tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4182619751948151112024-03-05T21:13:45.643-08:00Joan's Journaljoandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-70311752368526893372010-01-20T08:00:00.001-08:002010-01-20T08:00:34.728-08:00Old.joan studio<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289345941/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4289345941_85eb0672c5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289345941/">Old.joan studio</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/">joehonoridez</a></span></div><br clear="all" />joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-89881473143313829792010-01-20T07:58:00.001-08:002010-01-20T08:03:32.778-08:00Very Late 80's<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289340463/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4289340463_1201152cff_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><br />The baggy pants say it all. I can't remember the exact year but I'm sure this is the late 80's, going into the 90's because gone is my super "tidal wave" hair do emulating Madonna and the Menudo.<br /><br />It is also the beginning of what is now popularly known as U.K. fashion, or ukay-ukay (old clothes rummage market). Before it has a distasteful name, "relief" or "relip". But I really like my imported khaki knit blouse. It wore out on me over more years to come.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289345941/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4289345941_85eb0672c5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a>joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-65278286902597686952010-01-20T07:32:00.001-08:002010-01-20T07:33:33.690-08:00Guess Where Did We Have Our Picture Taken???<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4290086396/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4290086396_a1a181c3c9_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4290086396/">Old.joan bea burnham park</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/">joehonoridez</a></span></div>I hate this picture. Not because it's despicable, but just because...<br /><br />Because, we are in one of the most famous spots in the Philippines but the picture doesn't say. Why? Because my impatient husband wanted the park photographer for hire click the picture right away, despite my protestations (that's not a wave, that's a "wait a minute, let me just turn around for a better background view!").<br /><br />But the frightened photographer clicked away just the same, and he collected -- how much -- P25 for this picture of us and trees behind us, while we watched the amazing view behind the photographer: the boating lagoon of the famous Burnham Park in Baguio City.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-66783113556637101452010-01-20T07:20:00.001-08:002010-01-20T07:48:47.782-08:00Tolentine Star for COPRE 1993: We Came, We Saw, We Conquered<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289336273/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4289336273_84ca6fb843_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/"></a></span></div>I think this was 1993 when the whole <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tolentine Star </span>staff attacked Iloilo City for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">College Press </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conference and Awards </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">(COPRE)</span> journalism contest. We took a three-hour boat trip, as this was the era before the 50-minute fast crafts of today.<br /><br />Our <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tolentine Star</span>, the official student publication of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos</span> bagged several awards as a magazine/newspaper as well as its individual writers.<br /><br />I remember having bagged the first place for Headline Writing. This was the time before we even heard of desktop publishing so headlines had to be counted by ens and ems (too bad the young writers of today don't have that challenge anymore because this category is now covered under Newswriting, thanks for the input, Rommel Depasucat). This was also the time when we literally had to cut and paste our layouts and we actually had a physical dummy sheet!<br /><br />Left to right: me as Associate Editor; <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rowela Alayon</span> in her second year as Editor-in-Chief; and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Gesila Sumcio</span> as Opinion Editor.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-55852661090273519012010-01-20T07:02:00.001-08:002010-01-20T07:06:43.875-08:00Tolentine Star Christmas Circa 1992<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289333743/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2761/4289333743_71e8fa9bd6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4289333743/"><br /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/"></a></span></div>I'm really not sure about the year. What I'm sure is that it was one of the bestest, funnest, wholesomest christmas parties ever.<br /><br />The whole Tolentine Star staff of our batch partied in the TS office, binged, exchanged gifts, wished each other well, and had an all out food fight. Look, we just washed our faces and took our picture at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos lobby before embarking on a long trek to Goldenfields to play bowling. Hungry thereafter, we again walked the whole stretch of Araneta Street to the original pala-pala to have an early dawn breakfast.<br /><br />Here we proudly wear our vests as emblems of our being crazy student writers. I think we were also wearing our emerald green t-shirts with beige TS logo imprint but had to change because of the mess of our massive food fight.<br /><br />From left to right: Nove Abao (Associate Editor); Cristina Canson, Irene Santiago (Literary Editor), Yasmin Pascual (News Editor); Rowela Alayon (Editor-in-Chief); Gerle Hilado (Managing Editor); Robby Rigor; Joan Honoridez (Art Director); Jason Honoridez (Sports Editor); Gesila Sumcio; Eugene Adiong (Opinion Editor); and Ariel Bravo (Filipino Editor). Photo by Joebert Abibas.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-73350856450154219002010-01-20T06:44:00.001-08:002010-01-20T06:47:56.311-08:00Seventeen Years and Seventeen Kilos Ago<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4288871709/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4288871709_ed6e4f3cdc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/"></a></span></div>This was how we looked like, circa 1993. We were all good friends enjoying our newfound post-college or near post-college freedom, hanging out at what used to be Bacolod's favorite hangout places -- sunset at the Pavilion . <br /><br />Here we are, sitting at the sea wall enjoying the balmy breeze. Behind us are big boulders cascading down to playful waves crashing against them. Seventeen years later, these same waves were further pushed back into the sea as more land was reclaimed, and now the new BREDCO port stands. Just imagine, behind us where it used to be water now stands a condominium project, warehouses, office buildings and wide paved roads.<br /><br />Also, seventeen kilos earlier, you wouldn't believe that the girl wearing bangs is now a professor at the University of St. La Salle -- Rowela Alayon-Chiu; the petite girl to her left is now a city counselor running for a congressional seat in the lone district of Bacolod City -- Jocelle Batapa-Sigue; the only thorn among the roses is now a university professor in China -- Zeigfried Dima-ala; and the forever slim girl on the far right is now a legal researcher at the Hall of Justice and an active officer of the Art Association of Bacolod -- me.