Orange Monster Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:27:00 +0000

The other day, while writing a blog post, I asked out loud, "What's the Filipino word for self-flagellation?" Answer I got: "Tanga. (Idiot)" I chuckled a bit.

And then I saw this Reuters story online today:

Like I said in a previous blog post about the Lenten season, I find self-flagellation creepy and unnecessary.

Ordinarily, I would ignore these kinds of articles. but I happened to scroll down the comments section, and can't help but be pained about comments on the idiocy of the Filipino people for still doing the self-whipping, carrying of crosses and crufixions in this time and day. While I found being called an idiot by ourselves chuckle-worthy, it's different when even people from other places do so. Yes, I'm aware that Filipinos do have a lot to learn as a race, and I do not agree with this religious practice, but the ridicule still pains me. Love your own, of course.

Looking at the article, one would find that common reasons include asking for forgiveness and praying for a wish to come true.

It also notes how their church also discourages the practice, but it is resigned to the fact that customs are hard to erase.

My two-cents is: You can order people to stop doing this gory and unsanitary practice, but if you keep on teaching anyway in weekly worship that they are sinners, they are not worthy, they need forgiveness, suffering will take you to heaven, after pain in this world you will get your reward in heaven, then whatever pastoral letter or holy memo, or legislative decree or whatev utos ng hari you serve, this ridiculous practice will resonate in their hearts as effective. And those words ordering them to stop this practice will be empty.

In the meantime, different strokes for different folks. If my kababayans want to do this, it is inevitably their decision. While of course I wish they'd stop, I also wish they will learn that they are worthy people, that they are loved even without sacrifice and pain and drama, that they can do good for themselves in other ways. I am very aware I'm wishing and I have no idea how this can be done. But really, as long as they don't shove their beliefs down my throat, they're quite harmless (to others, not themselves). Kanya-kanyang trip yan.

As for the others, anyone can express freely if they think we have idiotic practices. Each race has its own idiotic practice and groupthink anyways (bad manners online highlighting this, take note), but by calling out their flaws in proper venues and in objective manner, maybe we Filipinos are less of idiots than they are.

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Excellent Service at PC Live SM North EDSA

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Many thanks to the staff of PC Live in SM North EDSA - 5th Floor, Annex.

I chose to buy there because it seems prices are very reasonable, cheaper even than others.

The staff were so nice and helpful. They initiated that I change my order, to accommodate what I needed. Even if I have already paid and had the official receipt, they were so helpful with the change: the manager, sales person, the tech person and the cashier.

I admire their demeanor even if the situation is inconvenient and quite annoying. They were very professional and pleasant until I left the store.

For people who need computers and parts, I recommend you try their store for top notch service where the customer comes first.

Yes, this store is my new favorite. I'm a convert.

PC Live – SM North EDSA Annex

Tel: (632) 441-1389

Fax: (632) 332-2335

Branch Manager: Elvin De Lucas

Email: elvin_delucas@ampc.com.ph

Address: Unit AXI-511 Annex 1 Bldg. SM City North Edsa, Pag-asa 1, Quezon City

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Big Deal Holy Week Practices in the '80s

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 05:20:00 +0000

The Catholics' Holy Week rituals are coming up, and everyone has been asking everyone what beach or far-off city they're off to during the long break. I couldn't help but heckle non-practicing Catholic friends, "But you're not Catholic. Why are you suddenly turning Catholic when there's a long vacation involved?" :D

I'm not Catholic, but I would like to share to the younger ones the Holy Week activities we experienced while growing up in the 80's. It's very much undoubtedly Filipino, regardless the religious denomination, so that poses some merit to inform the internet generation what these activities are all about.

Dear young people, back then, there were no malls to hang out in, and whatever shopping complexes exist, those are closed from Holy Wednesday to Saturday. Most establishments were closed for several days, drugstores, grocery stores, etc. so you had to stock up on supplies early. If you go out, you will find the city empty, like ghost towns in Western movies.

When we were young, traveling to go solely on vacation was not common. Usually, folks travel back to their own homes in the regions to practice Catholic rituals (and reunite with family as well). For us, we go home to my mom's family in Bataan, which has its interesting share of holy week beliefs and activities, most of what I remember listed below.

Big Deal Holy Week Practices in the '80s:
Pictures and videos are not mine. Many thanks to the owners credited below.

Palm Sunday. Everyone gets a designed palm leaf/ leaves thingy called "palaspas" and has it blessed in church. During the blessing of the palm leaves, believers wave it in the air all at the same time, commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Note that as kids, we would marvel at the commonly accepted "fact" that the palaspas is a potent, bad ass weapon against the aswang, floating heads, floating coffins, manananggal, or if you chance upon any walking dead characters in the street at night. (Especially on the night of Good Friday and Black Saturday, when the gewd lord Jesus Christ is dead and the bad elements roam the earth.) How to use on malevolent beings? I dunno, I suppose wave or lash the palaspas at them.

