Philippine Travel Notes

Exhibitionist Kids

2013-05-05T23:17:00.000+08:00

Aha, I got you!

If you were thinking of some kinky topic with that title, no there is none! But, what do trike driving kids in Tacloban do when bored waiting for passengers? Play. But not the usual kids' play. They do antics to amuse themselves or anyone who may care. Using their big tricycles! No no no no, these are not your regular trikes or pedicabs in Metro Manila or other urban centers using BMX bikes fitted with equally small sidecars. These are the big old bikes circa 1930s (I think).

I was (still) at Happy Landing near the Tacloban Airport and was puffing a smoke after my hefty lunch when I saw some of these kids doing their antics. Grabbed the camera to shoot and all the more that they kept doing the "exhibition"! They were as amused as I was. They liked being 'videod' and even asked me to shoot more. I almost forgot I had yet to check-in for my 330PM flight hahaha!

I tried it myself and the trike is so heavy! Whoah! And, as per advise of these exhibitionist kids, you have to drive fast, so that it's easier to tilt the thing, for it to run on just the two bicycle wheels. Got it for probably a millisecond and my balls seemed to have jumped to the top of my forehead! I even actually immediately thought, OMG the nearest hospital is kilometers away from this place. And I had a flight to catch! So I dropped the idea even if those kids egged me to try further.

It looks so easy, but it definitely is not! And yes, I will leave the 'exhibitioning' to those kids. I'd be better watching hehe!

Happy Landing, Roger Roger, Over

2013-05-05T22:01:00.000+08:00

Let's go back to the Tacloban Airport for an interesting "phenomenon" hehe. Have you had a chance to hear how airplane pilots and those control tower folks talk to each other? In the movies, right? The radio communications system, right? With all those "roger roger, over over" terminologies, right? Well, if you want to hear that, not in the movies but live, head to the Happy Landing Canteen at the DZR Airport in Tacloban!

Happy Landing is the middle of three eateries over at the far end of the airport's parking area vicinity near the communications tower. Yep, towards the entrance of that military (police?) camp. Their FM Radio is always on, and merrily blaring out the usual FM songs and jokes and... interference from the Tacloban Airport's communication tower. Many folks eating there and the eatery's crews do not at all mind, for they probably don't even know what the "phenomenon" is!

How did I know? Well, I was at the canteen, to have lunch. Just enough lazy time prior to check-in for my 330PM airbus flight to Cebu. A happy after-lunch hour, listening to the Tagalog speaking DJs of an FM station (I think it is a Manila-based FM radio being relayed in this place by their sister station). Suddenly, while a song was being played, I heard a voice that said "Tacloban, this is 660"! In the sound and tone of 'ham-radio'.

I stopped sipping my delectable "tinolang yellow fin tuna" and froze a bit there with the bewildered chinky eyes opened widest. Yep, that radio call came from the same speaker that was blaring the FM signal. Oh my geewheez! So I listened more intently, enough to recognize that the radio conversation overlapping with the FM radio music was between a Cebu Pacific flight ready to depart for Manila and Tacloban's control tower. Whoah! Flight 660 about to go! Whohoa indeed! I found that really cool hehe!

When a waitress came by, I pretended to 'not know' and asked what that conversation was that came with the radio music. Her casual reply was "ah, static ito sir"! That's how most Filipinos call "interference" btw - "static"!

Now what?

Ah well, for the mere roamer curious of everything like I am, this thing is one of many interesting encounters while traveling. Something unusual, therefore worth a note or two. But for the discerning citizen like the other "I am", that thing could pose a little issue. Doesn't that breach security or privacy of communications? This especially being an air-to-ground or vice versa type of info exchange? Let me NOT elaborate, but that little a thing called "static" by the waitress could actually prove to be a problem to some folks flying airplanes.

Proof? Here's a picture I saw while boarding my flight...

Do you recognize that 'other' plane in the background?

Here it is:

The color and the words "REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES" should tell you and me whose plane that is, right? And the general public at a restaurant can hear its pilot talking?

What dya think?

How Expensive Is A Philippine Flag?

2013-05-05T13:35:00.000+08:00

I once saw on TV a young man who was hounded (a.k.a. harassed) by his barangay captain for having taken a photo and shared to the world the sordid state of the Philippine Flag at their barangay hall. Of course I thought that woman (barangay captain) was wicked, even stupida to the nth degree. Kababaeng tao eh di marunung tumingin kung ano ang maganda sa kanyang kapaligiran! Nagalit pa :(

How much is one flag anyway? Is it expensive? Can a barangay not afford one? I suspect they all can. Even at one new flag every 6 months, right?

Well, if indeed that barangay is soooo dirt poor they can't afford to purchase a respectable looking flag for their barangay hall, here is one rural place where they probably can beg for one hahaha.

This is somewhere in Samar, along the Maharlika Highway, by the side of a forest, also on the side of a town called Paranas. Passed by this place many times in many years, and those flags lining the portion of the highway are always crisp colored and beautiful to look at.

Samar is considered one of the poorest islands in this country. Yet, this town (or is it barangay?) could afford a number of them flags – not even for a public office but just the side of a road. How much more those barangays in the metropolis? Sus naman, marami nyan sa Divisoria, di ba? I am inclined to 'guess', burara lang talaga yung Mrs. Barangay Kapitana!

Oh well... let her go to Paranas and probably beg for one of those beautiful Philippine Flags waving!

What's He Doing?

2013-03-31T22:31:00.000+08:00

No camera tricks, no digital manipulation. That picture is as it was taken. But can you guess what that man is doing? Do you see a broom? Do you see a rope or scaffolding? Why is he up there seemingly above the trees and the houses?

Scroll down to discover!

Hehe, this below, is actually the original picture. I just zoomed the portion where that young man was caught in mid-air jumping from the bridge unto the river.

But do you know where on earth this place is?

Oh yes, Catarman, Liloan, Cebu! Probably the cleanest body of water in a populous community I have so far seen in this country. And Liloan is a first class municipality at that - meaning "urbanized". And this place is even only a walk away from the Market, Municipal Hall, Church and gymnasium of the town. Yet, there are even resorts on both sides of the river, one with a very long zip line crossing to an islet!

Yep, I already jumped from that bridge in 2011 (or was that 2010 hehe)!

And I must say, the water remains as clean until today! It can 'still' be done after all folks. Liloan did it / does it! So let's keep our rivers clean and continue jumping off our bridges! It's more fun!