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-52511201381225446402010-01-13T06:37:00.001-08:002010-01-13T06:44:42.581-08:00UNO-R High School Batch '87 Meets Again at Business Inn, Bacolod City<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4270130227/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4270130227_6c8e168393_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44072872@N07/4270130227/"><br /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/44072872@N07/"></a></span></div>Thanks to the fiery Febrian Ditchella, some locally based UNO-R High School Batch '87 were able to meet again at Business Inn, Bacolod City, on January 8, 2010.<br /><br />For this reason, I was thankful I did not push through with watching the Leah Salonga concert.<br /><br />We reminisced 25-year old memories over dinner and acted like high school kids again.<br /><br />More importantly, we're gearing up for our Silver Jubilee come 2012 when we will be hosting the Blue and Gold Alumni Homecoming celebrations, tentatively set on September 29, 2012.<br /><br />In this photo: Jovi Prado-Linga; Cristina "Tuta" Montero-Escano; Febrian Ditchella, Joan of Art Honoridez-Mocorro; Lailani Barrientos; and Maricel Alimpoyo-Antiporda who is 6 weeks pregnant, wow! Not in photo is Francis Prudencio "Nonoy" Amigo who left early for not feeling well.<br /><br />Hope not due to old age. ;-)joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-44672308413546549912010-01-11T07:23:00.000-08:002010-01-11T08:24:33.475-08:00Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZmbXCgD5Y_lAdplgRIIvunL0E4FllBTQIBvAGB9ieEex-ouCicFkLG3_hDWgahrZsKRTnF5k8ZL8DHY8l435mQc9UD_ShmXIknHEsR75-HKYLi-83nY5IT4E4-f6wP4fxftl3CYMRCQ/s1600-h/david.dave"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZmbXCgD5Y_lAdplgRIIvunL0E4FllBTQIBvAGB9ieEex-ouCicFkLG3_hDWgahrZsKRTnF5k8ZL8DHY8l435mQc9UD_ShmXIknHEsR75-HKYLi-83nY5IT4E4-f6wP4fxftl3CYMRCQ/s320/david.dave" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425518787685841538" border="0" /></a>Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum are the twin characters in Alice in Wonderland. They're usually portrayed as identical pairs wearing yellow gold tops, just as these two guys wearing yellow gold t-shirts.<br /><br />And their names are (Twiddle) David and (Twiddle) Dave. ;-)joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-57162512867679096572010-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:002010-01-19T09:39:48.097-08:00Hoy, Pinoy, Here Are Some Tips About Red Wine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6kNtzW9YoUf8fxkt_1R_czVQZ6ITUQ1WrBqsI4zyxozoMfbhjr7XlE61k11XMw70MzGl7MSkpB5VfsL-VwRzIaE03o0MKt-wnsXE127fJ4crTUn9H1iA_QvHrU78uau06ozkN5ge3e8/s1600-h/hpny2010.glass+n+peelings"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6kNtzW9YoUf8fxkt_1R_czVQZ6ITUQ1WrBqsI4zyxozoMfbhjr7XlE61k11XMw70MzGl7MSkpB5VfsL-VwRzIaE03o0MKt-wnsXE127fJ4crTUn9H1iA_QvHrU78uau06ozkN5ge3e8/s320/hpny2010.glass+n+peelings" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423666217487556290" border="0" /></a><br />Hoy, Pinoy! So okay, you are used to drinking tuba^ (coconut wine) and San Miguel beer and it is only during special occasions such as Christmas and the New Year (also birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) that red and white wines flow freely.<br /><br />Based on Pinoy misconcepcions on wine drinking and tips from a French mentor, here are some tips you should know about red wine:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #1</span>: Novellino is rubbish. So is Carlo Rossi and Paul Masson. They are not the traditionally made, oak-barrel stored wines, but are cheap factory-made wine sold en masse. Unless you treat them as a better alternative to softdrinks, you can never be proud serving these so-called wines to a more discerning wine drinker.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #2</span>: Real red wine goes off as soon as you pour it out and oxygen comes in, so consume it within 2-3 days. The air that you see inside the bottle between the cork and the wine is nitrogen which is why it goes pop when you open a bottle of wine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #3</span>: Never put ice in your glass of red wine. It destroys all the beautiful intentions the wine maker has put into his wine. Drink red wine at room temperature. Chill your bottle of wine o<span class="text_exposed_hide"></span><span class="text_exposed_show">nly if you have to store it, then bring it up back to room temperature when you are about to drink it again. Cold wine loses its aroma and tastes flat.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span class="text_exposed_show"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #4</span><span class="text_exposed_show">: Red wine goes with red meat, white wine goes with white meat, and tastes better if poured in a rounded wine glass than straight smack into a flat-bottomed regular glass.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #5</span>: Red wine has a calming, therapeutic effect, thus you sleep better and could live up to a hundred years. Which is probably why countries whose people drank wine and tea make stronger nations because their citizens are healthier.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Red Wine Tip #6</span>: If you have to keep red wine for your nightly therapy, it is best to get a four- or five-liter cubi (short for cubitainer or cubic container or box) which has a tap or faucet from where you just open to draw a glass of wine. Inside the box is a plastic bag which collapses as more wine is being drawn out, thus preventing the oxygen from entering for the wine to keep for 2-3 months.<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #7</span>: Don't be fooled by buying a glass of red wine from half-full bottles stored in a hotel wine bar stand. It is probably 3 months old already and if you remember Red Wine Tip #2, good wine only lasts 2-3 days. If the wine you bought still retains its flavor long since it's been opened, you can be sure it's packed with preservatives, you'd be better off with a freshly opened Novellino.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #8</span>: If you can't tell which wine is best, just remember countries like France, Australia, Portugal, Spain, and Chile where they grow one of the best grapes for their wines. Avoid Italy (they could either be best or worst), South Africa, Argentina, or the U.S.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #9</span>: Choose up to only 12% alcohol content. Beyond that, it could knock you off and lose the appreciation of the taste of raspberries, traces of oak, flavors of different nuts, hints of lemon, the sweetness of honey, and all the wonderfully mind-boggling glossal sensations you are supposed to discern when enjoying your glass of wine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Wine Tip #10</span>: Red wine tastes best if it is drank in the place where it is made. So if you want to have a taste of the best French wine, drink a glass only in France!<br /><br />So, Pinoy, what would your next glass of wine be?joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-81548414110122845792010-01-04T06:13:00.001-08:002010-01-04T06:13:54.370-08:00FlickrThis is a test post from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/r/testpost"><img alt="flickr" src="http://www.flickr.com/images/flickr_logo_blog.gif" width="41" height="18" border="0" align="absmiddle" /></a>, a fancy photo sharing thing.