The World According to Melchizedik

The day I was born...

2012-01-31T13:35:00.000+08:00

I was the 3,517,190,028th person alive on Earth. Isn't that amazing?

My life, so far

2012-01-28T11:32:00.000+08:00

What's in store for me in 2012?

2012-01-28T10:56:00.002+08:00

I could not get hold of my brains when the New Year 2012 came. I was so relaxed I literally have nothing to write about the coming year. Or maybe not. Let us just say I have other priorities. LOL. In fact, I have been revisiting this draft again and again, revising it without even making it to the second paragraph.

So many things have happened since Christmas 2011, the impeachment of the Chief Justice among them, but I could not write a longer blog. Because of Facebook and Twitter, my blog has been neglected. Maybe because as we grow older, we want the meat and gist of things and no longer the flowery words? Or I am just too busy working to pay my outstanding debts? Living a life is a reality.

Facebook and Twitter allows me to share thoughts in limited words, therefore giving me time to read and share the real score. I blame them.

Blogging, however, takes time. Yes. Takes time. Blogging a paragraph-long or a single sentence-long is not blogging for me, unlike others. Using Twitter is recommended instead, to save face.

Blogging should be longer than a paragraph. Why? So you can give your readers time to analyze and share what and how you felt on certain issues or products. Especially if you are paid to do blogs. Blog-whoring, I call that. How does it feel to be a whore? LOL. That is why many of you noticed that I lack advertisements here in my blog. I am not here to earn money but to share you my experience. An independent blogger does not need to be forced to like or sell a certain thing to gain "fame" (OMG!) and money. I really hate that!

Yes, I am babbling, actually, I write what comes to mind. Just to fill in my lack of blogging skills nowadays. I hope bloggers out there are not feeling the same way.

What's in store for me in 2012? I will have that "wait and see" attitude.

Famous opinions that could have been true in their time

2011-12-27T18:24:00.000+08:00

Opinion, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a formal expression of judgment or advice from an expert. That's why for most of us, we look up to what famous people were saying for us to live up with them or as basis for inspiration. So we quote them.

But this does not mean that all opinions are right or correct. Or let me say, some opinions may have become obsolete and only true during their time so we need also to re-define them.

Now let us have fun reading these famous lines from famous people. My source is from The Big Picture.

"Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances." - Dr. Lee DeForest, Father of Radio; Grandfather of Television.

"The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives." - Admiral William Leahy, US Atomic Bomb Project

"There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom." - Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize in Physics, 1923

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." - Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943 [Oddly enough it was IBM that also saw little use for what became the Xerox copy machine many decades later and refused to fund its development.]

"I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." - The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

"But what is it good for?" - Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968,commenting on the microchip.

"640K ought to be enough for anybody." - Bill Gates, 1981

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." - Western Union internal memo, 1876.

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" - David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s.

"The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." - Yale University management professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express Corp.)

"I'm just glad it'll be Clark Gable who's falling on his face and not Gary Cooper." - Gary Cooper on his decision to take the leading role in "Gone With The Wind."

"A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make." - Response to Debbi Fields' idea of starting Mrs. Fields' Cookies.

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." - Decca Recording Co. rejecting Beatles, 1962

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible." - Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Society, 1895.

"If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have done the experiment. The literature was full of examples that said you can't do this." - Spencer Silver on the work that led to the unique adhesives for 3-M "Post-It" Notepads

"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." - Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

"Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." - Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University , 1929

"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." - Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre , France

"Everything that can be invented has been invented." - Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Office of Patents, 1899

"The super computer is technologically impossible. It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required." - Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University

"I don't know what use any one could find for a machine that would make copies of documents. It certainly couldn't be a feasible business by itself." - Head of IBM, refusing to back the idea, forcing the inventor to found Xerox.

"Louis Pasteur's theory of germs is ridiculous fiction." - Pierre Pachet, Professor of Physiology at Toulouse , 1872

"The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon." - Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." - Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

Cartoon grabbed from reading.phillipmartin.info

Bad experience at Mang Inasal 138 Mall

2011-12-27T14:07:00.017+08:00

UPDATE 2: WAY TO GO MANG INASAL! After sending them my complaint thru email, Mang Inasal responded through my phone (Sorry, Ms. Edna, I wasn't able to take your call) by calling me, I missed that, and by texting me. That was a less than 24-hours reply.

The text message said: Hi Sir Edik, good day! This is Edna, (Customer Service Officer of Mang Inasal). In behalf of Mang Inasal Team, I would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that you had experience from our branch at Mang Inasal 138 Mall Cebu City. Our Customer Satisfaction Team is reviewing the information you sent us and will further evaluate your concern in order to resolve this matter fairly. Hoping that you will allow us to call you at your most convenient time and for us to express our heartfelt apology. Again we highly appreciate your feedback for this will help us in becoming better at what we do. Thank you very much.

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UPDATE 1: I already sent my email to Mang Inasal through their website, enclosing this link and the pic of the receipt from them. Let us see if they would reply. Unlike Rai Rai Ken.

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I've been a regular customer of Mang Inasal at their 138 Mall, Colon St., Cebu City branch. Their chicken inasal is actually good, tender and juicy.

When I went there at lunchtime with my officemates, we ordered our favorites, their paborito meals (PM) which came with an unlimited supply of rice. We preferred tap water today but I insisted on regular Coke because I wanted to wash the chicken taste I have accumulated during the holidays.

I saw on their billboard that a 12oz Coke, Spite and Royal softdrinks cost only 19 pesos.

With our orders done and served, I saw on their receipt that the 12oz Coke was charged 25 pesos despite the billboard's and their website's claim that it was only 19 pesos! I asked their waiters and confirmed that indeed, a 12oz Coke is only 19 pesos.

Now I have an evidence that indeed they were cheating on me. The Coke was refunded but not the Sprite. See?

After eating, I asked my teller why she was charging me 6 pesos more. She replied she told me that there was a 19 pesos 12oz softdrink available. But what they were charging me was 25 pesos for a 12oz and not more! She called up the manager who furiously punch the machine so they could give me back what they cheated on me. I told him they should change this style because they are cheating their customers right in the face.

I only received a cold stare like I was caught shoplifting from their store.

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MANG INASAL 138 MALL BRANCH

Operated by: T.C.R.H.

TIN: 233-530437-001 VAT

Server: Anne Station: 2

Ticket # 97

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NOW I WANT TO CHECK ALL MY MANG INASAL RECEIPTS, JUST IN CASE!

19 pesos is 19 pesos and not 25 pesos. To an ordinary Filipino, 6 pesos overcharge is already a big deal! That's already a jeepney or tricycle fare.

My heart bleeds for Mindanao

2011-12-17T16:15:00.009+08:00

The recent storm that struck Mindanao last night left so many people homeless with nowhere to go. Trailing behind are lifeless bodies of people, children and those who were sleeping with the hope of waking up this morning only to find out they were waking up dead. Most affected are Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City and Zamboanga provinces.

Worst, those who were expected to help were also victims of this calamity.

Meanwhile, our office went ahead with the Christmas party. And I am attending more parties tonight and tomorrow and the coming week.

I feel so useless.

Photos grabbed from Mindanaoan at Twitpic; Mark Landicho and Al Christine Chan at their Facebook accounts.

PLEASE HELP!

If you want to donate, donate to reliable groups or agencies.
Philippine National Red Cross, for one.

You can also give to Iligan Bloggers Society.

Government response: A case of my letter sent to my hometown Batuan in Bohol Province

2011-12-14T19:49:00.005+08:00

The recent developments in the political scene of the Philippines made me wonder and realized how fast things can get or how the government can act fast if they really wanted to. Unlike the services we experienced since time immemorial, the government in fact has been known to be as slow as a turtle and can get out of their office faster and swifter than 4PM.

Noynoy Aquino paved a straight road (daang matuwid, his favorite) to persecute people especially those with links to ex-President Gloria Arroyo and then Arroyo herself. Not that I am against Arroyo’s persecution and prosecution, I was just amazed at how fast Noynoy waves his hands and everything followed in magic. Legalities were done in just a few hours where it used to be centuries. It’s like having a miracle, Alleluiah!

Unlike what happened to my letter to the Municipality of Batuan, my hometown in Bohol.

Exactly two (2) months ago, October 6, 2011 to be exact, I sent a letter to Mayor Francisco Pepito and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan care of Municipal Vice Mayor Antonino Jumawid who happened to be on leave at that time, asking explanation on why the Official Website of the Municipality of Batuan, Bohol plagiarized several articles posted in the said website. The website I was talking about bears the Official Seal of the Municipality of Batuan, Bohol and blatantly copied the Vision of the Municipality of Calape, Bohol and the Messsage of the Mayor of the Municipality of Mabini. To make matters worse, Hillary Clinton’s picture was in the Mayor’s Message.

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The supposed Message of Mayor Gregoria Pepito (who died long before her reelection came) which I copied from the website:

This is the official online portal of Mabini, (remember this is the official website of Batuan) the town, its government, and its people. Here you will find what promises to be Mabini's most comprehensive and authoritative one-stop informational clearinghouse on the net.

Facts and figures, news and features, details on and about Mabini in a consummately convenient compendium of instant and interactive content. Consider it your virtual guide to the municipality. Discover Mabini from its illustrious history to its unfolding story the splendor of its past, the dynamism of its present, and the promise of its future.

Learn about the Town and the gracious gifts of its geography. The municipality of Mabini and its many thriving barrios, its people, and its chosen leaders.

Experience the delightfully diverse boundless beauty and bustle that make up the colorful collage and the proud panorama that is Mabini.

Empower yourself: Make your mark and do your share in shaping the future of this, our vast and vibrant town: click on, sound off, be counted.

Finally, rich and colorful Calape (and then my town has shifted to another name) has found its home on the world wide web.

We hope you find it as much your home as it is ours: warm, well, and worth it.

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Fuming mad, I went to write the letter.

A few days later when I went home for a speaking engagement with the younger Batuanonons, Vice Mayor Jumawid approached me and talked about his development goals for our town but not even mentioning my letter. I pointed out to him about it and he told me he did not receive a copy of the said letter. (I sent him my letter a week after through his email address and got a long response after several technical glitches. I don't even believe it was an official response.)

Several of my neighbors who happened to be close to the mayor told me their own version of the things they did after receiving my official letter including the command to put the controversial website offline. I know their move was well-intentioned but still an official letter from a constituent deserved an official response from the municipal officials.

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The supposed Vision of the Municipality of Batuan:
Experience the delightfully diverse boundless beauty and bustle that make up the colorful collage and the proud panorama that is Calape. Empower yourself: Make your mark and do your share in shaping the future of this, our vast and vibrant town: click on, sound off, be counted. Finally, rich and colorful Calape has found its home on the world wide web. We hope you find it as much your home as it is ours: warm, well, and worth it.

==================================================

Everyone told me the mayor was not even aware of the existence of that website, pity the mayor. He wanted somebody to call me but they could not find my magical business card. Magical in a sense since no one seemed to get hold my business card attached to the letter. Hence, nobody, not one, was able to contact me. Not counting that my parents and relatives are still very visible in my hometown.

For the information of my readers, I enclosed together with my two-page letter my business card and screen shots of the website I was referring to. But since my business card has some magic, nobody cared to call me up, send me text message or reply through my two (2) email addresses.

Now this is a very basic example of how SLOW government responses are. I was planning to make a follow-up letter but called it off. It would make no sense at all.

That is why I wonder how fast the people of Noynoy Aquino could do things in just a week’s time. And it was not just replying a letter.