Photo not mine, borrowed from wikipilipinas

Fasting. Or slowing. Since you slow down the quantity of your food intake. The adults did this, but since we were young, we were allowed Abstinence. Mostly abstinence from pork and beef, but everything else was game. Junk food was allowed XD
Prusisyon. Or prayer processions flanking the statues of saints and the top holies. I think people who walked with the procession prayed the rosary? I was too young to remember.
Pabasa. Before the magic sings invaded our homes and was used to the max during the holy week break, people had this. "Basa" in Tagalog means reading. A family sponsors a day-long/ overnight pabasa where people "read" the life of Jesus from a long booklet, but in singsong manner. I still cannot get over the un-uniformity of the sound, and instead of solemnly reflecting on Jesus' life, I try to hold in my giggles.

Please note: I do not own this video, it is owned by cardonainaction and posted in 2008. Thank you po. I put it here to clarify to the younger ones what a pabasa is.

Visita Iglesia - I've never done this evorr, my parents don't do it so... But I think it's visiting seven churches and attending the mass? or prayer rites ? as an act of penance. This act of penance is a great deal of fun when you do so with the entire clan, complete with picnic baskets and baon, plus you get to each church in an air-conditioned transportation.

Cenaculo - productions that present the life and passion of Jesus. Usually casts the active members of the community.

Self-flagellation - Penitent men would do the yearly vow of whipping themselves in act of penance. They would roam the streets as they hit themselves on the way to church, terrorizing countless generations of children. Now I'm all grown up but I still get chills remembering this.

Video owned by sidenotes1. Thank you din po.

Crucifixion - Some get tied to the cross, some get nailed as an act of penance. I've never witnessed one, and don't intend to, and my only comment can be summarized in one word: Creepy.

No bath time. I remember it being said that baths are not allowed during Good Friday. Something about the water is also Jesus' blood (?), not sure. As a kid, one would be overjoyed at such a rule during regular days, but this was the time when climate change was not active, and holy week is always during the peak heat of summer, so we did not follow this rule since it was so hot.

Extra scaredycare on the night of Good Friday. Like I said, it was believed Jesus was dead and the scary thingys felt free to roam the earth, so be very careful and sleep early on Good Friday. And pray you wake up late when the sun was already shining on Saturday.

Easter Salubong - Ah, the light at the end of the creepy tunnel. This ritual reenacts the meeting of Mama Mary with the resurrected Jesus. Yay!

As kids, we looked forward to this, even if it meant one should wake up at 3 or 4 am because there will be cute children wearing angel costumes.

Once upon a time, communities would make a really HIGH arc/ stage, place kids in angel costumes up that arc, tie a rope round their waist, and swing them like bells when Jesus finally met up with his momma. Us kids would be awestruck seeing the little angels flying around. Now that I have kids of my own, the confidence in putting your kids high up somewhere with just a rope now sounds a bit creepy to me as well.

But then, that's how we did things old school.

So there. That's how a usual holy week was done back then. It may be awash with fear, gore and horror and mixed suffering penance with enjoyment, but that was really how it is.

Now which is more memorable: Our malling and beaching ways now, or the religious ways of yore? Comment below.

Disclaimer: All comments are my opinion and this is my blog. I am not influencing you to think otherwise if you practice any of the above.

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Orange Monster shoots It Depends band

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:28:00 +0000

It Depends kids at the far-off background, with photographer Rago

Last Saturday, Orange Monster peeked in at the photo shoot of It Depends band, a bunch of high school kids into some poppy-punky-rocky-whatevy music.

The kids were out for a stroll and some pictures, reportedly to be used for the album they are preparing.

Orange Monster told me a sample of their music is here: http://myhappies.tumblr.com/post/19952031648/someday-by-it-depends-instrumental-2011

Go listen.

And support the It Depends album launch on 30 April 2012.

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Summer activities for kids - cheap or free Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:41:00 +0000

Continuation of Summer activities for kids - cheap or free

For bigger kids:

9) Outdoor Pinoy games
Can someone teach these kids Filipino games??? Most may not have an idea what these are:
- Piko
- Siyato
- Patintero
- Tumbang preso
- Taguan
- Sipa
- Trumpo, even. If you can find one.
- Kite flying

These are played in school but still a great activity, especially when cousins and neighborhood kids are hanging out.

- Chinese garter
- Agawan Base
- Monkey Anabel
- Touch the color
- Pepsi 7-up

10) Board/ indoor games
- Scrabble
- Pictionary
- Cranium
- Word Factory
- Card games
- Mah-jongg. While my family and friends obsessed over Scrabble after lunch, my friend's big sister would come over and call her while my friend's scrabbling with us: go home, mom's looking for you so we can play mah jongg.

11) Sports
- Good for parents and kids of all ages, if your family is the sporty type.

12) Online Gaming
- Who says parents and kids can't game together? If you don't have computers at home, tag along to the computer-an. You're kids may look mortified with you there, but your willingness to learn their game will shoot up your kewlness factor a wee bit (but they will never admit it). If your kids have willing titas and titos to play with them online, arrange for a common time and day to "meet" online.

