Police and the Palace, after their investigation. They say, its methane...so okay, it's methane.

I think now, every household which has its own septic tanks must worry that one day, the wrath of their former human wastes would rise, fume all its anger like sleeping volcano and erupt in their backyard, as methane eruption. Whew! Now, the word "methane" has become a household name. Every street child, every tricycle driver, everyone, even those who live in the streets of Forbes Park, know what methane is, and the definition--the substance that can explode a mall, and kill hundreds. Nobel, the inventor of dynamite should have thought of this gas, as an explosive than his sulphur-rich explosives.

I personally do not want to believe that the blast in G4 is none but sewerage problem. I'd like to frigthen myself more with the thought of bombs. But, I do not want to take the idea all by myself. But Makati, with all its splendor and majesty failed to investigate or inspect the premises of Glorietta mall? How come? Are they sleeping between their jobs? Or they think wastes are too foul-smelling to inspect? Hay buhay.

Cavite Blasting Caps

This could be a new name for the fishing blasting caps, that exploded more or less 5 kilometers from where I am sleeping. That afternoon, I was so sleepy in our study room that I decided to take a nap. Suddenly, I heard something big fell downstairs, all I thought, it was something that fell. I woke up early evening from that long, beauty rest and voila! An apartment in a subdivision near our own place exploded. The cause? Fishing blasting caps which were illegally repacked inside a residential area. I wonder why the barangay officials in that community(Panapaan) had no idea that there was an illegal activity in their own backyard. Why did they fail to sniff out an illegal activity some few houses perhaps away from their halls? Huh!

I remember a tenant in a house for rent at the back of our house, used to have 3 gas tanks, the neighbors found out that the house is no longer used as residence but bread (tasty) factory. Definitely, this fact alarmed the neighborhood, they gathered a petition within the area to evict the tasty bread factory. Too bad, I will never get free tasty bread from the adjacent house cum bread-factory. Ask why?!

The newly elected barangay officials must do their part. Make your own neighborhood safer place to live. If this quiet and almost never-heard in the world place, a small barrio in Bacoor, Cavite is not free from any preventable danger, what more the streets, the malls, the markets and all public places?

The House Bombings

This time it is not an apartment but the supposed to be one of the safest places in the country--the House of Representatives. I must agree with sadness what the son of one of the victims had uttered, he said crying, "I never expected that this will happen to my father, not in Batasan, which we thought the safest place here.."

The boy is glaringly correct. If we cannot secure our own legislative houses, how can these people make our houses safe? Well, they are not for all these reasons. No place here now is safe. Either we are unsafe because of utmost negligence or we are unsafe because of utmost evil. It's like the devil and the deep blue sea.

I must extend my condolences to those innocent people whose lives perished in the incident, especially the untiring loyal legislative staff and employess who worked in Batasan. Also, those Congressmen who were injured and who died (Cong. Akbar). I just wonder, it would be great if all the corrupt officials would be tied up in a building full of high-powered bombs and explode...this country would be clean. But, of course, NOT all people in Congress, both the House and Senate alike, are corrupt, many of them (?), are still faithful to the call of duty and loyal to the call of Republic. God bless your souls.

But, with these bombings, rather explosons, are we not scaring off not just the investors, but our own people. Huh, I'd rather ask someone to shop for me, or to be my grocer than to go to any malls right now. I am not also leaving the house if not needed. But I better be careful, my own neighbor might have another blasting caps to explode for a show.

Then where can we go for safety? I know...heaven. click to continue...

Saving and Hassle-Free Gift Giving

Christmas isn’t supposed to be a stressful season. But sometimes, because Christmases oblige us to fill our gift list and throw so many parties left and right, the season snatch us from the essence of it—relaxing and family bonding. Oftentimes, busy people like us need to get into our work-tight schedule to buy and shop for gifts, and usually walking and buying through crowded malls and discount stores give us headache than relief. The Christmas sale is not sale after all, when you find out that you have thrown all your bonuses and holiday salaries to worthless gifts that turn out to be junks.

So here are some tips to SAVE and get out from the hassles of Christmas shopping rush:

1. Plan and write ahead. During your lunch-break perhaps, you can write in your diary or palmtop, the people whom you want to give something to. Try to remember things that you think they will use. What I do is to list down, people and the things I observed they need daily. Many gifts become useless because, while they serve the idea as mementos for the holiday, they usually go to the attics and cabinets to be preserved for the next life. People appreciate the gifts more when they are useful to them than being mere white elephants. So, try to buy gifts that will be useful to the one’s you will be giving. Like, CD canister for a brother, claypots for a holticulturist granny, or pens for a school-aged nieces and nephews. Many gifts need not be that expensive.


2. Recycle Gifts. Well, let us admit that many of our clients, or the some acquaintances or our favorite bar or restaurants give freebies or sort-of-something like free movie or theater tickets or just anything. Your company too for sure throws out corporate give-aways. These are the excellent items for gift recycling. Well, if you receive before Christmas, 10 mugs of same shapes and sizes, what do you think you’ll do with the other 9? Don’t keep it inside your cabinet. Pack them up, and give it away. You can give to anyone who needs a lift, and perhaps for you to show, you remember them. You can also give out, repetitious freebies you receive from others like, shirts, complimentary bags, caps, CD’s, free meal stubs and others. Just pack them nicely and give them away to family and friends. Save and Share.

3. Be Creative. Many of the gifts that the people want are those that they need or they really want, and these items need not be bought for a price. For instance, I gave 3 infant pacifiers to a cousin who had just recently given birth. She was thanking me for the nice gift, (which I am sure, will be used by the cute baby). It was easy to buy (just hop in your pharmacy), and so cheap. You can give gifts from your attic and give away items that collect dust from your storage. You can give out a candlestick by polishing it and give it to an aunt or a married officemate. You can dust out old hardbound books, or an old wooden clock and give it to a collector friend. If you are not a philaletist, you can carefully remove stamps from your old letters and give it as gifts. You clean up your dusty store room and you made someone happy. Just be creative, you don’t need to spend a cent.

4. Buy gifts in advance. It is not really true that you save during the holiday rush. Sometimes you end up buying something that isn’t useful or sometimes, not worth giving at all. Your gifts to people became junks in their houses and become a pile of clutter. So, buying gifts in advance by knowing what your friends want will do the trick. For example, during my trip to a local beach spot, I bought very cheap shell collectibles which my friend really loves to have (because of course, if they will buy it on off shore stores, it will be expensive). So, I spare some to buy it for her. Remember that since you are buying in advance, be sure, it won’t wear or tear, like figurines, brass items, collectors CD or leather products.

5. Send Snail Mail Cards. For the loved ones overseas, sending them a courier-sent gift would be buying twice. It is not economical and relatively useless. With the bulk of orders and parcels during holidays, sending gifts on boxes would sometimes be a nightmare than a surprise (though some couriers are on-time yet costly). So, try to buy in advance around October or November (to avoid delays) Christmas cards sold in packs. I usually find them in bookstore, with packs of 10’s, 20’s and even 50’s. You can write off to family and friends and officemates (even nearby) and express how much they mean a lot to you. The cost of mails in bulk is cheaper and in this time where e-mails are regular sight, receiving postman delivered mails, even though late, are still exciting.

Be different, all you need is a little imagination and some nick of a time thinking. Happy Gift-giving! click to continue...

Road to Death: can we prevent it?

I have simple thoughts about the Saguisag's family accident:

First, the family for sure felt so at loss with the demise of their beloved mother. The former senator Rene Saguisag is still recuperating, yet still severely injured. Their driver is still in critical condition. If this can happen to famous people, it only gives us a clear reality. Road accidents can happen to anyone, anytime.

Second, how many families have to lose another beloved one, just because our streets, are so unsafe to drive around? There are no cameras in major highways to record the overspeeding drivers, collisions or mishaps, accidents or road rules violators. How can we make our roads safer if the first step to prevent such tragedies are totally inexistent or unimplemented?

Third, there must be stricter process before a driver's license could be issued. In California, my brother has to wait around a month or few days more, before he could be issued a driver's license. Track down all the corrupt LTO officials, and bring them to the grind. Put cameras in many thoroughfares. By this, we can track and monitor crimes on the streets, traffic violators and record accidents and use them as evidence in courts. The process will be simpler.

Buses, Trucks and their drivers are often, ill-mannered, hot-tempered and ignorant of our traffic rules. Educate everyone, strictly no padulas, no bribing, none whatsoever. Let the teeth of the law bite your asses. Ouch.

Fourth, STRICTER road rules, severe punishment to those drunk drivers, lanes for trucks and buses, implementation of loading, unloading area, waiting stations. Further, strictly no vendors along the streets, there must be few meter allowances from the road devoted for pedestrians walking, other means of traffic volume reduction schemes, or simply put, just strict implementation of our current laws. Another ouch.

Worst is, buses along the streets change lanes every now and then, they cause delays and traffic jam. The undisciplined commuters would take buses anywhere they want, they also cause heavy flow of traffic, the jeepneys would pick-up passengers anywhere and unload them anywhere too, taxis crisscross streets and counterflow most of the time, some don't even use signals. Infrastructure to widen streets would be one long-term solution.

I should run for President, 2010, and I am so thankful I cannot, because my age automatically disqualifies me.

Please, make our roads safer to drive. We do not want to lose another mother, or badly injure a good father or lose any dear ones just because we neglect to prevent an accident from happening . Good Lord, help us.

IRONY: I know nobody listens. click to continue...

12-year old suicide, death of dreams and hopes.

Few days ago, I have read in the newspaper, the suicide of a 12-year old girl from a barrio in Davao. The news hit me between my eyes. How does she view her life ( who almost devoid of experience to numb her senses of dire poverty) makes her think to end up her misery by hanging herself? Why the hopelessness has beset upon her like a beseeching tide at night?

