sally's musings

Island Fever

2011-12-10T15:18:00.001-08:00


The sandbar at Puntod Island of Panglao forms a letter C during low tide. It's one of my favorite places in Bohol. You can see the Balicasag Island from here.

This is Puntod Island silhouetted against the horizon. We were about a kilometer away from the island when I took this shot.

The boat we rented during our island hopping.

The day started and ended beautifully...with little mishaps and serendipity along the way. . .

On the way to Panglao Island via Causeway and Tagbilaran Fishing Port route. This tranquil view of Banat-i Hill and Baclayon coastline is one of the gift nature freely gives to travellers.

2011-11-27T12:45:00.001-08:00

Seven months. That's how long ago since the last time I used this computer. As a blogger, that's a major sin of omission.

A rather drastic change of lifestyle actually-from a city mouse to town mouse. Now I'm using spading fork instead of laptop to do a day's work.

My friends' reactions differed. Some said it was a stupid move to quit my job. That's expected. Heck, I even thought it was indeed stupid when my first musk melon plot suffered from fungi attack due to heavy rains. But you know what? When what you're doing is what you really want to do all along, that's all that matters. In my case, frustrations like fungi attack is nothing compared to the satisfaction of harvesting bumper tomatoes or sweetcorn. Or munching a crispy lettuce leaf straight from your garden! Nothing's quite like it. And that's just the tangible side of things.

So now you know. Posts for sally's musings will be a bit different from now on. I'd probably be babbling about my garden...if I could, I'll post some photos too...

That's all for today.

SCAMS AND SCHEMES!!

2011-03-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

I know you've heard this before but I am saying it anyway: Earning money online is easy IF you know how to do it. But if you are a newbie, expect to be discouraged after a few months. I mean, if you tried signing up on PTC sites like I did, I am sure you earned a little, like 2 to 10 dollars. Some PTC sites pay you two to three times but after that, they just refuse to pay, saying that you have to invest money first before you get paid, as if spending time clicking their ads is not an investment already. So you rent referrals who are mostly either inactive or just plain lazy to click. And you rented them for a month at $0.22 each. So what happens is that you are losing instead of earning more because you have rented some lousy referrals. And before you knew it, it's time for renewal. My advice is,
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2011-03-18T21:25:00.001-07:00

The French says je t'aime; Germans, Ich liebe dich; Italians, ti voglio bene; Filipinos, iniibig kita, to name just a few of the different translations of the English sentence I love you. And somewhere, right now, someone is saying that to someone special, the object of his or her affection. Some people though find it so hard to say I love you. Why is that? Well, the reason for one person may vary from yours, but mostly it's one or two of the following:
Firstly, saying I love you needs courage. Lots of it. Why? Because when you say "I love you",
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Dumaluan Beach, Panglao, Bohol

2011-02-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

Dumaluan Beach of Panglao Island is one of the most frequented beach resorts in Bohol. It's area is big enough to accommodate hundreds. As you can see in the picture, Dumaluan has white sand and full of trees like coconuts (lots of it), talisay, and other native trees that usually grow near salty water. They are really a great plus factor as they provide shade from the scorching sun during summer and act also as wind breaker during habagat season (southwest monsoon).
It is best to go there on weekdays because weekends are usually the days for families to have a picnic but if you really have to, reserve a hut in advance. The good thing about renting a hut is that you can stay for as long as you want. There are huts (about 50) that are open on both sides and also enclosed nipa huts for those who want privacy. The rent for a nipa hut (private) is 1000 pesos (about 20-22 USD) for one day (24 hours) accommodation. There are bigger rooms available too for those who want to stay longer. Like most resorts, Dumaluan also have the amenities for scuba diving, island hopping, dolphin watching, kayaking, kite gliding and they also have a boat with glass floor (it's like snorkelling without getting wet).

Unlike those resorts along the Alona strip where the night-life is rather too "lively", at Dumaluan, you'll experience nature and quiet. Although there are times when parties are celebrated, they usually sizzle out at midnight. The favorite pasttime however is beach-combing, hiking or jogging along the beach. So for those who want to relax, Dumaluan is the right place to be.

For reservation, log on to http://www.dumaluanbeach.com/reservations.php or
email @ resort@dumaluanbeach.com

Landline no.: (+63)038-5029092
Fax no.:(+63)038-5029081
Mobile no. +639178834888

pickpockets galore?

2011-01-26T00:46:00.000-08:00

Just this morning, my sister called from the pier, asking me to look inside her bedroom to see if she'd left her wallet there. It wasn't there... not in her room, not in her daughter's, not in the living room, nowhere inside the house. Although, and I really hope so, there's a chance that she left it inside her wardrobe cabinet (which is locked). But the thing is, her shoulder bag's zipper was open when she arrived at the pier. And her wallet gone. She was riding on a tricycle with another passenger whom the driver picked up on the way to the pier. Of course, the other passenger's stop changed after he (allegedly) got what he wanted.

