Thursday, December 31, 2009

Nobody, nobody but you!



It's been a while since my last post. Anyway, holidays naman. And nobody was supposed to visit my blog during the holidays, right? Wala na gani time mag-shopping, tapos mag-surf pa sa blog? People thought my insomnia has been cured because of the absence of any post. But it was understandable that even if I still couldn't sleep, I would be doing something else, rather than just sit in front of my computer. The past weeks, even salesgirls, or especially salesgirls stayed up late. Baw, grabe gid mag-shopping mga tawo.

I too had to chauffer my family to shopping and visiting sorties. And these sorties sometimes lasted up to the wee hours!

But now, tapos na Christmas, and the shopping rush and spending woes that went with it. It was a habit of Filipinos to really splurge during Christmas. It was also a habit of malls and other business establishments to mark down prices or put up Sale gimmicks to entice and squeeze out the last money from gullible holiday shoppers. Anyway, better to give than to receive daw. But tell that to the marines, as I witnessed faces fell in Christmas gatherings because,after spending a lot for the exchange gift, some participants resented it when they received obviously cheap items from ukay-ukay or tiyangge sale; or they were about to cry after receiving a piece of handkerchief or a lavacara, knowing fully well that they bought branded t-shirt or other pricey items for their own exchange gift. They even had their gifts specially wrapped with special wrappers by paid wrapping counters that sprout along mall aisles, only to be forcefully torn by excited receivers. They didn’t even appreciate, even for a few minutes, the art and the skill that went with the gift wrapping.

In my family, we too had our share of budget scare. No matter how we limit the expenses, it seemed the final bill was always over the budget.

We shopped and purchased gift items and groceries for Christmas dinner early to avoid the rush only to find even as late as the eve of Christmas that we failed to purchase some required items. For example, we planned to cook pancit molo, our tradition, for Noche Buena. Days before, we drove to Panaderia de Molo to purchase the chicken molo balls. My kids and nieces love their molo balls! On Christmas eve, as my wife was cooking the molo, she discovered we had no molo noodles and spring onions. I hated the queues and the road traffic while paying or while driving, as the case maybe. So I purchased the noodles in a small tindahan near my mother’s house kilometers away when I fetch my mother for midnight mass.

Every Christmas we attend Misa de Gallo in the Colegio de San Jose chapel. The chapel is walking distance from my house and its Christmas eve mass at 10:00 pm is earlier than in our hometown. After the mass, my mother, my siblings and an assortment of nieces, apos and in-laws gather in my house for Noche Buena, exchange gift, and a party. For years now, we gather in my house because my house is the most accessible and the biggest in my mother’s family (but not anymore).

Also, every year my sisters and nieces choose a color motif for our Christmas attire. This year 2009, it was violet, lavender, purple, indigo, whatever. Everybody had an exciting time scouring the malls and tiangges for their Christmas attire. In my case, I already eyed some violet t-shirts in some boutiques. On Christmas eve, when I was about to purchase my shirt, I discovered there was no size for me. Nag-panick na ako. Violet is an uncommon color for men’s clothes. The only store I thought I have not gone to was Collezione. I thought I would be wearing one of its shirt, the most worn t-shirt this side of the planet this season (which I don’t like to wear because it was so common) – the one with the map of the Philippines embroidered on its breast. From Noynoy and Kris Aquino, to the TV news anchors and reporters, to salesgirls and even cigarette vendors – they wear proudly the Philippine map on their breasts. Very nationalistic, indeed. But do I have to wear what half of the Filipinos were wearing? Luckily, there was also no size for me at Collezione. The last boutique I went to was Folded&Hung. I avoided this boutique because its items were very expensive. But now I discovered it sold t-shirts for below Php500.00. And they had all the colors of the rainbow. I also liked their t-shirt with the Philippine map. Its embroidered outline of the map extended up to the collar, with the upper part of Luzon already embroidered on the collar. Cool. At least iba. But then, there was also no size for me. Uso kasi ngayon in the Philippines ang body-fit style of shirts, na nakadikit sa body na parang balat ng suman. Bagay sa mga kids and students. But for an older professional like me, parang trying hard ang dating sa akin. Parang nag-shrink ng todo ang damit mo, and you still have to wear it because you have no choice, dahil wala ka nang pambili. So I bought my violet shirt from F&H, the one without the map.


