Bangon Pilipinas!

 

Am sure you've all heard about what happened to the Philippines (I'm gathering my strength as I

write this blogpost.)

 

The devastation is undescribable.

 

The mere fact that it is the strongest storm that has ever hit the world, what else can we expect.

 

Children, women, babies, house pets, livestocks, livelihood, houses, ships, planes, roads, name it and

it's all gone, dead, ravaged.

 

I had spoken to some acquaintances who had lost their houses but thanks God, their families are safe.

 

My tears are always racing down my cheeks every single time I watch the news.

 

A father who had lost his whole family...

 

A child who had lost his parents...

 

A parent who is still searching for her kids...

 

An old man who had survived the storm but died of hunger...

 

So heartbreaking...

I know it's God's will, and as always, he isn't giving us what we cannot bear.

 

We are not alone as the whole world is with us.

It's very heart warming receiving all of these donations: in cash, in kind, assistance from all parts of

world; thesse came pouring in to help us get back on our feet.

Even the Filipinos who are living/working abroad are also finding ways to lend a helping hand.

 

I am just hoping that these will really be given to those who are in dire need.

 

Every single day, I am including those who had perished and those who had survived in my

prayers to be well and healed.

 

Filipinos can shake this one off like what we have done before; like what we always do.

 

It may not be that fast but I know we'll get through this one too!

 

Let Us Pray for the Philippines

Can't help but share this one from CNN.   Please pray for everyone in the Philippines.  

 

Goodies from the Philippines

My cousin had just returned to Doha from an almost a month's vacation in the Philippines. 


I am so thankful as she was able to bring me some stuffs from my Mom as she lives near our place too! 


These are the things I had received and that even made me more excited to go home for a vacation next year! 

Suman sa Lihiya 

It's been almost 3 years since I had eaten this one.

It's basically made from "Malagkit" (glutinous rice) mixed with drops of Lihiya (a syrup that makes it somehow green).

These are wrapped in banana leaves and then cooked in a big pot of boiling water.

The syrup is made from muscovado sugar and coconut milk.

Itlog na Maalat 

Salted eggs are also amongst my favorite.

I usually slice tomatoes and onions and eat it with rice.

Polvoron 

And the ever famous Polvoron from Goldilocks! 

Dried Fish 

I love to eat this one with fried rice and sunny side up eggs.

Wheeeeww!

I always leave the windows open and spray lots of air freshener, if not, our neighbors would knock our doors and complain about the smell - unfortunately, they hate the smell.

Boy Bawang 

It's basically corn -the flavored ones.

Enough to satisfy my salty cravings.

Go Manang Mindy!

I was watching the re-run of Ellen and came across one of her segments, Mindy's Movie Minute.

At first look, I knew the lady on the screen is a Filipina and yes she is!

She had done really hilarious but this-is-what-i-am-thinking reviews of the Oscar nominated films.

She had another segment, the Mindy’s Reality Roundup wherein she had her say on what happened to TV shows during the week.

Mindy, who is Ellen’s housekeeper, is just one of the Filipinos who had appeared on Ellen’s show (remember Charice?).

It is just a proof that we, Filipinos, have a really good sense of humor!

Go Manang Mindy!

When Everything Turned “Yellow”

It was exactly 25 years after the Philippines finally got its democracy back.

A dictator was thrown out and the Filipino people felt what they had missed for quite a long time: Freedom.

I was still 3 years old during that time and as I was growing my Mom would normally tell me their experiences about the EDSA Revolution.

We used to live in Pasig City and would go home to the province at least twice a month to visit and spend time with my grandparents. During the rallies, they had decided to go home in Batangas and my Dad would join the protests. I wasn’t clueless as it had been part of our history – taught in school. My parents would tell me how the people from different walks of life held hands and cheered on the same tune and rhythm; how they had worn the same color to show support and unity; how they had shared the same food on the street; how they had prayed so hard and rejoiced when everything had turned yellow.

I may not have felt the same feeling as they did but I can see the emotions in their eyes every moment they would reminisce. The scenes were also shown in the TV; can be seen on the internet and can be read still on the papers.

During that time, it was not a mere battle of the colors: Red – being the color of the Marcoses versus Yellow – being the color of the late President Cory Aquino. It was a battle of ideology; of what should happen versus what is happening; of what was promised against what is being delivered; what should have been and what should have not.

