Off-beat Mom

"fiesta" as top search keyword here

2011-12-30T04:44:00.000-08:00

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

playful dogs kill chicks

2011-12-11T01:20:00.001-08:00

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

Quieres Bailar 2

2011-12-05T01:28:00.001-08:00

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!

2011-11-21T00:55:00.001-08:00

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

Are You Kidding me?

2011-11-19T01:18:00.001-08:00

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

11-11-11

2011-11-10T18:50:00.001-08:00

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

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

2011-10-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

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

I got called!

2011-10-08T04:14:00.000-07:00

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

Where's Leah Remini? Holly Robinson?

2011-10-03T04:17:00.001-07:00

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

inter-school spelling bee in Dumaguete

2011-09-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

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

At Random turns 4 next month

2011-09-06T02:31:00.000-07:00

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

a pail of water....

2011-09-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

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

BPI woes part 2

2011-08-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

Bank of the Philippine Islands (in our area) has updated its system of doing transactions with its clients. On the brighter side, one can't help appreciating the effort of making everything easier for the customers who are now encouraged to do their transactions via the machines sans the arduous task of filling out forms. HOWEVER, the people at the counter are still stuck to the old ways.

addicted to "The Talk"

2011-08-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

Ever since I discovered "The Talk" a few months back,I'd been addicted to it every single day. The show, composed of five brilliant and hilarious women, serves as my opening salvo each and every morning before I leave the house to tackle the daily grind. I laugh at the natural feisty humor of Leah Remini and the sharpness of Sara Gilbert. I adore the British accent of Sharon Osborn and her

Nine-year-old query: Do I have genes?

2011-08-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

At first when I heard it I thought she was saying "jeans" so I said "yes." But she saw that I was not getting her, so she explained what she meant. "I mean, the ones inside our body," she clarified. "Oh," I said, "Of course, everyone has genes--rich or poor, girl or boy, ugly or beautiful, we all have genes." Then she continued, "My teacher said genes come from our two parents." "Oh, yes. That is

Learn Bisaya

2011-07-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

Foreigners or anyone who does not know Cebuano or Bisaya and would like to know and understand the dialect, you might want to join the sessions starting on August 6 at 9:00 a.m., entrance of office is across Hotel Nicanor.

one hilarious incident....

2011-07-23T01:18:00.000-07:00

It was one afternoon when I got the whole time to myself and did what I would usually do on rare occasions like this---go to Marirose Beauty Salon and indulge myself in a facial called NuSkin Galvanic Spa. Full of excitement, I took a tryke going to the salon and because I didn't want to waste time, I had prepared my fare which I held with my right hand while my left was holding some rubbish or

hubog na, buang pa...

2011-07-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

I do not know what to make of this crazy person who allowed himself to get drunk like his insanity wasn't enough to cause so much trouble in the entire neighborhood where I live. He was so drunk he could hardly walk,but he still insisted in walking around the place shouting and screaming God knows what. What caught my attention was the poor black cat whose neck he was squeezing with his right

NIne ways to be happy and healthy

2011-06-20T02:59:00.000-07:00

Being in a good mood or feeling happy doesn’t have to be solely a long-term goal — small things you do for yourself every day can make a huge difference in the way you feel.Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal, but in fact, research shows that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy, productive and more inclined to help other people. By working to boost your

radio made tryke lose control.....

2011-06-19T02:35:00.000-07:00

So we got into this tricycle that had a radio which was airing this horrible story of a man who was stabbed multiple times by a drunk. I have to say that the story did get my attention and the tryke driver must have all his senses focused on the story that he did not see a car was about to turn left. The tryke driver realized too late that he was going to hit the vehicle. His ears and mind were

I just need to rant....

2011-06-12T03:14:00.000-07:00

School is back, and as I go around, I see everybody in panic mode buying school supplies required by schools. I go over my own list and I couldn't help giving out a whistle. What the h**l! Will they need that much cartolinas, Manila paper, bondpapers,etc.? I strongly doubt it. I ask the kid in the house if they are able to use the spelling booklet which is one of the numerous requirements and

the use of English to teach Filipino

2011-06-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

It is a fact that most students know English better than they know their national language Filipino. Ask the students themselves. Make a study and find out what they think of Filipino subjects. THEY HATE THEM! That is why most of our very own Filipino students hit rock-bottom grades in a subject they are supposed to know. So what is happening? First off, it is how the subject is taught.