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Section 5 of Republic Act No. 6713 otherwise known as AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, TO UPHOLD THE TIME-HONORED PRINCIPLE OF PUBLIC OFFICE BEING A PUBLIC TRUST, GRANTING INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE, ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND TRANSACTIONS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES states the Duties of Public Officials and Employees. - In the performance of their duties, all public officials and employees are under obligation to:

(a) Act promptly on letters and requests. - All public officials and employees shall, within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof, respond to letters, telegrams or other means of communications sent by the public. The reply must contain the action taken on the request.

(d) Act immediately on the public's personal transactions. - All public officials and employees must attend to anyone who wants to avail himself of the services of their offices and must, at all times, act promptly and expeditiously.

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Update: The website was taken down a week after I sent the letter, possibly a confirmation that they received it. Its address was- www.batuanbohol.solinog.com.

Sinulog 2012 Schedule of Activities

2011-12-12T10:40:00.007+08:00

Photo by Mikhail Arrogante, 2011 Grand Prize Winner
Photo courtesy of Sinulog Foundation Inc.

In a wink of an eye, Sinulog will be happening in Cebu City, the biggest happening in the south of the Philippines. If you are planning to visit and be part of the celebrations, I think you need to adjust your schedules because the Sinulog is happening earlier this year.

To update you of the events, I am posting here the schedule. Enjoy. And Pit Senyor!

December 1, 2011 – January 31, 2012 Sinulog Street Fair, Osmeña Boulevard

December 11, 2011 2nd Sinulog Cup Baseball Tournament c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

December 16, 2011 Launching and Sinulog Photo Exhibits @SM City

December 12, 2011 Sinulog on the Spot Painting Contest @ Fort San Pedro

December 17, 2011 Sinulog Poster Making Contest @ Emall

December 18, 2011 Sinulog Best Dance Crew Elimination, Sinulog Musicfest Elimination

December 30, 2011 Sinulog 2012 Fun Run

January 05, 2012 (Thursday) Opening Salvo: Walk with Jesus

4:00 AM Assembly Time (Area) Fuente Osmeña

4:30 AM Start of Walk-Fuente Osmeña Blvd. – Basilica del Sto. Niño

5:30 AM Installation of Hermano & Hermana Mayores 2012

January 06, 2012 (Friday) Sinulog 2012 Kick Off

2:00PM Solemn Mass (Basilica del Sto. Niño) sponsored by the Sinulog Foundation Inc . and Cebu City Government

3:00 PM Launching Parade (Basilica del Sto. Niño to Cebu City Sports Center)

7:00 PM Opening and Launching Program, Fuente Osmeña

7:30 PM Ms. Cebu 2012 Presentation

9 :00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

10:00 PM Street Party Bands

January 07, 2012 (Saturday) Sinulog sa Kabataan – Lalawigan

8:00 AM 2nd SINULOG FOOTBALL CUP c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Capitol Site to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) Department of Education, Cebu Province Division

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 08, 2012 (Sunday) Sinulog sa Kabataan- Dakbayan

4:00 AM Cebu City 2012 Marathon – www.cebumarathon.com

8:00 AM 2nd SINULOG FOOTBALL CUP c/o Cebu City Sports Commission

1:00 PM Parade of Participants, Plaza Independencia to Cebu City Sports Center

2:00 PM Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan, Cebu City Sports Center

4:30 PM Awarding of Winners

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Carlos

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O, Street Party Bands

January 09, 2012 (Monday)

6:30 PM Cultural Show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Southern Philippines Foundation, Cebu Institute of Technology University, St. Paul’s College Foundation

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 10, 2012 (Tuesday)

6:30 PM Cultural show (Fuente Osmeña) University of Cebu

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11, 2012 (Wednesday)

9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Department of Education, Cebu City Division

7:00 PM Ms. Cebu 2012 Coronation Night, Cebu City Waterfront Lahug Hotel

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 11-22, 2012 Sinulog Fiesta “OTOP Fair 2012” Atrium A & B, SM City Cebu; organized by Department of Trade & Industry -Cebu

January 12, 2012 (Thursday)

9:00 AM Airport Welcome (Balikbayan Flights)

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) Salazar Colleges of Science Institute of Technology, Cebu Normal University, Asian College of Technology

6:00 PM Balik Cebu, Welcome Party @ Ayala Center Cebu

10:00 PM Sinulog Festival Queen 2012 Photo Shoot

6:00 PM Runway Competition @SM City North Wing

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

8:00 PM Handumanan @ Ayala Terraces

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente Osmeña , Street Party Bands

January 13, 2012 (Friday) Visual Merchandising Contest (Department Stores and Malls)

4:00 AM Walk with Mary (Area) Fuente Osmeña-Sto. Niño

9:00 AM Solidarity Meeting (All Competing Contingent/Floats/Higante/Puppteeters, Cebu City Sports Center Gym

5:00 PM Sinulog Best Dance Crew Grand Finals

6:00 PM Sinulog Musicfest Band Competition Grand Finals

6:30 PM Cultural Shows (Fuente Osmeña) University of San Jose Recoletos, Southwestern University, Cebu Technological University

7:30 P.M Cebu Popular Music Festival, Cebu Coliseum

7:30 P.M Sinulog Festival Queen 2012, Cebu City Sports Center

8:00 PM Sinulog Idol (Fuente Osmeña Circle)

9:00 PM Concert @ the Fuente O , Street Party Bands

January 13-15, 2012

9:00 AM Devotees’ City organized by Cebu City Government

January 14, 2012 (Saturday)

6:00 AM Fluvial Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

9:00 AM Re-enactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon, Basilica del Sto. Niño

12:00 NN 8TH “THE STREET VIBRATION & BIG BIKE RALLY 2012, by V-max Owner’s Group, Inc. Cebu Chapter

2:00 PM Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Niño

7:00 PM Sinulog Fireworks Competition @ SM City Cebu

7:00 PM Street party @ Fuente Osmeña and Plaza Independencia

8:00 PM Kasadya Nite Mardi Gras @ Ayala Center Cebu

January 15, 2012 (Sunday) SINULOG GRAND PARADE

4:00 AM Mañanita Mass @Basilica del Sto. Niño

6:00 AM Pontifical mass with His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal

9:00 AM Sinulog Grand Parade Carousel Kick Off

7:00 PM Grand Finale and Fireworks, Cebu City Sports Center

7:30 PM Street Party Bands, Fuente Osmeña

January 16, 2012 (Monday)

1:00 PM Awarding Ceremonies, Cebu City Sports Center

January 20, 2012 (Friday) “HUBO”

4:00 AM “HUBO Mass” Ritual @ Basilica del Sto. Niño

January 21-22, 2012 CEBU CHESS FESTIVAL - “WORLD’S LARGEST CHESS TOURNAMENT” @ the Cebu City Sports Center

January 28, 2012 (Saturday)

1:00 P.M Screening of Finalists Short Film/Video Documentary Contest

1:30 P.M Sinulog 2012 Winning Photo Exhibits

6:00 P.M Awarding Ceremonies Photo Contest and Video Documentary Contest @SM City Cebu

January 28 – Feb. 10, 2012 Photo Exhibits “Winning Photos Sinulog ’12 @SM City Cebu.

The French Baker is stealing in my face

2011-12-12T07:27:00.004+08:00

Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong. >Donald Porter, V.P. British Airways

I went to buy bagels at The French Baker in SM City Cebu yesterday and noticed that their Cinnamon Raisin Bagels costed me 88 pesos which was not really bad. But when I saw that there were only 4 bagels in a pack that says 5 FRESH BAGELS (indeed they were 5 pieces the last time I went to buy their bagels of any kind), I told the cashier about it and she was clueless why.

Why would you charge me 88 pesos for 4 pieces of bagels when your packaging says there are 5 bagels in here? She told me she didn’t know.

Me too.

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The French Baker, SM City Cebu

Tel- 023-232-1637

TIN- 004-265-323-000 VAT

Cashier: Zulieka P. Martel Terminal # 2

December 11, 2011 01:54PM

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Cheesy Morning

2011-12-10T07:59:00.001+08:00

Pic grabbed from weheartit.com

You won’t forget how much you loved, because love is not something easily forgotten. You won’t forget how hurt you felt, or how betrayed, or how alone. You won’t forget your promise to not feel hurt and betrayed and alone again. You won’t forget goodbye.

-William Henderson, Things You Don't Forget

Offical Holidays of the Philippines for 2012

2011-12-01T19:11:00.002+08:00

Photo grabbed from brownseo.com

How time flies. The year just started and then comes December. And then before we know it, 2012 will be coming with a bang. In a wink of an eye.

To give us an the idea on how do we spend our vacation again for the next year, that is, budgeting our time to jive with the holidays, the Philippine government issued Proclamation No. 295 also known as Declaring the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-Working) Days, and Special Holidays (for all schools) for the Year 2012. Although the proclamation is mainly a guide for schools, the holidays are meant for everyone.

So here is the official Philippine holiday guide for 2012-

Regular Holidays

New Year's Day - January 1 (Sunday)
Maundy Thursday - April 5
Good Friday - April 6
Araw ng Kagitingan - April 9 (Monday)
Labor Day - May 1 (Tuesday)
Independence Day - June 12 (Tuesday)
National Heroes Day - August 27 (Last Monday of August)
Bonifacio Day - November 30 (Friday)
Christmas Day - December 25 (Tuesday)
Rizal Day - December 30 (Sunday)

Special (Non-Working) Days

Chinese New Year - January 23 (Monday)
Ninoy Aquino Day - August 21 (Tuesday)
All Saints Day - November 1 (Thursday)
Special non-working day - November 2 (Friday)
Last day of the year - December 31 (Monday)

Special Holidays

EDSA Revolution Anniversary - February 25 (Saturday)
Eid al Fitr and Eidul Adha will be announced as soon as the Islamic community will announce the dates

If you are doing business here in the Philippines, please take note that some provinces also have their own special holidays. So if you want to transact business in provincial and other local government units, make sure you also know the local holidays.

Meanwhile, plan your holidays now.

Andres Bonifacio is still THE MAN!

2011-11-29T19:03:00.006+08:00

I have written many times here in my blog about my love for Andres Bonifacio, and this is one of them. For me, he is still the national hero of the Philippines.

Many times, I got emotional upon hearing the music of the play 1896 by the Philippine Educational Theater Association on the start of the Philippine Revolution on that year. It mainly focused on Bonifacio's life as a revolutionary. I wish PETA would publish the 1896 libretto.

Meanwhile I was looking for an appropriate article for tomorrow's celebration of the birth date of Bonifacio (Gat Andres was born on November 30, 1863) and came upon this strongly worded song of the late Francis Magalona. Never heard of this song but I like the nationalistic tone of the lyrics. So this-

1896 Lyrics

Francis Magalona

Sumaludo sa harap ng bandila
Kastila ka bang umaalipin sa alila
Sinakop ng puti ang mga kayumanggi
Pinagnanakaw ang lahi at silay naghari...
Hanggang ngayon pa rin sila pa rin nakaupo
Ilang daang taon mula noon
Nakagapos ang ating mga kamay
Nakapiring ang mga mata
Dila'y pinuputol pag ika'y nagsasalita...
Tulad ni rizal na panulat ang pinairal
Si andres ay pinatay ng kanyang mga kakulay
Yo! hablo espanyol?
Si senior conio
Ako to ay isang mestisong indio po!
You a friend of uncle sam?
Yo! my man I am
I don't speak Tagalog, but I try to understand
Pilipino ka ba?!
Banzai!!!
Shinjimai!!!
Dorobo kedo moto oto kumai!!!