Buko De Garapon

2013-03-03T20:14:00.000+08:00

I have been meaning to drop by this place in Cebu for more than a year now. This is along Echavez St.. just a few steps from its corner with Mango Avenue (aka Gen Maxilom). I sometimes pass by the area and have been itching to get a closer look and learn any bit of information about the fresh buko juice being served in glass (and lately even plastic) jars instead of drinking glasses. Finally did so yesterday! And oh boy was I happy I did so!

Why the "garapon"?
That naturally was my first question and the husband-and-wife team selling these, gamely educated me. They told me that most commercially available drinking glasses are rather too small that each serving of the buko juice (and meat) would be "not enough" to many patrons. Okay fine, I loved that explanation. But the wife added that it is also an advantage using jars since these have lids/covers to protect the "concoction" from flies and other insects. PLUS, they can just cover and tighten the lids when no one is buying (yet) and store them inside styrofoam boxes with ice to chill them and keep 'fresh' longer!

I asked how come they now use a few plastic jars (similar in size) instead of glass jars. The husband told me that it is now at times difficult to find the glass jars since mayonnaise manufacturers have started using plastic jars. Mayonnaise?! So I looked closer (at the lids) and yeah, I saw that most of these jars come from the Kraft brand! I further asked where they source the empty jars whether glass or plastic. Wife said from restaurants and stores while husband added that at times they do buy from lamp-makers in Carbon and everywhere else these may be available. Lamp makers? Well yes, I now remember the "lampara" used in many rural areas and city shanties that don't have electricity!

That was it?
Well, I learned what I wanted to know! But since I was already there and savoring the "buko juice with meat", I lingered around to ask more questions and/or observe the activities. Here we go...

How is it made?
Simple, said the manong. Just chop the coconut to make a small whole, pour the coco-water into a pitcher, hack the now dewatered fruit into two, scrape the coco-meat and place in a separate container. Then, pour coco-water to the jars, place a few strips of the meat, twist cover with the lid, place inside the waiting styrofoam chest with ice to chill. When somebody buys, get an already chilled jar, open the lid, pour a bit of milk, place a spoon, and serve!

Milk? Yep, they do add about a spoonful of milk. Evaporated milk that is. I asked why they don't use condensed milk and the manang said that would be too sweet to already overpower the real buko taste of the buko-water! There is sugar on the side anyway, she pointed, for patrons to scoop and stir into their drink if they want to. Ah, reason why there was a spoon served with my jar!

I noticed this, but I still asked "don't you add water"? And the husband said "no", continuing to clarify that this is why people like what they serve since it's pure coco-juice! [In my mind I said plus the milk and sugar]!

How much?
Each serving – a jarful of the coco-water with a few strips of the coco-meat is P25. Yep, twenty-five pesos. It's not that cheap a refreshment after all. Reason why most of those I see enjoying the drink are the working class or even older folks. Understandable, since grade school or even college students would find P25 too steep for a daily drink, right?!

How many jars per coconut?
The manong said they do not measure per fruit since they just pour the coco-juice unto the pitcher. Instead of asking more, I instead just watched them. I estimate that as about 4 to 5 jars of coco-juice per fruit. And about 8 to 10 jars of coco-meat per fruit. Not bad for a business ha?!

Does it sell well?
You can look at that pile of coconut husks. I asked how many days or months worth were all of those. They almost chorused with "2 weeks kapin" (about 2 weeks). Hmm, wow! Not bad at all! I don't want to estimate that anymore hehe! I just know that if you multiplied that pile by 24, then they could actually build a hill of coco-husks (with shell) in one year! Hey, we can call that a coco-hill!

I asked why they have to accumulate those instead of just giving to the trash trucks that roam the city everyday (or at least a day in a week). Hah, they told me that their silingan (neighbor) in Talamban comes to buy and haul them. Whoah! So I asked what the silingan does with them husks and shell. Hmm, I learned that those are dried under the sun and sold to restaurants as fuel to fire up their constantly cooking pots. Coco-husks and shells are purportedly more efficient than gas (and cheaper I'm sure). Their neighbor's big clients are the "litsonanan" (that means the litson makers)!

And a lola's voice came from behind me saying "besides, dili ma na dawaton sa basurero". So I went near her (in another table also selling the same products) to ask why. She told me that the trash trucks just don't get their husks saying "dili ma na basura". Duh!

This jolly Lola with a scattering of English words when she speaks was busy scraping coco-meat that comes out like strips the size of spaghetti strands. And she was putting them into a container that obviously belonged to two ladies waiting for her to finish. I knew what it was for (fruit salad) and said to the two ladies "wise kayo ha"? One of them smilingly said para wala na hasol ba! True!

Now now, do I think I wanna become a buko-vendor? I think I do!

ISSN 2516288.375-1723

Not AN Accident?

2013-03-03T19:55:00.000+08:00

This man smiled, even grinned when he caught me taking that picture from a jeep! He probably thought I was taking his photo hahaha! But my attention was on that wall. No no, not the political ad. Mary Ann is already well-known as she is, right?

That sign on the post struck me on two counts. 1) "is not A accident" sounds weird to me. I think I still remember something I learned in elementary school grammar – the use of "a" and "an" in a sentence – it's got something to do with the letters/syllables that follow, right? and 2) why the message? who is it for, who is it from?

By the manner it was printed, it does not seem this is just another of those (vandalism) expressions of young idiots who will soon grow to become adult idiots! Y'know, those 'cannot-do-anything-good' spray-paint-can-wielding boys? This does not look like their doing. I think this means something else.

And what is police violence in this place anyway? Maybe there had been violent shanty demolitions in the area? Probably.

I still wonder... but oh well, the signs of our times!

ISSN 2516288.375-1555

Not the Volkswagen Please!

2013-01-11T21:32:00.000+08:00

Don't get me wrong, I love them beetles. But only if I have to look at them like at a garage show or some museum (if ever there will be). Beautiful toy cars, really!

Just please don't use these oldies to parade beautiful lasses where there will be a lot of 'crawling' at probably just 10 to even 5kph or even less. Its a parade for heaven's sake!

Ayun! The damn 'lovely vehicle' conked out!

Buti na lang, Mr. Charm himself had the presence of mind. So instead of the girls feeling awkward being ogled at by the public as they perched there, helpless atop a car probably made when their mothers were still being born, he invited the three to go walk with him in the parade. So they did!

But, Mayor naman! Naka-high-heels ang mga yan pabaklayin mo ng ganyan kalayo?! Oh well, girls, at least that was a test of your rampa skills, stamina and poise hahaha! How far did you 3 girls walk with your heels on? I estimate that to be more or less 2 kilometers! Well, blame the shoe maker if it hurt your legs. All shoes are supposed to be made for walking hehehe!