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-89696457178828490562009-12-30T20:29:00.000-08:002009-12-30T20:41:04.532-08:00Where to Find Firecrackers in Bacolod CityAfter a crackdown of illegally sold firecrackers by the local police, there's only one place to find firecrackers in Bacolod City -- at the Reclamation Area.<br /><br />No wonder I couldn't find them a few days ago as I was scrounging downtown Bacolod's sidewalks for New Year trumpets and other noisy gadgets for the revelry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgCaKa2JDA4MWJMeFo90r-tw7YU5qYfTADqUP3moKjQZOGOlsauXuLtFtgsmS3d7DGaJTRa8wT5F61-A8FLa8iZxyXg6v83Ph_jTzN0FwItm-9I0SPBNZqR3bJLMHeNbTRX5S9ZgHqto/s1600-h/firecracker.alley"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgCaKa2JDA4MWJMeFo90r-tw7YU5qYfTADqUP3moKjQZOGOlsauXuLtFtgsmS3d7DGaJTRa8wT5F61-A8FLa8iZxyXg6v83Ph_jTzN0FwItm-9I0SPBNZqR3bJLMHeNbTRX5S9ZgHqto/s320/firecracker.alley" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421255417325152482" border="0" /></a><br />And so I found this bustling alley of all sorts of pyrotechnics vigilantly guarded by armed policemen in uniforms to enforce a no smoking policy on the premises.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrbrcKgKhOhQOO_gRb7tYqgI1wcY8HsRxUZg47L2DEu0OM6VvjWiHvcoUEjPltLZfzsNKIvCrC_NHPtii_O_aaBVlXAlIndxeMzXYhUBoyNiz1uTLFJAk28zB5kvQ2ApzyCD6QHcYxDQ/s1600-h/firecracker.stall"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrbrcKgKhOhQOO_gRb7tYqgI1wcY8HsRxUZg47L2DEu0OM6VvjWiHvcoUEjPltLZfzsNKIvCrC_NHPtii_O_aaBVlXAlIndxeMzXYhUBoyNiz1uTLFJAk28zB5kvQ2ApzyCD6QHcYxDQ/s320/firecracker.stall" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421255420705328066" border="0" /></a><br />There you can find a wide assortment of fireworks, firecrackers and sparklers that suit your fancy. I ignored the big scary ones and settled for the small ones for the kids. PhP200 for a bagful of sparklers, pap pop, piccolo, mini missiles, rainbow lucis... not bad.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-32716695119003157342009-12-17T07:00:00.000-08:002009-12-17T07:16:39.114-08:00Christmas Carolling Pinoy Style: Pasko Na Naman!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMW9JHzR7d0_2TcgtXeKt8FdX1nDmNxlMRr5yLqgotsQGcUdc_D5PoJNp35-ytAFzczSd40_UGbHQEBhA7QN1-Psra6AncjoWHknTaqBxqJe43-mXCVw1NSLEe-qBWqyl4rD_ZhyHka4/s1600-h/carollers"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMW9JHzR7d0_2TcgtXeKt8FdX1nDmNxlMRr5yLqgotsQGcUdc_D5PoJNp35-ytAFzczSd40_UGbHQEBhA7QN1-Psra6AncjoWHknTaqBxqJe43-mXCVw1NSLEe-qBWqyl4rD_ZhyHka4/s320/carollers" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416220619241075266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pasko Na Naman! </span>As soon as the calendar is officially turned to December, christmas carolers hit the streets and sing familiar gleeful christmas songs to welcoming homes.<br /><br />Well, not all homes are accommodating to christmas carolers. <br /><br />The christmas caroling tradition started as a reenactment of what happened 2,000 years ago when Joseph and Mary went house to house seeking for a place to stay for the night in Bethlehem. Just as not all homes are accommodating to christmas carolers of today, finally an innkeeper ushered Joseph and Mary to a stable, the only place he could offer them because the inn was full.<br /><br />Christmas caroling Pinoy style are usually by choral groups for fund raising purposes or by children out to have some fun and spare change. Most attractive to christmas carolers are homes that are bedecked with jolly lights, decors and lanterns because of the christmas spirit that seem to welcome carolers.<br /><br />Children would fashion improvised musical instruments out of flattened bottlecaps strung with wire made into tambourine rings, or loosely nailed onto sticks to make a jingling sound.<br /><br />All-time favorite songs that are never amiss are: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pasko Na Naman!</span> (It's Christmas Once Again!), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sa Maybahay Ang Aming Bati</span> (Our Greeting to the Homeowner), and, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Thank You, Thank You, Ang Babait Ninyo, Thank You!</span> (Thank You, You Are All So Kind!)joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-39239315858144179772009-12-12T06:28:00.000-08:002009-12-12T07:13:19.771-08:00Bacolod Dance Academy's Tribute to the Filipino Music<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDk3z-DJEw60iCcwDToSHFcEUIDGp0Zc4oPFFfGZOVtZGXVDQB8Jfigx0FAxneE7uCa9Eh54Aa17Dblq6qweznZjSqalyS6p1A2IlX9mzXhHbonomN1zSSbNeB3rZZtpXwD3rNuwb7p0/s1600-h/bda.pink"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDk3z-DJEw60iCcwDToSHFcEUIDGp0Zc4oPFFfGZOVtZGXVDQB8Jfigx0FAxneE7uCa9Eh54Aa17Dblq6qweznZjSqalyS6p1A2IlX9mzXhHbonomN1zSSbNeB3rZZtpXwD3rNuwb7p0/s320/bda.pink" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414363622924672322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7Po01KoXRbNgxQQTKX8lQEigom1l9Fl9W7NWAKonEk7XEWFEESMih3fwVflOmCdnx_A__weOqDsgoQ4gfSKjtHUEzCCptMEM3WCAebiXVNHy7N8V1EBcpf7zGTJJxRf3Tj_GeHejWHo/s1600-h/bda.baby+blue"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7Po01KoXRbNgxQQTKX8lQEigom1l9Fl9W7NWAKonEk7XEWFEESMih3fwVflOmCdnx_A__weOqDsgoQ4gfSKjtHUEzCCptMEM3WCAebiXVNHy7N8V1EBcpf7zGTJJxRf3Tj_GeHejWHo/s320/bda.baby+blue" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414363611721295522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bacolod Dance Academy</span> presents: A Tribute to the Filipino Music, a classical ballet presentation at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum, December 13, 6:00 p.m.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvxWpptOqT3fALq0sdW-qIscsTB2XotvVZ35T0FINaL5QO4_YzgLGQmbX_SC2sAETARQ_g3j75X1i_1gfPZwMW3XeSI7g8iXr2ilyG1F8mi9tNS1iyq6JdRdbHGa4yTHfl5W5-7iUyTo/s1600-h/bda.yellow"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvxWpptOqT3fALq0sdW-qIscsTB2XotvVZ35T0FINaL5QO4_YzgLGQmbX_SC2sAETARQ_g3j75X1i_1gfPZwMW3XeSI7g8iXr2ilyG1F8mi9tNS1iyq6JdRdbHGa4yTHfl5W5-7iUyTo/s320/bda.yellow" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414363638292934642" border="0" /></a>After a major presentation of ballet classics (Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker) last year, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bacolod Dance Academy</span> headed by its directress, Marichit Arrieta-Hofilena, goes Filipino this time, paying tribute to beautiful classics such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Matud Nila</span>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUfSrlU6DZA"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ngayon at Kailanman</span></a>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Ikaw</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Tuwing Umuulan</span>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPt84N4jCs0"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sa Libis ng Nayon</span></a>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Parang Kailan Lang</span><span>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ITqKL8Bpsg"><span style="font-style: italic;">Iduyan Mo</span></a>,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Anak</span>, and many more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-3pyZRpLuNfqLyXSp6CL0sgmSvb0x6LHoKSaBoDADkj327DK_hiNGRt2BYFZ1m1hVmqO_KPf3Ys06ecwShzNaoq0l7CyxpemqiXU9OegGpavHk6A_jmFLCRF6qnuoSwxGYTVxaTxe_U/s1600-h/bda.blue"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-3pyZRpLuNfqLyXSp6CL0sgmSvb0x6LHoKSaBoDADkj327DK_hiNGRt2BYFZ1m1hVmqO_KPf3Ys06ecwShzNaoq0l7CyxpemqiXU9OegGpavHk6A_jmFLCRF6qnuoSwxGYTVxaTxe_U/s320/bda.blue" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414363618034703490" border="0" /></a>A sharp contrast from last year's major presentation complete with major production concerns, the 2009 presentation is free from frills, so minimalistic in costume and stage design that the dancers' lines can be appreciated even more.