We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep. It’s as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out windows, or drown themselves, or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us are slowly devoured by some disease, or, if we’re very fortunate, by time itself. There’s just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we’ve ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) know these hours will be inevitably followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning, we hope more than anything for more. Heaven only knows why we love it so. ~Michael Cunningham, The Hours

Good job SM City Cebu- BUT

Seeing my groceries being put in a paper bag, for the first time, is exhilarating. That happened last night when I went to buy groceries at SM City Cebu. I felt proud for SM for initiating the move to lessen plastic and other cellophane products.

But-

I was confused when they put the bags over the other. I thought they were saving mother earth with those. They told me one bag could not support the groceries because the ones they were using were too thin. I think it defeated the purpose. I can see more trees being cut down to make those bags.

And then this bagging thing only happens every Wednesdays.

I sighed.

Barack Obama said-

What to do if caught in a heavy rain at 10 in the evening?

1. Run to a sweetcorn stand.
2. Buy one and eat.
3. Watch other people run.
4. Wish it would stop soon.
5. Enjoy the rain.

O2 Spa's small pleasures

Whenever friends would try to make me drunk, I always bring them to O2 Spa. That small place in The Strip at the Capitol area in Cebu boasts a regular stream of young and yuppie customers from the nearby UNO.

The beer is cheap. The food above the ordinary. And the chef, a cute little lady with nice dimples, is the daughter of Felix, the owner. Being a chef and an owner make a whole lot of difference.

New to their menu is the Beef Quesadillas (PhP115), a hauntingly beautiful mix of beef and spices put in-between a big pita bread. The only bad thing I saw from the serving were those small plastic cups of small amount of salsa like they were not keen on serving them at all.

But if you insists, the quesadillas are good for drunks who would no longer care. Unless you really are for good taste.

Link: O2 Spa: It's not what you think

Ohhh Georg! 2

We went back to Oh Georg! in Ayala Center Cebu again to have another round of good food. Still, we were not dismayed.

I had their California salad (PhP185), a good combination of sweet luscious mangoes, shredded crab meat, vegetables and other greens poured with a large dose of creamy mayo. Healthy or not, I devoured the whole serving.

I downed everything with a cold fresh calamansi juice.

Burp!

CCTVs in the Philippines are useless

Photo grabbed from fireball3.com

CCTVs or closed circuit television in the Philippines are basically just decorations and are used only to replay unwanted incidents like robbery or thief. Just like viewing movie reruns.

No one, as in not one, mans them until you request for a replay.

How many bags have been opened by skillful thieves and robbers despite the presence of cameras in vicinities? How many homes have been invaded? How many creepy persons have scaled bridges in spite of government cameras in the area?

And we hopelessly stare at the videos being uploaded in Youtube, possibly by the owners hoping to gain 1 million followers, to confirm their idiotic move.

Only the cameras at Pinoy Big Brother are being monitored.

WikiLeaks or Al Bouazizi? Who set the fires of the Tunisian revolt?

"It is on everybody's mind that the Arab spirit is broken. The Arab spirit is down by poverty, unemployment and the general decline in the real indicators of development." Amre Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League

WikiLeaks' role in governments is very critical. They might be doing espionage, call it whatever you like, but like their battle cry, WikiLeaks opens governments. WikiLeaks keeps everyone on tiptoes which is a good thing. We no longer are ignorant of what these governments are doing or planning to do. No more lies however white.

The on-going revolution in Tunisia was otherwise triggered by technology some claims. The younger generation did their revolts in cyberspace, opening the eyes of Tunisians on the evil cause of poverty and injustice in their nation. With that info comes WikiLeaks exposure. WkiLeaks released diplomatic cables from the US embassy in Tunis "confirming" the Mafia-style regime of President Ben Ali. That diplomatic cable unveiled what Tunisians have already known and they were just waiting for the right move.

Burning issues

The right move came when an unemployed man, a college graduate who was selling fruits because he was unemployed but authorities seized his goods for lack of permit, set himself on fire right at the government's sight. Ben Ali's visit to his hospital bed was not able to faze off the 30 percent unemployed Tunisians. It gave them the voice. A fiery voice, indeed.

