Old times 001

...mga shirts na nilagyan ng jobus.


...the infamous pepsi "349" scam na super daming nanalo, isa na tita ko na nanalo ng Php 20,000.


...mas sikat ang UMD kesa streetboys.


...Andre the giant, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker.


...Pearl Jam and Nirvana.


...Beverly Hills 90210, Are you afraid of the dark?, Baywatch, Doogie Howser, MD and 7th Heaven.


...Era of United Colors of Benetton, Swatch, Doc Martens, Tretorn, Adidas' Samba, Giodano, Guess.


...Babae daw si Nick of BSB.


...Bobcat bags.


...fake branded jeans from Greenhills.


...Flat top na haircut.


...Hooded shirts.


...rollerblades, pogs, dampa, brick game, family computer, the computer game na hinuhulugan ng piso.


...hiphop and punks rivalry.


...kailangan before 4:30 nasa bahay ka na dahil...Ang TV na! Nyeeee!


...Inlove ako kina Winona Ryder and Alicia Silverstone.

The Movers

People (other than family) who in one way inspired and taught me valuable lessons in life that I still carry till now. 

1. The fab 5 – the finest and undeniably the best friends I had. We’ve known eachother since fetuses days. These lifelong friends taught me the real meaning of through thick and thin. 

2. Fr. Medardo “Ardie” Ong – the best priest I knew. He’s got a great sense of humor with an undiminished character. I became religious because of you. 

3. Mama Tess and Papa Badong – my 2nd mother and father. I will always be thankful for giving me a second home and family. 

4. Pong – the highschool bud. The immeasurable, unconditional and mostly fun-filled friendship we had will always be treasured. See you in heaven! 

5. The Greenies – the rest of the elementary and highschool buds. School and after school life will never be the same without you guys. Animo! 

6. Gab & Jong – childhood playmates at Lola’s house. Childhood vacations became adventure-filled because of you. I can never forget the afternoon trips at the nearby rice fields catching shrimps, fishes, spiders. 

7. William, Richard and Ton-ton – childhood playmates at Tita Zeny’s house. Weekend vacations meant playing tex, laste, goma, etc., climbing trees and roofs and going to “neverland” minus tinkerbell. 

8. Smashing Pumpings – the college kada. Despite academic hardships learning math, science and other god-knows-how-hellish-it-can-be-when-math-and-science-joined-forces subjects, became a little less scary and worth taking. The Nasugbu and Balayan Batangas trip, the Angat, Bulacan and Guagua, Pampanga trip, weekend parties, overnights, et. al = priceless. 

9. Ate Yeye – the Sunday school teacher. It was in her school that I first showcased my acting prowess. Bible reading became uber cool. 

10. The Dentro peeps – our neighborhood. We survived numerous brownouts back in the late 80s, the 1990 earthquake, the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption ashes and recently Ondoy. We’re still here.

Holiday Round Up (part 2)

Day two ng aming Ilocos adventure. We went to Vigan to visit some relatives. We left at around 5 in the morning para mabilis ang byahe. It took us more than one hour to reach Vigan pero ayus lang dahil saya ng road trip. We passed by Santa Maria and visited their famous Baroque church, the La Asuncion de la Ñuestra Señora Church which is sited on the crest of a solitary hill. Truly a magnificent and world class church worth keeping.

Arrived at Vigan past 7. Breakfast prepared by one of my dad’s cousins. Syempre the authentic Vigan Longganisa, Bagnet and the Ilocano Dinuguan. Thanks Tita Leng. My great grand parent’s ancestral house is still there, beautiful and magnificent as ever. Its one of the reasons why I am proud of my Ilocano blood. Feeling ko kasi naging part ako ng nakaraan ng Vigan though it really didn’t happen that way. Medyo eerie parin yung bahay dahil sa naglalakihang mga photos ng mga ancestors ko pero so far wala pa naman akong nararamdamang kakaiba. Knowing that our ancestral house is well taken care of, malamang panatag na rin ang loob ng mga namayapa kong mga ninuno kaya wala naman ghost sightings or paramdam.

Able to meet a lot of relatives again. Its really nice to rekindle family ties and talk about the good old days. Hindi ko man natandaan lahat ng pangalan ng mga pinsan ko to the nth level, I will still be proud to be one of their relatives and one of their own.

Sa dami ng kamag anak, inabot na kami ng lunch. Syempre, Ilocano recipes at its best and finest – Papaitan, Igado, Dinakdakan and Pinakbet.

We spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Vigan proper. Crisologo, San Pablo and Burgos Museums and the Syquia Mansion. We also visited the St. Paul Cathedral or the Vigan Cathedral, Arsobispado Nueva Segovia and the famous Calle Crisologo.

Merienda syempre sa Empanadaan lang. Vigan’s empanada and okay are still my favorites. Authentic Vigan taste lalo na pag sinawsaw sa sukang Ilocano with ilocano sibuyas. Yummy!

Laging nagsusumbong si Cairo sa akin kasi every store na pasukan ng mga mommy ko may binibili sila. We ended up with tons of pasalubong.

We have to go back to Tagudin after dinner kasi may sayawan daw at babang luksa ng kapatid ng tita ko kinabukasan.

Day Three, we went to Tagudin market. Since Sunday, market day nila. Daming pwede bilhin from veggies to dried fishes to meats and traditional Ilocano kakanin like tupig and bibingka. We also toured the church and its vicinity since katabi lang naman ng palengke. Andun pa rin yung sundial na until now ginagamit pa rin. Interesting way of life. Basta there’s something unique talaga sa pamumuhay ng mga nasa province. I’m not sure kung makakatagal ako ng ganun but few days of stay there a year ay sapat na para obserbahan at ma appreciate ang bucolic and surreal life nila.

We headed straight to Bangar, La Union. Bibili kami ng mga kumot, punda at kung ano ano pang pwedeng magawa sa Ilocano weaving. Its good to know na buhay pa ang ganung industry despite the modernization.Yung mga gadgets kasi nilang ginagamit ay yung sinauna pa rin and they still make those pieces the traditional way.Great!

Non-stop lutuan pag uwi namin. We have to feed a whole barangay. Babang luksa nga kaya may salu-salo. My tita prepared Menudo, Pansit, Dinuguan, Chicken Pastel, Kilawin and Beef Kaldereta. Nakakatuwa kasi ang daming tao. Parang fiesta. Halos lahat ng tao puntahan. Sarap kumakain kasama nila. Even my dad didn’t miss that part.

Nanghuli kami (sila pala) ng isda, crablets at hipon sa ilog nearby nung hapon. Game si daddy, naki lublob, naki hila ng lambat at naki huli ng laman-ilog. Crispy crablet and ginataang hipon ang ulam namin nung gabi. Mom served as the photographer, Leroy, Belle, Cairo and I ay naligo sa ilog at sa dagat. Nag balsa din kami. I took some pictures of the Farola lighthouse (I’ll post it some other time).Weee!

After dinner balik Vigan kami. Dami pa kasing hindi napupuntahan at mga kamag anak na hindi na me meet. Pagod pero ayus lang. Minsan lang kasi mangyari at magkaron ng ganung opportunity.

Last day, 4th day. Pagkatapos pumunta ng cemetery to visit dead relatives and ancestors pumunta kami sa Baluarte, owned by Chavit Singson. Malaki yung place pero hindi pa ayos lahat. May mga constructions pa rin, siguro in two years time, maayos na yun. Syempre naaliw si Cairo at ang mommy ko dahil animal lovers sila.

After that pinuntahan din naming yung ibang mga dapat bisitahin sa Vigan. Mira Hills, Damili Village, Pagburnayan (Mom bought few pieces of jars and pots), the Kankanen makers at Brgy. San Jose (sarap kakanins) and the equally famous Simbaan a Bassit (bassit is Ilocano word of small. We also went to the nearby town, Bantay and went to the Bantay church.

Bags packed by 10 PM and we headed home to Manila. Great trip!

Ewan ko pero kahit yearly ako nagpupunta ng Ilocos (minsan twice a year), hindi pa rin nagbabago yung tingin ko sa province. Mangha at gandang ganda pa rin ako sa lugar na yon. Hindi man ganun ka progresibo yung buhay, ma a appreciate mo par in dahil sa ka simplihan. Masarap na paminsan-minsan ay bumabalik ako sa lugar kung saan ay mga tradisyonal na gawain pa rin na patuloy na ginawa at pinapasa sa mga nakababatang henerasyon.

