Twilight

It's beeng quite a while since my last post. Things got really busy last October and when we had a week off by the end of the month I was just so exhausted that I cannot think of anything to write of.

TWILIGHT is a MUST READ! Thanks again to Lidie for introducing the book. I'm not really a book worm but I do get to read every now and then. One thing I hate about me is that when I start to read a book and it catches my attention I can't put it down and I end up staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to try and finish the book. And the Twilight Series does belong to those books that I can't put down when I started reading it. The movie version of the book will premiere in the Philippines on November 26, 2008.

Experience A Taste for Green!

Got this from my Friendster Bulletin Board:

Experience A Taste for Green as FlapJacks launches its support for the Greenpeace I LOVE MY RICE GMO-FREE campaign.

Greenpeace is inviting friends and supporters to a fundraising event at Flapjacks on October 12, 2008, at 12 NN.

For only P500, you and a friend can have your fill of delicious food and help Greenpeace fund more local environmental projects.

TICKETS at P500 only! GOOD FOR TWO!
(Choice of lunch or dinner)

Lunch will be served from 12:00NN - 3:00PM / Dinner will be served from 6:00PM-9:00PM.
Hurry! Limited tickets available!

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FlapJacks is located at the G/F Level, Greenhills Theatre Mall (formerly Pilita's).

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For Tickets: Please call Supporter Services at (02) 4347034 local 110 or email at supporterservices.ph@greenpeace.org

The Gameshow

I never thought that I would be on TV... Well, you may not have seen me in that game show since there were like a 100 of us but I was there. I was part of the "mob" during the pilot episode of Endemol's game show 1 vs. 100 in the Philippines. The game show did not really hit the ratings I guess since the show did not last that long in Philippine TV.

I tried my luck to join this game show out desperation. Well, I needed extra cash so why not give it a try. I tried sending an entry through SMS (text message). Luckily I got a phone call from the TV network informing me to report on a certain date and time since I was selected to be on the game show. When I got to the TV station at around 9:00 AM we were instructed to fill out a form for personal details. We were then brought to a studio and there was like about 250+ of us there. All the while I thought that once your SMS was selected then you're in the game show already. I did not realize that there would still be a pre-qualifying test and actual auditions that we had to do before being selected to be "really" on the game show. Still, luck was on my side, I passed the "exam" which was mostly general trivia questions and was instructed to have my photo and thumbprint taken for identification the next time we will be asked to return to the TV network. This was about 12:30 PM already so were instructed to go for lunch come back after an hour for the actual auditions. When we got back to the studio after an hour, we were then asked to fill out a form again which was somewhat like a contract. We were then instructed to think of a song that we can sing in front of everyone... huh??? sing??? why??? I was joining a game show not a singing competition. I was now thinking of backing out, why and how in the world can I sing in front of 100+ people? I only sing in the bathroom. But then I was thinking I was there already and a little song, may it be out of tune, might win me some money. Desperate as I am to earn some extra money, I still continued on. After gathering all the "guts" that I have in every last nerve of my body, I went in front and got ready for what the "host" would instruct me to do next. My angels were still beside me, the host asked me to introduce myself and some other silly questions that I replied with some humor and that was it. Yes, I was not asked to sing anymore. We were then let go around 5:30 PM and was instructed to wait for a call as to when the taping of the game show episode would be. This was the first day of this saga...

Two days later I got a phone call from the TV network again at around 9:00 PM and the lady was congratulating me. I was selected to be on the TV ad that will be used to introduce the game show and was instructed to report for the TV ad shoot at 9:00 AM the following day. What??? I have work you know… A regular job that gives me a living… I can't just be on leave from work at such a short notice... I asked if I can call them back and see if I can be out from work. Of course, I can't call in sick just for this reason. My regular job is not worth sacrificing for this one day shoot. I called the network back and gave my apologies but I cannot be absent from work the following day and was still hoping that they will let me participate in the game show itself. The lady then said there is no guarantee when they will call me again. Well, I thought, that was the end of it...

