What Inspires Me, Missing Manila!

MTV Exit Concert: Filipinos Against Trafficking

Girls Can Fight Too

Part of my decision to come to the Philippines is to challenge myself and learn something new about my culture. Aside from the usual language, food, and travels to the province I wanted to see what I could be proud of as a Filipino. I mean, Filipinos cannot JUST be proud of their adobo or of Pacquiao. There has to be more, right?

My time was ticking and I did not want to leave the Philippines without anything to show. Something I can say I did in the Philippines that is uniquely and true to the word, FILIPINO. It was not until July that I found something uniquely Filipino, under-represented in the media, yet potentially powerful once you get the hang of it.

This under-represented yet powerful force of Filipino culture is its Martial Arts. There are so many versions of Filipino martial arts, Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali, that I have yet to explore. However, I have dipped my toe in the pool of possibilities and I think there is no going back for me. Last June, I hesitantly signed up for Martials Arts classes. I did not really know what I was signing up for exactly but I figured I would give it a try since learning martial arts has always been on my bucket list. Might as well tick it off while I am still young, right?

So I signed up for a Filipino martial arts called Yaw-Yan or “Sayaw ng Kamatayan” which directly translates to “Dance of Death.” How cool right? To say I trained in the Dance of Death is pretty bad ass.

The past 5 months of training has opened my eyes to both the cultural and gender implications of this art.

First, let me just start you off on a bit of background to build on. Yaw-Yan resembles Thai Boxing and Korean Taekwondo. Yaw-Yan is considered one of the world’s latest forms of martial arts that originated in 1972. The originator of Yawyan is Napolean A. Fernandez who was an undefeated Filipino kick boxing champion, akin to the Pacquiao of our time, minus the media attention and sports endorsement.

Culturally, I think I have garnered more pride in being a Filipino within the 5 months of training than anything I have ever experienced. During my training, I have learned that a Yaw-Yan fighter are trained to believe they will be the smallest and weakest of the battle, which means they go in prepared to use their fighting techniques in a way that would use their opponent’s strength against them. In real life, Filipinos are considered smaller in comparison to most. Most Filipinos have a height and weight disadvantage, which means in any fight we would be perceived as the weakest link. This particular art, however, uses practicality to an advantage.

In terms of gender, I am of course a female. In situations where I am attacked, my opponent will most likely be stronger and bigger than me. In the streets, my opponents will be those who think they have a chance to harm me because I am smaller and through my gender I am perceived as weaker. Yaw-Yan has taught me how to use my weakness to my greatest advantage..

In the end, this unique art requires years of training to ensure mind over body. The Yaw-Yan punching bag is massive and thick. To move the bag, it takes my entire body to push against it. Imagine seasoned fighters hitting and punching that bag like it was a balloon. I tried once, to overcome the pain and kept kicking the bag repetitively 20 times with a rest of 2 minutes in between. My shin was bruised and it felt like it was on fire. However, when I practiced on a Western Punching Bag, one swift kick and it flew in the air.

Yaw-Yan shows me that that the smallest guy has a chance to conquer in the world. Figuratively speaking, I have learned to not just be a physical fighter but a mental fighter with the mentality that  I can take on the biggest and daunting challenges and discover the

 swiftest path to victory.

Challenging the Filipino Dictates of Authority

One of the biggest culture shocks I've experienced coming to the Philippines is getting use to the concept of authority.

One of the most enduring principles of Filipino culture is adherence to authority. One gives respect to Filipino elders by showing obedience and recognition of their seniority. This can be done through the mano po, where one's forehead touches the back hand of a senior member of the community. Another more common act is using the word po in a sentence to show one's acknowledgement of the other's seniority or authority. For example, if my mom asked me a question, I would respond by saying yes po or no po in accordance with the dictates of Filipino rules on authority. The same goes for responding to a person of higher authority, perhaps a boss, with the word po to delineate a clear division of authority..one being subservient to the other. 

Many expatriates feel uncomfortable with the response of po so Filipino culture has altered the po to Sir or Ma'am. Showing respect is a matter of etiquette. However, many Filipinos tend to use it excessively to a point where Sir or Ma'am is interjected in a sentence once, twice, or three times.  Take into consideration, the following dialogue I heard in the office today: "If I may say so sir, I think that would be a bad idea because we do not have the capacity to handle it sir, but thank you for your time, sir."

Growing up in the United States, I was never obligated to give mano po, say po after every sentence. All of my thoughts, ideas, actions were done so freely. Having that same mentality here is difficult because while some may see my pro-active actions as admirable, many see it as a threat to the social pecking order, an attempt to undermine positions, a blatant usurpation of roles. So how am I suppose to find the balance necessary to show my ambitious and pro-active spirit when I constantly encounter people who see it as a threat rather than an advantage. 

When dealing with professors, managers, bosses, colleagues, strangers there is always a feeling of intimidation and awe. However, the atmosphere of interaction I've experienced in the U.S. has always encouraged equality amongst individuals. Views were challenged regardless of position, ideas were exchanged without feelings of offense, and actions that show determination, independence, and ambition were admired and recognized. 

In the Philippines, however, such approaches are treated with caution. To many here, a pecking order exists and one shows absolute respect to someone with a higher status (identified by education, experience, or professional title) by acknowledging obedience in manner. If you are a janitor, your sole job is to wipe tables and you will do that for the rest of your life unless someone says otherwise. If you start to arrange the feng shui of a room and show an interest in interior designing, it is possible that you will get reprimanded for stepping out of the assigned job role instead of receiving recognition for such innovation. 

I had a recent altercation with a senior member of the office who thought I had overstepped the boundaries of this "pecking order" by suggesting I was giving orders when in fact I simply wrote a  common statement. Was a public exertion of his authority really needed? No. Was my intent to test his authority? No. 

Regardless, it was something I am not use to and still getting use to. With many of my expat managers in the office, I can freely give my opinion, advice, thoughts, and ideas without fear of their sensitivity and offense of disturbing the "pecking order" .. In fact, today my office manager asked for my opinion on how to make certain office operations better. He did so because he simply saw me as an equal and there were no barriers of education, experience, or professional title between us.

That is the interaction I am use to. That is the interaction that my professors instilled in me for four years. That is something many Filipinos have difficulty getting use to when working in international organizations. However, as the American working under Filipinos it is difficult to tolerate the condescension many senior officers display. Pecking Order up your ass! But alas, sensitivity and understanding in a different culture is an important aspect of growing up. 

It is unbelievably difficult to deal with people like that. However, as most things are in the walk of life one must deal with such challenges with open eyes and PATIENCE. People like that will come and go and regardless of position and status, one must constantly strive to work hard and command respect in the fact of insurmountable B.S. 

I believe professionalism cannot be taught, it must be learned. This is one aspect of learning, learning your boundaries of self control and focusing it on ways to pave the way for your success regardless of what people may say or do.  

