Family Day: RETRO SUNDAY

    I just finished having my lunch with my family and now I am sitting here in front of my desk, tapping new entries for my blog while the ideas in my head is still running. (I can hear them right now teasing me 'you will get fat if you sat for an hour after taking your meal!' I wish I could gain weight just because of sitting after meals.)

    Today is Sunday on our meantime; Instead of having a barbecue party today (which we usually do every Sunday as a part of our family bonding), they decided that I must show-off my bartending skills by mixing something new for them.

    I made a Non-alcoholic Alexander for the kids; And, Pomegranate Deluxe for my parents. Proudly saying that these are all my original recipe.

    The non-alcoholic Alexander was originally Brandy Alexander, but my friends who are non-drinkers tend to dislike the bitter taste of brandy, so I developed this new recipe for non-drinkers. Pomegranate deluxe was inspired by the ice scramble mixture that I always bought beside the school building every afternoon during my high school days.


    Going back, upon all the days on my calendar, Sundays is my favourite day not just because everyone in the family are present, but because it is the only day where we could not think of work nor the school and such--we are free to do everything like what we always did when we were younger.

    We are carefree. We don't have to think of either doing things maturely or act like someone so perfect so that people won't judge you negatively. Everyone accepts your personality whether good or bad. Not because we are family that we understand every aspects of ourselves, but because we respect each other and that is what brought us together.

    We are all busy the whole week and Sundays is the only day wherein everyone is free from work and school. So, we make sure that we could bring out all that we can to make this day the happiest, most exciting and the most unforgettable Sunday ever!

    Unfortunately, NO GADGETS ALLOWED every Sunday except for the only telephone, old radio playing retro songs and a television that can be used after four in the afternoon (4:00 PM). (Obviously, I cheated this time! Ha ha!) I wanted to take a picture, but my father refused.

    By the way, my recipes for the drinks will be posted here soon. :)

    Happy Sundays!

My sweet mom makes me cry again; Strike 21!

    I think it is worth to be shared.

    I have this behavior of checking my e-mail first early in the morning. But today, my mom let me extend my sleeping hours until past eight.

    She tried not to make noise, not even a knock at my door to wake me. Unknowingly, she was into my desktop, already started to the boot-up scan while preparing my favorite breakfast combo—fried rice, my mom's homemade daing na Bangus (milk fish, marinated overnight and fried), unripe mango salsa perfectly goes with the daing, egg sunny side up, cabbage soup and a hot cup of black coffee.

    I woke up past eight and was surprised by the moment and absolutely touched by her effort...

    This, after a long time, was the first time again that she prepared a breakfast for me.

    As I sat and took a sip of the coffee she had prepared, she whispered, "My only princess deserves a dish served with love." She smiled with tears in her eyes and left me in the kitchen.

    I can't help myself, but to cry like a child. I just murmured my thanks because I can't say a thing. Overwhelmed, she never failed to make me cry first in the morning of my every birthdays.

I saw this Google Doodle on the home page. It was so delighting that a doodle
will greet you on your birthday. Nice one Google!

Cool parents are cool

   "Cool parents are cool."

   That phrase has been into my mind five years ago, several months before I entered college. Actually, I don't know how to start and connect that phrase into what has been rolling in my mind.

   I had encountered a Social Science professor before from the university where I studied Hospitality Management. Every first day of a new semester, he always asked the students to how was their daily life inside their home and describe their parents in front of the class.

And as usual, they describe how persevering, caring, loving their parents are. Some describe themselves as the rebel kid, some are the brats and some are the breadwinners and the parents' apple of the eye.

   But in this kind of conversation inside the class, you will know who value the relationship inside the family, who know the meaning of the word "home" and the people who know how to understand their parents.

   Every child stands for everything-freedom, independence, self expressions, etc., but not all the kids, especially nowadays, can do everything they want inside their own home. Instead of having the self contentment and happiness, they look outside their home and satisfy themselves (friends, work, hobbies, etc.). 

   Some students are open to the idea of a solid friendship inside the home, just few students are close to their family and most choose to get much closer to their friends instead of their brothers/sisters or parents.

   And in this kind of conversation brought me into the realization of how lucky I am at home.