Then there was another call about 2 days later. I was now informed that we will start taping for the pilot episode of the game show. Wow! This is it! I'll be on TV!!! :-) I was instructed to report again to the station at 3:00 PM the following day. I thought I will just leave a little early from work to be able to make it to the taping. I then got a call the next morning saying that the taping will be moved to 5:00 PM. Good that I did not have to leave work early since we really are off by 4:00 PM. Right after work my husband, whom I think was more excited than I was, drove me to the station. We waited for an hour just to be informed that the taping will be postponed till 5:00 PM the next day.

The following day my husband brought me to the station again right after work. I asked my husband to come back for me after he gets a text message that I can be picked up already. I was not sure how long the whole thing would take. So there we were, almost 100 of us who got in for the initial episode of 1 vs. 100. We were instructed to register then we were shown a series of episodes of the game show from other countries to have an idea on how it goes. We were then instructed to wait... 6:00... 7:00... 8:00 PM... still nothing. Since we were just waiting and doing nothing, we got to introduce ourselves to one another... share stories... more stories... total strangers now sharing frustrations on the long wait that we are experiencing, doing nothing, tired and hungry, waiting for what will happen next... Around 9:00 PM we were brought to the cafeteria. We were given free dinner... yeah, how "lucky" we are given free dinner at 9:00 PM. After dinner we were then brought to the studio where they do Deal or No Deal. We were briefed on what to do during the game show. Spirits were up again thinking that we will start the game soon. 10:30 and were instructed to "WAIT" again for the next instruction... 11:00... 12:30AM.. I am now sooooooo frustrated, tired, thinking of going home and sleeping... Why am I doing this to myself? What do these people think of us? Yeah, it's almost 1:00 in the morning and I have to be up at 5:30 to be ready to go to back to "my world". I was feeling stupid already that we had to be waiting and waiting and waiting. It's like they are slapping your face, making you feel that you should be grateful to them that you get to be on TV, and all this wait and frustration is the price you have to pay... Finally at 1:00 AM we were transferred to another studio. We were then seated according to the numbers given to us earlier. The show was about to start... AT LAST! The host was Mr. Edu Manzano and the celebrity contestant was Ms. Ai Ai de las Alas. Questions were easy but a bit confusing. I was out on the second to the last question and did not win anything. It was fun but the long wait and frustration was not worth it. All I was thinking then was I wanted to sleep already. Did not even get to text my husband to pick me up coz I can't stand to wait anymore. I just called a cab and went home. More frustrating was we were not even given anything in return for all our effort. Well, I know that they are not obligated to compensate us but then an act of appreciation for all of us who made their launching episode would be appreciated… a shirt, pen, notepad, key chain, or just anything to say “thanks for your time”. Well I got nothing out of it but then again I guess it was still an adventure and I got to meet new people. A once in a lifetime experience… ONCE IN MY LIFETIME, never will I go through all that again!!! Or who knows???

Litratong Pinoy: Aking Kompyuter

Ito ang aking unang lahok sa Litratong Pinoy...
This is my first entry for Litratong Pinoy...

Ito ang aking computer sa aking pinagtatrabahuhan. Napakahalaga ng makinang ito na nasa ilalim ng aking mesa. Ito ang nagpapatakbo sa aming opisina. Tila naaantala lahat ng trabaho pag ito ay nasisira.
This is my computer at work. This machine under my desk is very important. It is very essential in running our office. It seems that almost all the work in our office gets delayed when it bogs down.


Ito naman ang aking kompyuter sa bahay... Ito ang aking ginagamit sa paggawa ng blog, pagsilip sa aking personal na e-mail, paglalaro, taguan ng mga litrato, at kung anu-ano pa.
And this is my computer at home... This is the one I use to post my blogs, check my personal e-mail, play games, store my photos, etc.

Tagatay: Tierra de Maria

Tierra de Maria in Tagaytay City

Home of the 50-feet image of Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The 50-feet statue of Mother Mary

The Wedding at Cana Wishing Well

so Catholic and so Filipino...
a place where you can light a candle, say a prayer
and ask for God's blessings for your intentions and wishes

I wanted to take photos of the chapel at Tierra de Maria but did not want to disturb the solemnity of the place.

Tagaytay: Bulalo sa Mahogany

This is the reason why we go to the Mahogany Market whenever we are in Tagaytay... the BULALO.