Similar stories like this has been told and heard. It's an annoying fact that this crime is rampant and shows no sign of stopping and of being stopped or solved by authorities concerned. It's an annoying fact that we have to exert more effort trying hard not to become a victim of such crime. I mean, there you are, travelling alone, afraid, and defensive. What could be more exhausting than that?

a wild relative of the soursop?

2011-01-16T20:49:00.000-08:00

this wild fruit, as shown above, has a similarity to the regular soursop: skin texture, smell and color. Both leaves of the regular soursop and the wild version smells the same, only the wild one is a bit slimmer. (The light green oblong beside the fruit is the bud.) The size however, is just about 1/20 of the popular and otherwise the regular sousop below:

The flesh is also white and fibrous. But is it edible? Anyone knows what this wild fruit's name is? We discovered its existence recently when we went to an old friend's small coffee plantation.

It was long way up, but it was worth it.

monday kind of feeling

2011-01-16T17:23:00.000-08:00

Monday. First working day of the week. Rain. My mind is not yet switched on. I just kept looking outside my window. Drizzle. Drizzle. Drizzle. For a few minutes, the sun gets through and then back to how it started. I got this feeling that today, this soft rain will go on until late afternoon.

It's been like this for over two weeks now. I miss sunsets. I mean beautiful sunsets...not the kind we had the last two weeks where you see nothing but a gray mantle of a sky.

Monday kind of feeling, figuratively and literally.

Bohol tarsiers in captivity

2011-01-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

TARSIER genus: Tarsius; phylum: Chordata; order: Primates; species: T. syrichta

Above mentioned facts, I got from Wikipedia. Illustration below, mine.

My interest in tarsiers is not really, by any means, scientific and if someone asks what genus do tarsiers belong, I would have no idea. I only know that these cute and shy animals are a great tourist attraction and because of that, I think their existence is nearing end. Here's why:

A scenario:

A tourist bus with 10 to 15 Koreans take the Tagbilaran - Baclayon - Loboc - Carmen - Danao route. I mentioned these towns as they are where the bus drivers usually make stops. Baclayon is where you will see the oldest church of the Phillipines. Loboc is where the floating restaurants are. Carmen, the Chocolate Hills and Danao, the ziplines, the plunge, caves, wall and root climbing. You might ask why I am telling you this. What does the Maumag (local name of tarsier) got to do with it? Well, each of these stops have tarsiers IN CAGES.

Tourists are sightseeing during the day and tarsiers which are nocturnal, sleep at daytime. So? Well, tourists don't want to see tarsiers sleeping behind the leaves. Afterall, they are paying for it...although you'll see signs on a box that says Donation for the upkeep of those hapless tarsiers, still they are indeed paying. It's been told that a donation box could easily earn ten thousand pesos a day during peak season. That's more than the monthly salary of a rank and file employee. So what happens is that, to make the tourist happy and not to feel short-changed, the operator wakes them up. The tarsiers have get out from their sleeping quarters (behind the leaves) so tourists can marvel on their cuteness and take photos. Some would poke them with long sticks or shake the branches hard if they refuse to come out from their hiding places.

Sure, they are allowed to get back to sleep after the tourists are gone but not for long. The last time I was in one of those places, there was a long queue of tourist buses so I doubt it if those hapless tarsiers did get any sleep at all.

Being nocturnals, this predicament these tarsiers are in, greatly disorients them and without sleep, they will surely get sick and eventually die. And if they do, the operators buy another set. Set? Yes, set. Tarsiers don't live long if caged alone. So with this trend of buying tarsiers>burying dead tarsiers >buying a set again (I am sure of this) >burying and so on, there's no doubt about it: extinction is inevitable.

There's a man named Carlito "Lito" Pizarras of Philippine Tarsier Foundation, aka, the Tarsier Man who is very active in taking care of these hapless creatures. He had been ridiculed as a fool for tarsier but now has become a national figure. Nobody knows about tarsiers more than Lito.

I met Lito 2 years ago at the foundation. Not that he knows me back but to someone who loves tarsiers knows a thing or two about him. A soft-spoken man. I saw him whisper softly to one of his tarsiers and this tarsier looked at him and snuggled at his neck. It was a very touching moment. No wonder his wards (tarsiers) love him so. But what can a single dedicated man do to stop this massive abuse on tarsiers?

In desparation, I once uttered this question after a discussion about the plight of the tarsiers. Maybe we can clone him, one of my friends jokingly answered.

links, amazing links!!

2011-01-12T19:42:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me how links work. Just an hour ago, I was checking my email. I got several new ones; deleted some, read a few. One of those I opened was from http://blog.friendseat.com for some recipes. After reading the latest post, I clicked on the Popular Articles list, a post (2009) with a title so intriguing, you would do the same, I mean, who could resist a title like You May Be Arrested Soon For Growing A Tomato ? And then one thing leads to another...and another yet. Imagine! After clicking another link, I was directed to OpenCongress site ! Wow! The Philippine government should have one like that. It gives more power to the Filipinos. Or maybe they have already a site. I don't know. I have yet to research for it.