From head to foot...

2011-06-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

Do your feet justify your looks? Here's a scenario. You're all glammed up from the top---power make-up, nice hair, fashionable earrings, killer outfit and bag, and you hear people say, "You look great!" and their eyes drop down to settle on your feet---to inspect your shoes and your toes. Gulp! You happen to be wearing your favorite but "so last year" pair of shoes and you see the change in the

summer 2011 ends

2011-05-31T05:07:00.000-07:00

Like everything in this world, vacations have their endings too and we are heading towards the busiest time of the year which is the start of a new school year. Cool. I imagine the daily routine--waking up early to prepare breakfast for the kid who should be in school by 7:00 a.m., carrying her back-breaking bags loaded with thick books, fetching the kid for lunch, bringing her back to school,

Kabulakan, Santacruzan, Flores de Mayo, etc.

2011-05-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

How many grand festivals can a small city like Dumaguete host? From what I hear, big, big cities only hold one major festival each year that is why these cities never fail to attract several local and foreign tourists who look forward to these fabulous festivals showcasing the towns' best cultural heritage. The small city of Dumaguete though has around 4 of almost the same festival which involve

At Random's segments get you covered

2011-05-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

At Random talk and TV magazine has several segments which appear alternately as their need arise. There is a special segment for almost every event or situation as the show hopes to reach out to a really wide market. For issues that need to be tackled, there's "People and Issues," for new and old businesses and services, "Marketplace," a segment to showcase local talents we have "The Next Big

When nothing kicks in...

2011-05-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in front of the computer while trying to squeeze something out from my head so I could update this blog today, is no mere task. The longer I sit here trying to think of something to write about, the more income for this net cafe. Well, since I could not think of anything to say here, let me just express how proud I am of this blog's Google pr rank. I know it's not much of a blog,

Mother's Day

2011-05-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

Five moms shared their motherhood pangs and pains on this week's episode of At Random.One is a full-time housewife who has to look after the needs of her five kids and husband. The other one is a part-time mom who spends half of her time working at a family business, while the three others are all full-time working moms. Catch the interview on Saturday at 8 p.m.and Sunday 10 a.m., Channel 6,

she was tugging my skin downward!

2011-04-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

It was a long hard day yesterday so I decided to have some body massage in one of these aroma-Thai massage parlors. The lady therapist assigned did know Swedish massage and I felt so relaxed at first. However, something seriously went wrong when she did the head massage. My God, did she need to knead my face as well? No longer tight and taut, this face of mine now badly needs a lot of lifting,

only for Zimbabwe...

2011-04-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

So after purchasing some foods to snack in one of these supermarkets, we decided to eat the goods in one area of the supermarket where customers usually hang out to drink coffee or eat some bread. We'd done this a couple of times. We'd take out the snacks we had bought and eat them in that area which sells coffee whose name rhymes with Zimbabwe. We were just starting to remove the goods from

Writing

2011-04-25T05:25:00.000-07:00

Oprah Winfrey, in one of her shows, had encouraged people to write down every joy and pain that we experience everyday. It is this keeping track of one's daily battles that made a lot of people publish their own books in which they share their life's journeys inspiring others in more ways than one. Had I thought about this when I was in my twenties I might have written volumes of books. There

looking through a crack....

2011-04-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

You have to be a regular viewer of Willy's shows to be able to make valid and credible comments. Otherwise, you are just another one of those who continue to make judgments on the basis of that small segment of the show featuring the crying dancing boy Janjan. Although not regularly, I had watched Willy's shows like Wowowee and Willing Wille many times and I know the general format of the show

"Ham na ma'am, dili chicken"

2011-03-29T04:38:00.000-07:00

I was at Lee Plaza supermarket already knowing what to buy so I went directly to that area where chicken ham is displayed. In order to make sure that I was buying the right one as hams can be made of beef, pork, or chicken, I asked one of these salesladies who was tending the section but who unfortunately didn't seem to know her products. Pointing to one type of ham, I asked her, "Miss, chicken

blogs of a crazy mom...