In her diary, she is anticipating All Saints Day (Araw ng mga Patay), perhaps so that she could join those who have eternally rest in peace, and also perhaps rest her case of wanting and dreaming in futility. Does she realize that aiming to get a diploma and get out of a poveryt-stricken life is too impossible? According to reports, she even told her classmates not to come near her because she has a problem, they would never understand. A girl lost all her innocence and belief because her life had become unbearable to entertain any form of dreams. That fact alone is so sad to realize.

The tragedy is more than poetry. It is reality. A biting reality that few of us have heard. While we frolic our malls and splurge our money with uneccessary things, on the other side of a flamboyant malls, lies a poverty on its core. The death of the 12-year old girl is a microcosm of Filipino dearth, of enormous wanting. What have we done to deprive this girl education, which she all cries out?All she wanted is to go to school, perhaps a bicycle so that she does not have to spend on fares anymore. But none of us listened. None.

The entire system of education in the country is partly to be blamed--the corruption there.
I am not saying the government is to be blamed for every death of a poor Filipino, but looking closely, what have done to save the lives of these poor kids, who wanted decent education and a decent life? I can just imagine the great frustration she had, her loneliness.

I cannot think of any solution at this very moment, let our officials think of what they can do. Don't dare come think of 2010 elections, when you can't think how to solve all the problems we have. I am just so frustrated. What could be the solution to our problems, its like a maze.
One radio program I fond of listening said, "Filipinos have dysfunctional mental psyche", we think of too much poverty, we think of too much politics, we think of too much this and that, but have we done something to make this boat, stay afloat? None. Like what we did to many poor kids, silenced their mouths, or covered our ears, we have never done anything.

I feel frustrated and I feel guilty. click to continue...

Singapore Part III

When we woke up, we realized that it was our first day in Singapore. The morning was unusually quiet. It was past 6:00 in the morning. The incense smell had already subsided and we have taken the sleep we desperately coveted the whole day. Our bodies wanted to lie down the bed the whole day, but of course, we can’t. The long day must be started.

It was a Saturday morning. In Manila, Saturdays would mean, lacksadaisical dozing off few sleep, and taking the morning breath little longer. But this Saturday morning is different. We took a quick bath, arranged our things, took the most important things we needed, documents and few bucks and other personal needs we would be needing through day. As usual, I never forget to bring our passports, should there be any emergencies, at least we have a document to let us out of the Lion City.

We went down the old rugged hotel and asked the attendant to book us a taxi. He gladly greeted us first and told us they prepared few morning fix for the guests. I was eager to eat breakfast but, I noticed that the breakfast was nothing but a self help of tasty bread, coffee, crackers and some choices of sandwich spread. I mean, it was not served on the table but you have to serve yourself and get some few fixin’. I told Donna, we can’t tarry so, we told that the attendant we can help ourselves later, but we need a taxi. He gladly dialed a number, and in few minutes, the taxi arrived in front of the old house hotel. Or whatever description that hotel might have.

The taxis in Singapore, as what I have mentioned are by far, the most efficient public transport system I have seen. From the hotel we asked our driver to take us to Henderson Road. We asked him to bring us to the specific address but, he told us he was clueless where the specific place is, but he knows where on Singapore, Henderson Road is. The car moved and we have seen in broad daylight the beauty and cleanliness of the city. We were appalled to see shades of trees and the tidy pavements of SG, we imagine that no country perhaps in the world is as clean and as disciplined as this country. We wanted to take pictures, but we were afraid that taking pictures while on the streets might be a road violation. Of course, we can’t afford to pay fines. We might end up beggars along the streets.

After 30 or 40 minutes of travel we finally reached Henderson Road, but we cannot find where 98 Henderson. We moved slowly along the road to check each building number but we can’t see any 98 on any of the building. The kind-hearted or rather, warm taxi driver (who told us that he had been to the Philippines wayback in 1986 to Baguio, and he enjoyed his stay), told us to call our destination. We looked at each other and looked at the clueless driver and told him “ we can’t call Singapore from our cellfones…”, the response of the taxi driver was suprising, or kind I must say, “no just use my cellfone…”he said. Surprised and impressed again for the nth time of the Singaporean hospitality, we thankfully took the phone and dialed EASB. But since it was just past 8am. No one is answering on the other line. So, since it was still early and we are already along the short stretch of Henderson, we just asked the driver to take us to McDonalds (SG).

ENTERING the people-empowered McDonalds.

Let us admit, that one classic example of MNC (multi-national corporation) is McDonald’s. The Golden Arch had already dominated almost all nations in the globe, and that includes Singapore, of course. The structure and the interiors of McDo were not different from their counterparts in the Philippines. But one noticeable difference is the people and crew of the fastfood as compared to the crew wayback home. When we reached the counter, we were greeted by somewhat 50-year old woman, and the rest of the counterpersons were old or on their thirties. The dine-in crew were senior citizens, and some were young teeners. So, it was descriptively inter-generational workplace.

That I find so different. Wayback in Manila, only the young people aged 18-25 perhaps can apply to any fastfood chains, definitely those over-aged people cannot take a short working stint at McDonald’s, Jollibee, Wendy’s or even the cheap burger stands.

The EASB Campus, the destination.

After our breakfast at McDonalds, we took a walk to find EASB and passing through some buildings, we found the campus. It was situated beside a vast acre-long soccer field. The trees along this road are so huge its branches reach up to the other side of the road. At anyrate we saw our destination, mission accomplished, we saw the pot of gold underneath the rainbow---EASB. Thank God! The school was somewhat hilltop, or to that sort. We took the steps upward and saw the school building. We noticed that it was still early around 9am, and I think no one is yet inside, adding to the fact that it was Saturday. There are no classes. So we took some pictures as souvenirs.

After few minutes, we entered the building and asked if the Curriculum Director, Mr. Prem Singh is there, because Donna has a scheduled interview. In a jiffy, a man came, slightly bald while the remaining hairs around his head curled up with gray color. His eyes were crisscrossed, short in height, but with a pleasing smile. He introduced himself as Prem Singh. Donna introduced herself. Mr. Prem is a practicing lawyer in Singapore, he is engaged in corporate practice before he joined the academe. He is witty, talkative, funny and very accommodating. In fact, I guess he didn’t interview Donna but talked and took someone to be his audience. Well, I must understand, lawyers are talkers. They dominate the scene, they can be hardly outwitted, outdone, and that was exactly the case of Mr. Singh. I don’t know if they also addressed their lawyer as Attorney. But to be safe, we addressed him as “Sir Prem”.

Sir Prem shook up our nervousness and made us feel welcomed. He toured us around the three-storey building. It was modest building comparable to a regular high school in Manila, we have been informed later that the Institute stands before a former grade school for children. Now I understand why, the rooms look like kindergarten pens, than looking professional-training halls.
We also meet Viktoria. A Russian business student inside the campus. Prem told us that the school, caters to different nationalities and that the need for an English instructor was urgent, and such instructor need not to be a Chinese or Malay speaking person because the students might code-swith the language. At least, if the teacher cannot understand Mandarin or Cantonese, the students will be forced to speak English, because they know the teacher wouldn’t understand any word they say. Fair enough for a professional school, I said.
Prem introduced us with the people inside the faculty lounge and set Donna for the actual interview. Since I cannot come inside and be there while Donna is being interviewed or grilled on oven-top, Prem told Viktoria to bring me to the canteen to get me some snacks.

Viktoria, is a typical Caucasian female. Not really stunningly beautiful, she was shy for a white girl. She told me that her parents are in Russia, where her place was 17 hours away by car from Moscow, or 2-3 hour plane ride. Russia, according to her has an unseen side. The roads going to her place are too bumpy they would shake your souls, and the buses were too old that one must pray that the vehicle wont get stuck up or pull-over due to engine trouble before you reach your destination. She was correct saying, that Russia is so big and the capital is too far from them. The climate in that part of Russia (it is near China), is freezing and schools were too far inept for a country girl to pursue. She admitted that Singapore has better roads, better public transport, better system than Russia’s. I don’t think she has anti-nationalism in her words, like me, who dreams that Philippines would be as great as other Asian countries, the biting realities of economies of our respective countries reflect a single thought: the wealth of our nations was not exhausted to improve the lives of its people. Sad but true. Viktoria told me stories about Russia. She went to Japan and other Asian nations, but she confessed of no having plans, not even in her dreams to go to US. And she retorted, “US is too crowded and to unsafe to tour…” take it from the Russian, whoa!

During our brief talk at the school canteen, where she treat me out a can of soda, Prem and Donna were done with the interview, they came and joined us, but Prem asked that he will be treating us to taste local food. Just beside the building of EASB is a local food stall, where all staple tastes can be found, noodle soup, dumplings, stir-fried vegetables and local tea. Prem bought us bread stuffed with flavored-cooked ground beef and eggs. I think it is very similar to our “empanadas”. The taste is not so distinct since, it taste so empanada to me. We talked briefly during the snack time in the food stall, we talked about politics, Prem’s experiences in the Philippines—the corruption and the bold shows in Ermita, the beauty of the country, the nice people, but he was not afraid to tell us how, easy-going Filipinos are. We want to agree more, but of course, we can’t sell out our own mother…so, we tried to listen and absorb as much as we can.

When Mr. Prem realized, that we have a flight to catch up later that evening, and we will be using the remaining time to stroll around the city. He comically told Viktoria, “Oh Viktoria, why are we keeping them long? They must enjoy the city and see the short-skirted girls at Clarke Quay…” Before leaving, Prem gave us instructions where Sentosa Island is, and how do we get buses from EASB to our destinations. Our first stop, Lucky Plaza, then the famous Merlion Park, then Sentosa, other places might be added if we still have time. We looked at our watch and saw it is already 11:00 p.m. we still have 13 hours before our scheduled flight at 12:00 back to Manila. So, like runners in the reality TV show, ‘Amazing Race’ we need to get to our destinations as fast as we could so that we can maximize our stay.

