Sampaguita

There was a strong rain outside and there's this little girl trying to sell a lace of sampaguita to church goers.

The Family Tree

I just started my family. And I want YOU to be part of it. Join my Mafia Family.

The People Will Live to Die Another Day, and that Day is NOT in this Lifetime!

I was reading Condrado de Quiros' article during lunch break and had to ask:

Why do history repeat itself?

Why is it that the Philippines has always to be in a position where people has to say "Ang Mamatay ng Dahil Sayo". Our ancestors have already given us the clue to the answer but the clue had been always been misinterpreted(or interpreted singularly). Old folks would always say "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan". Indeed not reaching your goals is fearsome, that is why the quote is used most of the time. But we seldom hear the interpretation of it which says "If we cant learn from the past, history, or previous mistake, we can not push through".

As engineers by training, we always have said, its hard to learn from our mistakes, lets learn from the mistake of others from the past, we can't build a building and kill hundreds of people because we need to learn from our mistake.

People let us learn to the past.


Here is an anecdote from de Quiros:

Three drivers were being interviewed to drive for a rich man. Asked how good a driver they were, the first answered: "Sir, if I were your driver, even if one wheel of our car juts out into the cliff on a mountain road, I will make sure to save us." The second answered: "Sir, if I were your driver, even if both wheels of our car juts out into the cliff on a mountain road, I will make sure to save us." The third answered: "Sir, if I were your driver, I will make sure we do not get into that situation." What will you do if tomorrow one pillar of our country collapsed? Surely a lot heroes will be made there. But isn't it great if the pillar have never collapsed after all? What can you do to prevent this?

Unpaved Paradise

"Lovers, Roads, Change " by Willow P.

This Photo shows a couple walking through a half paved road. This shows us stepping from a comfortable concrete road to a unpaved road that leads to a place of lush greens. This photo was taken from a Bulacan Farm.

Archie in the Heart

We went to the Davids' Cook and Archuleta concert last Saturday night and my girlfriend can't stop admiring Archuleta. It was a great concert with over 40,000 people in attendance and the energy was high.

Death by Broken Heart

Death by Broken Heart (Ink and Pencil on Paper with Microsoft Paint Manipulation)

Homeless Not Worthless

This is my contribution to PAWS' campaign.

Sinangag sa Agahan

Noong bata pa ako ay madalas at madali akong mahalina sa mga paanyaya sa telebisyon. Mga paanyaya na madalas na nagpapakita ng kaisipang ang mga bagay na banyaga lalo na kung mula sa bayan ni "Uncle Tom" ay masdakila at masmainam.  Lumaki kasi ako noong panahon na ayon sa mga mananaliksik ay kung tatanungin mo ang mga kabataan ay maspipiliin nilang maging Amerikano sa halip na maging Pilipino.

Naaalala ko nung minsan ay nakapanood ako ng patalastas ng isang pankik  (pan cake). Aba! nagulat ako. Ang mga Kano pala ay iba ang kinakain sa agahan---pankik. Siguro ay napakasarap ng pankik sa agahan. Nakita ko na binubuhusan ito ng pulot at mistulang ginto sa kinang! Takam na takam ako sa paanyayang iyon. Pankik! gusto ko ng pankik.

Kinabukasan ay inihain na ni Ina ang aming agahan: tuyong daing, sinangag na maraming bawang at tsokolate na ginawa pa ni Ina gamit ang pamanang batirol. Pananabik ang aking nadama. Hindi sa pagkaing nakahain kundi sa pinapangarap kong pankik. Nawala ang dati kong gana sa pagkain ng dati kong agahan. Pankik, pankik, pankik lamang ang nasa isip ko. Nung tinikman ko ang pagkain, masarap naman, ngunit hindi ito ang gusto ko. Hirap na hirap akong kumain hanggang sa napansin ako ni Ina.

Medyo naaasar siguro siya sa akin dahil sa ikinikilos ko kaya pasigaw niya akong tinanong. AYAW MO BANG KUMAIN!?!?!?! Wika ni Ina. Umiyak ako dahil na din siguro sa takot, umiyak akong sinabi ang aking pananabik: Gusto ko po ng pankik sa agahan.