I have had experienced various rallies and demonstrations being a graduate of the State University (University of the Philippines). I was lucky enough to have witnessed and joined the second revolution, commonly known as EDSA Dos. I could still remember how my flatmates and I would knock the windows of the cars while stuck in traffic, asking for whatever donation they could give. I was so overwhelmed: some gave 500 and 100 Peso bills; we had received donuts from a group of nuns and the like. It became more exhilarating when we had reached EDSA. There were performers on the stage; people would chant and pray; we had survived couple of days as we had received food from fellow Filipinos – some gave sandwiches, I think I’d eaten all the kinds of biscuits there; we had received boxes of bottled water and soda. And all of our sacrifices paid off. The President that time had decided to step down.

I was thinking it may have felt almost the same like the first one – less the Military Forces, armed men, military tanks and the like. The feeling is indescribable.

Today, whenever I watch the news I am saddened by the fact that some countries have to experience what we had felt during the Martial Law. Take the case of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to name a few. People would rally up, gather and protest begging their leaders to step down. Tunisia and Egypt are lucky enough and we are also hoping the best for the other ones. Hopefully, our country would not go through the same thing again.

EDSA may be known today as a busy place – always jammed with traffic, road accidents or a main street to go to the major shopping malls. Yellow may have been the color of freedom and unity. We have to bear in mind that it goes deeper than that. EDSA Revolution had shown that rallies need not be violent; differences amongst people can be put aside; God really answers the prayers of those who are patient enough to wait. It had inspired not only Filipinos and had caused the “Ripple Effect” across other nations.

We cannot thank those people enough who had sacrificed their lives for us to live freely. We may not be enjoying the things that we are having or loving at this point in time if not for them.

However, we should also bear in mind, that it is not enough to give them thanks. For sure they would be grateful, if we will take care of the freedom that they had entrusted on us and make the most out of it. Our greatest challenge is to keep and use it to improve every Filipino’s life – it need not be drastic one, simple acts of kindness, change and motivation will do.

Kabayan Ka Ba?...“Countless Ways of Being a True-Blooded Pinoy”

Read on and discover the Filipino spirit in YOU.

A Filipino…

1. Knows Jose Rizal and had visited Luneta

2. Is aware that the National Anthem is ‘Lupang Hinirang” and not “Bayang Magiliw”

3. Can recite the “Bahay Kubo” from the end to the start

4. Loves watching PBA and had watched a live game in Araneta Coliseum

5. Watches Manny Pacquiao’s matches

6. Eats Balot, Chicharon dipped in Vinegar, Fish and Squid Balls, Kwek Kwek, Isaw, Betamax, IUD, Calamares and other Street Foods

7. Loves to eat Ice Scramble, Cotton Candy, Dirty Ice Cream and Taho from Manong

8. Enjoys opening the Balikbayan Box from Nanay, Tatay or any relative from Abroad

9. Welcomes visitors at home and give them the homey feeling

10. Loves to socialize: party, eat and drink a little

11. Sings his heart out during Videoke Nights

12. Eats Pan de Sal with Dairy Cream or Anchor Butter with Hot Chocolate or Brewed Coffee for breakfast

13. Chows down Manggang Hilaw with Alamang/Bagoong during summer and Champorado and Tuyo during the rainy season

14. Loves watching drama-series and noon-time shows

15. If living abroad, would address a fellow Filipino as “Kabayan!”

16. Had ridden the jeepney, MRT or LRT

17. Had visited at least one of great places that we have like Palawan, Boracay, CamSur, Cebu, Bohol, Tagaytay, etc.

18. Loves to haggle in the market

19. Values education very well

20. Loves to text or send SMSs.

21. Is Shopaholic (in a way)

22. Still kisses the hand of the elders as a sign of respect.

23. Saves enough for the future.

24. Is Family Oriented

25. And lastly, Proud to be one.

The list goes on…Feel free to add more 

P.S.
My second Definitely Filipino Article.

“A Glimpse of Hope”

July 26, 2010
11:30 AM
Doha, Qatar Time

I came from my Arabic Language Class and was about to go back to sleep.

I am working in a Call Centre and am on shifting schedule – our schedule changes on a monthly basis. It’s also a blessing that my body can wake up and sleep on the right time and can also steal some hours of sleep during the days off. Alhamdulillah! (Thanks be to Allah/God – as what my Arabic friends would say).

After settling down, I hugged my pillow, reached for the TV’s remote and tuned in to the Filipino Channel, as I need to hear something so that I can sleep (Thanks to our company who had provided it for free), hoping that I could get a little nap before working again.

How could I forget? The State of the Nation Address is today.

I was waiting for this one but I was not sure of the time.

Good thing it had just started.

I was expecting that I will doze off as the past SONAs that I had watched are a bit long and to be honest, seems like repetitive for me, but I was wrong.

