Visita Iglesia de Batangas: Lipa City Part 1

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Black Saturday, the whole Philippines (well except for some pockets of it) is at its somber state. Having a big Catholic population, the economy would correspond to the religious needs in this country. Because no business whatsoever will be done for the day, my barkada (peers) and I decided to visit….

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The Ten Conyo-mandments

by Gerry Avelino and Arik Abu
1. Thou shalt make gamit “make+pandiwa”.
ex. “Let’s make pasok na to our class!”
“Wait lang! I’m making kain pa!”
“Come on na, we can’t make hintay anymore! It’s in Andrew pa, you know?”

2. Thou shalt make kalat “noh”, “diba” and “eh” in your pangungusap.
ex. “I don’t like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it’s like, so eew, diba?”
“What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?”
“Eh as if you want naman also, diba?”

3. When making describe a whatever, always say “It’s SO pang-uri!”
ex. “It’s so malaki, you know, and so mainit!”
“I know right? So sarap nga, eh!”
“You’re making me inggit naman.. I’ll make bili nga my own burger.”

4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation “dude”, ‘tsong” or “pare”
ex. “Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare.”
“I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh”

5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
ex. “My bag is so bigat today, you know”
“I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!”

6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.
ex. “I have so many tigyawats, oh!”

7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?
ex. “Like, it’s so init naman!”
“Yah! The aircon, it’s, like sira!”

8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?
ex. “Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?”
“It’s so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?”

9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?”
ex. “Like, OMG! It’s like traffic sa LRT”
“I know right? It’s so kaka!”
“Kaka?”
“Kakaasar!”

10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
ex. “I’m, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!”
“Me naman, I’m from Lazzahl!”

Strawberry Fields of La Trinidad

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Synonymous to Baguio are the strawberries being sold at the Central Market in downtown. Jams, candies and fresh fruits are being sold here, on a cheap price unlike here in the malls of Manila…
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Terminal Fees of New Iloilo and Bacolod Airports Increase to This Month

The New Airports in Iloilo and Bacolod-Silay will be increasing their terminal fees starting September 22 of this year. From the original PhP 30…

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How to Get in or Out of New Bacolod-Silay Airport

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Barely several months after the opening of the new Iloilo Airport in June 2007, the City of Smiles has also opened the newest gateway to Sugarlandia of the Philippines itself. In January 2008, the old Singcang Airport in Bacolod City has ceased operations and transfered to the new facility about 20 kilometers away from the Bacolod, located in Hacienda Bagtic in the City of Silay. In line with the upcoming Masskara celebrations this October….

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Ticket Vending Machines of LRT-2

Monday, September 1, 2008

It would be my first ranting here at my new blog. It is also the first of the series for how to survive the mass rail transport here in Manila, the capital of the Philippine Islands. Well, what’s the ranting all about? Pathetic maintenance of course…..
Read more? Click on the image below to redirect you to the full article:

Taralets is Moving to its new Home

Thursday, August 21, 2008

So, its the start of a new beginning for my blogging life. Anyway, I only took interest with blogging just 2 years ago. I just write out of frustration and wanting to express my ideas and thoughts through the net. Along with that was my experiences with my travels, my praise and my rants.

Traveling has one of the things that I’ve been doing since several days after my birth (yes, I was able to have my first plane ride by December 1985, a few days after my brith). And eversince then, wherever my parents are, I was there. The inquisitive mind and the instinct to explore new places, faces and traditions had never waned. Too bad I never wrote it in a diary, nakakatamad kasi tapos kung may diary ka, aasarin ka na bakla ka kasi ang diary daw ay para sa babae. Sayang!

I never stopped traveling. It was, is and will be my passion. But the difference is that I do not just do sightseeing, but immerse with the culture. More than just an average tourist, I’ve been always fascinated by the things behind culture…For me it adds flavor to the place.

So, it is a new beginning for me. I might be writing in 2 languages. One in English and the other in Filipino (and might be using vernacular) so that I can share my thoughts and experiences not just the digital elites but for the masa as well. The guide for everything Pilipinas (and who knows, labas Pinas, hehe!!)

Kaya Tara na! Taralets! Visit the blog at: http://www.taralets.co.cc

Nasaan na ang Prompter?!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

O ayan, sa mga civil servants at mga nagtatrabaho, always do your job well or else, lagut kayo kay Mader, a este Madame President:

Before taping the announcement of condemnation of attacks of the MILF by the President of the Republic of the Philiipines, behind the cameras this is another drama unfolding:

Nasaan na nga ba yung prompter? (Baka nag-yosi break yun or something, pati na ang mismong staff naging pasaway na rin kay madame, nyahaha!!)

