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Monday, February 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Daluyon Beach Resort
Loitering on the beach...
Thinking about the Credit Transactions class I may miss the following day...
Welcome drinks definitely quench the heat off you...and retains your full energy.
Their fruit drinks always contain stuffs like this weaved from the coconut leaves. It's a grasshopper in here. They got weaved dogs, insects and other animals. Ingenuous!
From the veranda of our room...
The lawns of Daluyon 'neath the coconut trees..
This is the way to Daluyon's Reception lobby....
It was a very fine, cloudy day when we arrived...
Daluyon fetches its guests from the terminal at the wharf. Thanks to the owners of a resort under construction who blocked the road leading to Daluyon, guests now have to pass by the scenic Sabang beach... But they got a carabao cart to take guests to the resort. The resort has designed a new job description for the carabao; it is no longer merely based in the plowing fields... we decided to go on foot by the beach and let our bags ride the cart. On leaving Sabang, we couldn't resist taking the cart ride he he. The ride was soothing, I tell you.
This is the mountain range on your right going to Sabang. It clues you up that Sabang, the jump-off point to the world-famous Underground River, is just a few minutes away.Below are photos of Sabang and the St Paul Subterranean National Park as well as of the Daluyon Resort grabbed from their website.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Food Poisoning in Rio Tuba
Well, my TV here does not have a very good Channel 7 reception, so I told him. I haven't watched Kapuso shows for like..... more than a year...err I guess. To check, I went to my trusted online Pinoy news site, inquirer.net and there it is.....
Lollipop blamed as 398 kids fall ill
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—Lollipop made in Indonesia and sold by an itinerant vendor to school children in Rio Tuba, Bataraza town allegedly downed 398 children Friday morning, a local doctor said.
Dr. Reginaldo Mia, medical director of the RTN Foundation Hospital in the village of Rio Tuba, said they had admitted 23 of the affected children for closer medical monitoring but clarified that the patients were in stable condition after suffering from food poisoning.
Mia said the school children had complained of vomiting and nausea after eating lollipop with the brand name "Bonelight" and made in Indonesia.
"They were all brought to the hospital at around 9:30 a.m., apparently after their recess period. We noted in the candy wrapper that was shown to us that the product had expired last December 28, 2007," she said.
Most of the children were discharged after being given medication, while the 23 others had to be confined for further medical observation, according to Mia.
Police authorities were investigating the source of the candy, she added.
Tsk tsk..
The candies/lollipops used to be sold by Tintin, a store owned by the Leoncios, which stands at the corner of the Macadam Highway and the road leading to the Rio Tuba North Elem School. They were disposed by the store, wrapped in sacks. Now there's this garbage scavenger who found the sacks and saw profit in them. She sold the candies in her stall right outside the public school premises and the schoolchildren, during recess, purchased those expired candies.
Apparently the candies' expiry date cannot be easily noticed on their wrapper. But this does not matter anymore. The fact that the vendor merely rummaged on them from the trash definitely puts her in bad faith in selling them.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hillary's speech at the DNC
This morning, as I watched the last half of Hillary Clinton's speech before the Democrats-delegates, I was both saddened and proud of the American woman who, as of last year, was supposed to be President of her country.
She was great. She spoke eloquently and yet, forcefully.
Tonight, as I check on her speech this morning (Tuesday night in America), I found this clever and ingeniously crafted description of how she took that Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado by storm.
"Breaths were held Tuesday night for Clinton's address to the delegations. If only armpits had been squeezed to sides as well, the aroma of the room would have improved greatly, but they were continually raised in applause." (Bernie Lincicome)
She could have been Dems' great VP choice.
She was great. She spoke eloquently and yet, forcefully.
Tonight, as I check on her speech this morning (Tuesday night in America), I found this clever and ingeniously crafted description of how she took that Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado by storm.