Heated demands

Tunisia is now inspiring its neighboring nations albeit acrid burning human bodies is not a good start. Already reports from Cairo confirmed that there are unemployed men setting themselves on fire in public to demand jobs, bitterly exposing long standing corruption in that region. Egypt's Mubarak is on alert and so is Sudan's Bashir.

Will Tunisia set the standards for Africa and the Middle East?

Read on-

• What's going on in Tunisia? 
• Tunisia revolt: Will it spread? 
• Tunisia revolt puts heat on Sudan 
• Excesses of Tunisia's "Imelda" fuel uprising 

We didn't start the fire / It was always burning

Since the world's been turning / We didn't start the fire

No we didn't light it / But we tried to fight it

~Billy Joel

Pic grabbed from CNN.com

Ohhhh Georg!

This weird weather made everyone and everything crazy. It has been raining on and off since Sinulog and it seems this is just a "normal" weather pattern since no one (or at least I haven't heard anyone) claiming a storm is coming.

Even the internet at the printing press is not working since last week (and until now) and we lull ourselves with anything so we won't get bored. But working with projects that needs emails and downloads and without the internet is volatile. Very.

So when Gilda, who is missing the company of her sis, invited me to a dinner last night at Oh Georg! in Ayala Center Cebu, I readily agreed. You should know that Gilda is the type of mom who wants you to order what you want and she would pay for them. When I escaped from the office, it was drizzling so I brought my jacket with me only to realize that it was kind of humid in the Ayala area.

Anyways, after leaving our groceries in a deposit counter, we settled down at Oh Georg! and we were pleased that the restaurant was not yet packed for dinner. This little corner in Ayala is a favorite hangout of the elite few and foodies alike. I even thought we could not afford this kind of resto. Surprisingly, the food is affordable. Gilda ordered a Spicy Tuna Pasta (PhP195), I ordered Beef and Vegetable Casserole (PhP195). We had Hot Fresh Calamansi (PhP55 each) for our drinks.

The service at Oh Georg! was efficient. The food were served in less than 10 minutes and still piping hot. The beef tasted good but not tender enough and the vegetables slightly overcooked. But still it was good. Gilda claimed her spicy tuna pasta was good she devoured the whole plate.

The hot calamansi juice was amazing I could have asked for more if I have not started sweating.

We also ordered their Bluberry Cheesecake (PhP105) for dessert. That piece of cake was heavenly. I don't know how they made it. I have tasted some blueberry cheesecakes before but nothing can beat Oh Georg!'s creation! The only thing that crumbled in between my teeth was the gooey blueberry on top of the cake. The rest just melted in my mouth like there was no need for me to chew.

I was in heaven again.

After Ayala, I went to O2 Spa for a drinking session with bored friends who wanted to crawl on their way home. It did not happened.

Again, beer is good!

Moderate drinking of beer, like a pint a day, keeps the doctors away, according to Spanish researchers. In case you want to justify your drunkenness- Moderate means once or twice a day, Pint means 2 cups of that liquid only.

But- yes, there is a BUT. Read on-

A pint of beer a day keeps the doctor away by Richard Alleyne, The Telegraph 

Moderate drinking of ale and lager can cut the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure and even help people lose weight, doctors say.

The Spanish researchers suggest combining beer with exercise and a healthy Mediterranean diet high in fish, fruit and vegetables and olive oil.

Beer contains folic acid, vitamins, iron and calcium and has the same health benefits already attributed to moderate wine drinking, researchers found.

And they blamed fatty foods like chips, a lack of exercise and binge drinking for beer bellies in Britain.

Dr Ramon Estruch, the lead researcher, said: “Moderate beer consumption is associated with nutritional and health benefits.

Picture grabbed from TriBeCa

The tattoo

Larry gets home late one night and, Linda, his wife says, 'Where in hell have you been?'

Larry replies, 'I was out getting a tattoo.'

'A tattoo?' she frowned. 'What kind of tattoo did you get?'

'I got a hundred dollar bill on my privates,' he said proudly.

'What the hell were you thinking?,' she said, shaking her head in disgust.

'Why on earth would an accountant get a hundred dollar bill tattooed on his privates?'

'Well, one, I like to watch my money grow...

Two, once in a while I like to play with my money.

Three, I like how money feels in my hand.

And, lastly, instead of you going out shopping, you can stay right here at home and blow a hundred bucks anytime you want.'