Links. Aren't they amazing?

May you be filled with loving kindness

2011-01-11T05:09:00.000-08:00

                            I didn't know what I believed.
                              I didn't know if I believed.

                                                       - Lindsey Crittenden in
                                                         A Sceptic Starts to Pray

Reading old issues of Reader's Digest is one of the things I do when I'm home (home is 50 kilometers from here). The last time I was there, just 2 days ago, I enjoyed for a while the luxury of having nothing to do but soon got bored with it so I started cleaning my desk and shelves. They were dusty and smelled musty. It took me all morning because aside from being dusty, the shelves were half-full of old issues of Reader's Digest and as I wiped each clean, I was also browsing it.

There was this feature that I found quite interesting and it started with these two sentences: I didn't know what I believed. I didn't know if I believed. Intrigued, I read it. It was about the author's own view of prayer and how it somehow filled her with warmth and comfort "that stay put, a presence that never leaves." And on that same page was another feature entitled Prayers for Unbeliever by Nancy Haught, It started with equally interesting opener: What if you don't believe in God but still feel a pull towards prayer? What if indeed! Here, the author shares a "metta" or loving-kindness prayer. As suggested by H Bays, a priest in Zen Community in Oregon: "Sit down, quieten your mind and begin with yourself, say:

     May I be free from fear. May I be free from suffering. May I be happy. May I be filled with loving kindness.

Next, focus on someone you love. Say the same prayer on that person's behalf. Then pray the same way for a neutral person. Finally pray for someone you don't like."

Well, then guys, this is all for now, and may you be filled with loving kindness.

misa de gallo

2010-12-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

I don't know why folks here call that holy mass that starts on every 16th of December as Misa de Gallo. Anyway, it's a Roman Catholic tradition to start the Christmas celebration. Although I am not what you would call the devout Catholic, I can't deny that this holy mass which usually starts quite early (here at 4:30 AM! really!) is something that many of us look forward to. Why, exactly, is something I can't explain.

As a young girl, it was indeed exciting for me. Being inside the church full of people, inside and out, hearing them sing church hymns and Christmas songs was such a remarkable feeling. It was, to my young ears, both happy and solemn experience. It was something that stirred me to the bones. I wanted to attend every Misa de Gallo back then...even if I had to walk 2 kilometers to be there. It was fun though because there were many of us, in groups. After the mass, another 2-kilometer walk was nothing to worry or think about. Aside from being used to it, walking with friends was fun. We talked all the way, laughing about someone bumping his head with a guy seated beside him who also was asleep (yes, at this ungodly hours, things like this happen LOL).

Well, I guess it's not to early to say: Merry Christmas everyone!

My apologies

2010-12-13T02:18:00.000-08:00

I've neglected this blog for a long time and I owe my followers (if I still have a few left, that is) an explanation and an apology. But first, let me ask you a question. Actually, I got 2 questions. First: have you experienced feeling that you're getting nowhere in spite of all the efforts and time spent on something? And second, have you tried writing a post just because you have to? (And once finished, you won't publish it anyway because it's not good enough.) If to both questions you answered yes, then you know how I felt. It's not a good feeling and it's very unproductive.

Few of my last posts were a deviation from my main topic and it was during that period that my followers lost interest and left. An amateurish move, I now know and I'm paying for the consequences.

I am torn between two choices. First, just let my blog die its natural death and second, try to pick up the pieces and rebuild.

The first option is easy and very tempting, if I might add... but a part of me can't let go. You see, knowing that someone, somewhere, is visiting this blog, reading my posts and enjoying it perhaps...that alone is an inspiring thought.

Reading my last few posts made me feel materialistic and a bit ashamed. I mean, there's nothing wrong with wanting to earn income aside from what we get from a day job which isn't enough anyway. But to be a turncoat is another thing. I felt that I have betrayed my friends out there...and to them, my apologies...

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2010-08-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

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precious moments

2010-06-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, nature manifests itself as if to remind us that some of the best things in life are still free. It's just so bad that man often forgets to take time to commune with nature. He's being too busy being an adult, unmindful of the beautiful things around him. How many times does Mr. Busy Man affords himself an hour by the sea looking at the sunset? Not many...

I've always loved nature but sadly, I work all the time.. 12 hours a day; 6 days a week. But I never missed looking at beautiful sunsets.

paid to write

2010-06-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Earning money online is easy IF you know where to look but the thing is, you need to be receptive to what others are telling you. When I say receptive, meaning you are open and responsive to the ideas & suggestions that will come to you through research and by listening to your more UPDATED friends.