"Breaths were held Tuesday night for Clinton's address to the delegations. If only armpits had been squeezed to sides as well, the aroma of the room would have improved greatly, but they were continually raised in applause." (Bernie Lincicome)
She could have been Dems' great VP choice.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
They want us part of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) wanted my town, Bataraza and one more Palawan town to be part of the Expanded ARMM, where a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE) is to take over the ancestral domain of MinSuPala's (Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan) original inhabitants -- the so-called Bangsamoros.
That is without any consultation nor notice to us Palaweños. We were caught unaware that GRP and MILF negotiators were putting us in a situation we don't want to be in precisely because we do not have any idea of the implications and consequences of integrating us into an entity which almost resembles an independent state within the republic. Had it not for the Supreme Court's TRO, they would have already signed the Memorandum of Agreement in Malaysia last week (August 5), with US Ambassador Kenney and other foreign officials witnessing.
I say that the MOA for lacking the essentials of due process, one of democracy's primordial principles, should be set aside.
Do the GRP and the MILF own a sound mind in talking about our inclusion in a juridical entity we ourselves are wary of. The Palaweños -- the present mixed inhabitants and breed of virtually all the ethnic groups in the country -- have rejected our inclusion in the ARMM in four (4) plebiscites already since the 80's. It means that the ideals and objectives of the so-called Bangsamoros do not apply to us. We do not feel threatened and discriminated. We are not living with the past but are continuing to forge ahead to that state and condition we desire. We recognize that paradigm shifts happen and it will be of narrow-mindedness if we continue to enclose oursleves in the not-so-pleasant past.
Muslims and non-Muslims, Christians and the indigenous peoples (Palawa'n, Tagbanwas, Molbogs, Bataks), natives and recent settlers of Palawan-- we all vow to continue exercising our rights and obligations as Palawenos-Filipinos. If only the panels of both the GRP and the MILF were cognizant of this, we Palaweños would not have gone out en masse, marched to, and gathered ourselves today at Puerto Princesa's freedom park, the Mendoza Park, to air our opposition to the inclusion of Bataraza and Balabac in the BJE territories.
The question that keeps popping up my mind every now and then is how dare they do this to us without even consulting or notifying us. It's not surprising to know about the scheduled signing of the MOA. It's totally enraging. Was that another of those shameful tactics of invoking the "executive privilege"?
At any rate, the MOA should be carefully studied. It should be remanded back to the negotiators because substantial constitutional considerations were not taken into account. Clearly, religion is of no issue to us. The issue is about the legal validity, ethical viability and socio-economic and political soundness of the contents of the MOA.
That is without any consultation nor notice to us Palaweños. We were caught unaware that GRP and MILF negotiators were putting us in a situation we don't want to be in precisely because we do not have any idea of the implications and consequences of integrating us into an entity which almost resembles an independent state within the republic. Had it not for the Supreme Court's TRO, they would have already signed the Memorandum of Agreement in Malaysia last week (August 5), with US Ambassador Kenney and other foreign officials witnessing.
I say that the MOA for lacking the essentials of due process, one of democracy's primordial principles, should be set aside.
Do the GRP and the MILF own a sound mind in talking about our inclusion in a juridical entity we ourselves are wary of. The Palaweños -- the present mixed inhabitants and breed of virtually all the ethnic groups in the country -- have rejected our inclusion in the ARMM in four (4) plebiscites already since the 80's. It means that the ideals and objectives of the so-called Bangsamoros do not apply to us. We do not feel threatened and discriminated. We are not living with the past but are continuing to forge ahead to that state and condition we desire. We recognize that paradigm shifts happen and it will be of narrow-mindedness if we continue to enclose oursleves in the not-so-pleasant past.
Muslims and non-Muslims, Christians and the indigenous peoples (Palawa'n, Tagbanwas, Molbogs, Bataks), natives and recent settlers of Palawan-- we all vow to continue exercising our rights and obligations as Palawenos-Filipinos. If only the panels of both the GRP and the MILF were cognizant of this, we Palaweños would not have gone out en masse, marched to, and gathered ourselves today at Puerto Princesa's freedom park, the Mendoza Park, to air our opposition to the inclusion of Bataraza and Balabac in the BJE territories.
