The Immaculate Conception Church in Malabon

I ventured into Malabon today after more than 20 years!  It's because I had to attend a wedding.  The place looks quaint and probinsyang-probinsya talaga - just like Ozamis or Oroquieta.  You can ask people for directions and they really answer you properly.  It has a small town appeal considering it's just 5-10 minutes from Monumento and very near SM North EDSA.

The Immaculate Conception Parish Church is quaint and pretty and is a perfect venue for a wedding!  Tamang-tama lang ang size niya and di mainit sa loob ng church.  It has many beautiful chandeliers that look stunning when they are lit.

Buko Drink Made in Thailand?

I was surprised to find this coconut water drink here and found it manufactured in Thailand!! Why oh why isn't there a buko drink here in Hong Kong made from the Philippines?

Di ba naapprove ng FDA nila? Our buko juice is definitely much tastier than this. To think also that our archipelago is dotted with millions, even billions of coconut trees!

Why are we not taking advantage of the demand for pure coconut juice or water, or whatever they call it!

Nice Trains to the Suburbs of Kuala Lumpur

Hayy naku!! In my fantasy world, ganito kaganda ang MRT natin from Quezon City to Alabang!

Comfy seats, cool airconditioning, carriages every 5 minutes.

Similar to Manila, the coaches for men and women are separate but women are allowed into the men's coaches but not vice-versa.

Anyway, I decided to commute to the suburbs of KL for the first time ever since naburo na ako sa "downtown" KL for more than a decade.

It's easy lang pala, just be very attentive with the stations, because, as usual, nakatulog na naman ang narcoleptic me, and I only realized I took the wrong train, mga four stations na into the wrong direction.

Ayun, I had to go back to KL Sentral where my friend promptly fetched me na lang!

And the fare is cheap ha, it's like 21 pesos going all the way to Alabang from QC! Eto ang totoong government subsidized!

Strong Philippine Economy Against Malaysian Economy

One noticeable difference in my trip now to Malaysia is that the conversion rate of our peso has increased so much! For the past decade that I've been coming here, I would usually just get from 65 to 75 ringgit for a thousand bucks.

But now, I get upwards from 88 to 90 ringgit! That's a 20% increase, which is unthinkable. It's either the Malaysian economy is getting weaker (low kasi ang price ng oil now in the world market) or the Philippine economy is indeed booming!

Anyhow, it just means Pinoys who vacation here in Malaysia will get more for their money. Mas dyahe lang for the Pinoys who work here though and have to send back money home. They have to kayod by 20% more!

Why Are We Always Left Behind By Our Neighbors?

It's always disheartening to see how slow it is to build local infrastructure especially our airports' infrastructures compared to how quick our neighbors can immediately build theirs!
 
Tapos na ang KLIA2! This is the new airport for the budget airlines that touches down in Kuala Lumpur.
 
Nawala lang ako ng 2 years, nagawa agad! And it's huge! Humongous! Parang Heathrow ang dating, ang layoooooooooooo ng terminal ko to the immigration.
...

 
And I did not have to walk the tarmac like I used to many times before. Feelin ko nasa HKIA ako! Bonggacious for a budget airline airport!
 
Why, oh why can't we do this in the Philippines? Sigurado ba na pag si Poe na ang nakaupo, or si Mar Roxas ba, they will focus on improving our infrastructure or puro salita na lang ba?

Clark Airport: A More Relaxed Alternative to NAIA

To avoid the traffic nightmare of having to go to NAIA's different terminals, I have been using the Clark airport for the past few years and this is the first time that I just used the Trinoma bus, instead of bringing a car.

My flight was still at noon but I had to be there before 7am. The bus leaves on time, around 6:55AM, so don't be late. You just pay the 250 pesos on the bus.
 
They renovated na pala the DMInternal Airport (Clark) since it's much bigger now and there are now flights to all important hubs like HK, SG, KL and Doha. I was beside a couple nga who was going to London via Doha. Pwede na rin pala dito.
 
I've actually preferred this airport after the Ondoy tragedy where many people were caught stranded in NAIA. Ako, I was able to go home in one piece because the NLEX was not affected. Di na-problema si Larry maghanap ng streets na hindi binaha.
 
The ambience of the airport is also very relaxed, not quite the harried atmosphere you get from T3 or even T1. Yun lang, you have to make sure your flight's departures and arrivals fall within the Clark-Trinoma bus times, unless Qatar Airways ka which has its own bus. 
Otherwise NAIA ka pa rin.
 