Together forever

   I know that we weren't a perfect family and both my parents has been into a not-so-good past, but that doesn't mean we can have a happy and festive life.

   I am much closer with my family instead of my friends, not because I am not that friendly, but because I just felt more freely to be me than with my friends though I am always been pressured at home.

   "My parents are cool."

   That's how I started my speech in front of the class when it was already my turn. I remember I was the only student who describes parents the way like I was just about to describe a friend.

   They are cool, for real. They are more likely a friend a parent. They are not as complicated and strict unlike others.

   Where would you find parents who buys a gaming software, not because you asked to, but because he wanted to get the trophy first before you? They are is super cool as always. He supported my brother's addiction to online gaming in a good way he can, and now my brother is a less addicted to gaming because he always lose when papa joins the game. They are supportive as always. He supports our craziness as well. Sounds crazy? It's like when you were tripping with a friend.

    The realization during that moment was the best part of being me, knowing that I value my family the way I value my life and everything that's important to me and the presence of a strong communication and bond between us kids and our parents.

    They are the best friends in the form of parents.
 

Shopping & bonding time

    Last Wednesday, I took advantage of the opportunity to ask my sister to come with me and go shopping for a day. Actually, I was asked by my father to buy materials he needed.

From Balintawak to C3

    After one and a half hours of traveling under the heavy rain, and after we purchased what we actually came for we rushed to the mall to check what's new.

    Every time my father asked me to buy materials needed for the products we sell, I always go to malls, especially Victory Center Mall, and buy something interesting, and this time I'm with my younger sister.

10 pesos store

   We've been into this 10 pesos store. I love this store. Every items were so unique and affordable. I know there are lot of 10 pesos store everywhere, but this store is the best because above all the store with the same theme, it is the only that differs from the others because of the interiors they have and the sales personnel are friendly and they won't welcome you with a frowning face. Their store is always crowded (you could already imagine like you were in a sold out concert because of the overwhelming crowd).

    Checked out this 50 pesos belts and Neon frames. The buckles was really good I wanted to buy one for my younger brother the next time I go there. The sales lady in this shop was so jolly I forgot to buy what I was about to buy and got all the attention to her.

fashionable price: Belts for 50 pesos

Nice buckles

Frames in neon

    I passed buying through this ship. Their items were pretty good, but I don't like the sales personnel here. I know it is not good saying something bad about somebody else's store, but if you were in the good mood and you were like in the mood to buy whatever you are going to see, you might have a change of mind if you saw a sales personnel frowning at you and showing you how bad his day is.

   The flops they're selling were good and suitable for the rainy days.

    We've finished shopping for almost an hour. Good thing is that the mall was about to open when we arrived that makes it easy for us to walk around because the mall wasn't still crowded.

It's still early. It'll be crowded afterwards.

    She bought a charcoal pencil, a spray bottle and an earring while I bought nothing. I just don't feel spending much during that day and because I was the one who paid all that she bought -_-. It doesn't matter, anyway that has been a good day that we had a chance to bond together.

Sirena: Song from a gay's point of view

    It was early morning when I do my daily habit-Reaching for the remote and search for my favorite music channel MYX-and I already missed the half of the countdown because I was a bit late waking up that day. A song caught my attention, that was new to the perception of the Philippine culture.

    The video of the song featured in the new album, "MNKM: Mga Kwento Ng Makata" of Gloc9, Philippine Blacksmith of words, already gained over a million of viewers in Youtube.

    The story of the music video was perfectly genius! If you're not familiar or can't fully understand the language, the video itself will tell you the story of the song.

    A middle aged guy with a heart of a lady that is always been harassed by his own father and is always discriminated by his neighbor since his childhood. And, as the time goes by, his family members are already living independently and his father was left alone. Amid the pain-physical, emotional and verbal- that his father has given to him, he chose to live and take care of his father who happened to have cancer.

My favorite part of the lyrics and was the best line of the lyrics that I have read in my life so far was:

Isang gabi, ako'y iyong tinawag, Lumapit

ako sa'yong tabi ika'y tumangan, kumapit

ka sa aking kamay kahit hirap magsalita

Anak, patawad sana sa lahat ng aking nagawa

Di sinusukat ang tapang at ang bigote sa mukha

Dahil kung minsan mas lalake pa sa lalake ang bakla

 And this is my rough translation of the lyrics:
 
One night, you called me and I came
And, with me on your side you cried
Held my hand though you can't hardly speak
"Son, sorry for what I've done,
Bravery and mustache are never been
the measurement of being a man,
Sometimes, Gays are manlier than a straight guy."




