The Freudian Slip Of A Bacolodnon: On The Road

Best American Idol Auditions

2012-01-25T13:17:00.000+08:00

The A.I. season is back and it promises to be even better after 11 years since it started. So far, they have selected many contenders for a second round in Hollywood and it appears to be more than the usual number of people who would audition for A.I. There have been many surprises as well, with amazing voices coming from the least expected characters. Here are some of the videos posted in youtube which I feel are among the best auditions so far.

Filipina Ashley Robles auditions for A.I.

Another Asian (Korean) auditions for A.I. He is funny

Very talented singer here

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Hypocrites In Sheep's Clothing

2012-01-26T12:51:00.001+08:00

During the last few days the Philippine political landscape has once again been dragged into the limelight, thanks to the seemingly insatiable greed for grandstanding and public exposure of our 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint against the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, albeit unprepared as shown during the first 7 days of the impeachment trial. The ordinary citizenry need not listen to the legal luminaries invited by TV networks to explain their opinion on certain technicalities of the case to know that the prosecution is basically ill-prepared and at times even at a loss.

What perhaps shattered the high moral pedestal from which these congressmen accused the Chief Justice is the revelation that they too are actually guilty of at least one of the crimes they are accusing the Chief Justice of. One of the articles of impeachment signed by the 188 congressmen and women is the failure of the Chief Justice to disclose his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SAL-N). They are citing the Philippine constitution that all government employees are to file their SAL-N and disclose them to the public for transparency. According to the prosecution, the Chief Justice has failed to file and disclose his SAL-N.

While mainstream media and even the "less traditional media" such as blogs like Rappler.com were focusing their cross-hairs on the Chief Justice, trying to "validate" the "allegations" of the prosecution, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism was actually doing more, widening their perspective and field of vision. If Chief Justice Corona is being accused of failure to file and disclose his SAL-N, it is best to assume that those who accuse him of such a crime have probably filed and disclosed their SAL-N as well.

The PCIJ however found out that even the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint never disclosed their SAL-N in public and there was even no intention of disclosing them even after they have signed the impeachment complaint. What's more, even the present Ombudsman who is herself a former Justice also have not complied to the disclosure of SAL-N.

Thus, the debate on "Who should be casting the first stone?" has been on everyone's coffee breaks with their office mates and hair cut sessions with their barbers. When confronted by this issue, some of the members of the prosecution gave a lame excuse, saying, "We are not on trial here. The Chief Justice is the one on trial."

Those who side with the prosecution who describe themselves as with higher morals and integrity should find themselves, like the Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court, in a quandary. Consistency dictates that these advocates of higher morality and integrity, enemies of corruption and graft, friends and defenders of transparency and accountability, should also demand the same standard of performance from the very congressmen that they support. In the war against the "dark side", you can never be less than "the light". It is basically a Black versus White scenario and in this case, as implied by the fierce loyalty of the supporters of P-Noy and his political allies, you cannot be Gray. It is reminiscent of the Bush Doctrine, "If you are not with us, you are against us." Such motto is not only naive and ignorant of realities but it is also very divisive and polarizing.

But the members of the prosecution team find themselves as black as the "Dark Lord" they are fighting in the Senate Hall. Among the 188 congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint is Congressman Miro Quimbo who was the former President and Chief Executive Officer of PAG-IBIG Fund. He was the President of PAG-IBIG during the Globe Asiatique Scandal which, according to Sen. Osmena III, "The evidence of fraud is overwhelming (against) Everybody who is on the board."

"While the normal limit of funding commitment is P500 million per developer, Pag-IBIG officials went overboard (for obvious reasons, meaning money, but this couldn’t be proven because no one is willing to talk) by allowing GA to borrow “10 times more.”

Pag-IBIG officials had disclosed that since 1997, some P12.6 billion in housing loans were released to GA making it the most successful developer in the history of the Fund, because no one else comes close to the amounts it was able to wangle from the government." -Pag-IBIG pampered Globe Asiatique, The Daily Tribune, 03/24/2011.

Of course, the Lead Prosecutor, Rep. Neil Tupas, Jr should not be looking far if he wants to combat corruption and graft. Neil Tupas, Sr, his father and former governor of Iloilo, is himself facing allegations of graft and corruption. According to the blogsite Balitang Ilonggo (Ilonggo News), "On November 9, the COA at the capitol submitted to the COA regional office a list of 14 transactions amounting to P220.2 million which are considered “irregular, unnecessary, excessive and extravagant or unconscionable.” The provincial government headed by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. said the series of communications from the Truth commission and COA prove that they are not behind efforts to nail down Tupas for graft and corruption." (Balitang Ilonggo)

President Noynoy himself has yet to explain his own SAL-N. When the SAL-N of the Chief Justice was presented to the Senate hesitantly by the Clerk of Court, invoking the Supreme Court en banc resolution of 1989 (way past the time of the current Chief Justice and during the time of Pres. Corazon Aquino, the mother of the present President), media was quick to notice how the Chief Justice's net worth increased three-fold over the span of 9 years.