All was well that ended well!

ISSN 2516263.875-1600

Which Campus?

2013-01-11T20:19:00.000+08:00

Okay now folks, you have UP Diliman, Manila, LB, Baguio, Miag-ao, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Mindanao, right? You also have Ateneo at Loyola, Rockwell, Naga, Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, etc etc! And you have La Salle Taft, La Salle Tapat, EAC, etc., right?! Now see these!

O ha?! What can you say?! Sosyal the schools of Cebu 'no?! Hahaha, Portugal? Mexico? Guam?!

Now the real topic...

These pics were some of my shots at the opening parade of Sinulog 2013. At first, I did not even mind those places written below each school's name, for I knew what they meant.

However, I got to stand beside 2 foreign ladies who were also taking pics and vids of the parade, and they were exclaiming ooohs and aahs, when they would read those places written below the school names. I got bothered, and felt I needed to barge in when I heard one of them say "wow, they even have a campus in Portugal"! Like hello?! Cebu Doctors as in CDU?! In Portugal?!

So I smilingly meddled in their oohs and aahs and told them those places were not the universities' campus locations or branches but areas where the festival they were performing/representing is celebrated. And we all laughed. Buti nalang I got to correct their wrong impression, otherwise they could have gone home telling this and that. Wheh? CTU sa Mexico? In their dreams haha!

At least the two girls are well traveled (I think) and I was caught off-guard when the other girl asked me with "ah, VSU is in Baybay Leyte, right? So they're representing Baybay's Festival? What is it called? Da! I shyly said "am not really sure" hehe! Uwaw ko!

Seriously... maybe someone out there from the Sinulog Foundation or the folks who are close to them could tell, that as little as those details should be given enough attention lest we mislead visitors. Those tarpaulins should be labeled informatively well next time. Ask me if you need help in 2014 hehe!

ISSN 2516263.875-1600

Funny Weird Things To Start 2013

2013-01-06T02:30:00.000+08:00

Nothing really astounding. Just the same, I find these worth a space in my blog if only for me to later remember them with a smile.

Reserve your free parking!
That is what hit my lowly brain early on a groggy 2nd day of the year! Probably because it was early morning. The way I initially understood this signage actually woke me up! I thought it was saying "call to reserve your free parking" hehe!

It's one of the newest restaurants along Cebu's AS Fortuna Ave. by the way. Have yet to try them, but looking at the place from outside... promising!

YOU!
Exactly a week after, I get to be in the area again, this time the Pink Sisters' chapel. And that in the picture is/was the responsorial psalm for the day. At first, I did not even notice. But when you sit or kneel silently at a very serene place with no distractions, you do at times, even if unconciously, start looking for things to distract you, right? And when I glanced again, I knew there was something wrong.

On my way out, hindi naka-pag-pigil hehe, I went up to that board and made the switch. A woman at a nearby pew was looking intently (as she prayed). I could see her from my peripheral vision! I thought there was some kind of ire in her eyes when she would glance at me hehe! I could feel it! She probably thought I was some vandal or something! But when I was done, I turned back to purposely look at her until she looked at me. She smiled after seeing what I have just done! I felt I was an angel hehe!

Sosyal public CR!
See the picture first before reading on! If not for the "MALE" sign at the top, you would think that was your hotel room door, right?! It really looks so. What with an electronically controlled door-lock with a numeric keypad! And if you don't know the numbers to press, you must have a 'VingCard' – yep, that credit-card-like piece of plastic that you tap at that black thing just atop the handle!

How do you get hold of a VinCard to be able to enter then? You don't! There is (almost) always a utility girl by the entrance who will first size you up and decide if she would allow you to enter or not. It is free of course, but yes, they decide if you are "qualified" or not hehehe!

This is the comfort room at Gaisano Country Mall in Banilad. Not even inside their department store but just out by the hallways. Its the same whether you are at the first or second level. Location? At ground level that is the "CR" in between Mang Inasal and that Korean Restaurant, at second level, that's beside the internet cafe!

I asked one of the girls why it is so. At first she educated me that these are supposed to be "private" comfort rooms "for tenant use only" and they let people use these only on a case-to-case basis. I said I was happy I always "qualified" to be allowed entry when I need to, but further asked her if this was not some kind of discrimination on those they would deny. Her reply was lengthy but in gist she was telling me that they don't like those "nothing-to-do" residents from a nearby slum area using their comfort rooms as they don't know how to properly use CRs.

Oh well, that "situation" got me thinkin! It challenged the process improvement professional in me! I recall now, the whole big mall has only 3 comfort rooms for use by the general public. The first two are as described above (they choose who qualifies hehe), and the 3rd one is that comfort room at the supermarket area, As it is, I think that could already be against some building norms, customs or ethics (if not laws) about having a mall with very minute comfort room to customer ratio! For those who had been to country mall, try to imagine how many people go there!

Oh, the 3rd CR? It is under the escalators when going down to lower ground - that is the supermarket area. Yep, just beside the "package counter". White it also has this kind of reminder posted on the mirrors, that CR does not have electronic locks. But it is the "tambayan" of utility workers of the mall. Yeah, the females in them even sit it out inside the door of the male comfort room and they banter or tell stories there with their male workmates! Not that I care, but I wonder... why couldn't they do so at the female comfort rooms? Maybe mas mapanghi hehe!

Anyway, as you can see in the pictures, the "controlled" comfort rooms are at least always tidy and orderly. Cleaner and more fragrant than any SM or Ayala Mall in this country. What does this mean now building administrators? A trend to be?!

Always... With Happy Family!
Am not really sure how that expression exactly translates to Korean. But I think, for the native or even ESL English speakers, there is something wrong with how it is said. Who cares, right?! It still sends the message through anyway, right? But reading it just makes you smile! Aside form salivating of course hehe. Their fried chicken tastes differently well - in case you have had enough of chicken joy!

And contrary to assumptions of many Pinoys, not all Korean restaurants are that expensive. This is one example. Yes, try them! AND, for those of you who don't like maanghang, stop thinking Kimchi. Not all Korean Food are hot (spicy). They even also have their own delicious version of 'kakanin' – a whole lot of them! And notably delectably addictive too. I mean babalik-balikan mo talaga!

Oh well... anyway... I think I would miss Banilad when I finally move on... soon...

