Sick-ology

Medyo wala ako sa mood today. I got sick yesterday, terrible colds. Naka limang balde ata ako ng sipon at 3 kahon ng tissue papers. Nag general cleaning kasi ako nung Friday, mga tatlong plastic ng alikabok ata nasinghot ko kaya ang ending ayun kinabukasan. Hatching ng hatching!

I’m feeling better now although may sipon pa rin ako. Thanks to the caramel chai latte na ininom ko kagabi and neozep tablet.

Ang hirap talaga magkasakit especially pag nasa ibang bansa ka. Walang mag aalaga sa iyo. Di ka pwedeng humiga lang at mag antay ng mainit sa sabaw na umuusok pa. Ikaw bahala sa sarili mo kaya kahit may sakit tuloy pa rin ang daily routine. Pumasok pa rin ako (thank God, walang masyadong work and my boss didn’t pester me). I even managed na pumunta sa grocery at isang shoe shop to look for sneakers (snickers?). Bibilin ko sana yung Replay snickers (sneakers?) na nakita kong sale (Php 915 lang) kaso nagdalawang isip ako kasi medyo luma na yung stock (madumi na) tsaka size 10 sakto lang ang size (10 and ½ or 11 paa ko), so I ended up walking out of the shop empty handed. I then went to the grocery to look for cabbage and patis. Nagluto ako ng nilagang baka kagabi. Tas yun nakita ko yung lipton chai latte, tatanong ko lang sana price kasi baka mahal dahil bagong product (kuripot talaga!). Binili ko na rin kasi nasa Php 15 lang naman pag ni convert sa peso.

After ko magluto kumain na rin ako tas before sleeping nag caramel chai latte ako. Sarap nya. Try nyo.

Sana bukas magaling na magaling na ako.

Young Blood - Quiapo Vendors

YoungbloodQuiapo vendors
By Consuelo Maria G. Lucero

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:19:00 07/03/2008

The day after “Ka Bel” died, my father sent me an email urging me to go to the wake for the party-list representative. He said Crispin Beltran was once his boss and one whom he deeply respected, and he felt it was his filial obligation to offer flowers and prayers at his wake. But since he was away in Maastricht, the Netherlands, on a scholarship, he asked me to go his place.

I’m no leftist; I’m not even politically inclined, as some of my schoolmates have probably noted. So when I put on my denim pants and rubber shoes to go to Manila’s Quiapo district to buy some flowers, I thought that I was merely doing what my father had asked me to do: to offer flowers and prayers for a dead man.

When I got to Quiapo, I searched the flower vendors at the side of the church, trying to imagine what colors my father would have wanted. I stopped at a nondescript stall with green, maroon and pink flowers, not just the usual yellow and white. The vendor told the white or yellow mums would cost P100, but if I picked assorted colors it would cost me P150.

I tried to bargain, and she brought down the price of the latter to P140.

I asked if the funeral wreath came with ribbons. “Extra P20 kung may ribbon,” she said.
I did not bother to haggle anymore. Then I handed her a piece of paper on which I had copied the epitaph my father wrote: “Pagpugay sa dakilang anak ng uring manggagawa, Ka Bel; Ang buhay at alaala mo’y titis ng pag-asa sa pakikibaka ng uri. — Kas. George.”

The vendor was shocked by the long message. I figured that she was used to writing only “Condolence and sympathy” on the ribbon. But she talked so loud that the other vendors came over.

“Santissima! Kay Ka Bel mo ba ibibigay?” a vendor of Lego-like toys asked.
I nodded and smiled.

“Diyos ko, Mare, huwag mo na singilin!” she told the flower vendor. “Kay Ka Bel naman pala eh. Kapatid natin iyon sa pakikibaka.”

They called their friends, who were selling trinkets worth P10 or less. One of them offered to do the writing, declaring his handwriting was the best. Others shared their opinions about Ka Bel. Some told the flower vendor to add more flowers on the wreath.

“Nakakasama kasi namin sa rally si Ka Bel,” the friendly toy vendor explained.
“Oo, at wala siyang paki kahit mga mahihirap kami,” the man with the nice handwriting chimed in.

Some asked me if I was going alone, or if I was with a leftist group. I politely told them that I was going on behalf of my school organization.

When they asked me what school I attended, someone said, “Mabuting may mga matatalino pa ring sumusuporta sa mga mahihirap.” I did have the courage to tell them I was no leftist.