What they failed to remember was President Noynoy Aquino's net worth increased by three fold as well but only within a span of 1 year! According to PCIJ (again), "withih a year after the May 2010 elections, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III reported that his wealth had grown nearly three times, or from only P15,440,268 as of December 2009 to P54,999,370 as of December 2010."

In an article investigating the wealth of P-Noy, PCIJ revealed that President Noynoy's net increase in his wealth was 256% in a span of only 12 months.

"The rate of increase in Aquino’s wealth in the last year is unequalled by even his own record from 1998, when he first filed his SALN as a member of the House of Representatives, representing his home province of Tarlac. On his first term in the House, Aquino declared a net worth of only P8,707,247, which rose to P13,941,627 in 2007. This translates to a net increase in his wealth of only P5,234,380, or a growth rate of only 60 percent in nine years."

Comparing it therefore to the Chief Justice's alleged increase in wealth, Corona's increase in wealth appears pale to that of P-Noy's.

"To be sure, the P36.9-million excess campaign donations that he had reported to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) does not account for Aquino’s recent big net worth increase. Indeed, in his December 2010 SALN, he reported only P228,961 as his only “liability,” which he said represented his “Tax Payables” to the “Bureau of Internal Revenue” or BIR.  
The liability, imputing an applicable 30-percent tax levy, indicates that Aquino had earned compensation income of only P707,989, or roughly P58,999 in gross monthly pay, for the whole of 2010.

If he had enrolled his P36.9-million excess campaign donations as part of his income in 2010, according to the BIR’s Revenue Regulation 7-2011 dated Feb. 16, 2011, Aquino should have paid millions more in taxes.

BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares tells the PCIJ that the excess campaign funds were not recorded in the Income Tax Return (ITR) for 2010 that the president filed within the deadline last Apr. 15."

And while The Chief Justice was criticized for allegedly buying an 11-million worth of condominium, have we heard the same amount of criticism when P-noy bought his supposedly "third-hand" Porsche? Well, the criticism may have come from others but not from the usual mainstream media and with the same intensity.

"Critics also reminded P-Noy that only last month, he issued a memorandum “prohibiting all agencies from acquiring and using luxury vehicles for their operations, and to be more prudent in spending government funds, especially in the acquisition of motor vehicles to maximize the utilization of scarce government resources.”

However, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was quick to defend P-Noy saying that he did not violate the memorandum because he used his own funds to purchase the Porsche. Huh? Mr. Lacierda, you don’t get it, do you?" - Filipino Journal

I do agree that it is high time to clean up our government and that we should start somewhere and for some perhaps the impeachment of the Chief Justice is a good start. I just wished it was somebody else who started it, somebody far better than the person being accused of corruption and graft.

Type rest of the post here
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Dancing To The Same Tune

2012-01-30T10:03:00.000+08:00

Here's my compilation of great flash mobs around the world. Wouldn't it be nice to see everyone just dancing altogether? I think that's an answer to the many wars and conflicts that we are witnessing around the world.

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Mixing The Old and New In Cartagena

2012-02-05T21:49:00.000+08:00

Among the few cities I was lucky to have visited in Europe, Cartagena is one of those that I really liked. It's almost like you are walking on the borderline between the old and the new. The ship docked in Cartagena around early morning so I got off the ship and decided to walk around alone the city. I was also trying to find a decent cafe where I can grab a warm coffee for breakfast. I then found two of my Spanish friends already enjoying the sunshine of Cartagena.

We decided to walk around and visit some of the places such as shops and parks.

I then decided to go inside the museum and visit a Roman amphitheater excavated in Cartagena. Cartagena used to be occupied by the Romans (Carthage). The museum was filled with Roman artifacts.

By around lunch time, I decided to take a break from walking and grab some pasta and soft drinks. The streets were already filling up with tourists. I was able to meet some of my friends who were also walking around the city trying to find a decent place to eat.

Cartagena is definitely beautiful. I was lucky that we almost had a full day to walk around the city. I hopefully do want to come back to Cartagena.

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Missing Cozumel: Sun, Sand and Surf

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000+08:00

I miss Cozumel. I must admit that I have made Cozumel, Mexico my second home last year when I was working abroad. How can you not love Cozumel? The weather is warm, the food is cheap and the beaches are beautiful. Every week, the ship would dock in Cozumel and I would have barely 6 hours or so to enjoy my favorite quesadillas at Noname Bar, skype back home and even enjoy the sights at the beach.

During the Tom Joyner cruise, we had a chance to stay overnight in Cozumel. So along with some of my friends, we decided to rent a jeep and drive around the island, beach-hoping.

Every week, I would also do my grocery in Cozumel since it is cheaper than Wal-mart in Galveston, Texas. Right across the Mega-mart is a beach resort which most of the crew of the ships would hang out. It has free wifi and has a pool. For food, there are many options. There are at least two Filipino restaurants in Cozumel and two Chinese restaurants if you are into Asian food. Of course, Mexican dishes are served everywhere.

