After Ondoy: Waterworld

The small island nation of the Philippines was heavily stuck by Cyclone ondoy (Int’l name: Ketsana). The result was total devastation.

Here are some video footages:

UERM (a hospital and medical school) :

San Mateo , Rizal:

Ayala, Makati:

Lots of people with different social standings have come together to offer whatever the can to the victims of Ondoy. Technology (Facebook and Twitter in particular) has even helped disseminate emergency contact numbers and ways to help.

Others have become everyday heroes– I am particularly touched by this young man who lost his own life to save 30 of his neighbors. Pfc. Venancio Ancheta,and four members of the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit who was able to save 20 people in Laguna. Gang Badoy , the founder of the alternative education movement, Rock Ed and host of Rock Ed radio. Gang went onboard on Jam 88.3 for four straight days of 14 to 16 hours on air, using radio to inform people about the current situation in typhoon-affected areas and call out for help. Patricia Hizon , a sportscaster who housed 40 orphans and helped the relief operations in Marikina.  And UERM security guard Jason de Guzman who jumped in the raging flood water to save the woman in the first video I posted.

Anthony Bourdain visits the Philippines at last!

I believe Tony more than the Bizarre Food guy. Zimmern is just way to “adventurous” for me!

Tony said that the Cebu Lechon is THE BEST he has ever had. LOL! And he ate street food ! Fish ball! And he tried taho, palabok, etc. And went to a Dampa. Just watching them eat makes me hungry!

He also commentstowards the end of the show that Filipinos are too nice that’s why our food isn’t that well known in other countries. Isn’t he a nice guy to say that? I think one of the reasons why our cuisine isn’t famous because white guys keep complaining that it stinks. :-p

You can read his blog entry here.

And watch  part one of the show here. Just click on parts 2- 5 from the site.

As for me, my favorite Filipino dish will forever be sisig and grilled liempo with ensaladang mangga or ensaladang talong. With rice of course. YUMMY!!

Brian Gorrell gets duped by his ex-boyfriend and spills all his dirty secrets to the public

Naloka ako sa kakabasa ng blog ni Brian Gorrell.

Para sa mga hindi pa familiar dito, sya yung author ng controversial blog na pinamagatang The Talented Mr. Montano

He’s an Australian who lived in the Philippines ,specifically in Boracay at nakihalubilo sa mga socialites ng Manila. Isiniwalat nya ang mga baho ng tinatawag na “Gucci Gang” na binubuo ng mga sikat na personalidad tulad ni Wendy Puyat at Tim Yap to name a few. May wikipedia entry pa ang mga gagaita! Just go to Wikipedia and type “Gucci Gang” or just click this link kung tamad ka nang magsearch.

Kawawa rin naman si Brian dahil naloko sya ng kanyang gay lover /boyfriend na si DJ Montano. Pero tanga rin sya dahil pinagkatiwala nya ang kanyang buong life savings sa isang bakla na nakilala lang nya ng isang taon.

Kahit siguro sampung taon ko pang kilala ang isang tao, hindi ko ipagkakatiwala yung LIFE SAVINGS ko ng ganon-ganon na lang! AT wala pang mga legal documents to prove that money indeed changed hands?! Ano kaya yun?!?! Feeling ba nya barya lang yung halagang yun?!

Ayon din sa napanood kong interview sa kanya sa TV Patrol binenta raw ni Brian ang magandang bahay nya sa Australia to move to the Philippines and stay here for good!

I really do not know why so many foreigners want to give up what they have in their hometowns to live in a poor country like ours. Ang daming mga Pinoy na gusto makapag abroad to earn big money tapos sila naman na andun na, gusto dito. Ang Weird!

Anyway, just read Brian’s blog and siguradong maloloka rin kayo sa mga revelations nya!

Glorietta 1, 3 and 4 declared “safe”

May ‘seismic gap’ pala ang Glorietta. Meaning, may siwang ang bawat building (isipin mo nalang na may isang building na nasa North, South , East and West tapos may ” moat” sa palibot ng bawat isa. )  and in case may mangyari sa isa, hindi maapektuhan ang iba.

Nakita ko rin sa TV Patrol ang exclusive video footage nung nag-inspect ang mga engineers sa nasirang Glorietta 2.  Parang nakakakita lang ako ng ganon kapag nanonood ako ng National Geographic o kaya Discovery Channel at ang feature eh Earthquake, Disasters and other natural calamities.  Malaki talaga ang sira. May malaking crack pa yung poste ng building so hindi na talaga ito structurally sound.  Kaya it will remain closed to the public until they’ve rebuilt the place.

Meanwhile, Glorietta 1,3 and 4 will re-open for business tomorrow . Safe naman daw ang mga building na ito. Life goes on.

Nakakatawa nga at sabi pa ng reporter, may mga tao daw na nagalit nung nagpunta sila ng Glorietta dahil sarado pa ito. Sayang daw yung pamasahe nila papunta doon. Ibang klase ano? Hindi ata nila alam yung nangyari at may sarili silang mundo

Glorietta Blast

I was shocked to learn yesterday that there was an explosion at Glorietta 2 around 1pm in the afternoon. At first they said it was due to a LPG gas tank explosion, but then later on they said it was really a bomb. Today I read an article in the Inquirer that it was a military-grade bomb.

Part of a ceiling collapsed while a concrete wall was blown away. The entrance to the mall, the lobby and the activity center is a total wreck, buried under piles of wood, slabs of cement, and parts of the roof that fell upon the blast. Nagkaroon ng stampede. 8 people are dead, more than a hundred are hurt.