Just two days ago, I received an email from a friend, asking me if I'm interested to write articles on how to burn body fat. I told her I don't know anything about that subject. Oh, is that a problem? she asked. You have an internet access...so do a research on that subject! And I did. I spent hours researching and to my amazement, I was able to write two articles on that same subject! and got paid for it. Now, how about that...And I got updated
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about blogging

2010-06-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Most of my friends have blogs. I have blogs. Seems like everybody's doing it and for different reasons. If my purpose for creating and managing a blog is just to have an outlet for pent-up emotions or just so I could put into words what I saw and experienced, one blog is enough. But if I want to earn from it, is one enough?

This question had me thinking. You see, I thought that having several blogs, each with google ads, would earn me more than just having one. Wrong! It just does't work that way. Why? Well, let me share with you what I've learned along the way.
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earning online

2010-06-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have spent most of my time researching for ways to earn money online. It's not a shame to want earnings. Nowadays, in order to get most of costly internet connection, one has to earn also so you could at least pay for the bill! One way to earn is through social networks like FanBox because it pays. Some social networks don't pay like facebook, myspace and twitter. I also have found another social site that pays: The PayMeSocial.com. You can also be a member there as well and promote your fanbox blogs through it and vice versa. And that's just one way.

One of my problems encountered while researching is that being a non-techie, it takes a lot of my time doing it because I have to read each twice and have to do a bit more researching inbetween readings so I can understand the terms like SEO, referrals, PTC, PTR, links, backlinks and all those terms used by entrepeneurs of the web world. So little by little, I now have a bit of understanding how these things work. And there are still A LOT to learn.

I know there are some of you who experienced what I've been through...and my heart goes to all you!
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following my muse

2010-06-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

This post was written last Monday:

Yesterday was surfing-the-net day but not entirely. After lunch, I went to see the movie SHREK 4, alone. I'm one of those who like it that way. Most of the girls I know feel uneasy about watching movies alone. Thank goodness, I don't have qualms about it. Now don't even think I don't have friends. I have great friends and they understand I have this need to be by myself some part of the day. Even my family knows this and let me be.

So what do I do during this time alone? After supper, I'll just be lying on my bed with my eyes closed and think of nothing. Yes, nothing. Have you tried doing this? It takes a lot of practice. It's important to me that I have this time alone, doing nothing, thinking about nothing. It relaxes me. You see, before I practised this, even after office hours I'll still be thinking about my reports, worrying about deadlines. I may be at home lying in bed, but my mind never left the office. Instead of conditioning my mind for relaxation and sleep, it was still working overtime.

About 30 minutes after, I'll either be sitting in front of my laptop visiting my favorite blogs or sketching. The past few nights however was spent entirely for sketching. I'm planning a new blog for the sketches I made and hopefully, next month, it will up and running. It's not like I'm making a decision here nor am I making choices...just following my muse. And what better way is there to store and exhibit my sketches than blogging it?

Of course, you will be the first one to know when it is ready.

About PayMeSocial.com

2010-06-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

While surfing, I've come across this new (to me, that is) social networking site: PayMeSocial.com. It's an interesting site really. And that they are sharing their earnings with the members made me realize that social networks do earn lots of money indeed! I wonder--- how much is facebook earning? With millions of members logged in for hours doing all sorts of socializing and playing games! I just can't imagine!

Back to PayMeSocial.com.I still have to look into it. Seems like a promising site. I think they really mean it when they say they're paying. But then again, I still have look into it. Just in case you're wondering if I'm already a member. Yes. But I can always have the option not to continue if it is not what it promises it is: a paying social networking site.

writer's block

2010-05-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Writer's block? Well, sort of. Whatever you call it, I had this in the past few weeks. Been busy doing monthly reports and all that stuff and going home at 8pm, I had nothing else in mind but the thought of a cold shower and a warm bed.

Not writing posts for a long time has consequences. First, you'll lose some of your followers (if not most). Second, your blog will look stale. even if you have photos which you thought were good at that time when you uploaded them, weeks after, they will look stale. Third, you'll feel guilty. Then, you'll feel obligated to write and you don't like that.

Contrary to Stephen King's advice on how to stop writer's block, writing posts for your blog should not be an obligation. While the famous author is right in using the metaphor of the toolbox -that writers are like craftsmen putting bricks on bricks - it only applies to writing novels and other serious stuff like technical or business writing. A blog, on the other hand, is an outpouring of your thoughts and feelings (well, not all blogs but mine is) and if you feel obligated to write just so you'll have the day's post, chances are, your written post will show it.

So what I did was read all the posts I wrote on this blog, hoping that reading them would give me an idea on what to write about, and got an inspiration instead! I have over 100 posts and some of them earned heart-warming comments, especially those posts which I did in a spontaneous manner and of course when I post some of my sketches.