Bulalo, as we call it in the Philippines, is a soup made by continuously boiling beef shank and meat until meat is tender and the flavor comes out. The marrow inside the beef shank makes the soup so flavorful. You would just love a taste of this hot soup while enjoying the cool breeze of Tagaytay. Bulalo at Mahogany Market costs around P280.00 and is good for 4-5 persons.

Tagaytay: Taal Volcano

My son who is now on 1st Grade kept on asking "Mommy, saan ba may volcano?" (Mommy, where can you find a volcano?) and Tagaytay was the nearest we can go to and see a volcano. Though we were short on budget, my husband and I decided to bring the kids to Tagaytay.

Tagaytay is about an hour and a half drive from Metro Manila. People from the metro frequent this place because it is the nearest you can go to to experience a cooler climate, a very beautiful view of the Taal Volcano, with lots of interesting places to visit.

We took the usual route which was via SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) passing through Sta. Rosa, Laguna. As soon as we got to Tagaytay I pointed out to my eldest where the Taal Volcano was. He then asked "Bakit walang usok at yung pula na lumalabas sa volcano?" (Why is there no smoke and the red thing coming out from the volcano). He was quite expecting to see how the teacher described a volcano, an erupting volcano. :-) A little bit confused but he still insisted "Mommy, dapat kunan mo ako ng picture kasama yung volcano kasi ipapakita ko yan kay teacher." (Mommy, you need to take a photo of me with the volcano so that I can show it to my teacher.)

This was not the first time that we've been to Tagaytay but then it was quite a new experience again. Both my children are now more observant of the places we go to, naming landforms, asking questions on what they learn from school... This time our trip was a lesson on Civics... :-)

Adidas King of the Road Marathon

Here's something for those who are into marathons, people who really love to run or anybody who just want to try something new every now and then...

Adidas King of the Road Marathon
October 11, 2008, 5:30am
Gawad Kalinga Expo 2008
The Fort, Taguig City, Philippines

Reg Fee
P300, includes an authentic Adidas Climalite Singlet, race number, certificate, entrance fee to GK Expo

Start and Finish Line:
28th Street (in front of Honda)
21K - 5:30 am
5k/10k - 6:00 am

Registration
Adidas Shops in Podium, Trinoma, Megamall, Rockwell
Ground floor of Vazquez-Madrigal Bldg., Annapolis St. Greenhills, San Juan (recommended for bulk registrations of corporations, schools and organizations)

Registration dates
September 22- October 9

NOTE
The Run for Love will be a side event in the King of the Road. You can pledge your run for the Gawad Kalinga.

More details on http://takbo.ph/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=32&func=details&did=42

1st Coke Philippines International Coastal Clean-Up

Saw this event from a post made by Mr. Eric Tipon at www.mypinoy.com

You can also find more information at 

http://earthnews.pinaymom.org/2008/09/1st-coke-philippines-international-coastal-clean-up/

http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_icc

Join the 1st Coke Philippines International Coastal Clean-Up on Sept. 20, 2008 SAT 6AM, and help start a sea change.

The International Coastal Cleanup, organized by The Ocean Conservancy, is the world’s largest volunteer event of its kind. Last year, 378,000 volunteers from 76 countries and 45 states cleared six million pounds of trash from oceans and waterways and recorded every piece of trash collected.

This September 20, 2008, Saturday at 6AM, Coca-Cola Philippines invites you, your family & friends to be one with us and thousands of volunteers world-wide in a globally-coordinated event, as we clean up an area of the Manila Bay in San Dionisio, Paranaque located near the Cavite Coastal Road to demonstrate our commitment to clean oceans and waterways.

The event is expected to begin at 6AM in the morning, and will finish before lunch-time.

To join, simply form a team of your friends and group yourselves into a team of FOUR (4) members each.

Among yourselves, please select a Team Leader with whom we can coordinate with and pass on the event-related materials, forms, and other updates.

There is no limit to the number of teams you can form!

Once you have formed your team, please send me a list of your team members complete with cellphone #’s and email addresses.

We would to like to get a headcount for this activity that we may coordinate better with the Ocean Conservancy’s Philippine Coordinating Organization, the International Marinelife Alliance Philippines (IMAP), and the DENR.

Once I receive your list, I will immediately send you a PowerPt Presentation which will provide you and your team more information on what items to bring with you on Sept. 20.