On the night of the Misa de Gallo, my kids and nieces were excited to wear their attires. We first had a group picture-taking before proceeding to the church. It was nice to know that, in the wake of the Filipino diaspora, many of us were still together to celebrate Christmas. There were new faces, as a niece got a husband, and a brother had an apo. But I was sad to know that other faces in our last Christmas picture were no longer with us - a niece went abroad to work and my only nephew who was my constant companion was in London with his parents. The world is getting smaller. Every Christmas, there is always a missing face in our group picture. Who would we miss next Christmas? Can we ever gather completely again?

The church goers were staring and smiling at us, as twenty-plus of us, and my wheel-chair bound mother and the babies, paraded to the church wearing all shades of violet. Probably, many were thankful they were not wearing the same color, else they be mistaken as members of our boisterous family.

The mass was long as it was preceded by a re-enactment of the Nativity starting from the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem up to the birth of Jesus and the coming of the three Kings. The children were happily watching at the start, and silently sleeping when the play ended. We had a hard time keeping them awake during the mass.


We had a hearty Noche Buena after the mass. And exchange gifts and games. Two computers with webcams were strategically placed in our sala so our homesick relatives abroad can also join us on real time. The kids danced like they were drunk. And they danced mostly to the tune of Nobody, Nobody But You. They kept on replaying the music and dancing to its beat, I thought my eardrums would burst. It would have been nice to hear Jingle Bells or Silent Night as it was Christmas. The kids only stopped the music when we had our ‘exchange gifts’. Afterwards they were snickering as they thought their gifts came from Santa Claus, but they said it was actually their Tita - my sister – who gave them all the gifts. I received a replica of the crucified Jesus as gift from my SP (special pal).


At 1:30 am, I drove my mother to her house in our hometown, as she will never sleep in any house but her own. When we arrived in the town 25km away, I passed by many cars and people. I found out the mass had just finished and people were still going home for their Noche Buena at 2:00 am.

In the morning, we all woke up late. And we ate all the left-overs from the previous night’s meal. The children were again preparing a dance number for the Christmas Party with their friends in our compound. I told them they should dance to any music except Nobody, Nobody But You. They just laughed. Then they all swayed their hips as Nobody, Nobody But You shattered the morning calm.


@

Read More...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

The women in the Arroyo Fountain

Early this morning I drove to the office of my sister in Bo. Obrero. It was their Christmas Party. The party was a day-long activity starting with a breakfast. I brought with me ibos, huwad-huwad, and ripe mangoes for their breakfast.

Driving from our house in Jaro to Bo. Obrero, passing by Lapaz to Lapuz without crossing the Iloilo River, was a so-so experience - especially the trip through the Lapuz area. It was just one of those forgettable trips, so humdrum it was over before I even thought about it. The place was very impersonal, with the buildings either closed or occupied as warehouses or depots, and populated by half-clothed cargadors and other daily wagers carrying sacks of produce.

On my way back, I changed my route just to brighten up the trip. When I reached the Rizal rotunda, I turned left to cross the Iloilo River via the Quirino Lopez Bridge. Across the river, I could see the new Provincial Capitol Building, The Atrium, the old Iloilo Prison, the Hall of Justice Building, and far to my left is the turn of the century Aduana Building.



And as I got near the other side of the Iloilo River, I was face-to-face with the Arroyo Fountain, that famous landmark in front of the old Provincial Capitol Building.