Of course, you can't leave Mexico without a tan, a snapshot of the Mariachi singers and even some cheap shirts. It was in Cozumel where I had the rare opportunity to swim and play with dolphins. It was really an exciting experience. How I wish I can go back to Cozumel.

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Earthquakes and Aftershocks: Negros and Cebu

2012-02-06T21:17:00.000+08:00

Right before 12 noon today, while I was huddling with barangay councilors and the Mayor of Cabilga in one of their barangays, I got a call from home in Bacolod City. My wife told me that a strong earthquake hit Bacolod City. I told them to stay safe and to watch the news about the earthquake. I was pretty sure that if it was a strong earthquake, aftershocks would follow. By her description, the quake was strong. My son even told me that he saw the water in our fish pond spilling out of the pool. When we got back to the Visitor Center in Calbiga, I found out that Cebu was also hit. I got another text message saying that the epicenter of the quake was somewhere between Negros Oriental and Cebu. On my way to Catbalogan, I got another text message at around 6pm when a strong aftershock jolted Bacolod.

It was already in Catbalogan when I was able to watch the news about the quake. I will be going to Bacolod this Wednesday and I am hoping to get some news about the aftermath of the quake. So far, according to latest news, around 43 are dead due to the quake.

"NDRRMC said northern parts of the Negros Oriental registered severe damages in structures. A barangay hall also collapsed and cracks were also found in government and commercial buildings, roads and bridges in Guihulngan City. There were some"surface cracks" as well in RSB Building, Abellana National School, and in St. Vincent Gen. Hospital in Cebu City, NDRRMC said." (Yahoo News)

In times like this, we need to teach ourselves, especially our children, what to do when an earthquake happens. Here are some tips on what to do during an earthquake:

"In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you:

DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

Trying to move during shaking puts you at risk: Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl; you therefore will most likely be knocked to the ground where you happen to be. So it is best to drop before the earthquake drops you, and find nearby shelter or use your arms and hands to protect your head and neck. "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" gives you the best overall chance of quickly protecting yourself during an earthquake... even during quakes that cause furniture to move about rooms, and even in buildings that might ultimately collapse.

The greatest danger is from falling and flying objects: Studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes over the last several decades show that you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) than to die in a collapsed building. "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" (as described above) will protect you from most of these injuries.

If there is no furniture nearby, you can still reduce the chance of injury from falling objects by getting down next to an interior wall and covering your head and neck with your arms (exterior walls are more likely to collapse and have windows that may break). If you are in bed, the best thing to do is to stay there and cover your head with a pillow. Studies of injuries in earthquakes show that people who moved from their beds would not have been injured if they had remained in bed." (Taken from Earthquake Country Info)

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Ocho Seafood and Grill

2012-02-07T02:00:00.000+08:00

If you happen to visit Tacloban City in Leyte, one place to dine and enjoy fresh sea food is Ocho Seafood and Grill. It is located at Senator Enage Street, Brgy. 54, Tacloban City. During our stop over in Tacloban last Sunday night, the Mayor of Calbiga (Samar) treated us to buttered shrimps, grilled fish and shellfish at Ocho Seafood and Grill. It is a small place but it does not lose its coziness and comfort.

Upon arriving inside the restaurant, you will be brought to the main counter where all the fresh seafood are displayed, where you can choose your dish from squid to shrimps to all kinds of fish, from seaweed to scallops. After choosing your dish, you will be given a number and then brought to your table where you will be asked for your order of drinks.

The service is very satisfactory and the food tastes very good as well. The serve their food quick and the waitresses make sure that you have everything you need.

If you are into seafood, Ocho Grill in Tacloban is definitely highly recommended.

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Hotel Alejandro: Tribute To The Fall And Rise of Leyte

2012-02-08T02:30:00.000+08:00

It was my first time to stay in Hotel Alejandro here in Tacloban, the capital city of Leyte. Leyte island is historical considering the role it played during the World War II. It was in Palo, Leyte when General Douglas McArthur fulfilled his promise of "I Shall Return". When the Americans finally landed in Leyte and were able to defeat the Japanese, Tacloban City became the temporary seat of government of the Philippines. President Sergio Osmena landed with Gen. McArthur that fateful day of October 1944.

Hotel Alejandro was formerly the house owned by Dr. Alejandro Montejo which was later converted by his heirs into a museum. It has survived the troubled years of the Japanese Occupation and housed many refugees who returned to Tacloban after the war.

What is very nice about the hotel is the prized collection of war memorabilias and pictures. It is like a museum inside a hotel or a hotel inside a museum. Pictures of the Liberation of Leyte, Japanese Occupation of Tacloban and portraits of soldiers from both the American and Japanese sides dominate the entrance and lobbies of the hotel. For students of history, this place provides more than just comfort.

