Past Time ni Juan Dela Cruz

•   Tsismisan / Kwentuhan. Likas na sa mga Pinoy ang pagkahilig sa tsismis, kwentong barbero/kutsero, debate at balitaktakan. Ang magbabarkada tatambay yan hindi lang para makita at makasama ang mga kaibigan kundi para na rin hindi mahuli sa pinakabagong bulung bulungan. 

•   Manood ng Telenovela / Drama / Telepantasya. Sa mga oras na 2 PM - 4 PM at 8 PM - 10 PM naku mahirap awatin ang mga ate, nanay, tiya at lola sa panonod ng paborito nilang novela sa telebisyon. Parang naka-martial law sa bahay pag ganitong oras. Hindi pwedeng ilipat ang channel ng tv kung ayaw mo masigawan. 

•   Manood ng Sine. Siyempre hindi puwedeng maka-lusot ang bagong sine lalo na kung ang bida ay ang paboritong love team. Mahilig din mga Pinoy sa pelikulang banyaga kaya mga taga Hollywood tuwang tuwa.

•   Magpalamig sa Mall. Minsan parang hindi mo sasabihin o iisiping naghihirap ang Pilipinas. Bakit? Ang daming mall! At palaging puno ang mga shopping malls na ito. Bakit ulit? Kasi libre naman pumasok dito at malamig pa. Kaysa magdusa sa mainit na kwarto eh tambay na lang sa mall...Pwede pa mag spot ng chicks sabi nga ng mga bagets d'yan. 

•   Karaoke / Musika. Basta Pinoy music lover! Naku magtataka ka pa ba kung halos bawat karinderya ay may mga karaoke machines? Kahit nga sa lamay ngkakaraoke na rin. 'Nuff said.
  

•   Basketball / Billiards. Isa pang common na makikita sa bawat kanto at sulok ay ang mga basketball courts at bilyaran. Ang dalawang paboritong isports ni Juan Dela Cruz. Kahit nga gawa pa sa lata ang ring at ang bola ay maliit katalo na at pwede na magpustahan. At sa bilyaran, syempre idolo ng mga tambay si Bata Reyes at Bustamante. 

•   Mag-Sugal. Ito naman ang gawain ng mga sugarol na Juan. Kahit hindi na makatabi sa asawa sa gabi makabawi lang sa tong its. Kahit hindi na maihatid si bunso sa iskul makapag-mahjong lang...Haysus!

•   Internet / Texting. Eto naman ang isa sa pinakabagong pampalipas oras ni Juan at Juana. Ang magbabad sa internet para magkalap ng mgaraming kaibigan sa friendster, myspace, multiply atbp. Nahihilig din makipag chat sa YM at mag search ng litrato ng mga singkit na koreano/koreana. Texting naman is not that big of a hit na pero 5 yrs back talaga namang ito ang nangunguna sa listahan. 

•   Magpaganda / Hygiene. Kaya naman nabansagan tayong 'sweetest smelling people in the world!' Eh pano ba naman kung hindi nag-papaparlor, andun naman sa kwarto at nililinis ang kuko. Mag obserba ka sa telebisyon at 50% ng advertisement ay mga produktong pampakinis ng kutis, pampaputi, pampapayat, pabango, instant hot oil, pang alis ng tigidig, panlinis ng mukha, panlinis ng puday pagkababae, pampaputi kilikili, pang-alis ng anghet, iba't ibang klase ng kolorete at marami pang iba. Hindi pa kuntento sa isang ligo maghapon yan. Kaya naman mapanglibak ang Pinoy sa mga lahi na talaga namang masahol pa sa kambing ang amoy. 
  

•   Tabloid / Krosword / Poketbooks. Ang pagbabasa ng tabloids, pagsagot ng mga krosword puzzle ay malimit na gawain ni Juan habang  ang pagbabasa ng pocketbook ay gawain naman ni Juana. Sa nahay nga ng sister ko ang dami koleksyon ng mga pocketbooks at ibinili na ng sariling lalagyan para hindi nagkalat sa bahay.

1. Eats my time. Wow! This is like the best thing to ever come up over the internet for bored and shy people like me (shy daw oh) who has lots of time to waste.

2. Meeting friends / chatmates around the world. This is the fastest way to meet people from around the world. Instant connections!

3. I can exercise my  tongue thru my fingertips. Since I am not really a garrulous, blabbermouthed, talkative guy in person I get to experience being madaldal in online chatting without getting out of my comfort zone.

4. I get to pile up my collection of friends in Friendster! Hindi ko na nga kilala mga na-add ko hehehe.

5. Get's me thru homesickness and clear's my mind of anxiety.

6. Learning basics of different languages. Learning how to be polite and respectful to different chatters who came from different cultures, upbringing and places. Learning more things that I can't enumerate here.

7. Source of free mp3s, movie links, e-books, etc. Even YouTube links and other informative web site URLs pwede matanong sa mga web addicts roaming around the chatrooms.