Cojuagulated Chicken Blood, Chicken Heads, Cow/Pig Intestines, and Hot Dog ...oh yum?

Relationship analysis..through a Filipino's eyes

Girl is ugly + Guy is Handsome = Guy is a smooth talkin' player

Girl is pretty + Guy is ugly = Girl is rich

Girl is pretty + Guy is handsome = Relationship is a match made in heaven.

Girl is ugly + Guy is ugly = NO CHOICE.

The conundrum of Filipino names

Let me just preface this article by saying, I just met a cashier named: Arejola. Much to my amusement, she pronounced her name, "Air-y-ola"

Playful Filipino names hard to get used to

By Kate McGeown 
BBC News, Manila 

Bizarre and often unflattering names are as quintessentially Filipino as the country's Catholic faith, friendly smiles, former US military jeeps known as jeepneys, beautiful beaches and love of karaoke.
On my first day in Manila, I walked down to the local cafe and was served by a smiling young girl who wore a name badge entitled BumBum.
I did a double-take, then smiled back, deciding it was probably a joke.
But if so, it is a joke that practically the whole country seems to be in on.
Since then I've met a Bambi, three Bogies, several Girlies, a Peanut, a Barbie and a middle-aged man called Babe.
These names are found in all sectors of society.
Sometimes they are nicknames, sometimes genuine first names - but they are always what people are referred to on a day-to-day basis.
Even the president is not spared. His real name is Benigno Aquino, but almost everyone here calls him Noynoy.
Two of his sisters are called Pinky and Ballsy. No-one seems to see the need to ask why.

“ Why would you call your children after the days of the week or your favourite desserts? ” 

Neither does anyone question the integrity of Joker Arroyo, one of the country's most respected senators.
That is his real first name. Apparently he got it because of his father's fondness for playing cards.
Joker's brother is called Jack.
And it seems perfectly natural to Filipinos that the boxer Manny Paquiao should express his love for the British royal family by naming his daughter Queen Elizabeth.
Lost in translation?
So why do Filipinos have such odd, even risque, names?
This is not a translation issue, as most people speak English well, or well enough to know that BumBum, for example, is not exactly on the rest of the Anglophile world's list of popular baby names.

I rather tentatively brought the subject up at a dinner party full of lawyers, academics and business people.
Many of them were surprised - they had simply never thought of these names as having any kind of negative connotation.
But once we started discussing it, they did agree that, to outsiders at least, it all might sound a bit strange. Soon a heated debate began.
Perhaps it was because of the propensity of Filipinos to have large, tight-knit families, some of them said.
A man called Babe or Honey Boy, for instance, is probably the youngest member of that generation in the family.
It suited him when he was two years old - now he is a slightly overweight businessman in his 50s, why change it?
But nicknames are not always given when people are young.
The former president Joseph Estrada is more commonly known as Erap - a name he acquired in his 20s.
When spelt backwards, Erap becomes Pare, which means mate or buddy in the national language Tagalog.
Other guests thought that nicknames came about because of a need for individuality.

“ When I'm introduced to a Dinky or a Dunce, or read about people called Bing and Bong, it seems almost normal ” 

People here often have the same Christian name as their parents.
Former Congressman Ace Barbers, who, like Joker Arroyo, obviously had a card-player in the family, has the Christian name Robert, but so do his father and all his brothers.
He clearly has not found it a problem as he named his four sons Robert too. Nicknames must be essential in their house.
'Melting pot'
The conversation soon turned to the fact that the Philippines is a melting pot of different cultures, and perhaps that is what led to these strange names.

The president himself is a good example. His full Christian name is Benigno Simeon Cojuangco, names which are Spanish, Hebrew and Chinese respectively. His nickname Noynoy is the only part that is truly Filipino.
A well-used adage here is that the Philippines spent 400 years in a convent then 50 years in Hollywood, referring to Spanish then American colonial rule.
The Spanish introduced the concept of surnames - in fact they issued a decree in 1849 that everyone had to have a surname.
So even today, most surnames are Spanish.
But the main thing Spain gave to the Philippines was Catholicism, and with it, tens of thousands of newly-christened Marias and Joses.
With the Americans came names like Butch, Buffy and Junior - and the propensity to shorten everything if at all possible.
Perhaps it is the combination of these two influences which has led to names like Jejomar - short for Jesus Joseph Mary.
The current vice president is called Jejomar Binay.

“ I think it is great that BumBum can wear her name badge with pride ” 

Even the large Chinese community here has not escaped this national name game.
Their surnames are often a form of Anglicised Chinese, but sometimes the Philippine penchant for fun shines through.
I have heard of a Van Go, a John F Kenneth Dee and an Ivan Ho.
But there are some names that just defy explanation.
Why would you call your children after the days of the week or your favourite desserts? To many Filipinos, a better question to ask is: "Why wouldn't you?"
I have been living here for a while now, and I have got used to all these names.
When I'm introduced to a Dinky or a Dunce, or read about people called Bing and Bong, it seems almost normal.
In fact, if anything, I rather like the fact that Filipinos are self-assured enough to use these names, no matter how odd they sound or how senior the person's public role.
But my assimilation is not quite complete.
While I think it is great that BumBum can wear her name badge with pride, I'm not quite ready to adopt a Philippine nickname myself just yet.

Why I hate Rush Hour in the Philippines

Nice choice of words Mr. Taxi Man

Philippines-Generation of the Cyborgs

Aside from "Migrant Workers" -- There's another word that the Philippines is now synonymous with, "Call Center Agent."

All the huff and puff on the ills of exporting labor has come down to retaining workers in the Philippines to fill positions as call center agents, customer service representatives, medical transcriptionists, online language tutors, back office processing, etc. Recently, President Aquino III claimed he was able to convince foreign companies to invest in the Philippines, which would lead to more than "US $2 billion worth of investments and 43,000 new jobs for Filipinos."

One of the most appealing things about working in the BPO industry is the higher than usual minimum wage salary that one would receive as an entry-level worker. However, at what costs?

1. Health - Since many of the multinational corporations tailor to customers and clients all over the world, the need to have available service representatives available is high. Hence, many who start off must take on night shift positions. Moreover, personal vices like alcohol, smoking, and coffee become a part of daily health.

2. Class gaps - Call center agencies favor individuals who can speak English fluently and students with at least a Bachelors Degree. Will any of the job availabilities from multi-national corporations benefit the urban and rural poor ? They make up roughly half of the population in the Philippines, which implies that the continued presence and further strengthening of the BPO industry can also lead to furthering the gap between classes.

If the President is seeking ways to expand the BPO industry to the provinces -- does that mean they would be training farmers and fishermen how to work in such an environment? Wouldn't the BPO industry only drive wages of local jobs further down? What if all the fishermen and farmers decided they would rather become a call center agent because the wage was better and they can send their children to school? Who will grow the vegetables and find fish to sell?