But seriously, there is a good side and a bad side of having a “bitchy” attitude. The good side is she is projected as a strong leader who will lead her people towards peace…The bad side of it though is her image will really rot her down to the bowels of unpopularity, given the nature that we Filipinos do not like “mataray” people.

Anyway, being a president is a tough job. Handling politics and state affairs is part of the job description. She better take a stress therapy session or becalm her mind or else the next time we see her on TV, baka mag-tapon na ng sapatos at magmumura na ng “F.U.” And I believe this is applicable to all of us, huwag masyadong magpalulong sa trabaho’t problema. Take time to smell the flowers and enjoy life.

And for us doing a job…We always have to think that whatever job we will be dealing with, we have to deal with it with heads up high and with dedication. We do mistakes sometimes but we should learn from these and vowed never to repeat that again…

Hay, napaka-stressful naman ng buhay ngayon. Parang gusto ko na munang umuwi ng probinsya.

Diligan mo ng Dugo’t Luha ang Dutang Ginsaad: An Emotional Ode to Mindanao.

Monday, August 18, 2008

 Andito nanaman ako, mag-iinarte at mangongroblema nanaman sa mga problemang di naman dapat pinoproblema. Pero paano yan?

I really have no idea why am I so passionate about Mindanao, even though I didn’t settled there but my roots are from that place. I never grew up there, but grew up visiting my relatives or places for vacation. It was rustic, it was paradise of green and blue. The weather is benign. The people are friendly, but my relatives has been telling me to stay away and don’t trust those who do not eat pork and prays five times a day towards the direction of Mecca. Back then, I really don’t know why except that they utter the words of distrust, betrayal and all other negative things against the followers of Islam.

I don’t want to elaborate on the history of distrust between the Kristyanos and the Moros. It may take three to four blog posts to write that. But it seems that our inate nature of being regionalistic as Filipinos - intense pride in our own ethno-linguistic groups; the reconquista y moro-moro ideals that were implanted by the Spanish colonizers to us,  the Catholic or Christian or Muslim zealotry, the slave trade invasions, the “War on Terror” by the Americans and so much more, has deepened our distrust and hatred against each other. The religious and cultural ideas that lead to bloodshed and tears.

The question of who really owns the land is highly debatable. Biruin mo, ipinagkaloob ng pamahalaan ang Mindanao para sa mga magsasaka ng Luzon at Visayas para hindi ito mag-aklas laban sa kanila. At para na rin maging shield para hindi magamit ang Davao bilang Japanese base. Nang dumami ang na-enganyo dahil sa lawak ng lupain ng Mindanao, dumami ang mga Kristyano at lumiit ang mga Moro pati na ang Lumad. There were cases of outright land grabbing from the ancestral domains of the Moros and Lumads who were then ignorant about the Western concept of “private property” as the lands were considered “communal” and for all people to share. Land grabbing that lead to land conflicts. Land conflicts that lead to bloodshed, my grandfather himself was a victim of this trechery.

I have relatives in Mindanao who have hated the Moros. They are backward, backstabbers and barbarian.  Di daw dapat sila pagkakatiwalaan. Di ko rin sila masisisi. They’ve seen their love ones slaughtered by the Moro raids of the towns especially during the 1970’s. The very foundation of Ilaga, a vigilante group composed of mostly Kristyanos and some Lumads, was borne out of reaction against the Moros. They sow terrorism in the hearts of the Moros as they kill them with reported cannibal activities. As a reaction, the Moros established their own vigilante group known as the Blackshirts/Barracudas. So the question, is terrorism a Moro problem?

MNLF/MILF & AFP has instigated a somewhat revolutionary violence. The former is for the seperation of the Mindanao that they claim is rightfully theirs, and I understand them. They weren’t subjugated by the Spaniards and was never converted to Christianity as what they define as “Filipino.” They are fiercely independent and will fight for what is right. The latter on the other hand defends the Philippines and its sovereignity. Their causes are noble yet the effects to ordinary civilians were catastrophic. Casualties have reached over a hundred thousand for years of war with each other in Mindanao. No matter how noble their causes are, it is still somewhat politically-culturaly motivated. In the end, the civilians still suffer.

In my opinion, I would still uphold MILF as a revolutionary movement still. Abu Sayyaff on the other hand is just pure banditry using Islam as an excuse to their savagery. The latter in my belief is the salot. The former on the other hand has still a handful of options to sit and talk what is necessary. For the betterment of their own peoples.

Ewan ko lang pero parang hindi ko maiwasan na ibuntong ang sisi sa Pamahalaang Arroyo sa mga pangyayaring ito ngayon na muling gumigimbala sa kapayapaan ng Mindanao at Pilipinas. I went there several years ago and I was seeing optimism that finally, Mindanao can move on towards peace and progress. That the government is seating alongside with the rebels. But because of the sudden declaration of the signing of the Memo of Agreement for the Bangsamoro Judirical Entity, Mindanao was thrown into state of panic, may it be the Kristyanos, the Moros and even the Lumads. 