The question that keeps popping up my mind every now and then is how dare they do this to us without even consulting or notifying us. It's not surprising to know about the scheduled signing of the MOA. It's totally enraging. Was that another of those shameful tactics of invoking the "executive privilege"?
At any rate, the MOA should be carefully studied. It should be remanded back to the negotiators because substantial constitutional considerations were not taken into account. Clearly, religion is of no issue to us. The issue is about the legal validity, ethical viability and socio-economic and political soundness of the contents of the MOA.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Watching the Pambansang Kamao at the 135 lbs Bout
I watched today's match of the Pambansang Kamao at 135 lbs live at the Asturias Hotel Function Room.
Were it not for my ex who happens to be in town with her friends, I would have been happy watching the bout in my boarding house. But then, she phoned in telling me they're leaving for Manila this afternoon. We haven't had the time to see each other since they arrived. Been busy with my schooling.
So off I went to Asturias. The hotel airs another Pacman fight for P400 and that includes a buffet meal. I found **** at the pool with her ladies-friends. When she said that ******, a lawyer-friend, was upstairs (the bout was being shown at the hotel's function room at the 2nd floor), I excused myself telling the girls that as they go aswimming, I would like to see if Pareng Manny can secure another boxing championship belt by beating Diaz at 135 lbs. So i went upstairs, paid the fee and entered the function room.
I came in just as the last undercard fight was heating up. I had to hurry and dispense with whatever buffet-savviness I have to "dive" for the food. I would not be able to watch the main bout while I eat. Nor can i afford to miss the "value for my money" (read: the live coverage + the food)... So while the main fighters' national anthems were being sung, I was done with the main courses and already munching fruits in a platter. Of course, i stood up when the Lupang Hinirang was sang (while munching a slice of watermelon and then keeping the watermelon seeds in my mouth until the "Ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo.")
The fight lasted only up to the last minute before the 9th round ended. Diaz was KO'd when Pareng manny's lethal left hit him after bombs and bombs of left and right landed on Diaz' face. The first 8 rounds showed how strong a ring punisher the Pacman is. Diaz was just too lucky to have strong legs to keep him standing. I don;t know how he can withstand those Pacman Punches!
Were it not for my ex who happens to be in town with her friends, I would have been happy watching the bout in my boarding house. But then, she phoned in telling me they're leaving for Manila this afternoon. We haven't had the time to see each other since they arrived. Been busy with my schooling.
So off I went to Asturias. The hotel airs another Pacman fight for P400 and that includes a buffet meal. I found **** at the pool with her ladies-friends. When she said that ******, a lawyer-friend, was upstairs (the bout was being shown at the hotel's function room at the 2nd floor), I excused myself telling the girls that as they go aswimming, I would like to see if Pareng Manny can secure another boxing championship belt by beating Diaz at 135 lbs. So i went upstairs, paid the fee and entered the function room.
I came in just as the last undercard fight was heating up. I had to hurry and dispense with whatever buffet-savviness I have to "dive" for the food. I would not be able to watch the main bout while I eat. Nor can i afford to miss the "value for my money" (read: the live coverage + the food)... So while the main fighters' national anthems were being sung, I was done with the main courses and already munching fruits in a platter. Of course, i stood up when the Lupang Hinirang was sang (while munching a slice of watermelon and then keeping the watermelon seeds in my mouth until the "Ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo.")
The fight lasted only up to the last minute before the 9th round ended. Diaz was KO'd when Pareng manny's lethal left hit him after bombs and bombs of left and right landed on Diaz' face. The first 8 rounds showed how strong a ring punisher the Pacman is. Diaz was just too lucky to have strong legs to keep him standing. I don;t know how he can withstand those Pacman Punches!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
An Attempt to be in the Guiness Book
Tonight's Baragatan Finale had been marked by rains, rains..and then the fireworks . I thought we broke the record for the world's longest grill..