So, what to do when you experience writer's block? Be inspired! By the way, what or who inspires you most? Just wondering..

nature photographs

2010-05-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

The good thing about digital cameras is that what you see on the LCD screen is pretty much like the final picture you see on print and you can take as many as you want, keep the pictures you like and discard the rest.

unthinkable!

2010-05-23T07:02:00.000-07:00

I'll never understand fully what's on a politician's mind! Even if it's clear that the other candidate won, he won't concede. While conceding would surely be a gracious move and make him a better politician, still he won't. What is it that makes him so persistent? Self-worth? His non-acceptance of defeat is a sign of arrogance and what arrogance he has! It's been 13 days after the 2010 election and still no sign of accepting defeat. Unthinkable!

The 2010 election's computerized counting of votes already have the senatorial winners but how come the results for vice-presidency is still not clear? It's not like we voted for the vice-president on a different ballot! Logic says it's not possible. What's the true reason for the delay? Hey, mister commissioner! Say something! The people are waiting. To delay it further is Unthinkable!

making money while blogging

2010-05-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

what I learned so far:

1. making money online is easy if:

***your site got visitors, and I mean thousands of visitors for bigger chance that your google and other ads get clicked

2. you'll get your thousands of visitors if:

***you're adept at finding the most searched keywords and writing posts about them
***you visit other blogsites, comment and follow them
***you have ads about making money online
***you have referrals (which I, honestly speaking, don't fully understand how it works yet)
***if you join forums and have links

to sum it up, if you mean business, you do what it takes.

and i'm barely scratching the surface.

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k of c promenade pics

2010-05-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

the good,

2010-05-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Coming home is always joy to me.

Just a few meters from the house is an empty space except for this fire tree and wild shrubs and grass that swayed gently on this breezy summer day.

As Martha Stewart would say it: It's a good thing!

-photo by tew of Inkcode

the bad

2010-05-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Many home owners and as in this case, officers-in-charge (of a government-owned building), are oblivious to the fact that leaves can rot GI roofs if left like this for a long time. A bad and serious "sin of omission" that shows irresponsibility and apathy. Bad cheetah!

and the ugly.

2010-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

Just in front of where I live is this post. It looks ugly but I guess I just have to bear it. what's irritating is that I always look at it every time I go out...an eye sore that won't go away.

May 10, 2010: election and family reunion day

2010-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Four days ago was election day in the Philippines. I don't know if the newly elected officials deserve their new positions, but I know that there are those who don't deserve to lose. But it is every Filipino's right to choose and we have to respect who the majority have chosen.

Election 2010 was a turning point... the first time in the Philippines that voting and canvassing of votes were done using a computerized system. Although there were a few untoward incidents (wasn't there ever!??), generally, the system curbed most of what occurred in the past elections.

Like most important holidays, Filipinos working outside their home towns or provinces went home not just to vote. May 10, 2010 was also family reunion day! Although each family member had his own choice of candidates, it didn't matter much...well, at least not to my family. Being together, if only for a few days, is what matters most.

The photos were taken two days after election. .. showing just one of what a typical family does when they're together: SHOPPING!!

"The Poor People Buy What The Rich People Sell"

2010-05-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Reading jack's blog, there is a quotation there that says "The poor people buy what the rich people sell" which made me think twice. I mean, that's quite understandable. Although rich people do buy things more often than poor people, they definitely are not buying from them... except when poor people are selling real properties like land. What really stunned me is that the quote sounds so simple and yet, so true. It's a capitalist's world indeed!

Years ago, I tried selling but my venture didn't last long. A friend told me that I won't get rich selling products to poor people. What he said sounded true and so I quit. (I was living in a town belonging to class D category then). In comparison to the quote mentioned above, I was not among the rich people who sell.

Talking about rich people, here in the city where I live, they are the businessmen who cater mainly to the poor. (The rich people shop somewhere else!) Why do I say that? Well, here's the scenario:

RP - rich person who sells
PP - poor person who buys
PO - purchase order
CC - credit card

RP owns a big shopping mall that sells products more than a bit higher than the public market prices. But RP's mall is air-coditioned. PP goes there for three reasons: to buy something, to be entertained and to cool off. Now, to the actual buying scene: PP enters the mall. After the sweltering heat, he gradually cools off and now more relaxed and ready to be enticed into buying something...anything. No matter if PP doesn't have cash. He has credit cards. Or a P O (purchase order) which is payable in three months. Now he can afford to have that Levi's pants or that Nike shoes he'd been eyeing for days!! Sure he's aware that there's what the mall terms as P O add-on of 10% but that isn't much because it's divided into 6 payments. So no sweat as long as he's not a shopaholic. If he is, then that's his problem and if I might add, another topic...