It is located along P. Paterno Street in Tacloban City. It has function rooms for all types of occasions. All rooms have air conditioning, cable TV, phone and hot and cold shower. On the ground floor of the hotel is Cafe Teresa which serves Filipino, Spanish and American dishes. Price range of rooms is from 990 to 1600 pesos.

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Travel To Calbiga and Motiong

2012-02-11T10:45:00.001+08:00

This week, I traveled for the first time to Samar to visit two towns: Calbiga and Motiong. From Tacloban, I crossed the San Juanico Bridge and traveled first to Calbiga where, together with the team from Zuellig Family Foundation, we conducted a field visit, a training for RHU staff and a mortality review in the afternoon. I was able to converse with the Doctor and the Mayor of the town. It is a lovely laid-back 4th class municipality, home to the world's second largest cathedral-type caves. Because of the uncooperative weather, they were not able to bring us to their town's best-kept natural wonders. I did promise myself that I should come back and really visit their caves and waterfalls.

After an overnight stay in Catbalogan, I then headed to Motiong where the team did the same activities (except for the mortality review). Motiong is almost similar to Calbiga: mountainous with some coastal villages. There are many villages in the uplands, some of which are quite inaccessible. I was able to talk as well with the mayor and doctor of Motiong and both expressed strong support for health initiatives.

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Romantic Luneta

2012-02-13T15:16:00.001+08:00

While others choose Paris or any other European city to be a city of love, I think they have forgotten how our very own Luneta Park can be equally romantic as well. It is definitely historic and provides a nice place for couples to walk around and enjoy a moment, let's say a Valentine's Date.

Luneta (which is also known as The Rizal Park) is a huge park and many would claim that it is one of the largest parks in Southeast Asia. It is where one can see the Rizal Monument, the marker which commemorates the site where the national hero Jose Rizal was executed in 1896.

At the end of the park is the Quirino Grandstand and the nearby Manila Ocean Park. Of course, Manila Bay is not far away so if lovers would like to enjoy the famous Manila sunset, then they can find their way walking along Roxas Boulevard or settled in a cozy spot.

There are a few things you can do while in Luneta Park besides taking a stroll. You can ride one of those horse-drawn carriages or calesa (which can be quite expensive) or you can just do a romantic picnic under the shade and watch people pass you by.

Sometimes, certain activities are being held in the Luneta like a food fair or a mini-concert. So if you are looking for a cheap way to celebrate a romantic day with a loved one, Luneta may just be the place.

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Ah, Ragay!

2012-02-14T08:30:00.001+08:00

It was my first time to go to Naga City, en route to a town called Ragay. It is a coastal town with some upland villages. We arrived in rainy Naga on a Tuesday via plane. We checked in at CBD Hotel which is strategically located in front of a bus terminal and some walking distance from SM City Naga. That evening, we had dinner with the Mayor and his wife at Molino Grill located in the food strip in Naga City. The following day we traveled to Ragay (about an hour of travel) with the Mayor and his wife. Upon arriving, we immediately headed to the SK Hall where the rest of the RHU staff were waiting for our training.

After lunch, we headed to two barangays after visiting the Main Health Center of Ragay. It has a birthing center fully equipped with delivery tables, hospital beds and equipment.

After a long day, we were brought to the house of the former mayor where we stayed for the night. We had dinner in the Mayor's house which is actually not far from the SK Hall. The following day, we conducted our mortality review and even live-streamed it through Ustream since I was able to get some free wi-fi from the Mayor's House.

We left Ragay and was brought to CamSur Watersports Complex in Naga where we stayed for the night. If only I brought my shorts, I would have had tried wakeboarding in this popular resort.

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Dancing "Pinoy Ako" Around Europe

2012-02-15T09:59:00.000+08:00

During our Global Health Course in Finland 2 years ago, we four Filipino Doctors enjoyed our experience so much that as our way of saying thank you to our hosts and co-delegates, we decided to come up with a video of the four of us dancing the anthem of every Filipino fan, "Pinoy Ako"

We danced in Estonia, Sweden, Finland and even invited some of our friends to make a special appearance. Disclaimer: we are not professional dancers as the video itself will prove.

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Sights And Sounds of Jamaica

2012-02-16T07:22:00.000+08:00

What I loved about my experiences in Jamaica is the festive music. In almost every corner, there would be a group of drum beaters or musicians playing Jamaican music, from the subtle sounds of a guitar to the loud and playful music of the drums. And when the music would start to play, random Jamaicans would start dancing in the street.

And I loved watching them dance and play their instruments. It made one want to dance as well. During my last day in Falmouth, Jamaica, I decided to take the day tour around the historic town to see more sights of Jamaica.

I was even brave enough to venture out on my own right at the downtown of Falmouth to grab some lunch and some free wifi. I did not have enough time to visit some of the beaches in Jamaica but I was content in staying in the town proper where the sight and sounds of Jamaica would mingle to perfection. Rhaatid Jamaica, man.