<br /><br />The all-Filipino music also tugs at the heartstrings, be it a touching ballad or a fast number, from opening to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR95I8mVk_M">curtain </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJpw0WpkPnadw1NrFTG5UQaUDrdcQ1ERTsXttOMp76Ma_Ev1WvWoEv6jtJKqxbxd9XXB9C2jU_MLwaxTlEbcE6q0e5HcMgHfzqB9iwrIXJAZ53P_yhcGCpApAUrCm1JiTpfcxtQZhngE/s1600-h/bda.red"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJpw0WpkPnadw1NrFTG5UQaUDrdcQ1ERTsXttOMp76Ma_Ev1WvWoEv6jtJKqxbxd9XXB9C2jU_MLwaxTlEbcE6q0e5HcMgHfzqB9iwrIXJAZ53P_yhcGCpApAUrCm1JiTpfcxtQZhngE/s320/bda.red" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414363642649999474" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR95I8mVk_M">call</a>. Each number, even still only rehearsals, never fail to cause goosebumps at the back of my neck. I remember their first day of practice, a tear trickled down my face as the depth of emotion of original Filipino music gripped my heart.<br /><br />Surely this is another visual-musical-performance treat that is truly food for the soul, served in all its simplistic minimalism by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bacolod Dance Academy</span>.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-36368587524932094842009-12-11T08:20:00.000-08:002009-12-11T08:47:43.448-08:00Bugnay: Miracle Fruit?<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bugnay</span> as it is called in our part of the Philippines, is a kind of sour berry that is ripest when it is at its blackest. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bugnay</span> comes in clumps of some 30 or more berries clumped together in various degrees of ripeness, making a colorful bunch of light green, pink, red to black berries. It is also called bignay in Tagalog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQwN5bcTO1vebDjsJUkq7QxHh90uaoth1lLAOSaGjy3E8oh8Z7eAOZORNcglKq8lwHCvztouwg_6AV8mU2BIS4OW0QCHe3IYPyJgqfJrR9n32e7rQBftrs-6wZ51K7bBjiBdfzoBb0ds/s1600-h/ma-ao.bugnay"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQwN5bcTO1vebDjsJUkq7QxHh90uaoth1lLAOSaGjy3E8oh8Z7eAOZORNcglKq8lwHCvztouwg_6AV8mU2BIS4OW0QCHe3IYPyJgqfJrR9n32e7rQBftrs-6wZ51K7bBjiBdfzoBb0ds/s320/ma-ao.bugnay" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414020183275579618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I once read a newspaper article where a couple cultivating bugnay fruit claimed that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">bugnay</span> is also called miracle berry which has a taste-changing property, turning the next sour thing you will eat sour. However, when I researched more about the African miracle berry (<span style="font-style: italic;">synsepalum dulcificum</span>), I have my doubts because the miracle berry looks different from our <span style="font-weight: bold;">bugnay</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">antidesma bunius</span>).<br /><br />I would have wanted to try it for myself but the tempting sour-sweet black berries were soon wiped out and there was no other sour thing to try my tastebuds on. Oh, well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nlGfGtTdJ1CbKh95We1_CiKvd-E9S0D9GaukQ1dnUyEqHE9yMHkA_wps5UsDQeyuc3ZoR009nlHpjFVFpjOFCfywWlobGFnE-FJ_NZzS4erCOyBhyphenhyphenuKp__3yoo8wmLaeO-JvghM2Uo4/s1600-h/ma-ao.bugnay+catch"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nlGfGtTdJ1CbKh95We1_CiKvd-E9S0D9GaukQ1dnUyEqHE9yMHkA_wps5UsDQeyuc3ZoR009nlHpjFVFpjOFCfywWlobGFnE-FJ_NZzS4erCOyBhyphenhyphenuKp__3yoo8wmLaeO-JvghM2Uo4/s320/ma-ao.bugnay+catch" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414020183022181058" border="0" /></a><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">bugnay</span> tree is medium in size and is easy to climb. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_bean" title="Coffee bean"></a></div>joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-86713004594436896392009-12-11T07:34:00.000-08:002009-12-11T07:52:09.676-08:00White Carabao Just Gave Birth!<span style="font-weight: bold;">White carabao</span> -- albino water buffalo -- is not considered sacred like the white elephant. Back in the ricefields of Ma-ao, Bago City, this beast of burden, normally black in color still gets to work like everybody else.<br /><br />It was a particularly lucky day when we arrived in Ma-ao and chanced upon this <span style="font-weight: bold;">white carabao</span> that just gave birth to a <span style="font-weight: bold;">white carabao</span> calf. Too bad we came just moments late from the actual giving birth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMUCeRIRuAastifUS7266XDZxc1SSb3rAy7r7v6G6twOpJojlcuiMNGcd-i-kKztwUMkI8qKqhBjFZyMxs-zOnQAhlHa5yVKPDsjHBpz78aCSLLjieq4mxADUcefD4WGeDnOJEuZZPyE/s1600-h/ma-ao.caratiti"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMUCeRIRuAastifUS7266XDZxc1SSb3rAy7r7v6G6twOpJojlcuiMNGcd-i-kKztwUMkI8qKqhBjFZyMxs-zOnQAhlHa5yVKPDsjHBpz78aCSLLjieq4mxADUcefD4WGeDnOJEuZZPyE/s320/ma-ao.caratiti" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414006679826873586" border="0" /></a><br />As can be seen in the picture, the mother <span style="font-weight: bold;">white carabao</span>'s birth canal is still oozing with fresh blood and placenta.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFB-EHrfXj1t11DM2YMJQEwn0isvM8QRdd9f-G9D-rnFyLf6ZKBmVTJE3c-yhO0x3FIDJjxtohSZEkxP7MzVWsqPDOj1AFCEV-qtH-nvD1nrxnxm79sxYUPBpIp_bMRcKIxUyqceSGtXM/s1600-h/ma-ao.carabuli"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFB-EHrfXj1t11DM2YMJQEwn0isvM8QRdd9f-G9D-rnFyLf6ZKBmVTJE3c-yhO0x3FIDJjxtohSZEkxP7MzVWsqPDOj1AFCEV-qtH-nvD1nrxnxm79sxYUPBpIp_bMRcKIxUyqceSGtXM/s320/ma-ao.carabuli" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414006673906150434" border="0" /></a><br />The interesting about the baby carabao is that, like baby horses and other babies of the same family, they can already stand on their wobbly feet to reach out to their mother's breasts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8PjE2LPP-77hhZeMBDdC1TvF5OqY5osHdw6ZeFm8javn6P1doW4qKu0h4w6qZ8zqw8FPiPg2Vb9nx9x4m6Q4_nb9_048uXEjj52hTl451eUv_exi5BKIiDcTY9cxjCprwAYddXc5coA/s1600-h/ma-ao.caratumba"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8PjE2LPP-77hhZeMBDdC1TvF5OqY5osHdw6ZeFm8javn6P1doW4qKu0h4w6qZ8zqw8FPiPg2Vb9nx9x4m6Q4_nb9_048uXEjj52hTl451eUv_exi5BKIiDcTY9cxjCprwAYddXc5coA/s320/ma-ao.caratumba" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414006684943509170" border="0" /></a><br />Out in the fields, the carabao has a symbiotic partner, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">tulabong</span> (tu-LAH-bong) or egret, some hovering about, and some actually riding atop the carabao's back. It's an you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-your-back arrangement. The tulabong "scratches" the carabao's back by feeding on the flies pestering the carabao to its relief.<br /><br />Carabaos have "birth certificates" called <span style="font-weight: bold;">credentials</span>, sort of like land titles showing the name of the owner. Instead of thumb marks distinguishing one person from the other, carabaos are identified by their unique nose prints.