I’ve restrained myself from looking into other blogs of the Kristyanos and even of the Moros…Its really frustrating. Parang sumulpot muli ang inate hatred towards each other. I got frustrated with this notion but I couldn’t blame them why. I understand them. But is violence or war really the solution to ever-lasting peace in this island or in this country? Care to look at Palestine perhaps? You may have crushed the rebels but you haven’t ceased yet the root of struggle. Hanggang dahon at sanga lang…pero yung ugat di pa napapatay. Purging Moro ideals to the point of genocide is of murder, that is outright savagery! So what do we do then? How can we help to stop the vicious cycle.

I was thinking then that this animosity of ours will be brought towards the end of human civilization.

Ano kaya ang tamang solusyon sa Mindanao/Bangsamoro Problem? Ridu rin ba kaya o ubusan ng lahi? 

I was hoping that our differences, may it be culturally or religiously could be set aside and work harmoniously. Change our attitudes and go on towards peace and progress……Parang cheesy at napaka-vague ng statement na ito, pero ganyan lang kasimple ang pangarap ng mga nabiktima. Sa huli, tayo rin ang biktima.

Tanong: Mabubuhay kaya ang halaman kung didiligan mo ito ng dugo’t luha?

Sumpa ng Antig ng Puso’t Ideyalismo

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

I

Wala lang…Hindi ito isang tula, hindi to isang prosa… Wala nga lang, pero tila may bigat sa aking dibdib at isipan…
Bakit ko nga naman iniisip ang mga bagay na di naman dapat isipin…
Ninais ko maging malaya kung tutuusin, malaya sa pag-aalala…
Pag-aalala sa isang bayan o sa pagkakaibigan o pati na rin sa sariling buhay…
Nakamit ko nga ang dapat nakamit, pero sapat ba ang iniaalay para makuha ang ginugusto?
Inaalala ang lipunan na wala namang ****-alam o ka-amor sa sarili kong pananaw…tila bingi sa aking mga sigaw ng pag-babago…
Kasalanan bang magkaroon at maalab ang ideyalismo, sa sarili’t lipunan?

II
Inaalala ko ang dapat di inaalala…Dugong dadanak muli
Sapagkat ako na mismo ang nakasaksi
Sa aking nakaraan, naging mapangahas ako, nagtatanong…Bakit ganito at bakit ganoon?
Tinahak kahit na mismong manipis na hibla ng buhay at kamatayan sa pagtawid sa ilog ng kapahamakan
Nagawa ko ito dahil sa pagmamahal ko sa sariling bayan o marahil mismo sa antig ng pagahahanap ng kasagutan…
Nabinyagan na pala ako sa dugo ng sigalot…

III
Katangahan na marahil ang mahalin pa ang sariling bayan, ani nila…
Marahil tanga nga ako…kahit mismong sariling buhay di maayos ng dahil sa pagmamahal sa bayan…
OA nga, wika ng mga kaibiga’t karamay ko…bakit masyado kang nababalot sa tila ideyal na pananaw ng pamumuhay?
Kasalanan nga bang arugain ang kultura’t bayan?

IV
Mapait na marahil siguro dahil napapaisip ka kung susuklian ka rin ng pagmamahal tulad ng ginawa mo…
Marahil nga’t katangan ang aking ginagawa…
Kung minsa’y nilulustay ko ang mga oras dahil sa ideyalismo na umaantig sa aking puso’t isipan…

V
Pinikit ko ang mga mata at nag-nais ng kalayaan mula sa pag-alala…
Ninais ko na makita ang mundo nang itim at puti lamang, walang kulay, walang sobra…
Ninais ko na maging tulad ng ibang tao na tila walang kamalay-malay o ni pakialam sa kanilang paligid…
Ninais ko na sana hindi ako matalino o marami pang nalalaman…
Ninais ko na sana isa lang akong alikabok sa kumpol ng marmol…
Tila walang silbi, masaya, malaya at walang iniisip kundi ang sarili…
Pero hindi.

VI
Napaisip tuloy ako, tanga nga ba ako?
Nagkasala sa sarili ko’t pinabayaan?
Tanga ng dahil sa pag-alala sa bagay na walang kabayaran…
O marahil nabubulag na sa katotohanan na ang ideyalismo ko ay hindi na matatamasa?

Tanga…bobo…gago…pero pinili pa rin ang daang di naangkop sa isang kabataang tila nawalan na ng ulira’t kaligayahan….