13) Journalling
- I saw some cute Domo notebooks, so I've bought some last week to give to my son and niece as their summer journal. They can flex their language muscles and list whatever ideas plans doodles stories they come up with this summer.

14) Photo journalling
If you have a camera at home, encourage your kid to take one picture everyday this summer. It can be a new thing learned that day, or a take to creatively capture a usual happening at home. Maybe you can even have the photo set printed when summer ends.

eseehC! I mean, cheese!

15) Scrap booking
... if you and your child are into it. It's fun and you have a keepsake you'd all love to look at in the future. Just get ready to clean up after.

16) Assistant around the house
- Cooking assistant
- Cleaning assistant
- Dad's activities assistant

Teens hate chores. They mostly want to hang out online or outside the house.
This will be tricky to implement, but I truly believe kids should be taught to be responsible around the house, since they will have their own households someday. If you have not been teaching them earlier, it will be hard, but worth it.

Poser shot.

This is in Rizal's house in Calamba, not our house.

17) Magic sing/ videoke at home together
What kind of True Blue Pinoy household is yours if there are no sing-along units in the house? Well, best use it with your kids. Or get updated chips/ DVDs with songs they like. They will not sing your new wave or Vanilla Ice songs with you, I'm sure.

18) Lessons
For big kids and teens, lessons and their allowance to go to lessons are much cheaper than frequent malling ;-) And their new skill or knowledge will be priceless.

19) Booksale raid!!!!
Your bookworm will be thrilled if you can allot an hour or two to bring them to the nearest booksale or your usual bookstore. Prepare your budget for several books, to keep them preoccupied for some days. Love of books is always a good thing, so it's okay to spend for some.

20) Just talk to them
Talking is becoming a rarer and rarer commodity for parents and big kids these days. And this is also assuming your communication line with your teen is not in total crisis.

Have an open heart, and prepare to not hit the roof for your kid's opinions/ideas you find outlandish or scandalous. Practice your poker face for these things, but show enthusiasm for things you both like. If you think something needs correcting, bonding time is not the venue for reprimanding. If you are having difficulty with this, just communicate with your kids the way you would your friends or colleagues. Your kids are not your friends, you are their parent, yes, but your children deserve the same respect you extend to your friends. Yes?

But if you're willing to sit it out patiently, you'll find talking and listening to your kids on a hot summer day is fun. Not to mention free.

Happy summer! Write below if you have any more summer activity ideas.

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Summer activities for kids - cheap or free PART 1

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 02:40:00 +0000

School's out for the boys this week, and summer excitement is here at home. I've been thinking of what these children will be doing for the next two months, and since we will be spending for a lot on hanging out and more food consumption this vacation, best plan activities with little or no cost at all. I decided to share since I'm sure most of you fellow parents share the same concern.

Cheap and free activities are much trickier for the pre-teens and teens set, since mostly they itch to stay out of the house with friends, or park themselves in front of computer 10 hours with no break.

But I've been through the small kids-parent at home stage myself, and I still remember some of the cheapo activities we used to do, or wanted to have if only my boys were a bit less stand offish. It's easier to have cheap summer activities with small kids, since its success will mostly depend on your own energy level and time. Teens and pre-teens, I'm not too sure. I will keep you informed :-)

PS. All photos are swiped from Supernormalgirl's personal collection, with no permission. Well, I asked for permission after posting. Note that you can only do this to your siblings, and not other with other people's stock photos you randomly came across in the net.

You will need: time and energy to do the activities, and time and energy to clean up

Cheapo summer activities for younger kids:

1) Coloring books, puzzle books, riddle books, maybe even interesting math booklets. This can keep them absorbed for 20 minutes to an hour. If you have ink in your printer at home, you can choose free coloring pictures together.

2) The good ol' batya swimming (plastic pool)
It'll get hot soon. hot weather + batya or plastic pool + water + toys = 30 mins to 3 hours occupied.

3) Theatrical numbers
We never did do this because my boys weren't the type to do so, even when they were small. But you can encourage the children at home to role play a story, or they can make one up. You can even join in, if you like. If you have only one child in the home, congrats, you're cast no.2, maybe ate yaya can be cast no. 3. Pets can also be in the cast.

4) Drawing
Dig out all those notebooks from the schoolyear with blank pages. And what remains of the crayons, if any.

Purty art work by niecey

5) Clay molding
You may have to buy to have a sizeable amount of clay, but the soft material is good for your child's hands to unleash the creativity.

My sister remembers she used to have clay sessions with the mom, and remembers that mom once made her a clay gorilla.

I am less creative, I got a clay molding instructions book, sat down with son2, and we just followed the steps.

Warning: The clay leaves residue on the surface stuck on so OC mamas will not be too happy about that. More so if a piece drops on the floor, everyone forgets, then someone steps on it. Not phun.