The tiring tour-walk around the city

Prem and Viktoria accompanied us at the waiting area below school campus, and told us to alight Bus No. 16 to take us to Dhouby Gout, where Lucky Plaza is, and where we can find Merlion and later Sentosa Island. So, we took the first bus in Singapore. Singapore buses are different from Manila buses. First, you need to pay the exact amount in the bus’s collection box-cashier as you alight. You will only enter the first door near the driver and get off at the door at the back. If you don’t have any coins, the buses have card terminals where you can swipe off the card to charge your fare. The minimum bus fare is SG$2. That is around 60pesos per ride here. So much for the conversion.

We enjoyed the public transport in Singapore. Donna and I planned to take the train later so that we can taste all the public transport in this new place. My mind went back to Manila, I realized we can learn so much from Singapore. We need to copy perhaps many of their systems because, I have noticed the streets and climate, and the population there is as crowded as Manila. But minus the lack of discipline, minus the eternal lingering of public buses and public utility vehicles in the roads of Metro Manila, less all the tantrums of the passengers and minus all the smoke-belching cars, Singapore city is like Manila, improved 10 times.

Singapore is a multi-cultural embrace, like the Philippines, it was once third a third country, almost without any ricefield or any water supply, except the ocean, it remained one of the wealthiest economies in Asia. Why can’t we? The cleanliness and discipline of people who can hardly move with their crowded places, why can’t we be as disciplined?

I don’t want to discredit my native land, but one can’t compare this miniscule state to relatively larger Philippines. Singapore has no farmlands, no native product, no local breed industries. The whole city is a concrete jungle, and a vast business district, but its economy is one of the biggest in the entire world.
And where did our country go, when all of these countries rose from their ashes like Phoenix resurrecting from its own death? These nations were far behind us, wayback in the 60’s and now, were way way far still, far far behind. I felt a surging loneliness for my country. For my own homeland.

Our first destination in our “state visit” is to see the most photographed site in Singapore and the country’s symbol—the Merlion Park. It was the belief that during the early days of the Malayan Kingdom, a fish with a head of a lion was seen guarding the seas of Singapore. The Malayan and other vessels would see the Merlion and went back in fear of the creature. Today, the Merlion was statued in stone expelling waters from its mouth, out to the sea of Singapore.

How we went to Sentosa

After some picture-taking from the Merlion Park, we walked along the Esplanade to the Singapore Opera House. There, we walked and asked some directions how do we get to Dhouby Gout all the way to the station, where Sentosa Island buses are stationed. So, asking some teen lovers, and a janitor, and taking some bold steps, we reached our destination. I was just thinking that time that if we were in Manila, for sure, we have lost our way. So, to make the long story short, we took the train for 2 dollars and stopped at the (I forgot the name of the station)and walked our way to the yellow buses to Sentosa. It was 5 dollar fee but it was one time fare, and that is inclusive of all the fares inside the theme-park Island. So, just few kilometers and we were already inside the Main Station of Sentosa. The directions on where to go was clearly indicated on the island map and what bus to take so, you’ll never go wrong.

I told Donna that I really wanted to take the cable car. I feel so amazed being inside a cable car, and being hoisted on air, with a mere cable holding your safety and your very life. But, the ride was expensive. A round-trip ride cost 12 dollars so, we need 24 dollars for the two of us. But we must gamble a little. This is what we want to do, so we must give it a splurge. We bought tickets and took our very first, cable car ride. The car went on moving but I didn’t realize the height because it was still around 20-30 feet, manageable, but the car went on moving higher and higher until we reached more than a hundred feet above the sea, literally floating on air. I suddenly become nervous. I felt shaky and so afraid. It was too high, oh my gulay! My excitement turned into fear, that if I fall on the seas, or on the ground, I’ll be back home, without a skull.

After the ride, we took a coffee at our favorite coffee shop beanery, and toured the Island. We went to the white sands of Siloso beach and walked around the Imbiah lookout and some places. We weren’t able to go Underwater World because, obviously our funds will not permit us, but the Sentosa experience is a wonderful one.

We were not yet tired so we have get much of the remaining time to get around Singapore. So, we took the MRT and went to Chinatown. When we get off the train walked outside Chinatown, I have noticed that it was not really different from Ongpin’s street or the Chinatown in Santa Cruz, Manila, only that the roads are wider and cleaner. It is almost 7:00 p.m. but the sun is still up so we decided to take our supper. We went to a local Chinese restaurant and ordered noodles in chili soup (and it was hooootttt!), seafood rice and two bottles of water. We took a stroll around the Chinatown and bought some diced hopia from a local Chinese bakeshop, it was yummy, the treat cost 50 cents, the supper for 12 dollars so we still have some money to splurge on something very cheap. Before leaving we decided not to buy any stuff because we are on a tight budget.

We have seen China in SG, so now we have to see the Little India. And, going there, we literally rub elbows with Indian-Singaporeans. When we arrived at the Little India past 7:00 pm, we were amazed at how Singapore changed with every step. The place is literally India. The clothes of women, the men in turban, the sarong on sale, the miniscule pots used for offerings for Indian gods, the incense, the candlesticks and Indian favorite vegetables lined along the streets. The plump large tomatoes, cucumbers, radish, onions, head of cabbages, and a store solely intended for spices and relishes. We walked along the area and as if in no moment we were transported to Bombay or Calcutta.
It was such a nice experience.

But its getting late and we need to get back to the hotel for our midnight flight to Manila. So, we took an MRT to our last stop: The Clark Quay area. This is similar to baywalk in Manila or Harbor Square in CCP Complex Pasay. But, it was relatively different. The rivers are not that smelly as the lovely Manila Sunset bay. We walked around the area and took some pictures. The area was full of lights and gay, but the rain started to pour so we need to pass around the whole stretch and mind you, this is like the Malate of Singapore. There were a lot of boutiques, restaurants, bars and beer-drinking pubs around (I don’t know exactly if those were beer pubs), but our tired bodies and our wanting to take a short nap before our flight that very same night will not permit us to enjoy any festivity there, plus the fact that still, our budget won’t permit us to buy even a can of Carlsberg (I don’t exactly know if they have San Miguel, anyway both of us don’t drink anyway).

So we just walk around and passed through a nearby mall of gadgets. I was so thrilled to see cheap digicams, laptops, iPods, and latest MP4’s. But the whole mall makes my eyes swell with so much want to buy anything---good thing. I don’t have anything. Not even a credit card. It helps to travel with a little money on hand. You tend to control your own appetite of spending. We walked a bit until our feet ached and decided to buy dry noodles with beef toppings on it. We took a cab and finally we are heading back to the hotel.

Upon arriving, we arranged our things, laid our tired backs and swollen feet, walking around almost the whole day, and took an hour or two rest. Around 10p.m. we went downstairs and asked our hotel attendant to book us a taxi to the airport. Now we are going home.

The painful flight back home.

The cab came just right on time. And similarly, our time is also over. Our short trip to this place will culminate, less than 36 or 42 hours we were like diplomats paying a brief state visit. But we need to go back. We still have life back home and a ton of tasks waiting. We entered the doors of the airport and upon checking, we saw numerous kababayans perhaps, concluding their own trips too. After we have checked in, we exchanged the remaining SG dollars to pesos. This time, I was surprised to still get around 1, 500 pesos. Our budgeting was totally successful. We managed to get our things done, the way we exactly planned it.

The Cebu Pacific flight was delayed for an hour or two I guess, so, when we boarded the plane we were too tired and exhausted. The flight again made my ears pop in pain. But the gentle cajoling of Donna made it more easy. We landed Manila at around 2 a.m. Very few flights that early morning and we were very few inside the airport. It was not that busy. After few checks we went outside the airport and took a cab back home.

My thoughts in Singapore will be permanent in my mind. Whatever happens to Donna’s application, I told her I did not regret going with her. We had a grand time together and I realized we go well with each other and realized we had so much fun. Going home perhaps will make you think, like what Alice in Wonderland thought of, when he went back to the old county in Kansas, the Wonderland was so enchanting a place to live by, but there is no place like home. Like a coward lion in the story who needs bravery, we managed to muster all courage to take our trip alone, with almost no funds whatsoever but it did happen. A tin soldier who needs a brain, a scarecrow who needs a body, and Alice who needs a home. I saw Manila again, for very few hours, things have changed. It made me realize so many things.

For sure, I will leave Philippines for awhile to travel or to work elsewhere but I will be back and I must come back. If the turtles need to go back to the shore where they were hatched, I need to return to the very sands that make up the grains of my being. I always feel the need to. No matter what.

As Donna leaned on me, tired, inside the taxi to take us for a sleep. I just told my self quietly, “There is no place like home, no beautiful place on earth than your own land and there is no greater comfort than being in the arms of your loved one”.

Photo Credits: taken from www.travel-here.com picture gallery/ http://www.hoteltravel.com/ for maps.

click to continue...

Mga Problema sa Araw-Araw at Pakikipagsapalaran ng mga Pinoy

Ang dami-daming problema ng mga Pilipino sa araw-araw.


1. Ang traffic at iba't-iba ang rules sa Metro Manila- aamin ang lahat ng Pilipino dito. Ang masalimuot, sala-salabat, buhol-buhol na trapik sa MM, at iba-ibang rules ng traffic sa Metro Manila. Imagine, iba ang traffic rules ng Pasay at Makati. Hindi kasi nakikiisa sa MMDA ang dalawang siyudad na ito. Sari-sari na rin ang kulay ng traffic enforcer sa kalye ng MM, may blue, orange, yellow, ang hinahanap ko na lang ay ang Pink! Utang na loob, Metro Manila cities are interconnected and contigious, having so many different rules for traffic will not help motorists and commuters at all.