Now, let's sneak a peek to the grocery section. PP has barely enough money for his family's basic needs but RP who owns this mall knows his customers. So he sells grocery items in small packs. For example, brown sugar. RP buys in bulk, repacks it, sells it. So even if PP doesn't have budget for a 2-kilo pack, he now can buy half or smaller yet, 1/4 kilo. And he can swipe card again or sign a P O. Sad to say, but more than 70% of PP's income goes to food expenses. I'm not saying it's the case of all people here. I'm talking about the PP who earns the minimum salary...which is just not enough..So the quotation, the poor people buy what the rich people sell, is true after all.

What Rich People Know & Desperately Want to Keep Secret

GRAPE(Get Rich And People Envy)

Then he smiled...

2010-04-25T02:24:00.000-07:00

Just an hour ago while waiting for my bus to go, I watched people passing by. There were so many of them, in two's, three's, four's, and many, alone, deep in his own thoughts. I was particularly interested when I saw a middle-aged man come out of a grill resto, holding a plastic bag and feeling its contents with the other hand. Then he smiled. It was a happy smile and pure and innocent as a child's. Smiling for what, I'll never know. I can only guess and my guess is that, this man was smiling this kind of smile because his immediate need to eat will soon be answered...and it was innocent because he has no other concern other than food and while feeling the contents of the plastic bag, he knew his need is answered. And because he's a bit insane (that's what I think), he has a childlike smile. No normal middle-aged human being smiles like that anymore. He has lots of other things to do, ambitions to work so hard for, promises to keep, problems to solve. So if it was a normal or sane or however you describe it middle-aged man who came out of the resto, chances are, he would be frowning because it was sweltering hot and humid and it was already 1:00PM and his family is waiting and that's his just-for-the-moment concern.

So how many kinds of smile do sane human beings wear?

Smile

Smile The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej

Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember

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Evening sky at K of C Drive

2010-04-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

First of all, K of C means Knights of Columbus. And K of C Drive is a street that is slightly sloping down to a promenade by the Tagbilaran Bay...a quite popular point where you can see the silhouettes of Panglao Island and Cebu contrasted against a tangerine and purple sky at sunset. Why it's named K of C Drive is obvious. It is where the main properties of K of C are located: the main building (which is quite old) and the K of C Recreation Center where the oldest bowling alley is still open to the playing public. Also, K of C Recreation Center offers table tennis, billiard, dart and board games. Before I drift farther from my main topic, let me just say: Now you know...lol

Even though watching table tennis games is exciting for me, I always spare some time for sky watching..especially at that point in time when day says hello and goodbye to night; the
blending of beautiful colours at dusk. Within that brief communion with nature, is an awesome experience for me that somehow makes the rough edges of living bearable. And the soft breeze from the ocean that carries a waft of brine feels like deja vu (don't ask why) and of grilled fish and barbecue when soft winds changed direction...which makes me hungry LOL

Astronomy 101 - A Beginners Guide to the Night Sky

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Ping Pong: continued

2010-04-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to include this in yesterday's post...

One of the favorite topics that Class A table tennis players discuss is the paddle...like what brand and type of rubber is good for a certain player or style of playing. It's funny though but they do take it seriously. Like for example when a player announces that he just bought one rubber (or two for both sides), then everybody would stop whatever they're doing to inspect it, give comments and ask how much and where (especially when they think it's a bargain!) and then proceed to attaching it to the wood. They do it ceremoniously too ^_^ Really! Having a good paddle is important to them.

One day, when a situation like this happened again, I was really curious. I wanted to know why so much ado about a paddle???? So after the commotion died down, I asked Sir Bitoy, (one of the top players in Bohol) about it. He explained that when you're a good player, you also have to have a good paddle -meaning, the best that you can afford. And also, he continued, you have to know each rubber and what it can do to augment your style of playing. A paddle contributes so much to the outcome of a game of table tennis. To sum it up: good paddle + good player = good performance.

How about the wood? I asked again, this time, Sir Peter. Good thing he was more than glad to explain..afterall, it's his favorite topic!!! He explained: The wood is just as important. It has to be rigid so when you whack it for a fast ball, it doesn't vibrate much. So we can't use an ordinary wood? No. It will break easily. No solid wood that thin could withstand a rough playing. Ordinary plywood? Not good either...(but I can't remember what he told me). So what makes a paddle wood much better? Sir Peter stood up and took his paddle and showed me the siding of the wood. See this black layer at the middle? This is carbon. So if your wood has this, then you have a good wood. So, to recap: good wood + good rubber = good paddle; and good paddle + good --..okay, okay...you got the drift...

adios, mi amigos y amigas...hasta la vista!!

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Ping Pong, anyone?

2010-04-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Actually, it's table tennis. We just say ping pong because it's easier to say hey! let's play ping pong! Two syllables versus four. ^_^

Well, anyway, whichever way you call it, the players love this sport. They play; they watch; and they talk about it enthusiastically. It's fun just listening to them talk about -what else? pingpong! and watching them play and do a certain backhand stroke that makes a ball spin wildly up and far off the table when an opponent doesn't know how to counter it, makes me smile a smile that could eat a banana sideways LOL...and say to myself, I can do that...ahem.