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-77265785395231236932009-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:002009-12-11T07:28:18.337-08:00Atay-Atay: Fancy Pinoy Bread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFMiUwH1h_SyZGp0pPqWqUfyrNqFurS-J3PrNTgagsNXkgMi2CHgorq8q9LxaWgdguSapIKQZ143kpk8aNJeUzDg_woOdm16vjtVP-QuPf-K3W4XC7THSN0_xLUAPObmFF5jygKV9HuY/s1600-h/food.atay-atay"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFMiUwH1h_SyZGp0pPqWqUfyrNqFurS-J3PrNTgagsNXkgMi2CHgorq8q9LxaWgdguSapIKQZ143kpk8aNJeUzDg_woOdm16vjtVP-QuPf-K3W4XC7THSN0_xLUAPObmFF5jygKV9HuY/s320/food.atay-atay" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414000780800498050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atay-atay</span> (a-tahy-atahy), a kind of bread which, although literally means (liver-liver), has nothing to do with liver.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atay-atay</span> is just one of those fancy Pinoy breads with streaks of red, pink, yellow, or in this example, purple.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">atay-atay</span> that I know had red fillings and perhaps they were called such because they look like liver insides when actually they are just food color.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">atay-atay</span> is still popular among the lower-income bracket, and so I was surprised when one day this bread was being sold, direct selling style, and so I bought two pieces.<br /><br />Surely, memories of old never fail to flood our minds when things like this show up in our present time. It always brings out the child in us, days when things were a lot simpler, like when we just used to eat simple breads such as the <span style="font-weight: bold;">atay-atay</span>.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-27625014433740399812009-12-08T04:33:00.000-08:002009-12-08T05:04:03.336-08:00How to Pick the Best BananaThe tip in picking the best banana: the perfect banana must look small, has black spots all over, and imperfect in every way. The blacker the skin, the better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y1ctagfPdbrAiscGk8OahQY2QOSv2XR4i80BIjN9Y71Peu8qViAgJ8tkw8ma33Ae6nL2o5Es9hpOgzYmsYB-_upIIw3QBpr8WdzGwGVgSdgWoDVKhPDSW9cHNhc9Ohcn6j7gboWgyuA/s1600-h/food.saging+black"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y1ctagfPdbrAiscGk8OahQY2QOSv2XR4i80BIjN9Y71Peu8qViAgJ8tkw8ma33Ae6nL2o5Es9hpOgzYmsYB-_upIIw3QBpr8WdzGwGVgSdgWoDVKhPDSW9cHNhc9Ohcn6j7gboWgyuA/s320/food.saging+black" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412843083829167746" border="0" /></a><br />My mother would always buy this ugly looking <span style="font-weight: bold;">tordan</span> banana. Not only is it cheaper, it is also sweeter than the more famous, exported <span style="font-weight: bold;">lakatan</span> banana which is bigger, longer, has a brighter yellow color, smoother and more flawless skin. While the more familiar food-for-the-gods <span style="font-weight: bold;">lakatan</span> has its own merits, the more exotic food-for-the-monkeys <span style="font-weight: bold;">tordan</span> is locally more preferred by banana experts, the mothers. For inside the thin, ugly black skin, is a firm, flawless, white, juicy and sweet banana flesh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig08uSWZv5fM_NxjJdfbDMfE9jB1OtJ2rA3wGTuigIYrZdaKAa8wHVq-2ZO6NE_yqG6UTmwiSeQpHQAQ3DMXLZ6u0nZA8Dl4BpgvLwWUsRFbyGJOXFs_Rm1wJJSUiXjgueVrLKF4po2-M/s1600-h/food.saging+open"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig08uSWZv5fM_NxjJdfbDMfE9jB1OtJ2rA3wGTuigIYrZdaKAa8wHVq-2ZO6NE_yqG6UTmwiSeQpHQAQ3DMXLZ6u0nZA8Dl4BpgvLwWUsRFbyGJOXFs_Rm1wJJSUiXjgueVrLKF4po2-M/s320/food.saging+open" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412843087674452978" border="0" /></a><br />As the saying goes, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating." This means that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">tordan</span> banana can only be judged sweeter when it is tasted.<br /><br />Thus proves true another saying, handed from mother to daughter down to generations, the golden banana rule: "Don't judge the banana by its skin."joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-5914028691269801492009-12-07T07:44:00.000-08:002009-12-07T08:15:04.137-08:00History of the Parol<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQMwI5mytoMGPPaoW29qIbx1ksjFyMRRvyGjfYrHL4T75jY1apFJLJF8lIzsRLMIgnA4FJeuKPtlXgZE0Zv46TPnJsLdGzCzj7YhpqBDj2TC0GFjBi-tWlxx4J82pxD-RrcG8jAyzPq8/s1600-h/parol.night"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQMwI5mytoMGPPaoW29qIbx1ksjFyMRRvyGjfYrHL4T75jY1apFJLJF8lIzsRLMIgnA4FJeuKPtlXgZE0Zv46TPnJsLdGzCzj7YhpqBDj2TC0GFjBi-tWlxx4J82pxD-RrcG8jAyzPq8/s320/parol.night" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412526804130399442" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Parol</span> (pa-ROL) is the Filipino pronunciation of the Spanish farol or lantern. Its design is derived from the <span style="font-style: italic;">pi</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">ñata</span> which itself originated in Italy then was brought to Spain, to Mexico, then finally to the Philippines.<br /><br />In the Spanish period when the <span style="font-style: italic;">Misas de Aguinaldo</span> (Gift Masses) and the <span style="font-style: italic;">Misa de Gallo</span> (Mass of the Rooster) were held during the wee hours of the morning or before midnight, lanterns lit the way to and from church.<br /><br />As the <a href="http://allaboutbacolod.blogspot.com/2009/12/bacolod-parol-and-probation.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">parol</span></a> evolved throughout the ages</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Verdana;font-size:100%;" > from candlelit or kerosene-fueled lanterns</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Verdana;font-size:100%;" > to the electric-bulb glowing stars, the ever creative Filipino finally incorporated the now classic design after the Star of Bethlehem that guided the shepherds and the wise men to a stable where the Baby Jesus was laid out on a manger.<br /><br />Today, these lanterns adorn homes as well as public places, heralding the joyous Christmas season, highlighted not only by a gloriously decorated tree, but also by the brightly lit <span style="font-weight: bold;">parol</span>.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Verdana;font-size:100%;" ><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></b></span>joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-85617898903204232472009-12-04T07:23:00.000-08:002009-12-04T07:45:18.687-08:00Awesome Philippine Skies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1EBE7BMMe_xme2Xzab_Eo-Gq5FtLMMVOoxP_CRS432F6FsrmLQ2RnEqjaOwn69z-EG8fVKk6KGK6lcQF063wsXEvgm7mZP-p-pZC2q43i-nq_8C8_zzkEUfXu5io9IbZ1pajIJHFjP8/s1600-h/awesome+sky2"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1EBE7BMMe_xme2Xzab_Eo-Gq5FtLMMVOoxP_CRS432F6FsrmLQ2RnEqjaOwn69z-EG8fVKk6KGK6lcQF063wsXEvgm7mZP-p-pZC2q43i-nq_8C8_zzkEUfXu5io9IbZ1pajIJHFjP8/s320/awesome+sky2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411402499991379538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaKtk1NMCx1DyOEutPmNOF4tRaCO1ps8MdRhhtFQyBuT6sUxXQGkX1BPGRH5OAtHOZkjpYCItDHX1wuCfxGkeVZ78Qjaajv9pHYKYavIF7VegLWYghUtKM8gnxVT6Ixa5q43yBcni3M4/s1600-h/awesome+sky1"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaKtk1NMCx1DyOEutPmNOF4tRaCO1ps8MdRhhtFQyBuT6sUxXQGkX1BPGRH5OAtHOZkjpYCItDHX1wuCfxGkeVZ78Qjaajv9pHYKYavIF7VegLWYghUtKM8gnxVT6Ixa5q43yBcni3M4/s320/awesome+sky1" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411402498346643618" border="0" /></a>Wherever you are in the world, God's canvas is simply awesome.