Kinabukasan, nanlaki ang aking mga mata! Pag gising ko ay nakahain na ang aming agahan. Ang pinapangarap ko. Ang kinasasabikan ko. Ang aking pankik. Sa tuwing isinusubo ko ang pankik ay ligaya, galak at sarap ang aking nadarama. Pagkasama ko ang pankik ay hindi ko na naiisip ang daing, sinangag o tsokolate man lang. Kaya ko ipagpalit lahat para sa pankik.

Kaya ngayon, ilang taon nadin ang nakalipas, hindi na ko kumakain ng pankik sa agahan. Hindi naman talaga masarap ang pankik. Sa una lang. Kasi bago, kakaiba. Pero sa totoo lang mas masarap talaga iyung nakasanayan namin. Minsan kasi naiisip natin na gusto natin ang isang bagay dahil sa ito iyong wala sa atin. Ang nakakalimutan natin ay masmainam pala kung ano ang meron na tayo.

Minsan nabubulag tayo sa mga paanyaya. Kaya nating ipagpalit lahat para sa isang bagay na hindi naman pala tulad ng inaakala natin. Pero lilipas din yun. At pag naisip natin na mali tayo. Hindi pala natin talagang gusto ang isang bagay  ay kadalasan na nakasakit na tayo ng ibang tao.

Buti nalang mabait si Ina, at matapos ang isang linggo kong kahibangan sa walang kwentang pankik ay malugod niya parin akong ipinagluto ng aking paboritong tuyong daing, sinangag na maraming bawang at tsokolate.

( This post is in response to Reyn's post "Liham" http://reynthology.blogspot.com/2009/05/liham.html)

Gazing

Last time we were walking by the bay walk of Roxas Boulevard, the sky was clear. We were lucky to see some Astronomers gazing through the night sky and we decided to take a peek.

Pegasus

I took this several weeks ago. I was just look at the sky when I saw something that looks like a horse. Its a cloud formation. I think it was nice.

Side Trip: Ayala

I was browsing through my archive when I came across this. This was one of my first photos using my lower end phone. I took this a couple of months ago along Ayala Avenue at Makati City during a bright sunny day.

Reunion

I am back!

Earth Hour

Vote Earth! Show your supprot! Turn on your Light on 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, March 28 2009

"This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday. We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm."
source: http://www.earthhour.org/about/

(This is in support with Fadil Wimala's comment)

Side Trip---Korean Malate

Another Friday, I met up with friends from Paco, Manila. It was going to be the ussual bar hopping, band, music and disco kind of Friday night. But this time we decided to do things differently.

Walking along the streets of Malate, we've seen this small restaurant by the Remedios Circle. It was "Chicken Full House". From the outside it looks like a typical chicken place here in Manila. We were all hungry for walking around Malate trying to find our different place, so we decided to take bite of that chicken. But when we entered the doors, we were all surprised.




Chicken Full House was not your ordinary chicken restaurant. It was a Korean restaurant with a twitst.

(Spicy Chicken Stew)

The interior of the place is somehow Filipino inspired. Drift wood makes the furnitures. The athmosphere was very homy, and the staff was very helpful.



The food was good and the taste was authentic.

The problem with most foreign inspired restaurants here was that they tend to Internationalize their menu too much that the authencity of the food is somehow underminded.

I remember going out with my Vietnamese friends Khoa Huyhn and Minh Nguyen. They were so excited of telling me how good their food were in Vietnam when we decided to dine at Phoa. But to my surprise they were so disappointed with the food. Yes it was good and everything, but as they put it in their own words "this does not taste like Vietnamese".

Here I can say that, the taste is still preserved. The spices may tone down a little, but the esence of the taste of the food is safe to say that is in tact. Maybe because the owner/manager of the restaurant is Korean.



(Pickled Radish)

Pickled radish was served first together with what looks like coleslaw, then the spicy chicken. I loved the pickled radish and it perfectly compliments the hot spicy chicken. It somehow neutralizes the spices in your tounge to prevent it from burning.



(Coleslaw)



We liked the place because it was relaxing. And is perfect if you want to have some good coversation with your friends.


(Chopstick and rubbish basin)


We also enjoyed checking out the utensils. It looks a lot like the ones shown on TV.


(Chopsticks)


The place was just for us during that night.



(Vincentians of Calixto Dyco)


We talked for hours.