2011-03-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

A mother has to have a large dose of "insanity" to be able to survive the day-to-day riot she has to face as a mother. The more children, the more chaos she has to deal with everyday most especially when all the children are of school age. The hassle of making them get up early so they won't be late for school usually sets the day's beginning. Get them to shower quick, make them eat breakfast

high school students forced to make theses?

2011-03-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

This is now the era of teachers not knowing what they are teaching. There's the case of some high school teachers who require their poor students to write, submit and defend a thesis! Yes, a thesis, as in complete with all the characteristics of a thesis that graduate students are expected to write---Statement of the Problem, Theoretical Background, Conceptual Framework, Research Design,

witnessed a beautiful deed last night....

2011-02-24T03:57:00.000-08:00

Earlier that night when we passed by Scooby's, we noticed a kitten which was about a week old crying on top of a garbage bin. It was obviously hungry and homeless. My heart really went out for that kitten but with three dogs and four cats that we already have at home, it would be not within our capacity to take in another pet. So we just passed it and proceeded to Jollibee at the opposite side

a fly at Kamalig....

2011-02-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

A friend of ours was halfway through his food when he noticed something black on his spoon which he was about to put into his mouth. Luckily he took one hard look at it and confirmed his suspicion. It was one humongous fly that obviously did not make it when it landed on the food. Just how did that huge fly get into his food? There are only three possible reasons: One, it must have landed on

Seeing the world in Tierra Alta Zipline in Valencia

2011-01-28T04:11:00.000-08:00

The ride to Tierra Alta from the city took us only about 15 minutes and there, we communed with mother nature in its greenest state. The well-paved roads and the beautifully structured gates that opened to the vast soon-to-be high-end housing subdivision took our breath away. The magnificent tower and the clubhouse which is on its final stages of construction gave our imagination a picture of

oh no, not again, our environment is begging us to listen to it...

2011-01-02T02:53:00.000-08:00

You must have come out from your mother's womb only yesterday if you have not noticed the alarming changes in our environment these past few years. The sound and force of the rains on our rooftops are like spears. Lightning has struck dead a good number of people every time it comes with the rains. And do you notice how heavy and near the thunder sounds, like prepping to drop its huge weight

a time to give towels.....

2010-12-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

You heard me right. I personally think that a towel would be one of the best gifts you could give to friends or loved ones this Christmas season. One can't go wrong with a towel. People do not usually have this on their priority list when shopping, so giving and receiving a fresh towel for a gift will be most welcome.For children, you can never go wrong with gender-appropriate toys. Yes,

How do I judge thee?

2010-12-19T01:17:00.000-08:00

When I look for books at the Book Sale, I go by simple rules in my choices. Having read a number of books that fell under "required readings for English majors," I now feel like I've had enough of those heavy literary types and now would want the mind to be "entertained" more than "informed." LOL. So here's a list of the things to consider when I hunt and eventually, buy books: 1) They have to

manicure, pedicure, facial, & walking

2010-12-05T01:06:00.000-08:00

For two reasons, I decided to take a walk for almost an hour from my residence to the marketplace. That's free exercise and fare-free as well. After buying some fish and my favorite "dahon sa sili," I headed back home to show our new househelp how to cook "tinola." After cooking the simple dish, I moved on to the next task of giving my dogs a bath. That done, I hit the bathroom for a quick

Villa Eden Resort, 20 minutes to paradise

2010-11-27T02:37:00.000-08:00

A short 20-minute trip to another island will bring you to a place called Liloan, Santander, Cebu where a quiet resort called Villa Eden beckons with its awesome facilities enough to make any visitor gasp "heaven." An eternity pool that seems to meet the blue sea, a tennis court, bar,good food, a function room, cozy rooms overlooking the sea that lashes with its cool clean breeze, and a panorama