For more information, you can also visit The Ocean Conservancy Website at http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_icc

or contact me at the following :

Victor Z. Manlapaz

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc.
Project Officer, Environment
Tel.: (02) 866-2582
Fax: (02) 866-2398
Mobile: (0917) 886-6054
Email: victor.manlapaz @ ccbp.com.ph

I Was Once A Mountaineer

Take nothing but pictures

Kill nothing but time

Leave nothing but footprints

I'm not the athletic type but I love adventure. The days that I took the challenge to trek and hike mountains are the days that I will always treasure.

When I was a freshman in the University of Santo Tomas I got interested in joining the UST Mountaineering Club (USTMC). What started to be an out-of-curiosity activity ended up to be an involvement and dedication to become a full-pledge mountaineer. It was not that easy. You have to train, attend courses, develop new skills and do a lot of running which I never thought I could ever do.

Many people asked me what do I get out of it. It's dangerous, You get tired, push yourself to the limits, get scratched and bruised, and what do you get once you reach the summit??? SENSE OF FULFILLMENT! This is when I was able to test my patience and found out that I have lots of it. It is when I found myself, that I CAN BE WHO I AM. The best part of being a mountaineer is being with real people. No matter how hard you try to pretend to be a different person than who you really are, the real "YOU" will come out as soon as the first climb.

I may not have stayed long with the club (not because I did not want to climb anymore of course) but it made a very important mark in my life. I may have been once a mountaineer physically but I will be forever a mountaineer by heart. 

My World

C/S Origin

Oh I am so excited!!! C/S (Crime/Suspense) will have its own channel on TV again and it's called C/S Origin. When C/S was moved to free TV RPN-9 I was quite disappointed. Episodes of most of the TV programs they merged with RPN-9 went back to the previous season. 

C/S Origin is now on test broadcast and will be launched on September 14, 2008. For sure there would be new episodes of my must-watch tv shows: Without A Trace, Bones, Law and Order, Cold Case, etc... I wish they would include CSI among their programs.

Old Friends, New Stories, Same Bond

I'm so happy to have met up with friends I have not been with for quite some time now. Though we have not seen each other for years, the "connection" is still there. Old stories reminisced and new ones shared over coffee. Nothing was planned, everything just started with an e-mail between two then one invited another and another until there were five (well, six including my friend's little one) of us meeting up in Starbucks. It was only recently that these closest friends of mine got together online through Yahoo Messenger. Sadly one of us gals were not able to join this afternoon as she is in Canada.

Many things have changed throughout the years but still the bond of friendship is there. We had to meet at around 2:00 PM which we found funny. We had to meet in the afternoon now since almost all of us have kids and it wouldn't be that easy if we set a night out like we used to do when were younger. Stories are different now... we talked more on family - children and parenting - instead of the usual "gimmick" chitchat. Then we had to bid goodbyes around 5:00 PM... wow! 2 hours (only)? coffee instead of beer? is this a sign of growing "old"??? :-)

We're all hoping that we can meet up again some time together with our other friends and with our families too.

Filipino Jobs Overseas

Here's a very useful link to all Filipinos out there who would like to work overseas.

http://www.workabroad.ph/register_applicant.php?ref=xxyyszz

Just click on the link, register for free and find a job abroad. You get to search over a thousand job opportunities abroad for Filipinos.

Word of caution though... please be careful when dealing with agencies or people who are offering employment overseas. Make sure that you check them out with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). Many Filipinos have already been victimized by illegal recruiters. So far opportunities posted in workabroad.ph are mostly, if not all, legit but still we can never be too careful.

Pupay Got the Bronze

August 22 was Pupay's next Storytelling Competition and it's now on the Division Level. Representatives of the first and second district schools of Mandaluyong competed and Dominique bagged the third place for her category. She was awarded with a bronze medal today and will be showing off her talent to her fellow students in their school on Monday.

Congratulations again, Pupay!

Tarsier

Picture Taken at Bohol, Philippines

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan (Part Two)

We visited Kamayan sa Palaisdaan again last Monday. As I mentioned in my first post on this place, table reservations and advanced food orders are highly recommended. Here are some of my not-so-good comments on this resto, still, the place is still worth visiting...

Does being a "famous" and "talked about" restaurant mean it's okay to sacrifice the quality of service??? Yeah, right, you have lots of customers... so, that does justify the poor and very slow service that you give your clients. Or does the word "SERVICE" even ring a bell to the management of this restaurant.