The Arroyo Fountain is also known as Kilometer Zero in the island of Panay. And I think all Ilonggos must know this – that all kilometer readings beside the highways all throughout Panay were measured from the Arroyo Fountain. It was named after an Ilonggo Senator, the late Jose Maria Arroyo. He was the grandfather of the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, infamous for being linked to the many scandals and anomalies in the administration of President Gloria Arroyo. (Now, Ilonggos must be aware that the person they love to hate is just a fellow Ilonggo.) The fountain features four women carrying a basin over their head. When I was in high school, I was one of the few students tapped by the Department of Tourism to help in their tourism promotion campaigns. We were given briefings as regards attractions in Iloilo City. I remember that we were informed that the four women in the Arroyo fountain were originally naked. But the conservative attitude of the Ilonggos, made the government decide to cover the women with Grecian garbs.

And I was reminded of the original nakedness of the stone women when I passed by the fountain two weeks ago.

It was a Tuesday, about 9:00 am. I was driving to Calle Real for some errands. The streets were busy with pedestrians and traffic. It seemed a normal day. Just like the other days before. But something unusual happened.

As I approached the Arroyo Fountain, I saw this unusual sight – a voluptuous near-naked woman, a pale orange gumamela tucked behind her ear, was dancing on the street level ledge of the fountain. No, I was not hallucinating. It was not one of the four stone women turning to life, possibly because of some enchanted kiss of a prince charming in the guise of a taong grasa. The woman was real flesh and blood. She was doing a sexy dance while circling the fountain like she was in a bar - gyrating and grinding her pelvis, swinging her exposed breasts, and taunting the passersby with the most luscious lips. From afar, her morena features would easily make her just another buang or babaeng grasa na nakakadiri. But as I got near, I could see she was not the usual streetside buang. Her body was well maintained and she could pass for a high-prized GRO. Her auburn hair could have been from a parlor. Her bras were pulled up. Her tits were dark but she had perfect skin. And her scandalous performance seemed choreographed.

But, alas, as I passed in front of her, I failed to see her face. I failed to see if she was really still wearing panties.

When I passed in front of her, I was concerned more of the reactions of the many minors and students who passed by the area. I was concerned more of whether there were policemen around and what they were doing. I was more like a scandalized Ilonggo of old prodding my government to put stone clothes on the statues that may cover the stony outlines of their nubile womanhood.

No, there were no policemen. I could see two uniformed traffic enforcers about twenty meters away with some scandalized old ladies. Surely, the dancing lady did not commit any traffic violation. The traffic enforcers were looking helplessly at the live performance they could have longed to see but could not because of their meager salaries. But in the presence of the manangs, they were in a quandary of whether to stop the indecent performance or to flag down their libido from producing a raging hard on in broad daylight. Accidents too might happen as drivers may think they were at the ringside of a go-go bar and not at the driver’s side of a vehicle.

Then I was far away. I didn’t like to look back as I may be the one to cause an accident.

When I reached home, I immediately narrated the incident to the carpenters doing some renovation in my house. We had a good laugh. One panday told us that, in the past days, he had been hearing over the radio the same incident. According to radio reports, the lady was not buang but possibly high on drugs or could have bouts of depression.

Anyway, for you my cyberfriends, I didn’t just fail to see the face of the dancing lady, but I also failed to take a pic of her even with my cellphone. Bitin? Just pray I could again witness her next free performance. And hope that my cellphone is not lowbatt.

But look at the photo of the Arroyo Fountain. Can you imagine how the stone women looked originally? @


Read More...

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The woes of government pensioners

It’s the 8th of the month. And government pensioners are again trooping to the ATM machines of Union Bank to withdraw their pensions. And to again experience the woes of helplessness amidst the unbridled ineptness of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

No, their woes are not so much because Union Bank has only two branches in Iloilo City to serve the thousands of government retirees in the city and province of Iloilo, including the nearby provinces. Why Union Bank was appointed as a transit or repository of retirees’ money is beyond me. Compared to Union Bank, other local banks, like Banco De Oro, have many branches and ATM machines strategically situated in different corners of the city, including inside the air-conditioned comfort of the malls. It is therefore not uncommon to see senior citizens forming a long queue in front of Union Bank even as early as 6:00am.