Larry is recovering in room 232 at the hospital.

My servant Noynoy Aquino bought a Porsche with his own money

Yes, he zealously declared almost a year ago Kayo ang amo ko (You, the Filipinos, are my boss), a metaphor that remains only in words but not in deed. And yes, he just bought a white Porsche using his own money. Duh!

I don't know if this is the type of Porsche Aquino bought lately. I have not seen one.

I swallowed hard. While the bosses remained wallowing in poverty, that is more than 12 million of us according to the National Statistical Coordination Board, the servant flaunt his toys. And I wonder how and where my servant would use it.

Here?

Blog links for more reading-
P-Noy still acting like President Cory's son
PNoy's Porsche and the "Daang Matuwid"

Riles pic from Flickr

PIT SENYOR!

The festival has begun

Three days before the Sinulog Mardi Gras, the streets of Cebu are already bursting with the sights and sounds and smell of fiesta. No, wait, the celebrations has started since last week actually.

So if you are planning to visit Cebu City this weekend be prepared to master the art of eluding massive crowds or else have your patience extended 700 times seven.

Pit Senyor!

A rare experience to try in Bohol

Off the beaten path, somewhere in Anda in the province of Bohol are remnants of a long forgotten history- hanging coffins. Not just your ordinary hanging coffins, I believe.

Several hematite paintings could be seen on the wall of the cave where the remnants are. Facing the Mindanao Sea, could they be ritual symbols for the long voyage? Or some gory acts the details we don't want to know?

Around these islets that is now connected with abundant tropical plants and mangroves good for the next Jurassic Park set, you can visit out of this world coves. A wide cave-like natural structure is now even used for council meetings of hilots and tambalans.

Shhhh, every year, unknown to many, a congregation of herbal doctors and their likes converge at this place in Anda. Go ask your guide about it and they would compare their rituals with that of Siquijor counterparts.

But the excitement starts right when you arrived at the place. You go up to a hilly village before you would be engulfed in a forest full of mangroves and got to taste local cuisine at a station.

Just lovely.

***
For tour details or bookings please call up Ms Myttee Palo, in-charge of the Bangon Eco-Cultural Tours at telephones (63)(38) 5019516 or 4113431 or email her at bangonecotours@yahoo.com.

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YEHEYYYYY!

This article won me the latest Lonely Planet Magazine from the contest What you think i should experience this year in the Philippines? 

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Australia is deluged (and some Philippine provinces, too)

I heard my blogger friend in Queensland, Australia, The Beancounter, is bracing for more flooding in their area. They were told to get ready for evacuations.

Anywhere in the world, calamities and disasters happened, be it natural or man-made. The difference there is the people's and the government's readiness to handle such happenings. Although I believe Australia is a first world country but still they suffer. But not as big suffering as compared to us living in the third world. Still.

I hope everyone is safe and in higher grounds today.

More in the news:

• Brisbane braces for more flooding as 90 people missing reported missing 
• From drought to flood, Queensland's woes go on 
• Photos: Australian flooding 

Meanwhile in Albay province in the Philippines (and possibly in some other provinces of the country), similar scenario is slowly dissipating inch by inch almost canceling a dream to come true.

• 'For better or for worse,' come hell or high water 
• Floods bring more misery 

All pics grabbed from various sources in the internet.

After the rain

Stupidity still rocks!

I was scanning my Google Reader when I came upon this article from Not Always Right titled Mouse to Mouse Resuscitation. I still wonder why at this time in this age of technology, there are still stupid people around. Read on-

Customer: I plugged a mouse into my computer, and it died. Now I can’t get it out.”

(We review for a few minutes and I deduce that he has plugged a mouse into his USB port, but it’s stuck inside and won’t work.)

Me: “Okay, so grab the cord and try to pull on that.”

Customer: “You mean the tail? That’s already in the port.”

Me: “Well, the cord shouldn’t be. You’re supposed to plug in the other end.”

Customer: “You mean the head? I don’t think it would fit.”

(Suddenly realizing what the customer has done.)

Me: “Did you plug in a live mouse to your computer?”

Customer: “Yes, I believe I said that.”

(I put customer on hold for several minutes. When I recover I realize I don’t know what to tell the customer I call my supervisor who instructs the customer to bring the laptop into a repair shop. I get the customer back on and tell him this information.)