<br /><br />A couple of days ago, our Philippine skies spread a textured carpet of clouds that gloriously highlighted the beautiful sunset. If only I had a better camera.<br /><br />I could almost hear a host of angels singing, heralding the birth of the Messiah. Driving home as the sun dipped deeper into the far horizon, flecks of fuschia glistened westward, but it happened so fast the pink clouds turned a hazy purple as I finally found the perfect parking space. <br /><br />The night before that, this same blanket of shredded clouds shrouded around a shy moon, which at one time was framed with soft edges that looked like a watchful eye. To me, it seemed like a reptilian eye because of the scaly effect of the softly-lit layered clouds. To my daughter, it was like the Eye of God.<br /><br />Awesome. Truly awesome Philippine skies.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-18212340410435449942009-12-04T06:08:00.000-08:002009-12-04T07:14:57.573-08:00Philippine Fruits in Season<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4kBD25ZlfcB8WE8msXQ8h4Qm9iZIZxHrGcEvJSamkSiOAyAdbHj4B4Nmq30u29thCzRWgAmx7E1i0lPSmle6MV_CPzAq5qwimd_e5quzawbYHeEALVHafwYV0UkSeMwF3PkRhNkbnc/s1600-h/food.mango,chico,atis"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-W4kBD25ZlfcB8WE8msXQ8h4Qm9iZIZxHrGcEvJSamkSiOAyAdbHj4B4Nmq30u29thCzRWgAmx7E1i0lPSmle6MV_CPzAq5qwimd_e5quzawbYHeEALVHafwYV0UkSeMwF3PkRhNkbnc/s320/food.mango,chico,atis" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411386081584515234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atis</span>! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chicos</span>! <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mangoes</span>! Three of my favorite Philippine fruits in season during the last quarter of the year.<br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atis</span>. Also called sweet sop, sugar apple, or chirimoya, a relative of the custard apple belonging to the annona family. Brought to the Philippines by the Spanish colonizers from South America, the fruit has sweet white flesh whose black seeds are easily cultivated into small trees that can mature between 10 and 20 feet and that will bear fruit after a year.<br /></p> <p>The green grenade-looking fruit <span style="font-weight: bold;">atis</span> is rich in vitamin C, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Carotene, Ash, Phosphorus, Calcium, Iron, Carbohydrates, Protein, Tryptophan, Lysine, and Methionine. </p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chico</span>. Also called sapodilla, this brown round to oblong fruit with shiny black seeds is <span style="font-family:Arial;">soft, slightly gritty, and sweet. Its tree called chiku in English is about as big in size and height as the <span style="font-weight: bold;">atis</span> tree.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">cico</span>'s sapota juice is rich in sugars, proteins, vitamin C, phenolics, carotenoids, and minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, calcium and potassium.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mango</span>. Heart-shaped and bright yellow, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">mango</span> which is hailed the most majestic of all Philippine fruits has a twin counterpart from India. While the indian variety is intolerant of humidity, has flushes of bright red new growth that are subject to mildew, Philippine<span style="font-weight: bold;"> mango</span> tolerates excess moisture, has pale green or red new growth and resists mildew. The mango is a good source of vitamins A, C, and D.<br /><br />This should not be confused with the Philippine "indian <span style="font-weight: bold;">mango</span>" which has green skin, even when at its ripest. This green mango is best when near ripe with its sweet-sour crunchy-juicy flesh best dipped in plain salt, or soy sauce with optional spiced vinegar, or traditionally prepared shrimp paste called bagoong.<br /><br />Philippine fruits in season are said to be at their sweetest and most succulent when the sun is at its meanest and hottest. The best atis, chico, and mango should be firm, not too hard, not too mushy for your perfect pick of Philippine fruits in season.<br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span></span>joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-66464268461488309792009-12-02T06:13:00.000-08:002009-12-02T06:47:41.975-08:00Philippine Driving Techiques by Evil Women Drivers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ma6VKY4_soC3HM9u2TCCCL8zcK5vphlAWKfTEIFfQj2mqPbggfAc_BRtpNUbRD2n4biwwtgSWWINTR9dfPWrjkGlQ1Balwa42V3EIiZmiYArPSDEadyEZpQ1ZmtoUZKKOzv-9VwVCLI/s1600-h/driving.night"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ma6VKY4_soC3HM9u2TCCCL8zcK5vphlAWKfTEIFfQj2mqPbggfAc_BRtpNUbRD2n4biwwtgSWWINTR9dfPWrjkGlQ1Balwa42V3EIiZmiYArPSDEadyEZpQ1ZmtoUZKKOzv-9VwVCLI/s320/driving.night" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410648235768867474" border="0" /></a><a href="http://joanjournal.blogspot.com/2009/10/philippine-driving.html?showComment=1259765070357_AIe9_BGNr0RYaiMc3NdQQjxqiiVdYkTCHtQfbkCCS9lcvQa71ByIGH6bRALEOovfBNFbg3lPzBEWHoAwoP5NYhUNUMau41ZFUwHXO24XWnjDvfIFUxc-Wo-KA4_OKWN08yHNrGl-ySwz4aPwE4I84bbqwuOwlVeB2ZxkJaSCtUi2ilyoi2XYGBCOYsL_5Q6bmhiMIkoJYFHbiuzbWo_dPqVshXQ0JFC0wlHWuIZTWJiF0sxBVlb27OI#c7770357075080674150">Philippine driving</a> takes another dimension if you are a woman driver. While making a stupid driving mistake, you can always hear the other driver mouth the words, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Ah, kay babaye!</span>" ("Oh, it's a woman!") rather condescendingly. When situations like this arise, take it to your advantage, as well as with other evil-woman-driver techniques:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Driving Technique No. 1</span> - Look innocent. There's no forgivable sight in Philippine highways as a woman driver. Even if you know you can drive better than a man, you can still pull through a driving mistake by pulling over an angelic look. A smile can go a long, long mile.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Driving Technique No. 2</span> - Go around the red light. You can do this when trapped in an intersection with a vacant lot or a gasoline station around the corner. As soon as the red light is on, make a right if the corner gasoline station is to your right, drive past it, and go back to the main thoroughfare. Do the same to a left corner gasoline station.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Driving Technique No. 3</span> - Drive through the long queue. If it's especially long and torturous on your side of the lane and it's so free as a bowling alley on the opposite lane.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Driving Technique No. 4</span> - Never follow a jeepney. It's notorious stops at every corner and shoulder where a passenger alights or awaits at their own bidding can make you crazy stopping at every five meters or so as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippine Driving Technique No. 5</span> - Never give way. Stick your nose as close to the next car or else you'll get cut for a long, long queue of cars. In these streets, there are no gentlemen nor ladies.<br /><br />Well, for evil women drivers only. But sometimes, when driving in the Philippines, with all the pandemonium going around on its streets, these driving techniques may, although not safe, may come in handy.