Masarap kasi fresh air, malapit sa dagat, tahimik, masarap mag muni-muni at mag balik tanaw sa nakaraan. Eto yung lugar na kahit less than 5 hours lang yung tulog mo ay hindi mo mararamdamang puyat ka kasi kakaiba yung surroundings, parang kawalan mo pag nagising ka ng tanghali kasi ma mi miss mo yung sunrise habang naglalakad sa baybayin ng dagat. Yung makita mo yung mga alon, yung maliliit na crabs na gumagawa ng bahay sa buhangin, yung makita mo yung mga tao na tulong tulong sa paghatak ng lambat ng mga mangingisda at makita mo yung biyaya ng dagat.

Kakaiba.


Last part tomorrow.

Holiday Round Up

First entry ko to this January. I wasn’t able to update dahil sobrang hectic ng schedule ko (oo daig ko pa si John Lloyd Cruz pagdating sa busy sched).

I did a lot of worthy stuffs naman. I spearhead 4 charity events with family and friends. Masaya na malungkot dahil sa worsening conditions ng bansa natin but what’s important ay may mga taong handa pa rin tumulong sa mga nangangailangan no matter how hard life is.

Birthdays - Celebrated my 30th birthday as well. Simpleng dinner lang with close family and close friends.Sobrang saya because I was able to see friends na akala ko e nag migrate na sa bundok ng Tralala. Also my son – Cairo’s 9th birthday. A few years from now may binata na ko. Bilis ng panahon.Happy birthday son!

Reunions - lots of it. With college friends (those I became friends with sa iba’t ibang GE subjects; IE Friends; LSGH Friends; Tropa sa bahay; Mga naging kaibigan sa bahay ng lola ko. Relatives sa provinces (Batangas, Ilocos and Tarlac).Former officemates and business friends. Basta halos lahat na meet ko. Kaya busy.

Noche Buena – Nag order lang kami sa mga restaurants. Walang time mag luto but mom managed to cooked the traditional Paella, Hamonado and Embotido.

Christmas – As usual busy sa bahay. Daming namasko. Had the chance to see distant relatives as well na every Christmas lang naming nakikita. Also so good old friends. Sobrang dami nila. Ubos ang pera pero OK lang, sabi nga ng daddy ko mas ok yung ikaw ang nagbibigay kesa ikaw ang binibigayan. Blessed pa rin kami, tama ang daddy ko. We also visited one of my lola’s (my dad’s mom) siblings. Ibang iba na si Lolo Simon from the last time I saw him. Semi-bed ridden na cya at wala ng yung matikas at matipunong lalaking nakita ko dati sa kanya. Medyo odd din kasi Lolo Simon told us na every night at 6 PM lagi daw bumibisita yung ibang dead relatives naming sa kanya. Scary.Basta great day, really a Merry Christmas!

Ilocos Sur Trip (December 25 to December 29) – Its been a tradition for me and my family to visit Ilocos Sur every after Christmas. Part of my dad’s family ay taga Vigan, Ilocos Sur. We left around 11:30 PM 25th of December. Our first stop: Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. My tita’s (my dad’s sister in law)hometown and birthplace. I fell inlove with this place. Makikita mo talaga yung simpleng pamumuhay dito kahit na marami ng magagarbong bahay na nagsulputan. Naka depende ang everyday survival sa biyaya ng dagat, needless to say, karamihan sa kanila ay mangingisda.About 50 steps away lang ang bahay ng tita ko sa South China Sea and the river nearby. Walang NASAWA connection. Water is coming from deepwell.

What fascinated me the most ay yung uri ng pamumuhay na mayroon sila. They love gambling. Mahilig sila sa kahit na anong uri ng sugal. Lantaran ang tayaan ng jueteng. Afternoon activities include playing cards, chit-chatting, and videoke singing and ummm, baby making if I may add. Yearly nadadagdagan ang mga bata doon. Sobrang daming bata.Kahit maliit na komunidad lang ang Barangay Farola in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. Makikita mo yung unity and close knit ng mga tao. They don’t have much in life but they still managed to be happy and content.


To be continued.

Trip down memory lane (The people from Group shows, Cartoon Characters and Mascots, part II)

Cartoons and Mascots – Bago si Barney si Denver the last dinosaur muna ang uso, Mr. Bogus na ang pangit pangit, yung mga Trolls na ginawang keychains, Fido Dido, Chucky, TMNT – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Boyoyoy Clowns, Felix the Cat, si Alf, Ewoks!,

Penpen de Sarapen Group – headed by Tita Coney Angeles, Islaw Kalabaw and the kids. Naging pen-pen kid ata si Sarah Geronimo (tama ba?)