    I almost cry when I heard that line of the song. It was very effective and surely always catches the heart of everyone who will hear the song. No wonder why it is still on the countdown of the said music channel and stays on the same position for over the weeks at number two.

    I hope you will appreciate it the same way as I appreciate the brilliance of the song and its music video.

Watch the video of the song directly from the Universal Records Philippines official YouTube Channel and read the description below to know how to and where to download the song.

Support Original Pinoy Music.

Stop Internet Piracy

Let’s party: The Filipino way

     Filipinos, in any age and class of society, loves to party. They celebrate even the smallest achievements and others, especially if they had achieved a big fortune in life, celebrate in couple of days.

    But, how a simple Filipino does celebrate and organizes a party?

The Party House

The majority of Pinoys preferred to do party at home. Aside from being practical of choosing the house as a setting for party, it is an advantage for the group like, for instance, when someone is drunk and no one is able to drive him home or a good reason why parents should say yes to their teenage daughter.

My Mom will be the cook

Another reason why people always want to attend someone’s party is that most of Filipino Moms are terribly good in cooking. They always make sure there won’t be a shortage of food during the party and will satisfy the guests. Well, aside from unlimited good food at the party, mom won’t let you go home without a taking home of their best dishes.

BEERkada, GINuman na!

Don’t expect there would be a martini or champagne that will be served around. Beer and gin are Filipinos all-time favorite alcoholic drinks paired with a chilled glass and a bucket of ice. Aside from its cheap price, it is available in any sari-sari store (sari-sari store is a convenient store that sells goods in retail). 

Oh hail KARAOKE!

A party will never be a party if there is no karaoke machine. Filipino considered themselves as good singers and singing will always complete the Pinoy party. Even if you’re not on the right tune, your friends will still give you a standing ovation.

Make life worth living: Bond with your brother or sister

    When we were young, the first person we called 'best friend', 'best buddy' or 'partner' were our younger or older brothers and sisters. We used to play with them, laugh and cry together, stand as saviour to each other and the best person to share with our secrets. As we grow old, we meet different people, change ways and tend to forget the relationship that the siblings have had before

     How can we maintain a good relationship with our brothers and sisters? How can it make our life worth living?


Know each other's interest
Every sibling has different interests and it is a good thing to know their interest, likes and dislikes-from food to clothes, and even their favorite Avenger character. This is considered an advantage especially in times like giving a special gift or surprise. Actually, in this part, you will know how much closeness does two siblings have.

Take advantage of the common interests
Siblings who grew up together mostly have the same interest (toys, hobbies, etc.). Sisters both likes to watch movies, going to salon, shopping or even fixing nail polish of each other together. Brothers share cars or play video games, go to pubs and bars and have fun with each other. Some siblings in their adulthood period take advantage of their common interests to meet occasionally especially if they are living apart from each other.

Siblings as ultimate friends
Just like our friends, our brothers and/or sisters can be and always be our best friends. We should trust them the way as we trust our friends. But, unlike our friends, they're much sensitive when it comes to our security, which is the advantage of having them on our sides.


     In some cases such as being an only child, they treated friends and cousins as their siblings and some choose to be closer to their parents and set their parents hobbies or work as a bonding time.

     In my own experience as the first born with five siblings, bonding time with them is the most important part of my everyday life. I admit that I don't have an active social life so I had much time to bond with them. Though we always see each other at home, I always love to make group hugs and sometimes, in my age, we still play hide-and-seek together (it's a good thing we own a big house with a wide yard). They're the best friends I could ever had and they're the people that could see the real me. And, most of all, they are the reasons I have a life worth living.

We all love photography. And, we both love posing like a psycho or a victim in a psycho film. We just love the drama.

She is Elyza

    She's Elyza, four years old and she's often mistaken as a boy. She has these attributes like a cute young boy-short haired, never been on a dress and hyper active. She's my youngest sister.