Dumaguete City Convention Center

2010-11-16T05:27:00.000-08:00

I could never understand why Dumaguetenos always refer to the Dumaguete City Convention Center like it were the apex in the hierarchy of social venues. This sort of awe placed upon that place tickled my interest and so one day I went to the area where it is supposed to be standing in order to also experience that same feeling of elation just by saying its name. However, upon reaching Perdices

not liking this

2010-10-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

The moment I walked into this internet cafe I already knew that I didn't want to sit next to someone who occupied almost half of the entire space. But it is not only because of this that I am ranting. You see this person had been yawning every second, rocking his head when he's not yawning, and one time he giggled non-stop for no reason. I just hate this.

am I the only one who wants to dance?

2010-10-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

Great. I was at this party and all I did there was sit and eat. The food was good, the venue was a delight, and the people were fascinating but at the end of the evening, I felt like I hadn't exactly partied. Why? I didn't get to dance because the people who I know there weren't up to dancing while my feet were itching to hit the dance floor and exercise myself to death to the beat of the latest

supermarket incident

2010-10-18T23:36:00.000-07:00

So I was at the supermarket one day and just when I was lining up at the cashier to pay the goods I was buying, a woman came up to me to ask if she could cut in or be the next person to pay since she had only one item to buy and I had more than one. At first I did not get her for I could not imagine anyone making such a bold request since we all value our time and that was the reason why I had to

three years! Wooooooh!

2010-10-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

At Random, the only talk and TV magazine in Negros Oriental turns three this month---yahoooo! The show and its producers thank the following partners for sharing their resources with the community through a show like At Random which supports talents, entrepreneurs, people with issues, education, and everything under the sun. Kudos to the following: St. Paul University-Dumaguete (c/o outgoing

Yes to lighter school bags!

2010-09-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

The bill recently pushed by Sen. Lito Lapid mandating schools to implement the "lighter school bag rule based on the weight of kids" makes a lot of sense to me as this not only affects the children but also the parents or whoever carries the heavy bags of the kids to and from school. Bags on rollers or wheels are of little help especially when you have to bring the bag up many flights of stairs

major-major hostage fiasco and LBC...

2010-09-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

It happened again. A chain of "kapalpakans" have been recently surfacing in many areas of our lives since the "major-major hostage failure." Even the self-named "delivery king" is now starting to bungle in the delivery of its services. A couple of days ago, I had a package sent to my son in Manila since it was his birthday. Although the rate here is a lot higher than other delivery services, I

I'm a cheapskate....

2010-09-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

The moment I discovered one bookstore that sells very, very cheap second-hand books, I have made it my principle never to buy any book that costs more than Php 10. Yes, I'm a cheapskate that way, but since buying a book has become a regular thing with me, I better be wise about it. Why buy brand new expensive books when I could have them for as low as ten pesos? I bought one yesterday and

a kid's perception of being "BUSY'

2010-09-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

I read with amusement the diary of an eight-year-old kid Dewey who narrated how busy she is everyday. As a busy person, Dewey narrates:Dear Diary: I am so busy right now. Imagine, everyday I have to take a bath, comb my hair, eat, brush my teeth, change into my uniform, and go to school. I hardly have time to come to the computer to play Pico, my favorite game. I wish I were not so busy so

Noontime trash...

2010-08-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

I do not know what your tastes are, but personally, I think I am sick and tired of this noontime show in ABS-CBN which replaced the slot of Wowowee. Showtime is so boring and it gives its viewers nothing but mediocrity. The hosts, judges, and talents just fail to translate into a kind of show that will elevate the level of entertainment shows here. It's a far, far cry from Wowowwee which was

Poor negotiations led to death of 10 or so people....