Good thing also, I only paid 250 pesos to the airport. If I had to take a cab to NAIA, malamang 700 - 1000 ang ichacharge sakin plus the 2-3 hour ride going there.
I took a picture of the flights departing from it just in case you want to try the airport as an alternative going to your planned destinations.

Visited U.P. Town Center for the First Time!

Our gang is back, this time, to celebrate the birthdays of the August celebrants! Their treat was at the Dulcelin Gourmet restaurant at the UP Town Center.

We all had to brave the always problematic mall traffic and hard-to-find parking space as well as the incessant rains during yesterday's holiday. Pero maganda naman pala sa UP Town Center! Walkathon lang from the parking to the mall.

You can't wear fabulous clothes kasi ma-Jinet Jackson. Stick to the laid-back summer look na lang, and refrain from going in and out of the building kasi sisipunin ka, moving from biglang lamig to biglang init - a design which many malls have already adopted.

Marami ding cute na boys walking around kasi nga nasa Katipunan area ka so you can spend the whole evening just boy-watching (or girl-watching for that matter). Yun lang, bring money kasi walang pang-masang restaurant or cafe sa mall.

The truth is, if malls were the only basehan of how well the Philippine economy is doing during the Aquino administration, one could argue that it was during this administration that the middle class really grew in numbers (at least in Metro Manila).

UP Town Center, Robinson's Magnolia and Fisher Mall are three smaller upscale neighborhood malls within the periphery of my residence and they're all full during holidays and weekends! Agawan sa parking, waiting sa favorite restaurant mo, pila sa Potato Corner, frankly, it would lull you to thinking, akal ko ba naghihirap ang bansa? - everyone around me seems to have so much extra money!!

Ayun, ang friendship caption ko naging social commentary. That's how extreme the trajectories my brain projects all the time!

Enjoying Filipino Short Stories!

I admit I rarely read fiction or short stories written by Filipino writers. It's so lopsided towards foreign writers which was exacerbated by the fact that when I was still in school, there was so much focus on English competency that nobody really bothered about Filipino literature except perhaps the novels that Rizal wrote.

I tried to remedy that situation last year when I bought several books written by local writers and finally reading one, a compilation of short stories written by Palanca winners in the 80s.

This collection is actually an 'embarrassment of riches" as I've discovered some writers here who happen to fit perfectly into the type of stories that I'd love to read. My most favorite was 'Our Lady of Arts and Letters' by Eli Ang Barroso, but I found the stories of Charlson Ong's to be the most intriguing!

Actually, most of the winners are the who's who of contemporary Filipino literature, yun lang, I'm not so sure if all of them eventually wrote novels, which to me, would be the best barometer for a writer to be measured in terms of achievement (unless of course, if he's a poet or essayist).

I don't know yet if they have the anthology for the 2000s but that would be an interesting read as well, because this anthology of 80s short stories truly depicts the decade and the themes that were popular during that particular decade.

Misplaced Priorities and Attention to Detail

As I was reading this article today - http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/16/1477609/lrta-throws-lavish-party-amid-trains-leaking-roofs - I couldn't believe that heads of these agencies, especially the one manning the public transportation system of this country can just waste money on lavish parties and yet not have any budget to fix the existing Light Railway Transit system!  

The head is also very strict with the implementation of the dress code but is not meticulous enough to check the safety systems of the LRT service.  Tumutulo na nga raw ang mga trains e!

Enjoying the Remaining Open Spaces Here in Quezon City

It's been ages since I've been to the Quezon Memorial Circle.  I think it's been 20 years since I've set foot on it.  I decided to visit it again yesterday since Dylan and I needed a place to exercise.  And the Quezon Memorial Circle is just the perfect place for it!

You can actually jog around the monument of the Quezon Memorial Circle.  It was an ordinary Wednesday night but there were many people there - mostly students on a date, or just hanging out, enjoying the cool wind.

Ayun, I enjoyed the experience as well although I wasn't able to jog much due to Dylan's preference to walk.

How I Escaped Rheumatic Heart Disease

While I was reading this article (http://globalnation.inquirer.net/124461/ph-teener-off-to-sudan-for-life-saving-surgery), it dawned to me that what is happening to this teenage boy could have happened to me as well.  In my case though, I was lucky that I had an alert pediatrician, I think her name was Dra. Pe, who noticed that my monthly tonsillitis could have complications later on in my adult life - like the rheumatic heart condition this boy has.  Grabe noh, if not treated, he could be dead at 20!  In his case naman, strep throat.