Earlier at around 1800, I braved the congested Malvar Street to get the books we ordered at Josol Residence in San Pedro. Backriding with me as the rain poured was Ace, who herself had placed an order for a book whcih law students can buy only from Rex Book STores in Manila. I crisscrossed the length of the slippery thoroughfare, made sharp, quick turns just to avoid getting stuck in between vehicles, some of them16 to 18 wheelers. And then finally, we got to Glenda's house and learned they all went out to Rizal Ave, the city's main street where the longest grill was being set up. But not Mamang who was tending to her Diocel Beloved.
I asked Mamang why she didn't go. It's an important and historical undertaking, I told her. "It's ok", she said, "pwede namang kahit in spirit na lang ...".
We tahnked her bade her goodbye after she handed us the FedEx package containing the books. Again I readied myself for another driving stint with monstrous traffic situation in Malvar. Malvar is an alernative city street which parallels Rizal Ave. Since Rizal was closed for the "historical undertaking" going on there tonight, all vehicles were diverted to this alternate road. The traffic was so heavy that tricycles and multicabs, main modes of transportation here in Puerto Princesa, seemed like not moving at all. Which reminded me of EDSA and España during rush hours. Blue, another classmate who was also going to Glenda's place to get her books aboard a multicab, opted to turn back and went home instead, knowing that we're on our way there on a motorbike.
The drive going back was less stressful except that raindrops got bigger and plentier. We had to make a stop over at Legend's main entrance. The heavy downpour hit the city when we were waiting for Blue at Duchess' front yard. I wondered how's the grilling in Rizal going on...
Thank God, in a shortwhile, the rains stopped. I dropped Ace near the Provincial Capitol grounds where her group, which included her friends and a special someone leaving for Iloilo tomorrow, hanged out. Tonight's the last night of enterntainment extravaganza at the Capitol. This was the last night of live band performances, night bazaars, and food stalls, etc at the Capitol grounds.
Thereafter I went back to my boarding house, too eager to start browsing and reading my new books in Labor Law, Property and Sales. As I was checking on the pages of my books which were Fedexed all the way from Manila, I thought I heard a gunshot. And then there were two, and three..and then there were more. Fireworks! Ha ha. I've always been drawn to them. The second time I lost my cellphone, it was during that night a friend and I joined thousands who flocked to SM MoA's Promenade to watch the 2005 World Pyro Olympics.
So the fireworks which lit up Puerto skies after the rains, made me say goodbye for a while to my class' assigned readings. Bebang, Eric and I watched the fireworks from our boarding house here in Recaido. And when they asked me out, I did not respond with a single hesitation. So out to the streets we went. All three on one bike.
I was just too curious what happened to the province's attempt to be put in the Guinness Book of Records. The fireworks had come to a stop... and so did 95% of the grilling. What we happened to chance upon were a few groups still grilling, but the trucks had begun collecting and loading those grills that were earlier installed from Mendoza Park up to PEO Road. We even got to taste a forkful of grilled tuna and scallops.
Did we break the record? Yes we did. It's a new record -- the longest grill attempt that failed!
Ok, so blame it to the rains. But what happened to more than a million pesos spent for the preparation, for the media coverage and all? Where did all those sea produce go?
A meter of grill accordingly cost 5 thousand pesos and it included a mixture of seafood to be grilled. The attempt was to show the world the longest seafood grill at 3-km long. If the info I gathered was correct, trusting on my conversion skills, the organizers could have collected an astounding P15,000,000. But yeah, unfortunately it failed. How much they were able to collect I don't know. I just hope everything's well-accounted and that whatever sponsorships and financial collections the organizers had amassed would be enough to compensate the provincial budget allotted to this failed undertaking. Let's say they were able to successfully collect sponsorships for a kilometer-long grill, which as to my estimate as we walked from Rizal-Lacao to Dagomboy, was actually attained, that would still be 5M. Deduct the expenses paid up for preparation which could be at 1.5M, still a 3.5M is something.