I just don't know how many times we have eaten in this restaurant, 10? 20? I guess more. It has been a traditional spot for families in Quezon to frequent the place because of its good food, reasonable price and relaxing ambiance. But during our visits, more than 60% of the time have we seen ranting customers complaining of the very slow service that they give, counting also the times that I was actually the one complaining. Personally, the slow service does not affect me anymore because we already got used to the system of calling in advance for table reservations and food order (as I have mentioned for the nth time in my posts). If you're a local of the place then maybe the poor service will not affect you that much anymore as you're already "so used to it".

It's just so sad to see people coming from faraway places just to visit the restaurant and end up very disappointed. How can we promote a very beautiful place that is almost a landmark to Tayabas, Quezon if the quality of service is just so poor???

Maybe I am just exaggerating but here are a few (very few of all that we experienced so far) examples of poor service in this restaurant and I'll let you be the judge:

• 30-minute wait to get a table
• 10-15 minutes to have a waiter visit your dining area and take your order
• almost an hour (if not an hour) wait for food to be served
• try to ask for spoon and fork (well, sorry but yes, customers sometimes still need spoon and fork even if it's supposed to be "kamayan" specially the ones with young children) and see if it will ever arrive. Yes, your request will be accommodated after asking for it 10 times and waiting for another 30 minutes. huh!
• ask for water and the same thing happens, wait another 15-30 minutes for it to be served!!! Yes, management of kamayan, your customers need "water" so that they will not choke to death.
  
• always check your bill before your pay for it... sometimes there are orders that gets placed under your bill even if it was from another table

Sad but true... these are my first-hand encounters in this restaurant. During our last visit, a lady I bumped unto in the washroom was so disappointed and furious that she was asking how can people even promote this place and be proud of it, SERVICE IS SO POOR, and that they will never ever return to this place nor will she ever recommend it to anybody! They traveled from Manila and ended up experiencing the stuff that sounded so familiar to me (the ones I mentioned above, hehe).

To the locals and frequent visitors of the place, please don't get upset with my post. I feel just the same as you do... I love the place, I really do, and it also hurts me when I see disappointed travelers and visitors ranting against the restaurant. I hope the management of Kamayan sa Palaisdaan will try to do something with the service that they offer their clients.

Well, as for me, I just don't complain. I have tried to talk to somebody from the management which I think was one of the managers or head of the waiters and expressed this concern.

As for the management of Kamayan sa Palaisdaan... I just hope you'll do something to improve the quality of service you give. Remember, you always boast of your Department of Tourism accreditation meaning you want tourists or travelers, may they be local or foreign, to frequent your place. How can they recommend your restaurant if your service is so slow and poor.

And to be fair with the Kamayan sa Palaisdaan management, the restaurant still has good food, reasonable price and worth visiting... just make sure you CALL IN FOR A TABLE RESERVATION AND ADVANCED FOOD ORDER!

Walang Ganyan sa States! - Photo Contest 2008

View my entries for the "Walang Ganyan sa States! - Photo Contest 2008" at www.photo.net.ph

• The Baptism of Jesus

http://www.photo.net.ph/displayimage-55627.html

• Kamayan sa Palaisdaan

http://www.photo.net.ph/displayimage-55626.html

• Luneta

http://www.photo.net.ph/displayimage-55615.html

• Tarsier

http://www.photo.net.ph/displayimage-55614.html

• Sunset at Malapascua

http://www.photo.net.ph/displayimage-55613.html

Sunset at Malapascua

I took this photo during our trip to Malapascua in Cebu. It seems nothing can go wrong with a picture taken with nature as your object. I am no professional photographer nor have I any training on this field. All I know about photography is to always carry a digital camera with me, point and shoot :-)

Malapascua Island is about 3 hours away from Cebu City. It is famous as a snorkeling or dive site.

PUPAY!!!

The little actress of our family, Pupay. Her real name is Dominique but we call her Pupay at home. She is my sister's youngest daughter who will become a star someday, but I think she already is, NOW!