2010-08-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

What a shame. The hostage drama which started at around 10 in the morning of Monday, Aug. 23, shouldn't have ended that tragically had proper negotiations been done by the people concerned. Unfortunately, the hostage-taking was dragged until late in the evening. Can you imagine that? Eleven hours and nothing positive happened. The disgruntled policeman must have waited for the right kind of "

encounter with someone a week before his passing away

2010-08-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

I found it very strange to hear the sudden demise of someone whom I just met after about a year of not seeing him for I had stopped teaching and this student also had quit school for financial reasons. So I was taking this tryke when I saw from a distance someone familiar--a former columnist of the school paper in which I am adviser. He was standing and obviously waiting for a ride. At first

crazy week is over...

2010-08-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

I am glad that the busiest time of my life is over. About a week ago, I was up to the neck full of work which consisted of training contestants for three competitions which were scheduled one after the other. Was quality sacrificed because of the number? No, because all three emerged as winners. Yay!

couple got stuck during sex?

2010-07-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

Coitus captivus is the term in this situation and not "vaginismus" or "vaginism"A report that a man and a woman got stuck while having sex and had to be rushed to a popular hospital has been the talk on the lips of several persons at that medical facility.The report said that the man's penis had to be cut off after the woman's vagina tightened around it and he was not able to get out.Though

say what? the inter-locking of two illicit lovers

2010-07-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

It was one of those normal days when this pedicab driver, without solicitation, just volunteered this weird story of two illicit lovers, the female a teacher whose husband works abroad and the man a pedicab or "habal-habal" driver who is also very much married, who had to be rushed to the hospital covered only by a blanket because their genitals could not be extricated from the coital position

Filipina inherits millions of dollars in Singapore

2010-07-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

By Agence France Presse A devoted Filipina maid inherited six million Singapore dollars (more than $4 million) from her late employer after more than 20 years of service, a newspaper report said Wednesday. “I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money,” the 47-year-old single woman — identified only by the pseudonym “Christine” — told the Straits Times in an interview. The maid

WTF? Can you relate to this?LOL

2010-07-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

I was in the market early this morning to buy some food when I overheard two "panakot" women vendors talking about some very intimate and personal stuff. Of course I couldn't help overhearing the entire conversation since I was there to buy some spices and what I heard threw me off my rocker. LOLVendor 1: Maglagot ko sa bana kay kabuangon. Mukalit ra ug pangisog wala'y hinungdan.

"Pink Halo-halo" premiers July 11, CCP

2010-07-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

I am inviting all of you residing in or around Metro Manila to watch the premier of indie film and Cinemalaya entry, "Pink Halo-halo" which had its location in Masbate, the third poorest place in the Philippines. See you!

Am I losing my sense of humor...

2010-07-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

I used to be a very funny person but I notice lately though that I seem to be losing the sense of humor I used to own in my youthful days. It must be age. I don't want to think that sense of humor wanes as one gains more years because this is something that one needs even more at this stage. What is missing or what is lacking? Where did all that humor go? I am sure that I haven't done anything

working out!

2010-07-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

I am now into my second month at the gym and the scale still does not reflect any progress yet, but honestly, I can already see some improvement physically. My goal is to lose about 20 to 25 pounds and I hope to achieve this goal in the next three months. At the moment, my weight has remained the same as before I started the workout. I'll keep you posted.

shoes for "Pink Halo-halo" premier..

2010-06-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

Looking for pink shoes is really hard. I'd gone around shoe stores but none quite fit my liking. First off, I want to walk comfortably, not unsteadily, so platform shoes are out. I also do not want the strappy type since this would only show a few pink. What I had in mind while scouring for pink shoes was a pair of conservative, one-inch heeled shoes and I got this one. I do not know what

making progress....

2010-06-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

After a month-long exercise, I think we are making baby progress, but that's okay. I know that for anyone to see results of one's regular work-out at the gym, one has to wait about six months and we're not that much in a hurry anyway. We don't want to feel pressured. We are just trying to take our own sweet time doing workouts at a local gym.

will be watching the premier of "Pink Halo-halo"

2010-06-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

So it is set. The round-trip tickets are ready and I have a few more days to prepare for the premiere of "Pink Halo-halo" slated on July 11. Why does this excite me? For several reasons. This will be my first time to go to the CCP and at a film premier in which my son has a huge role as one of the stars. Aren't those enough reasons to make me create a lot of fuss about my shoes and

"Pink Halo-halo" premiers July 11

2010-06-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Indie film "Pink Halo-halo" premiers at the CCP on July 11-----watch it!

lifted this from Yahoo----

2010-06-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

How true is this? This is sad. I hope we Pinoys will have better ways of gaining media mileage. Pinay in textbook scam nabbed in the US By Yahoo! Southeast Asia Editors – June 18th, 2010 Email Facebook Twitter Print var shared_object =

WTF BPI!