CHORUS:
Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Perlas ng silanganan kung tawagin ang pinas
Sinilang sa silangan angkan ni malakas
Anak ni bathala at ako'y nababahala
Di ako naniniwala, na ako ay malaya...
Akala ko ba Philippines 2000
Pero bakit ganoon, parang walang patutunguhan...
Kung buhay lamang ang ating mga bayani
Alam kong sila ang unang-unang
Magsasabi na kahit kailanman...
Bayan muna bago sarili...
Sa pagnanakaw ang nakaupo'y nawiwili...
Kapuna-puna ang mga anomalya
Ang kakapal nila mga walanghiya
Barong tagalog pa ang suot ng mga gago!
Pag nagtagalog, bako-bako, ang labo...
("Ilan sa liderato dapat sa krus ipako")
Alam ba ninyo kung sino ang mga tinutukoy ko?..

(CHORUS)

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

Dugo'y inialay, para sa bayan...
Sayang naman ang kanilang pinaglabanan...
Dugo'y bumaha at naging pataba...
Bulok ang bunga, tumulo ang luha...

1896 Lyrics copied from Pinoy Lyrics

T-Shirt design grabbed from sketchouse design studio

By the way, the remains of Andres Bonifacio and his brother, Procopio were missing until today. Historians claimed they have found Bonifacio's skeletal remains (or Procopio's) but never the two. Remember they were executed for treason and were buried in the same grave. Exhumed remains in Maragondon, Cavite where they were buried was that of one person only. To this day, Bonifacio's remains is a desaparecido.

Read Ambeth Ocampo's nice article on Bonifacio by clicking on this link- The mystery of Bonifacio's bones.

I had a great time at VBS2011

2011-11-28T13:35:00.007+08:00

Getting wacky with Guest Speaker Chris Drucker. Photo by Ms Kath of USPF.

I was there at 6 in the morning because the organizers said they will entertain walk-ins on a first-come first-served basis. But past 7 o'clock, they were still missing and some bloggers who just came in were already dying to go inside SM City Cebu for the Visayas Bloggers Summit (VBS) 2011, blocking the gates of SM with the early birds squatting on the side.

But this did not hamper me to join the Summit. I patiently waited for my chance to go in. And my patience have been rewarded.

My favorite bloggers were there in person and giving me tips on how to improve my blog.
Got a chance to win freebies from sponsors. I got a pack of 3 beauty soaps. I need them, I think.
Met friends and gained new blogger friends.
Chance to have photo ops with speakers. Chris Drucker was a nice person who knew how to ignite the audience.
Seen beautiful ladies vying for the Miss Earth 2011. Ms. England, Ms. Estonia, Ms Guatemala and Ms. Guam stayed for some photo ops. I love Ms. Guam especially when she told the group she has Filipino roots.
Was moved by the speech of Ms. Lopez from the ABS-CBN Foundation on the effects of mining in Palawan and some parts of the Philippines. NO TO MINING! We never gained financial stability out of this.
Learned how to monetize my blog. But wait- I hate seeing those adverts competing with my unpolished English. So it would take a while to see nasty and irritating adverts here in my site.
I did not expect the bloggers summit to be so "peaceful" during the event (with exceptions on the arrival of Miss Earth candidates and the charismatic Ms Lopez), but Twitter was bombarded by tweets of bloggers who were in the site. This only means that bloggers were more engaged in the virtual world. No wonder most of the speakers insisted that bloggers should be out and become a real person.

All in all, my experience at the VBS2011 was a fruitful cause worth the absence from work. To all bloggers out there, be passionate with your new found career. Write for people. Re-write. Edit. Re-write while finding a voice of your own.

Free coffee at the site from Coffee Dream

My favorite photoblogger- Evan Mendoza

The VBS2011 is full of students!

Miss Earth candidates gracing the event and were "attacked" by photomonsters LOL

Miss Guam is half Filipino and Miss England is sweet.

Read this- Chris Drucker on Effective Outsourcing, Virtual Lifestyles and The Entrepreneurial Mindset

My wish: Join the VBS Cebu 2011

2011-11-24T17:53:00.007+08:00

I have missed so many opportunities offered by the Cebu Bloggers Society to join them or their activities for the main reason that I consider myself a very amateur blogger and despite my blog site dates back to 2006, I am still struggling with my blog. Reading from the blogs of the members of CBS, I am dwarfed by them. And so my inferiority complex dominated my desire to join in.

Now, a friend of mine invited me to join with her to the Visayas Blogging Summit 2011 on November 26 at the SM City Cebu. I am caught between enhancing my skills on blogging and work. But knowing this is again a missed opportunity if I won't come, I sent her feelers that I may come.

The Summit is, of course, initiated by the Cebu Bloggers Society Inc. Why interested? My interest is fired up again since I know that the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation is a regular sponsor of the event and RAFI has helped many groups and individuals realize their importance in the society, hence, my high expectation from them is also fired up. (Pssst, RAFI has a blogging contest with a big amount of monetary prizes! But sadly, there is an age limit to the contest. I wonder why RAFI is doing this. Blogging has no age boundaries.)

I also heard several speakers coming from the blogosphere are coming to give inputs on how to better improve my blogging skills, skills that are necessary to my amateurish writing style. At least, the event would give me a better outlook on the ins and outs of the blogging world. Perhaps earning money to add to my income.

As of this writing I am still trying to log in at the registration site but could not do so. Perhaps my connection won't allow me to. Damn!

I only wish they would allow me as walk-in participant.

NEVER FORGET

2011-11-23T14:32:00.002+08:00

Nightlife in Alona Beach is more fun than in Tagbilaran City

2011-11-23T13:46:00.021+08:00

Crostini

Yes it's true. While Tagbilaran's nightlife is like an all-time Holy Week celebration, Alona Beach in Panglao Island is getting more into the beat without getting invasive. Several cool and ambient places are sprouting like mushrooms, so to speak. The choices in Alona are more varied as compared to Tagbilaran's grill, grill and more grill options. I heard Tagbilaranons are now flocking to the island and having good times there.

Why not? At Alona, you can have a lot (and a variety) of food choices. When you are choked with the smoke of grilling, Swiss, Oriental, Mediterranean, and of course Filipino food becomes good, if not better alternative! I even tried an Italian menu in some nook where civilization really exist- behaved diners (meaning no noisy Koreans, thanks God!), soft and appropriate music, and good food. That nook was this restaurant- GRAZIELLA.

Bruschette

The menu at Graziella Restaurant is particularly interesting with all those Italian names, hence it is needless to say it is an Italian restaurant. I was tempted to order a dish without the server's interpretation so as to surprise myself. Take note, the servers at Graziella know what's on the menu, an exemption in Bohol where most, if not all, servers do not know what's the food in the menu they are holding. With Jollibee as an exception. I appreciate the chef's and the owner's generosity of briefing their servers on the food, and I imagined they have tasted them, too.

I feel like carbo-loading that night I ordered mostly carbo-based food. For starters, Bruschette with garlic, onions, tomato and oregano was served along with San Mig Light and regular Coke. The food came and they were serving them together with a bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sosyal!

For my main course, I ordered a hefty Al Gamberetti Tagliatiatelle in curry sauce (P275). The flat noodle was just tender and the shrimps cooked just right and to my surprise, generous enough. I mean, there were a lot of shrimps on the pasta. Some restaurants in Tagbilaran brag about seafood pasta but you could not see why their version is called as such. Even a heapful of Parmesan cheese came with the pasta, which is a very rare happening in Bohol.

Graziella is pure indulgence at an affordable price.

Unya mireklamo pa nganong midako akong tiyan!

Al Gamberetti Tagliatiatelle

The week in Philippine history was a circus

2011-11-22T12:16:00.002+08:00

Photo courtesy of csmonitor.com

The recent weeks in the Philippine history was suddenly in commotion- all because of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA). Even Joseph Estrada's incarceration, also a former president, was overshadowed by the events of GMA's. She had it big time.

But a lawyer named Ariel Salvador Magno summarized the week in just ten points. I could not agree more.

Supreme Court can be ignored.
It’s not true that we have three co-equal branches of government. The Executive is the most powerful branch. It can do no one.
Congress... is Congress. Res Ipsa Loquitor (The thing speaks for itself, for us who do not know this lawyer's talk haha).
The Bill of Rights applies only to the good ones not the evil ones.
Karma is so powerful.
If you did not do your job, blame others, especially the Supreme Court.
No matter how powerful you were or still are, you will be held accountable!
Institutions in the Philippines... wait what institutions?
The end justifies the means.
Some are more righteous than others. We are doing the same wrong things that you did but this time it’s us who are doing them, so tama lang.

(The above ten points were quoted from Ellen Tordesillas at ellentordesillas.com.)

7B and still counting

2011-11-21T18:41:00.001+08:00

Where do you fit into 7 billion?

BBC News asks you to fill in some data so you will know where you fit in the 7 billionth population of the world.

The app is very informative as well as very cool. It tells you your position in the world history and what would it be the future of population as you grow older.

I was the 3,517,190,028th when I was born on February 1968.

Follow this link to know your place- BBC News: The world at 7 billion.

CONGRATULATIONS GOVERNOR EDGAR CHATTO OF THE PROVINCE OF BOHOL!

2011-11-11T18:38:00.005+08:00

Bohol's governor Atty. Edgar M. Chatto

Atty. Edgar Migriño Chatto has been a consistent award-grabber since his youth days. His life, I think, is seriously dedicated to the service of the people, hence the awards he reaped from various government agencies and the private sector.

His term as governor in the province of Bohol earned the citation from the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) as the BEST GOVERNED PROVINCE in the Philippines today.

Gov. Chatto recently was awarded the prestigious Dangal ng Bayan Award by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) extoling his "performance of extraordinary act or public service." Chatto is the only elected official to receive the two highest honors from the Civil Service Commission. He received the Lingkod ng Bayan Award when he was the vice governor of Bohol way back.

My heartfelt congratulations to you Governor! I am very sure the Boholanos are very proud of you.

Taking a break

2011-11-10T16:16:00.000+08:00

After a tiresome day of workshops, taking photos and technical jobs, a brief and quiet moment at the pool of Alta Cebu Resort and Convention Center was all I needed. But I also needed someone to prove that I was there, so this picture.

The resort is great for group workshops. The ambiance, the food and the ever helpful employees and staff are a refreshing sight you will miss after checking out.

Alta Cebu is located in the municipality of Cordova in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Discipline is what people from Lapu-lapu City needs, Mayor Radaza

2011-11-10T14:46:00.007+08:00

Yesterday's headline struck a chord in me because the city mayor of Lapu-lapu Paz Radaza asked the owners of Metro Ferry, the ferry company plying daily the Opon to Pier 3 route, to solve the long lines at the ferry terminal. She may have heard the complaints from her constituents without seeing what goes on at the terminal.

Mayor Radaza even suggested that ferry owners hire more employees to ease the congestion before the city's fiesta would take place this November. But I believe the problem is NOT with the ferry company. It is the people from Lapu-lapu City taking the ferry that caused disorder at the terminal.

For two months now, I became a transient in that part of Cebu and taking ferry boats to and from Opon for the main reason that it is the most convenient and inexpensive way to travel to the other island, Cebu City. Fifteen minutes tops and you are already in Cebu City as compared to jeepneys that usually took almost an hour to get you to Cebu City.

Why did I conclude that ferry riders from Opon are the most undisciplined commuters?

I found out that people's culture and mentality can be clearly observed through its use of public transportation. I have been to the different places in the Philippines and abroad and I could say my observations have been correct so far, albeit not scientific. And I can definitely say that commuters from Opon are the most undisciplined of all based on my unscientific observations.

Compared to the other commuters taking the air-conditioned vans from Ayala and SM City who would automatically fall in line to have a seat in the vans, these people do not know what is even a line. My first month riding the ferry was the most disgusting of all. I have been pushed, stepped on, and literally mauled beginning at the ferry terminal where Excuse Me or Please or I Am Sorry are alien words nobody would use until the ferry have docked. Like a horde of rampaging animals, these people would not give humanitarian considerations even to people bringing children, pregnant mothers or senior citizens as long as they can have a sure seat inside the boat.