Pupay won 3rd place for her story telling performance in the Pagkukwento (Story Telling) category of the Pampurok na Paligsahan sa Filipino of the government schools in Mandaluyong. It was held this morning at P. Cruz Elementary School. Since she placed third, she has qualified to compete in the district level. Her story was about a little Japanese girl named Yukido. After weeks of extending time in school to practice, all her hard work paid off.

Congratulations and good luck, Pupay!

Click Here to Watch Pupay's "Award-Winning" Performance

Destination Quezon: Kamay ni Hesus

Our family is Catholic by religion so every time we eat in Kamayan sa Palaisdaan our next stop would be to pass by Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon. It was founded by the famous healing priest of Quezon, Father Joey Faller. Many Catholic devotees travel a long way to visit this healing center. Healing Masses are held usually every Mondays and Saturdays but it would be best to contact their office if you want to make sure that there would be a healing mass when you get there.

The first few times we've visited the place, there was only the grotto where you have to climb 292 steps to reach the top. At the top of the grotto you'll find the biggest statue of Jesus. My children were so amazed with the life-size statues of the Stations of the Cross. Good for my kids, they were able to climb the grotto. But as for me, I'd prefer to view them from afar. Imagine climbing those 292 steps!!!???

Recently, another section of the healing center was completed which was called "Luklukan ni Maria". This area of the center is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, where you will find life-size statues representing the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Photos here were taken in Luklukan ni Maria. There were also several buildings in the area which I think are meant to be retreat centers.

This is a very ideal place for prayers and reflection.

Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center (Hands of Jesus)
Lucban, Quezon, Philippines
http://www.kamaynihesus.com/
Tel. No. +63 42 5403085

Destination Quezon: Kamayan sa Palaisdaan

If you happen to be in the area of Quezon Province, Philippines this restaurant is a "must" to visit and dine.

"Kamayan" is a Filipino term that would mean "eating by hands" and "Palaisdaan" means fishpond. The restaurant's unique ambiance is what it boasts of. Here you will be able to experience dining in huts floating on a pond. The restaurant is situated in Tayabas, Quezon where they always have a cool climate. Lush vegetation surround the place that makes it very relaxing for the busy mind.

The restaurant only serves Filipino dish but for sure you will be more than satisfied with the fresh fish that they will serve may it be inihaw (grilled) or ginataan (cooked in coconut milk). Our order whenever we dine there would consist of "inihaw na spareribs" (grilled spareribs) as this is very famous to the kids, inihaw or ginataan na pla-pla (fish) and ginataan na suso (snails) with pako (fiddlehead ferns).


One advise though, if you're planning to visit the place on weekends or peak days such as local holidays, be ready to wait for long serving time. This happened to us several times already. I also strongly suggest to call them for table reservation and advance food order during peak season.

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan
Brgy. Dapdap Tayabas, Quezon, Philippines
Tel. No.: (042) 793-3654
email: info@kamayansapalaisdaan.com.ph
www.kamayansapalaisdaan.com.ph

Destination Quezon

I've been raised in the hustle and bustle of the city in Manila. It is only during vacation trips that we get to see scenic places of the rural side and feel the freshness of the air. But when I got married I also adopted a second hometown... Quezon.

My first few trips to Lucena were exciting and fun since the place was all new to me. But as we frequent the place, I had to explore new destinations in Lucena or the nearby towns to make our stay in Quezon more enjoyable. My next few blogs will most probably be about places in Quezon that we've visited. I hope you also get to go there and enjoy the places.

San Miguel By the Bay

This is one of the favorite places that my children love to go to. It's like an improved version of Baywalk in Roxas Boulevard before and is more family-centered. Large spaces bounded by steel fences and several playgrounds in different spots makes it child-friendly. My children can run around, play and just have fun...


But, of course, the place won't be as much fun if there were no food places around. There are quite a number of restaurants now offering a wide variety of cuisine. There is the famous "Seaside Palutuan" where you get to buy fresh seafood from the market and have them cooked and served the way you like it. You will also find here the American bar and restaurant "Hooters" and several other bars such as Padi's Point and Pier One. Many other restaurants are mushrooming in the area and the last I noticed was of course a "Starbucks" soon to open.

Best thing in the area are the clean and well-maintained restrooms. Security personnel are also very visible everywhere which makes you feel safe and secure. There is also now a tram that services people who want to avoid the long walk of the whole San Miguel by the Bay strip.