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Improving Health Seeking Behaviors

2012-02-16T15:25:00.001+08:00

Improving Health Seeking Behaviors

View more presentations from Bien Nillos.

It is definitely a challenge on how to change behavior especially with the objective of promoting better health seeking behaviors. It is timely that this will also be my topic for my students this coming Saturday. So I am posting my powerpoint presentation here in preparation for my session with them.

Be ready for Saturday, peeps.

Also, I am posting the link to the Discussion Board where they would be discussing the case studies. To participate in the discussion board, you need to be a registered members. Since most students nowadays can spend time in the internet, then let the internet be another learning avenue for them.

The link to the boards is here. Take note: you need to register in order to participate.

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The Show Must Go On

2012-02-17T07:45:00.001+08:00

During our Leadership training in Northern Illinois University, the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Youth Leadership Program (2010) was invited to perform a traditional dance during the Ethnotopia event. The group originally presented this dance during the opening ceremonies of the SEAYLP training. The dance is called "Tiklos" and is a Visayan dance. The Ethnotopia event is the second time the group was able to perform in front of a public audience. The third time was during the culminating activity when the group decided to teach the Tiklos dance to the other delegates and performed it together with their Thai, Indonesian and Burmese friends.

During the ethnotopia event, the foster parents of the kids were actually invited to watch and of course, when it was the turn of the Philippines to dance, the kids were beaming with pride. The dance started out fine. After a brief introduction I gave about the dance, the students came out and started to perform, just like professionals.

Somehow, in the middle of the dance, the CD player started acting weird. But that didn't stop the kids from dancing. Here's a video of the dance taken by one of the foster parents of the kids.

After the dance, I was so proud of them that I could not stop smiling. One fellow Filipino who was studying in NIU and happened to be in the audience approached them at the backstage congratulating them.

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Pureza: The Story of Sugar

2012-02-17T14:57:00.001+08:00

Today is one historic day for local cinema in the Philippines. For the first time in Philippine cinema, a full-length documentary film on the struggling sugar industry of the island of Negros and how a piece of crystallized grain could affect a whole island of 2.7 million people. As described by the producers along with their trailer uploaded in youtube, Pureza "traces the history of the Negros sugar industry as it faces strife and discord in the advent of the 21st century."

PUREZA The Story of Negros Sugar is currently showing at SM-Bacolod at these Cinema Hours: 12:00NN, 2:00PM, 4:00PM and tickets are available at P120.00 at Café Uma (709-9966) or contact 0932-3065277, 0917-3012878, 034-7086076. You can also follow PUREZA, The Story of Negros Sugar on Facebook.

This is a documentary film every Negrense and Filipino must watch. I would suggest even showing it in high schools and colleges in the Province.

Production Team of Pureza:
Executive Producers J. ABELLO, JOEY GASTON
Producers FIONA BORRES, AGNES VILLAR
Director J. ABELLO
Writers JET ORBIDA, CHECCS OSMEÑA
Editor FIONA BORRES
Director of Photography J. ABELLO
Asst. Director LOVELLE BELLOCILLO
Visual FX Supervisor RICHARD FRANCIA
Sound Engineers ALBERT MICHAEL IDIOMA, ALEX TOMBOC
Music PEARLSHA ABUBAKAR
Researchers IHVONIE SEVILLENO, KAT VALENCIA

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Cakes: From Calea's To Cafe Bob's

2012-02-20T07:57:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday seemed to be a sinful day especially for someone who is on a regimen of reducing weight and staying fit. It was cakes day and it started at Calea's along Lacson street in Bacolod City when I met with the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines together with the SEAYLP - Philippines 2010 and some U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers. It was my first time to be in the new Calea which is right across L'Fisher Hotel. The place was packed with people, Negrenses and Bacolodnon's trying to satisfy their craving for sweets.

During the "Russian roulette" of cakes, I happened to be given an Angel Cake, perhaps one the best Angel cakes I had. I usually prefer chocolate cakes but that Angel cake I had last Saturday in Calea was actually not bad at all. We talked about a lot of things over these sweet indulgences: from work to school and even to Lin-sanity. One light moment I had with the Ambassador was when he asked me what school I was affiliated and when I told them I was the escort officer of the SEAYLP students who were mostly Lasallians, he said, "So that's probably why you are wearing green. Well, I was taught by the Jesuits so..." We both laughed. The Jesuits run the Ateneo which is supposedly a sports rival of La Salle.

After the meeting with the Ambassador, I spent time with the family, had dinner at Bar 21 which is around 5-minutes car ride from L'fisher. After dinner, we headed right across the street to Cafe Bob's where we ordered another round of cakes.

We ordered one slice of Red Velvet cake and a Nuna Chocolate cake (can' really recall what the name was but it was chocolate). Quite a handful of people were inside Cafe Bob's. It is quite unusual for a Saturday evening. Usually, a lot of people would already be in Cafe Bob's sipping coffee while browsing through their laptops. For that particular time though there was not even enough cars parked outside Cafe Bob's.