After my initial shock upon hearing the news, nakaramdam ako ng galit. Sino ba ang may pakana ng pagsabog na ito? Who would do such a thing? Why would they want to hurt innocent people? Second na ito sa glorietta , if I am not mistaken. Terrorist act ba ito? Military coup d’etat?

Magulo na ang Pilipinas, maraming tao ang naghihirap, tapos ganito pa ang mangyayari? Instilling fear in people’s hearts will only add to this country’s misery.

What is happening to the world? When I open the tv to watch the news (local and foreign), laging may bombang sumabog, sunog, suicide bombers, warring countries, civil uprisings, murder, political rivalry turned violent, etc. Minsan ayoko nang panoorin dahil mashadong nakakatakot. Real life has become stranger than fiction.

Palawan: A slice of paradise

In case anyone noticed, I’ve been gone for quite some time. Dito ako galing.

Club Paradise , Palawan! Sarap ng food, ganda ng views. Very relaxing place. I’d love to go again someday.

168

I want to buy a pair of cullottes just like this one:

And I also love the espadrilles. Hopefully, on Saturday, I will be able to find a decent pair of shoes! Coz we’re going to the famous 168 mall, near Divisoria!

The owner of SM had 168 closed down a few months ago because according to them , the people who sell stuff there don;t pay the proper taxes. But really, everbody knows Henry Sy just doesn’t like the competition. I mean, come on, who in their right mind would buy a pair of pants for P800 – P1000 at the mall when they can buy it for —wait for it— only P250!I’m not kidding! I bought my military inspired capris there for that low, low price! And there were so many different colors to choose from! And you can buy those fashionable but generic flip flops for like, P40. OR if you’re a really good sale hunter, you can even get them 3 for P100.

I really love shopping there, coz they have everything! Belts, Shoes, clothes, slippers, bedsheets, terry robes, etc, etc. Stepping inside this airconditioned tiangge feels like an adventure to me. Mahihilo ka sa dami nang paninda, and at very low prices pa! It’s a shopping mecca!

The last time I went there was with my friend from college (who now lives in China) and a friend from High school– it was the perfect female “bonding” session. WE spent more than half a day scouring the place. Even if you do not have much cash, you’ll be able to buy tons of stuff!! Believe me! It was so fun!

Anyway, I’m going there with my mom (probably, coz she wants to go) and an officemate of mine so we can buy our Christmas gifts rightaway. ( You have to shop early , before things go crazy) Plus, I’m looking for great accessories to go with my outfits, and something especially for the clothes we will wear when we attend a wedding this coming September.

Food: Flavors of Asia

Yesterday was my first time to eat at Flavors of Asia. It’s a fairly new Chinese restaurant at SM Southmall.

If noticed this place since its opening several months ago because of the long queue of people outside its doors. Naisip ko na baka nga masarap kasi pinipilahan.

Binalak ko nang kumain dun matagal na, kaso nga dahil sa haba ng pila na tila walang katapusan, lagi napopostpone ang pagkain ko dito. Pero kahapon, talagang sinadya naming kumain dun, kaya maaga pa lang eh tumungo na kami sa restaurant. At nakaupo naman kami agad. Parang himala! Siguro nga dahil maaga.

Umorder kami ng Lemon Chicken, Yang Chao Fried Rice , Kangkong with bagoong at Buko Pandan Sherbet. Mejo matagal bago dumating yung mga order . Pero ayos lang din, kasi masarap talaga yung food! AT malaki ang servings nila. Yung kanin at ulam eh tama sa 2-4 people. Depende sa lakas nyo kumain. hehe. Eh hindi naman kami super lakas kumain , so kalahati pa yung natira. Yung Lemon Chicken, firm, at hindi sunog. MAsarap din ang lemon sauce, hindi mashadong maasim at hindi rin mashadong matamis. Yung kangkong ay fresh, at ang bagoong na nakahalo eh hindi cheap bagoong ( na tipong binili sa palengke). May class yung lasa , kaya patok ito ! Yung Buko Pandan sherbet–ay panalo! MAsarap tlga. Tama lang ang tamis at yung gulamang nakahalo eh tama lang ang texture. Firm at jiggly. Hindi ito labsak .

Sa presyo naman, eh may kamahalan kung average mamamayan ka lang. Yung order namin eh umabot na ng 400 pesos. Pero kung iisipin mo, sulit naman kasi malaki ang servings at masarap. Wala silang service charge, so nag tip naman ako ng 10%. May nagsabi kasi sa akin noon na hindi maganda yung ginagawa kong hindi pagbigay ng tip. KAwawa naman yung mga nagsisilbi at maliit ang sweldo. Eh natatak na sa utak ko yon , so lagi na akong nagtitip, kahit labag ito sa kalooban ko. Para sakin kasi, dapat i-charge na agad ng restaurant yung service charge. Dapat isali na sa bill yon para sila na bahala magdistribute.

Yung ambience naman ng restaurant eh okay naman. sisik ang mga upuan at lamesa, pero that is to be expected. Bukod sa kuripot at mga Intsik at gusto nila imaximize ang space para “laki-kita” , ang mga Asians talaga ay likas na mahilig sumiksik sa kasama. KAhit nga sa trapik , gumigitgit tayo, pano pa kaya sa hapag-kainan? MAy Chinese feel naman ang lugar dahil sa style ng kahoy at kulay ng mga kasangkapan nila. Sana lang eh may Chinese music sa background , to make up for the average decor. Hehe.

Overall, I highly recommend this place. So, go na kayo.