Isa pa ang gugulo ng mga jeepney drivers sa kalsada, ang mga bus sa Edsa sa gitna kukuha ng pasahero na naka-slant pa! Ang mga pasahero, walang pila, unahan at sa gitna sila papara, at dapat kahit sagabal sa trapiko, basta kailangan kapag sila ay pumara dapat tumigil ang sasakyan kahit nasa gitna ng highway, Imagine that! Sa Maynila, walang kamatayan ang mga FX na tigil din ng tigil kahit saan. Masikip na ang kalye, ang dami pang walang disiplina. Hay naku! Sa haba ng trapik at sa gusot-gusot na sasakyan tiyak, kapag sumakay kang dalaga, lola ka na pagbaba.


Bakit hindi natin gayahin ang ibang bansa na tulad nating, medyo maliit land area (which obviously cannot afford to create wider roads). Bakit hindi damihan o buhayin ang train systems? Mabilis na, wala pang traffic.

2. Ang Pasok ng mga Bata - Hindi na nadala ang mga education officials natin, sinabi na maganda kung September magsisimula ang klase sa kung saan, patapos na ang "typhoon seasons". Iginigiit na ang pasok eh sa Hunyo Hanggang Abril. Ang resulta, poor class days, o di kaya paghahabol ng klase sa mga eskuwelahan. Panay, "classes suspended", "No Classes", ayan panay iskul-bukol ang mga estudyante natin, panay bokya dahil, halos wala ng ipinasok, panay "no classes due to Typhoon Chuchu Signal No. 1".

Suggestion: September na lang kasi.

3. Poor Education System, Titatita books at Bugaw Books- These things make me shiver. Why on earth these books pass through the brains and eyes of DepEd, transferring unto our poor kids the stupidity these books carry. Ay naku naman, imagine ang libro ng bata eh may salitang "libog", "mariang-palad", "bugaw" "tita-tita" at samu't-saring mali-maling impormasyon. Hindi ako magtataka na sa isang simpleng game show, yung isang estudyanteng contestant ay hindi masagot kung ano daw ang probinsya na may "L.U." na initials na katabi ng Benguet o malapit sa Baguio City...ang hunghang hindi masagot...La Union po ang sagot at hindi Las Ungas.

Suggestion: stringent qualifications for publications of books in the Philippines, especially for the books used as textbooks. NO BOOK shall be published or be circulated without strictly complying with the content and readability tests of Curriculum and Educational Materials of DepEd. Kung may nag-eexist nga bang expert sa edukasyon sa bansang ito...(?)

4. Basura here, there and everywhere - Simple ang solution sa problemang ito. Pagtuturo sa barangay levels ng waste management. Ang basura sa kasi Pilipinas, kanya-kanya ang tapon, at kanya kanya ang disposal. Ang Pilipino hindi 'environment conscious'. Dito basta ang basura hindi mo nakita sa paningin mo, malinis, kaya ang isang bata sa may Harbor Square sa CCP, nakita ko na tinapon sa dagat, hindi nga naman nya tinapon sa kalsada, eh di hindi kita? diba? Duon sa dalampasigan ng masangsang na Manila Bay. Ang kalat natin hindi natin ma-recycle, pero sa tsismisan, maigi tayo, sa tong-its, sa mahjong pero sa pagrerecycle ng basura. Ayan...wala na. Pero kapag may bigayan tuwing halalan, kapag may libreng show ang mga artista kapag piyesta ayun. Hay. Kailan tayo matututo na ang pagdura sa kalye ay kababuyan, ang pagdura ng chewing gum sa eskinita ay kawalan ng disiplina? Ang pag-ihi sa pader ay kawalan ng urbanidad at ang pagtatapon ng mga kalat sa kalye, sa estero o kanal ay mapaminsala sa kalikasan?

Suggestion: Problema sa Basura ay pwedeng i-delegate sa Baranggay levels to local government units. Instead of centralizing the waste management, it could be localized then centralized, by so doing, much of the garbage were put to recycle process before being collected by waste managers. Strengthening at barangay level garbage implementation at collection. HIGIT sa lahat, dapat MAHIGPIT na pagpapatupad ng anti-littering ordinances, bakit di natin gayahin ang Singapore? Tiyak sa dami ng mapaparusahan, sa dami ng makukulong o magmumulta, malamang hindi na magdeficit ang budget ng Pilipinas.

5. Politicians - simple lang alisin silang lahat. Death Penalty sa sinumang masumpungan at mapatunyang corrupt. No bail, no amnesty, absolutely NO PARDON. basta diretso patayan na. Hay ang saya siguro.

6. Congress - ang dami-dami nila, ang konti-konti ng utak. Patayin din. Kailan matutunan ng bawat Pilipino na ang Kongreso ang "brain mill" ng bansa, kaya dito dapat may kakayahan, integridad ang ibinoboto. Kailangan taong malinis, may malalim na track record sa maliwanag na plataporma de gobierno. Ang kahindik-hindik ay ang pagboto pa ng mga Pilipino ng kung sino sinong Poncio Pilato na walang alam sa gagawin nila sa Kongreso. They are supposed to make laws NOT to manage infrastructure projects in their districts. Dito kasi ginagawa ang mga batas para sa pag-unlad o pagbagsak din natin. Ang problema, walang ginawa ang Kongreso kundi mag imbestiga...in aid of legislation? Hello! Sino niloko nyo? Eh sa isang libong legislative inquiries nyo, wala nga kayong naipasa kahit 10 batas. Naman.

7. Executive - sabay sabay ding tumalon sa Pasig river going to other by swimming, ang makarating sa kabila, bibitayin pag-ahon. Mas Masaya! The Executive Branch is a powerful branch. Pero sa sandamakmak na suhulan dito, suhulan doon. Eh tiyak, sa laki ng perang isinusuhol sa mga tao sa gobyerno kaya ng pakainin nito ang halos 50% ng mga gutom sa Pilipinas o di kaya, mapautang ng kapital ang lahat ng small-scale businessman o farmer sa bansa. Suhulan ng suhulan, ika nga ni Tita Miriam, "pinag-aawayan nyo lang ang mga kick-back ninyo...inaaksaya ninyo ang panahon ng Senado" Eh, Madame Senator, kayo po kaya, hindi?

8. Judiciary - ikulong sa loob ng cabinet ang matatagpuang hoodlums at ignorante sa batas. Lahat ng corrupt ipakain ang lahat ng lumang papel sa korte, tapos bitayin sa labas ng korteng pinaglilingkuran nila, palagay ko, di bale na matagal ang proseso basta tama sa batas at makatarungan. Ang sama, mabagal na may korupsyon pa! Hoodlums in Robes. Kapag ang Korte ay nasira na sa paningin ng tao, baka magpatiwakal na ang bawat Pilipino. The last bastion of democracy, the Court of Last Resort, the Restorer of Democracy, the Impartial Branch of the Government. I hope the judges and the justices of the entire Courts in the Philippines will live with their sworn duties. Maawa naman kayo..


9. Rebeldeng NPA, Terroristang ABUSAYYAF, etc etc. - eto unahin na rin sa bitay. Mga kababayan ko, you are not helping the country by your armed struggles. Makiisa at gawing mapayapa ang Pilipinas. Have you noticed many residents of Sulu, or Basilan were out of home, they cannot farm or do other things because of insurgency? Marami sanang magandang lugar sa Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi o sa maraming lugar sa Visayas at Mindanao pero, maski ang sibilyan takot kasi may insurgency may kaguluhan. Pagpapaunlad ba yun ng maralitang Pilipino? Dahil dito, nasa Maynila lang o siyudad ang pag-asenso, para na ninyong lalong pinayaman ang mga peti-burgesya at mga Panginoong may-lupa dahil sila lang ang may kakayahan na lumipat at mamuhay sa siyudad at mauunlad na bayan. Paano papaunlarin ang pagsasaka kung bala ang itinatanim duon at hindi palay? Hay mag-isip isip nga kayo.

10. Mga Illegitimate Oppositionists- Sa bansang ito, maigi tayong pumuna, pumukol laban sa gobyerno, pero sa totoong buhay marami ang oposisyon, hindi dahil "equalizer" sila kundi dahil galit sila sa nakaupo dahil naunahan sila o di kaya ay may vested interest din sila sa pwesto. Ang iba gusto ng oposisyon kasi, ito ang pinakamalapad na daan patungo sa mas mataas na pwesto sa gobyerno. Mas palaban, mas mabango. Pero habang marami ang corrupt, marami pa rin namang buti ang ginagawa ng pamahalaan. "Huwag lang mapahikbi o mapa-dighay ang Presidente may komento na sila...come on guys, praise the President if she deserves it.

Dalawa ang klase ng oposisyon sa Pilipinas: Una, Oposisyon sila dahil hindi naman sila ang nakaupo pero kapag sila naman at ang mga kabarkada nila ang nakapwesto, ganun din naman ginagawa nila, kasi may mga vested political interests. Pangalawa, oposisyon lagi, mali at tama, oposisyon pa rin, na kahit kasing-unlad na ng Japan o Europe ang Pilipinas, oposisyon pa rin kasi gusto nila ng ibang uri ng Pamahalaan. Oposisyon sila, na kahit sino ilagay mo sa Palasyo, laging tuta ng Kano, kahit sino gawing Presidente, laging masama ang Presidente. Wala ng mabuti sa kanila, lagi na lang masama, masama, masama. Have you tried asking, what have you done good?

Dito kasi sa atin lahat pinupuna, pero walang isang tao ang nais magbuhat ng daliri para itulong sa bayan. Tama ba na isisi sa Presidente ang pagkatanggal ng bubong nila noong bagyo? ng trapik sa Edsa? ng namatay nilang pusa? ng nabali nilang kuko? Buhay.