However, it has been shown that in areas with numerous BPO companies there have also been small food stalls or food vendors that cater to the food needs of BPO workers. In some way, the presence of the BPO industry has created more demand for more food stalls and as a result - people who may not fit the positions in the industry have found a way to somehow profit from them.

3. (Sorry if this is getting technical hehe last one I promise..well second to the last..I gotta throw in my Georgetown SFS Love) Law of Diminishing Returns - Classic case is India. The Philippines now stands on the precipice of taking India's crown as the Asian country best suited for BPO expansion. Partly because the Philippines has shown to yield more revenues and has provided increased incentives in VAT exemptions and deduction in training expenses. However, similar to India - I believe the Philippines will eventually experience diminishing returns when the BPO industry finds another cheap place to set up their cyborg factories of call center agents and customer service representatives in a small island in the Pacific. I think the Philippines should not be investing in this industry with the belief that it will stick around forever. Both Aquino and Arroyo believes it will.

4. (Last Technical term, I promise) Dependency theory - Just as my International Relations 101 teacher likes to preach, goods and resources from developing countries flow to wealthy countries -- countries like the U.S. would gain a larger profit at the expense of developing countries, like the Philippines. As is with the age-old history of Philippines colonialism - Filipinos are always selling their services to the developed world at a cheap rate. Hence, I find it difficult to see BPO industries as something that would benefit the morale of all Filipinos. Instead, it only perpetuates the Philippines' status as a "developing country"... where the government has so little fate in its own local industries that it would succumb to multi-national investments with the misleading belief that poor people will come out of poverty and the Philippines will prosper.

So this generation of cyborgs is just beginning - mind drained call center agents and customer service representatives - answering calls..solving someone's  annoying credit card problems half way across the world...drinking coffee every hour...chain smoking to relieve stress..

By 2020, every Filipino that comes out of college will most likely be programmed to work in the BPO industry because it would yield a higher salary than actually job hunting in whatever they majored in. It's an easy position to get...as long as you can speak English. 

However, when the BPO industry leaves and finds a cheaper place to set up shop - what will all the young Filipino cyborgs do then?

Reaching record high cursing during rainy days in Manila

It's no surprise that during a time of crises businesses tend to unfairly increase their prices, especially when they know their goods are in high demand (e.g. rice, bread, gas, etc.) During Huricane Katrina gas stations were selling gas at exorbiant prices and profited from people's need for fuel.

In the Philippines, cab drivers like to take advantage of the heavy rains to profit off of people's misfortune. Last week I went shopping for my birthday outfit at megamall. By 7pm it started raining really hard. The taxi lines were too long so we opted to cheat and wait on the curb to see if there were any taxis we can grab without having to wait in line. Of course, we weren't the only ones there. In fact, the line along the highway was just as long as the taxi line in front of the mall.

Regardless, we tried our luck.

Every single taxi we encountered demanded more than the metered fare. Even the ugliest cab was demanding more than what people were willing to pay. Tons of cabs passed potential passengers, completely apathetic to the fact that people were getting soaked in the rain.

Cabs that stopped were swarmed by people clamoring to get a ride and escape the rain. The drivers simply rolled down their windows and chose passengers who were willing to pay the most.

In fact, I got so desparate to get a cab home I wanted to punch someone in the face who pushed me aside for the cab I was about to get into. After standing in the rain for four hours straight without an umbrella, you can imagine my distress and anger. All I saw was red and I wanted to punch the fat-self-entitled lady who stole my cab. She simply said, "Excuse me, that's my cab." I wanted to talk back so bad but by the time I could say something she was already inside and I was seething with anger. I guess when it's raining all politness goes out the window and it's everyone for themselves.

Rainy Philippines definitely bring out the worst in people.

I had another experience where it was raining so hard that the sidewalk I cross everyday to get home was flooded. I managed to hail a taxi and asked for a ride to get across the water. The ride should not have cost more than 40 pesos. Instead he charged me an additional 100 pesos to the metered fare. Of course I could afford it but I was so pissed off at the cab driver who gained to profit off of my misery.

Instead, in Tagalog, I cursed his mother for bringing him into existance, slammed the door hard, and prayed Karma would retaliate. Even though walking through the muddy, disgusting water was hell for me and my new flats, I got more satisfaction from cursing at that annoying, self-adsorbed, petty cab driver. Till this day, I hope that misfortune comes upon those who only make others suffer.

I can see a lot of people disagreeing with me on this and wanting me to be Jesus lovin' and shed my hate for all taxi drivers who have ever price gouged their fares. However, how about you try waiting in the rain for four hours straight as every single cab tries to take advantage of your unfortunate situation.

Crazy Hostage Situation in Quirino Grand Stand

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=605631&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Failed Individual or Failed System

The recent hostage take over involving Ex-Chief Inspector Rolando Mendoza is difficult to stomach. However, his motives are not surprising. My heart goes out to all of the families who lost loved ones in the incident because no one should have to face something as traumatic as a hostage take over when going on vacation.

Mendoza’s actions, though horrible, cannot be viewed as an isolated event but must be seen within a wider social context. Essentially, we should examine the police force that fuelled Mendoza’s anger, the decision to terminate his position, the legal process, and any chances of impartiality.
In retrospect, Mendoza was seen as a decorated policeman who succeeded in his job. His identity and pride were based on his career as a policeman. If his peers and the system he dedicated his life to cheated him, his actions are indicative of his frustration and thus worthy of further investigation. After all, an individual, when backed against a corner with no way out is capable of almost anything: murder, theft, suicide, homicide, etc.

The Philippines is well known for its non-existent due process laws. Many citizens aren’t able to seek redress or have a legitimate hearing over their case if they have no financial means, limited legal support, little connections. If Mendoza wanted a fair trial regarding his crimes, did he get one? And if he indeed got a trial, who handed the decision to terminate his position? His peers/superiors or a neutral panel? These are all questions that need to be examined because it can help determine if Mendoza is, indeed, a failed individual or a product of a failed system.
I am no way justifying his actions because I know it is definitely wrong. However, I have seen how feelings of frustration, stress, unfairness, and helplessness can push any individual to their breaking point. Mendoza’s actions, though sad, is small in a wider spectrum of individual violence. For example, in April 2007 Seung-Hui Cho held hostage and eventually killed 32 individuals in the Virginia Tech massacre. When police found his manifesto, they found comments relating to his frustrations and extreme dislike for the wealthy and privileged. In April 1999, two students held a hostage and killed 15 people in Columbine High School, in Colorado. When police found their website, they found writings that expressed anger and resentment levelled against the bullying of their peers.

Mendoza’s actions may not be as similar or severe as the Virginia Tech or Columbine incidents. However, the same resentment and helpless feelings existed. Mendoza used violence to be heard because he said he was not given a fair hearing when he was kicked out of the force. Before we further accuse and misjudge, I want to see the reports of his hearing. I want to see the accusations levelled against him and the people who handed it to him. For alleged drug handling, such issues should be held in a court room, with due process, and an impartial judge. Where those privileges given to a man accused? Unless those things are delivered for the public to see, it will not be fair to judge him without FIRST analysing the legal and police system that first got him on that bus.