Dra. Pe  recommended to Mama that I take monthly Penadur injections when I was 13 years old, kasi monthly ako na-oospital due to tonsillitis, and this could have complications on my heart in the future.  I continued having the injections till I was 21 years old - so from the ACMDC hospital in Lutopan, Cebu to the Southern Islands Hospital in Cebu City to the UP Infirmary in Diliman, I had my monthly injections talaga, on schedule.  I never missed one injection.  

Masakit actually ang injection kasi mahirap daw malusaw ang Penadur so I always demanded that the most experienced nurse inject me, a.k.a., dapat senior mommy nurse na - kasi na-notice ko, pagbata na nurse, ayun, reckless and careless, so ilang beses pa ako tinutusok bago success.  Senior and experienced nurses though were more patient and careful.  Sayang nga, I don't remember the name of nurses who took care of me monthly.  All I know is that they were friends ni Mama who were her contemporaries na rin.  

God bless them all, including Dra. Pe, wherever they may be right now!

PH, Japan agree to exchange defense materiel

PH, Japan agree to exchange defense materiel


With China starting to make arrogant remarks about how they should control most of the sea lanes around their country, it is about time, we also ask the help of our neighboring countries.  All this talks of aggression may be just hot air but we can not be too sure!  I don't like the idea of war when we've had peace all my life. I also think it's not in China's interest to be an aggressor considering that it will lose so much if their country goes to war.

Filipino health workers push back, accuse UK tabloid of racism

Filipino health workers push back, accuse UK tabloid of racism


Anyway you look at it, racism is really ugly so we always have to be vigilant to ensure that nobody judges as just because of our heritage!  Although the person jailed here is of Filipino heritage, he is already a UK citizen so to blatantly still label him as Filipino is misleading and unfair - especially that many of the Filipino nurses working in the UK are doing their best to be careful and caring with their patients.

Is it still worth saving the Metropolitan Theater in Manila?

The resurrection of the Met: Is it happening–finally?


I am actually very excited about the news that the Metropolitan Theater in Manila may finally be restored.  The cost though is very staggering, at a quarter of a billion pesos.  Also, when it is finally restored, can the building actually survive to maintain itself.  Its location is a bit iffy and I think they have to think of building a large carpark beside it if it wants to be a place where theater lovers go.  

No car park, no way theater lovers like me will go to that place. Everyone knows that place is like hell on earth for a commuter.

Furthermore, they will have to think of other uses for the building just to ensure that it gets regular rentals.  I am really sure they can think of some creative ways fo earning from the building.  It is a very historic building after all.

They will also have to think about the traffic problem especially as to how to get there!  And where to park! Since people who love theater and the arts normally have cars and will most likely not commute to that place.

Anyway, one problem at a time.  Let them get the budget they need first, and then plan how the money can be used properly.  

Remembering Papa

Papa died in 1989, long time ago na, but like the Chinese who pray to their ancestors, I also 'pray' to him when I need some advice.

I don't know if 'pray' is the right word, actually, it's more like just talking to him, usually in church na rin, kasi nga I realized, wala na pala akong older na male relative, who's still alive! No lolos, no uncles to go to for moral support!

You have to remember that Papa died, teenager pa ako, so as an adult, I have never really asked for his advice, kasi patay na nga sya. And I realized now, even adults pala need advice, and the only people who can give it to us are the ones who are much older than us, kasi nga, been there, done that na sila!

Anyway, I have been 'praying' to him, asking for advice, asking for ways to relieve the stress, and I feel he's still around, making things happen. Yes, I go to Mama din, but men think a bit differently than women, so mabuti na rin yung may male perspective on things.

When he was alive, Papa had a great sense of humor, and I have this feeling na everytime I'm feeling down, alam nya ang kiliti ko and certain funny things happen - usually involving boys I like in the gym.

I don't want to go into details but knowing that I was so stressed this week, ay grabe, within a span of 48 hours, natanggal ang stress ko with what these boys did. Parang way and above what they would usually do in an 'ordinary' day.

I think Papa just wanted to put a big smile on my face! Ako tuloy ang nagkandarapa, nganga! Don't know how to react!

I still feel very lucky to have parents who know how to put a smile back on my face!