    She loves doing a power ranger pose. She'll do that over and over every time she's aware that there's a camera. Very talkative, she'll tell you a lot of what she had at school (she's a pre-school stud as of this year) though she can't pronounce her words perfectly.
 
    Elyza is adorable as they say. She keeps say: "Hello!" to everyone she sees and smile back at others.

    Wish I could be as active as she is. :)

    She took a picture of herself using a lomocam ▼▼

Elyza on her power ranger poses

A letter to the best person in the world, MOM

She was the light to everyone’s heart

A guide to the heart of my childhood

And give wisdom for my own good.

She never fails to flatter me

She’s the inspiration to me and my family.

She always made us feel loved,

And give us things more than what she had.

She’s a queen that cooks,

Don’t have a crown but a castle

Of love, dreams and hopes.

She’ll make you laugh but never let you cry.

She’ll mend your heart with her sweets

And will make your mind with her dish.

She knows what’s best for you

But always let you to choose.

She’s the best of the best

The best and very first best friend I could ever have.

Love you ‘Ma. 

To the greatest kabarkada of all time... MAMA

  "Kung wala ka, wala akong makaka-away... Ah basta ikaw lang ang kaaway ko, kaya dapat wag kang aalis ng maaga sa amin huh!"

  Yan ang message sa akin ng mama ko nung 20th birthday (Jan 05). Hindi ko alam kung bakit yun yung sinabi sa akin ni mama pero hindi ko napigilan yung sarili kong hindi umiyak dahil dun.

  Parang yun pa yung dahilan para ma-touch ako ng sobra. touch na touch to the max! Siguro kung ikaw yun, malamang mainsulto ko. Pero ako, para sa akin, totoo yung message na yun, came from the heart, stomach, balun-balunan and all.

  Na-realize ko, tama sya, wala na syang ibang ginawa kundi awayin ako araw-araw. Akala ko tuloy hindi nya ako mahal. Pero hindi pala. Akala ko negative ang lahat ng bagay na ginagawa namin kapag nag-aaway kami, hindi pala. Yun pala ang pinaka-bonding namin. Pinaka-pampalipas oras namin.

  Nag-aaway kami, but in the end, nakikita namin ang mga sariling nagtatawanan sa mga kalokohan ng isa't-isa. parang barkada lang.

  Masaya ako. Masaya sya. pag nag-away, mas masaya. Pulling out the positve side from a negative trait. Ganun kami. PARANG BARKADA :)

Ang kulit ng erpats mo!!!

(Para sa mga anak na may amang makukulit at para sa mga amang minsan na ding naging anak ng mga amang kasing kulit din nila. Peace!!!)

   Sa mga oras na 'to, habang binabasa mo ang blog ko, malamang na nakikipag-talo ako sa papa ko kung paano irerelax ang braso nya habang kino-control nya ang mouse ng computer.

   Sa totoo lang, mas madalas kaming mag-sigawan ng papa ko dahil sa kakulitan nya at kakulitan ko din minsan.

   Hindi sya nakapag-tapos ng pag-aaral at hindi rin nakapasok kahit sa anong vocational schools, hindi katulad ko, pero ibang iba ang humor nya compare sa mga taong mas edukado sa kanya na madalas nyang nakakasalamuha nya araw-araw. Alam mo ba kung sino-sino ang mga nakaka-usap nya sa araw-araw? mga police, lawyer, sabongero, doctor, large farm owners, may mangilan-ilan ding nagtatrabaho sa gobyerno, engineer, seaman, at iba pa... Hindi yan joke! araw-araw may mga nakaka-usap syang ganyang klase ng tao, mga taong may mataas na pinag-aralan pero hindi makasakay sa bilis ng takbo ng pag-iisip nya.

   Gusto mo ng sample???

   Minsan, may isang engineer na naging costumer si papa (TEKA!!! I forgot to mention, related sa metal crafts ang trabaho nya at lahat ng mga taong nabanggit ko kanina ay mga clients namin. And yes! Employee ako ng papa ko sa sarili naming "LITERALLY BACKYARD BUSINESS"), at nang araw ding iyon, namangha ako sa laki ng agwat ng mga kakahayan ng bawat isa sa kanila. Lalo na kay papa.