Struggling with a national identity...

I went to the bank today and I saw a flyer that said, "The 2010 BPinoy: Search for 10 outstanding expat pinoy children." On the back of the flyer it had one essay requirement: "What is my role in nation building as a child of an expat pinoy?"

I had a random spurt of scrutiny and criticism because I did not understand why this country endeavors to prefer and show favoritism to OFWs and the children of OFWs. Not only that, but I was sickened by the obvious biased rhetoric of the bank and exasperated by the antithetical essay topic that encourages nation building towards a sector of the economy that is EXPECTED to leave for work overseas. How, in anyway, does that constitute nation building?!

Yes, it is a given that remittances play a large role in the Philippines' perception of "nation building" because the golden rule is to always provide support back home. The government sees a huge economic opportunity when they make OFWs pay fees and taxes to work overseas. All the money generated helps to pay for this broke ass country where local employment is dismal, wages are devalued by the suffocating presence of multinational corporations, and education holds no significance when business process outsourcing (call centers) are taking in all of he Philippines' educated and unemployed youth to train as customer service robots for the western world (shout out to dependency theory, International Relations 101).

Ah yes, no wonder people want to leave. No wonder people are so sick of their depressing and poor lives here where only a few are able to get a salary that is above minimum wage. The brightest students graduate with a four year degree in engineering, communications, nursing etc. and instead of working and being successful in their field, they end up working in call center agencies. This is shout out to my friend Ton, working as a nurse in a local hospital earning a dollar a day to clean people's asses--bidding his time until he can leave to work overseas as a nurse in Australia. Is this how the Philippines treats the best and the brightest of its youth? Oh no wait, Ton just as to be a son of an OFW to get all the perks. Yeah right.

I digress, so this BPI competition spurred my curiosity and even my angst against the Philippines. One of the things I can truly say I dislike about the Philippines is this OFW hero rhetoric that is suppose to instill national pride and nation building. When in fact, it only promotes a weak country and undermines any chance to promote strong independent local industries. The people who stay and try to make their lives better by starting their own businesses, harvesting their own crops, and still having faith that they'll make something of themselves in this country are the true heroes. Those who choose to leave the country are simply jaded by the horrendous employment options in their locality, especially nurses.

Can you believe how much income can be generated if the government invested in the nursing sector?A SHITLOAD! Will the Philippines ever invest in the local nursing population people? Yes, only if they want to go abroad to work.

Remittances have become such a huge part of Filipino society that even the government recognizes its significance, all 6 billion pesos of it...roughly 9% of Philippines GDP (ILO). Hence, the mantra "OFWs are modern day heroes" bull crap is all government rhetoric to instill a false sense of nationalism and influence people to continually work overseas for the sake "of the country." The Philippines is experiencing a massive brain drain and weak local economies, BUT IT'S OKAY as long as the country still receives it's remittances.

How can that promote nation building and nationalism? It just fuels people's desire to leave this country. It fuels people's realization that this country has nothing to offer them. It fuels people's frustrations that their country can't even provide them with employment opportunities that match their educational background (instead of becoming a call center drone). That's what this "OFWs are our modern day hero's" mantra does...all for the sake of remittances.

Props to all the slum tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, farmers, and jollibee workers earning shit pay. They are the heroes..because they can put up with the b.s. of life's injustices. Does the government or society see worth in that? No.

Pain-in-the Ass Commute

The Philippines is hardly the place to be following driving rules. Everyone seems to have their own take on when to stop, go, signal. I usually do not mind, because I tend to jay walk as much as I can instead of walking the extra mile to go on to the over/under pass -- which is a completely waste of time. Of course the risk of crossing a multi-lane highway requires matrix and kung fu skills to dodge passing cars.

However, this morning I decided to be a good citizen by using pedestrian cross walk.  As waited until the other cars acknowledged that I was about to cross, when they slowed down I walked. However, as I got towards the end, I noticed a car that didn't seem like it was slowing down and wanted to speed through the gap between me and the curb. As it neared, I reared back suddenly as the car honked at me to move away. It suddenly screeched to a stop an inch away from my legs. I got so furious, the feeling undid me. I started yelling profanities at the driver.

I discovered a while back, how easy it is to get your license in the Philippines. In fact, it requires no knowledge of driving whatsoever. All you need is money.To become a licensed driver in the Philippines, you need to pay for your application and you must take a written test to show that you are a "competent driver." At the same time, however, people will also offer you the answers to the test questions for 600-800 pesos. Unlike the DMV at home, where you actually had to prove your driving ability by sitting in a car with a test facilitator, here in the Philippines the process is quite different -- as long as you have the cash, you can pass. I guess this is also indicative of the Filipino mindset where you can buy anything with money, buy off a ticket, buy a license, etc. It promotes nothing but corruption and people WONDER WHY THE PHILIPPINES IS SO CORRUPT. The people who advocate against it are playing the same card and using money to their advantage.

Getting around Manila is also such a pain in the ass. The roads are not wide enough, traffic stops because bus drivers and tax drivers think they can swerve in between lanes every other second, and the trains are unable to meet the capacity of rush hour commuters. Buses along EDSA like to take their sweet time loading and unloading passengers and many drivers won't bother to use their signal sign to move in between lanes. Really? Is this necessary?

The Philippines government spends so much money every year on "beautifying" the roads. One mistake they made was putting a stinking train in the middle of the highway! (e.g. EDSA) How can you possibly expand the train's capacity in the future? Especially when the Philippines' population is expected to double in the next couple of years? Wrong move in that aspect.

EDSA/MRT Train

Getting around the city requires several transfers, which is such a struggle considering you have to factor in heat and availability of transportation. During rush hour, I have to set aside at least an hour and a half of travel time to get to and from work, plus the extra 30-45 minutes of waiting for a seat to car pool home.

In my frustration, I tell myself...I will earn enough money to get a car and hire a driver so I won't have to sweat to and from work every day. Then I realize, parking and gas is so expensive. So either I sweat out my misery or I shell out around 200-300 USD on parking, gas, and car insurance. Not a viable cost option at this moment in my life. The best thing to do is suck it up and bring an extra shirt to work every day to dry out the sweat and grime from every day commute.

Yes, I am officially a hard core Urbanista. If I add that to my CV will it add any weight? I wish.

My trip down P.Burgos: A year in Review

P.Burgos is a well known red light district in Makati. I should know, I use to stay there. When I interned in the business district of Makati, I chose to stay at P.Burgos because it was cheaper and I could walk to work every morning and afternoon, without having to hail a cab.

In the morning, people are selling fruits, small food items, and trinkets. Hardly, any cause for danger. At night, it the streets become filled with white guys and scantily clad women and men.