Suhestyon at Ilang Pagsusuri

Iniisip ko na dapat siguro magkaroon ng internalization ang mga pulitiko sa paglilingkod nila. Palagay ko masyado silang nasanay sa buhay sa loob ng mga eklusibong subdibisyon na tinitirhan nila. Paano nila malalaman na may problema sa pabahay gayong, ang bahay ng laga nilang aso o ibon ay kasinglaki ng isang bahay ng isang karaniwang empleyado? Paano nila mararanasan na may trapik pala sa Metro Manila, samantalang humaharurot ang sasakyan nila na may mga 'hagad'? Paano nila mararanasan ang hirap ng buhay gayong lahat halos ng pribilehiyo ay nasa kanila, kaya naman naisip ko ang ilang bagay.

Para sa tatakbong Presidente: 'automatic' siyang titira sa isang middle-class o low-cost housing unit, depende pa sa availability ng unit. Bibigyan siya ng isang luma, 2nd hand na kotse, na ipapagas niya sa sweldo niyang hindi tataas sa 20,000 kasama pati overtime. Duon nya lahat kukunin ang panggastos niya sa pamilya niya, pagkain ng first family at bubuwisan din siya ng 32% sa kanyang sahod. May day-off tuwing Sabado o Linggo, kung saan, dapat siyang maglaba, mamalantsa ng gagamitin niya para sa isang linggo. Ewan ko lang, kung hindi patinuin ng Presidente ang pamumuno niya, at ayusin ang 'bureacracy' dahil dama niya ang hirap ng isang karaniwang kawani ng pamahalaan. Kung corrupt, bitay automatic.

Para sa tatakbong Congressman, Senador o Gobernador: titira sila sa Payatas o di kaya ay sa Smokey Mountain (wala na ata nun ngayon). Hindi sila bibigyan ng sasakyan, magje-jeep lang sila patungong Batasan o di kaya magbu-bus. Tingnan ko kung di nila murahin ang usok, trapik at mahal ng pamasahe. Hindi sila bibigyan ng sweldo na mas mataas sa minimum wage mga 6,000 to 8,000 swedlo buwan-buwan kasama pati overtime. Bawal ma-late kasi kaltas sa sweldo, duon na rin nila kukunin ang pag-papaaral ng mga anak nila, pagkain, pamasahe, at pang-ospital. Hindi sila pwedeng magpagamot sa 1st class hospitals, sa government or public health centers sila pwede magpatingin. Tingnan ko lang din kung hindi nila madaliin ang pagpapasa ng 'social services laws' para sa mga tao. Hindi rin sila pwede magpasok ng anak nila sa mga private schools kundi, makikipagsiksikan ang mga anak nila sa overcrowded, over-populated, poorly built public schools natin. Tingnan ko kung hindi nila rebyuhin ang Education laws. Sa pamamasahe, hindi sila bibigyan ng discount kahit senior citizen pa sila, tiyak iisip sila ng paraan para rebisahin ang oil deregulation law. Kung matagpuang corrupt. Bitay automatic.

Para sa mga mayors, konsehal atbp, kasama pati mga cabinet members: automatic na titira sa mga barong-barong sa gilid ng kanal, estero o sa masikip at mabahong mga eskinita. Sweldo na hindi tataas sa 250-300 araw-araw kasama pati overtime. Walang aircon ang opisina, walang bodyguard. Walang sasakyan, automatic silang dapat mag-commute araw-araw. Sa public hospitals din pwede magpagamot. Sa albularyo kung sa mismong siyudad o bayan na pinaglilingkuran nila ay walang ospital. Walang medical benefits, o kaya minsan, hindi sila bibigyan ng social security benefits. Bawal mangurakot, automatic bitay.

Ano kaya? Kung ganito dapat mamuhay o sa ganitong paraan ire-require ng batas ang bawat pulitiko sa bansa na mamuhay, baka wala ng tumakbo sa pulitika. O tiyak siguro, aayusin nila ang batas na gagawin nila, dahil tiyak na apektado sila sa gagawin nilang batas o sa gagawin nilang pamumuno. Minsan nakakalungkot isipin na, "insulated" ang ating mga lider sa sitwasyon ng maraming mahihirap, sa kalagayan ng mga karaniwang tao, sa mga nais ng bawat Pilipino. Hindi nila dama ang mangupahan o di kaya ay tumira sa squatter dahil nasa mga mansyon sila, hindi nila alam ang hagupit ng presyo ng bilihin o gasolina dahil protektado nila ang kani-kanilang negosyo habang nasa kapangyarihan, hindi nila naiitindihan ang sakit ng ulo ng mga misis o ng mga mister na halos magkandakuba para sa below minimum wage na sweldo o di kaya'y kawalan ng hanap-buhay. Hindi nila pansin ang hinanakit ng bawat Pilipino na nanakawan ng milyong-milyong halaga ng buwis na kanila nilang pinagpaguran.

Kung walang gagawa o kikilos para sa bansang ito? Sino? Aasahan ba natin ang mga Amerikano na tulungan tayo? O baka magkandamatay na lang tayo ng dilat?

Sana huwag naman. click to continue...

Singapore Part II

Seeing SG for the first time

When we stepped outside the airport we were politely greeted by the cab driver who was waiting on the cab bay just few steps away from the airport exit door. I find that comfortable. The cab driver speaks English. He immediately asked us, where are we heading to, so I told him, "We will be checking in at Blah blah hotel". At first, (since, the hotel we booked is somewhat unknown), the taxi driver honestly told us, he does not know where the hotel is. But, promised us to bring us there anyway. He called a number and asked another taxi driver (or perhaps their station) where our hotel is.

Taxis in Singapore are clean, the leg room is wide and the taxi drivers are well-mannered and can largely converse in English. I think, taking the cab in Singapore, no English-speaking person, most especially if you speak Chinese, would have any difficulty if you'll be asking for some directions. The cabs in SG have LCD monitors, where the fare, ads and other matters are flashed like TV. All cabs, for that matter, as I have learned later, have card ports and terminals, where one can pay via VisaCard, MasterCard or any other major credit cards. Imagine, paying through card to a taxi! Another impressive thing about SG taxi drivers is that they do not haggle the price with their passengers. They would even tell you, you will only pay the exact amount as shown in the meter, and normally, they have change for few hundreds. Meaning, they always go to streets prepared.

After our cab driver determined where to go, we had the first glimpse of Singapore....it was so clean. I don't think I am just mesmerized by the thought of being in a foreign land, but the whole city, as far as the roads from the aiport to the downtowns are concerned, all were lined up with tall trees, and green shades. The roads are crisscrossed you can hardly determine what line and road to take. But, the well-maintained roadsigns, road trees, and other plants that are scattered to line up the entire Singapore highways are stunningly beautiful. I have never seen a place in Manila as clean, as the one we passed by.

After some few minutes, we arrived at the hotel. Suprisingly, the taxi driver gave an automated receipt printed out from the computer terminal attached on the dashboard. We were glued to think, that no taxi ( i think anywhere in the globe) that gives receipt to passengers, other than being obliged to pay what's on the meter. But, we had a taste of Singapore discipline, for the first time. Before leaving, the taxi driver gave us some directions where Henderson Road is, and how much the morning taxi rates will be. He even showed us the entire City of Singapore map to locate where are we, and where are we going tomorrow morning. He kindly thanked us, and wished us "nice stay" in Singapore. Now to the Hotel.

THE OLD HOUSE HOTEL

Before we left Manila, I have already browsed thru the internet various hotels, their rates and packages. We managed get one and tried to contact the hotel the day before our arrival. I placed a long distance call from the Philippines to SG, to verify rates in the hotel we have booked. So when we arrived at the hotel, our names were already listed in the Guest Book, and we were welcomed by the hotel attendant, an old man with Chinese features. He is clean and polite and asked our passports to verify if we were the ones who booked early on. He gave us the key and told us to use the stairs to the second floor where our room was. The hotel has only 7 rooms (or more, but not more than 10, I guess). The modest lobby is decorated with wooden furniture upholstered with white cushions. You can see various antique brass figures displayed on top of a wall table. The floors are accented with half-inch box mosaic tiles, and the staircases were also floored with old type ceramic tiles. It was at first glance, typical house of the 50's. Upon taking the stairs, we realized the hotel antedates us to the 50's. It is as if we have checked in a 3-star hotel wayback in the eras where our mom's lived. The building was old, though not dilapidated, it was obvious that it was really just moderately maintained to entertain guests.

Our room was at the right, with wooden door and old-type key (where you can see the hole in the doorknobs), we realized upon entering the room, we were in a motel. The bed is clean, but I don't think the linens are fresh. The bathroom sink sinks, and the curtains hung like they were not changed since the liberation in 1942. We were somewhat disappointed. The aircon is an old type phase-out aircon (though it cools efficiently), and the chair covers are stained with I think, "milk of human kindness" by former room users. Generally, the place is clean. We were just perhaps disappointed by what we saw. I wanted to have our room changed but, anyway, we want to rest now and to take some hot bath. Good thing, the bathroom has hot shower. Otherwise, we will suffer miserably.

We placed our bags, brushed our teeth, took a quick bath, but before we jumped to the bed, we lined everything with our clothes just to be sure we dont sleep on anything unknown to us.Then we took some hours of sleep because we have a big day early morning... actually, we only have few hours left to rest. Suddenly, in the middle of our silent sleep, we smelled incense in our room, and upon checking it, I saw the hotel master lighting incense on the lobby and on the front hotel doors, oozing incense aroma right to our room and making us more dizzy. This time, robbing us the few hours left, we alloted to take nap and doze off. But, thanks to the Chinese incense sticks, the first opportunity to rest turned into joining them involuntarily to the incense burning sacrifice downstairs. Hotel Hotel Hotel. That very moment, I promised myself never compromise your stay with an accomodation less than your minimum expectations, better yet spend. Doing otherwise will surely challege your sanity.

