Boracay

Congratulations Pacman!

Not only did Pacquiao win the fight by split decision against Marquez, he solved the traffic condition today.

Fight Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino.

Official scorecards of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight: Jerry Roth, 115-112 (Marquez); Duane Ford, 115-112 (Pacquiao); and Tom Miller, 114-113 (Pacquiao). Read story here.

Wordless Wednesday: Reality

If you want to read the full story, check it here.

For more of Wordless Wednesday participants, click here. Or visit 5minutes4mom. BTW, my other Wordless Wednesday is also up at MaKiMeJi. I appreciate it if you could come and visit me there too.

Lakwatsa, Lakwatsa!

Seen this around and I just couldn't resist doing this self check and see how much of a wanderer (in my own country) am I.

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Election Aftershock

Despite the current political climate in the country, I’ve always had hope, however little that is, that things will change. That things will improve one day soon. Maybe that’s because I’ve always looked for the good in everything.

And I've always believed, even if it's a thin-thread belief, that, one day, the people will ferry this country to much-wanted development and progress. Because I believe in the strength of the people, which is the greatest resource of this country and where its power absolutely lies. I believe that the Filipino can.

Do I sound so naïve? Maybe I do. Or maybe I am in denial. Grin.

But when I voted in the recent barangay election, I was carrying that belief in mind.

And then someone close to me said, "...It's sad that some people doesn't want good governance and programs, [instead] they want instant cash..." This she said after observing the massive vote-buying during the election and I felt as crushed as she is.

Wordless Wednesday: Loboc River

Don't be surprised if you'd see pictures of Bohol every now and then here. I just love it. And I would love to go back anytime -if time and budget permit. Or if there's a sponsor out there. Yay, I'm such a sucker for anything "free" -free trips, free ticket, etc... ;D

To read about a cruise on Loboc River, click here.

For more about Bohol, click here.

Driving 101 (this side of the globe)

Dear Zenaida,

I am aware that you are trying your best to learn the mechanics of driving. I have noted your strong determination and let me assure you that you are improving. You are making progress in maneuvering through the horrendous traffic. You are making progress in facing intimidating drivers and dealing with formidable bigger-than-yours vehicles. I understand how frightening this must be for you but I can only imagine what you have to go through everyday. I understand because I have observed how your hands get clammy and cold everytime you take the wheel. But you are making progress in conquering your fear.

Although you are making it impossible for me to breathe at times - oh how you choke me with the way you grip on the wheel too tightly your knuckles turn ashen (and the bones protrude menacingly), I will not complain. Instead, I am offering these pointers below to make things easier and less stressful for all of us:

• Always use a seatbelt even if the rest of the motorists do not.

• Animal carcasses lying on the road should not bother you. There are not so many of them you see but once in a while, you will.

• In reality, the one-car-apart rule will put you in trouble. That empty space attracts interested parties to head over in that direction and literally gets you in the middle of trouble.
  
  Fiesta Traffic

• Never compete with PUV (public utility vehicle) drivers. Ever. It’s for your own safety. I am not sure if YIELD exists in their dictionary.

• Always –even if you have the right of way- YIELD to these drivers. It pays to show them that yield or drivers who yield do exist.

• Expect that some of these drivers will change lanes at the last second and block the way. With the number of drivers who do this, if you don’t, chances are you’ll be scowling at the first person you meet. It will only ruin your day even before you started it.

• When you are in an intersection and the light says “Go,” be very careful as you proceed. You might cross paths with drivers who like to ignore the red light flashing in their direction and still drive all the way.
  

• More often than not, the horn will save your day (and your passengers). There are pedestrians and motorists who need to be reminded that they are traversing a shared resource unless you honk the horn.

• Do not let jeepneys stopping in the middle of a highway to unload/load passenger affect you so much. My theory is, if each jeepney doing that can cause a single crease on the face then chances are, before you reach your destination, you’ll have pre-mature wrinkles all over.

• Pay extra attention to the buses. They are like anacondas – forgive me for the term- ready to eat you alive if you get in their way. Trust me. Do not forget the frightening episode you have had. Thankfully, you were able to swerve to the shoulders of the road out of harm’s way in time. I understand you were so shaken you had to stop for a moment to catch your breath and gather yourself.)

