"fiesta" as top search keyword here

I accidentally clicked on something on this blog which led me to the information that the highest keyword used which delivered visits to this blog is the word "fiesta." Why? What do some people want to know about fiesta? Well, in the Philippines fiestas are big. It always means "no classes," "no work," parades, pageants, and lots of eating. So everyone loves fiestas. People from far and wide would brave storms in order to attend the next town's fiesta. There is an abundance of food and drink and people get to eat as much as they want. After all, that's free food. So some have a calendar and schedule of all the town fiestas so they won't miss them.

playful dogs kill chicks

Two of my three dogs are by nature wild and playful especially when it comes to other creatures like goats, pigs, other dogs, cows, cats, or chickens that happen to wander our way. Although they are safely free to run and play inside our fenced house, but stray cats, birds or chickens sometimes get too curious and try to get inside the place. Now that's like committing suicide because my dogs will never understand why you're there. It's their territory and anyone or anything that gets in their territory by accident is bound to be in big trouble. This is what happened to two chickens which weren't bright enough to know that they could be in danger. Pandemonium broke loose when my two wild dogs smelled something like moving "fried chickens." Like they're paid to do it, my dogs chased these two "fried chickens" until they held them in their mouths. It was too late for me to intervene. The chickens were already half-dead when I succeeded in removing them from my dogs' fangs. OMG. My dogs aren't hungry but they sure don't know how to play with chickens.

Quieres Bailar 2

Quieres Bailar 2 is designed to turn Dec. 29 as your night to remember. It is an invitation to dance for fun, for life, or, as you wish, as a form of exercise. It provides perfect reason to dress up, look good, and feel good, so why should you not want to be a part of it? Party starts at 8:00 p.m., El Camino Blanco! Don't be left out! Get out and say goodbye to 2011 with a big bang!

be warned!

Just a few minutes ago, as I was walking along Dr. V. Locsin St. something made me stop my tracks right there at Agencia Belen which had mug shots of two "hold-uppers" or stick-up men on its glass door. These men, it says, are from Misamis. They do look familiar though. Are they doing "business" in our city? I advise that you go and take a look at the faces of these two hoodlums just to be sure that they aren't your driver, messenger, househelp, etc. You will see the faces of these men at Agencia Belen along Locsin St. Good luck to you!

Are You Kidding me?

It is funny how some establishments here in the city run their businesses without doing any sort of market research. Take the case of businesses that offer FREE WIFI use to its customers with no amount specified. One of the latest shopping malls in the city though offers the best deal ever----for only Php 10.00 food purchase, you can have WIFI access the whole day. Isn't that great? Then I went to this ice cream house and read this: free 1 hr. WIFI use for Php 100.00 food purchase. Who are they kidding? One hundred pesos food for only 1 hr. WIFI use? How about going to Cang's Shopping Mall (food court) where you only buy P10.00 worth of any food for a whole-day WIFI access? It is high time that these businesses who overprice and do not give value to their customers should open their eyes and look around.

11-11-11

What is so special about today's date containing six 1's? Well, according to numbers specialists, it's not the predominance of number one that makes the date today, 11-11-11, special. It is the fact that the harmony of the month, day and year makes this day a good day for doing or starting everything---business, relationships, etc. Wow! It makes me do some thinking in a hurry. What do I have to start or do today to grab this once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity. Whatever it is you have decided to do or start today, it is going to be a sure hit or success. Really.

the incredible story of a "half-a-man"

He probably just coined his own name combining the powerful sound of Victor (from victory or victorious) and the religious connotation of Domingo (which means Sunday, a special day of worship for Catholics). I was enjoying a refreshing sip of my "buko" juice on the 3rd level of Cang's Supermarket when this person caught my attention. Using only his arms to move around and to finally settle at a table next to mine, I couldn't help wondering as his half body (no hips, no legs) propped securely on a chair if he was waiting for someone. I looked around and saw the other diners glancing at his direction. No one could miss seeing this man for, although he only has the upper torso of his body, he exuded calmness and confidence. Then something else struck me. He had on a shirt that had "Guinness" printed on the front and arms and this prompted me to ask him a question, for he was seated right next to my table. I asked him if he was ever on Guinness and didn't seem like he understood, so I pointed at the print on his shirt and he shook his head to mean "no". Noticing that he was friendly and open, I decided to join him at his table to formally invite him to our TV show and he was very thrilled about it. That was how I learned about his life. (to be continued--I have to run off pick up the kid at school.)

I got called!