2010-06-13T02:18:00.000-07:00

How can you do this to your clients? It's Sunday afternoon and most people are cramming to do their shopping for school supplies as classes will definitely start next week. But what did you do? You failed to put money in all your ATM machines in Metro Dumaguete! Why? People were scrambling here and there transferring from one BPI ATM to another, but all machines were "unavailable" for obvious

elegant at 50?

2010-06-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

I know it is still possible to look good even after 50. There are so many people in hollywood who are past the 50 threshold but who still look as gorgeous as they were 20. I want to start something revolutionary in this blog---ha,ha, ha--like publish photos of me each time I go out to do my once-a-week shoot. Hmm....am thinking of niching this blog towards the fashion journey of a 50 something

when the streets get ugly...

2010-06-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

Summer was a big respite from everything and June, being the month of classes, is usually the beginning of chaos in the streets. Grrrr---crossing the streets is a nightmare with all these vehicles suddenly surfacing from "I don't know where." With the very narrow, one-lane streets that Dumaguete has, it is very difficult and not to say time-consuming, to be moving from one block to the next

"Pink Halo-halo" starts to get the hype

2010-05-30T23:53:00.001-07:00

From the Daily Inquirer, May 31, 2010 edition Director wants kids to see his new film By Marinel R. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 16:31:00 05/30/2010 Filed Under: Cinema, Entertainment (general)

the day I became a firefighter....

2010-05-30T02:05:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days when what we call "brown-out" happened mid-afternoon of that day and I decided to spend my time at home. I would have been out doing a lot of stuff, but that day and that afternoon, perhaps because of the sudden brown-out, I just stayed home. I noticed my son going to his room with a lighted candle. Minutes passed and the power had come back and I still decided not to go

on dogs and cages

2010-05-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

First of all, ask yourself this question before you buy or get a dog for a pet: what do I want a dog for? Some people do not seem to know why they should have a dog in their lives. Were they perhaps lured by genuine dog-lovers to get one "because everybody is having it?" Or were they thinking that loving or caring for one's pet dog just happens? I have encountered a lot of dog owners who just

"anti-Noy congress seen"---today's Inquirer headline...

2010-05-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

It is too early to be seeing crabs in congress but it's what the number one paper in the country says. The newly-elected President of the country has not even started office yet but these crabs are already starting to infest congress. What to do? It is obvious that these members of congress are way out of touch, that all they do is sit when congress convenes and that they need to be trained

Binay is cackling like a hen...

2010-05-16T05:48:00.001-07:00

A hen that cackles must be laying eggs. Vice-presidential bet Binay is said to be making a lot of noise, cackling like a hen laying eggs against his opponent Mar Roxas. In his litanies he had repeatedly suggested that the reason why Mar Roxas is not yet conceding is because the latter has plans of having some "special operations" to make himself win. What? May I beg your pardon sir? Just what

landslide win for Noy-Mar tandem in Dumaguete

2010-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

A landslide victory for Noy-Mar Tandem happened in Dumaguete City and many other parts of the province. What was surprising was the overall result of the vice-presidency, Binay being in the lead. This is unexpected for we were batting for a solid Noy-Mar win. The Visayans were able to deliver this but something went wrong. somewhere somehow. We wanted Mar Roxas to be vice president but why is

Voting for Noy-Mar tandem...