How to Get to the Philippine Arena from Quezon City By Car

This post is for future reference for you guys who are planning to watch a concert or a sports event at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan in the future!

Do not leave Quezon City at 7PM like we did! We had to kasi coding ang car namin but if you can leave earlier, so much the better! DON'T use the Balintawak exit, better to use Mindanao Avenue and then NLEX. There's traffic but I heard Balintawak was much worse!

Actually, the worse part is ENTERING the Philippine Arena! I think it took us an hour just to enter it! Well, we can forgive the organizers this time because this is the first concert ever in the venue. But the next group who plans to hold a concert here should do something about easing the entry of the cars to the arena. One lang kasi kuya so just imagine all these cars and buses jostling to enter a very narrow entrance road!

And, I guess our INC brothers and sisters did not anticipate the utter lack of parking space!! Joskoday!! All the parking areas were full and we had no choice but to park na in the street leading to the exit!! I even saw cars parked very near the entrance na mismo ng Arena!! Siguro sabi nila sa guards, utang na loob kuya, ipapark nyo na kami, otherwise, we'd be parking in the expressway!

Apparently, 30,000 people came to watch Katy Perry last night, so kahit conservative estimate na lang na 2 persons per car, that's 15,000 parking spaces that organizers have to provide!

What if Taylor Swift concert yun or One Direction, di ubos ang 55,000 seats, and that would be a staggering 30,000 cars to accommodate!!

Wala ring central command sa parking, even the guards on foot had no idea where to lead the poor people who came late, like us, so pasensyahan na lang. Ang ibang kotse nga, sinampa na lang dun sa mga bermuda! We entered the venue at around 9PM na e and we were quietly panicking kasi the show might start na and we were still looking for parking!

So lesson learned, next time there is a show in the Philippine Arena, better to leave Quezon City at around 6PM to avoid panicking. If you live in Pasig or Mandaluyong, 5PM, if taga-Makati ka 4PM. If you live in Ayala Alabang, borrow Lucio Tan's helicopter!

If you are commuting though, I saw some buses pero mga lima lang ata yun! The rest of the audience brought their own ride.

My First Time at the Philippine Arena

Thank you to our INC brothers and sisters for building the Philippine Arena! It's beautiful, I love it!

The entrance is very dramatic! You go up these flight of stairs which are all lighted up and then a big screen welcomes you! Para kang nasa Cannes Film Festival!

Tapos maraming entrada, clearly indicated yung ticket section mo, di kayo parang sardinas at mga kaawa-awang tao like sa MOA Arena. Papasok ka na lang nga, pahirapan pa!

Tapos, the lobby is huge and there are signs everywhere to guide you. Marami ring ushers to guide you. But even then, Laura and I got lost pa rin! Medyo malaki kasi siya and with so many numbers to look at, ayun, naging dyslexic ang beauty ko at napunta sa ibang section!

Food is very cheap! Would you believe may 40 pesos na pagkain and water is just 20 pesos! O di ba, ok? Try mo magdala ng 60 pesos sa MOA Arena at Araneta at sa gripo ka iinom ng tubig at TomJones ka pa kasi super mahal ang mga concessionaries nila!

Ang parking na lang talaga ayusin nila. Tapos put more signs siguro to guide the motorists. Don't assume na alam na ng taong bayan where to park or go!

Tapos pala, if you have a driver, good luck din, kasi di ko pa naget where to drop people and to sundo them. Para kasing UP Diliman ang traffic directions nila, isang counter-clockwise na ikot, so if magsusundo ka and di kayo nagkaintindihan, ikot ka ng ikot - e traffic pauwi, marami cars, so coordinate well with your driver and leave clear instructions where to be fetched. I did not see a section kasi where you can drop your passengers e.

Good thing lang is one can stay and wait muna inside the Arena and wait for the people to leave. Malakas aircon, maraming celebrities kagabi, and as I said, maraming pagkain, even after the show! So kape kape na lang muna to avoid the rush of cars going home.

A Breathtaking View from the Philippine Arena!

The Katy Perry concert, being my first-ever show in the Philippine Arena, I am still getting used to the geography of the place. They have this section in the upper part, where, as you exit, you are greeted by this amazing view of the entrance of the arena! It was breathtaking to see and it would've been perfect if it were a cool summer night!

Since we were high up, we could see the mass of humanity below as they exited their respective sections. So this is how 30,000 people look like!