The mere fact that Pres. Noynoy had given his speech in pure Filipino had amazed me.

For me, I believe it’s the best way of giving homage to Filipino language from the country’s highest leader.

Delivering it in Filipino as well helped a lot in conveying the message to all Filipinos from all walks of life: from the elite, to the poorest of the poor; from those who have much to those who barely have any, to those who can read and write and to those who cannot.

It is not easy to be honest especially if people are watching your every move; listening and criticizing every word that you say but I salute how Pres. Noynoy had laid down the true state of the nation.

It’s like a business which had been handed-over: how could the new Manager cope up with all the losses if you have very little or nothing to start up with? Not unless, he has millions to lend the company from his own pocket but it losses the sense of being a Manager: one should have the ability to use the resources on hand and look for opportunities that would generate finances to keep the business running.

Hearing about the figures, budget and how some government employees live in abundance and extravagant manner; how the supplies of the staple food were rotten while hundreds of Filipinos have nothing to eat; how some government projects were put into action without “proper” studies first made me think: Ah, this is where the taxes had gone, then there was a rewind of my life…

I had been working in the Middle East for more than 2 years now.

I consider myself lucky enough.

I passed the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) and was accepted under an AB degree. I need not pay much for the tuition fees since it is one of the state universities.

Upon graduation, I was able to get a job in a Telecommunications Company and had stayed there for more than 3 years before I left to work as they say, in a “greener pasture”.

Even if I am still single and I can say that I am earning for myself and family, I realized that it’s not enough still. With four siblings who are all going to school, it is indeed not enough.

Overtime and Holiday Pays are a big help but when I look at my pay slip, the deduction part is still of a hefty amount: Tax, Pag-ibig, SSS, etc. so when the opportunity said “Hi” I grabbed it and did not let go.

Who would not want to get their full salary without taxes to be deducted?

Who would not want to stay in a nice flat without thinking about the rent, the electricity, water and phone bills?

Who would not want to work if you have somebody to pick you up and drop you off to and from work?

Leaving your home country is hard. Not only because, you will be leaving your family and friends behind but also because of what lies ahead of you.

There are too many what ifs: What if your new Boss is strict? What if you don’t go well with your colleagues? What if you cannot adjust in the new environment? Or worst: What if the pasture that you had pictured to be greener doesn’t even have a shade of green at all?

But again, it boils down to why you have to leave: because what we have is not enough and the world out there is in abundance.
If I am employed and still single and worries about not having enough, what about those who have many mouths to feed, many kids to send to school, those who does not have a regular job and could barely live and get through the day?

I got a chance to work for a Local Government Unit in the Social Welfare and Development Department for a month when I was in school.

As they say, it’s one of the busiest departments: people are coming in for help: for jobs, for medical assistance, for funeral assistance, for scholarships, for financial aid, for emergencies and the like.

It is indeed heart-breaking to see those people who would walk out of the office teary-eyed and with sunken shoulders as the others were prioritized, were deemed needy than them.

If the people have needs and they could not get it as they don’t have the means, they would turn to the government. But what happens if the government cannot provide these as well?

The people need to be empowered so that they could provide for themselves. It is not enough to give them what they need – it will only be cycles of give and take, but instead, give them the means to enable them to get these.

I can say life now is harder compared to the life before.

I remember the time when my Mom would tell me how far her 10 Pesos would go and it’s so sad that with this amount of money you cannot even buy a decent snack to get a tummy through hunger.

The State of the Nation Address of His Excellency exposed the true state of the nation in the strictest sense. It challenges each and every Filipino, not only those who are in position to be vigilant; supportive and be responsible for their future. His speech was indeed honest, brave, and full of hope, very promising. It encourages Filipinos from the youth, private sector and government to work together as one nation towards a better future. He knows that he needs to exert extra effort and go the extra mile to have things done.

Filipinos all over the world watched, listened and applauded His Excellency’s words.

After watching the SONA, I would like to go back home, stay and work there hopefully sooner than later.

I hope that the time will come when Filipinos are only leaving the country not because they have to but they want to.

I hope that each and every Filipino will have their jobs and be able to support the needs of their respective families.

I hope that each and every Filipino will have the chance of going to and finishing school.

I hope that each and every Filipino will no longer have to worry when they get sick.

I hope that the Philippines will no longer be like a “War Zone” but one of the homes of booming industries.

I hope that there would no longer be that much opposition on our leader’s side as they are working for one government only.

It may really be good in theory but very hard but not impossible to achieve in reality.

Hopefully that day will come.

Hopefully…

P.S.

This is the first article I had written for Definitely Filipino Blog Site.