THE FIRST SINGAPORE MORNING

When we immuned ourselves with the incense, and perhaps after all the available incense in SG has been consumed by the hotel attendant downstairs, we never thought that we had indeed slept for some hours. We woke up around 7am, and hurriedly took a quick bath again, prepared our things, and went downstairs to take a cab to Henderson Road, where Donna shall be interviewed. Following strictly, the directions of the cab driver last night, we asked the attendant to book us a cab to the city. The incense-hungry attendant, joyfully called the cab station. The cab in SG never failed to impress us, in not more than 5 minutes a cab arrived in front of the hotel door.

We had the first glimpse of Singapore daytime! Now, we were more amazed and impressed with the cleanliness of the city. How organized and how well-developed Singapore is. I can't just imagine with the minute size of Singapore, the construction of buildings are everywhere. Despite that fact, the whole scene is still so beautiful, it as if, we were in Europe or US, or where else. We have seen how clear the city was, how concrete the roads were and how it feels to be in a rush-hour time with virtually no traffic. In Singapore, most roads are 3 or 4-laned only but the traffic flow is so smooth. The buses run only on designated lanes, and all private vehicles on specific outermost lanes. No buses or cabs stop anywhere, they stop where they have to.

Seeing the whole area excites the both of us. Too bad, we were not able to take pictures, because, the cab was moving fast and it might be a violation to take pictures in a highway.

I suddenly felt, where did the Philippines go? What have done wrong?

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Singapore, Singapore! (series, part 1)

This is my first time to travel outside the country! I am excited because it will all be my first time. First to ride an airplane (that I just see flying above our roof) first to set foot in another country, first to enter the NAIA, first to everything. As Madonna said, "like a virgin, touched for the very first time..."

PREPARING FOR THE FLIGHT

Before leaving, we managed to just get the most important things that will make our trip as light as possible: few clothes, toiletries and some documents are the the few things in our list. Since Donna will just be there for a job interview, I am not contemplating of splurging all that I have because, we are actually on a tight budget. And I mean, air-tight budget. We barely have 200US dollars to spend for a 2 to 3 days stay. We have to include everything like: food, accommodation, transportation and other costs (as they may arise).

Actually, I am not supposed to join Donna in her trip to Singapore. I have a hectic schedule back home, and the funds won't just easily permit us to take the (before) elusive trip. Singapore came in because one business school in SG, offered her a teaching stint. At first, we were adamant to go because, we do not have any money to spare, as in nothing, not even to afford us to travel to Tagaytay. I for myself have no nothing to spend, even for a bus ride, just imagine! So, the thought is quite impossible.

But God provides in mysterious ways, like what He did almost 2,000 years when he split the Dead Sea into two. Miraculously, help came pouring in, with or lesser intervention from us. I am sure, it is better to pray to God than to go to Bombays (Indians), who can lend their money in 5-6 scheme. Later, we managed to get the bulk amount of 20,000 from somewhere, somehow (thanks to our benefactors), and the rest from our own pockets we never thought we had, from savings we have put for a future life together---everything wrung dry to the last drop. There on, I hurriedly bought a ticket for two bound to Singapore the next day. So, the trip is now a biting reality.

Earlier said, I managed to get additional 10,000 pesos from our mutual savings and payment for my services as a writer to exchange the whole amount to dollars. Actually, I just bought dollars for the amount of 9K+ only because, I would have to deduct some expenses, like phone calls for the trip taking it from the amount we have saved. So, I told myself, "where the hell are we going for just barely 200 dollars!?". So I went to the money changer and had my money change its color. It pains me to let my multi-colored pesos turned so valueless against the green dollar. Those monies were hard earned. It is extremely difficult to let them go. Tens of Philippine papers against two green bills. Pitiful!

THE AIRPORT---and everything on it.

I was suprised how dirty, old and unorganized our airport was. Before, whenever we drop people off at the NAIA, I always think how does it look like from the inside. For many of us, leaving the country is like an achievement. I wonder what, where and how, my father, my brother or many of my relatives take queue in the airline counters, pass immigration officials, board airplane and transfer flights. I never had any slight idea how one can go and manage himself to board a flight. So, being cramped with people (to add, that our flight is midnight, less people are coming in the airport), NAIA is somewhat the total opposite of what I expected. Is this the place where our "bagong bayani" are welcomed? Is this the place where we receive foreign guests and tourists? They would surely be dissapointed, I mumbled.

At first, I am afraid of immigration officials both the Philippine immigration and the Singapore immigration. I wildly conjured, what if they won't allow us to depart, or won't allow us to enter? What are we going to do, definitely, Donna and I are going to Singapore as a transit visitor. We have funds (though it may not be necessarily sufficient), we have confirmed roundtrip ticket. But what if they deny us? It terrifies me. I don't want to be in shame and in shabbles, crying my way out at NAIA, or being denied at the port of entry...good thing, my travel agent, gave us a fictitious (actually it can be used, but warned me not to, because I did not pay her anything), travel voucher. Actually, it is usable, but since we never paid for the travel voucher, if we use it there, the travel agent will be liable to any expenses we shall incur. So, the travel voucher is just a show-up. But, actually it is not necessary.

I saw, a lot of foreign nationals departing the country, from British subjects, to Chinese citizens to Middle-East people, the nationalities mix the building with all skin colors. I was about to sing, "Jesus, loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white..."

Now, its our time to pass through the chubby lady at the immigration booth. They only asked Donna, what is her work and where does she work, after that, they stamped our passports "Pilipinas, date: xxxxx" WOW. Stamp pad!

Now, how does one get around NAIA, for the first time? The first thing to do stepping inside the NAIA, is to deposit your luggage and bags to the x-ray machines found immediately after the entrance doors. Dare not bring any prohibited material, or exceed any limit and for sure, its the end of you. One would realize that being a light traveller would be the most ideal scenario for a first timer (like me). Thereafter, the passenger must take a queue to the airline counter inside the airport, another long line would be hurdled by the passenger this time. That night, airline checking-in is not difficult, the line is short, there we just few of us leaving the country that same night, perhaps around 500 approximately. Upon leaving the airline counter, we were given boarding passes and our tickets checked, we proceeded to the immigration booth. But there is a magic pass, like Open Sesame, before you can be checked at the immigration, no less than the 750Php terminal fee. I think it is only NAIA and Philippine airports that collects 750 terminal fees to all departing passengers. And I further asked myself, what the hell, is this 750 for? With all the money that they collect this airport should have had prime airport facilities!

THE painful, foodless FLIGHT

Aboarding the plane, I realized that its size and structure is no different from the luxury buses on land. In fact, on budget airlines, the room leg is crampier than a bus going to Nasugbu. But at least, the ambiance is different. And to add, no free meal onboard a short budget flight. Inside, you can see smoke coming out from the side panels of the plane releasing oxygen perhaps to stabilize the pressure inside the plane. We were greeted by the charming stewardess and find our seats near the wings of the aircraft. Nervousness and excitement fills my system this time. Donna was with me along the way. Since, she has already taken a domestic flight, more or less she knows what airplane things is all about, unlike an ignoramus like I am.

I was excited to feel the motion of the plane taking off, and how it feels while its flying above the clouds. I was a bit nervous, but the plane experience did not fail me, for the first time, I felt the feeling of surging upwards while the Cebu Pacific soars up to the air and fly across the thick and vast clouds of our territory. But, my excitement was changed to pain, when I realized that my left ear (which was damaged also by a trip in highlands and almost popped and damaged my eardrums) was aching. It was not a feeling of having pressure inside. It feels that my eardrum is pierced and stabbed by a sharp knife! My ear is nearly exploding! But the thought of being up in the air excites me. Yet, despite my quaky feeling, the pain in my left ear did not subside until we were stabilized around hundreds of feet above the sea level. I almost break Donna's hand into pieces when I clenched her fist with my shaking hands to ease the pain in my ear.

It's so nice to know that Donna is right beside me, holding my hands and saying "relax" yes, while I gnaw myself in relentless pain. Hahaha.

THE SINGAPORE AT NIGHT TIME- now arriving

More or less 3 and half hour from mid-air doing nothing but to stare the leather seat in front of you and see nothing from the blackness outside, the captain announced we will be landing Changi Terminal 3, in few minutes. In jiffy, we saw the whole City of Singapore in glistening, glittering lights. It looks like Manila from the up way sky, but I know, it will be different down there. Again, my ears are starting to ache like numbing my whole body nothing but pain on my head. I can't control my stress while landing off. The ear is as if exploding and the pressure stabs the inner ear as if bitten by hundred of ants. For grueling 15 minutes the pain did not subside, until we reached a tolerable level in the atmosphere almost near the ground. Oh my, I suddenly thought, "I still have a flight back home...does this mean, another pain? Oh my!" I just gulped and breathed-in.

But the pain I felt, slowly decreased when we set foot on the concrete floors of the airport, at long last. The first foreign soil, I set foot (feet) in. I was excited to know more about Singapore, and to see (as I expect) how different it is from my home sweet home, Philippines.

When we passed through the long corridors of Budget Terminal in Singapore, I told myself, "is this a budget terminal?", though it looks like budget, because the building does not look like a hotel looby, but the Budget Terminal is so spacious, clean and organized. Now, I do have a comparison. Upon having our luggage checked at the x-ray machines, (if bags are just humans, they will be exposed to too much radiation), we were received by poker-faced Singaporean immigration officials. We were neither questioned nor interrogated. They just stamped our passports with "ENTRY" and voila, my first foreign country passport stamp!