ISSN 2516262.75-0740

Fudge, Cebu

2012-12-27T23:04:00.000+08:00

This is one of the newer eateries along the famous “AS Fortuna Avenue” in Cebu – well, er, more appropriately, should be Mandaue, for indeed it is already on the Mandaue portion of Banilad. Did you know that there are two Barangays named Banilad, and are sitting beside each other? Yup, this is that area, where Brgy Banilad, Cebu and Brgy Banilad, Mandaue kiss each other! And if you’re not extra observant, you would never even realize that. Just like ‘where does QC end and where does Marikina start? Or when traveling along Bonifacio Ave., where is QC, Caloocan or Manila?! Something like that!

Anyway, Fudge is more of a cake, pastry or bakeshop really. But presented and with the ambience of a modern coffee shop. However, what I like in there is lunch hehe! Yup yup, they have delectable food from breakfast ‘till dinner. Ah well, to be exact, most of the times I ate at this place were for ‘brunch’ really – before I would go anywhere. And I am nearing a point where I may have already tried just about everything – still some months to go, I hope!

Look at one face of their menu and you see soups, appetizers, sandwiches and the main courses. Flip it over and you salivate at the array of what (I think) the place is famous for – desserts! That's just my personal observation, okay?! Many a name in that menu card will invite curiosity, but I would advise you try them all and discover they titillate your palate too!

How does “Hand-held Caesar's” sound to you? A portable gadget?! Nah, it’s just your good old ‘Caesar's Salad in a wrap! Very convenient to munch on, though I would say, the grilled chicken delectably imposes its flavorful significance, if only for us not to think we are munching on a rolled bunch of “halaman” hehe. Let me share to you a personal “secret” that one friend calls weird – I find that this Hand-held Ceasar’s becomes even more fantastic when mixed with their other salad called “Manguava”. It’s just ripe mangoes sprinkled with roasted cashew nuts and guava vinaigrette. Uhm, that’s pricey at two salads in one sitting, but if you are dining with someone, try the mix. You’ll lavvit!

How about “Humba Saucers”? Take note, the Cebuano humba is more of like our adobo in Manila – the dry and not-so-sour kind, that is. Make it a flying saucer and you have quite a sandwich! I actually like grabbing one of these to go! A nice baon especially when going for bus rides to other towns or boat rides to other islands. Ah well, their “Pesto Omelette” seem a bit “tihik” on the pesto paste if I may compare it with that of Real Coffee on Boracay. But I like it that they paired the thing with toasted halved “Pan De Sal”!

“Crispylog”? Something different for us used to “CPA”. This one is a mix of crispy strips of chicken and beef served with eggs and garlic rice. But the “Aligue Rice & Sardines” is a killer! The fried rice is “aligue” flavored and the spanish sardines is fried! Cholesterolic yumminess! Ah this tempting “aligue” (kuyaw oi) fares in another thing called “Aligue & Prawn Spaghetti”. Ahyayayayummy-yum-yummm!

Guilty? Then try their “Salpicao” and you’d think that garlic is cheap in this part of the country hehe. It even comes with garlic rice. Though I try to avoid this one since it makes me crave for BEER when I smell and taste it! I do like the cheesy Fish Picatta and that thing called Zuri, But I am more for those with rice, kay taga bukid ra entawon ko, humay ang makalipay!

Most of the time though, the carnivorous me usually goes for the Grilled Pork Steak with rice (and extra rice hahaha). It comes in either the balsamic sauce or mushroom gravy, and I like them both. So if I had one yesterday, I’d go for the other today hehe. The slabs are thick but they cook it well into the insides when I tell them I want it well-done!

Now the flipside of the menu? Ask others since that is what they go to Fudge for. Am not very much into the sweets though I have tasted that thing called Lava Cake and the heavenly Combo (mango, cheese and oreos)! Actually there are others more not in the menu lists, but you could see them titillating your taste buds from the glass shelves. There are even cookies that look like lollipops standing side-by-side with the bread sticks!

Now now… the other best part in this place… when am alone waiting for my food to come to the table or waiting for all of them to settle well in the stomach, I do sometimes read the daily papers scattered around. BUT, I always like watching one of them whip up things right at their counters! Yeah, they make some of those cakes and breads right front where you can see them. I like looking and wondering at those things and gadgets they use. Never thought food production could be so technical!

ISSN 2515038.875-1419

Pastil in Cebu

2012-12-20T13:47:00.000+08:00

I did not know this existed here arounds! Do you even know what Pastil is? No no, not Pastel. Those are two different things, though both are delectable and originally from the Mindanao area! Pastel is the yummy sweet bun with an even sweeter filling, and this is more of a snack that we commonly find in CDO and Camiguin, right? And for those with Euro-inclinations, the more that this is not "pastille", "pastillas" nor "pastilyas"! Way far actually. Pastil is a meal (though it can easily be a snack too) – made of rice and sautéed beef, chicken or fish, wrapped in banana leaves. Yumminess!

I have tasted Pastil a number of times, though all those encounters were at places in Mindanao like Cotabato or Marawi. I think I even had similar fares as far down as Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, even farther down in Surabaya and far Medan, though am not sure if they're called the same name. But I never imagined they have already invaded Cebu! How did I find out? I was at the 3rd Cebu Blog Camp at CICC some weeks ago and saw a table on the side that had signage saying “Pastilan”. I knew it was some product that one company wanted to promote, and what better way to do it than with bloggers, right? Soon it was mentioned (advertised) through the facilitators.

And they gave us Pastil for free during lunch and afternoon snacks!

Curious how they got to Cebu, I approached the staff giving away Pastil (I already had beef and fish, plus tasted chicken from one of my seatmates). Well what do you know, the guys pushing pastil in Cebu come from or have family roots tracing back to Mindanao! Yes, Cotabato City! So I asked them a few questions just to satisfy my curiosity. Hah, they confirmed that to their knowledge, there had been no commercially available pastil in Cebu yet, reason why they are trying to promote the product in this area!

Pretending I did not know anything about Pastil, I asked how it came into being. The youngish man who answered me told me of a story that in the past, folks from Mindanao who would go to Manila had to pack food to eat during the very long boat rides. And he says that is where pastil was born. Plausible enough since he is still that young and that is probably just the story that came into his awareness hehe. But the story I got when I was in Cotabato was even older - it had something to do with fishermen trying to pack food that won't get stale for days of fishing out at sea. Quite similar to the story of how "puso" (of Cebu) or "langbay" (of Samar) came to be. So, Pastil was already around even before the advent of ships from Mindanao to Manila

But anyway, Pastil is now in Cebu. And "Pastilan" is in Banilad!

ISSN 2515141.25-0800

Funny Error/s

2012-12-12T23:57:00.000+08:00

Well I might even have to call this a study. And this is one thing I like with the Visayans. They really know how to make real witty fun at just about anything!