I would have understood if there is only a trip or two to Opon during the day. But for heaven's sake the ferry boats come and go at a 15-minute interval or so! Sometimes, the other boat will have to wait for the other ferry to finish loading up before it can also dock.

Does breeding also reflects one capability to afford a mass transport?

The air-conditioned van is about 25-30 pesos per person while the ferry ride costs 12 pesos plus a one peso terminal fee. More expensive, more disciplined?

How many times I have heard employees asking people to make a line so there would be order and smooth flow of passengers. There was even a barong-clad person trying to man the lines but the passengers only stared an empty stare like they were high on something. That barong-clad man said, Maayo pa ang hulmigas kay maglinya pa (The ants are better because they fall in line).

Two weeks ago the ferry management changed the system at the ticketing and terminal areas. They made long and torturous ways so people would make a line. And this bothered everyone who were not keen on making lines. Or even discipline.

Even today, there are still people who cut lines and pushes to get ahead, not considering that some people were sweating waiting in line for their tickets.

When you visit the terminal in Opon as of this writing, there is a semblance of order when you see people lining up. But old ways still prevail after they have their tickets and after paying the terminal fee. Even before the boats have finished their docking procedures, people would not go after their safety and would just rush out endangering the lives of other passengers.

So if Mayor Radaza would blame the management of the ferry, I think she should take the ferry herself. But then again, mayors are given special privileges in this country and so I am sure she won't experience lining up for a ticket and be pushed around.

Used cotton buds litter inside the ferry, a clear sign that commuters also do not know how to properly dispose of their garbage. Garbage could be seen even in the ferry terminal and the sea around the area. But not this week until November 21 because the city is going to celebrate their annual fiesta. That's a reason for another blog.

On the news:
Cebu Daily News: Passenger loading system

Just because

2011-11-08T09:02:00.002+08:00

photo from adbusters.org

Just because you can copy and paste words and steal pictures doesn't make you a blogger. Not even better.

Another dictator is down

2011-10-21T10:41:00.002+08:00

Photo courtesy of CNN.com

News about the death of Moammar Ghadafi (what is really the real spelling of his name?) of Libya has sent Libyans into a frenzy of celebrations. And the world sits back and watch. And I am pretty sure the rest of the Arab leaders are weighing things right now, ever since Egypt's successful removal of their leader and then the death of Ghadafi.

Meanwhile, my favorite heckler has made the death of the dictator, well- quite amusing. Here is The Professional Heckler's version:

AFTER FORTY-TWO years in power and 112 ways to spell his name, Moammar Gaddafi is dead!

Moammar Gaddafi is dead. His son Bongbong Gaddafi wants a state funeral for his father.

Libyan tyrant Moammar Gadhafi is dead. Just to be sure, Tito Sotto wants to see the death certificate.

The death of Colonel Gaddafi is the day’s biggest news. Some of today’s headlines: “Gaddafi killed” “Qadaffy quilled” “Gadhafi keeled” “Mission aqqomplished”

Moammar Gaddafi has been killed. Libyans are celebrating. Finally, they can freely add another color to their flag.

Gaddafi has been confirmed dead. Some Libyans are not celebrating though. They know that Gadhafi, Qaddafy, Khaddafy, Gaddaffy, Quaddaffi, and Gaddaffi are still out there.

Reports say Gaddafi was killed by NATO-led rebels while attempting to escape. He was said to have been found in a hole in the ground. Also found were Gaddafi’s 3,000 pairs of sunglasses.

The Libyan dictator is dead. Goodbye Moammar Gaddafi! Goodbye fabulous outfits!

Early Thursday evening (Manila time), news organizations had conflicting reports about Gaddafi’s capture and death… which was not surprising since they could not even agree on how to spell his name.

Reports say when Moammar Gaddafi was cornered by rebel forces, he tried to run. However, the dictator tripped on his long gown.

There were also conflicting reports on how Gaddafi died. Some say he was shot. Others believe his thick robe suffocated him.

Gaddafi loyalists have issued a statement saying the Libyan dictator is still alive. They claim that he’s being treated right now at St. Luke’s Medical Center.

This just in: One of Gaddafi’s son, Saif is offering an Hermes bag to anyone who could prove that his father is dead.

Relatives of slain Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi are in a quandary. They couldn’t decide what version of Gaddafi’s name should they use on his tombstone.

Gaddafi’s death was confirmed just hours after his convoy was attacked. If Gaddafi were a member of the CPP-NPA, his death would be confirmed in February 2012.

Why Cebu-Mactan Channel smells like shit

2011-10-18T14:51:00.006+08:00

Traveling the Cebu-Mactan Channel could be fun and exciting especially if you are taking the Metro Ferry. Metro is swift and fast as compared to public transports like vans, taxis and jeepneys. Especially at night, the view of the city could be spectacular.

Adding to the sight of Cebu from the sea, your olfactory sense could be bombarded with the different smell of urban living. Many times I could smell shit (literally) specifically on the Cebu side of the channel. Why?

Despite several ordinances in Cebu City punishing people when they throw garbage just about anywhere, its teeth remains to be false and doesn't bite at all. For example, City Ordinance No. 1361 establishes a system of garbage collection and imposition of fees for violators and even several amendments have been done, among them the amendment ordering its residents to segregate their wastes. No segregation, no collection they claimed. But I am pretty sure someone somewhere in the Labangon area is not segregating his wastes but still their garbage is being taken by disposal trucks. On the creeks near barangay (village) Guadalupe, people just throw their garbage on the dry riverbed to be taken by flash floods to the sea.

What's my point?

Photo courtesy of Cebu Daily News

Cebuanos made the sea their infinite garbage bins. Every day I encounter long stretches of garbage in the channel. Even the sea currents refused to take them to show Cebu what they have done to the sea.

Another case to prove my point that coastal cleanups initiated by local governments and the private sector are just for show. Or cleanups are additional pogi points to get that funding support from international entities?

Here's to the crazy ones

2011-10-06T19:19:00.000+08:00

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing that you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy. Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do!

iSad

2011-10-06T12:13:00.002+08:00

Photo courtesy of Dezeen

Just when I am starting to tinker Apple products, my not-so-favorite Steve Jobs, the man behind Apple, died!

Why is he not my favorite?

Steve Jobs basically lifted Apple from its quagmire state is a fact. Jobs' revolutionary mind however, came as an arrogant if not autocratic approach to the business world. As Steve Maich wrote on MSN.com:

His tone perfectly echoed his blunt refusal a few years ago to provide shareholders with timely updates on his health problems. It was clearly a pressing material issue for the market, but he simply stonewalled, insisting it was nobody's business. In his world, the word of Jobs is the law.

Millions have benefited by following Jobs' vision of the future in recent years. He's entitled to a little arrogance. But history is littered with genius visionaries who came to see themselves as invulnerable and were dumb enough to show it. Their stories almost always end badly.

In the end, Jobs succumbed to a sickness that finally proves he was human after all.

Goodbye Steve.

Photo grabbed from The Atlantic Wire

Rainforest Park Cebu: Confused!

2011-10-03T18:30:00.003+08:00

I had the chance to experience a different venue for a social function here in Cebu last Saturday. A friend of mine had the reception for his son's christening at the Rainforest Park Cebu somewhere in Panagdait, Mabolo, Cebu City, just infront of the Citi Park Hotel.

Although the "park" has many small stalls, the reception was done at the Oceanarium Restaurant. It is sad to note that nothing in that restaurant reminded me of where its name was based from.

At the main entrance, a life-sized toy bear stands guard and a tiger (?) yawned at its souvenir stand. Inside the resto artificial forest vines and plastic leaves hang from the ceiling and trees on the side with an artificial rain dropping from time to time did not convince me it was an Oceanarium. The only semblance of an "ocean'' were the empty tanks with no water at all because they "were treating the tanks."

Since it was a christening party, I was not able to taste what was on their menu. If the food they served during the function was also what they were serving on ordinary days, I have to admit they were passable if not good. The beef was tender and delicious.

What irritated me during the whole time we were there was the loud music outside of the establishment. The trees that supposed to "mute sounds in airports and terminals" as their signage claimed, could not even absorb the noise it brought inside. We have to shout at each other just to be heard. And the recorded electronic forest sounds of birds, macaques, and other weird sounds made the place irritatingly worst for a conversation. The confusion inside the restaurant was very visible and I hope the owner saw that. No, I don't think so.

Even here, they spell DIFFERENCE differently.

The only good thing that could be called "environmentally-friendly" there was the signages at the tables limiting your supply of paper napkins and drinking straws.

Even their comfort rooms were not comfortable at all. When you want to wash your hands, males have to go to the ladies room. The urinal at the men's is smacked right at the door of the toilet, a good opportunity for those who love watching men piss. Discomforting comfort rooms.

There are other stalls outside of the restaurant and a Jungle Adventure that featured a Wall, Zipline for kids, etc. But it is not a jungle out there, actually. My friends wanted to get out of there right after the reception so I was not able to explore the whole place. I am planning to come back and see it in a different setting.

I hope I won't be dismayed again.

But if you are interested, you can make your reservations through Rainforest Park's phones at (032) 2390350 or 5168069. Goodluck!

The bear stands guard at the Oceanarium Restaurant

Inside the Oceanarium, plastic vines create a semblace of a forest

Outside the resto is a "Jungle" adventure

Washing my undies in public

2011-10-01T13:20:00.003+08:00

I've stopped washing my clothes (or anything that needs washing) since I had my real work, after forcing myself to retire from college. Even the dishes had to wait for an inspiration or a divine intervention so they be cleaned. My mother who has this penchant desire to clean everything, took the cudgels of washing my undies. My mom's saintly washing only stopped when I relocated myself in Cebu. All my friends would balk at me on this, causing irreverent discourses between me and them.

I am not bothered.

My mom is the best laundry washer in the whole wide world. People of Batuan, my hometown, knows that. That's why Mother earned a living through washing other people's dirt.

When my basket would be full of laundry and/or my having no undies for long gives discomfort when I am with people, I would decide to do laundry. Just like today. But after washing my second briefs, my hands were already complaining.

I love my undies in different colors. White briefs made me think of dead Chinese.

In my high school days, a week's worth of laundry was just a breeze. Now, with just a few undies, I am complaining already. Not that my briefs were very dirty. Honestly, they are literally clean I could use them, again. No yellow or skid marks on them. But why complain?

Maybe because I have already conditioned myself that I have also graduated from being a laundryman. I've worked hard enough washing is no longer my priority.

Well- with all the washing in the world and the constant use of detergents and bleaching solutions our water sources have become dirtier and tainted with our own mess. Every day! According to a study funded by ADB, 58% of our groundwater is contaminated, the main source being untreated domestic and industrial wastewater. (Country Environmental Analysis for the Republic of the Philippines, September 2004.)

Out of which nudity could be a great option! If not THE solution. But then again there is skin cancer and the moral Church. That's another discussion.

Meanwhile my hands got scruffy despite the lotion.

And then they attack

2011-09-22T17:56:00.001+08:00

I was confident because the big box where I stored my books and other projects was beautifully standing in some corner of my new house. This box is not just BIG but very heavy because all my design books, my favorite fiction and non-fiction books and my finished projects were stored in it so I have easy access on them.

However, due to heavy load in the office and the travel time I took every day from Cebu City to Lapulapu City that would left me so tired I would find myself sleeping in the living room, I was not able to transfer them to my room. So it stood there in the corner waiting for me.

Last night however was a disaster! When I opened the box looking for some project samples, I saw a termite on the box cover. I palpitated! I moved the box and saw the disaster!

I never knew the box stood there majestically strong but inside it was crumbling to pieces.