2010-05-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow being election day, is a huge day for a lot of people. Filipinos of voting age and who are registered will etch their future as they troop to the precincts to cast their votes. I am also doing this early on the morrow and have my vote included in support of Noynoy for President and Mar Roxas for Vice. Let us all hope and pray that this time nothing will go wrong, that we will be able to

commercial blogs

2010-04-17T01:37:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed that most of those that land the top 5 in Top Blogs are what we call commercial blogs. They mostly promote certain products which obviously are paying the bloggers for these tasks. I see nothing against this but what now is the difference between a blog and an advertisement? For surely, if you come across those blogs, all you read are the benefits one gets in using such

thin, ugly, emaciated, poor, dark....

2010-04-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

Thin, ugly, emaciated, poor, dark--that is the part my son is playing in a film they are currently shooting for Cinemalaya---not exactly a glamorous "introducing role" but if we want to see growth in our movie industry, then it is time we stop thinking of glamour and beauty per se in movie-making. Life is not all that. In fact, life is full of squalor and ugliness and it is giving justice to

the nerve!

2010-04-01T03:31:00.000-07:00

Smoke came out of my ears and nostrils when I heard this fat woman call me "madir". Grrrrr----what does she think of herself? She may be younger than I but she was fat and looked like she didn't bathe that day, so in all respects, she looked a lot older than I. Where did she get the confidence to call older women "madir" to connote that the other woman is as old as her mother? Doesn't she have

school cafeteria has gross employee

2010-03-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

I noticed this particular school cafeteria crew one time when I was there to buy some food. This man was coughing feely inside the canteen without ever covering his mouth or something. Then he started making gross sounds like he was trying to extricate or put out some phlegm from his lungs and all these happened while people were eating. He was so rude and yucky. Not one of those working there

the flu at the supermarket

2010-02-19T17:35:00.000-08:00

Waiting for your turn at the cash register isn't easy. Anyway, since I needed to buy the items that day, I waited patiently for my turn to be served. My turn came and it was only then that I noticed that the cashier was sick. Her eyes were watery, her nose was red, and her total demeanor said that she should be in bed rather than facing people and spreading the virus to everyone. Then she

What foods will harm your dogs?

2010-02-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

Q. Which foods could be dangerous for my dog? A. Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to dogs. This list

"Haay, Ginoo ko!"

2010-01-27T22:34:00.001-08:00

I was amused to hear the 7-year-old kid in the house who does not speak Bisaya repeatedly mutter "Haay, Ginoo Ko!" Just picture a kid who only speaks English saying the line with appropriate expression like only old people do. When I asked her where she got the line or who taught her that, she simply said "From you! I got that from you." Gulp...I never thought I had been using this line for

beat someone in a race...

2010-01-26T09:50:00.000-08:00

The experience happened only yesterday when we went to Chowking in which most seats were occupied at that time. Luckily one cozy spot for four people was vacant and I noticed a twenty-something lady heading for the same spot. I raced her to it, and guess who got there ahead? LOL. The young lady and I were literally racing for the same spot and I beat her. I could see smoke coming out of her ears

pig of a driver...

2010-01-25T06:53:00.001-08:00

Another pig almost hit a woman and a child who were crossing the street. All of a sudden this pig materialized from the wrong side, he was entering a one-way street, and driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the lane! The poor woman of course did not notice this pig since he wasn't supposed to be there, so they almost got hit by the pig driver who stopped his car on the wrong side in the

Obnoxious pedicab driver....

2010-01-23T05:37:00.000-08:00

I was riding this pedicab driven by a rude and reckless driver who was overspeeding and almost ran over everybody and was almost close to ramming against a lot of vehicles. This moronic driver was making turns without slowing down even when pedestrians were crossing the streets. He's insane! Why was he given a license to drive, that idiot?

What if? Would you?

2010-01-20T06:56:00.001-08:00

One news item tells of space scientists looking for another planet where man could possibly live in. What if they find another planet which shows that all life forms could possibly live there and that half of the population of the world will need to be relocated there in order to save planet earth?Supposing, just suppose that those who agree to be relocated to this new planet will be given free

this fruit fights cancer cells

2010-01-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

Its botannical name is Soursop and is said to originate from Tropical America. I swear we have a lot of this fruit in the Philippines. My parents used to buy this fruit which they called "Babana". If you want to know more about the health benefits of this fruit, go Google "Soursop".

resto connoisseur...