Last night, I took a stroll down memory lane to take a couple shots of the night life for a contest my friends and I entered in June. The street hasn't changed at all. On every street corner white foreign men were bargaining the price of one night stands with one or two young Filipino ladies. At the local bar, foreign men were staring at every Filipino woman that passed by, eyeing them like pieces of candy.

It was disgusting. Young ladies that were my age were prancing around in mini shorts and tops that showed off their cleavage to foreign men who simply wanted to pay them for sex. Of course, poverty most likely plays a role in this street. Women may not have a choice in the matter to sell their bodies for sex. However, knowing that the Western world sees the Philippines as a place to get one night stands obliterates the supposed "pride in the Philippines." Politicians and student groups may encourage national pride amongst its citizens, but how does that pride transcend to actual emotion when I see a place like P.Burgos? Where is the pride in that?

I have pride in my culture but national pride is not something I can say I truly have. I equate national pride with places like P.Burgos, the hypersexualization of women on billboards, the racial inferiority complex of almost every Filipino woman who feels the need to be whiter, the election of President Noynoy Aquino who simply got elected because of his mother and father's fame, the obvious matriculation of old actors and actresses into politics (just because they're well known on TV), the exit of nurses and skilled professionals because there are no jobs to sustain them at home, the poverty and slums, and the nepotism/crony politics that is so ingrained in Filipino politics.

Last night, I was watching the History channel and they were discussing how America grew into a super power. America's growth is the product of innovation and self-sustained domestic industries. Essentially, most of America's industries grew from the ground up -- local businessmen invested in the manufacturing of cars, steel, home appliances, clothing, etc. All of that was home grown and not imported. Eventually, those industries grew and perpetuated the growth and expansion of American cities to what we see today.

The Philippines has trouble growing a domestic industries. We rely on multi-national corporations to feed us the big investments instead of growing it for ourselves. In turn this dependency is what feeds Philippines' poverty because there are no means to support small businesses (aside from loans) to flourish and create jobs.

For example, my friend Roland and I had a discussion about his Nurse research. There are roughly 200,000 nurses in the Philippines and about half or a third of them are unemployed. The nursing population here is filled with skilled health workers. If they are able to put their skills to good use, by, for example, taking care of the poor, elderly, or sick, OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL, you'll see a very different Philippines where low income households can seek proper care for their sick children and elderly relatives. However, do we see that connection or political investment? No we do not. Does the Philippines government do anything to put their skilled workers to good use? No they do not. Instead investment is going towards, building new malls, creating new government departments, and paying the salaries of over indulgent and entitled politicians.

After being here for a year, I have found significant pride in my culture, the food, the people who greet me hello on a bad day, the wet markets where honest people are trying to make a living, the rice paddies where farmers continue to find joy and passion in their work, the slum dwellers who still find time to smile at the camera, the people sweeping the highways of debris despite the heat, the feeling of acceptance and family when I go to the provinces for a vacation, seeing Sari-Sari stores and knowing that Filipinos haven't given up hope to make things better for themselves. That's my culture, the people who fill their lives with hope and smiles regardless of their destitution or hardships they may face.

National pride is a completely different sentiment that I have found hard to accept during my time here. The frustration of not being able to do anything except give hungry kids selling smpaguita a piece of my pandesal makes me feel disappointed in a government that does not find potential in its people, particularly the children. The potential for innovation and growth will always be hindered by people who lack vision and heart in government.

My attempts to cook Filipino food

rowen? roman? ron? no, it's roland.: awful offal: "I realize it's been a while since my last attempt at introspection and blog-al reflection on philippine phenomena. the past week has been p..."

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I always found it hard to describe what Filipino food is to my friends, but Roland's blog explained it very well. :)

Filipino food does not have the ideal 5-star cuisine award but it's simplicity is what makes it unique. Last night I cooked monggo, which are boiled mung beans topped with mallungay (Moringa), and inabraw, which consisted of kamote (sweet potato) and sliced gourd. When I was a kid, I wasn't too fond of meat, so my mom always cooked vegetables for me. Inabraw has always been my favorite because the dish is basically  a bunch of different green vegetable cooked in a soup base. Combined with rice, it was heaven on a plate.

In any case, Roland mentioned that most Filipino food is akin to comfort food, which I whole heartily agree because it taste so good and it is so simple to make. Essentially, most Filipino vegetable dishes start off with three basic ingredients: garlic, onions, and/or tomatoes. These adds flavoring to any meat or vegetable. For further flavoring, Filipinos like to use fermented shrimp paste, bagoong (fermented fish), or patis (fish sauce). However, my mom being the health freak that she is, simply uses salt and pepper.

Since, I'm an "on the go" type of person and I often have no time to be the wifey at home by spending hours in the kitchen. I've learned to cook simple recipes that are healthy and easy to make. One thing I like about the Philippines is its abundant and cheap vegetable choices in the food market. Unlike the disappointing vegetable and fruit choices in Safeway (grocery store near Georgetown) or the expensive organic vegetable choices at Whole Foods, the Philippines (and most developing Asian countries) have a wide array of cheap and organic vegetables. The bitter melons, here, are more than a foot long, okra and green beans come in packs of 20 or more, spinach leaves are fresh, papayas are huge, mangoes are abundant, there are five different types of sweet potatoes, etc. etc. If anything, a healthy lifestyle, especially if you have the money, is so easy to have here.

I am speaking from a vegetarian foodie point of view of course. Filipino meat recipes on the other hand is a whole different blog in itself. I am not a big fan of Filipino meat dishes simply because it is cholesterol and heart attack in a pot. However, I do have respect for people who eat it. I guess that is where my American side influences me--stay away from raw and stewed entrails.

Regardless, my stay in the Philippines, thus far, has been a learning experience because I've learned to cook dishes that I never would have learned how to cook if I were in the U.S. After all, the best way to learn about a culture is to delve into the food, entrails or not, it is probably the best way to get a feel for where you come from.

EFF THE KETCHUP! Give me the ASIAN!

Yesterday, my friend Roland and I went to the movies to watch Inception, which was the trippiest movie I have ever seen. It was mind-boggling to say the least.

So, we decided to get some movie food at NYFD (New York Fries and Dip), a small movie food bar outside of the cinemas.

Last time we got food at NYFD, we weren't paying closely at the menu options. We were so hungry we just took the biggest bundle and ate it right away. This time around, however, there was a little more scrutiny involved.

Upon staring at the menu for about 15 minutes, we realized how ridiculous the menu actually was. When I see spaghetti and meatballs, I automatically pair it with bread or a pizza. Or when I see chicken poppers, I automatically pair it with popcorn or a simple hotdog. The food bundles they had, however, paired up the most random food to make it seem appetizing. In retrospect, I can't even see why. There were more "food bundles" but this was the only menu I could find.