The class A players, I found out, are always practicing. They have to keep it up so they play at least three times a week but some of them play everyday for at least two hours every time. The class B, which are quite good players too, are the younger ones...mostly students, therefore, practice less because of lack of playing time and money. Some are lucky to have supporting parents who practice with them and pay the bill.

There's never a dull moment when they play. It's quite interesting to see each serve style and how it spins or stops the ball somewhere near the net. One Class A player,Sir Opong, sometimes do an antic serve that never fails to make everybody laugh and set the mood light and enjoyable. And the good thing is, no matter how the opponents take the game seriously, and inevitably say the f*** and s*** words when they miss a ball, the game always end up with high fives or a handshake. It feels good to observe such sportsmanship and camaraderie in action. Come to think of it: Politicians should PLAY table tennis to ward off ill feelings towards opponents!!

There's one thing though that bothers the current Class A players who also are the officials of their table tennis club. There are not many Class B players to choose from to become Class A that would in years to come, be the officials of the group. They lack funds to keep up with expenses for tournaments. They need sponsors and sponsors are hard to find. I asked Sir Peter, the president of the BTTC, why he thinks tournaments are so important and he said: Tournaments are a motivation to be better players, Tournaments are something to look forward to. Tournaments are a natural way of choosing officially who among the Class D would become Class C and who among the Class C would become Class B and so on...which would answer to their quest for future leaders of BTTC (Bohol Table Tennis Club) when the time comes that the officials are too old to stop a spinning a ball. I'm not saying that the need is urgent though...the current officials are still young to even think about retirement. It's just that becoming a Class A table tennis player is a long process. We are not talking about months of playing but years...lots of years and lots of tournaments and competitions to win. It's not just how well you play. You have to prove it. Now that really is something to think about.

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i don't remember getting older but when I look at Paipai and Epol

2010-03-17T23:50:00.000-07:00

I realize I am. It wasn't long before when I saw Paipai struggling to stand and have her first step and also I used to sing to Epol and had him finish lines of his favorite song and now he talks in complete sentences. He talks and asks questions... lots of questions.

fast food syndrome

2010-03-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

the shopping malls here are almost always full of people...people who want to buy, people who want window shop, people who want to watch the movies, people who want to sit down and watch other people pass by and of course the hundreds of mall employees and workers AND they all end up getting hungry.! ^_^ no wonder the fast food centers and restos are full almost all day long. You always feel hungry after standing for a long period on a queue because as you pass by the lobby, the aroma of fries and roasts wafting in the airconditioned air makes you feel really tired, thirsty and hungry.

i'm one of those who frequent the malls not really because i have something to buy or something to buy it with :( but going there is fun. i'm one of those who sit and watch but somehow end up inside greenwich or kfc or jolibee..hehehe...well, as i've said, i'm one of those who sit and watch and to my friends' amusement, i told them that more than 80% of the people who frequent the malls have the fastfood syndrome. most of them have bulging waistline..

we have such big appetite otherwise they would not think this would attract costumers.

Untitled. Who needs one?

2010-03-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

I would never be a professional artist. Why? Because I don't have perseverance, that's why. I only paint or draw when I feel like it...like this morning, I felt the urge as I opened my windows. The sky was luminous blue and the tree looked dark against it. Then its foliage caught the first rays of the sun. Everything was still and beautiful...yes, far more beautiful than this pastel drawing.

My apologies to nature.

in the mood again

2010-01-10T23:19:00.000-08:00

bird of paradise

2010-01-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

this one's for those who need cheering up...

i do believe that most of the time, it only takes a little to cheer us up...like how Paupau's smile brightens up my day or even Epol pretending to snore like his Papa...or even his no, papa, no when asked to stop playing with mama's cellphone.

so this original pastel drawing is for all of you...you can even copy paste this one..if you want to..with my permission as long as there's no intention of reproducing it for the purpose of selling. ..i know, i know..i can almost hear it..but who'd possibly want to buy this...this thing?

so, bye for now, folks. see you sometime soon..

about "sexting" and what it did to a dermatologist and an actress

2009-12-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

while the sex scandal news about this dermatologist and his partner actress is already a history, the song "careless whisper" inevitable revived popularity is just not that sweet. It just happened that the sex video maniac liked that song. but that's another story.

i just received an email about sexting this morning from one of my friends in the internet. i didn't know there's that term sexting but it sure sounds like what it means. while reading, it reminded me of what happened to that poor girl and how it must have devastated her to realize that she'd become a victim of somebody's sexting. although a victim, she was also caught in action on video which don't make her totally so. i am sorry for her though...and for this doctor who lost his license for his careless and callous acts.