Today, retirees realized that their pensions have not been remitted. And that, many who came hoping to have money to buy food, medicines, and other requirements of their old selves have nobody to complain to but the sleepy bank security guards who had no idea what the GSIS was up to.

Late in the day, the local GSIS chief issued an explanation that GSIS was undergoing computer data migration and therefore was unable to remit the pensions on time. No date was given as to when the pensions would finally be remitted.

Last time, the pensions were paid in two installments within the month. The reason forwarded was also about the computer software.

As a computer software professional with years of experience in software development, implementation and maintenance, I was appalled at the reasons given. To me, not paying salaries or any payment due because of computer glitches is a mortal sin that warrants the termination of services of the computer geek concerned. Database migration, software implementation, and hardware changes are scheduled and done in installments so as not to affect services. I know how programmers behave. And to me, non-payments or late payments could only be caused by the insufficiency or absence of funds.

So, woe to the senior citizens who had been hoping for a comfortable life after serving the country and the people with dedication and pride. Today, they gathered at the GSIS building to air their grievances. Some were sitting and lying on the concrete floor because of exhaustion. Possibly others have not yet eaten. Poor people. I was glad Nanay has children. At least she was spared the indignity of queuing for nothing at Union Bank. But of course, as her proxy, I wasn’t spared.

But this is the Philippines. Can the shabby and lousy services be a ruse so that young people would be enticed or forced to go abroad? If they remain in the country, they just add up to the unemployment rate.

No wonder.@

Read More...

Monday, December 7, 2009

The feel of Christmas in Iloilo

Through the local evening news, my kids learned that Central Philippine University (CPU) has switched on the Christmas lights in its campus. This is a yearly activity of CPU to add merriment to the Christmas celebration in Iloilo.


Students enjoying the CPU Christmas spirit. Background is the outline of the CPU Chapel.

So after dinner, my kids asked me to drive around CPU where we can do some walking. Good exercise. We hopped in to the car – my two kids, two apos of my brother, my wife and I.

We proceeded first to Angelicum School which also has the same Christmas lighting activity every December. But Angelicum has not yet started its lighting activity. The kids were disappointed. But nevertheless, on our way to CPU, they comforted each other with stories of ghosts residing in Angelicum.




A big screen was put up on the football grounds to show the goings-on of the program on the stage nearby. Background is the outline of the College of Nursing building.

The atmosphere in CPU was festive. There were lights overhead the roads and lights to outline the buildings. There were food stalls selling the usual street foods and it was fun to see students in shorts and jackets and some in uniforms, eating isaw, barbecue, or hotdog sandwich. My kids also wanted to buy swaharma but I told them we just had our dinner and we were there to see the lights and to do some walking. Again they were disappointed but they ran to the football field where there was an ongoing program.

We never had our walking exercises because the kids preferred rolling on the lawn. So I told them we better go home as they still have classes the following day.


My kids enjoying the night in CPU. Note that they are wearing jackets. This December is colder than the previous ones.

The road in front of CPU was bumpy, especially the one leading to Sambag. Grabe. You will never think you are still in the city.

Instead of going straight home, we headed for Pavia to see the two big houses near Aganan bridge which had the most audacious and extravagant residential Christmas display in Iloilo. We passed by these houses many times on our way to Cabatuan and back. But we never had time to stop by.

When the kids learned that we were heading to Pavia, they were excited.


One of the Aganan houses as seen from inside the car.

When we reached the Aganan houses, I parked our car across the street. Ours was not the only car parked. Many passersby were also parking for a moment and taking pictures. Many people were milling outside the gates. Hangang-hanga sila sa lights and decorations. Parang di sila nagsasawa sa katitingin. They were unbelieving and childlike. Parang they thought they were transcended to some magical place and they were not in Pavia. The other houses nearby were bare of Christmas decors and lights. At least this was my observation. The residents of the nearby houses were sitting in their porches either sad that nobody paid attention to their meager decorations if any, or happy that they will not be paying much for electric bills this Christmas.

