I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe… its good.
I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added. So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED! That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse…carcinogens! Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I… can be refreshed without worrying about those chemicals!
So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right? Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means… you live healthier!
The Lobó-Batangas City Road, Verde Island and Mindoro Island
After scaling the mountains of Lobó, we head our way back to Manila. However, instead of passing by the main road going there from Manila, we went on the road less traveled—the coastal road between the town of Lobó and Batangas City, right along the busy Verde Island Passage. As for us, it is retracing back memories of one particular barangay along the lonely road—Ilijan…
The route was more than a 40 kilometer sojourn from Lobó poblacion to Batangas City, about 10 kilometers longer than the main mountain pass road where most jeepneys and cars pass. The route traverses the rugged and isolated barangays of the two localities, notably Barangay Banalo of Lobó and Barangay Ilijan in Batangas City.
Valentines Day is fast approaching and so is the season of displaying love from the simplest way to the most sophisticated. Yet, are you far from your loved ones? Do you like to send them something sweet and thoughtful? Is it something that would they really appreciate and think that you care? Do you like to give them a piece of your love and passion as if you are just nearby? Well, worry no more. Island Rose keeps relationships alive by giving service to the people who would like to deliver flowers to their ones they love anywhere in the Philippines! …continue reading
Toledo City, Cebu
I never got it to the 2:45 PM trip from Toledo City in Cebu to San Carlos City in Negros Occidental. I’ve got late leaving Cebu City due to some obligations at the Museum. So I waited here in the port in which we’re going to depart at around 5PM for Negros. I wonder if there are still buses plying Don Salvador at that time? Or else, I have no choice but to take the longer route, grueling 5 hour trip to Bacolod City via Escalante-Cadiz area. Whoa! …continue reading
I wouldn’t make it long and complicated with adding up the details. I’m currently listening to the mass being held in Manila Cathedral. I didn’t make it on her wake, but with prayers and dedication to the proclaimed “Mother of Philippine Democracy,” it’s a sad day.
The weather somehow cooperates. Rain pouring because the heaven is mourning, but the sun shines because we also celebrate her life and what she did. Seems that we’re tracing back to the “heaven’s mandate.”
It made me realize though that we as human beings have a mission in life to fulfil. As I was reading “The Fifth Mountain” by Coelho, I later realized the full colour of Tita Cory’s life, from her sufferings to her victories. Somehow, she became one of my institutions of inspiring to live life to the fullest. Somehow, it made me realize that having faith in God doesn’t meant suffering and pain as most people would thought of. Somehow, it made me think that in this life, there are some things that we take for granted but needs focus and emphasis. Somehow, the sacrifices that she made as a housewife and a viuda made me realize that strength doesn’t come alone but through support and through faith.
She may not be the perfect president. She may not have lived up to the expectations of the Filipinos after EDSA Uno. She may have weathered several coup d’etat attempts. She may have not eradicated feudalism. But she brought back what is supposedly for the Filipino people…democracy. And somehow inspired us all to live with the democracy that was restored after 2 decades of totalitarian rule. …continue reading
Monday morning, Miong woke up and prepared for the day. Sip of coffee and pandesal, taking a shower and leave his house at Bucandala in Imus, Cavite…work time starts at 8AM but he doesn’t like to ruin his perfect attendance record, he woke up early…very early, like the sun’s rays hasn’t touched the faces of those who wait for the buses bound for Lawton and EDSA. Miong joined them, many of them waiting in Aguinaldo Highway…Comes a bus, it was another standing ovation. Upon reaching Imus Bayan, the bus was already jam-packed and Miong had positioned himself in the most comfortable way, learning up the kama sutra of everyday commuting.
As they were going north-bound, the world stopped. And it did stopped, for an hour Miong stood in the bus full of people…somewhat agonizing, together with the passengers, he waited for 30 minutes or more then goes the bus speeding up like there is no tomorrow. Miong experienced “buhos,” an everyday occurrence to any Caviteño commuter…
Just got home from the longest vacation I had in recent days. Almost 2 weeks and a half I stayed at my hometown, sweeping the said “festival season” of Iloilo City, starting from Dinagyang and all the way to Jaro Fiesta (although I really like to stay for the Paraw Regatta but well…priorities in the times of crisis). OK, lets just start it, I’ll be preparing a liturgy of Iloilo Dinagyang later so I’ll start with the latest…which is the Feast of Our Lady of Candles in the district of Jaro, Iloilo City which is dDubbed to be as the most opulent religious fiesta in Western Visayas.
Known for the flocking religious devotees, perdon sale, cock fighting, festive mood and the “market in the plaza,” it defeats the city’s premiere festival, the Dinagyang, in paralyzing traffic and setting a half day holiday for most offices in the city. This is the Ilonggo’s top religious feast, besting Dinagyang in terms of devotees. …continue reading
Perhaps the most notable among all of the cemeteries in central Iloilo would be the cemetery of Janiuay, some 30 kilometers from Iloilo City. This is the town after Cabatuan, so if we started our trip there then its just 15 minutes away.
Janiuay town is settled in the foothills of the Panay Cordillera which its fertile valley is irrigated by Suague River. The church itself is new after some of the guerillas burned the old Spanish colonial era church in World War II. What is remarkable heritage site here is not in the town proper but several kilometers away from the town plaza, another place for the dead…the Filipino-Hispano cemetery.
Built through forced labour and was finished in 1884 under the supervision of the Agustinians, Dominicans and Don Placido Martin, this one hectare cemetery has baroque and gothic designs incorporated at the portals, the stone and wrought iron fences, the camposanto and the walls of the niches. As reported by the Philippine Commission during the American colonial era, this one is truly remarkable. …continue reading
Ito na marahil ang kauna-unahan kong post na nakasalin sa wikang Pilipino sa blog na ito. Ito’y bahagi sa aking taus-pusong pagsuporta sa kilos na ito laban sa kahirapan o kasadlakan.
Sinasabing karamihan ng mga Pilipino ngayon ay nasasadlak sa kahirapan dahil na rin sa nangyayaring krisis ekonomiya ng mundo. Dahil na rin sa pangungurakot ng iilan, tila naipagkakait sa kanila ang kagandahan ng buhay at ang pag-asa ng pag-asenso. Marami sa ating mga Pilipino ang hindi nakakakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw dahil na rin sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin at pati na rin sa pang-gatong o gas.
Ang kahirapan ay isang malalim na konteksto. Hindi lang ito kasalatan sa materyal na bagay, kundi pati na rin sa kakulangan sa pagbibigay halaga sa karapatang pantao na halos nilalabag sa ating bansa araw araw. Kung ipinagkait mo na rin ito, para na rin itong pagpapabusabos sa mga taong nangangailangan ng wastong pamumuhay.
Ang kahirapan ay hindi ganoon kadaling sugpuin. Dahil ito mismo ay nakaugat na sa atin, sa ating kamalayan, sa ating lipunan. Ang pagsugpo sa kahirapan ay hindi lang sa pamimigay ng salapi sa mga namumulubi, kundi bigyan sila ng masaganang pamumuhay sa pisikal, materyal, ispiritwal at natatamasa ang karapatang pantao. Ang isang lipunan ay nawawala sa mga kadena ng kahirapan kung ito’y ating babaguhin mula sa ating sarili at silyaban muli ang diwa ng bayanihan sa isa’t isa.
Magkaisa tayo laban sa kahirapan. Tulad ng isang komyuter na kailangang bagtasin ang peligrosong daan, kailangan natin itong harapin upang makamtan na natin ang totoong kaunlaran na gustong matamasa ng bawat Pilipino.
