My past week have been all but upsetting and depressing. Pangunahin na rito, sa loob ng isang linggo my baby Maia was sick from a Urinary Track Infection (UTI). Her mommy Bambit was away to conduct a two weeks series of IT trainings in Masbate.

Dagdag pang nakakapanlumo at bad trip ang mga balitang: Ang patuloy na pagpapauwi sa ating mga OFWs na natanggal sa kanilang mga trabaho abroad. Ang P*** I*  si Jocjoc Bolante is still free and happy at nakakapagsinungaling pa straightfaced. And, for the fourth time, GMA was once again saved by her lapdogs in Congress from another impeachment complaint. !@#$%^&*!!!+… kung di ka ba naman manlumo.

Ah, but this week is all sunshine and at least a little glimmer of hope. Sunshine, for Maia is now up and about after undergoing anti-biotic treatment and Bambit is now back with us in our home sweet home. At ang konting pag-asa na baka sakali ay swertehin - no winner pa (as of this writing) ang Superlotto (6/49) 127 Million jackpot prize. (update: 144 Million na ang jackpot, no winner for Dec.7 draw)

Topping the happy news for this week and perhaps the following weeks to come, is Manny Pacquiao’s victory. Wala ng hihigit pa for a dose of Pinoy pride than Manny Pacquiao beating the boxing legend, Golden Boy Oscar De la Hoya. Manny deserves our praise - here is a man with the heart of a lion, fought against all odds and had won. Here is a man who had put the Philippines back in the center of the World stage, for a more honorable reason other than that of being the most corrupt country in Asia.

Wala akong paki-alam kung inuna ni Manny na pasalamatan si Chavit Singson o si Gloria o sino mang pulitiko…o si Ara Mina ba kaya, si Mang Karding, maging si Heztas, barabas kahit sino pa man…wala na tayong pakialam…si Manny ang umakyat sa ring at nakipagtagisan ng tapang at lakas, hindi tayo. Karapatan nyang sabihin kahit anong gusto nya dahil panalo nya ito. Ang mahalaga, Manny had once again gave us glory and pride, lasapin natin ito kahit sa sandali. Dahil tiyak bukas, sila Gloria, Chavit, Lito Atienza, etc..na naman ang magsasalita - yan na ang pagkakataong magmura tayo!

———————
Photo taken from Inquirer.net

Family and Me, Philippines for Dummies, Sports and Hobbies

As a simple regimen, I do walking in the early morning from our house to what is now left of Nayong Pilipino, and back. It’s a one hour vice versa walk. My morning walk gives me health dividends both mentally and physically. Long walks gives one necessary sweating and aerobic exercise. Taking an early morning walk in a park gives one a distinct experience of peaceful existence. A feeling that makes alive Cat Steven’s song, Morning Has Broken, “Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven. Like the first dewfall, on the first grass…”

But some people have other issues at the start of day.

During my previous routine walks, there’s this human being who likes to run along with the other joggers and walkers of the park, but with this big difference - he rides on a crappy motorbike. This idiot rides his bike like it’s a horse that he’s giving a full running exercise. He puts on a smiling face and has a lighted cigarette hanging from his mouth while driving his motorbike, lacing the joggers-walkers lane with emissions from his bike’s exhaust pipe.

For a while he was gone, good riddance. I thought he might have figured into something that was dangerous to his health.

Just few days ago, while I was on my regular walking exercise, I heard a familiar sound. Then it passed by my side, that S.O.B. with his smiling face, a lighted cigarette hanging from his mouth, and riding on his motorbike…again. The Ghost Rider has returned.

Indeed, some people have issues - even at the start of day.

Sports and Hobbies

The first time I put my hands on a computer keyboard, I was already introduced to computer games. Computer games then were simplier and less graphical, and played with an MS-DOS. I can still remember then when digger, tetris, prince of persia, etc…became the main reason for us to voluntarily be deprived of sleep. More advanced versions of video games are then found only on video game arcades in the malls.

Now, computer and video games had become more complex and more graphically enhanced, that it had attained an almost realistic feel and appearance. Also, because PCs and other video game machines can now be easily accessed and owned, most kids had already abandoned traditional kiddy games of run-and-play and hide-and-seek, for the more sedentary activity of playing video games.

Kids nowadays are more knowledgeable on computer and video games than their older folks. In fact, it was my stepson, then 11 years old, who taught me how to play counter strike. My little girl Maia, now already adept in using the computer at the age of four, is now starting to learn the basics of Sim City like games.

I have completely freed myself from being nailed in front of the computer playing games. But if you have the newest FIFA video game, that would be another story.

Sports and Hobbies

I agree with the by-word that we are children of our own time. Time progresses and with it new styles, technology, fashion, etc… are introduced. Some of us want to retain the old taste and flavoring we are already familiar with. While many would try to adopt and fit in with what is new. In my experience, these assume manifestations in the way one chooses a pair shoes or footwear.

I have never been a fan, nor appreciated the innovations made on modern shoes, particularly on athletic shoes like basketball shoes. The more the designs innovated. the more it becomes to look like SUVs on feet, than shoes. Amidst the vast choices of shoes with modern designs, I stick to my favorite classic sneakers, the Adidas Stan Smith. I am a loyal fan of the Stan Smith sneakers and I believe no sneakers can beat its simplicity in design and the comfort it gives. Adidas Stan Smith is utterly timeless and will still be in style for as long as there are men of good taste.

Next to sneakers, sandals are my second choice of footwear. I started wearing sandals when I was just a kid and since then I get used to this easy to wear and relaxing footwear. In my life I have owned sandals of different make, design and styles. Aside from those quasi-casual leather made sandals, there are also those made of rubber with Velcro straps. The former I used for a casual day walk, while the latter for trekking rugged terrains.

Indeed, I am a child of my time. I still prefer to wear the kind of footwears which I grew up with. They’re comfy and groovy, and makes my feet happy. Like, I would not exchange a pair of rubber Spartan slippers for a pair of Havaianas. No way, Jose.

Sports and Hobbies

Two of my favorite place in a house are the Bedroom and Kitchen. These two places are where human senses and appetites are either indulged and or ensconced. Of the two, I find the Kitchen a most interesting place.

I am not an expert cook, I only know to cook a few recipes which were handed to me by my mom and dad. But when you get a good kitchen with complete appliances, I would like to imagine myself as Ming Tsai or some expert chef when cooking. A nice and complete kitchen enduces me to cook, or should I say inspires me to experiment on some new recipes.

When I was studying in Amsterdam, I was really fascinated by the kitchen and mess hall we have in our school. Adjacent to the kitchen is one big chamber for the storage of cooking supplies and other stock, and inside one can find wall freezers for frozen products. The kitchen got big ranges and ovens and also big dishwashers that can wash and clean up dishes and utensils used by a big party. The main mess hall has three rows of long tables a bit similar to that of the Hogwarts school’s mess hall. Our dormitory’s kitchen and mess hall was made to accommodate a hundred or more users.

With our school’s excellent kitchen, cooking became one of my favorite diversion while studying. I cooked dinner for my classmates of different nationalities, with Filipino cuisine like adobo, paksiw, etc., which they all liked. My European classmates just wouldn’t like to have the fish heads included in the dish. The only problem with volunteering to cook once, is that it eventually becomes your perpetual task.

Sports and Hobbies