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-23544280098276482732009-12-02T05:07:00.000-08:002009-12-02T05:26:54.814-08:00Basic Calculator ProgramI have made my own calculator! Using Microsoft Access, this is the crude Design View of my calculator. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Calculator Programming Step No. 1: </span> Create new blank form, click text box, create 3 blank text boxes. The computer will assign them their respective labels, e.g. Text0, Text 2, and Text4. Sometimes, the number at the end of the word Text varies so take note of this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Calculator Programming Step No. 2: </span>Click buttons to create command buttons for addition (+), subtraction ( - ), multiplication ( * ), and division ( / ), as well as "clear".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvW73WmUVWCKMQ1XC0fd1TJr7TFnY7oz37WquChs5Zq7xTFPOC1tOb4xiTJvJBySVReuwY2cpaT00k7ucMYcC4EM04yEr68vjQpT6HERS5Lv-J2KG03wiHI2qdgA74WK-fPnwUlA76Os/s1600-h/access.calcu"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvW73WmUVWCKMQ1XC0fd1TJr7TFnY7oz37WquChs5Zq7xTFPOC1tOb4xiTJvJBySVReuwY2cpaT00k7ucMYcC4EM04yEr68vjQpT6HERS5Lv-J2KG03wiHI2qdgA74WK-fPnwUlA76Os/s320/access.calcu" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410625377038173394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Calculator Programming Step No. 3: </span>Right click on the command buttons, when the form wizard menu appears, click cancel. Right click again so that another drop down menu appears, go to "Event Builder", then click "Build Code". This will take you to the Visual Basic code builder to customize the commands for the basic calculator function buttons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsiwzTaQIr9wxyw9Ih5TwbNamt8Xjl0zJuRuiPjO8U-wKNEDVxppp1N_OQHL2TWLW-QWn7H73O1Iof1HBp9_hdntllQs71cqIWGQZ700nThgaRmDUt04NF2MNrYhwtYb9lpUubvMzmZg/s1600-h/access.calcu+code"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsiwzTaQIr9wxyw9Ih5TwbNamt8Xjl0zJuRuiPjO8U-wKNEDVxppp1N_OQHL2TWLW-QWn7H73O1Iof1HBp9_hdntllQs71cqIWGQZ700nThgaRmDUt04NF2MNrYhwtYb9lpUubvMzmZg/s320/access.calcu+code" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410625374755858706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Calculator Programming Step No. 4:</span> For the addition (+) command button, type<br /><br /> Text0 = Val(Text2) + Val(Text4)<br /><br />For the subtraction ( - ) command button, type<br /><br /> Text0 = Text2 + Text4<br /><br />For the multiplication ( * ) command button, type<br /><br /> Text0 = Text2 * Text4<br /><br />For the division ( / ) command button, type<br /><br /> Text0 = Text2 / Text4<br /><br />For the "clear" command button, type<br /><br /> Text0 = " "<br /> Text2 = " "<br /> Text4 = " "<br /><br />The program should be free of errors otherwise the debugger will appear highlighting in yellow your errors for correction.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic Calculator Programming Step No. 5:</span> Go back to your crude calculator in Design View, refine the buttons a bit, and change to Form View. Voila! Your very own basic calculator!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljFGuhIo0xpZZK864InXVyft_qjFNtyJ0o8k_JvlbCTJG8Ie6ym57pqTZreIhMkyYuO4shC4TxmY_nQ5ReBhvFa0L7p0jefTyuxI9kojG0dJgm3sdc4J-o2p-4oe_tz_1ya3zTRcuVLw/s1600-h/access.calcu+form+view"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljFGuhIo0xpZZK864InXVyft_qjFNtyJ0o8k_JvlbCTJG8Ie6ym57pqTZreIhMkyYuO4shC4TxmY_nQ5ReBhvFa0L7p0jefTyuxI9kojG0dJgm3sdc4J-o2p-4oe_tz_1ya3zTRcuVLw/s320/access.calcu+form+view" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410625371014755922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />*Note: It is best to try each command button if the first one is working properly. If so, you can simply copy + paste the line command and replace the symbols of the command function as needed, for your running program of a basic calculator.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-10219890872500639472009-12-01T07:32:00.000-08:002009-12-01T08:05:09.953-08:00Ice Skating in a Parallel WorldIce skating! The last time I did it was when I was single and shameless -- ice skating wearing the thinnest (at least long sleeved blouse) and slacks and the burning desire to ice skate no matter what. That was at SM Megamall in the early 90's.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUhVVDjXp9sOWTKzpD59WimI4nVWaE3N39PPsAw6rEUKXwRh6-RuEDtxgPum2NrhqUpVh5rpsixuYGPk-A1P3xcHEwrAW-7HUk4b7aNRgSjvOPxWQTOkbQ2trpIXflffiKO8gwvu3SgA/s1600/jona.ice+skating"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUhVVDjXp9sOWTKzpD59WimI4nVWaE3N39PPsAw6rEUKXwRh6-RuEDtxgPum2NrhqUpVh5rpsixuYGPk-A1P3xcHEwrAW-7HUk4b7aNRgSjvOPxWQTOkbQ2trpIXflffiKO8gwvu3SgA/s320/jona.ice+skating" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410298984795106850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This year, I went ice skating again, rather by force, by my daughter who wanted to do it with me, on her Day Two of ice skating. At least this time, a friend (Ruel A.) has forewarned, thus forearmed us, about what to wear when ice skating -- including our very own socks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkbLz75yjF6bNDzXuUY2qV-eSGdF-8EDCYtMnvSBP2XMLVCjJ3e23QTJexqPFaCfnn2DOcT6sv62wQJG9YJwNheNklIDRVJdeh8kh4B249lH3BRFUvXp82Am_eiNBvEwXq_9sLzmqT30/s1600/joan.iceskate2"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkbLz75yjF6bNDzXuUY2qV-eSGdF-8EDCYtMnvSBP2XMLVCjJ3e23QTJexqPFaCfnn2DOcT6sv62wQJG9YJwNheNklIDRVJdeh8kh4B249lH3BRFUvXp82Am_eiNBvEwXq_9sLzmqT30/s320/joan.iceskate2" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410298998374056930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was at the Mall of Asia when Bea had her first taste of ice skating. I had to decline and let her go ice skating with Ruel and his daughter Yuki while I go somewhere else.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOmqe0TaL7gbLvjZJPwQzHh88xnOTAdRiIf6_HsLNJHuaIxiNcQHa1LJxSWSPJPEETHKg6nijHHp2QI5_nSgYwnQSURzmrRc_KHidzWWTgOKIA8aEAqhALqtpf8vrqmbfY6imce-aOdA/s1600/joan.iceskate3"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOmqe0TaL7gbLvjZJPwQzHh88xnOTAdRiIf6_HsLNJHuaIxiNcQHa1LJxSWSPJPEETHKg6nijHHp2QI5_nSgYwnQSURzmrRc_KHidzWWTgOKIA8aEAqhALqtpf8vrqmbfY6imce-aOdA/s320/joan.iceskate3" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410299004732364514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course I lingered for a while, watching Bea's first few steps on the ice. From my view several meters away, a sudden rush of flashback overwhelmed me as I saw my daughter fumbling and tumbling in her ice skates, like a baby taking her first steps. Unmindful of the other ice skating figures from the neophytes to the pros, Bea struggled with her very best as she tried to pull herself up along the metal bars on the rink side. She stumbled, she fell. My heart rushed out to her, but I couldn't help her, and she must stand up on her own.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO82WVvzyFVZgcwaRboJsczmoVhnue5ug8Zmku3QCdrKoylDUHUAvE8y8q980PhMtTlXJ8IcUrp1sgzXLAlGw-D42rNxRLC_pT8cfmEcKSof4HFORcuUcYNH-cSrf7Sh_n0jMY_MscEbU/s1600/bea.ice+skate"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO82WVvzyFVZgcwaRboJsczmoVhnue5ug8Zmku3QCdrKoylDUHUAvE8y8q980PhMtTlXJ8IcUrp1sgzXLAlGw-D42rNxRLC_pT8cfmEcKSof4HFORcuUcYNH-cSrf7Sh_n0jMY_MscEbU/s320/bea.ice+skate" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410298989194274466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Suddenly, I saw the whole skating rink as a microcosm of the world populated by ice skaters from all walks of life. And there, of all the people ice skating about, is the one person I love, the one person I will always have in mind. She has a story to tell that nobody else would really care about. And each one of them have their own life stories nobody else would really care about. Except for the one who parents for them. For the one who loves each and every one of them.