Finally they finished the wreath, beautifully done. The flower vendor told me that with all the additions, the wreath was now worth more than P200, but she was giving it to me for free as her own offering for Ka Bel. A vendor of plastic bags gave me a big red-and-white plastic free of charge. And while I was preparing to leave, a cigarette vendor came with a small bouquet of white mums and asked me to bring them to their champion. Then they all bade me a cheery goodbye, while asking me to extend their condolences to Ka Bel’s family. I rode the jeepney to Taft Avenue with a heart that was never more deeply touched.

Had my father been here, he would have gone every day to the wake. He would have go to Ka Bel’s funeral, marching with his buddies in the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, sharing pictures and stories of Ka Bel and the KMU. He probably would not have thought of asking me to go with him, knowing that I am not interested in rallies and leftist organizations.

But maybe it was a good thing that he was away and had to ask me to do this. I never would have come so close to the poor and neither would have known how deeply they felt about Ka Bel, their “brother in the struggle” against poverty.

Consuelo Maria G. Lucero, 17, is a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Keeping the Pinoy Spirit Alive, Always!

Laman ng balita si Pacman kagabi with his recent win and history made. I was never a boxing fan but I always look forward sa lahat ng laban ng mga pinoy boxers.

I was watching TV Patrol Linggo last night, and again medyo naluha ako. Saan? Well, sa response ng mga pinoy sa pagkakapanalo ni Pacman.

Natuwa ako with matching luha sa pinakita ng mga Pinoy. Despite what is happening sa bansa natin with the recent tragedy and the never ending price hikes, Pinoys are still proud to be Pinoy. Na sa kabila ng pahirap na pahirap na pamumuhay ng mga Pinoy, mayroon paring puwang sa puso natin ang pagiging Pilipino. Na sa kabila ng mga problema, may baon paring ngiti na mula sa puso ng isang Juan Dela Cruz. Iba talaga ang Pinoy, bilib na bilib ako! Mga taong may simpleng pangarap sa buhay na hinahaluan ng sipag, tiyaga, determinasyon at pananalig sa Maykapal at pinatitibay ng mga pagsubok at dagok sa buhay. Dahil dito, taas noo at ipinagmamalaki ko na ako ay may lahing kayumanggi. Pilipino sa lahat ng panahon at pagkakataon!

Sa pinakita nating pagkakaisa sa pagkapanalo ni Pacman, naway ipakita natin parati. Ito marahil ang kailangan natin tungo sa pag papaunlad ng buhay! Sana.

Gaya nga ng slogan ng ABS-CBN – WALANG IWANAN SA BAYAN NI JUAN! Yey!

The PACMAN Fever!

History made again! Pacquio won! Yehey!

My so excited dad called me (I was in the middle of a worth dreaming dream!) to tell Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao won! Dad is a boxing fan along with my late grandfather.

Congrats Manny!

Mabuhay ang lahing kayumanggi!

10 Facts About Me!

Naka 100th post na ko sa multiply blog ko so I decided to do this. I'm posting it here din kahit wala pang 100 ang posts ko dito.

Eto ang 10 facts na hindi pa alam ng lahat sakin:


>>Muntik na akong ma kick-out sa LSGH nung grade 5 ako. Inaway ko yung isang teacher dahil pinagbintangan nya akong dumadaldal habang nagtuturo cya kahit hindi naman talaga. Yung nasa unahan ko yung dumadaldal, inakala nya na ako. Buti na lang naayos!

>>Hindi ako nakakatulog ng naka tihaya. Laging naka tagilid o naka dapa. Hindi rin ako malikot matulog. Kung saan akong pwesto natulog yun pa rin ang pwesto ko pagkagising. Kailangan ko rin maligo bago matulog otherwise hindi ako makakatulog.

>>Gusto kong maging isang Che-Che Lazaro. Oo, gusto kong maging broadcast journalist. Mahilig kasi akong makipag usap lalo na tungkol sa buhay. Kaso hindi ko tinuloy dahil hindi ako confident na magagawa kong maging isang broadcast journalist. Pwede rin isang Susan Calo-Medina – Travel Guru. Gusto ko i-explore yung mga lugar na magaganda at hindi pa napupuntahan ng karamihan. I want to know what Pinas can offer – food, sights, sounds at yung mga bagay na humubog at luminang sa mga taong ito gaya ng kultura, tradisyon at kasaysayan!

