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.

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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...