Let’s interpret…

I asked the driver as to who made this signage in his jeep. He said the signage maker made an error on the letter sizes so he went on just the same and gave it for free! Driver further says, that is the reason why “your” was shortened into the sms-like “ur”. He did not make mention about the missing “a” in “setbelt” so I did not ask anymore. If it was also an error on the part of the maker, now we would not know!

I asked what was the “w.w.w…com…” he said “ambot, sa internet tingali na” (I don’t know, maybe it has something to do with the internet)! I did not say anything but in my mind I said “duh”!

I asked what “iga.id” means and he told me “gaid” is a visayan term to mean “tie”, but used mainly for big things to tie down like a boat or a ship! Thus, the sign maker wants to tell us “tie the passengers” (and take note, plural) hehehe!

Finally, I showed this very picture to seven true-blue Cebuanos and asked if the “pasahiro” is correctly written. All said no, and they educated me that it should be either “pasahero” or “pasajero” (add the “S” to make it plural)!

Funniest thing is I asked all of the seven friends on what would be the correct Cebuano translation of “fasten your seatbelt”. The replies were either “ambot” or “ataya lisura ana” or the likes! And one of them said “igaid na lang gud”! Hahaha, igaid in tagalog would mean “itali”. And if in Cebuano you said “igaid ang pasaheros” or in tagalog you said “itali ang mga pasahero”, it’s as if you mean tie the passengers down (prior to being shot, or as punishment, or something like so)!

Oh well, the titillating signs of these our times!

2515139.125-0956

That Giant Jeep Again

2012-12-12T11:52:00.000+08:00

There is that humungous multicab again hehe! This time I spotted it by the road near SM’s North Wing. First time I saw one of these up close was over at the Metropolitan Cathedral though I did not have a chance to talk to anyone in charge. This time, I saw the manong driver doing nothing (that man at rear side seemingly dwarfed by the size of this jeep), so I asked him a few questions.

The “jeep” is actually a converted 10-wheeler truck! ‘Di ba obvious?! He says, it is only given to mountain barangays of Cebu City. What for? For whatever use they may deem necessary. I asked who owns them jeeps (expecting a reply that would either say “city government” or “barangay”), and the fantastic reply was “Si Capitan”! Who maintains these jeeps? The barangays. How many can sit in there? “Daghan”! I asked for a specific number. He couldn’t give one and instead said “tibuok barangay”!

Oh well, what a giant jeep really! Aren’t these the kinds that should be distributed at flood-prone areas like Marikina, Pasig, CaMaNaVa, CDO, Iligan, ComVal, etc? They better hehe!

ISSN 2515139.875-1635

Bibingka

2012-12-12T10:48:00.000+08:00

Bibingka or bingka. I thought this was such a welcome find. I mean it probably had been months since I last saw and tasted the bibingka made in rural places. This one though was definitely at an urban location – the sidewalk along Osmena Ave., also called Jones Ave. in Cebu City! And it looked and smelled inviting, so I got one! Delicious enough! Just like many that I have tasted in Abra, Ilocos, Samar, Sorsogon. Not fluffy but a bit compact, not too soft but moist! ‘Five-pesos lang’!

ISSN 2515139.125-0949

"DVD / Movie Cafe" in Cebu

2012-12-11T11:48:00.000+08:00

Not (yet) common in this country, right? In fact, this was my first encounter with such a establishment, and I liked the idea! This is at the 2nd Floor of Raintree Maill in downtown Cebu.

What is this thing? Hmm, very much like your high-end karaoke rooms like “I.O” or “KTV 21” and so on. There are also rooms (many of them) with comfy seats and nice sound systems. The diff is they are not for you to enter and select your songs so you can wail and shout or chirp and chant in front of a big screen. Here you watch your favorite movies!

A nice alternative when looking for anything else to do with friends and/or family! Now you don’t have to dream of installing a mini-theater in that little house of yours! All you need is P300 (I think) and you have a room good for probably 5 or 6 of you! And they’re open 24 hours a day! The DVDs are displayed in the thousands at wall racks for oyu to diszzyingly choose from. There are also popcorns, drinks and chichirya to buy just before “showtime” and there are even waiting areas (cafe) where laptops are laid out for your free use! Sosyal!

The crews gamely showed me around, and I saw that they were nice rooms. At one occupied room, I heard shrieking and screaming and teasing and laughing. Yeah, a group of youngsters were watching a horror movie together.

I commented that this place looked just like the many that I have seen in Seoul and Incheon - I said "I think" since I have not really been into any of them. I just saw that they were little rooms too without the karaoke singing. The cashier then educated me that in fact the owner of this place is a Korean. So I said “Oh I see”! I learned there are already two of these such establishments in Cebu (the other one at IT Park) and they say they heard there are about the same number in Metro Manila.

Well okay, nice alternative to the usual “entertainment” that we know! I will try one of these one day. No more lining up at Ayala or SM! And no more sitting prim and proper amidst the viewing public of hundreds!

See?! Traveling is also education! Learned something new today!

ISSN 2515139.625-1100

Biraha!

2012-12-11T11:15:00.000+08:00

So that’s the Cebuano word for “pull”! Hmm, why didn't I learn this from my tutor? Ah, maybe I was not listening when that topic was discussed! Anyway,

I was seated at this atrium inside the Raintree Mall waiting for the eye doctor and was facing this door to one of the establishments there (Koken?). And even with those big and redundant signage, I saw at least 3 people attempt to enter by pushing that door! Gosh really!

Hey, about that word (root word “bira”). It means something else in other places of this country. It could mean “hit” (biraha means “hit it”) in Tagalog or Ilonggo, and it could also mean “spread your legs in Waray” (bira). Da hahaha!

Oh well, Hala Bira!

ISSN 2515139.625-1044

Blessed Stars Approaching

2012-12-11T11:09:00.000+08:00

So the boat I was waiting for arrived! This picture was taken at 8:20AM – against the arrival schedule that said 7AM. Well many of you would know that it still takes so many minutes for the boat to be properly docked and for the passengers to eventually disembark – especially if those men who throw the ropes to shore can’t seem to do it properly – and it happens often hehehe! Apprentices!

Anyway, though I’ve been on this boat only once (Cebu to Catbalogan), coupled with my 2 rides on Cokaliong (both Cebu to Calbayog), I think I can show here one of the reasons why I’m starting to like riding in them. Look at that white shirted man below. He is a guard – yep, the normal usual guard, sekyu, jaguar that we know. He seems to be proudly standing there alone. And look behind him. It is total darkness with nothing, no cargoes, vehicles nor anything, right? So, riding on these boats (when you’re not in a hurry) is fine and fun as there are just a few people on board with a lot of room to roam around hehe.