For example, pairing a fish fillet sandwich with pesto? That's a no bueno. However, I realized Filipinos love two things when it comes to casual eating out: 1. Hotdogs, 2. Spaghetti, 3. A form of deep fried chicken. So seeing one or two of these paired up is not surprising. Combining all three? Hell, there will be a line outside of the restaurant.

The Filipino Spaghetti Recipe: Hotdog and/or Cornbeef meat, mixed with spaghetti, and of course you can't leave out ketchup for spaghetti sauce! All in favor, give me a hells to the yes!? (uhh no) I love how Filipinos, here, take things from American culture and make it their own. Adaptability is best..but not when the outcome is potential dog food (depending on how you cook it, of course--some "Filipino" spaghetti were actually pretty good..others weren't).

Then, our amusement continued when we saw the list of fries dip.  I mean, who WOULDN'T want to pair their fries with sauce like "bacon onion tomato" or "Asian" (which I'm offended/amused by because Asian culture is associated with a sauce dip) and Roland's favorite, HAWAIIAN CURRY. Which I think has tidbits of pineapple in curry sauce? I have no idea. But! Roland brought up a funny point in one of his blogs about Filipinos' love for sauce, and this is truly an indication of such.
EFF THE KETCHUP! Give me the ASIAN!

The Destruction of the Written Word

rowen? roman? ron? no, it's roland.: a redeeming WTF, Philippines: "The ChowKing 'Sioplet' - What started as a normal 'WTF, Philippines' turned out to be the highlight of my day. See, my days now consist of ..."
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Dear Roland,

Here's what google defines as "Lauriat"...oh wait it doesn't have one. I also love Filipinos and their intuitive creations of words.

BUT! at least the word "lauriat" is spelt with the correct alphabets.

There's a craze in the Philippines, aside from San Marino Corned Tuna, called "Jejmon".

Urban Dictionary defines it as: those"who has managed to subvert the English language to the point of incomprehensibility and online lynch squads."

It's a new fashion of speaking and SMS texting that is suppose to be indicative of self-expression. However, there is a fine line between self-expression and just plain stupidity. Essentially, the LOLs and STFU just took on a whole new level in the Philippines, where words and numbers are put together in an attempt to formulate words. It's a popular "sub-culture" that is made of hip teenagers who are attempting to revolutionize SMS texting into a popular way of speaking, writing, and fashion. In essence, it is a type of self-expression seeks to dethrone the written word entirely.

Yes, language can be revolutionized and changed over time. That's the beauty of it. However, this type of language does not have any meaning at all! It's just putting alphabets and numbers together to form incoherent words to seem cool in the SMS world.

Since this type of writing gives me a headache to even decipher, I just wikipedia'd it to copy and paste here because just trying to translate them to English or Tagalog would counter any form of pride I could possibly have of being "Filipino." So I won't risk the chance.

Wikipedia:
"The sociolect of the Jejemons, called Jejenese, is derived from English, Filipino and their code-switched variant Taglish. Their alphabet, Jejebet, uses the Roman alphabet, including the Arabic numerals and other special characters. Words are created by rearranged letters in a word, alternating capitalization, over-usage of the letters H, X or Z and mixture of numeric characters and our normal alphabet[2]. The spelling convention shares similarities with Leetspeak.
Examples:

Filipino: "3ow ph0w, mUsZtAh nA?" translated into Filipino as "Hello po, kamusta na?, translated into English as "Hello, how are you?"

English: "i wuD LLyK tO knOw moR3 bOut u. crE 2 t3ll mE yur N@me? jejejejeje!" translated into English as "I would like to know more about you, care to tell me your name? Hehehehe!"

• aQcKuHh- means me/ako
• lAbqCkyOuHh- means I love you
• yuHh- means you
• jAjaJa- garbled words conveying laughter
• jeJejE- a variation of jAjaJa; conveys sly laughter
• iMiszqcKyuH- means I miss you
• eEoWpFhUeEhsxz - means hi/hello

So, aside from seeing these text messages..I thought, "Okay, this is just a few people and it's only through SMS or instant messages that we see such. It can't be everyone..it's just a few young teenagers trying to jump on the band wagon." Low and behold, one day at the mall I see a bunch of people wearing the "Jeje Cap." The cap that signifies their support for the destruction of the written word. The flood of rainbow caps made me realize how far and wide the support is for the jejemon culture in the Philippines.

The following day, after my brain overloaded on rainbow caps, my google notifications popped up various articles during the month related to "Philippines and education." Some of which were:

Education moves to stop ‘jejemon’
DepEd discourages ‘jejemon’ texting among students
DepEd launches war against Jejemon

and my ultimate favorite point of view: DepEd urged: 'Let jejemon be; it will pass'

The fact that the Philippines' Department of Education has to decide either to "wage a war" or "let it pass" is so indicative of Filipino culture that doesn't take initiative to simply decide what is right and wrong and take measures to support it. When SMS texting becomes a part of regular schooling, then something is obviously wrong.

I'm not going to lie, I often use LOLs, LMAO, and STFU in my text messages but I have common sense not the write that in my academic papers, where my teachers would probably disapprove and demote me to kindergarten to learn my ABCs again.

Maybe, for some, they'd opt to take the liberal standpoint and just let it be because it's "not hurting anyone." But, seriously...would you want your child to speak and write "jejenese" ?? Would you find pride in that? When you work in the real world and have a career will your co-workers respect you for it? Will your classmate think you are the brightest person and someone to look up to? No!

As much as I find pride in the Philippines, I also find a lot of disappointment that catches me off guard sometimes and I find myself wondering how the hell I have lasted this long here.

t@ank yuHh 4 r3@dng 3y 670g (Thank you for reading my blog)

fyi it took me 1 minute to figure out how write that jejemon style..I feel a whole lot smarter now.)

rowen? roman? ron? no, it's roland.: the philippines: a starbucks culture

rowen? roman? ron? no, it's roland.: the Philippines: a starbucks culture: "oh wow, as i just got up to adjust my seating, i realized im sitting next to a tranny-licious filipino. but then again, that's everyday her..."
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So, after reading my friend's blog (link above) on his "estarbucks" adventure. I wanted to add my two cents to his "Filipino Tranny" discussion, which I also found to be the most amusing and confusing issue during my one year in the Philippines. (Yes I survived one year..but that's another blog to discuss later)

Philippines culture is, obviously, heavily influenced by our Spanish colonizers. The idea of machismo is a very common gender norm in the Philippines that signifies a man's supposed strength in the community and in the family. This machismo is further compounded by the fact that the Philippines is very Catholic, which often gives reason to believe "tranny culture would be considered taboo because the Philippines is pre-dominant Catholic country.

This goes out to Raymond and Nina, my Gender Studies friends, who would probably send both Roland and I an e-mail of correct definitions for all the different gender types out there. However, in the Philippines, Filipinos won't even bother to try and categorize them, LGBTQi all fall under the word, "bakla." So, we'll just go with it for now.