Well, this afternoon, although it was raining non-stop I went ahead and attended the organizational meeting of Toastmasters in Dumaguete. I did not know anyone there, in fact nobody invited me to be there, but I had read an announcement online about this meeting at Bethel Guest House. It's out of curiousity more than anything that I went there, and indeed, when I looked at the faces of those around, I was perfectly sure nobody recognized me. So I sat on one corner, observed, and waited. Guests started arriving and finally, the meeting was called to order. We were shown how a regular Toastmasters' meeting would go, and one part of the program, called Table Topic segment, involved the delivery of impromptu speeches by some seasoned members and guests. Guess what? I was the one called to do the speech! Why me? Did anyone recognize me after all? So I did what I was asked to do and I think they sort of liked it because the old members mentioned the possibility of me competing nationally against other members from all over the country. What? At my age? (thought I) So it was one of the weirdest afternoons for me to end up delivering an impromptu speech!

Where's Leah Remini? Holly Robinson?

It's been weeks since I last saw these two favorite hosts of mine on The Talk. Where are they? I am not suggesting that the new replacements aren't as good and as funny, in fact they are equally brilliant and humorous, but I just feel like the two women's exit was just too abrupt. They weren't even given the opportunity to say goodbye to their avid viewers. I read somewhere that they weren't invited back to the table on this season's airing. I wonder why. Someone should take this up at the table in one of their episodes. I believe the viewers need some explanation.

inter-school spelling bee in Dumaguete

Debates, dramatic speech choir competitions, TV broadcasting, Spell-Voc. Poetry in Motion, fashion shows featuring corporate attires, skits, mock job interviews iimpromptu speaking, character portrayal, mock business meetings, you name it, I've done them all. Back in the day when I was an active classroom teacher, it was one of my passions to engage my students in various skill-building activities designed to further hone their talents and potentials to the fullest. My mind would always think up of fascinating ways of perking up an otherwise boring textbook lesson. I wanted to keep my students busy and challenged. When I left the academe some who do not want these challenges must be breathing a sigh of relief. Phew!

I thought I'm done with that phase of my passion, but I'm wrong. The itch to organize, engage and challenge students to the fullest seems to have taken its permanent residence--this time on a bigger arena. Big surprise, it's not anymore involving my classes, but SCHOOLS. Wow. There seems to be no stopping this habit of master-minding or organizing activities all meant to upgrade students' skills. What's boggling the mind of this ole lady today is this thing that just wouldn't leave until I see its fruition--- an inter-school SPELLING BEE involving grade 6 pupils, ages 11-12, from both the public and private schools. I think there is just too much gas pumped into our students' dancing and singing that we have neglected to develop other important areas as well. So now I am initiating this huge academic event hoping to spark some enthusiasm along this line.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

At Random turns 4 next month

After four years of consistently airing fresh content on television, At Random can now rightfully claim to be the longest running talk & entertainment TV show in Negros Oriental, thanks to its supporters and partners who continue to be here for the benefit of Negrenses. Special thanks to the following who have, in many ways, "given back" to the community by continually supporting shows like At Random.

St. Paul University-Dumaguete with its new President, Sr. Nintha Lucila Baldado, spc.
Dewfoam/Dumaguete Upholstery & Textile Center

Santillan Optical Clinic

Cafe Laguna

Banco de Katipunan Foundation

Marirose Beauty Salon

Obdulia's Business Inn

Optimum Trader

Ang Tay Golf & Restaurant

Ever Mall

Qyosko

Bernard's Bicycle

Orientwind

Hi-top News Mag

Great Delights

Flamin' Grill

V-Fashionista Botik, Evermall

Antulang Beach Resort

a pail of water....

Growing up in a place where water supply had never been a problem, I had never imagined that one day I'd have to experience using only a bucket of water for the whole bathing process. Back in the day, we used to live on San Juan St. where the water district used to be and water just oozed out from its huge pipes 24/7 for free. Fast forward many years after in Manila, I had this rare experience of living with an aunt whose house was situated in the so-called squatters' area. Residents there had to walk rugged miles to fetch water and man, it wasn't a pleasant task. The road to the water supply was going up and down and by the time you reach the house, you'd be left with only half a bucket of water.Although I was like a visitor there for they invited me to stay with them for a while, I had to fetch water too even if they insisted I shouldn't. Well, every morning for a week,I fetched water with my cousins and water was like the most precious commodity there. You couldn't waste a drop. You have to recycle or reuse whatever is reusable. I had to learn how to bathe with only a small pail of water and I remember doing the following steps: the first scoop of water should be able to wet my entire body from head to foot. Soaping and shampooing follows and the rest of the water is for rinsing off the soap and shampoo suds. It didn't feel like you're totally clean, but it was better than nothing.