<br /><br />I cried insanely by myself as I pondered upon this thought among a crowd of watchers -- parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. I wondered how God must be looking at each one of us. Only He knows each of our individual stories as we go about ice skating through life. Only He cares for each and everyone of us. Because He made us. We are His.<br /><br />And there we go about, ice skating in this icy cold world, minding our own businesses, sometimes forgetting that He allows us to fall so that we can stand up on our own, stronger this time, to face the world with more confidence in Him as we go on, ice skating.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-54265412015032278422009-11-29T23:45:00.000-08:002009-11-30T00:51:01.708-08:00SEO Your Articles Easy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX2gXN7xKIWgK9Akw3In0kuOsThh9GcvwpRjde1QhdeewfOBjsPdajxcrzIrkQJIcPgzwghYoggn5QIzEh7Mzndb-_5Yhq8XIyI6q2muQNNbCDShgEFCSlG9MwllTZBx598fJ3mBSeiI/s1600/joan.masskara.etabag"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX2gXN7xKIWgK9Akw3In0kuOsThh9GcvwpRjde1QhdeewfOBjsPdajxcrzIrkQJIcPgzwghYoggn5QIzEh7Mzndb-_5Yhq8XIyI6q2muQNNbCDShgEFCSlG9MwllTZBx598fJ3mBSeiI/s320/joan.masskara.etabag" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409813184300802626" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO</span> simply means "<span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>". This is because of the vastness of the internet, your article gets lost in a sea of gazillions of other related articles. Thus you use a <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine</span> to literally search for these articles. Here are some simplified tips to <span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO </span>your articles easy (<span style="font-style: italic;">painting by Nonoy Etabag-I, a social realist artist whose painting themes usually focus on social commentaries about poverty and politicians</span>).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO Tip No. 1. Use Key Words Positionally</span> - When you arrive at a <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine</span>, say google or yahoo, you type in your key word. For example your key word is "poverty". Position your key words so that it is<span style="font-weight: bold;"> search engine optimized</span>: as much as possible, make it the first word of your title, the first word of your paragraph, sprinkled all over your article, and the last word of your article. Forget redundancy. The rule here is REDUNDANCY. The more redundant you are with your key words, the more <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span> your article is, thus it will most likely land at the top of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine</span> results page. Creative writing license also takes into a new direction by challenging you to twist your article to start and end with a key word, but still read-worthy as well as <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO Tip No. 2. Ratio Your Key Word Ratio to at Least 10%</span> - So that if your article has a word count of 300 words, make sure that 10 or more key words (e.g. "poverty") are well spread throughout your article in order to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>. There are dirty tricks like spamming your article with all key words or hiding 1,000 key words by coloring it white against a white background in a desparate attempt to be <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>, but these are illegal and your account will be deleted for this. Remember also that CONTENT IS KING. Not only is your article riddled with <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span> key words, but that it has also good content, spelling and grammar checked, so that it will have a professional look and credible image.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO Tip No. 3. Set Your Key Words to Bold Typeface</span> - For obvious reasons, in order to be more <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>. You may have already noticed by now why the bold repetitions of <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span> key words in this blog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO Tip No. 4. Use Key Words in Attention-Grabbing Titles </span>- "Understanding Poverty" is understandable, but it will not get the attention of your readers even if it is at the top of your <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine</span> results. Why not make it more graphic, like: "Poverty: Sucking the Blood Out of Poor Juan Dela Cruz", or "Poverty: the Pinoy Politicians' Legacy", or "Poverty: How to Get Rich in the Midst of Financial Depression". The more appealing your title, the more it is likely to get clicked on <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine</span> results.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO Tip No. 5. Use Key Words in Bullets</span> - Articles in bullet form are easier to read as well as<span style="font-weight: bold;"> search engine optimized</span>. Even in bullets, make sure your key word is there. Notice the deliberate effort in putting the <span style="font-weight: bold;">SEO</span> key word in every bullet. That is how to increase readership in your blog and generate more traffic by making your article <span style="font-weight: bold;">search engine optimized</span>.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418261975194815111.post-59344132384633502382009-11-29T05:47:00.000-08:002009-11-29T07:04:13.090-08:00Sisi, Anyone?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0sz6j36hSR4y0NpdCUqAgHjvjQXIkrbRBWUM_sRqkG0-oNZe3n9VZTz_Ol-agqW0dD2gabesb2DTEaQenW9Kl01WAr5dAiEXn39zPtBUDZChcS30KP3rIUYe6heAjDONuar7otvmzKw/s1600/food.sisi+bottled"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0sz6j36hSR4y0NpdCUqAgHjvjQXIkrbRBWUM_sRqkG0-oNZe3n9VZTz_Ol-agqW0dD2gabesb2DTEaQenW9Kl01WAr5dAiEXn39zPtBUDZChcS30KP3rIUYe6heAjDONuar7otvmzKw/s320/food.sisi+bottled" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409532055098858386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Sisi</span> (pronounced si-SI) is the smaller cousin of the <a href="http://allaboutbacolod.blogspot.com/2009/11/talaba-anyone.html">talaba</a>, an oyster that is as tastier as it is more compact than its bigger counterpart.<br /><br />The problem with the <span style="font-weight: bold;">sisi</span> is that it is also harder to open, with smaller and tighter compartments, thus prying open the <span style="font-weight: bold;">sisi</span> yourself (which is the more exciting way to eat talaba) poses more danger of getting cut or injured by the <span style="font-weight: bold;">sisi</span> opener, a tool that can be anything from a small knife to a mini screw driver.<br /><br />But worry no more because the <span style="font-weight: bold;">sisi</span> comes to you pre-opened, preserved in salt (gi-na-MUS) and bottled, which recently costs PhP80.00 per bottle. Just pour into a small plate a desired amount, squeeze a few drops of calamansi or lemon juice and you're now ready to enjoy that sea-sweet goodness of this delectable oyster, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">sisi</span>.joandarlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10950495879812320608noreply@blogger.com0