My kids were mesmerized and infatuated by the decorations. They were busy praising or commenting on the extravagant display. Gradually they kept quiet. They were now sleepy.

Back home we had no Christmas decorations. There is an ongoing renovation in our house. It’s just small repaint and alteration jobs but these somehow made it hard to put up the Christmas spirit. The kids will possibly do some decorations next week.



Of the two Aganan houses, this one is more ostentatious. Top photo is a close up of the house. Some of the life-size Santas were moving or dancing to Christmas carols.

But all along, I don’t like my kids to embrace Christmas as a go-for-broke and ostentatious celebration. I taught them to embrace good Filipino traditions, and the commercialized Christmas in the Philippines is not a Filipino tradition. I told my kids that Christmas reminds us about the birth of Jesus Christ and doing good and giving love must be done daily and not just on Christmas Day. We can have Christmas decorations but the best decoration is in our hearts.

Years past, when my kids saw beautiful Christmas displays they would inform me that they wished we would have the same in our house. Tonight I was happy. My kids liked the Christmas displays. But they never mentioned giving our house the same make-over. @

Read More...

Thursday, December 3, 2009

How to fart inside a PUJ without creating a scandal

This story was narrated to me.



Michael had the urge to fart while inside a PUJ. But, horrors! He didn't like to create a loud and smelly scandal. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the music hoping to calm down his stomach.

Anong balita / sa radyo at TV/ Ganon pa rin/ kumakapa sa dilim/Minsa'y naisip ko nang umalis na lang dito...

It was Monday. Yesterday, Michael's boardmates returned from their hometowns with the usual homegrown foodstuff. So, this morning Michael pigged out on nilaga na kamote at saging, scrambled native egg at kape. He ate ravenously especially because, this morning, the food was free. No wonder, now his stomach was revolting.

Bato-bato sa langit/ tamaa'y huwag magalit./ Alam naman natin / kung sino ang toso......

Sa bawat lumuluhang dukha/Alay ko'y dugo./ May kasama ka kapatid, kaibigan./ Hangang ako'y humihinga/ may pag-asa pa...

After a few seconds, Michael could not hold back anymore. He must pass wind now. So he closed his eyes and let go, hoping that nobody would notice.

Hallehuhulu.. Hallelujahhhh...

And, possibly it was his lucky day. He heard nothing. The wind passed in sync with the drums and shouts of the rock music. Now he knew he could do it again. He just have to time it with the music. And so, when a storm signal percolated in his stomach, he let the raging wind pass in time with the loudest audio in the music. Sinong galit/ sumigaw / kagabi .. And as he heard nothing, he surmised that his fellow passengers heard nothing also. Hallehuhulu.. Hallelujahhh.. Then he farted again. And again. And again. And he heard nothing. Everything was timed with the crash of the instruments. Hallehe... he... he.. Then he gingerely opened his lids. He sensed that he was nearing his destination. He blurted, 'Lugar lang'. But the driver seemed not to hear him. Hallelujah... So he opened his eyes and shouted 'Sa lugar lang! Putsa.'. Then he noticed everybody was looking at him. Oh well, astig ako, he thought. He just shouted at the driver, right? .. see the faces in front of me... But before he disembarked, he thought he should give the driver a lesson. So he farted again to the tune of Let's go. Hallelujah... As he prepared to get down, he noticed that everyone was looking at him with naughty expressions on their faces. A passenger spoke to him. But he could not hear. He heard only the rock music. Save me from the fahyahr.. from the fahyahr... Then he realized that earphones were stuck to his ears. The music was from his ipod! He got his earphones and the music stopped. In a clear baritone heard by everybody, a passenger told him, 'Pare, rock band ang almusal mo? Grabe ka umutot. Parang rock concert!'. And the PUJ rocked as everybody, including the driver, nearly died laughing. Michael too wanted to die at that moment.

Moral lesson: Fart inside the PUJ if you like. But time it with the music. And be sure that the music is not from your ipod.

Read More...

Ga-patad ka sa LOTTO? I-memorize ang numero nga ini....

free counters

Mga Astig