6) Simple games
like we used to play in our day, are good for kids.
- Jackstones
- Chinese jackstones
- Pick up sticks
- Snakes and Ladders
- rubic's cube
- Chess if you think your child can understand the basic moves per piece, its always a great day to start.

Missing chess piece? No prob. Small toys can substitute.

7) Caring for plants
Patient and curious kids will love the little changes plants undergo every few days. If you're a nerdy parent, you can do some bit of explaining on growth, life etc. I'm not sure if bigger kids will like this activity.

8) Mom's or dad's little assistant
- Cooking assistant
- Cleaning assistant
- Dad's activities assistant

Best for small kids who love hanging out with you every moment.
Be prepared to repeat the job, ONLY when your child has left the room.

For pre-teens and teens however, this is another matter and requires extremely high parenting mamaw skills/ or god-level persuasion skills.

9) Music at home lessons
If you know how to play an instrument, or a bigger sib or cousin does, simple music lessons can be shared to the little ones.

kweng kweng kweng...

NEXT >>> Cheap and free summer activities for bigger kids

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An enlightening trip to the garden suppliers'

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:45:00 +0000

I hied myself one day to the La Mesa Eco Park for some quiet time with nature.

I kidded my friends, 'I'm off to church.' And they said 'Weh.' Not that one silly. I prefer the natural, non manmade structure for a church.

Before starting my thingy inside the park proper, I dropped by the garden supplies stall in the parking lot.

And I got much more heart and wisdom from the mud-splattered signages there, than in any

(I deliberately left that hanging, lest I say something un-nice.)

I particularly liked that the origins of the quotes come from a nice mix of belief groups.

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Coloring Books for Filipino Kids at the Met Museum Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Here are some coloring books that your child will enjoy, as well as quietly teaching them appreciation for Philippine culture.

I found these the last time we went to Metropolitan Museum of Manila, but I didn't buy yet. When I mentioned to my sister I wanted to give the coloring books away for friends' daughters for christmas, she immediately suggested, " ... how about for Peaches?"

I knew I was going back to the Met because of the Suite Pollard, and come back, I did, last Friday, for a homage trip to Picasso. I was awestruck too with the pre-Hispanic gold exhibit and the pottery since it told a lot of stories about pre-Colonial Pinoy wealth and talent. Iba din talaga. (Go see it!)

So with Mission #1 with Picasso done, I went over to the Met Museum souvenir shop for Mission #2: Get Peaches her coloring books for her dual christmas-birthday gifts.

And here's how the pages look inside:

There's a caption below that tells about the clothes worn for what will be done.

The captions are in English and Tagalog.

The clothes featured are for ladies, men, boys and girls.

So if you have little kids who cannot appreciate museum trips yet, but you want them to know more about Philippine culture, these coloring books would really be handy as these tell about Pinoy living and clothing from way back.

Go visit the Met Museum and don't forget to drop by the souvenir shop.

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Ganda ng Lola Ko - Happy Birthday, Tandang Sora!

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:26:00 +0000

This lola can kick the slick Darnas' butts anytime, any day.

Tandang Sora, real name Melchora Aquino, is one bad-ass superheroine people don't bother getting to know. That includes me, yes. We used to just discuss her for five? two? minutes in school, then the discussion moved on to other seemingly more interesting revolutionary heroes.

Saw yesterday that it's her birthday today, so I was prompted to read up on her. I lambasted myself for not caring enough to know more about this fantastic woman who never lost the drive, hope and zest to serve people. And reading just a bit about her confeermed that I sucked for not bothering.

In this brief wiki about Tandang Sora, we get a glimpse of her life in a few words, that imply so much. Since we only got her in the radar in her senior years, I will try to guess about her life, just make some generalizations about how she may have been then.

Melchora Aquino - Tandang Sora may have been...

... Smart and pretty
Literate even if unschooled, always chosen to perform in events, frequent Reyna Elena. People don't choose you to perform if you're butt ugly or slow or not confident. She also married the barangay captain, so I fathom she's among the creme dela creme of ladies in her neighborhood.

... Independent
A widow by the time her youngest child was 7 years old, she strived to raise her children on her own with her store.She also never remarried.

I was also very surprised it's her maiden name, Aquino, that stuck through the ages. Her kid in the wiki article was using the husband's name, Ramos. Must mean somefink. I can only guess she was so used to being alone, she referred to herself with her maiden name. She is her own woman, I suppose.

... Pro-active, Patriotic, Bad-ass brave Baylan
She gets around, was there during the tearing up of cedulas. You don't get your foot in to such events if you were an apathetic citizen. At 84, a time when grannies were sickly or dying or dead, she was there, tending to and praying with wounded revolutionaries and hiding them, them sending them on their way. She lives dangerously, this lola does.

... Loving
You don't get this much energy to serve people and live so long if you don't have love in your heart.

So yeah, I hope to read more articles or see more features about her. I would love to know more about this woman, plus I would love to be somehow like her, kahit onti lang.

Idol kita, 'La! And thank you!