I did ask why the trips or routes are still being operated when there seems to be no more riders. A crew member intimated to me that all ships earn big on cargoes from Cebu to Catbalogan which compensates enough for the seeming loss on the return trip!

Bikers, drivers and roadies, now you have a tip where to load your babies going to Samar!

ISSN 2515139.625-0830

Our Daily Bread #02 – Pig Pie

2012-12-11T11:00:00.000+08:00

Well, it is no pig, but I wonder why this thing was called a Pig Pie!

I was down at Pier 4 waiting for a friend to arrive. And these inter-island boats usually arrive very early in the morning. This one I was waiting for was scheduled to dock at 7AM. At 623AM, I was of course hungry! So I looked for any food to eat or at least soup to sip. There are two gas stations a block away from the pier but these are the only things my mouth and stomach seemed to have liked – hopia baboy (I kow it's not pork too) and the Pig Pie!

I finished all slices just the same, but reading the ingredients printed on the wrapper, it said “Flour, Sugar, Salt, Oil, Water and Onion”! So where’s the pig? A friend says, maybe the oil is pig flavored hahaha. It is not!

Oh well, oh well!

ISSN 2515139.625-0750

Smoking Kid

2012-12-11T10:48:00.000+08:00

I was puffing at the terrace (whatever it is called) just outside the 2F food court at SM Consolacion. Somebody came near and asked for a light, so I instinctively gave my lighter though my eyes were still focused down at the highway as I was watching traffic and the Ceres buses picking passengers. I did notice that when the lighter flicked, it happened at just about a few inches above my head (I was seated), so I looked who the hell was lighting up… and when I looked…

It was a kid! OMG yes, a youngster! He was already puffing, so I could not anymore deny him my lighter. And he sat on the very same table where I was too! That, while his companion, an even younger kid, stood behind him waiting.

I asked how old the kid was (as he was busy puffing his cigarette), his reply was “eight... seventeen” and I told him outright it was a lie. He did not seem perturbed with my comment and just continued puffing. I turned to the smaller kid and asked how old he was. He said “ten”! But I clarified I was asking the age of the smoker and not his. He shrugged with a smile. I asked if they were brothers, the younger kid said no. So I asked how they were related. The smoker said “agaw” (meaning ig-agaw or cousins). I stopped asking and just silently observed them. My hunch is, the smoking kid should be around 12 or 13, surely not older than 15. Gosh!

I am a smoker, but I think I started tasting cigarettes while I was on training for my first employment – that means after college,and that means I was about, or already more than 20 years old. If at all anyone should smoke, which I do not encourage anyway, they (I believe) should be around that age. I told the smoking kid about this and he said he only smokes after a meal. Whatever!

Oh well, if they only know how hard it is to stop this “addiction” hehe!

2515150.25-1331

Our Daily Bread #01

2012-12-08T08:47:00.000+08:00

Roaming the Visayas (esp Cebu), I always find people flocking to the bakeries in the afternoons. Many just buy bread ‘to go’ and some eat theirs right at these bakeshops where almost all have tables and chairs for the purpose. And trying to belong, trying to call myself now a Cebuano, I must try what they do – eat my bread at benches and tables provided by the bakeries! I actually enjoy this! It affords me more time to watch and observe my “mga higala” hehe. Plus, the interesting names these eatables bear just blows me away at times!

If you are used to cinnamon, raisin or banana bread, try mushroom or corn. No they are not flavored with those vegetables! These are little breads made to look like well, mushroom or corn! Mushroom bread is that round compact kind of bread that seems to have been made so that it breaks while baking. I know this takes another name in Metro Manila and elsewhere. Corn bread is a softer kind, elongated almost like an unbended croissant in shape but the dough had been crisscrossed with a knife so that when baked, it does have a semblance to the shape of a real corn cob!

Thus, you should now know what a “Lechon Bread” is, right? Yeah, those pig-shaped loaves do look interestingly delectable! Haven’t tried that one yet (due to the size since am usually alone eating them), but soon I will!

Now what is this thing called Binangkal? It is another heavy-to-the-stomach kind of bread, though I was surprised to find this one at bakeries since it actually is not baked but deep-fried! This one too comes in many names depending where you would be in the Visayas. I seem to remember this is called something else in Manila (though I can’t recall exactly), while it is also called “Kabak” in other places! Is this the same as the “buñuelos” (aka bunyelos) I saw in many parts of Eastern Samar? Looks like! I did notice that this thing is externally peppered with sesame seeds – usually, but sometimes not!

Hey that Polvoron surprised me! I didn’t know it is also the name of a bread. Or more appropriately a cookie! All along I was thinking that polvoron is that sweet powder concoction everyone buys at Goldilocks! That one in the picture above is obviously not hehe. Its a round, flat, brittle cookie and sweeter than the usual breads it seems to belong to another category!

Here is another fried (not baked) bread called: Siakoy. This bread’s name poked the curiosity of my aging brain not because I have seen its name displayed on a glass shelf but I heard a Korean asking for it! The atrevida in me discreetly moved nearer to hear what he was saying. Well, he was clearly pronouncing it as “sya-koi” which was just how the bakeshop attendant also pronounced it. Korean gone, I asked the attendant if that bread was ‘kind of Korean in origin’. Faking sarcasm, the attendant made a funny face and said “excuse me lang sir ha, Siakoy already alive before Korean invasion”! I think we call this “pilipit” in Manila. Yep, the twisted bread!

Oh, Pan De Coco is not a funny name, right? It’s common to see these all over the archipelago, right? But this bread still gets an honorable mention here due to it’s size. Yeah, in Manila any “pan de coco” is just about two inches in diameter (or a little bit bigger) that you can even toss whole to your mouth. Correct? Yes, correct! But don’t you do so in Cebu! Hindi kaya! Their pan de coco here is about the size of a burger bun hehe, You will need to have a real big bunganga to do it!

Hard Monay was a puzzle. Filipinos everywhere know what is a monay, right? I mean the real monay bread from bakeshops and not anybody else’s “monay”! When I first heard someone saying “hard monay”, I got curious. How would one eat monay if it was hardened? But when I looked, the “hard monay” did not at all appear to be anything hard. AND, it’s not round too! It is about the shape and size of Spanish Bread without the crumbs. It’s topped with something sweet. Ah just see the picture hehe!