(Vincentians of Calixto Dyco again)

Location:

You will easily find the place it is just along the Remedios Circle.

Price:

It is fairly cheap, a chicken dish would amount to about 500Php.



(Staff of Chicken Full House waving goodnight)

Why not Iraq

Last night I watched the news and was absolutely shocked by what is on TV. Nicole, the "rape victim" of a US Army Smith, a much sensational case, fired her lawyer, and fled to the US for she wanted to for get her past and that she was "disappointed with the case". Very novel and patriotic. Which gave me a two questions I want to ask.

1. Of all places, why fled to the US knowing the person who "abused" her is after all, a US citizen. ( If I were her, I would go to Iraq, or North Korea.)
2. How did she get her US visa?

Now how would the world believe us when we cried wolf after all that happened.

Plan to Forget

Memories to Forget
by Anun

I can only think of that afternoon
where everything was in monochrome
Numbed with mind filled with overwhelming beats
Of wild music flowing so gracefully with chaos
The same picture depicted
of the day and days before
Same old song, same old music
All same thing so new.


I have just phoned mama, everything was fine, but despite of her composed voice, I can feel sadness between the words while we were talking. For more than two decades, our family have lived in the simple comfort of the province, but today, she had expressed her desire to make a new start in Manila. Away from the place that brought our family the heartache that one needs not to suffer. Away from awful memories of that one afternoon where all our lives changed.

Kaleidoscope World

Past noon today, I received a forwarded email from my girlfriend, who received the email from her friend, who received the email from another friend, who received an SMS from a friend who overheard somebody talking by the hospital.

The message reads:

"Francis Magalona is dead"

I was saddened by the news, Francis M, or the Master Rapper was one of my most admired Filipino artists. His Raps/Songs does not only portray struggles, but also touches the heart of his listeners.

Below is one of my favorite song from Francis M.

Kaleidoscope World

Francis Magalona, October 4, 1964 - March 6, 2009

So many faces, so many races
Different voices, different choices
Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse
Some are pure and some half-bred
Some are sober and some are wasted
Some are rich because of fate and
Some are poor with no food on their plate
Some stand out while others blend
Some are fat and stout while some are thin
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Some are great and some are few
Others lie while some tell the truth
Some say poems and some do sing
Others sing through their guitar strings
Some know it all while some act dumb
Let the bassline strum to the bang of the drum
Some can swim while some will sink
And some will find their minds and think
Others walk while others run
You can't talk peace and have a gun
Some are hurt and start to cry
Don't ask me how don't ask me why
Some are friends and some are foes
Some have some while some have most

Every color and every hue
Is represented by me and you
Take a slide in the slope
Take a look in the kaleidoscope
Spinnin' round, make it twirl
In this kaleidoscope world

Summer's First Ray

(Eastwood, Quezon City)

This might be one of summer's first ray on Eastwood City. The vibrant sun can be felt through the whole surrounding. I like how the ray passes through openings from obstructions creating different patterns with the shadow.

Traffic Hell

Too much traffic and we had not moved for 30mins. So I walked all the way from C5-Ortigas flyover to Eastwood.

By the way its EDSA1 aniverssary.
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Asturias

(A nice place at Asturias Manila)

At last, I have found the time to write about this... Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Asturias, Manila. You might think of the UST upon hearing the street, but there is more to studies. As they say, all school and no play makes Juan a very dull guy.


(The bar with menu on the wall)

I was waiting to meet a friend when I decided to take a walk around the street. And there to my surprise was a very different place with the word TAPSI shouting by the entrance. What I found was goldmine for the college students who are tight on the budget but wants to enjoy and unwind after the exams.



(People inside the bar)

And as expected, the place was full of students trying to have a good time. And yes, there is almost no place to walk through. The place was an experience. You can feel the youth in the air.


(Tapsilog at TAPSI)

More to the bar and the restaurant, TAPSI is an architectural encounter. The place is an antique Filipino house converted into a restobar filled with unique designs and memorabilia from different decades in history.



(The place is air-continuous)

I tried their TAPSILOG and it was good and cheap! For those who are really on the budget, they can order KROPEK from the counter. Now thats what I call a real students' place!


(Tree inside TAPSI with glowing fruits)

Beer is very affordable (although the tube ice tastes funny) and the food is very affordable for the students.