Still, I would prefer a laid back place especially if I want to enjoy either a piece of cake or a mug of hot chocolate.

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Zee You At Ziggurat

2012-02-21T23:12:00.001+08:00

During the socials night for the participants of the 3rd module of the Health Leaders For The Poor conducted by the Zuellig Family Foundation for leaders from the ARMM, we brought them to this place in Makati called Ziggurat. Located at Sunette Tower, Durban Street corner Makati Avenue, Ziggurat is a restaurant which serves Indian, Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern cuisine. It is a small but cozy place which transports any customer into the Middle East or a Turkish bazaar where one sits on the cushioned floor and eats a like a princely Arab.

The inside of the restaurant can occupy at the most 30 customers not including the small upper deck which can occupy an additional 10. One can choose to eat outside the terrace section of the restaurant but I strongly suggest eating inside for you to have the feel of a Middle eastern ambiance. It was unfortunate though that during our visit there, we didn't have any Turkish or Arab music playing in the background to complete the whole Middle eastern vibe.

They have a wide range of dishes from appetizers to delicious Turkish desserts like the popular Baklava. The group was treated to a variety of curry dishes.

It is definitely a new experience which personally reminded me of my brief moment while I was in Istanbul almost a year ago. The place can be quite small for a large group but it can be quite a comfortable place for small business meetings or even informal meet ups with friends especially if you are into pita bread and dips.

Ziggurat has an official website of its own. You can visit it for more details.

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Sabin Resort Hotel in Ormoc City

2012-03-01T14:27:00.002+08:00

Last February 27, 2012, I traveled for the first time to Ormoc City. We flew in from Manila to Tacloban and we traveled a little over 2 hours to Ormoc City where we stayed in this surprisingly beautiful hotel called Sabin Resort Hotel. Ormoc City is located in the Western section of Leyte. For residents of Ormoc, the Sabin Resort Hotel, situated right along Sal's Beach, is a landmark of its own. Upon entering the reception area, one is immediately drawn to the inviting huge pool which meanders its way around the park right at the central portion of the complex. Our room is situated right at the pool side and there is an access glass door which leads directly to the pool.

Sabin Resort Hotel is ideal for events both small and large ones and there is a hall for every type of occasion. There is a hall which can accommodate 400-500 people. There are smaller conference rooms which can accommodate 30-50 people. The hall we used for our training can accommodate 100-150 people and has an open balcony with a nice view of the coast of Ormoc.

The Hotel has other amenities including restaurants and bars. It offers free wifi as well although it is only available at the reception/lobby area.

The staff are friendly and very accommodating. The food is very delicious too. My favorites are the pineapple slices for dessert. Truly the best pineapples I have tasted in my adult life.

A small park is also located right at the edge of the resort near the beach where one can just wander around to enjoy the scenic view.

Sabin Resort Hotel is a surprising find. I have never expected to see such a gem here in Ormoc. Perhaps there are still many surprises this beautiful city has to offer.

Sabin Resort Hotel has its own official website where you can get other details if you want to make reservations.

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Cinemedicine 2012: The Trajectory of Illness

2012-02-26T16:26:00.002+08:00

As part of the requirements of my first year medical students for their Family Medicine course, I asked them to produce mini-films that would highlight the trajectory of illness. Each group was given a unique case and their tasked was to portray the various stages and phases a sick individual and his/her family would undergo. The value of knowing the trajectory of illness is that the family physician can be aware of the emotional and physical stresses of his/her patients and their families and that the family physician can plan out a regimen that is sensitive to the emotional, mental, social and physical needs of his/her patients.

Below are the entries to the first Cinemedicine:(Warning: some scenes may be too risque and may require strict parental guidance. Viewer Discretion is advice.)

Pamana

Suso

Baog

Picture Frame

Sigarilyo

Akinse

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Precious Palawan

2012-03-02T11:46:00.001+08:00

If there is one place I would like to visit again, it would be Palawan. The last time I was there I was in Puerto Princesa attending the Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines Annual Convention, together with other doctors from Negros Occidental. It was my first time in Palawan and in Puerto Princesa and I was really very excited. To save money, I was able to find a decent place to stay (Lola Itang's Pension House) which is right at the center of Puerto Princesa and a walking distance from the nearby malls and fast foods.

While in Palawan, I was lucky to visit the Underground River (one of the supposedly new 7 wonders of the world) and even other landmarks of Palawan.

I was able to visit the largest prison camp in the Philippines, the Iwahig. We also visited the Crocodile Farm.

One fun place we also visited was Baker's Hill. It was like stepping inside a cartoon world.

I am really hoping that I could come back to Palawan and maybe this time enjoy their popular beaches and diving sites. Something to look forward to.