   May mga materyales kasi syang ginagamit para makagawa ng mga orders ng mga client namin na syang pinagtalunan ng dalawa. Noong una, bet ko talaga yung manong engineer (sorry Pa, I lose my faith on you once, and i was wrong...). Syempre engineer yun eh, katulad ni papa sa metals din ang specialty nya. Pero nagulat ako, hindi si papa kundi yung maong engineer ang 'di makasabay sa process ng paggawa ni papa. Bangis!!! Hindi naman dahil sa papa ko sya kaya kung todo cheer ako sa kanya, pero dahil sa kungtutuusin ay basics lang ang process na ginagawa niya pero hindi masakyan ng mas nakapag-aral pa kaysa sa kanya. Then, several weeks after na dumalaw sa shop 'yung manong engineer, nalaman kong gumagawa na rin sya ng    

same items na ginagawa din namin. Pero, malaki parin ang difference ng gawa namin sa quality ng gawa nya. Palyado, hindi matibay at... Ehem... mas maganda pa talaga kaysa sa amin. (hindi naman sa naninira, pero halos lahat ng mga nagpagawa sa kanya pumupunta sa amin para magpa-repair.)

   Madalas namang nayayari ako sa humorous jokes nyang kung hindi ka hahaglpak sa tawa, eh, baka atakihin ka sa puso kung hindi mo kakayanin. Minsan may ganitong tagpo:

Sa tindahan ng computer.

Sales man: "Ah sir, fixed na yan kaya hindi na pwedeng magdiscount."

Papa: "Ahhh, baka naman pwedeng bawasan nalang natin." 

Sales man: "Eh, kasi sir, hindi na ho talaga pwede eh, fixed na ho kasi yung presyo nyan. Paano naman ho natin babawasan yan, package ho kasi yan.

Papa: "Ganun ba? Ay sige, bawasan mo nalang yung monitor, hatiin mo nalang sa kalahati.

Sales man: (halatang nag-pipigil ng tawa) Heto nalang sir mas mura...

Papa: "Alam mo ba na bibili kami ng computer ngayon pero pag-uwi namin sa bahay, wala kaming pambili ng ulam?

Sales man: (hindi napigil, tamawa na...)

Habang binabalot ang mga nabiling items...

Papa: "Hindi ba malakas ang hatak ng kuryente nyan???

Sales man: "Hindi sir, parang radyo lang hatak nyan!" (parang siguradong-sigurado talaga sya)

Papa: "Eh di dapat pala nag-radyo nalang ako!"

Mga sales man na nasa likod ni manong salesman: (Hagalpakan sa tawa, sinabayan pa ng pang-aalaska) Lakas mo manong!

    Hindi naman lahat ng oras nag-sisigawan kami, may mga happy moments din naman.

    Pero wala talagang tatalo sa sigawan moments eh, mas intense kasi. Labanan ng humor sa humor... Kung pikon ka, talo ka. Kung di mo masakyan, mahina ka. At kung wala kang tiyaga, hindi ka tatagal.

   Ikaw ba, may moments din kayo ng erpat mo na nagkakatalo kayo ng humor? Di ba ang saya?!

Usapang "Brown Out"

  Last day, bandang alas-singko y media ng hapon, biglang nag-brown out. 

  Nakaka-inis! Natural na reaksyon naman talaga ang mainis ant magalit sa ganoong pangyayari. Pero hindi nakakatuwa kapag nagba-brown out!

  Syempre, una sa lahat, mainit. Hindi gagana ang electric fan kung hindi ito dadaluyan ng kuryente.

  Walang telebisyon. Inaabangan mo ang paborito mong programa, drama, koreanovela sa oras na iyon nang bigla na lang mawawala ang supply ng kuryente! Tsk! Paniguradong isususmpa mo nanaman si *** kahit na wala siyang kasalanan at walang kinalaman sa pagkawala ng supply ng kuryente.

  Malas mo kung hindi mo pa nai-charge ang cellphone mo dahil inuna mo pa ang panonood ng paborito mong palabas.