We passed through the routine checks and stepped to get our bags at the rotating boards. We step immediately in a forex counter just beside the exit doors and exhanged our US dollars with Singapore dollars. The exchange rate is dramatically different from Peso. It is not even 1:2 but 1 USD equivalent to 1.71 (even lower) SG$. To regulate our spending, Donna and I exchanged the 150 dollars first. At least, we still have 50 dollars just in case, the 150 goes right in the bin. The 150USD was exchanged for at least 300SG&. Prior to our coming, we already carefully budgeted the cost of accomodation, taxis and food. To avoid, ending up as beggars, we bought 4 cup noodles to spare us from hunger just in case, we can no longer afford to buy anything.

After exchanging, I held the few hundred SG$ in my hands...and proceeded right outside the exit. We felt relieved. I told Donna, "I love you dear..." (and I wish we can come back home, with some coins in our pockets). What makes it memorable is that we fulfilled our dream to make our first out of the country trip together and God made it possible. We held hands, as we stepped to walk and take our first Singaporean cab experience, and get to see the REAL Singapore outside the airport. It's already past midnight, around 1 a.m. I know, we shall have grand time together (we totally forgot we are there for a business).

Again, Donna held my hand, like she is a girl excited to take her first carnival caterpillar ride. Breathing the air of Singapore, I just thought, I love this girl who is holding my hand.

(to be continued).

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Hilariously Funny

I just want to post this extremely hilarious sign. What happened to our grammar and English Proficiency?

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Ang Mga Pagtatanggol sa Bituin ng mga Pilipino.

Siguro kapag tinanong mo ang isang Pinoy, kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng 3 bituin sa bandera ng Pilipinas, baka sabihin niya, yung 3 big stars ng Pi’nas: sina Nora, Vilma at Sharon. Halos ang buong populasyon ng Pilipinas na 85 Milyon ay mahahati mo sa 3 bahagi—para kay Nora, Vilma at Sharon. Ang tatlong grupo ng kapuluan ng Pilipinas ay pwede rin na ipangalan sa tatlong big stars na ito. Ang Luzon kay Nora, ang Visayas kay Vilma at Mindanao kay Sharon.

Sa totoo lang, maraming similarities ang tatlong ito. Una sa lahat, sila ay pare-pareho ng mga past 40’s na (still beautiful I guess). Pangalawa, lahat sila ay pare-pareho ng Ina. Pangatlo, lahat sila ay may mga anak na kapwa mga modelo o artista na rin ngayon. Idagdag pa rito na lahat sila ay nagkaroon ng higit sa isang asawa, I mean, pag-ibig. Oh, hindi naman nila kasalanan yun.

Para kay Superstar Nora B. as in ‘bato’

Si Nora ay nasa US ngayon, hindi ko alam kung permanent resident na siya sa US o binabalak na niyang maging isang US Citizen. Matapos mahulihan ng “bato” si Ate Guy sa California, at marehab ito duon, nawala na ang Superstar ng pelikulang Pilipino sa pinilakang tabing ng Pilipinas. Ang “bato” na nahuli sa kanya ay sapat upang ikulong si Nora sa Amerika ng matagal, pero nagparehab na lamang si Ate Guy. Siguro masyadong nafrustrate si Nora sa isang role na hindi niya nagamapanan, iyon ay maging “Darna”, dahil si Ate Vi at Sharon nagging Darna na sa pelikula. Kaya ayun naghanap ng “Ding, ang bato” si Ate Guy. Napipicture-out ko na inaarte ni Nora Aunor ang “Ding…ang bato!” sa famous acting style niya na ginagaya ng mga gay impersonators.

Sabi nga nila, kahit gaano kaningning ang isang bituin, hindi panghabang-panahon ang kinang nito sa kalawakan. Gaya ng isang tala, o ng makislap na bituin, marami ding bumabatikos sa nag-iisang superstar ng Pilipinas, na halos nagpalaos sa ningning ni Ate Guy. Mula sa mga pagkakamali nya sa pag-ibig hanggang sa pagbulusok paibaba ng kanyang career, pati na rin ang kanyang diumano’y paggamit ng droga, pakikipatol sa tomboy atbp. Pero sa totoo lang, kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila, isa si Nora sa pinaka-accomplished na artista sa Pilipinas. Kung tutuusin, unparalleled din ang acting awards at talent ni Nora sa pagganap ng mga roles. Hindi ako Noranian ha, pero, when I saw her in “Sidhi”, “Flor Contemplacion Story” at “Minsan May Isang Gamu-Gamo” humanga ako kay Ate Guy. Siyempre i-exclude ko na ang mga istorya nina Guy at Pip, na kinabaliwan ng lola at mga tiya ninyo.

Si Nora palagay ko, ang representasyon ng isang tipikal na hitsurang Pilipina na bumasag sa mestisadong Philippine Cinema, siyempre marami ang nauna na sa kanya pero si Nora ay isang probinsyanang taga-Bikol, nagtitinda ng tubig sa istasyon, isang mapangarap na dalaga na pinatunayang “talento at kakayahan” pa rin ang puhunan sa tagumpay. Mahalaga si Nora sa kulturang Pilipino. Simbolo kasi si Nora ng isang Pilipina, inaapi, pero lumalaban, nagkakamali pero bumabangon. Hinulma ni Nora ang kaisipang, “hindi lamang para maganda ang pagiging Reyna”. Sabi kasi nila, bakya daw si Nora. Pero dahil sa kabakyaan niya, at kabaduyan na rin, nabuhay ang Pelikulang Pilipino, nung mga panahong wala ang katinuan ng mga Pilipino dahil sa Martial Law. Dahil sa kanyang mahiwagang nunal nailarawan niya ang isang mukha ng tagumpay.

Marami ang nagsasabi naghirap si Nora dahil na rin sa kanyang kapabayaan. Sa dami ng tumabong pelikula niya sa takilya hindi malayong milyonarya si Nora nuong ang palitan pa ng dolyar sa Piso ay 1-5. At nuong panahon na sumikat siya, ang P100 ay tiyak na budget na nang isang mag-anak sa isang buwan. Pero hindi raw nagging “wais” si Ate Guy. Marami ang nanghinayang sa kanya. Pero palagay ko hindi na mawawala si Nora Aunor sa mga haligi ng mga sinehan sa Pilipinas at sa bawat pundasyon ng Telebisyong Pilipino.


Si Gobernadora Vilma “ ala-e” Santos-Recto

Ito ang wais na misis. Si Gov. Vilma-Santos “Lucky” Recto. Mind you, ang hunk na anak niya ay ayaw niyang ipatawag na LUCKY. Kundi Luis. Si Vilma ang isa sa dakilang “rival” at archnemesis sa showbiz ni Nora Aunor. Bagama’t hindi pa ako buhay nuon, nagsasabunutan pa ata ang mga Noranians at Vilmanians, sa anumang pagtatagpo maging shooting o taping (siguro dapat i-confirm ito ng isang die-hard Noranian o Vilmanian). Gaya ni Shawie, si Vilma ay asawa din ng isang senador, I mean, ex-senator Raph Recto(na nagsabi na “magkukrus daw muli ang landas natin..hmmm”), mula siya sa kilalang pamilya ng mga Recto.

Lucky talaga si Ate Vi. Matapos ang Vilma Show niya sa GMA 7 nuon, na panay haggis hagis at buhat-buhat. Ngayon isa na siyang respetadong Gobernadora ng Batangas. Si Vilma ang perfect example ng pagpapalit mukha. Mula sa Showbiz to Politics. Marami ang artistang lalaki na naging pulitiko, isa na rito si Ex-President J.E.E. Pero halos walang babaeng artista na naging succesful politician. Ganun pa man, gaya ng laging batikos sa mga artista-pulitiko, karaniwang ipinupukol na sa kanila ang kawalan ng kaalaman at karanasan sa paglilingkod-bayan. Pero kahit mabigat ang kalaban ni Ate Vi sa Bats, si Sister Stella L, pa rin ang nagwagi. Aba, di yata at magaling na artista din si Ate Vi, kayang-kaya niyang magdrama sa campaign sorties. On the other hand bilang isang artista, countless na rin ang roles niya na “critically acclaimed” gaya ng Dekada “70 at “Bata, Bata Paano ka GInawa?”, Sister Stella L, Burlesk Queen, atbp.

Ang maganda kasi kay Vilma, naging malinis ang pangalan niya sa mga intriga nuong nagpakasal siya kay ex-Senator Recto, at lalo na nang paglingkuran niya ng buong lakas ng City of Lipa. Sabi ko nga, kung Batangeño lang ako, iboboto ko si Ate Vi, diba? Gobernadora na, Artista pa. Imagine, kapag nakakuha ka ng business permit o di kaya Provincial License, na may pirma nya, parang autograph na rin! Si Ate Vi, ang Ate ng Batangas!

Si Sharon at ang Lucky Me Pancit Canton

Sharonian ang nanay ko. Although hindi niya inaamin. But I remember, we would watch Sharon’s movies to the old defunct MVS Cinema in Zapote. Anak ng isang local politician si Ate Shawie. Ikinasal sa isang gwapong si Gabby Concepcion, pero naghiwalay din matapos mag-aksaya ng limpak limpak na salapi sa engrandeng kasalan sa Manila Cathedral.

Si Sharon ay isa ring accomplished artista at singer. Though hindi ko gustong singer si Sharon, “box-office” queen naman siya sa pelikula. In fact, hinahangaan ko siya sa “Pasan ko ang Daigdig” at sa comedy na “jack and jill”, kasama si Bistek. Galing sa mayaman at politkong pamilya si Ate Shawie. Siguro ito na rin ang dahilan kung bakit sanay na sanay siya sa mga tao. Hindi kasi suplada itong si Ate Shawie sa mga fans. Nakita ko kasi siya sa isang mall tour nuon, kahit na siguro sukang-suka na siya sa mga tao na halik ng halik sa kanya, ngiting-ngiti pa rin at parang hindi siya pagod na pagod. Kasi, kung ako ang halikan ng mga tao at ibeso-beso na halos mabura ang pisngi ko eh, tiyak nag-walk out na ako. Pero hanga ako kay Ate Shawie, kahit ngalay na ang medyo tumatabang kamay sa pagpirma, hindi niya binigo ang 5 oras na pumila para lang makapag-palitrato sa kanya.