Of Great Men

(Manila Central Post Office, Lawton, Manila)

Lawton

(Lawton, Manila)

Adamson

(Within thy portals hollowed, view from AdU's ST gate fronting SV Building. )

Its 77th year of Adamson University!

Mabuhay Vincentians!

Paraluman

"Kamukha mo si Paraluman"("You look like Paraluman") I have always heard from the popular song of Eraserheads.

But who/what is Paraluman?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paraluman the Street

(Paraluman Street, St. Joseph, Cainta, Rizal)

Barely few passersby knew who/what paraluman was.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paraluman the Actress

Sigrid Sophia Agatha von Giese (December 14, 1923), better known as Paraluman, was a legendary Filipina actress during the early cinema era in the Philippines. She was a contemporary of the likes of Fernando Poe, Sr. and Marlene Daudén and was a major contract star of Sampaguita Pictures

Personal life
Paraluman was born from a German father and a Filipina. At her prime, she was considered as the Philippine's answer to Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo because of her perfect bone structure, svelte figure, long brown hair, hypnotic eyes, an impenetrable gaze, and a face capable of registering everything.

The young Paraluman was a movie fan. She loved reading magazines about her favorite celebrities. Her interest in showbiz increased when she learned that their next-door neighbor was the big movie star, Corazón Noble. Oftentimes, she would climb over the fence to catch glimpse of the actress.

Her curiosity yielded positive result because Noble’s younger sister, Lily, noticed her. Soon, Paraluman became friends with Lily.

Career
Because of her extraordinary beauty, Paraluman was recommended by Norma, another sister of Corazón, to Luis Nolasco of Filippine Films. She was only 17 at that time. Her first movie was Flores de Mayo (1940). She first used the the screen name Mina de Gracia. It was later changed to Paraluman by Fernando Poe Sr., who signed her as a full-fledged star in X’otic Films’ Paraluman (1941). This was followed by Bayani ng Bayan and Puting Dambana.

After World War II, she came back to cinema as a contract star of Sampaguita Pictures. She then became a famous leading lady in romantic movies, but when she made a comeback, her image was repackaged by Sampaguita Pictures owner Dr. José “Doc” Pérez. She was given character roles, playing nemesis to Gloria Romero in Hongkong Holiday, then as a lame woman in Tanikalang Apoy(1959). This, however, turned to her favor because it honed her acting skills more, earning her a FAMAS Best Actress Award for the movie Sino ang maysala?.

Paraluman was also nominated four times in FAMAS: twice in 1959 for Best Actress for the movies Bobby and Anino ni Bathala, in 1972 as Best Supporting Actress for Lilet, and in 1976 as Best Supporting Actress for Mister Mo, Lover Boy Ko.

Her daughter, Baby O'Brien, was a TV-commercial-model-turned-actress. Her granddaughter, Rina Reyes (O'Brien's daughter) is also an actress.

Paraluman's legendary status in Philippine showbusiness even merited her an inclusion in the lyrics of Ang Huling El Bimbo, one of the most popular songs of Filipino rock band Eraserheads.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paraluman as the symbol of beaty in a song

Huling El Bimbo

Last El Bimbo

by Eraserheads

kamukha mo si Paraluman
you looked like Paraluman
nung tayo ay bata pa
when we were kids
at ang galing-galing mong sumayaw
and you were so good at dancing
mapa-Boogie man o Cha-cha
be it Boogie or Cha-cha
ngunit ang paborito
but my favorite
ay pagsayaw mo ng El bimbo
was when you danced El bimbo
nakakaindak, nakakaaliw
catchy, amusing
nakatindig-balahibo
hair-raising

pagkagaling sa skwela ay
after school
didiretso na sa inyo
I'd go straight to your house
at buong maghapon ay
and the whole afternoon
tinuturuan mo ako
you would teach me

magkahawak ang ating kamay
we held hands
at walang kamalay-malay
and had no idea
na tinuruan mo ang puso ko
that you taught my heart
na umibig nang tunay

true love

naninigas ang aking katawan
my body freezes
pag umikot na ang plaka
as the record starts to spin
sabay sa kembot ng bewang
along with the sway of your hips
at pungay ng iyong mga mata
and the sparkle of your eyes
lumiliwanag ang buhay
my whole life brightens
habang tayo'y magkaakbay
when our arms are on each other's shoulders
at dahan-dahang dumudulas ang kamay ko
and my hand slowly slides
sa makinis mong braso