Passing Down Our Heritage

Many people nowadays, specially the younger generation, miss the real meaning of the Rizal Park also known as Luneta Park. They now think of it as a place where only "lovers" stroll around for a date, the younger ones would say it's "baduy"(pinoy slang for low-class; uncouth; unfashionable; having mass appeal; similar to jologs) to go there, or worst, a place for pimping prostitutes. This is very sad as this place is an important part of our cultural heritage.

Last Sunday we decided to bring the kids to Luneta instead of going to the mall. I have not been to the place for the longest time and I was so happy to see that the landscaping of the place is still well-maintained. Flowering plants surrounded the park. Security guards roam the place to make sure that the place is safe from common street crimes. The park was clean and rubbish-free though we did not get to see if there's a clean restroom in the area. There is a light and sound show of the martyrdom of Rizal and the Chinese Garden which you can visit for a minimal fee (no idea how the places were since we did not go inside). My husband and I took turns explaining to the children who Jose Rizal was and why he became the Philippine National Hero. What made me really so happy was seeing other families doing the same thing as we were, touring the place and informing the young ones the real meaning of this historical landmark. Wow, our visit was just like a school field trip, bringing memories of those educational trips when you get to see Luneta Park year after year as it was always included in the field trip itinerary during our grade school years.

The idea of bringing my kids to Luneta came to mind like two weeks ago. We were driving by Taft Ave. on our way to a friend's house in Fort Bonifacio after hearing Mass in Quiapo Church. The kids and I were looking at the places that we pass by and I eagerly gave them a brief introduction of the places which were new to them. We passed by the Philippine Post Office with its majestic fountain, Manila City Hall which is very remarkable with its big clock then the Luneta Park. I told them that the Luneta Park is where Jose Rizal was shot and asked them if they knew who Jose Rizal was. "Oo, mommy, siya ang may-ari ng school namin." ("Of course, he is the owner of our school"), a quick and excited answer given by my son which made me and my husband laugh so hard. But after the laughter came the concern (very typical of a mom...hehe). How can my son, who's in 1st grade in a school named after our national hero, don't know who Jose Rizal is??? So I told my husband we should take time to bring the children to places where they will learn and appreciate more about our country's culture and history. This way we can pass down our cultural heritage to the younger generation.

Thanks to pinoyslang.com for the definition of "baduy". :-)

A Cyberspace Newbie Again --- Aaarrghhh! So much to read and learn!

Well, I've been online for almost the whole day now reading materials that will help me improve my site. Ooohhh, it is very tiring. There is just so much to learn, new terms I encountered, terms of service and policies to read and understand, and many more stuff that are totally new to me.

My famous line whenever someone comes up to me in the office asking how I learned to use the computer is "Well, by constantly using it". Computers and technology is something that you'll have a hard time catching up. Using a computer is a skill, if you don't use it then you'll lose it. It's just like driving a car or riding a bike. Since I was like 12 years old we already had a computer at home. Maybe I could say that though we're not rich we were lucky to have a computer at such an early stage of the computer industry in the Philippines which was around the very late 80's or early 90's. Of course, it was only MS-DOS, WordStar, Lotus, and the likes then. Then came MS Office, the internet, IRC, search engines such as altavista, e-mail, and so many new stuff. I have been in this technology thing for more than half of my life BUT today... I feel like a newbie again.

I think I lost touch when I started my own family. Ever since then, I mainly used the computer for work which is using MS Office and e-mail. I only used the internet for searching phone numbers for food deliveries, drug stores, and establishments that would satisfy our day to day needs. I did not have time to explore these new things like blogging, creating and maintaining a website, updating profiles, changing layouts and settings, etc. It's very difficult to get time when you're a wife and a working mom of 2 kids.

So this is really it... a start to my blogging experience. Wish me luck in learning again. I'm a NEWBIE --- again!

This Is It!!! I HOPE!!!

I've been wondering for quite some time if I really can do this... start a blog and really update it. I wrote my first ever blog in my friendster account but then, of course very "ME", ended up updating it like twice a year with a total of 5 blogs in 2 years.

So now here I am, writing a blog again and hoping that I will be able to maintain and update it this time. So to my friends and everyone who will come across my page I hope you enjoy viewing my page and get something good out of whatever I write in here.