8. Cool scripts really excite a programmer like me.

9. I can project myself differently as often as I'd like to. I can even be the person I wanted to be!

10. Funny / corny jokes, surprising / irritating side comments, heated debates, smileys and a lot more. A whole lot of fun!

I was really very happy yesterday when I learned about his victory. The sad thing was that I was not able to watch the fight in television. Damn, there's no coverage provided by RCTI as most Filipinos here in Indonesia were expecting as the network covered Manny's bouts since he beat Barrera in theri first duel. I just relied on text messages sent to me after every rounds.

I could not really say anything more about the boxing fight since I was not able to see it. I just hope that somebody back home recorded it so I can watch it when I go on vacation.

Mabuhay ka Manny! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! You made the Filipinos prooud again!!!

This is a copy of the electonic-mail I just sent for a student in the Philippines seeking help regarding a small speech about Filipino Nurses.

Miss Cherry,

Got this from Good News Pilipinas! and would just like to mirror it here. The new relaxing resort of Mount Sea. Enjoy!

A Hidden paradise in Cavite

By Christine S. Dayrit

Fiesta Resort, Cavite

Spend all week talking about your weekend.

At the recently concluded “Singles Getaway” event organized by Victory Christian Fellowship, I realized that a weekend of games, fun, camaraderie and fellowship in an exquisite resort just outside the city can be a life-enriching experience.

Driving through the streets of Kawit and Binakayan in Cavite and passing by the ancestral home of Emilio Aguinaldo, many thoughts came to mind. This province embodies a revolutionary past and teems with natural attractions, from spectacular waterfalls to glorious beaches. However, Bacoor and Tanza seem to be extensions of cosmopolitan Manila, peppered with several factories, the PEZA zone, refineries and neon lights. Further south, beach resorts in what were once shipbuilding towns — Noveleta, Rosario and Tanza — cater to city slickers.

Who would ever think that in the middle of this somewhat urban jungle of Barrio Capipisa, Tanza, there would be a refreshing oasis, a sanctuary called Mount Sea Grand Resort?

As I entered the lobby, I felt transported to an exhilarating world of luxury. I thought I was daydreaming as I explored the resort wedged between the mountains and the sea. Feeling like Mona Lisa, I embarked on an ocular inspection of the fabulous haven. My eyes gazed upon the safari-themed pool area, which included well-landscaped pools, challenging water slides and various life-sized animal carvings like crocodiles, gorillas and other reptiles. It has tortoise-shaped inflatable trapeze beds, a hut in the middle of the pool, cascading waterfalls plus exquisite caves in a hidden lagoon that resemble the lodgings of Banak and Dyangga in the Dyesebel movies of my childhood. It all seemed so surreal like being in an African safari where images of the Big Five of the African bush and thatched rondavels bear a tribal heart-thumping beat.

No wonder, international star Jang Dong-Gun, the star of the Koreanovela series All About Eve, enjoyed staying in this new hotel resort. Honestly, I never expected Mount Sea Grand Resort to be so beautiful. It is a hidden paradise in the middle of rustic Cavite. Replete with its verdant landscape, the resort has panoramic views of the sea, sunrise and sunset.

The main building itself is a monumental work of art, conceived with a world-class hotel in mind. The hotel has 124 guest rooms, with all the deluxe facilities including white linens and soft duvet. My roommate Nikki Joy Real and I were awed by the sheer comfort of our room that had a view overlooking the sea.

According to resort PR manager JR Mercado, Mount Sea Grand takes pride in being the only resort in the Southern Tagalog region that has a duvet in each guest room. This comforter-cum-blanket provides supreme relaxation during the guest's stay.

Grand Resort, Tanza, Cavite

We had a hearty Filipino breakfast at the superbly appointed Yang-tze restaurant, which serves what's perhaps the best Asian fusion cuisine this side of town. The fine-dining setting, painted in exotic green and adorned by bakawan branches, radiates a cozy relaxed ambience and represents a return to nature.

Dishes from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia are prepared by the resort's master chef. JR excitedly shared that Korean celebrity Jang immensely enjoyed a variety of dishes, most especially the sizzling seafood. Some of the house specialties are Hunan-style beef, golden mushroom soup with crabmeat, fried spareribs in spiced salt, Mount Sea shrimp ball, and fish fillet with toasted garlic. One of the most notable and in-demand dishes at Yang-tze is the uniquely tasty stuffed broccoli (broccoli flower stuffed with mashed shrimp and back fat), served with a special wine sauce.

The hotel staff beamed with warm Caviteno hospitality as they assisted the delegates at the Amazing Race obstacle games to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship and teambuilding. Other facilities of the resort include aqua sports, kayaking, water trampoline, speedboat, and jet skiing. They also have an Internet room, karaoke, darts, billiards, beach volleyball and more.