>>I’m a cry baby! Mababaw ang luha ko. Ilang beses na kaya akong umiyak sa mga pelikula at palabas sa TV gaya ng MMK. I’m tough on the outside but very vulnerable and soft inside. Lalo na pag pamilya ang pag uusapan so yung mga pelikulang anak, tanging yaman at kung ano ano pa, lahat yan, pinaluha ako.

>>I was once a casualty sa isang frat rumble sa UP. Nadamay lang kasi nagkataon na andun ako where the rumble started. Malay ko ba na yung target nila e just a few steps away from me lang. Nag rereview lang naman ako nun for an exam. Ang ending tumanggap ako ng 2 tadyak at muntik pa akong masapak buti na lang naka ilag ako sabay takbo.

>>Nag shoplift ako nung first year highschool ako sa National Book Store. Dare lang ng mga gago kong kabarkada at ka klase. Pambura at gunting ang kinuha ko. Di ko na inulit!

>>Naughty ako when I was in college. Andaming kagaguhan at katarantaduhan ang pinag-gagagawa ko nun relating to hormones. Ayoko na i-elaborate pa. Sensored. Basta saksi ang UP doon sa mga yun!

>>Wala akong hilig sa art at wala rin naman hilig ang art sakin. Sobrang naboboring ako sa mga art classes lalo na yung pag do drawing at coloring. Hanggang ngayun I can’t even draw a straight and perfect line-pasmado! At hindi pa rin ako maka pag color ng walang lagpas at pantay. Yung mga projects ko nun kung hindi pa gagawin ng mga kuya ko hindi gaganda. Kaya ni isa sa mga yun walang kinuha para i-display.

>>Favorite ko noon ang tambalang Marvin-Jolina. Baduyyyyyyyyyy. Naaliw lang ako sa kanilang dalawa. Iba yung chemistry. It used to be Waks-Peachy of TGIS kaso nabuntis si Angelu. Pero “Ang TV” days pa lang gusto ko na si Jolina lalo na nung first time ko cya nakita in person sa Megamall with her family. Nung na pair sila ni Marvin, ayun die hard fan ako! Harharhar!

>>Mahilig ako umamoy ng paa ko. Kahit mabaho. Pati yung paa ng iba, minsan inaamoy ko rin. Syempre yung walang alipunga.

If I could, then I would - the survey!

If you could have a breakfast with a famous person (living), who would it be? What do you want to talk about?
Ø Probably, Nelson Mandela. I’d like to know his life, his struggles and his dreams.

If you could have a breakfast with a famous person (dead), who would it be? What do you want to talk about?
Ø Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Its great to start your day with someone with a golden heart.

If you could be the President of the Philippines. What’s the first thing you would do?
Ø Alisin lahat ng corrupt sa gobyerno, yes including that stupid cousin of mine sa Pasig City Hall.

If you can go back in the past where and when will it be?
Ø Ummm, maybe the day I was born. Gusto ko makita kung ano ako nun.

If God will grant you one wish, what will it be?
Ø Pagalingin lahat ng may sakit

If you can have a special power, what will it be?
Ø Siguro the power to read minds. Its cool to know how and what people think.

If you can fly, where do you want to go?
Ø Around the world syempre. Gusto ko mapuntahan lahat ng bansa and just chill.

If you could interview a famous personality, who would it be?
Ø GMA siguro. I just want to know her better as a person and not as a president. I want to know her dreams, wishes, simple joys and fears. Everything fancy beyond politics.

If you can spend a single day with somebody (famous or not), who will it be?
Ø Just my son. We’ll bond to the max

If you can do an outrageous thing, what will it be?
Ø I want to try every single extreme sports available and have fun!

If you can eat just one food for the rest of your life, what will it be?
Ø Sinigang siguro.

If you can have 10 million pesos, where will you use it?
Ø Family syempre and then donate to the needy.

If you can just be with one person before you die, who will it be?
Ø My son ofcourse

If you can change something in the history, what will it be?
Ø The invention of atomic bomb probably.

If all of these things will truly happen, will you really do it?
Ø Nye! Syempre. Kaya ko nga sinagutan to e.

Imagine a world without Filipinos

Got this from a local Arab newspaper. Filipinos will be always be the best worker anywhere, indeed!

Proud to be Filipino!

Imagine a world without Filipinos

Abdullah Al-Maghlooth Al-Watan, almaghlooth@alwatan.com.sa

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.