This book and above suffered most of the termite attack. I wonder what does this mean. Is it really a curse?

And then the also take joy in eating Ruining It For Everybody.

And Robb Walsh asked them: Are You Really Going to Eat That? I think their answer was a big YES!

Also they started eating Tomas Osmeña.

And Erma Bombeck's When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home

SO I KILLED THEM ALL!

Miss Angola is 60th Miss Universe

2011-09-13T17:28:00.005+08:00

Congratulations to Miss Angola Leila Lopes (pronounced Lowps) for besting 89 other candidates, including the Philippines, of the prestigious Miss Universe title! She was my personal favorite from the start. She exudes real beauty and brains. What a smile!

No need to be bitter Philippines!

Photo source- here. Other sources- AP and Reuters

Where in Cebu City can you find this?

2011-08-25T18:15:00.003+08:00

We went to dinner in one of the newly opened restaurants in Cebu City and ordered shrimp rebosado we found on their menu. It only said the best and sumptuous words restaurant copy-editors could think of and nothing of its simplicity and minimalism. Never mind the 170 pesos price if it could have been more than just a fried shrimp.

Guess where it could be ordered:

a. ZUBUCHON

b. NEONEO

c. SUGBAHAN.

In case you'd wonder what a Shrimp Rebosado is, here is a recipe I got from filipinovillage.com:

Ingredients:
1/2 kg. med. sized raw shrimps
vegetable oil for frying

For marinade:
1/2 white vinegar
4 garlic cloves, crushed
10 peppercorns, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt

For batter:
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c all purpose flour
1/4 c water
1/4 c evaporated milk
2 tbsp. atsuete (anato seeds) water
1 egg, well beaten

Instructions:
Combine marinade ingredients and marinate shrimps for 1-2 hours. Cover and set aside.

Sift together salt, baking powder, and flour. Set aside. Combine water, evaporated milk, black pepper, atsuete water, and egg. Gradually pour this mixture into the flour mixture, stirring constantly. Mix until smooth texture. Drain shrimps. Dip marinated shrimps in batter one by one and deep fry in vegetable oil. Drain in paper towel. Serve hot with Sweet & Sour sauce.

This is the PhP170 shrimp rebosado we ordered from a newly opened restaurant. Make a guess where, above.

> > > = = = = = = A N S W E R = = = = = = < < <

The answer to the question above on where we could order shrimp rebosado is B or NEONEO! Neoneo opened its SM branch a few weeks back at the 3rd floor of SM City Cebu. When asked if shrimp rebosado was available, the waiter readily answered a yes and so we ordered on at the hefty price of 170 pesos excluding government taxes.

Much to our dismay, the rebosado arrived in a white saucer unadorned, literally running around the plate due to a very spacious container since they were only five small pieces of them.

We called up the waiter to asked if they were wrong in serving the shrimps but their head waiter came and told us that shrimps that costs 170 pesos were actually for a hundred grams or so. He told us if he was the one taking our orders, he would tell us such. But I argued that it was not fair and that all people ordering shrimp rebosado have to see him. The girls who were with me asked me to just eat them so we could get out of the place.

I cried when I took a bite on one of those cute but dead headless shrimp that costed 34 pesos apiece.

Back at Garden Cafe in Tagbilaran

2011-08-23T12:44:00.004+08:00

When I was in my college days and later when I worked at the provincial government of Bohol, my favorite hangout in Tagbilaran was the Garden Cafe, a restaurant owned by the Bohol Deaf and Disable Foundation (IDEA).

When you go there, you are doing a two-pronged activity- enjoy their food and help the deaf of Bohol. In fact, the waiters and waitresses at Garden Cafe are all deaf.

From a simple hut-inspired building, the Garden Cafe is now a showcase of American dining. The place has changed into a sort of cowboy-inspired diner, with all the boots and other Americana. Even the waitstaff are donning cowboy regalia sans whips. Interesting.

And the food too has become interestingly varied to suit the Montana theme. My friend brought me there to have a late iftar celebration. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and avocado shake. The quesadilla was quite exceptional specially with lots of salsa on it. I finished my meal with a slice of blueberry cheesecake which was so-so. I could have ordered coffee but my friend planned to do it somewhere.

If I will be in Tagbilaran, I will visit once again Garden Cafe.

Chicken quesadilla is the best (you can order beef, too)

Their blueberry cheesecake has more gelatin than cheesecake

The avocado shake I ordered is creamy and nice

Garden Cafe opens daily from 8 in the morning until 10 in the evening with exceptions on Sundays. The restaurant opens 1PM til 10 on Sundays. Garden Cafe has a themed room upstairs called Montana Room with several displays of Americana- stuffed animals, boots, skates, pictures, and the like. They also have a small function room and a music room. You can call for reservations at telephones (038) 4113701, 4112028.

We cast no shadow

2011-08-22T15:21:00.003+08:00

It isn't quite true. Places all have their own characters, and returning to a city where you have lived before is like coming home to an old friend. But the people begin to look the same; the same faces recurring in cities a thousand miles apart, the same expressions. The flat, hostile stare of the official. The curious look of the peasant. The dull unsurprised faces of the tourists. The same lovers, mothers, beggars, cripples, vendors,joggers, children, policemen, taxi drivers, pimps. After a while one begins to feel slightly paranoid, as if these people were secretly following from one town to another, changing clothes and faces but remaining essentially unchanged, going about their dull business with half eye slyly cocked at us, the intruders. At first one feels a kind of superiority. We are a race apart, we the travelers. We have seen, experienced, so much more than they-content to run out their sad lives in an endless round of sleep-work-sleep, to tend their neat gardens, their identical suburban houses, their small dreams. We hold them a little in contempt. Then, after a while, comes envy. The first time it is almost funny: a sudden sharp sting that subsides nearly right away. A woman in a park, bending over a child in a pushchair, both faces lit by something that is not the sun. Then comes the second time, the third; two young people on the seafront, arms intertwined; a group of office girls on their lunch break, giggling over coffee and croissants... before long it is an almost constant ache. No, places do not lose their identity, however far one travels. It is the heart that begins to erode after a time. The face in the hotel mirror seems blurred some mornings, as if by too many such casual looks. By ten the sheets will be laundered, the carpet swept. The names on the hotel registers change as we pass. We leave no trace as we pass on. Ghostlike, we cast no shadow.

Joanne Harris, Chocolat

London Summer Olympics 2012?

2011-08-09T05:36:00.000+08:00

Photo courtesy of Time.com

People are torching buildings in different parts of London! Should I say the Olympic torch parade has started in London?

Ladies and some slimy issues: snails

2011-08-08T06:10:00.002+08:00

I was with the girls last Saturday while they were at their "observation post" at MetroCentre Hotel. Observation may mean seeing who is coming in or out and who wore the weirdest outfits, who is who, etc. In a place like Tagbilaran, "observing" people might be a good hobby. Especially in a hotel like MetroCentre.

Over sandwiches and water, the girls were talking about the latest craze now- slime, snail slime, to be exact. To the rest of us who are not into these girls' stuff, this may sound yucky. I mean, these human species are actually inventing the weirdest beauty ingredients they could think of just to defy nature and get all the attention they deserved.

Remember, they were the ones who used bird-poop facials and placenta serums just to be above the rest. But- ewww.

And now- snail slime.

We used to get snails when we were younger to feed our pigs. As part of our assignment, and perhaps training on how to secure family sustenance, we would go to meadows and creeks very early in the morning when snails feed on fresh grass. These snails (we call them Umang; pictured above) were then cooked and the meat taken from the shells to be chopped and mixed with cooked taro leaves and rice bran. Our pigs were the epitome of healthy and classy lifestyle: veggies, bran and escargots (French for, yes, you got it right, snails). Maybe Marketman should take note of that.

Anyways, I never knew those slimy snails is now the latest beauty trend to hit the market. Who would have thought? Snail slime are thought to cure skin problems like acne, scars and burns, and of course, wrinkles.

Women!

Pic from Ecouterre

Why men shouldn't write advice columns

2011-08-02T14:56:00.003+08:00

Dear John,

I hope you can help me. The other day, I set off for work, leaving my husband in the house watching TV. My car stalled, and then it broke down about a mile down the road, and I had to walk back to get my husband’s help. When I got home, I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbor’s daughter!

I am 32, my husband is 34 and the neighbor’s daughter is 19. We have been married for 10 years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted they had been having an affair for the past six months. He won’t go to counseling, and I’m afraid I am a wreck and need advice urgently. Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila

==========================================================

Dear Sheila,

A car stalling after driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.

I hope this helps,

John

Departures

2011-08-01T19:41:00.000+08:00

Vacuum frying has come in the province

2011-08-01T19:09:00.002+08:00

There is excitement in new things, a challenge, a welcome respite from boredom. Especially if that thing is food, I mean, healthier food.

When I was in Ormoc this weekend, an acquaintance introduced me a new food product from Baybay, Leyte: Vacuum Fried Jackfruit (Langka). And I fell in love with it.

Photo from web.evis.net.ph

Vacuum frying has been the trend nowadays since most consumers prefer healthier lifestyles. I am not that familiar with vacuum frying, but as I understood it the technology enables fruits or vegetables to be immersed in a vegetable oil at a controlled temperature to optimize the quality of the products fried.

In ordinary frying, the product is subjected to extreme heat thus scorching (burning) and darkening occurs. In vacuum frying or others call the process as atmospheric frying, the product is subjected to gradual reduction of moisture, like slow frying in extreme heat but not enough heat to boil water. This way, the fruit or vegetable undergoing the process retains most of its original color, taste, aroma and nutritional content.

Here in the Philippines, the technology is quite young and many entrepreneurs find it hard to acquire the machine since it is quite costly, thus, products undergoing vacuum frying technology are not for the masa (common people). Not yet.

But with Leyte State University's Department of Food Science and Technology introducing this vacuum frying technology in the provincial areas, healthy snack products will soon carve a niche in the Philippine market. Perhaps, no more oily snacks in the future?

(Leyte State University is formerly known as Visayas State College of Agriculture or ViSCA. A 50g pack of Vacuum-Fried Jackfruit costs about 45-55 pesos.)

Happy birthday Mama Mely

2011-07-27T12:20:00.003+08:00

My mother taught me...

TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

RELIGION.

"You better pray that it will come out of the carpet."

TIME TRAVEL.

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week."

LOGIC.

"Because I said so, that's why."

MORE LOGIC.

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

FORESIGHT.

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in accident."

IRONY.

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

OSMOSIS.

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper!"

TO BECOME A CONTORTIONIST.

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that veggies on your plate is gone."

WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado wenth throught it."

HYPOCRISY.

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate."

CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

"Stop acting like your father!"

ENVY.

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

RECEIVING.

"You are going to get it when you get home."

MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stuck that way."

ESP.

"Put your jacket on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

HUMOR.

"When that lawn mower cuts your toes, don't come running to me."

HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you will never grow up."

GENETICS.

"You're just like your father."

ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

Sanglitanan sa Kalipay ug Kasakit

2011-07-26T14:13:00.006+08:00

1
Ang garbosong kahoy
Lumsan sa hoyohoy.

2
Sa bintana sa gibanlas nga panganod
Nagdungaw ang adlaw sa kahimangod.

3
Duda sa mga aninong nanayaw libot sa daob:
Dakong tinonto ang hagawhaw sa taob.

4
Daplin sa misanap nga pantalan sa katugnaw
Inanayng mibukhad ang layag sa kamingaw.

5
Gimantala sa bilyakong balod
Ang gihasol nga tanlag sa lumod.

6
Gisamkon sa gwantes sa doktor
Ang baskog nga binhi sa tumor.

7
Dili matugkad sa unos
Ang panluod sa timos.

8
Agiwng itom ilawon sa gantangan
Maoy kabilin sa nahanawng pinulongan.

9
Dugo nga midagayday sa kabatoan
Mituhop sa tunob sa talawan.

10
Ang nabuntagan
Sa kasagbotan
Hayan natumog
Sa bugnawng yamog.

11
Libot sa ubanong kilay sa kasakit
Gitahi sa apostol ang gihay sa panagdait.

12
Sagbot sa lubnganan
Habol sa biniyaan.

(Balak ni Vicente Vivencio Bandillo, gikan sa iyang libro nga Sanglitanan sa Kalipay ug Kasakit)

Another spicy experience

2011-07-25T20:09:00.002+08:00

No matter how bad is the service at Spice Fusion at SM City Cebu, we always go back there. The food is not the best but sure it is good.