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One Huge, delicious Hunk

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:48:00 +0000

In bed with one delicious Hunk

It's way bigger than my head.

I'm more of a dark chocolate fan. Once in a while, I enjoy a truly delicious milk chocolate bar and this time, it's One Huge Hunk Belgian Chocolate with Pecans and Fruit Pieces by Fresh and Easy. Super yum. Thank you to our sponsor, Renz. lelz.

The milk chocolate is just right. Not too sweet, not too milky. Still tastes chocolate-y despite the milk. The chocolate base of this bar is what I imagine milk chocolate tastes like when I used to play the PC game Chocolatier by Playfirst.

The pecan blended in tastes nutty, but complements the chocolate. I associate pecans with oiliness but the pecans in this bar do not have that rancid oiliness. The pecan pieces are small enough to just give a crunchy, delightful bite.

Plus the fruit, the fruit is not the usual grape or raisins that is too sweet. Looking at the ingredients now, the fruits they mixed in aim to capture apple, cranberry, carrot (sure that's fruit? but its listed there), blueberry and black currant. So yeah, it tastes too far from the usual raisin. For me, I truly liked the fruity flavor of the soft meaty flesh I bite into.

And the size? It's just humongous! Each square is the usual size but the bar is way bigger than my head. I think there are about 70 squares in this bar, so there's enough chocolate to go around for the whole family, plus the neighbors, plus your lunch bag for several days.

So yah, this One Huge Hunk chocolate bar is highly recommended!

Where to buy this? Ask relatives in Arizona, Cali or Nevada if there are Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Markets nearby and ask them to horde these bars.

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Rizal writings: Which have you read?

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:46:00 +0000

Such a cutie.. sigh.

Today is one of those days to remember Jose Rizal.

Saw this post online from the abs website:

Irony of Rizal: Many written works but few Pinoys read them
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/12/30/11/irony-rizal-many-written-works-few-pinoys-read-them

And I agree. I myself, am a fangurl, but I have read very few of his works.

I have read only the Noli and Fili (thank god an English version by Charles Derbyshire came out, or I would not have re-read it ever, or became a Rizal convert), plus the unfinished novel, José's diary as a young man, and still working my way through the family letters.

I would really love to read José's notes on Morga's book, though :-)

Plus later on, letters with Blumentritt (to satisfy my curious question to, bromance ba ito?)

Anyone who knows where I can get the Morga book?

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Frank, Ondoy, Pedring, Sendong Storm-Flood Musings

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0000

What a bummer to see polls, trolls, calls all crying out who's to blame for the numerous deaths due to floods.

Bejezus, stop it already.

We can't bring back the lost lives with the blaming or with what I want to say, but my 2-sentimos is this: The times now are different from 10, 20 years ago. Storms in the 90s and early 2000 are much different from the storms now. So, the way we will deal with this should also be different. Right now, what we do know is that we do not know what to expect, but the rains ARE strong, sometimes with no storm signals at all. So how to deal? It's more on playing it by ear because we do not know what will happen next. The rain can be just the usual one or something that brings flash floods. We do not know, really. But we have to tune in, to listen, to look, to feel at what's happening next. We have to be vigilant.

Coping with a flood on a family level is the most important of all. In a crucial moment, we don't really save our asses as a community but we fend for ourselves with our family. We cope with neighbors if and when we get together with them during emergency time. We do not really deal with a flood as a bunch of people, as a local government. For most of us, it's just our own body, our kids, parents and house companions who cope with a flood. The local and national government are there to help out with warnings, evacuations and such. But in that moment, it's just ourselves and our family.

- -

During the Ondoy rains of 2009, my sister in Cainta called me up at noon with fear in her voice about the water rapidly rising. As we were flood children in the 80s and 90s, totally used to waters in, out and around the house, her fear was alarming for me. While we were on the phone, I remembered my friend's story of her tita in Jaro during the Frank rains of 2008. The aunt went up to the second floor to fold clothes, and in a few moments, felt water seeping by her feet. The aunt and family got out through the second floor window and headed towards safety by wading through the water holding on to ropes strewn across the street tied on to poles.

Recalling this incident, I told my sister to ready ropes and anything that floats. I did not expect them to use it, really. But we never can tell, nobody expected that Frank flood to be so bad. I hoped Ondoy wouldn't be like it, but I felt surprise was one element that kept cropping up with natural disasters those days (still does, these days. But only because we are so stubborn). My sister had an inflatable bed and family members hurriedly inflated it. A few hours later, they and the neighbors were able to use the bed to get to another neighbor with a three-story house. The water was too high to simply wade through.

Pedring was another misfortune that I couldn't help but cringe on the blaming. Blame blame blame the lack of preparation due to the "wrong" signal number of the storm, when of course, the signal numbers just follow certain criteria to be numbered as such.

Again, Sendong. So many repetitive questions on who is to blame.

Hello, people. Just stop it already. :-p This is too important to just yak away and look on.