I just hope taht whatever amount they were able to collect from this longest disappointment, they will be keeping and using for the "next attempt" as what they said. I can only wish they would be putting it in the bank....and not in their pockets. In the bank account of the provincial government not theirs. The province doesnt have to shoulder a single cent the next time they attempt the same.
To ooze away our feelings of disgust, we checked on the live band performance at the Capitol Square, did some sight seeings and ended at the Centralle Grill at the Corner of Rizal Ave and Junction 1. But the pub was another disappointment. The native and nature setting was ok but the service and the people who hang out there were weird.
Earlier at around 1800, I braved the congested Malvar Street to get the books we ordered at Josol Residence in San Pedro. Backriding with me as the rain poured was Ace, who herself had placed an order for a book whcih law students can buy only from Rex Book STores in Manila. I crisscrossed the length of the slippery thoroughfare, made sharp, quick turns just to avoid getting stuck in between vehicles, some of them16 to 18 wheelers. And then finally, we got to Glenda's house and learned they all went out to Rizal Ave, the city's main street where the longest grill was being set up. But not Mamang who was tending to her Diocel Beloved.
I asked Mamang why she didn't go. It's an important and historical undertaking, I told her. "It's ok", she said, "pwede namang kahit in spirit na lang ...".
We tahnked her bade her goodbye after she handed us the FedEx package containing the books. Again I readied myself for another driving stint with monstrous traffic situation in Malvar. Malvar is an alernative city street which parallels Rizal Ave. Since Rizal was closed for the "historical undertaking" going on there tonight, all vehicles were diverted to this alternate road. The traffic was so heavy that tricycles and multicabs, main modes of transportation here in Puerto Princesa, seemed like not moving at all. Which reminded me of EDSA and España during rush hours. Blue, another classmate who was also going to Glenda's place to get her books aboard a multicab, opted to turn back and went home instead, knowing that we're on our way there on a motorbike.
The drive going back was less stressful except that raindrops got bigger and plentier. We had to make a stop over at Legend's main entrance. The heavy downpour hit the city when we were waiting for Blue at Duchess' front yard. I wondered how's the grilling in Rizal going on...
Thank God, in a shortwhile, the rains stopped. I dropped Ace near the Provincial Capitol grounds where her group, which included her friends and a special someone leaving for Iloilo tomorrow, hanged out. Tonight's the last night of enterntainment extravaganza at the Capitol. This was the last night of live band performances, night bazaars, and food stalls, etc at the Capitol grounds.
Thereafter I went back to my boarding house, too eager to start browsing and reading my new books in Labor Law, Property and Sales. As I was checking on the pages of my books which were Fedexed all the way from Manila, I thought I heard a gunshot. And then there were two, and three..and then there were more. Fireworks! Ha ha. I've always been drawn to them. The second time I lost my cellphone, it was during that night a friend and I joined thousands who flocked to SM MoA's Promenade to watch the 2005 World Pyro Olympics.
So the fireworks which lit up Puerto skies after the rains, made me say goodbye for a while to my class' assigned readings. Bebang, Eric and I watched the fireworks from our boarding house here in Recaido. And when they asked me out, I did not respond with a single hesitation. So out to the streets we went. All three on one bike.
I was just too curious what happened to the province's attempt to be put in the Guinness Book of Records. The fireworks had come to a stop... and so did 95% of the grilling. What we happened to chance upon were a few groups still grilling, but the trucks had begun collecting and loading those grills that were earlier installed from Mendoza Park up to PEO Road. We even got to taste a forkful of grilled tuna and scallops.
Did we break the record? Yes we did. It's a new record -- the longest grill attempt that failed!
Ok, so blame it to the rains. But what happened to more than a million pesos spent for the preparation, for the media coverage and all? Where did all those sea produce go?