Lately, panay buttered-scotch caramel ice-cream at instant noodles ang commercial ni Ate Shawie. Iniisip ko, hindi kaya, kaya hindi siya pumayat na ay dahil hinihingi niya ang Lucky Me instant Pancit Canton ng kanyang esposong si Senator Francis Pangilinan? Hindi na nga naisuot ni Sharon ang “black dress” na idinisplay sa early evening show niya sa Dos na “The Sharon”. Nasaan na kaya ang damit na ‘yun? Ibinigay na kaya niya kay Yaya Loring? O ipinasuot na lang niya kay KC? Hindi ko talaga alam kung naisuot niya ang black gown na yun. Matapos ng manganak siya sa pangatlo niyang anak, hindi na bumalik sa dating kaseksihan si Sharon, medyo tumaba siya ng konti, pero I must admit, Sharon remained beautiful. Sabi nga sa Dove “eh sa taba ko ba namang ito, ganito naman katawan ko at least, maganda naman ako..”

I don’t want to hurt Ate Shawie naman. Siyempre, idol ko pa rin siya. Pero, eh ano naman kung hindi na siya sexy? Mas mataba na nga ngayon sa kanya si Alec Bovick na nagsabi “Kumakain ako, kasi gusto kong maging malusog ang baby ko….” Utang na loob, Ms. Bovick! Hindi yan totoo. Talagang ikaw ang nagpalusog…Going back, eh ano naman ngayon, kung sarap na sarap si Sharon sa Selecta, este Nestle Ice Cream (sabi niya masarap ang Selecta, ngayon Nestle na, nag-iba siguro ang panlasa niya ano??) eh masarap naman talaga eh, at totoo naman nakaka-adik ang lasa ng Lucky Me Pancit Canton, hindi ba? Kaya, okay lang kay Ate Shawie yun. Saka bakit ba hindi na pwedeng maging malusog, chubby ang isang artista? Tayo lang ba ang may karapatang kumain, at sila, parang mga goldfish na papakainin lang ng mumu-mumong butil? Mali naman ata yun!

Pero, Si Sharon ay isang ulirang asawa at ina. Respetado ng mga kasamahan sa industriya at maging sa “political circles” ng kanyang asawa. Kahit na naging hiwalay kay Gabby, ipinakita pa rin ni Sharon na may ikalawang Gloria ang mga mabubuting tao tulad niya. Gaya rin ng mga Pilipino, “icon” na si Sharon sa isang buhay, isang “bad marriage” patungo sa isang “model family” ngayon. Si Sharon, ay simbolo di lamang ng pagkain kundi, isang nosyon na, “everyone deserves a good life, and good taste of ice cream after a long tiring day…”

Si Nora, Vilma at Sharon. Bow. click to continue...

Where Filipinos may tread free

Where Filipinos may tread free

Nowadays, I do not see that we, Filipinos are really left behind. Although ordinary working Filipinos may find it hard to have vacation outside the country because many first-world nations would require stringent visa requirements for nationals coming from a third-world like us, I have found out, that there are still, equally beautiful and colorful places in this world, where Filipinos can enjoy without the dreaded visa applications.

Definitely, the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, UK, European Nations, and certain nations in the Northern Hemisphere will require Pinoys to obtain tourist visas, but many countries (which I will mention later), entered into a visa-exemption treaty between their citizens and ours. I have noticed this because, my own family, my father, and siblings who happen to be US Citizens, and nationals, have no difficulty whatsoever entering other countries since their US passport would make it easy for them. I remember, when we applied US Citizenship claim for my sister she remarked, “Why are we applying for a blue (US) passport, can it go to HongKong? Green Passports (Phils), I know can go to Hongkong, why apply here at the Embassy when we can apply easily at Pasay?” Oh, yes that remark came from my youngest sister who is just barely 12 years old. Little did she know, her US passport can make her enter virtually all countries in this world, without the requirement of any visa (of course for tourist, visitor visa only).

I was amazed that certain places that I really want to see are countries which we have Visa-Free treaties, take for instance, Israel. If you have arranged a trip going to the Holy Land, just to witness for yourself the footprints and the life of our Lord Jesus, you need not apply for visa. Just arrange a tour, roundtrip ticket and hotel accommodation, you can go there, reflect the life of Jesus, without the hassles of piling a queue for a tourist visa. But of course, working there would be another thing. The visa-free treaties only allows certain nationals to enter a territory for a certain number of days as pleasure visitor or tourist; working or investing there would mean obtaining a working, trading visa as the case may apply.

Another is Peru, if you want to see the Aztec ruins and the Maya civilizations, you can enter Peru without any problem. Again, just arrange a roundtrip ticket, a cheap package tour and voila! you will have the sights and wonders of the old Mayan civilization.

I understand that nations have their own way of securing their own borders. This fact I comprehend well. But, some of our rich Asian neighbors were allowed to enter visa-exempt treaty just like any other rich nations, like Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. Understandably, the Philippines, (being the largest migrant worker sending nation of the world) cannot enter into such visa-free treaty with other equal sovereign states, due to the possibility of Filipinos, working and, or residing indiscriminately or illegally to these first-world nations. Commonly, rich countries’ social security, border protection and economic statures where strictly monitored and implemented—by entering a visa-free treaty to poorer nations, they will risk themselves, attracting illegal migrants (perhaps escaping their plight in their own nations) which may collapse their own economic and social systems. Normally, the problem of illegal migration is one of the most difficult problem a nation can face, considering serious implications of diplomatic relationship in deporting, possible human rights violations, economic viability, employment competition, food and shelter security are factors at risk. Australia for instance was reported, paying huge sums to Tonga to allow certain Vietnamese refugees to enter Tonga instead of Australia for the fear of possible unwanted immigration. Similarly, USA is facing difficulty curing the immigration defects and loopholes in border security with their own neighbor, Mexico and other illegal migrants (which includes illegally staying Filipino TNT’s).

Before I give the list of visa-free countries where Filipinos may tread. My personal advice to my own kababayan: If you want to stay, work or reside in any country strictly follow their immigration rules. Do not try to circumvent their own laws. Obtaining working visas may be difficult but getting it properly will not only give you a problem-free status but the protection that country affords to its visitors, nationals and citizens. It is a basic rule in International Law, that those migrants, foreign workers, diplomats and visitors in an alien country enjoy their protection. Do not allow other Filipinos, who may be similarly situated find it difficult to get the proper visa just because another stupid Filipino violated their immigration laws. The problem is that 145 countries can enter our country without a visa, but not more than 50 countries we can enjoy to enter. While they frolic and swim in our pristine beaches and trek in our beautiful mountains and sceneries, while they take pleasure in our clubs, purchase endlessly in our shopping malls, we cannot even reciprocally enter their countries the same way they cross our borders almost hassle-free.

If we can project to the world and convince them that though we are poor, we are not lawbreakers, who knows? they may enter visa-free arrangements with us, and we may also enjoy their countries as they can easily enjoy ours, visa-exempt.

But before we enjoy our world neighbor’s gardens and their wonders, I must not fail to mention that our own local tourism must not be forgotten. Remember that, we have the best beaches in the world, the widest range of shops and stores, the cheapest tours, and have the most scenic places in the world. I recommend, Boracay, Dakak, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Pagudpod Ilocos, Batanes, La Union, Palawan, Mindoro and others. As your Ate Regine would say, “tara na byahe tayo!” Enjoy the trip.

COUNTRIES WHERE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS MAY VISIT, VISA-FREE or VISE-EXEMPT.

The following countries and territories allow Philippine Passport Holders to enter without visa however, certain aspects need to be arranged in certain countries. To be sure, plan your trip with return ticket, accommodation and proof of funds. Or visit their official websites for more information:

LEGEND: VOA- Visa On Arrival (the tourist will have to fill-out the visa application at the point of entry normally it has no denial provided, funds, accommodations and outbound tickets are secured)

ASIA
(Up to 30 days except stated)
Cambodia,
China (only Shenzen via HK not more than 3 days),
HongKong-SAR,
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Singapore,
Brunei,
Laos (VOA),
Macau (VOA),
Maldives (VOA)
Mongolia (21 days)
Sri Lanka,
Thailand
Vietnam

MIDDLE EAST

Israel only (59 days)

NORTH AMERICA

Costa Rica, (30 days)
Guatemala (30 days)

EUROPE

Macedonia only (VOA), (30 days)

CARRIBEAN
(15-30 days tourists)

Barbados,
Bermuda (prior arrangement with British Embassies),
Cuba (prior arrangement with Embassy, VOA)
Haiti,
Jamaica (VOA)
Saint Vincent and Grenadines (VOA)


SOUTH AMERICA
(days specified)

Bolivia (90)
Brazil (60)
Colombia (180),
Ecuador (90)
Peru (90)
Suriname (VOA)

AFRICA

Madagascar (VOA)
Morroco (90 days)

AUSTRALASIA

The following countries are VOA. However if you are required to land to New Zealand or Australia to get to any of these countries a transit visa to the changing airport is required. If not, no visa is required unless otherwise stated:

Cook Islands
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Niue (VOA)
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa (VOA)
Solomon Islands (VOA, but needed transit visa from NZ)
East Timor (VOA)
Tokelau (obtain VOA through Samoa)
Tonga (VOA)
Tuvalu (VOA through Fiji)
Vanuatu

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