This is it! for Cebu inmates January 27, 2010

How poignant is this line from the MJ song? “All we’re really saying is,they don’t really care about us.”

As I look at the Cebu inmates (as I’ve seen then from other performances in the past), I can’t help but shed mixed emotions for them. I’m proud to see them doing something worthwhile as the world begins to acknowledge them with their dances. At the same time, I feel sad for the mere fact that they are imprisoned and could not use this display of talent or mere determination to do something meaningful outside the walls of the Cebu prison. In fact, there is that nagging feeling that some of them might even be beginning to like it inside because of this activity. Worse, it might even “invite” others to prefer going inside than struggle like prisoners outside the prison walls.

I can see some very young faces among the prisoners. I sincerely hope they can still redirect their lives to become more productive individuals of society. May this exercise somehow give them hope and inspiration.

Day 1, 2010 January 2, 2010

I woke up early despite having slept for only 4 hours from the previous night’s new year revelry. Then again, sleep has never been my ally. So this first morning of 2010 has nothing new to offer…or so I thought.

I swept the floor of the house from the second floor down. Then I swept the garage and the front patio. Next chore was to water Nanay’s plants. I liked the idea of starting the year responsibly. As I was watering the plants, I saw this:

this caterpillar stopped me from what I was doing

call me drama queen, but how often do you see caterpillars these days?

it probably fell on the stones from the bush

wait, are you still going to turn into a butterfly now that you're out of your coccoon?

Thanks to this caterpillar, a warm feeling swept over me. Somehow, I felt like this year will be much better and kinder to me. I don’t know why, but I do hope so.

Bicol — coco and spice, and everything nice September 9, 2009

“Halos lahat ng pagkain dito, may gata (almost every dish we prepare has coconut milk)”, says our gracious host, Ate Eben, as she sets down a bowl full of laing. I never ate so much laing in my life! We had it for two meals (dinner and lunch the following day), but I craved for more.

This was my third visit to Bicol. All three visits are memorable, mostly because of the warmth of its people. The first was in Naga where I was one of the speakers for the advertising majors of Ateneo de Naga. The second was in Albay for a medical mission. This latest visit was in Buhi and Pili to visit the grieving family of my sister-in-law.

Of all the provinces I have visited in the Philippines, I would say that Bicol is my favorite. It is ironic because all three visits were the shortest, not lasting more than three days. My most memorable was in Albay where the people, after being punished by three consecutive typhoons and the Mayon eruption, showed no signs of defeat.

I guess this is one of the main reasons why certain places seem to call you back. It’s the gentle voice of its people…their warm reception…their comforting words…things that tell you everything will be okay.

delicious laing

twilight at the manmade CWC lake

Mt. Isarog provides a natural backdrop to a manmade resort

Buhi landmark

the kids of battered Albay

Cory’s final parade in Ayala August 16, 2009

For the last time, ex-President Cory Aquino paraded along Ayala Avenue. Yellow confetti dropped before, during, and after she passed by…and maybe, just maybe, for generations to come.

a yellow balloon says goodbye

people would climb wherever they see best to get a glimpse of the late president

watching comfortably from their airconditioned offices

most plants got the brunt of being stepped on

PBCOM tenants got one of the best views

yellow rain

dude stands out in the crowd

the sun was hot, and hearts were burning

what danger?

would stand on anywhere to get a good view

human pyramid

Free Green & Go E-shuttle ride at Araneta Center June 24, 2009

The first e-shuttle system in Quezon City was launched yesterday in Araneta Center. Customers can take the free ride offered by the four environment friendly shuttles, which will go around the Ali Mall-Gateway route. Araneta Center is the first to comply with the QC government’s eco-awareness provisions — in fact way before the policy is enforced. Kudos to Araneta for this green initiative!

QC Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista leads the inaugural ride on the e-shuttle

I got to pretend-drive the e-shuttle

Business unusual at No to Con Ass Makati rally June 10, 2009

The No to Con Ass rally in Makati is being held as I write this. Just a few meters away from our office building, it’s business as usual for our company. Unusual business, however, is on for street vendors. I stepped out of the office for a while to take these photos, which is really just in front of our building. Manong Squidballs was getting stressed out, obviously not used to the outpouring of customers from nearby office buildings.