But then again, it is always the service that counts. Like tonight.

When we went in, I suggested we stay at the table near the cashier and the kitchen for obvious reasons- so that we can be readily seen. Indeed, my suggestion bore fruits. We were served just in time when a customer fumingly walked out because she was seating in a corner for almost an hour and no one took notice of her. I even heard from the waiters saying that even if she ordered, she would not be served even for an hour because everyone forgot about her. What a shame!

Another group, a family I guess, wanted to seat inside. The waiters insisted they should take the tables outside, even if there were vacant tables beside us. Just an additional chair and I am sure they would stay there. But no, the waiter would not gave in. Like they do not want customers to come there.

You can even observe that the waiters would stay closely in one place- the counter near the cashier. Why? Did the owner specifically advise them to focus their attention at the cashier?

What is happening Spice Fusion?

The nasi goreng is exactly what I want: not oily, no pork and just as spicy.

Before that, we already were having a confusion at Spice Fusion:
• Spice (con)Fusion
• Bigby's: A pleasant surprise

RIP: Amy Winehouse

2011-07-24T12:00:00.001+08:00

Amy Winehouse joins Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison who died of drug overdoses when they were 27. Kurt Cobain was 27 when he committed suicide, soon after his release from rehab.

Let it be

2011-07-23T14:10:00.003+08:00

"You won't destroy us. You won't destroy our democracy. We are a small but proud nation. No one can bomb us to silence. No one can scare us from being Norway. This evening and tonight, we'll take care of each other. That's what we do best when attacked."

~Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg

I was listening to the song Let It Be by Carol Woods and Timothy Mitchum (Across the Universe soundtrack) when news about a bomb going off in Oslo, Norway flashed in my newsfeed, killing some people.

It saddened me to watch gory but real life scenes like this. And yet the song told me- Let it be.

Minutes later news of a man shooting at innocent kids having a youth camp in the same area in Oslo was also flashed. And still- Let it be.

Would we let these things be?

I believe Philippa Gregory

2011-07-22T20:56:00.002+08:00

“I believe in me, in my view of the world. I believe in my responsibility for my own destiny, guilt for my own sins, merit for my own good deeds, determination of my own life. I don’t believe in miracles, I believe in hard work.

I am proud

2011-07-19T12:17:00.005+08:00

I am proud that my works are all over Tagbilaran City for the Sandugo Festival happening this week. My promo designs were chosen for the Sandugo Trade Expo which will open this Wednesday, July 20 at 4pm at the Island City Mall.

I deserve a brag. ;)

Walking the talk: blogging without the experience

2011-07-16T07:42:00.001+08:00

I don't if it is for money or fame, but some people are calling themselves bloggers nowadays even if they were just copying other people's work. The so-called bloggers just copy-paste a paragraph and put a line of their thought, and they call them their blog. Pathetic!

It is pathetic that a blogger also blog about the state of the animals at the Manila Zoo and posted pictures of the animals in their dismal state BUT was taken years ago. Pathetic because the blogger did not even visit the Manila Zoo BEFORE blogging about it. It was only when her blog goes viral when she make the effort of visiting the place and found out that the condition of the animals were not as she posted them.

What kind of blogger are you?

Pic grabbed from here

Bohol has a problem

2011-07-14T21:35:00.005+08:00

There will always be pros and cons to everything. Especially if your home province is used to rebelling against authorities. Historically, Boholanos waged almost a century of rebellion against Spain and isolated itself from the benefits of the outside world. Nowadays, Boholanos still think that the world revolves around them. Discovering what's outside is a slow painful process most Boholanos could not accept.

And I see a problem here. One of the hindrance to development in whatever form, is Bohol's incessant claims to tradition even if that tradition is obsolete and no longer conforms to international standards.

This is evidently clear in the production of calamay.

Boholanos, especially those from Jagna, the originators of calamay, claim that their calamay were invented more than 100 years ago. This "invention" of putting the calamay in its original packaging- the coconut shell- involves a lot of problems that would result a domino-effect.

One problem is, these coco shells, aside from the fact that they were ''imported" from Mindanao, are not hygienically prepared. I remember years ago when I went to Jagna to observe and take pictures of the calamay-making industry. I was shocked when the shells they used were just put outside of the producer's house after it was sanded down to get that "clean-shell" look. Worst, those shells, after a hot calamay was poured into them were put in rusty milk tins to cool down. Even that red tape is not hygienic.

After several tourists buying calamay found some already moldy, they spread the word like wild fire affecting the sales of calamay in Bohol. Some were patient enough to send letters of protests to concerned entities. These bad calamays and furious customers paved way to a legislation from the Bohol provincial board to make the calamay better.

Has it?

These calamay producers are still using coco shells nowadays despite health issues. Because Boholanos insist that this is THE tradition.

Some five years or so, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) assisted the food sector in the province of Bohol so they could cope up with the demands of the international market. A company from Tagbilaran introduced a vacuum-sealed calamay during the International Food Expo in Manila as a tickler on what's going to happen in the food sector of the province. That technology extended the shelf-life of calamay to months because of the packaging. However, the new packaging has never seen the light of day in Bohol. If it indeed was introduced, it lived shortly.

As I was taking a shoot at a calamay last week for the annual Sandugo product expo, I was literally trying to break the shell and pulling the calamay out to make a shot. Like the calamay itself, shooting it nicely is a problem.

For a hundred years, calamay producers are still stuck to their coco shells and air the same problem of shelf life and quality. The same problem they have experienced since a hundred years ago.

Despite the claims that Boholanos are the well-traveled of all Filipinos (there is even an unverified claim that a Boholano already owned a prime lot on the moon), still people in that small island act as if they were unreachable from the outside world. They want to dictate what should be in the market rather than what is the demand of the market.

If Boholanos, especially calamay producers, would not get out of their shell (pun intended), nothing good will come out of their production. They will just remain small time entrepreneurs.

(The author is 100% Boholano, by affinity and by sanguinity.)

The CBCP now asks its flock to be slow in judgment (from All Apologies)

2011-07-12T07:55:00.005+08:00

The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is again in the limelight because of its involvement in government fund misuse. In an effort to gain confidence from its flock, the powerful Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines/CBCP (not minding that the ones involved in the controversy were bishops) issued a pastoral statement to be read during masses.

I am expecting another re-assignment to be done soon by the Church. This is what they do with erring priests, as always the case.

The following is a full quote from The Professional Heckler, my favorite humor blogger. He rightly read what's behind the apology issued by CBCP. Thank you Sir Loy.

IN A PASTORAL STATEMENT read by outgoing CBCP president Nereo Odchimar Monday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines apologized to the members of the Catholic Church after several bishops got embroiled in the PCSO fund controversy. Here’s a portion of that letter [and what the CBCP wanted to say but couldn’t in parentheses.]

Our Dear People of God,

[Mga Tagasunod,]

Our Mother Church has been deeply wounded by the controversies in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office that have erupted in the past two weeks.

[Nitong mga nakaraang linggo, sumusobra na kayo. Pikon na ang Simbahan. As in!]

Some members of the Church believe in the innocence of the bishops involved in the issue, while others do not.

[Kung ayaw n’yong maniwala, ‘wag!]

There is no doubt that everywhere in the Church there is great sorrow.

[Kung saan-saan na kami nagdasal, ayaw pa ring tumigil!]

We your pastors are one with you.

[Higit kailanman, kailangan namin kayo ngayon.]

… we are sorry for the pain and sadness that these events have brought upon you.

[‘Sensya na, tao lang.]

We are saddened that many of you… have been confused because of the apparent inconsistency of our actions…

[Hindi lang kayo ang 'confused!' Marami ring pari at obispo ang confused!']

As we express our sadness, we also ask you to be slow in judgment…

[‘Wag kayong mapanghusga. Bakit?! Talaga namang kadiri ang same-sex marriage ah. Judgmental ba ‘yon?]

Let us seek the truth always in charity.

[Lalabas din ang katotohanan. Basta ang donasyon, ituloy n’yo lang.]

We assure you that the bishops concerned are ready to accept responsibility for their action…

[Kinastigo na namin at binantaang ititiwalag. Kapag ‘di pa naman nagtanda ‘yong mga ‘yon, ewan na lang.]

We assure you that their action was done without malice.

[Maliban na lang do'n sa isa. Nakadalawang sulat pala ang damuho! Ang kapal talaga ng mukha!]

Out of their sincere desire to help their people, they failed to consider the pitfalls to which these grants could possibly lead them.

[Kita n’yo na? Fault n’yo ‘to eh! Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit nagawa ng mga obispo 'yon!]

They have also expressed their readiness to do everything that is necessary to heal this wound so that we can all move forward in hope.

[Ibabalik na nga namin ang mga sasakyan eh. Ba’t ba ang kulit n’yo? Anong akala n’yo sa ‘min? Patay-gutom? Mas mayaman ang Simbahan kesa sa PCSO ‘no?]

We shall examine our values in the light of our vocation to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

[Masakit pero kakayanin.]

We plead with you to walk with us in this path of constant renewal.

[Akala ng Noynoy na ‘yan, siya lang ang may matuwid na daan!? Kami rin!]

We express again our deep sorrow for the pain that the recent events have brought to you our beloved people.

[Paulit-ulit na kaming nagso-sorry. Akala n’yo ba madaling gawin ‘to? Hindi!]

The good Lord knows our love for you.

[Kaya nga kami nag-request ng 4 x 4, para mabisita namin kayo ‘di ba? Hindi pa ba sapat na pruweba ‘yan ng aming pagmamahal?]

The words of the Psalmist come to our mind: “My sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.”

[Patawad na kasi, ano ba?!]

As the same Psalmist addresses the Lord, we take his words as our own to encourage and challenge us: “Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.”

[Natuto na kami. Promise, ‘di na mauulit.]

For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines,

['Tapos na ang termino ko! Isang malaking good luck sa kapalit ko!]

+NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, D.D.

Bishop of Tandag

President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

A reaction from Mon Tulfo, an Inquirer columnist:

Some quarters are asking if it’s a big deal that bishops received sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO).

It is not only a big deal, it’s also scandalous.

The money that was used in buying the SUVs could have been spent on many ailing poor who needed medicines.

The bishops who were recipients of the largesse should have thought about the PCSO’s poor beneficiaries who were deprived of medicines because the money went to them.

Besides, why would those bishops, who are supposed to lead simple lives following the example of Jesus of Nazareth, want luxury vehicles when they can ride bicycles or motorcycles?

The answer is simple: They are pasikat or showoffs.

They want to feel important, as important as legislators who display the number 8 license plates on their vehicles.

Doesn’t the Catholic Church teach its followers that pride is one of the deadly sins?

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/aningal/

Another chance of seeing Marketman change people's tastes and faces

2011-06-26T00:08:00.006+08:00

If the foretold Rapture happened tonight I am very sure there will be a few who would remain on earth because no ecstatic or heavenly movement would be able to lift the bodies of about 40 people attending Marketmanila’s lechon eyeball. Never.