---

Suggestions of how to deal with floods: by someone who grew up having floods about 10-15 times a year, but is now clueless and is basing it on patterns from the floods the past 4 years

Before the rains come. As in, to-do now:

- Have an evacuation plan even if you think you don't need one.- Ready evacuation items/ equipment even if you don't think you'll need it.

- Have a plan on where to meet if in case you have to separate.

- Have a coordination plan with relatives you can run to in case your area gets flooded. Discuss this during non-rainy days so they will not get surprised when emergencies happen.

- Have an plan where to go and stay if in case floods do affect your house terribly, even if you feel it impossible. Plan this according to where you work and how kids will get to school.

- Avoid being too lax on this matter even if you are thinking the whole family is safe on the second floor rooms. Many of our tragedies that happened, happened to people staying on the second-story rooms of their house.

- Have a plan on how to evacuate pets as well.

When the rains come:

- When the rains are expected, do the usual drill of preparing flashlights, candles, water, food, cell phone batteries and load

- Since everything is now a "surprise" disaster with flashfloods, check water levels on the street and around your house REGULARLY even if you didn't do that before.

Take note of unusual water levels in the sewers. Watch out for strange plumbing activity even in your own CRs. Then note the time difference when it actually floods your street. After this, note differences in water level and time durations. Cross check with weather forecasts the water level rise and the predicted duration of coming rain.

- Watch out for flash floods too, which is becoming more and more common the past years, yes? There are no predictions of storms, just rains. This happened once or twice in Cainta the past years too, and has left me with the jarring reminder of being watchful always. Be watchful ALL THE TIME of the rain, weather predictions or none.

- At night, take turns getting up to check the water levels.
In the 80's, since we lived in flood-prone area Cainta, by a creek, to boot, my parents would get up hourly to check the water rising by the creek and on the streets. They knew if water was rising too fast or the usual, based on observation and remembering past floods.

- If you do have to evacuate, secure your money, ATM cards and other important documents in sealed plastic bags.

- Don't be a stubborn bitch. Leave the house when you have to. Even if you are OA and leave before the rains come, my thinking is: Better OA on a dry day than tegi-bums on a really rainy day.

Now, just counting the storms in my title, there are 4 examples that I used, but there are definitely more storms that have come to our country. Do we really still get surprised when the rains and floods are too devastating? Sigh.

Just look at the patterns of everything that has happened. We all love our families. Let us all be cautious and observant of nature so that we can care for and protect our families better.

My condolences to all those who lost their families in all the past floods. This piece is for you.

Donate to Sendong victims through Red Cross

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No, we did not kidnap Elmo and shoved him into a box

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:43:00 +0000

That be our christmas tree this year. Yes, I'm fully aware it's red.

And though I don't name my stuff anymore like I used to in high school (when very few did), this tree rightfully deserves a name.

Yes, it's Elmo.

Elmo will sprout up on Mang Napo's birthday, November 28, as my sibs and I usually set up the christmas tree to celebrate both his birthday and the start of his favorite season.

Have to get some green tartan curtains to soften how this baby looks in the living room.

Abangan sa Nov. 28...

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And my Pegasus Wire Sculpture is Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:43:00 +0000

The wire sculpture I ordered from Venson Constantino is home! Yay!!!

Like I said, such a beauty, yes?

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Chok Nut's Chocolate Ah

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

I'm definitely including a roll of tablea in my next grocery shopping trip. It was my first time to try ChokNut's Chocolate Ah batirol yesterday and it was so soothing to my chilled body and my palate I just had to have some made here at home.

Chok Nut's Chocolate Ah is how hot choco should taste like. When I was a kid, my mom used to make these on cold mornings. Back then, I did not drink when she made some. Too messy for a kid, I guess. I couldn't stand the chocolate-y residue on the percolator, the batirol, the mugs. I was more a Quik fangurl then. It was a rare treat, since we only got those when US-based relatives sent some. Now, the NesQuik just tastes too synthetic for me. lolz. I wasn't too fond of Ovaltine or Milo, either.

Anyhoo, even if I didn't drink this mead equivalent then, the warm happies evoked by Choknut's chocolate ah did not suppress my fond memories of living at home when I was young and the general picture of being secure and loved in my childhood.

Choknut's Chocalate Ah plus a tiny piece of Napoleones package costs P99

Drop by Chok Nut sometime and try the hot choco for yourself. Great for the coming cold days this yuletide season. :-)

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Jose Rizal Shrine loot!

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:52:00 +0000

After visiting my dad's shell's container in Binan last Undas, we decided to drop by the Jose Rizal Shrine in Calamba.

The shrine is pretty much improved but still with the same stuff. It's a quick tour that you can zip through in five minutes. I wonder why other Rizal exhibits have more Rizal family items than the shrine itself. Stwange. Anyhoo, Rizal family things are less important to me now. As my niece and I were scouring the trinkets at the souvenir shop, looky what i foundy:

Besides the cell phone charm with Noli and El Fili clay miniatures, a rubber baller ring (not in the pic)with Pepe's face and pop cap Jose Rizal necklace, I scored treasure worth more than any actual Rizal item- Rizal family letters.