Uncle Bob’s Lucky 7 Club – Champion to! The famous Uncle Bob of America invaded Pinas. My sibling Leroy got his 1st TV exposure here. Nag recite cya ng poem.Hehehe.Remember Spanky the Elephant and Pancho?

Coney Reyes – The soap opera queen that time – Coney Reyes on camera. Every Saturday to. Napapanood ko to because of my mom.

Young Love, Sweet Love Gang – Aga Mulach, Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz, Marilyn Villamayor, Vina Morales and Kuya Germs.Die hard fan ang isa sa mga ate ko nito. Soooper crush nya si Aga Mulach that time.

TODAS Group – Joey De Leon, Maribeth Bichara, Jimmy Santos, Freida Fonda, Spanky Rigor

Iskul Bukol Group – Mang Temi, Miss Tapia, Tonette Macho and TVJ

Eat Bulaga Group – TVJ ulit plus come and go faces like Coney Reyes, Christine Jacob, Chiqui Hollman, Helen Vela, Tessie Tomas, Nova Villa, Debraliz and more

Kabayan Noli De Castro – and his famous Magandang Gabi Bayan. Naalala ko, I always look forward sa All Saints Day episode ng MGB about aswangs and multo. Me and my siblings will have chicheria and kumot (pag nakakatakot na) with us habang nanonood.Nag di disappear pa si Kabayan sa end ng show para sa effect, panalo!

Takeshi’s Castle – the original one – Anjo Yllana and Smokey Manaloto.

Love Teams – Gabby and Sharon, Penthouse live’s Pops and Martin, Romnick and Sheryl, Jean and Jigo Garcia, Manilyn Reynes and Janno Gibbs

John and Marsha Family – Dolphy, Nida Blanca, Maricel Soriano, Matutina and the famous donya Delilah

The foreign artists – Menudo, New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Duran Duran, Spandeuballet (tama ba spelling?), The Wok with Yan Host

To be continued ulit…

PS: Sorry sa mga na miss ko. I can’t remember all, may memory gap na ko e.

Trip down memory lane (The famous and infamous people and characters, part I)

It’s really nice to reminisce the good old days. We can’t help but laugh on how we used to be and the things we used to do. Life is so naïve and simpler then.It's undeniable that 80’s was one of the best times in my life – being “paslit” and all.

Aminin natin, somehow na mi miss natin yung mga bagay na yun and we wish we could go back dun sa panahon na yun, but we can’t. Kaya lets just savor those precious times and replay them here:


Batibot – my all time favorite children oriented show. Sina kuya Bojie, ate Sienna, Pong Pagong, Kiko Matsing, Ning-ning and Ging-ging. Who could also forget Irma daldal at ang mga chuwariwap nya at si Direk! Nakikita ko pa si kuya Bojie sa TV minsan, si ate Sienna kaya asan na?

Bagets – syempre tinamaan din ako ng bagets fever. Aliw na aliw talaga ako sa movie nila. Aga Mulach, Herbet Bautista, William Martinez, Raymond Lauchengco at ang mga leading ladies like Eula Valdez, Yayo Aguila, Jobelle Salvador. Ang jojologs pa nila dati at sobrang payat pa ni Ms. Liza Lorena dito.Hehehe.

Ang TV – young at heart ako.hehehe. 3rd year or 4th year highschool na ata ako nito.Until college pinapanood ko pa rin to. Crush ko nun si Marnie, the chincky eyed and braced girl na inglisera.

Eh kasi bata – RR Herrera, Kathleen Go Quieng, Aiza Seguerra and LA Lopez – Straight girl pa si Aiza Seguerra dito at asar na asar ako kay LA Lopez na mukhang mongoloid at super duper OA.

That’s entertainment – Na hooked ako dito because of my siblings. Manilyn Reynes, Tina Paner, Joed Serrano, Jestoni Alarcon, Caselyn Francisco, Chuckie Dreyfuss, Ruffa Gutierrrez, etc. May kanya kanyang bet kung sino pinaka magaling na group – Wednesday Group ako!Yikes!

Childstars – Andyan sina Aiza Seguerra, Glaiza Heradura, Lady Lee, Matet,the late Julie Vega, Atong Redillas, Jaypee De Guzman, Nino Mulach, Judy Ann Santos, Sunshine Dizon – ang cu cute pa nila noon!

To be continued…