Yes. It happened again today, a few hours ago, the long awaited Lechon Eyeball of the fans and followers of Marketmanila.com. It has been more than three years, I think, that I had my first taste of the culinary innovations of Marketmanila and my first attendance to a Lechon Eyeball. Yes, I never got to taste those lazy pigs crouching in a tray but everyone said it was the best.

And tonight was no exemption. Of course, nobody would say it was just a so-so affair!

When I arrived at the venue, everyone was already scampering ahead to taste the first treat of the night. What else but the famous lechon Anthony Bourdain confirmed to be the best. So far. He has traveled that far to discover and affirm that. And not just one lechon suffered at the hungry mouths of Marketman’s guests that night but, four, I counted. There was a lechon with whole chickens stuffed inside while they were grilled. I wonder what would they taste.

Grabbing a bottle of cold beer and making beso-beso with long-lost-co-bloggers-turned-friends, I stayed where I am comfortable with, near the cooking pits. Because Marketman was preparing a seafood paella.

It has been my desire to cook paella. Honestly, I am just scared to try because I thought it would require more patience and time. But after watching Marketman and his sidekick, Angel and their staff breezing it out, I was again inspired at the sight.

So I promised myself I will make a paella and would make it better than Marketman’s. Soon.

I left at the venue after an hour or so because I still have to work. I left bringing along with me a souvenir cupcake with the proud pig logo of Zubuchon and a pack of piyatitos from Lee.

I haven’t eaten them yet. I will wait for another ecstatic moment. At midnight, perhaps?

(The only thing that disgusted me at the Eyeball was that I have only my phone camera with me and I could not capture the intimacy of the selected few guests attending the event. I failed to capture the ecstatic faces of guests receiving the crunchy lechon skin from Marketman. I can only sigh.)

The art of media-whoring politicians in the guise of promotions

2011-06-24T09:09:00.002+08:00

Whenever I want to explore the province of Cebu I always expect Governor Gwen Garcia to be there with me. We are neither friends nor acquaintances, much more, I don’t personally know her. But Governor Garcia is with me all the time in these destinations.

I am referring to the large posters all over the towns of Cebu promoting Garcia’s Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo. Even in the emerging (the government love this term!) destinations, Governor Garcia is there posing like she owns the place. Her picture and posters are bigger than the place itself. What an ugly site!

Don’t we all hate to be with aliens when we travel?

There is a ban on the showing of names and faces of politicians in government projects here in the Philippines. If Noynoy Aquino is steadfast on his law banning politicians to show their names and faces everywhere to whore themselves, would Garcia be guilty of media whoring? We should be reminded of the fact that it was the people’s money they were using to promote their selfish intentions in the guise of tourism promotions.

I don’t know why these politicians love their faces pasted on everything when, honestly, they need more than a makeover for people, including tourists, to be pleased about their being there.

Coffee for breakfast

2011-06-17T09:59:00.000+08:00

Way too much coffee. But if it weren't for the coffee, I'd have no identifiable personality whatsoever. ~David Letterman

The lunar eclipse from my window

2011-06-16T11:48:00.001+08:00

This is one of those days that I wish for a better camera. I woke up at 3AM just to take some shots at the height of the lunar eclipse visible from my window. But sadly the shots were not that good. But I have the shots. Better than none at all.

After much awe and amazement, the sun finally told me to go to bed again. I still have work later of the day.

2011-06-14T12:47:00.003+08:00

The Accidental Tourist is at it again

2011-06-14T11:54:00.003+08:00

Life has been very good to me lately. Despite the lack of funds, friends were there to give me short lived vacations that lasts a lifetime.

Someone gave me an overnight stay at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu. Free, of course. It was a great vacation I could not afford but I made it anyway.

And then a sudden trip to Camotes Island in Cebu made my weekend really unforgettable.

I will be posting my blogs about them when I have the chance to escape from office work.

Bless me Father with your dirty finger...

2011-06-07T23:13:00.002+08:00

Source: HayMen

Beauty in children: Their innocence

2011-06-06T13:35:00.000+08:00

Filipino resilience and the E. Coli

2011-06-05T09:22:00.006+08:00

Lately, Germany is attacked by Escherichea Coli bacteria popularly known as E.coli. E.coli is mostly found in raw food like vegetable salad and beef.

Strangely, this bacteria lives in our intestines without us knowing and surprisingly help us in our digestive processes within. But some strain, the term used for viruses and bacteria that has acquired superpowers so to speak, gets into our blood and cause serious infections.

From Germanu, the bacteria attack has spread in Spain and throughout Europe and several deaths have been reported.

But poverty in the Philippines has shunned E.Coli bacteria from its vocabulary. Mostly. Only those in the upper strata have actually blamed the bacteria for some diarrhea attacks.

When a fruit has started to get brown, because they were displayed first before being eaten, the affected areas were pruned and given to pigs to eat. Ok pa to. This is still okay. When vegetables started to rot, the rotten area were pinched and carved while the rest goes to cooking pots. Wala pa yan. When bread has accumulated molds, the greenish part were taken and the rest toasted or given to domestic helps to be eaten right away. Pwede pa. There is no E.Coli in the Philippines!

And then kidney problems started to become a trend in this part of the world.

Before cooking up something, wash your vegetables first, thoroughly I should say, and pause to read the following articles. These are worth a read:

Washington Post: Germany presses to find cause of E.Coli outbreak that killed 18
CNN: E.coli: Is my salad safe?
VOA News: E.coli: Good Bacteria Gone Bad

Because Filipinos are drug traffickers

2011-06-03T08:35:00.005+08:00

So this is now the tag most of Filipinos traveling abroad are now getting- DRUG TRAFFICKERS! Filipinos are subjected to whole body search and "special treatment" because of this. So my advice, again, be extra cautious when you travel to countries where drug means death. Those "padala" from friends, never accept them, or they could be your life sentence.

Here is a good story of Chyng Reyes who went to Bali, Indonesia for a vacation and experienced trauma instead at the immigration department.

My Traumatic Experience as an Alleged Drug Trafficker in Bali, Indonesia

My name is Chyng Reyes. I graduated with a degree of Electronics and Communications Engineering in a state university in Intramuros. I work in a BPO company in MoA complex as part of Systems Development team. Im a blogger who frequently travels.

Read the whole story here.

Serenity

2011-06-01T01:17:00.002+08:00

Serenity is knowing that your worst shot is still pretty good.
~Johnny Miller

Noon, Ngayon (from The Professional Heckler)

2011-06-01T00:53:00.002+08:00

Noon: Kapag nakinig ka sa homily ng obispo, naliliwanagan.

Ngayon: Kapag nakinig ka sa homily ng obispo, nagwu-walkout.

Noon: Ang mahigpit na magkatunggali: administrasyon at oposisyon.

Ngayon: Ang mahigpit na magkatunggali: Balay at Samar sa posisyon.

Noon: Kapag bagsak ang rating ng presidente, “Kagagawan ng oppositionists!”

Ngayon: Kapag bagsak ang rating ng presidente, “Kagagawan ng columnists!”

Noon: Ang ‘lovelife’ ng presidente, mababasa sa diyaryo.

Ngayon: Ang ‘lovelife’ ng presidente, mababasa sa kanyang speech.

Noynoy Aquino pole-dancing while smoking?

Blogspot is affected by Friday 13th!

2011-05-14T08:36:00.001+08:00

WELCOME BACK BLOGSPOT!

Sitting is killing you!

2011-05-12T11:18:00.000+08:00

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

Stay

2011-05-09T10:55:00.000+08:00

My whole life waiting for the right time
To tell you how I feel.
Know I try to tell you that I need you.
Here I am without you.
I feel so lost but what can I do?
'Cause I know this love seems real
But I don't know how to feel.

We say goodbye in the pouring rain
And I break down as you walk away.
Stay, stay.
'Cause all my life I felt this way
But I could never find the words to say
Stay, stay.

Alright, everything is alright
Since you came along
And before you
I had nowhere to run to
Nothing to hold on to
I came so close to giving it up.
And I wonder if you know
How it feels to let you go?

You say goodbye in the pouring rain
And I break down as you walk away.
Stay, stay.
'Cause all my life I felt this way
But I could never find the words to say
Stay, stay.

So you change your mind
And say you're mine.
Don't leave tonight
Stay.

Say goodbye in the pouring rain
And I break down as you walk away.
Stay, stay.
'Cause all my life I felt this way
But I could never find the words to say
Stay, stay.

Stay with me, stay with me,
Stay with me, stay with me,
Stay, stay, stay, stay with me.

Salmonella that is safe to eat

2011-05-07T11:08:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, Nestle Philippines released a half page ad in a leading newspaper stating that they are recalling their Maggi Instant Noodles due to traces of salmonella in their chicken and beef flavors. They justified that only a certain batch (lot codes 11020598A1 and 11030598A1) has traces of salmonella in the seasoning but as a safety precaution, they are recalling those flavors.

This only strengthen my abhorrence with instant noodles and the way businessmen promote them as healthy food.

But strangely, they also put in their ad that MAGGI NOODLES IS STILL SAFE TO EAT DESPITE THE SALMONELLA TRACE as long as the correct way to cook them would be observed. Duh! Damn these businessmen!

I am not a food technology expert nor a medical professional but a product known to have salmonella should not be eaten when there are traces of it, aren't they?

And meanwhile the Food and Drug Administration only acknowledged the recall.

Would a food expert explain to me this weird situation?

YOU SHOULD KNOW-
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be transmitted from water, soil, animal feces, raw eggs, and raw meat. Salmonella infections may affect a person's intestines, typically causing high grade fever, abdominal pain and vomiting.

Because of hunger, yes, most Filipinos would eat them anyway.

Pride and prejudice we are

2011-05-05T18:19:00.000+08:00

When the news that Osama bin Laden (OBL) was executed; I say executed because of the revised report from the US government that OBL was unarmed but resisted arrest, by the Americans, I put up a picture of OBL with a caption that says OSAMA HAS BIN LADEN (see above). I published it in my Tumblr account, my Blogspot and made it my profile picture at Facebook.

I was elated at how people reacted to the picture. Some were amazed. Some were not. But majority were not happy because they believed I supported the terrorist- without taking into consideration what I have put in that picture.

This made me realize that people do not really go beyond their biases. For them, no matter what the caption was, their first impression on me was I am an Osama follower. Because I have an OBL picture. And I happily rode with their prejudices out of sheer fun.

One even posted at Facebook- I noticed that you had Laden's pic on your profile. Does that make you a good Muslim? Just to remind you, majority of Islamic world has condemned actions that Laden did. Not to mention "infidels" that you might refer to and still you seem to kinda justify Laden and his side.

Another said- I won't be sharing with you... until you changed your profile pic.

Jane Austen aptly wrote in Pride and Prejudice- The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

(Most of those who reacted negatively were Americans and Filipinos living in the US.)

Men and Play

2011-05-04T14:19:00.000+08:00

Osama has bin Laden

2011-05-02T17:03:00.001+08:00

2011-04-30T10:59:00.002+08:00

Lazy day

2011-04-30T10:46:00.001+08:00

A serene afternoon scene in Catmon, Cebu

(Picture taken using Sony Ericsson W800i)

What I hate in Summer

2011-04-28T17:05:00.002+08:00

It's the heat! The unbearable heat that goes through your brains and make them boil like they are going to pour down from your ears. And you become irritable and bombastic!

Summer is a wish to stay wallowing in cool waters or be blown by cold winds somewhere. Or stay in bed with a cold bottle of beer in hand. Too bad I only have a day or two to laze around!

Damn summer!

O2 Spa is no longer appealing

2011-04-27T20:11:00.006+08:00

After almost consuming our ordered quesadilla, a haphazardly done sauce of catsup and mayo arrived in exchange of the original salsa and sour cream. Disgusting!