All of them breads above come from Julie's Bakeshop. But I'll try to catch if they are named the same at others like San Jose, Arbee's, Maiqui's etc.

Let’s stop here for now, but I know there will be more. Some breads in the Visayas have funny names. Some even outright lewd hahaha! Coming soon!

ISSN 2515138.25-1545

Adult Jeep Christmas Carolers

2012-12-07T19:30:00.000+08:00

Cebu, Philippines. They cause undue alarm to passengers and should be stopped yes, but how? Golly this is one tricky urban evolution for everyone to think about! I have not seen anything like this all my life in Metro Manila or elsewhere. Fact is, I have not even seen this in Metro Cebu the past 3 Christmas seasons!

No pictures here of course (I still want to live hehe) but when I say adult, I mean they are something as old as late twenties to late thirties, mugger-looking and have the strength and ability to do something wrong to any other adult of any size or shape! Or something like so!

Here’s the story…

First time was about a month ago. Yep, the early days of November and I was on a 22I jeep from Banilad to J Centre Mall (commonly referred to as J-Mall). When the jeep picked passengers across that corner called “Eskina Sampaguita”, these 3 dudes boarded, one went straight towards the back of the driver, one in the middle and some kind of crouched there without taking a seat, while the last one sat across me at the very rear (edge/exit) of the jeep (multicab). That alarmed me and I thought I was ready to kick this dude across me and jump off the vehicle if and when they declared anything we all don’t like! Looking at the eyes of other passengers, I could see that there was alarm, if not apprehension.

Boom! The one crouched at the center of the vehicle announced something that I did not understand. But at the very first sound of whatever he said, two women shrieked in surprise (obviously alarmed). But it continued into the guy saying they will just sing Christmas Carols (manaygon) for everyone’s alms instead of doing something bad like others do. Then they hit it! I mean the usual rap song like beggar kids do with one creating rhythm with his mouth and hands a-la beatbox. Music enough, though I can dare say the little kids are better. And very short (as if obviously just for “compliance purposes” that they indeed sang)!

The next scene was ugliest. They were insistent that each passenger give them money and they don’t just say “ate/kuya merry christmas”. They had to touch each and every person at various parts of the arms or legs or knees. I pretended to be looking elsewhere as other passengers did and I pretended not to mind them. When they got off at that area near Sky Cable office, they were all complaining to each other how stingy we passengers were all are as they only got a few coins.

If they declared a holdup – since we know anyone of them could be carrying a weapon, they would have been successful – even if it was about 3PM! This area is not really full of pedestrians or vehicles on such a hot sunny day. I heard every other passenger (male and female), including the driver expressing various signs of relief and later disgust or disagreement. Driver even said those men are even stronger than most of us males in the jeep, so why could they not find decent work for a living. I thought that was just an isolated case! But…

Last week, as I happily rode a 13C jeep from Country Mall to Ayala, there were these similarly mugger-looking boys. Men actually as one could already employ them as drivers, gardeners or security guards and the likes if we talk about their age and physique. They rode the jeep across BIR (near Waterfront Hotel) and got off at the edge of this place called Barrio Luz (what I have been calling the fire capital of this country hehe). Yep, at that busy corner under the flyover near the Pag-ibig Building where vehicles turn left to Ayala. Like the previous 'incident', these men wore sunglasses, wore caps and two even wore hooded sweat shirts. And when they alighted just below that flyover, I heard the same “ataya bai” complaints.

Finally, there was the same incident this afternoon as I rode a 04L jeep from Ayala to SM. We were still at the Ayala area when three men boarded – same positions – 1 at frontmost behind the driver, another (the supposed main singer) crouched at center aisle (as if there's still an aisle on a multicab ‘no?) and the last one even just clinging at the back. These were older men! Two had tattoos in their arms and legs, all wearing shades and caps. I really got alarmed this time since they stayed long in the jeep almost coercing everyone to give money. I still did not bother to do so, and lucky for me, the man across me started talking to me as if asking things like ‘if this was the jeep bound for SM’ and ‘if it would be passing via PLDT’ and so on.

When they alighted, again at that area where there are a lot of informal settlers (the other edge of Barrio Luz, just before we turned right on Juan Luna), male and female passengers all expressly said their alarm that it could have been a holdup or those men could have done something wrong to any of us. The more that I got alarmed when another male passenger said to me “labi na og wa mo managad nila, bisag sige na sila panguhit sa imong tuhod) and another female passenger said “dako pa’g boses). I understood what these fellow passengers were telling me… they got more alarmed when one of the men was already raising his voice and scratching my thigh and knee to ask for money – but I and the other passenger pretended not to mind them and we just kept talking.

My take is, I think it was still better that I did not bother to look at them as my face could have shown irritation or offense. But, what if they got mad, got irked, got pissed that I was not responding? God knows what they were/are capable of doing! And OMG that man was about my height (I am 6’0”) but he has a bigger and obviously stronger body physique. As if to lighten up that unanimously alarmed mood or mode, I told everyone that I just opted to ignore the man but could even smell the “anghit” from his underarms hehe!

You guessed it, on my way home from SM, I had to temporarily declare an LQ in this love-affair with the jeeps of Cebu! I lined up for a cab going home, that took more than an hour because of heavy traffic along Hernan Cortes! Argh!

But as I write this, I just realized that I had in my lap a big paper bag of products from Nuskin (worth many thousands of pesos) that a friend asked me to pick for her at the Nuskin Offices. If those men grabbed this paper bag, that loss could have been worth more than the Christmas Bonus or 13th month salary of someone hehe!

Am still lucky… or let us not judge a book by its cover… or Cebu’s criminality is still not like that of Metro Manila… or Cebu’s morality and values are still intact… or all of the above!

But, I think I want to stick with… “I was just lucky this time”!

Now the debate: how can that “caroling” by big adult men be stopped? They really cause undue alarm! Who should stop them? If you ask me, not me, not even the drivers, as the size and build of these “carolers” can tell that they can kill at will! Entawon, these men could even be fathers or grandfathers of many a jeep conductor. Ti-aw nimo na?!!

Da! Here comes my daily calls to Ken, Holiday and Airland Taxi companies again! But I still say, no vehicle from QC follows me to Cebu (yet). No way! Wala pa akong pangsweldo ng driver! Argh again!

Seriously, can CITOM stop these men? Can the police too? On what count?

Ah! Kuyawa!