To see prime time TV shows showcasing baklas (or mga bakla) preening like peacocks on TV to Lady Gaga songs is not a new thing. In fact, it brings in the ratings and Filipinos, homosexuals and heterosexuals alike, feed into it like no other culture I've seen thus far. This fascination to watch but not be a part of is interesting. It's fun to watch and pretend in front of friends to be "bakla" but when you ask any Filipino guy, what if your son became one, they'll respond with a resounding "hells to the NO!"

Now that doesn't seem fair because people who associate themselves as such eventually realize that they cannot be fully accepted as real members of society. Merely a subordinate source of amusement for the masses.

Okay, so this "machismo" culture. A friend of mine was discussing how certain Filipino guys, who identify themselves as heterosexuals, would often seek a "gay sponsor". A "gay sponsor" provides money, shoes, clothes, t-shirts, trinkets, a car, etc. in return for sexual favors or companionship. The Filipino men who seek these "gay sponsors" are obviously those who may not be wealthy, so deriving any form of wealth is important to stay alive in Manila.

The funny thing is, though many of these heterosexual Filipino men provide sexual favors, escort services, or companionship to their "gay sponsors" they do not call themselves gay and in fact reaffirm their "machismo" but showing they also have 3-4 girlfriends on the side. The money they receive as a gay person's call boy and sex toy supports their lifestyle, at the same time they continue to fully act out their macho heterosexual role in public.

I think this is not a new phenomenon and it no way generalizes the entire Filipino male population. It's just a simple example, that I found to be rather scandalous and at the same time confusing. Simone De Beauvoir, Michael Warner, Freud, Jaques Lacan, and Emmanuel Levinas have been discussing these issues for a long time.

Their philosophy and writings discuss "the other" as a concept that we as human beings use to classify people who are different or "other than ourselves" to be subordinate and do not fit into society.

Maybe my gender studies friends can give me a more scientific explanation of it. :) But for now, we'll leave it as that. Machismo and bakla culture reinforces each other in the Philippines. To fully understand if this is a good or bad thing is up to various perspectives, but I still don't know how they can co-exist so easily and have such a fluid relationship, especially within the confines of the a very conservative Catholic country.

A Sunday Afternoon Party (ASAP) Experience!!

Yesterday (Sunday) a couple of friends and I went to watch the show ASAP, which is a well known entertainment show in the Philippines that showcases almost all of the famous Filipino actors, actresses, singers, and models. They danced, singed, and hosted the show for three hours...every Sunday.

We arrived at ABS-CBN at 10:30am (the show starts at 12) and we did not leave the studio until 3:30pm. It was the most exhausting experience ever, but at least I got to see it live.

Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz, Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonazaga...etc. were just some of the star studded cast. The audience went crazy when they saw them, akin to me going crazy if I got a chance to see Brad Pitt or Justin Timberlake at the same time.

One thing is for sure, these Filipino celebrities are very different from the American celebrities back in the states. Aside from the fact that American celebrities have bigger salaries, bigger movie promotion deals, and are more international renowned, there is still a really huge disconnect between their stardom and their fans. The only time you really get to see them or admire their skills are in movies, concerts, or guest appearances on Oprah or Ellen.

However, can you imagine seeing your favorite celebrities all on one show, entertaining you every weekend with their music, fashion, and goofy-ness. Well that is what ASAP is, a culmination of the most favored Filipino celebrities dancing and singing to Michael Jackson and current and oldie hits.

Filipinos love their entertainment and Filipinos love to entertain. So it is not surprising to see a star studded Filipino cast entertaining people in their homes every weekend.

American pop culture thinks Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga are talented and hott. However, can you imagine them doing a gig every weekend, live? Not just one gig..or one concert..but every weekend..singing, dancing, interacting with each other? No, you can't.

Or can you imagine Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie hosting and singing a duet ever weekend? No, you can't either.

So being able to see all of the "famous" (I'm speaking local of course) Filipino stars on one show was definitely mind blowing and entertaining. They are true entertainers and though I was exhausted from the show, it was pretty cool to wave at Piolo Pascual and have him wave back at me (or at least I think he was waving back at me..haha well okay, waving in my general direction).

Check out my recent Op-Ed (Op-Ed #2) on Comprehensive Sex Education in the Philippines.

Sorry, I got really excited when I saw the headlines.

Check it out on Philstar.com

Informed Decisions

The Philippines has turned over a new leaf and is finally taking progressive strides towards providing young people access to sex education in its school system.

Bravo!

Finally, law makers are taking action towards educating teenagers about sex, reproductive health, relationships, and their bodies. 2010 is truly a landmark year that marks a very important time for Filipino youth across the country.

Finally, many conservative voices have been stifled by the persistence of teachers, political groups, and health advocates to provide young people with comprehensive sex education. For a country that has been overcome with conservative direction for many years, reading the headlines “Sex Education Granted in Public Schools” is truly monumental.

However, as the school system emerges into these new social changes, a few things should be considered before the implementation of the pilot program. First, is to shed assumption that parents are incapable of educating their children about sex. Though the school has taken it upon themselves to teach young people the sciences of their bodies and how illness can spread, parents should not shed the responsibility of being a part of their child’s sex education. The Philippines Department of Education (DepEd) should consider this as an important factor as they begin to formulate their sex education curriculum for their schools. Instead of encouraging students to participate in sex education merely in class, the pilot program should also work in conjunction with some form of parent involvement. This will educate the student as well as their parent in how to answer questions and determine what issue matters the most to them. If teenagers feel comfortable talking about what they learned in their sex education classes to their parents, then parents can have a better chance of mitigating future risks to their child’s health and well being (e.g. unintended pregnancies, sex before marriage, sexually transmitted illness).
Second, as DepEd begins to train teachers in conducting these pilot classes, one important lesson that should be emphasized is the fine line between opinion and fact. Teaching young people about sex education is a very sensitive subject and can easily perpetuate the bias of those teaching the subject. For example, I had a teacher in my sex education class say, “Having sex at a young age is bad for you because of x, y, and z reasons.” Rather than teaching in a way that forces students to adopt such a point of view, my teacher should have framed her lesson in a way that allowed us to think for ourselves. For example, the question my teacher could have posed to the class could have been, “Based on current statistics, more and more people are having sex at a younger age, why do you think that is so?” My classmates’ answers could have varied between “media, pressures from friends and boyfriends, pop culture, etc.” From there my class could have had a more in depth discussion about the issues and pressures we were facing, without being personally judged for our questions.

As the new school year begins, the anticipated change in the public school curriculum is a turning point in DepEd, one that the Philippines should be proud of. Finally, important measures are being taken to help young people make informed decisions about their relationships, health, and choices.