I have always been fascinated with any info that gives a peek at how Rizal was in person. This time, I get to peek into his family's personal side. One can fathom better a person's character when you look at the person's interaction with family. Plus, I have always believed that siblings have some similar characteristics somehow deep in their souls, being similarly exposed to one environment for some years. And now I have a chance to take a brief glimpse, all for the incredibly low low price of only P200! Huwow! huwat an offer!

Yes, mahaba na ang pila sa magbabasa after me.

I will share some of the contents of this book sometime here in this blog. Yes?

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Beer showdown: Tiger vs. SMB

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Bleck.

Tiger, you suck. Tastes like a liquid that tastes ehmm.. strange. Sorry, but that's the only adjective for it. Not beer-y at all. You don't taste tough, stripe-y, feline-y or orange. A disappointment, is my two cents.

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Where to Stay in Camiguin - Enigmata Ecolodge

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

I have to go back. We arrived late at night and I left immediately in the morning. Bitin!

http://www.camiguinecolodge.com/

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Sighted: Cute

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:09:00 +0000

In our family, (meaning my original family, to my kids, nieces-nephews, etc.) learning has always been a priority. My sibs and I were never a grade-conscious lot, but yes, a lot of our day-to-day activities and excursions do revolve around learning. The message has always been clear to us that in life, the learning never stops. I have been passing this little nugget of truth to my sons since pre-school, and I hope they remember this well until they grow old.

I suppose we got this from our mom, the ever-reliable and not any less scary schoolmarm. This all-souls weekend, we slept over at her house and I couldn't help but smile when I saw the book on her bed:

RAWR!

I just had to violate my mom's privacy and take a picture. giggle. And no, the little kids who used to use this book are all teens now and would not touch this book with a 50-foot pole. So it's not the kids.

Lol. Kewt.

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Wire Sculpture-Wire Art Pasalubong in Enigmata Camiguin

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:28:00 +0000

In my stay at Enigmata Ecolodge in Camiguin, I was totally fascinated with these 3-D aluminum wire sculptures of mythical and usual animals.

I have always been awed when the beauty is merged with industrial materials. This collection is no exception. Looking at each piece, precisely bended at the right place to signify not just structure but also character, left me impressed and blissed out.

Turns out the master of this wire zoo is Venson Ian Constantino, a young artist-member of Enigmata. Each piece is made from a single and looooooong piece of aluminum. I was quite intrigued why Venson had this particular love for dragon wire scultures. I asked if he got ideas from books, he said he based all his works from his imagination.

I looked if he had a Chinese dragon. I myself am not too hot for fiery, violent dragons. I do love Chinese dragons though (my and my son's Chinese Zodiac sign) for their wisdom and majestic presence. He did have a Chinese dragon, and a really long one at that. It was worth P3,000 and I did not have the budget for that.

Anyway, I bought a tiger for my son. I really loved the unicorn, and remembered the other mythical creature closest to my heart, the winged horse (Pegasus is my batch name in my sorority). I asked Venson if he can make one for me, and he graciously accepted. I think he just fiddled through the wire because it was all ready to fly home to me the next day. Travel budd Lorna took this pic:

Such a beauty, yes?

Other works:

horsey

dragon

in-progress warrior, joints are moveable. taray no.

a wedding table ornament (calling wedding planners)

So if you are going to Camiguin and are fascinated with animal sculptures, I suggest you hop on over to Enigmata in Mambujao, Camiguin and look up which wire piece suits your taste. Or better yet, stay at Enigmata as well during your trip. It will be all worth it.

Can't wait to see my Pegasue! Thanks Fris and Lorna for bringing my wire animals to Metro Manila!

Order your wire sculpture pieces from the artist, Venson, at
vensonianconstantino@gmail.com
call 0935-9481016
or buzz him up at Facebook: vensonian

PS. Venson, my son sleeps with the wire tiger I bought him. Thank you so much!

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Is there internet access at? Tacloban

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0000

I used mostly my Sun net on my phone. It was very fast.
Wifi at the Hotel Alejandro can just be accessed at the lobby and cafe, and quite slow.
Smart net on the phone was quite slow.
Sorry, I forgot to try Globe.

There are also internet cafes downtown. I did not ask the rates per hour.

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Tacloban - A Nice Surprise of an Educational Vacation for the Family or Why Go to Tacloban

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:41:00 +0000

I've been figuring out for a few weeks now how to make my Tacloban blog post useful for readers since the local travel blogs have covered it wonderfully enough.

My 2 cents is: I recommend Tacloban is a nice place to go on a quick vacation with family (or just by yourself) because :

1. You have museums, shrines and beaches (in nearby Samar).
2. The main places to visit are quite near enough. Kids can wait out the travel times in between places. You also have enough time to look around, go back and rest at your hotel room, set out again, etc. etc.
3. The place is abundant with history. They have 2 historical iconic shiz here: the World War II Liberation period, plus the looming presence of Tacloban daughter La Imeldifique.
4. Food and accommodations are reasonably priced for the traveller.
5. Recommended for families with bigger kids already interested in history and culture.