====================================

UPDATE: May 31, 2011

Like a real fortune teller, my guess that O2 Spa will be closing its business seems right after all. For almost 3 weeks now, the O2 Spa's doors were closed and seems there are no activities going on there. I was not able to go and investigate, but one thing is very sure- they are closed.

====================================

I used to promote O2 Spa as the bar to be in Cebu. It used to have good food, affordable beer and a vibrant yuppie crowd.

Not anymore.

O2 Spa's usual 195 pesos a set of 4 beers + 1 is now 250 pesos. And the crowds have dwindled to a table or two the past two visits we had. Worst, their quesadilla becomes unappealing minus the salsa and sour cream. It infuriates me when bars and restaurants take your order and later serve them with lacking ingredients. It's like lying to your face. Only when we question for the lack did they explained the salsa and cream unavailable.

After a year of meeting at O2 Spa, my group decided to transfer somewhere affordable, with delicious food, great ambiance and serves you what's really in the menu. And no more replays of all Manny Pacquiao's fights like everytime they play it something new will happen.

We found the place- The Vienna Kaffehaus at The Gallery in Mabolo.

Travel precautions could save you

2011-04-27T14:19:00.001+08:00

Summer in the Philippines is actually a school break and has less to do with the seasons. Since the Philippines is a tropical country, there are only two distinguishable seasons here- rainy (usually with monsoon rains) and sunny.

But nowadays, you could not even make a distinction between the two seasons.

Since most of the family members are on vacation, it is during summer that people travel. Go to exotic places, or visit relatives, or attend fiestas which are happening almost everywhere during this time. The whole month of May is in fact, fiesta time for the island of Bohol. They say my province would sink a few inches because every Boholano comes home on May for the fiesta.

Whether you are visiting a place this summer or just gallivanting around your city, people and places nowadays are not safe. Many travelers around the globe have been mugged, robbed and fallen victims to scams.

Here are some few tips from Matador Network, an independent travel website, on how not to get robbed when you travel.

1. Don’t get drunk. Most of us are vulnerable when we are wasted, especially if you are like me who would not miss a pub upon my visit to a place. As Matador puts it- Large, flesh-eating predators on planet Earth have always had a natural instinct to sniff out sick, injured and weak prey. And people-predators do the same. And we almost always make a slip on this rule.

2. Don’t look rich. It is understood that when you travel, you leave behind most of your valuables safely at home or somewhere else. We have heard many stories of people getting robbed inside jeepneys or buses or walking around Colon Street in Cebu. Maybe because they flashed around expensive jewelries or gadgets when they travel.

Of course Rule number 2 does not say you have to travel like a beggar. It simply means to lessen the chance of getting caught by predators.

3. The kids don’t play. Gone are the days when kids were still innocent. Nowadays, especially in cities, kids are scheming brats waiting for willing victims. Some are even used by adults to look for victims. So do not fall easily to their innocence. It could be a ploy. When kids are starting to harass you, it is always safe to leave them and go to places where there are a lot of people. Never argue with them because they may have adult “supervisors” around.

4. Watch the people watching you. You may feel this creepy instinct someone is watching you. Grab hold of your camera and look at people who are eyeing your DSLR. Tell them you know what their plans are. Look at them in the eye. But don’t stare that long. Just let them know you are not the type of person who is an easy prey.

5. Don’t be the low-hanging fruit; be the lion. People who rob are desperate and are willing to take risks whenever possible. If you appear sober, confident and aware of what’s going on around, robbers may wait for another victim. Sometimes your confidence and strong aura hinders bad elements to get you. If you suspect a bad element, show your confidence, look him in the eye and say their language when you know it.

Almost always, they would pass on you for giving them the screw-me-and-you-will-regret-it-look and take another chance on the weaker tourist.

6. Root for the home team. Always blend in. Never be the outstanding person you are in the streets. When you’re in Rome, be a Roman.

7. Put the expensive stuff where they won’t expect it. Some may have experienced their hotel rooms where opened when they were out especially at night. Most hotel robbers are freaks who wanted to get it done in the briefest possible time because they are also afraid of getting caught. Putting your laptop and your camera in a desk is like giving them a bonus.

So don’t make it too easy for them. Place your things in places where they usually care to look. Remember, robbers are not from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (I hope not!). They get what is placed near exits. Randomly place values in your locker, among towels, under your table or chairs.

8. Listen to locals. A good advice from locals is worth listening. So when they say do not go to a certain place, don’t. However, if someone who is beaming and telling you that he just had wonderful shots at that “forbidden” place be sure you are observing the rules above. Be diligent.

9. Be smart about cabs. Getting cabs especially when you are drunk is kind of risky. Be sure your companions know what cab you are taking and have them list down the plate number.

In airports and piers, do not take cabs that are “waiting.” Always go to legitimate companies.

10. Recognize when a bad situation is developing and get out of there. According to Matador, not all crime is skillfully premeditated and executed -- oftentimes it's improvised. Always err on the side of caution, Matador added, and get out of there. Nine times out of 10 they'll realize the opportunity has passed and carry on with whatever they were doing before they noticed you.

Love dies

2011-04-26T22:28:00.002+08:00

Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings. ~Anaïs Nin

Easter and Christians

2011-04-23T22:47:00.003+08:00

Christians are celebrating their Easter (supposed to be the resurrection of the Christ) with eggs. Colored, painted and hidden eggs.

Comments from Ricky Maestrado:

Like Halloween, Santa Claus, and even Sinulog are among the many pagan traditions adopted by early Christians just because it falls on the same time of the year as with another Christian event. (And also back then, it would be easier for them to convert the local non-believers if they could show that Christianity is somehow connected with their traditions.)

The bunny, eggs, chicks, even lambs and daffodils are all to do with the spring season which symbolizes rebirth like the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The influence in the Philippines, however, is due to commercialization and has nothing to do with religion.

Drawing from lynnrockets.wordpress.com

Wish on Earth Day

2011-04-23T01:48:00.002+08:00

I wish more people cared about earth as much as they cared about who they believed created it.

What is the significance of Earth Day? National Geographic answers- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110422-earth-day-google-doodle-web-green-tech-2011-environment/

The agnostic goes visiting churches on Holy Thursday (Visita Iglesia for Catholics)

2011-04-22T00:42:00.004+08:00

STARTING POINT: Basilica of the Santo Niño

FIRST STOP: University of San Jose Recoletos Chapel

NEXT STOP: The historic San Nicolas Tolentino Church in Pasil

FOURTH STOP: Santo Rosario Church

The dead Christ. I used to fear this one when I was younger.

FIFTH STOP: The Chapel at the University of San Carlos

SIXTH STOP: Mariners Church at Pier 1

FINAL STOP: Befitting for last, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral glowed in its glory

RIP Roger Alegado, my brother

2011-04-21T01:32:00.006+08:00

It saddens me to know that my friend and mentor, Roger Alegado passed away yesterday. Since my transfer to Cebu, I have not seen him, much more talk to him.

Roger has been my big brother during my working stint at the provincial government of Bohol. We have enjoyed a lot of camaraderie, so to speak. He has been my team lead and became my group member, my consultant and mentor and a very good friend.

Sadly he has not told me his limited days with friends would soon be over. I heard from friends that he was sick and confined somewhere when I was already out of the provincial government. My busy schedules and my free spirit has never actually found where he was confined.

Until someone's status in Facebook told me he has passed away.

We have never talked.

Brother, death ends a life but not a relationship. Sleep tight. I will miss you.

Willie Revillame: A monster hit

2011-04-19T09:02:00.006+08:00

I am not a Willie follower and rarely saw his shows. I don't know why he was such a hit. I could not even think how my barber would manage to cut my hair while watching him. But lately, his alleged "sins" have been exposed because of his bullying tactics and abusing a child on air, on primetime TV.

A crying child doing a striptease, even if handed down ten thousand pesos for doing so, is just NOT RIGHT! I am no moralist but everyone with the right thinking could say that.

Who is Willie Revillame? Why should he matter?

This article by Yoly Villanueva-Ong of the Philippine Star should give you an idea who he is and why this nation should re-evaluate our values.

10 Ways to Be a Monster Hit

1. Get involved in serial scandals for higher ratings.
In 1999, Randy, John and Willie were suspended from Magandang Tanghali Bayan for vulgar comments about the contestants ofCalendar Girl. In 2001, Willie was terminated from the show for the same offense. MTB went off air, and resurrected as Masayang Tanghali Bayan. In 2003, the MTRCB ordered ABS-CBN to terminate Willie for malicious jokes against mainstay Mahal. The host-comedian filed his resignation instead with a tearful farewell in 2004.

2. Get away with murder!
In 2006, 30,000 people gathered outside the PhilSports Stadium to joinWowowee’s first anniversary show. There was a stampede that killed 78 people and injured around 400. Revillame was cleared of any responsibility.

3. Get involved in sex scandals while supposedly abusing the wife.
In 2007, his estranged wife, Liz Almoro accused Revillame of abuse. She claimed that he humiliated her in front of their child, threw a chair and remote control at her and had “dirty sexual affairs’” with different women. Revillame countered that he had difficulty performing his husbandly duties due to Almoro’s explosive moods and tirades.

4. Get away in a “hot” Ferrari.
In 2008, the Chief of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group demanded that Revillame return a “hot” Ferrari or pay the proper taxes. The vehicle had a fake certificate of payment, was registered in Cebu but carried Manila license plates. Revillame claimed it was just for test-drive, even when surveillance showed him using the car for one month.

5. Get away with disrespecting beloved Cory Aquino.
On August 3, 2009, Revillame spoke out against the insertion of a live broadcast on the transfer of the late President Cory Aquino’s remains to the Manila Cathedral. He carped that Wowowee could not make people happy while the entire country was mourning. On August 10, he went on an indefinite leave.

6. Demand that a colleague be fired or else…
In 2010, Revillame threatened to resign if ABS-CBN did not fire Buzz co-host Sucaldito for criticizing him. He said, “Nananawagan po ako sa management... Wag niyo naman hong payagan na tinitira ‘yung show natin. Ang laki ng kita ng ‘Wowowee’... Mamimili na kayo. ‘Pag hindi ninyo ‘yan tinanggal ako ang magre-resign.”

7. Break your contract.
In August 2010, Revillame announced that he was ending his contract that expires in September 2011. He accused ABS of violating several provisions. Management decided to replace Wowowee and offered him a one-hour weekly show instead.

8. Junk bffs on air.
When Randy and John signed up for a new noontime show in ABS while he was negotiating to have them join him in TV5, Revillame angrily broadcasted, “Magsulian na tayo ng kandila…kung diyan kayo masaya sa taong nanakit sa’kin… diyan na kayo.”

9. Flaunt your wealth.
The P90M Ayala Heights house formerly owned by Gabby Lopez, the Tagaytay property of Chito Madrigal, where he will build his house plus high-end boutique hotel with a heliport, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, a P50M yacht, the ten-storey mall with two theaters are just some of his assets.

10. Flex your muscle at every opportunity.
Get paid handsomely to endorse a Presidential aspirant, cut a platinum CD, generate record-breaking showbiz-magazine sales, hobnob with titans. Revillame is undoubtedly the biggest monster hit in town. Born to a 15 yr-old waitress and supposedly a-once-upon-a-time-naked pub dancer, he has come a very long way. Cocky and unfazed by the latest ruckus, he said, “Every time I do something a bit naughty, the ratings go up.” Unfortunately, he has been proven right many times.

Picture of Willie and Janjan from iprovoked.wordpress.com
Portrait of Willie from kapamilyaonesite.blogspot.com;
Last pic of Willie from mang1pinoy.wordpress.com

Anda, Azary, berhenti mengikuti dia!