2010-01-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Shall I say, I am forced by circumstances to buy already cooked foods or eat in fastfood restaurants as I do not have a helper at home and I work and am away from home much of the day. This takes me to all sorts of eateries, big and small, from the small "turo-turo" food store, to the high-end, highly priced restos. And I can very well say that I have more or less become familiar with the food

Sen. Richard Gordon for President....

2010-01-16T01:02:00.001-08:00

Yes, Sen. Gordon is running for President but why is nobody talking about him as a strong bet? In all the surveys, it's only the names of Noynoy Aquino, Manny Villar, Gibo, and Erap which are always mentioned. Why? We all know that the most visible man in times of disasters and problems is no other than Dick Gordon. Sea disasters, Maguindanao massacre, kidnap-for-ransom, etc., the senator has

rain, rain go away.....

2010-01-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

Dumaguete update: the rains poured non-stop since the other day and this spoiled everything. Going to school was difficult and my three pet dogs were soaked in the rain. I thank God that early today, the rains had stopped, and I hope there wouldn't be any of those non-stop downpours. They are a real letdown.

Antonio comes to Dumaguete....

2010-01-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

A few months back, Antonio was just a small cuddly puppy bought at a pet shop. He was so adorable at that time that nobody imagined how he would end up as an adult dog. Many months after, Antonio has grown into what a labrador ought to be---very huge and playful. Because the space where he lives in Manila is too limited for a dog his size; thus,Antonio will be flown to Dumaguete this week. My

one "corny" story....

2010-01-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

Corn has a lot of nutritional benefits. Read this:Health Benefits of CornNutrientsCorn is very good source of vitamin B1 (thiamine). It’s a good source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamins C and E, folic acid, dietary fiber, essential fatty acids, and the minerals magnesium and phosphorus.Glycemic Index (GI)In a study to determine an estimation of the GI of various foods, it was concluded

corned beef is lost due to onion overload....

2010-01-07T19:46:00.000-08:00

I chuckle and hate the fact that this resto in Dumaguete whose name is a rip off from a famous cartoon dog is trying to be tricky with its service. We know coz we're regular eaters of this resto but one day, the trick started. For an 89-peso order of corned beef with a cup of rice and egg, you're supposed to get real corned beef with a dash of onions. This used to be the case when we started

Where's the fish?

2010-01-07T03:42:00.000-08:00

Last night we ordered fish tinola at Dumaguete's Chicken Ati-Atihan and guess what? The fish "tinola" arrived steaming hot in a huge bowl-- of course, we're supposed to pay eighty pesos for this food. When I started to scoop for fish, alas, I had difficulty finding one! Where's the fish? This is supposedly "fish tinola", so where is the fish? There were a few veggies floating but what I

'Yun na ba 'yon?

2010-01-05T02:44:00.000-08:00

We were so out of luck when tickets for the the movie "Avatar" on Imax were all sold out for that day and we had to follow an endless line for the morrow's opportunity to watch it. We ended up settling for one of the MMFF entry movies, "Shake, Rattle, andRoll"just so we could watch a movie that day. So there I was with lots of hope that Filipino movies must have elevated its standard since the

Nixau is in the house......

2009-12-30T05:18:00.000-08:00

If you are familiar with the movie "The Gods Must Be Crazy", you must also remember one of the major characters in the said movie. I am talking about Nixau, that primitive man who is clueless about everything. So we have this person who comes to the house to do the laundry every other day and I thought of leaving the care of my two dogs with her when I realized how impossible it is to teach her

2010 is Year of the Tiger....

2009-12-28T03:11:00.000-08:00

2010 is the Year of the Tiger. What does this mean? A tiger symbolizes fierceness, force, cruelty, power, and superiority. It has all the advantages attached to its name. If this symbolism will mean anything to how life will be for all of us in the New Year, then it is going to be a good year. Economically, we should be able to overcome the crisis left to us by 2009 and because of this life as a