A meter of grill accordingly cost 5 thousand pesos and it included a mixture of seafood to be grilled. The attempt was to show the world the longest seafood grill at 3-km long. If the info I gathered was correct, trusting on my conversion skills, the organizers could have collected an astounding P15,000,000. But yeah, unfortunately it failed. How much they were able to collect I don't know. I just hope everything's well-accounted and that whatever sponsorships and financial collections the organizers had amassed would be enough to compensate the provincial budget allotted to this failed undertaking. Let's say they were able to successfully collect sponsorships for a kilometer-long grill, which as to my estimate as we walked from Rizal-Lacao to Dagomboy, was actually attained, that would still be 5M. Deduct the expenses paid up for preparation which could be at 1.5M, still a 3.5M is something.
I just hope taht whatever amount they were able to collect from this longest disappointment, they will be keeping and using for the "next attempt" as what they said. I can only wish they would be putting it in the bank....and not in their pockets. In the bank account of the provincial government not theirs. The province doesnt have to shoulder a single cent the next time they attempt the same.
To ooze away our feelings of disgust, we checked on the live band performance at the Capitol Square, did some sight seeings and ended at the Centralle Grill at the Corner of Rizal Ave and Junction 1. But the pub was another disappointment. The native and nature setting was ok but the service and the people who hang out there were weird.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Araw ng Tatay
Dear Tatay,Happy Fathers' Day, Tay!
It was just the other day when you braved the heat and the Pier-to-Capitol route of the Grand Parade for the Opening of Baragatan 2008. You danced in the streets "like there's no tomorrow", never minding the disability that has taken over the normal functioning of your legs. Paula Abdul would have been amused.
I despised the choreographer when during the rehearsals I discovered you were being given dance steps that would really pose as challenge to your condition. Much to my dismay, you let them do what they required. You eagerly followed the ethnic dance steps and religiously attended the rehearsals. And you even enjoyed -- a no-surprise to me since you always love what you're doing. You had me worrying each time you feel some pains in your legs. It's me who bore the brunt of a million and one worries each time I saw you perform.
You beat those dumbasses who do not have anything to do but sit and babble all day and accomplish nothing. They pride themselves as they who know this and that, and yet know too little. They too were required to take part in this year's Pantiguan event but they backed out days before the event. With a million and one fake reasons, those bad guys shredded off important puntos against your delegation. And yet, they got stronger legs and healthier body nourished by a SG of 20+.
A day after the punishing Pantiguan, you and utol Insoy made your way to your hometown where the body of your younger sister lies. You did not yield to your personal sorrow and grief so as not to affect your part and contribution for our town's participation in this year's Baragatan.
Risks. You always take them. There would be persona's priding themselves "eating bullets"; but you, you eat risks. Most of the time, you don't think long term. You don't imagine what the results or benefits of your actions and deeds are because you do them for the sake of doing them.We have not been affluent. And we will never be because you choose never to be. You unfailingly extend to and share with others what should have been for yourself. I find rivals in people who think you always have the means to help them -- relatives and non-relatives.
Nevertheless, I am so proud of you. I cannot find one single word to say how much I love being your son. As young Filipino-British talent Charlie Green would phrase it, I will have to use all "the good words in the dictionary" to describe the feeling.
As tribute to you, I am sharing here photos and a video to tell the world about your perseverance, your brilliance and strength that comes from within.
Have a safe and sound stay there in Samar! Great, great job in the Pantiguan!
Watch Tatay do it! Look for the super dancer with a cane.
The Cane Power! (Tatay in his Palaw'an costume.)
The Local Chief Executive admiring his belly and the beads they put on him.
The Local Chief Executive admiring his belly and the beads they put on him.
When some pain and exhaustion set in...
Stopping and waiting for the parade line to move again.
With fellow street dancers and fellow parade participants.
I sneaked in with the group just in time for another shot.
Parade now about to start.
Performance finally over...waiting for his clothes.
Quenching his thirst...
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