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COSplay For Kids and Big Kids

2012-03-05T08:07:00.001+08:00

I was coming out from the gym last Saturday when I saw what seemed to be a familiar character from an Anime comic book. I immediately deduced that there must be some Cosplay gathering somewhere in the mall. Either that or I was just hallucinating. True enough, when I started following him, I was led to the activity center of Robinson's Manila where a hundred more characters were gathering to attend a Cosplay event. It was like walking through the page of a comic book. Every character was there, from DC to Animax, from favorite Disney films to characters from favorite video games.

There were people from all ages, from toddlers to grown ups, all dressed in their favorite characters. I regretted having not brought a decent camera so I had to settle with my old cellphone's camera to take pictures of Cosplayers who gamely posed for anyone who would like to take their pics.

Try to see if you can identify some of these characters.

I admire how much time these people spent for their costumes. Some are really very elaborate. The make up also appeared very realistic. Parents would take their children's pictures with their favorite characters. It was a fun chaos in the mall and everyone seemed to be enjoying it. I would love to bring all of these characters to my kid's birthday party.

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View From San Juanico

2012-03-05T09:30:00.002+08:00

When one visits Leyte, one should not fail to visit the country's longest bridge: The San Juanico. The San Juanico Bridge, completed during the Marcos administration, connects the island of Leyte to its twin, the island of Samar. It has a total length of 2.16 kilometers. The bridge has 43 spans and medium size boats can pass beneath its large main arch the top of which rises 41 meters above the sea.

Its original name was the Marcos Bridge and rumor has it that it is Marcos' "Taj Mahal" to his first lady Imelda who hails from Leyte. It connects Tacloban (Leyte) to Sta. Rita (Samar). It spans over the picturesque San Juanico Strait, the narrowest strait in the Philippines. It took 4 years for the Bridge to be completed.

After the HLMP training held last week in Ormoc City, the group went to San Juanico Bridge before heading for the airport in Tacloban to take some pictures and visit this beautiful bridge. According to many, San Juanico Bridge is the most beautiful bridge in the entire Philippines. And after seeing the view from the bridge, it is definitely a beautiful sight.

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Panaad Sa Negros 2012

2012-03-07T12:42:00.000+08:00

Panaad sa Negros, dubbed as the Mother of all Festivals in Negros Occidental, is the province's summer activity for every Negrense. It is usually hosted in Bacolod City at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan. This year, the Panaad Festival is scheduled on April 9 - 15, 2012. The following are the schedule of activities for this year's Panaad Festival.

DAY I, APRIL 9 (MONDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Ching’s Group (Panaad Football Field)
07:30 a.m. The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Panaad Swimming Complex)
08:00 a.m. Panaad Thanksgiving Mass (2F Panaad Stadium)
09:00 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies for:
Panaad Tourism & Trade Fair @ LGU Pavilions*
Negros’ Best Products Display, NOTLDC (2F Panaad Stadium, North Wing)*
Organic na Negros Agri-Fest (GF Panaad Stadium, North Wing)*
Livestock & Dairy Products Fair (GF Panaad Stadium North Wing Grounds)*
Festival Costumes Exhibit & Competition (GF Panaad Stadium, South Wing)*
Eco-Garden & Wellness Show (South area across Candoni Booth)*
Environmental Information Advocacy (2F Panaad Stadium)*

02:00 p.m. Motorcade & LGU Floats Competition (Provincial Capitol to Panaad Park)
04:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony & Festival Dance Competition (Panaad Stadium)
Fireworks Display

8:00 p.m. GMA “Kapuso” Show (Stadium)

DAY II, APRIL 10 (TUESDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Panaad Football Field)
07:30 a.m. The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Panaad Swimming Complex)
Athletics (Panaad Field)

08:00 a.m. Chess (Stadium VIP Room)
10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
01:00 p.m. Drum & Bugle Competition, Secondary Level (Panaad Football Field)
02:00 p.m. Boxing (2nd Level South Wing, Panaad Stadium – weigh-in @ 7:30-10am)
07:00 p.m. Negros Pop Music Festival – Composo/Pop Song Writing Competition (Panaad Stadium)
08:00 p.m. NOPSSCEA Cultural Show (Panaad Park Stage)

DAY III, APRIL 11 (WEDNESDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Panaad Football Field)
07:30 a.m. The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Panaad Swimming Complex)
Athletics (Panaad Field)

08:00 a.m. TESDA Livelihood Skills Olympics (Panaad Covered Court)
Chess (Panaad Stadium VIP Room)
UPLBAA Annual Panaad Seminar (venue TBA)

10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
01:00 p.m. Taekwondo (2nd Level North Wing, Panaad Stadium, weigh in @ 9-11am)
02:00 p.m. Boxing (2nd Level South Wing, Panaad Stadium – weigh-in @ 7:30-10am)
03:00 p.m. Latin Dance Sport – Adult, Senior & Juvenile Categories (NOMPAC Gym)
07:00 p.m. RMN Panaad Hip Hop Challenge (Panaad Park Stage)
08:00 p.m. UNILEVER “Pop Fiesta” (Panaad Stadium)

DAY IV, APRIL 12 (THURSDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Panaad Football Field)
3K & 5K Road Race (Panaad Stadium)