  Malalanta ang tanim mo sa Farm Ville. Oh no! Kailangan mo na talagang mag-harvest paro hindi mo magawa dahil walang kuryente. Subukan mo kayang mangibang-bayan. Baka sakali, maka-level up ka na! Wag mo rin kalimutang paliguan ang alaga mong hybrid ng pusa at T-rex sa Pet Ville. 

  Pero kahit na hindi masaya ang pansamantalang kawalan ng kuryente, marami naman ito magagandang bagay na maihahatid sa sino man.

  Kapag hapon na ay hindi parin naibabalik ang supply ng kuryente, madalas ang mga matatanda ay nag-uumpukan sa isang lugar kung saan maari nilang mapag-usapan ang mga bagay-bagay na nangyayari sa kasalukayan katulad ng kung sino ang bagong jowa ni ***, o kung anong brand ng bagong second hand na T.V. ang nabili ni ***. Madalas nag-uumpukan din ang mga chismosa para mapag-usapan ang dumo-dobleng  bilbil ni Pepay.

  Bukod sa mga matatandang nagpapalitan ng kuro-kuro, karamihan ay mga batang nag-hahabulan ang makikitang naglalaro habang sinasaway ng mga matatandang nag-uumpukan. Sa totoo lang, masaya talaga ang mga ganoong tagpo. May naghahabulan, naglalaro ng goma, bato-bato-pik!, pitik-bulaga, langit-lupa, mataya-taya at iba pa. Ang iba, nagtatakutan, minsan pa nga ay nagkakasakitan na dahil sa pagka-pikon at kainisan sa kalaro. Pero parte pa rin iyon ng laro na di talaga maiiwasan.

  At kung Madilim na at ganap ng gabi, mdalas na mas marami pa ang nasa labas ng kanilang bahay. Dahil bukod sa mainit sa loob ng bahay, mas marami pang pwedeng mapag-usapan kapag sumasapit na ang dilim.

  Mas napapaganda ang usapang kababalaghan. Madalas mga kabataan ang may interes sa ganitong usapan na sasabayan pa ng bonggang reenactment na ikakatakot naman sa huli ng mga nakikinig sa tagapag-kwento. May mga bata din na sasabay sa pakikinig at sa kalagitnaan ng kwentuhan ay hihihwalay sa umpukan at gagawa ng sariling kwento na ibabahagi sa mga kalaro. Malalaman mong nagtagumpay sya sa pananakot kung maririnig mong nagsisigawan na ang mga kaibigan nya habang tumatakbo-kasama sya!

  At sa iba naman na hindi madalas makihalubilo sa mga kapit-bahay(na katulad ko), madalas na nasa likod bahay at pinagmamasdan ang malawak na kalangitan, pinipilt basahin ang mga constellations at hinahanap kung nasaan ang big dipper, little dipper,  yung kite, pati na rin yung zodiac nya. At kung suswertehin (katulad ko na nakatira sa mala-probinsyang settings ng bahay) ay maari ka pang makakita ng mga alitaptap na nakakamanghang panoorin habang lumilipad. Pati na ri ang mga gamo-gamung nagliliparin at pumapalibot sa kandila o lamparang nagsisilbing liwanag sa gabing malamig. Tuwing brown out mo rin lang malayang magagawa ang shadow puppetry na susubok sa kakulitan ng mga bata at pati na ri ng matatanda. 

  Ang iba naman ay idinadaan sa pagkain para mapalipas ang gabing walang kuryente. Maraming tumatambay para makipag-inuman. Pagkatapos ng inuman, umaatikabong aksyon na ang magaganap dahil sa kalasingan. Ang iba naman, kahit brown out na, magpapatugtog parin ng bagong bili nilang IPod o MP3.

  Pero brown out pa rin.

  Kaya ang iba ay mapipilitan nang umuwi sa kanya-kanyang bahay para magpahinga o maghanda ng hapunan.

  Ang iba naman ay maghahanda na sa pagtulog. Mainit at malamok pa.

  Minsan mas nakaka-inis ang ganitong tagpo, yung ang tagal-tagal mo nang naghintay sa pagbabalik ng supply ng kuryente, nai-report mo na't lahat. . .

  Kanina pa pala bumalik ang supply ng kuryente, nakalimutan lang pala ni tatay i-on yung fuse box ng bahay! Naku, naku, naku! Tatay talaga!