Election Fever

So it was recently announced that President Noynoy Aquino is, for sure, the President of the Philippines. After nearly 2 months of counting, re-counting, answering questions, arguing with Smartech (the company who supplied the Philippines with the ballot counting machines), and fending off people who claimed the election was rigged, which they simply dismissed after all the media hype, the Philippines announced its new leader and proclaimed the success of progressive democracy through automated elections.

Estrada also finally conceded his loss after persisting that irregularities existed in the voting system and demanding a recount and investigation into the situation. He was just a few votes away from winning the election. This was surprising considering he was an ousted leader and YET the masses still favored him over Villar (who spent millions on campaigning and TV advertisements). During Estrada's brief term, he proved to be a legitimate leader. He was a pro-poor leader and he brought a semblance of peace amongst communist rebel groups and Muslim extremist in Mindanao. However, his gambling vices got him into trouble, which ultimately led to his impeachment.

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President's track record so far:

On Anti-Tobacco Day, President Aquino refused to discontinue smoking (even for a day).

On Philippines Independence Day -- he refused to attend a national parade in his country's honor because he had already made plans to attend a christening.

I mean, these aren't really bad things that should be blown out of proportion because non-president people would do the same. However, the media has been showing him in a semi-bad light for his past two actions. Hopefully, in the coming months his policies would speak for themselves and prove worthy of praise.

Grande Halo Halo, YES!

Grande Halo-Halo

The pictures say enough.

The bowl was the size of my face.

courtesy of Max's

It's Election Day!!

(This was written before election day..sorry I forgot to hit the publish button hehe)

Finally, after 6 years, the Philippines is once again facing election day! On Monday, thousands of Filipinos will go to their local polls to vote.

More than 17,000 political posts will be filled in the coming weeks.

We could see a new President or we could see a new Prime Minister grace the halls of Malacanang Palace (If Arroyo gets her way between now and election day on Monday).

Military and Police have begun to take their positions at various road check points. The SM has announced their alcohol ban for the week. The automated poll's memory cards are being configured due to glitches (bad omen?). The Ampatuan clan, down south, are STILL hell bent on winning their political seats. Villar's jingles and commercials of him playing with poor children are playing by the hour. The "itlog" song (catchy jingle to teach people how to fill in egg shaped bubbles on the ballots)is playing at all 7-11 stores. GMA is using all of her personal friends, and possibly servants, to fill as many political posts as she can before she's out of office (according to rumors (e.g. The Inquirer) her personal manicurist recently got assigned a government position). Flyers are hanging all over public walls, buses, and electricity wires. Estrada is eagerly awaiting his return to the presidency. Lastly, people are still debating over who to vote for: the poor guys turned rich or the supposed honest-rich guy that belongs to a well known family of politicians. Noynoy still looks like he's riding off of his mother's and sister's fame and Villar is using every known celebrity to endorse his name.

Election fever is high. Though not in a way I was expecting it to be.

The Philippines is the most "stable" democracy in Asia. It is, after all, the product of U.S. occupation. Aside from the usual extra-judicial and media killings here and there, the Philippines actually mirrors most of the United States' election/governing process.  I was expecting more hype in this year's election, especially taking into account everyone's discontent with GMA. However, that expectation became shortlived.

Instead of platform issues, I hear catchy jingles. Instead of excited voters, I see disillusioned negativity.

To add to the irony, MYX and MTV Asia (two youth oriented television shows) held their voting campaigns (similar to Rock the Vote) just last month. Which is completely irrelevant because the Comelec had ended voter registration way back early January. Their message should have started at least a year in advance to encourage young people to register to vote...not a month before elections.

On May 10, the Philippines will have a new President and a new government. I guess the process of getting there doesn't really matter..as long as it gets there.

Ilocos Adventures Part 2: Lola's Pamisa, Pagudpud, and Cabangtalan

So, I never really got over my mini Ilocos vacation. I loved it so damn much that I had to go back!!

So we went back :D

Lola held the Pamisa (prayers for our relatives who passed away and a feast to celebrate their lives) during the last weekend of April.

We got there around 9am. When we got to the house, everyone was already up cooking and slicing away at  two giant pigs they had killed early early in the morning. It was a good thing, we missed out on that.

I was too exhausted from the bus ride, so I showered and slept until noon. I woke up to noises of people talking outside. "People" is an understatement..it was more like "crowd." There was at least 100 or so people outside waiting for the food. It was insane, the whole front drive way was filled to capacity with people, relatives, neighbors, random people who just wanted free lunch.

Then my lola held a mini prayer session inside the house. She lit around 15 or so long candles, which represented someone who had passed away. Afterwards, everyone joined in and prayed the rosary. When everyone was done, people started "analyzing" the candles to see which ones melted and which ones didn't. According to local beliefs, the candle that melted the most meant one of our relatives is sad and the ones that didn't melt were happy. :)

The next day we took a trip to Pagudpud. We intended to take max 30 people, but instead 50 showed up. I was soo frustrated and annoyed at all the random free loaders that got on the bus. I was tempted to kick them off (I would have done so) except my mom thought doing so would make us look bad. So we had to bear with the massive amount of uninvited people to free load off our bus and the food we prepared.

We stayed at Pagudpud till noon then we went sight seeing in the Marcos Museum. It was essentially, their family's version of the hall of fame. In front of the museum there was a huge "Gun Free Zone" sign, which I thought was sorely ironic considering Marcos was a former president who favored hard power and used extra-judicial killings to get his way.

The way his tomb was laid out was unnerving. The adjacent hallway gave his history, random quotes that was suppose to instill national pride in people, and, of course, pictures of his wife. The building behind was a huge room filled with family pictures of his children (all running for politics..not surprising) and his grand-children.

Marcos was definitley a smart, charismatic, and eloquent leader..then again so were most of the dictators in history. The entire museum was not impressive. In fact it had that old-aged and erie feel to it that negated any possibility of reverence or awe on my end. Then again, the Marcos family is sort of like that..still struggling for power but not getting up to par with where they use to be.

The vacation went really well and we took the bus back to Manila at night, which was way better because we could sleep and escape the afternoon heat.

There was also another beach, Cabangtalan, nearby that was cheap, not crowded. and child-friendly (because the beach at Pagudpud had huge waves and was really deep). We just made lunch and took it out to the beach to enjoy. The sun was out and the water was nice and cold. Freaking Amazing.

We stopped at a mini store that soled "Royal Bibinka," a dessert that screamed ooey gooey Jello-ey butter. The best part about these deserts is-THEY WERE FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN. I bought a box of 24, and, I kid not, I ate 3/4 of the box in one sitting and in one hour. The only thing stopping my momentum was its freshness. It was piping hot.

(courtesy of http://www.foodtrippings.com/desserts/ilocoss-royal-bibingka/)

(because by the time I realized I should have taken a picture of the food, I had eaten it all. Sorry)

The trip home was sad, because I knew my mom would be leaving soon. However, it gave me a lot of amazing memories. I am definitely looking forward to my next trip..ghetto bus style :D