Customer: “But Mickey’s gone for good now, right?”

Pic from Hacked Gadgets using real but dead mouse as a computer mouse. Yuck!

Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human. ~Anthony Robbins

My woes for the year 2011

Blame it on bad weather, I ushered the new year with depression and regrets. Maybe because I am too old for resolutions. Maybe because I am totally impoverish when the year 2011 came in. 

Indulge me, I should blame my current woes on the weather because it would not blame me back.

• I turned down several job offers because of principles. My own principles. Despite being idealistic, politics is still a bad choice.
• I have been so lazy I could not- no, the right word there is refused- to look for clients. I stood in a corner watching others go by.
• I am so mediocre, a second-rate copycat!
• I am irresponsible as always so that until now I still have pending and unsettled accounts. My lenders would not even looked at me in the eyes.
• I still am wallowing in my foolish pride.

I could go on forever but I shall spare you with my troubles because the list is quite long. I wanna be a millionaire so fucking bad! But these could be one of the reasons why I would not be:

10 Reasons You Aren't Rich by Jeffrey Strain (I copied all from the site because the author's thoughts are invaluable to be missed)

10. You Care What Your Neighbors Think

If you're competing against them and their material possessions, you're wasting your hard-earned money on toys to impress them instead of building your wealth.

9. You Aren't Patient

Until the era of credit cards, it was difficult to spend more than you had. That is not the case today. If you have credit card debt because you couldn't wait until you had enough money to purchase something in cash, you are making others wealthy while keeping yourself in debt.

8. You Have Bad Habits

Whether it's smoking, drinking, gambling or some other bad habit, the habit is using up a lot of money that could go toward building wealth. Most people don't realize that the cost of their bad habits extends far beyond the immediate cost. Take smoking, for example: It costs a lot more than the pack of cigarettes purchased. It also negatively affects your wealth in the form of higher insurance rates and decreased value of your home.

7. You Have No Goals

It's difficult to build wealth if you haven't taken the time to know what you want. If you haven't set wealth goals, you aren't likely to attain them. You need to do more than state, "I want to be a millionaire." You need to take the time to set saving and investing goals on a yearly basis and come up with a plan for how to achieve those goals.

6. You Haven't Prepared

Bad things happen to the best of people from time to time, and if you haven't prepared for such a thing to happen to you through insurance, any wealth that you might have built can be gone in an instant.

5. You Try to Make a Quick Buck
For the vast majority of us, wealth doesn't come instantly. You may believe that people winning the lottery are a dime a dozen, but the truth is you're far more likely to get struck by lightning than win the lottery. This desire to get rich quickly likely extends into the way you invest, with similar results.

4. You Rely on Others to Take Care of Your Money

You believe that others have more knowledge about money matters, and you rely exclusively on their judgment when deciding where you should invest your money. Unfortunately, most people want to make money themselves, and this is their primary objective when they tell you how to invest your money. Listen to other people's advice to get new ideas, but in the end you should know enough to make your own investing decisions.

3. You Invest in Things You Don't Understand

You hear that Bob has made a lot of money doing it, and you want to get in on the gravy train. If Bob really did make money, he did so because he understood how the investment worked. Throwing in your money because someone else has made money without fully understanding how the investment works will keep you from being wealthy.

2. You're Financially Afraid

You are so scared of risk that you keep all your money in a savings account that is actually losing money when inflation is put into the equation, yet you refuse to move it to a place where higher rates of return are possible because you're afraid that you will lose money.

1. You Ignore Your Finances

You take the attitude that if you make enough, the finances will take care of themselves. If you currently have debt, it will somehow resolve itself in the future. Unfortunately, it takes planning to become wealthy. It doesn't magically happen to the vast majority of people.

A cold new year

Honestly I haven't had my shower and bath for two days now because of too much cold here in my hometown in Batuan, Bohol. Since January 1st, the rain has not showed abatement and is not giving a promise of sunshine. We are now even more concerned because the creek near our house is starting to rise.

I could not go out even if I want to. So to while the hours away, I combat the cold with freshly brewed corn coffee, a usual fare we love on rainy days since our grandparents introduced it to us. And still we love it.

Cup after cups, I am praying for the rain to stop so we could start our family reunion on time.

And by the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!