Some pics:

Hotel Alejandro is a tourist destination in itself.

All floors of the hotel have a vast collection of WWII Liberation articles

and pictures hung on the walls

(as of Sept. 2011, rate is PhP1,600/day)

Sto. Nino Shrine

Lots of interesting goodies inside since it was made as

Mama Imelda's vacation house.

(P200 admission for group, P30 to take pictures)

Pryce Mansion (now the CAP bldg) - where the Dougie stayed

(and was dynamited, but he obviously survived)

People's Place (dioramas of 82 ethnic tribes inside)

Beautiful San Juanico Bridge in the midst of the awe-inspiring water. Sigh...

This bridge leads to the beaches, btw.

Note: Tourists not allowed on the bridge, but I read blogs where they were allowed here

with permission from the checkpoint.

San Juanico Golf Club

Great-tasting, reasonably priced food with lots of servings for the hungry golfers :-))

(Around P150-300 for viands. BIG servings so super worth it.)

Memorial to remember Dougie's return,

symbolizing the Japanese surrender of the country

There are lots more places to visit. Downtown is easily walkable. Plus the people there are friendly, it's safe to walk around. There are no taxis in downtown, you get around in jeeps or tricycles (like the Thai tuktuk), but there car rentals available also if you want to get around.

Tacloban really is a nice place to be with family if you just want to hang out and talk. There are no malls and minimal nightlife, so you can really spend time together and tell stories while visiting the peaceful places or while on the road.

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If I had only a sister...

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:40:00 +0000

... who would greet me everytime with ala-Darth Vader "It is I..." when we see each other online? (That is always appended by, "I... am... your brotherrrr... NOOOO!!!!", btw)
... who would I sing Ric Segreto, Beatles and Apo Hiking Society songs with in the car?
... who else would bring my mom pasalubong in grade school everytime he came from a field trip?
... sinong mag-iigib nung di pa uso ang Nawasa water sa Cainta?
... who would pick me up from gimiks at 2am when pop was already asleep?
... nobody would have given me my first beer.
... who can tell a one-sentence random thing like "I turned the faucet tap" into a full paragraph?
... who can tell elephant jokes so hilariously he's laugh crying before he even starts telling the joke, and crickets just chirp on you while you wait for his happy tears to subside?
... who else would sing "Am I the Same Girl?" in videoke and get a hundred?

Not my sister, NOOOOooooooo000o0o0o0o. Super Normal Girl is all about the slick and the kewl.

For all stuff dorky and geeky, I have a brother.

A brother plays a special role in life because he teaches so much in his goofiness. In the rare times that I DO get to piss him off, I've had my share of curt, scary reprimands, but on the whole, it's in his dorkiness that I've learned most about cool-headedness, some kindness, some music, some food, some life.

Yes, this brother is the most un-psycho member of our family (like my dad). He is the closest exposure I got to borderline normal.

And so, I am quite happy he was born into this world with the same parents that I got. I can only be grateful.

Happy bithday Kuya, I love yooouyuyyu always !!!

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What Instant Tuna Should Be

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 02:51:00 +0000

I picked some ready-to-eat tuna in packets at the Citra Mina in General Santos as pasalubong for those I will not be seeing immediately upon arrival. These sacheted viands came in different variants. I got the Kare-kare, Black Bean, Curry and Adobo tuna.

I later on decided not to give these as people might say, "Meron namang Century and San Marino and 555 and Blue Bay and etc etc na tuna ulam. What's the point of giving this as a souvenir from GenSan?"

I was so wrong as I opened the black bean and kare-kare tuna yesterday.

I fell totally in love with the Citra Mina Ready-to-Eat tuna tastes like real ulam you'd COOK at home.

Look at these tuna CUBE babies.

Totally kicks the canned tuna butts.

Plus it's not fish-y stinky (malansa) or tastes like tin.

For the moms like me whose eyes water in chasing time to feed families, these delicious ready-to-eat gems are heaven-sent.

--

There's Citra Mina in Paranaque!

Citra Mina Multinational
Brgy. Sto. Nino, Multinational Access Road
Paranaque City
Tel. No. +632-820-6080

Citra Mina Sucat
#8 President Ave.
Tahanan Village
Sucat, Paranaque City
Tel. No. +632-8076459

Or visit the Citra Mina website for inquiries.
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Viva La España

noreply@blogger.com (Orange Monster) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:51:00 +0000

Was cruising through Manila last night and I realized

España Boulevard is so purty at night now :-)

I dunno how long this has been like this, but I am used to España as an old, quaint, dirty and sickly road.

Now the road is clean, the gazillion lights give quite an ambience, and the curly Q-ed metal railings at the center isles are nice.

Great work, Manila government. Thanks.

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