Fresh buko, good for intestinal cleansing

Manong: isa-isa lang, mahina ang kalaban

Officemate: Manong, siguradong dirty to, ha. Dapat magkasakit ako dito...

dirty ice cream, buko, squid balls, nilagang mais, kwek-kwek...

Walang tindero. Libre siguro

Dugo dugo gang at it again June 2, 2009

This gang’s MO is old as time, but apparently they are still able to fool people.

Two of my friends’ families recently fell victim to this notorious gang. The MO is this: a stranger will call the house, hoping to speak to a househelp. They will that person that their “amo” (employer) got into an accident, and that they need money to pay for the hospital bills. They would then give instructions to the already panicky househelp to get money (or, in the absence of money, jewelry) from the employer’s drawer or cabinet. That money should be brought to a place to be specified by the caller. Once there, they would get the money and leave the poor househelp to fend for her own.

Please tell everyone in your house about this. Like I told my best friend, it helps to be praning (paranoid) about these things. Forewarned is forearmed.

Baby steps May 27, 2009

It’s about being there to witness every precious moment, every memorable milestone, every heartwarming memory. But what if you’re not there every time to see it…feel it…relish it with your loved ones?

A line from a song goes, “a moment gone is gone forever.” But at least you have the rest of your life to make up for everything that you lost.

AH1N1 virus pandemic: days of paranaoia May 26, 2009

At 42, I am at high risk for the AH1N1 virus. Yes, I am being paranoid, and I have my own reasons.

The influenza virus can jump from one person to the next as easily as a basketball passes from one player to another (we’re watching game 4 of the NBA western conference finals between LA and Denver as I write this). It only takes a cough, a sneeze, a touch, an accidental brush of the skin, or even a stray saliva (talsik ng laway, o ayan…) for one to spread the virus. This virus is in the air, and in as much as I want to dodge it everytime I walk, say, along the long and busy stretch of Ayala Avenue, there is no escaping this killer virus. (That’s a weird image — me bobbing and weaving as I walk toward McDo…)

Anyway…you get the picture. So, yeah, I get the shivers just thinking of the times when I would commute on my coding days. Here’s why:

Dreaming on our way to work: the virus never sleeps, people!

Me and my friendly neighborhood commuters travel from Bacoor to Makati and back, shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh, knee to knee, arm to arm (since I’m small, sometimes it’s arm to armpit). Our faces are only about a foot apart, so yeah, we practically fight for a limited share of oxygen. And then when we pay for our fare, the dirty bills and coins transfer from one person to another, along with all the germs, bacteria, and viruses on it. If you’re seated in front, you have the misfortune of getting everybody’s dirt, grime, and heaven-knows-what-living-microorganism as you take all their money and hand it to the driver…the driver! The poor, poor driver who is the recipient of all the germs!

So…anyone care to join my paranoia? Okay, so I’m exaggerating. Like I said, I’m paranoid about the whole thing. Hey, I even heard that a new strain is now being observed in Brazil. Bottomline is this: don’t rub your eyes, pick your nose, touch your mouth, scratch your ear canal as these are the entry points for the virus.

So please take care of yourselves, people. Always keep your hands clean. Bring hand sanitizer or alcohol disinfectant with you anywhere — and use it! If you have to sneeze or cough, keep the spray to yourself by covering up.

The artists’ palate served at Taumbayan Restaurant May 25, 2009

Quiet and seemingly reticent. But once you engage it, it will stimulate your senses. That’s Taumbayan Restaurant — the self-effacing eating place at T. Gener cor. K-1st, Kamuning, Quezon City.

The place has become the hangout for artists. In fact, they hold workshops and lectures there. Young writers will find good mentors there if they’re lucky enough to catch them on certain nights.

There are also theme nights such as videoke night, game night (more of traditional indoor games like chess or scrabble), and acoustic night (great for jamming with friends). That’s a lot of activities for a small place with nothing fancy to embellish itself with. Just wide windows, electric fans, wooden chairs, wooden benches, and wooden tables. The surprise is, it has wifi access!

cooked adobo-style to absorb the flavor, the liempo is then grilled to let most of the cholesterol out

The food is homemade style and definitely pocket-friendly. You’ll even see your plate smiling at you — literally. That’s the schtick that you’ll see right from the entrance, where the restaurant’s logo gives the hint of a smile.

pork bbq: parang luto sa kanto, in a much better way