• Bikes -->
  motorelas -->
  and trisikad (or traysikad) -->
  
  cruising along the highway are pretty normal. But at least you’re not competing with cows! And think about how blessed you are.
  
  
  

Til the next drive. Happy driving. And please keep these in mind at all times.



With much concern,

The Steering Wheel ;D

***

The author has no intention of discouraging young aspiring drivers or warding off possible visitors in this town (or in this country, for that matter).

To read on someone's experience of driving in the Philippines, click here.

Already scribbled the ballot

Today, I exercised my constitutional right to vote. Hoping that this one vote would make a difference. Period.

***As I am saying..err, writing this, I am tempted to write more. There really is a whirlwind in my mind. Oooops. Halt, halt. Half of me is prodding myself to say it, aloud. And to write it, boldly. (Breathing deeply).

But I am willing myself to stop, and stopping myself, I really will do now. So I am ending this sentence with a 'period' that really means period before I explode into torrents of thoughts, and bore everyone with an endless blog entry about the (depressing) political climate in this country. Maybe some other time.(Sigh) ***

food for thought

Today I learned that the unemployment rate in the Philippines is 7.3% (October 2006) from 7.4 (December 2005). (source:lcweb2.loc.gov/wikepedia).

And although poverty incidence has gone down from 27.2 percent of families in 2000 to 23 percent in 2006, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), this is still a good 19.9Million of the country's population. ( source: Philippine Star).
*****
Sunday night, we - along with some colleagues traveled to Cebu for a company event. My husband was also with me because he's visited us for the weekend and was going back to Cebu.

This is the sight that greeted the passengers aboard Trans Asia last Monday in Cebu port. In the Philippines, this is a usual sight when approaching seaports, very ordinary and expected. In fact, I would have considered it very unusual and strange if upon approaching a port, they are nowhere in sight.



Aboard these wooden bancas represent a part of the poverty-stricken population of this country. They would eagerly meet maiden voyages approaching the seaports, hollering at the passengers and motioning them to throw coins. This is their way of living, their livelihood is swimming for the coins thrown off to the waters by curious turistas and ordinary passengers alike.

At one time, I was a participant to this begging-giving scene. Curious at how they would "catch" the coins in the water. But later on, like this very early morning, I only watch them silently with a flood of contradicting emotions.



I thought I have turned jaded. Maybe I have. But I also cared that a number of our countrymen lives this way. You cannot believe how many whys I would always juggle back and forth in my mind when seeing similar situations. And this instant is not an exception, no matter how many times I've seen this thing.




For one, most of these bancas have a baby on board. An infant!

Being a mother, I am always taken aback with this totally heartbreaking sight. But the initial shock of seeing infants on deck is slowly replaced with more powerful emotions. For one, I feel angry at how these people use an innocent baby to their advantage, like a props to be brutally frank. I am very well aware of what it is, a strategy to elicit sympathy from onlookers. They are really capitalizing on this and banking on the thought that passengers would throw in more money with the sight of an angel onboard. I am also sad, even depressed that they have to resort to this tactic.






But oh, call me anything you like when I do not throwing coins to them. That is not what they need. They need more than that, they need another from of livelihood. If no one throws a coin, I'm sure this will discourage them from this way of living.

I might go on wondering of the future of the babies aboard, but I also sharply remember the cliche that says, give and you will teach them to beg but teach them how to fish and they will be better off (or something similar to that effect). (But do not think that I am not feeling guilty at having said (or written) these thoughts because I am. Guilty because I could not do anything about it. I am helpless as they too are helpless.



And I must admit that seeing them again, made me think long and hard. Like the first time I saw these party of "seafarers", I am still half-amused at their quickness and agility. Half-awed at how very good swimmers they are. But at the back of my mind, I am pondering at the hard truths of living in a country like the Philippines. This also conjures up images of the rich partying, shopping and dining in extravagant places in the country. Such is the irony of life. Such is the reality.

Remembering Bohol

One fine summer (2006) , my hubby and I went to one of the places in the Phils where the beaches are oh so beautiful.

Clear skies. Blue waters. And the sand so fine and white. Bohol.

Stayed at Bohol Beach Club. Here are some of the pics we took.