on your smooth arm

sana noon pa man ay
I wish that long ago
sinabi na sa iyo
I had already told you
kahit hindi na uso ay
though it's gotten old
ito lang ang alam ko
this is all I know

magkahawak ang ating kamay
we held hands
at walang kamalay-malay
and had no idea
na tinuruan mo ang puso ko
that you taught my heart
na umibig nang tunay
true love

lumipas ang maraming taon
many years passed
di na tayo nagkita
we haven't seen each other
balita ko'y may anak ka na
I heard you already have a child
ngunit walang asawa
without a husband
taga-hugas ka raw ng pinggan
I heard that you wash dishes
sa may Ermita
somewhere around Ermita
at isang gabi, nasagasaan
and one night, you were run over
sa isang madilim na eskinita

in a dark alley

lahat ng pangarap ko'y
all my dreams
bigla nang natunaw
have suddenly melted
sa panaginip nalang pala
I will now get to dance with you
kita maisasayaw
only in my dreams

magkahawak ang ating kamay
we held hands
at walang kamalay-malay
and had no idea
na tinuruan mo ang puso ko
that you taught my heart
na umibig nang tunay ...
true love ...

Mark

(picture from wikipedia)

It is not for nothing that the samurai have chosen for their truest symbol the fragile cherry blossom.
Like a petal dropping in the morning sunlight and floating serenely to earth,
so must the fearless detach himself from life, silent and inwardly unmoved.

(Eugen Herrigel)

-----------------------------------

(Photo taken by David Hyde about two months before Mark died)



-----------------------------------


It is two years now since Mark left. I knew then that his goodbye would mean that it was only us who would bid farewell. For when he left, no words were heard from him. I knew then that he would never return. But I cant stop waiting for him to step back in to those doors. I have waited, and waited, and waited long enough that I forgot how it feels to wait.

His life is like a flower that started to bloom in the month of January. Before he can fully show his beauty to the world, the wind blew him away. He was not given a chance to bloom, he was never given a chance to wither.

If I was to spend my life watching a bud to grow into a flower, I would not have wasted a lifetime. And if the bud have grown into a flower and withered, we have not wasted beauty nor time.

-----------------------------------
Dying cricket –
how full of
life, his song.

(Basho)
-----------------------------------

(Video presentation by Jayson Bayugo)
-----------------------------------

In memory of my younger brother Mark Anthony "Mac Mac" who was murdered on February 2, 2007.

Restoring Manila

Workers are giving Manila City Hall a fresh look.

St. Pancratius Chapel

Paco Park, Manila

Moving Forward---My Street, Dyco

(Calixto Dyco Street, Paco, Manila)
Most of my life in Manila I lived in this neighborhood, now I am moving forward...
I have always loved my street. It is one of the few places in Manila where people knew their neighbors, trees are all around, you will never hear the noise of the main streets and what one would hear in the morning are birds and kids singing in the nearby Justo Lukban Elementary School.



But now, I am moving forward.




And I am going to miss the place.

--------------------------------------------------
Dear Vincentians of Calixto Dyco, Manila,


It was worth a thousand experience living in Calixtoville. And a thousand more for a simple reason---I enjoyed our home.

S'Don, I have come, left, come back home and now, I think, is leaving for good. I want to thank you for making me part of your family. But as our roads shows only what is on the horizon, we can never see what's beyond it. Now I have to take a different path to prepare myself for what tomorrow has in store for me.

You are not just a friend but also a teacher with the whole world as our class room, and experience as your best textbook. For everything I want to thank you.

I will still try to visit as often as I can, as for now, I want to leave you guys this message:

S'Don - eat less fat, less sodium, and start a new chapter of your life gracefully.
Julius - try the dreadlocks, for something new.
Paolo - maybe you would like seafood caldereta.
Angel - come home more often.
Gie - Apiton. It works.
Icy - Methatione. It is available in most drugstore.
Dennis - Magna RX. Try it. I know a friend who did!
Ebad - goodluck on your business.
Carl - banana diet.

All, thank you being part of a chapter in my life.

Regards,

Anun
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