It was definitely a treat to have our singles getaway weekend in a lovely paradise. In the well-appointed function room of the posh resort, we listened to dynamic VCF pastors and learned that the three most important relationships are with our families who give us unconditional love, and real friends who are like highways that guide us where we desire to go and above all, an intimate connection with God as we surrender our dreams to Him.

Hollywood Night reigned supreme as the participants donned their choice outfits to resemble their favorite Hollywood star. Vibrant and talented delegates shined as they performed music numbers spoofing Jessica Rabbit, Reese Witherspoon, Snow White and more. What brought the house down was the karaoke singing contest wherein your “triumph” would be measured by the loudness of your voice. Never mind if you couldn't carry a tune. It was simply hilarious. Delectable chocolates were generously given out as prizes to everyone.

Mount Sea Grand Resort is truly a perfect sanctuary not only for fellowship groups but also for corporate affairs, conferences, family outings, romantic honeymoons and weekend getaways like what I joined.

It was an invitation to celebrate life and our uniqueness. To have surroundings that match your imagination, to be ushered into spacious rooms with the scent of lavender and eucalyptus, to experience a private sunrise waiting patiently outside your scenic window, to welcome the day enveloped in unquestioning joy and contentment.

I am so glad I accepted it.

More pictures of Mount Sear Resort here...

MassKara Festival

This October, Bacolod will celebrate their biggest annual event called MassKara Festival. This is a Mardi Gras-like celebration that features masked and costumed street dancers, with fairs and carnivals. This is held on the third week of October (and coincides with the city's Charter Day celebration) although this year it will be a three-week event starting October 1.

Brass band competitions, beauty pageants, the Charter Day street Party are among the events to watch out for. The climax is a colorful and joyous parade where revellers don elaborate masks and costumes and dance in the streets all over the city.

Truly, the City of Smiles has a lot to smile about as Bacolod will once again be filled with tourists and enthusiasts and will be the center of attention in the next three weeks. Our brothers and sisters from Bacolod will have the chance to show the whole country how they party and celebrate their fiesta in style!

The Masskara Festival Schedule of Activities:

October 1 - Monday Festival Opening
Food and drinks kiosks will operate until Oct. 21 (Public Plaza and SM City)
Ongoing till Oct. 31 Magica MassKara (Orange Gallery)
Oct. 13, 2007 MassKara Queen Pageant
Oct. 18, 2007 Countdown to Charter Day Street Party

Street Dancing Competition Schools category
Oct. 19, 2007 CHARTER DAY celebration
Civic Military Parade
Electric MassKara
MassKara Fantasy Costume Show

Oct. 20, 2007 Street Dancing Competition Barangay Category
Masquerade Ball
Electric MassKara
MassKara Drum Beating Contest

Oct. 21, 2007 Street Dancing Competition Open Category

The Power of Love!

Naku naghahabol na ako ngayon sa aking FP kasi last week absent ako four days sa gym :o( Inabot yata ako ng katamaran at kawalan ng disiplina...Pinoy na Pinoy nga shet.

Last Friday tuloy parang sumakit ang katawan ko kasi masyado yata na puwersa. Kailangan ko kasi ma-achieve ang objective bago umuwi ng Pilipinas...magbawas ng timban--g (at least 4 Kg). Eto at nangangalahati na ko, kung iisipin ko parang impossible yata ang another two Kg in a span of three weeks??? Bahala na! Yan ang paboritong sabihin ng Pinoy. Pero kailangan ko ma achieve yang target ko na yan dahil sa November ang aking scheduled annual physical examination at gusto kong masabi na "Yes!!! Fit na Fit ako!"

Sa susunod na rotation ko dito sigurado mas sisipagin ako mag -ehersisyo... Bibili ako ng iPod para hindi ako mainip sa gym. At least may napapakinggan na music kesa naman dun sa mga tunog ng bakal na binubuhat ng mga maskuladong Indons at threadmill na kakarag karag na...

I felt a big relief that it will not be Miss Ara Mina, as rumored earlier to be the one chosen, who will belt out our national anthem. Well, not to say Miss Ara's talent is inferior but I believe Kyla can sing our NA better. Another thing is that there will be no added controversy since Kyla is not rumored to have any romantic relationship with our prized fighter while Ara is continually being linked to MP.

Bad thing is that I will not see my fantasy coming true...Jinky coming up the ring to smack down Ara Mina while she's singing the NA and obviously exchanging flirty looks and smiles with MP... the next scene is open for suggestion.

Old Manila Pictures Part I

 

Calle Del Rosario

Calle Real de Manila

Ayala Bridge

A damaged house after an earthquake in Centeno St. Sta. Cruz, Manila.

A typical Manila street scene Calle Rosario, Binondo

Lighthouse and Anda Monument, Intramuros, Manila, 1901

Manila streetcar, early 1900s

Palengke scene in Manila

Bili na kayo suki!

Old Luneta Hotel

Letran de Manila entrance 1906