07:30 a.m. The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Panaad Swimming Complex)
Athletics (Panaad Field)

08:00 a.m. Chess (Panaad Stadium VIP Room)
Taekwondo (2nd Level North Wing, Panaad Stadium)

10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
02:00 p.m. Boxing (2nd Level South Wing, Panaad Stadium – weigh-in @ 7:30-10am)
03:00 p.m. Environmental Activity – PEMO (2F Panaad Stadium)
Provincial Capitol Employees’ Day (Panaad Park Stage)

05:00 p.m. Visayan Folk Dances Competition (Panaad Stadium)
09:00 p.m. Technical Rehearsal, Lin-ay sang Negros Pageant (Panaad Stadium)

DAY V, APRIL 13 (FRIDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Panaad Football Field)
07:30 a.m. The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Sipalay City)
08:00 a.m. Swimming (Panaad Swimming Pool)
10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
02:00 p.m. Boxing (2nd Level South Wing, Panaad Stadium)
08:00 p.m. MOR Local Stock – Ilonggo Music Fest (Panaad Park Stage)
Lin-ay sang Negros Pageant & Coronation Night (Panaad Stadium)

DAY VI, APRIL 14 (SATURDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Panaad Hot Bodies (Panaad Football Field)
Murcia – Panaad Run

07:30 a.m. Governor’s Cup Panaad National Golf Tournament, Vice Mayor’s League (NOGCC)
The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Sipalay City)

08:00 a.m. Swimming (Panaad Swimming Pool)
Farmers Day Celebration & Farmers Forum (venue TBA)

10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
02:00 p.m. Panaad Derby Opening (Panaad Covered Court)
Boxing (2nd Level South Wing, Panaad Stadium – weigh-in @ 7:30-10am)

07:00 p.m. Outstanding Farmers & Firsherfolk Awards – OPA/PVO w/ ABS-CBN (Panaad Stadium)
09:00 p.m. ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Fiesta Caravan (Panaad Stadium)

DAY VII, APRIL 15 (SUNDAY)

06:00 a.m. Hataw sa Panaad w/ Ching’s Group (Panaad Football Field)
07:30 a.m. Governor’s Cup Panaad National Golf Tournament, Vice Mayor’s League (NOGCC)
The Great Titan Lifesaving Sports Festival (Sipalay City)

10:00 a.m. Daily Trade Fair & Exhibits @ various venues (refer to Day 1)
02:00 p.m. Panaad Derby (Panaad Covered Court)
03:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony w/ Awarding & Presentation of Winners (Panaad Stadium)
07:00 p.m. Drumbeating Showcase/Fireworks Display
Silka Sponsored Show (Park Stage)

08:00 p.m. Corporate Show/Concert (Panaad Stadium)

For more details, you may contact the Provincial Tourism Center/Office.

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Visiting The Vice President At The Coconut Palace

2012-03-11T15:29:00.001+08:00

Last Wednesday, together with 9 mayors, 10 municipal health officers, representatives from the University of Makati and Zuellig Family Foundation, we paid a visit to the Vice President of the Philippines in his office at the Coconut Palace. As described in Wikipedia, "The Coconut Palace, also known as Tahanang Pilipino (Filipino Home), is the official residence and principal workplace of the Vice President of the Philippines. Located at the CCP Complex, in Pasay, south of the centre of Manila, it was commissioned by former First Lady Imelda Marcos for Pope John Paul II's visit in 1981. However, the pope declined the offer, saying that it was too ostentatious a place to stay while in the poverty-stricken Philippines. The Palace's architect Francisco Mañosa, later claimed that the Coconut Palace - a showpiece on the versatility of the coconut and its viability as an export - was planned long before the Pope even decided to visit the country."

It was my first time to visit the Coconut Palace and my first time to meet Vice-President Jejomar Binay. Many are saying that he is a strong contender for the Presidency in 2016. The palace is located on F. Ma. Guerrero Street at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex between the Folk Arts Theatre and the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. Before becoming the official residence of the Vice President, the palace was best known for wedding receptions.

It was a cordial meeting with the Vice President. During the visit, he willingly shared his thoughts about public health and shared his experience as a mayor running his own local health system. I felt that he was comfortable surrounded by mayors having been a former mayor himself. He talked in their own language and it seemed that the Mayors looked up to him almost like a big brother. The Vice President is a strong advocate of local government empowerment.

During the visit, Senator Bong-Bong Marcos dropped by to thank the Vice President for allowing him to use one of the conference rooms for his meeting.

It was a good experience for everyone. The Coconut Palace itself is not only beautiful but very historic. The Coconut Palace has been a guesthouse for many guests, including Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Brooke Shields and George Hamilton (his favorite room was said to be the Zamboanga Room). The Coconut Palace has found itself being featured in various TV shows. On the fifth season of the reality series The Amazing Race, the Coconut Palace served as the pit stop when the competing teams went to Manila.

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