ISSN 2515150.875-1530

Davao Pasalubong Center

2012-12-01T04:07:00.000+08:00

Hmm and whoa! No no folks, not Aldevinco hehe! This one is a real pasalubong center made by the Davao city government just like you see at other places in the country. But if we talk about this category, Davao City’s is one of the biggest! It is a whole building, not just a stall or a room. And the displayed items, wares or foodstuff are of course products of the place – not an ukay-ukay style group of stalls as what is becoming of other pasalubong centers. It is rather new though, so we cannot tell just yet if indeed there won’t be pirated DVDs, pirated tsinelas, maxam, batik, plum blossom or the ever omnipresent ukay-ukay type of clothes hehe!

I loved looking at the things on sale in this place. An interesting cornucopia of many things Davao. From the common cheap novelties to the expensive rare and the bewildering uncommon products. Many of them are displayed and for sale in this building. T-Shirts? Yes they have, but all are printed with Davao or things about Davao–definitely not a rummage sale of used clothing from other countries hehe! Croc leather? Also available and of really world-class quality! Tuna? Just choose if you want anything to eat pronto or those packed to go! Durian coffee? Eh, they have an admirably set coffee shop in there serving that. Plus of course, those in boxes and little packs that you can buy and bring home.

Durian candy? Durian Chips? Dried Pineapple? Durian Yema? Marang Yema? Durian Jam? Dried Guyabano? Dried Mango? Dried Jackfruit? All are there!

And where is "there"? Ahm, just next door to the People's Park.

ISSN 2515138.875-1022

Davao People’s Park

2012-11-30T10:51:00.000+08:00

Onward with my walk walk walk around Davao’s downtown area. There was another Penong, there was a call center, there was the beautiful DepEd offices, there were hotels and voila, I stumbled upon this place called People’s Park. So, I skirted the perimeter wall to find its entrance.

Oh, it is just across the famous Pards 2 – the eatery serving rice all you can! So I said I have been to this place, but probably just did not notice that across is the People’s Park. Hmm…

And I excitedly walked forth to the entrance. Argh! CLOSED! At 10:03AM on a Sunday? Gosh! I asked a park attendant and he told me it opens at 1PM still. Ah! then I saw this signage that tell about the complicated schedule of the park’s opening and closing times hehe. Now now… I learned that I was both very late and very early! How’s that? Well, they’re open from 5 to 8AM – so I was very late for that. Then they re-open from 1 to 10PM – so at 10AM, I was waaaay too early hahaha! Okay folks, at least you now know those schedules!

But am not at all complaining, since I did not plan about seeing this, I just chanced upon it!

Looking from the outside though, I think this park is a good one to see if you have had enough of white water rafting, Indiana Jones, fireflies, crocodiles, beaches that are all kilometers away from city center. Next time, I’ll purposely include this one in my itinerary. Hey, those figurines, they look interesting! Am not sure if they are supposed to be monuments to anything, but they look fun to have a pic or two at! From the looks of all of them, am sure they were made by Filipino hands. I am now curious what those are, what for, what about and who made them when how and with what material?

Other things looked interesting too! Like those pillar-like artworks. At a distance I could already discern those are brasswork pieces. Though I’d really want to know what those intricate ‘designs’ are, what they portray and who made them why. Hmm, soon Davao People’s Park. Soon I will be back to know more!

I could only take pictures from outside the still closed gates huhuhu. And with a heavy heart (because I itched to see those Pinoy-style life-sized figurines at closer range), I moved on with my walk – by skirting the whole perimeter of this park (lest I chance upon an opening where the attendants would let me in hehe! Unsuccessful!

Oh well!

ISSN 2515138.875-1000

Poodle Star

2012-11-29T21:03:00.000+08:00

Yep, still about #davao #philippines and I loved this cute little thing! This parol was part of those being sold at that row of stalls as mentioned in the previous story. It looked kinda’ catchy to me. Much like a poodle hehe! And cute too, as this is just about two feet or three from top to the bottom tip of the two “ruffles” whatever they are called. Plus, made of 100% indigenous materials. I really loved this thing! I was even contemplating of bringing one or two home. But I was not sure if those can be hand-carried or needed to be checked-in. Whatever the case, I could have brought them home at no extra cost.

Now am thinking (with a little bit of blaming me, myself and I)… why did I not get at least one to bring home? Hmm, maybe it’s because I hate handcarries other than the backpack. Even the gadgets go in the backpack! So if I did get one of these or two or three, they wouldn’t have been able to enter the backpack since they’re just about exactly as big hehe! And I don’t imagine I would have dared to check-in anything like these. They’d be crushed flat with the way baggage handlers at our airports do their thing.

Still am thinkin… maybe too I did not want to cut my walking tour short by going back to The Pinnacle if I bought one of these! Yeah, maybe. Hey I caught myself silly touching it very lightly and slightly as if it were a newborn little poodle hahaha! Only to find out those materials are now of rigid dry natural things!

I think what made me more enamoured to this kind of lantern was the material it is made of. I asked the manong there and I think he said 'parts of the coconut tree”. Or probably banana. Or coconut and banana?! Ah whatever! All I know is I loved this kind of “parol”. Poodle-like yes, cute yes, native materials yes, and most especially unique! I think there were just 5 or so pieces in the entire row of stalls.

Oh well, at least I took a photo of my little poodle star hehe!

ISSN 2515138.875-0949

Non-Energy-Consuming Lanterns

2012-11-29T20:14:00.000+08:00

This is still my #davao #philippines series as I walked around. From afar, at first I thought “how boring”! But as I walked for a closer look at all of them stalls and their Christmas decors for sale, I realized whoah, this was different!

I ogled at many of them and there seemed to be a common denominator, all were just the plain “parol”. Yep, the lanterns without the many bling blings or neon and whatever lights like we see everywhere in this country during the holidays. Then again, it was just about 9AM. But I asked one manong saying “walang mga ilaw?” and he nodded!

Hmm, without the lights… I think they look more attractive. Energy efficient too!

And I was like a little child ogling at each one and thinking… dreaming,,, even talking to myself! “Or maybe we could put some candles inside those. Ah no no no, that would be quite dangerous! Or maybe put some glow-in-the-dark things like those toys (even crucifixes) that can be bought from Divisoria. Ah, that would be unnatural and won’t last in the dark. Or maybe let some fireflies hover around. Like hello?!!! Ah, they’re just beautiful as they are day or night.”! Those were some of the "discussions" that ran between me myself and I!

Who the hell decreed anyway that Christmas always needs to be like Policarpio St., right?!

Well, if indeed there were no energy-consuming lights, blinkers, sounds and what ever whatevers, I think they should be friends with the Earth Hour Organization! I loved them just the same!

I Like!

2515138.875-0946