Sexting is exsisting because some people allow it..all for different reasons. Obviously, they're not aware of the damaging and devastating impact of sexting to victims and their families and friends. Or they knew only too well of the harm they're inflicting and still do it anyway. Some people don't deserve to live with the rest of the human race.

AVATAR: The Movie

2009-12-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I finally got the time to watch the movie AVATAR ^_^ and if I have the chance (and time!), I would love to do it again. Yes. Again. Why? Because it's very entertaining. The special effects (or whatever they call it nowadays) are so "real" that you'd think or wish there is such a place where people could live in harmony with nature. Of course, as a good story must have an antagonist to create tension for the protagonist, the fact is: there's more truth in it than fiction...I mean, man's greed is real and so is courage and dignity and love. And AVATAR showed us how beauty and wonder of nature be easily trampled upon by man's greed and apathy.

Again, in AVATAR, there's more truth in it than fiction or in the special effects for that matter.

MANNY "Pacman" PACQUIAO VS COTTO

2009-11-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

Right this very moment, the streets of Bohol are wonderfully free from reckless motorcyclists, traffic violators and agents of pollutants...all because they are watching the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Cotto on tv. Forget for a while all the hassles and cares. . . Manny is on tv fighting the newest opponent.

Already there's a rumor that Manny won on the 2nd round...nobody believed me when I told them that Manny was defeated by KO on the 2nd round 2 hours ago and so I told my friends it's the other way around and the more they say no way because Cotto after all is not a mediocre fighter either. Well anyway, the main event is still two more minor ones away, so I'm taking this free time writing this short post. But whatever the outcome, Manny is and will always be a hero in our hearts.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and watch Manny...

Techie, IT and then some...

2009-11-09T02:36:00.000-08:00

Five years ago, I didn't know what the term techie means. Then I started working with techies...so now I often hear the words like wifi, skypilot, connectors, UTP, IP address, bandwidth, webhosting, email ad, SEO, affiliates, referrals and adsense to mention just a few. Although I still don't really understand these terminologies, at least I now have some foggy ideas what they are...like rubber boots are not what you think they are and rj45s and toolless jack something hehehe...But really, not knowing anything about computers and IT these days is quite hard on you. I mean almost everyone uses the computer and because of that, you're expected the you use it too. Imagine the pressure that assumption has on people like me five years ago...which reminds me of a story about a Mom begging her son to teach her how to use the computer. Finally, after so many pleas, her son gave in. He let her sit in front of his computer and said, "Mom, this is your login homepage. Now put your hand on this mouse and.."
Her mom unceremoniously stood up and said: just because I don't know anything about computers doesn't give you the right to make a fool of me. What does a rodent have anything to do with computers?

As to where I have read that story, that I can't remember...but the sadness, I can.

unforgettable books

2009-09-30T02:35:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a small town just a few kilometers from the famous chocolate hills. The games we played were not like the games most kids play nowadays. They were more like the ones that Kerima Polotan described in one her books.

Kerima is one of my favorite Filipino writers who wrote about the "old games" children play. I'd like to think that she is our female Samuel Clemens. It was Kerima who made me learn to love reading. Samuel Clemens' Mark Twain also made an impact. Then came Wilson Rawls' Summer of the Monkeys and Where the Red Ferns Grow. I've read a lot and I mean a lot. During my highschool days, I was the only one in our class who was issued a library card twice in a schoolyear but of all those books, the ones written by Kerima Polotan, Samuel Clemens and Wilson Rawls stood out.

Every now and then, I read them again and how they make smile.

starry nights and van gogh

2009-09-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

I admit that the very first time I saw a picture of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night, my thought was " I can do better than that". Big thoughts. From a small town girl who never made even one serious effort to paint. So what happened to the dream of becoming a painter? Nothing. It got sidetracked.

As I grew older though, my perception of life and of Van Gogh's Starry Night changed. My dream of becoming an artist dimmed; Starry Night shone brighter, When as a young girl I'd dismissed it as a childish effort to paint, now I'm moved by its consistent and vibrant brush strokes.

just thinking.

2009-09-03T03:57:00.000-07:00

It's still several months till the next presidential election in the Philippines and guess what. Many of the wannabes are just so much into it that they are using every loophole in the election code of the Philippines just to be ahead and have more millage in the electoral marathon. But the thing is, every time i see their faces on television, I either feel like puking or poking their fat bellies, depending on the stupidity of their "nice guy" acting. Aside from being the opposite of the good guys they're acting out, they're not good actors either.

How I feel about it is not unique...I've asked several of my friends and associates and they all, well almost all of the them feel the same way.

We'll talk about it again one of these days...I'd be more specific then. Bye for now.

hello again!

2009-08-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

my boss started another business and everyone at the office got busy with the preparations and everything that goes with it,, me including, and i miss my favorite blogs. i browsed and realized just how much i missed. so i still have a lot to visiting and reading to do.

i don't want to leave blogland...so last night, i was thinking of possible topics to post but i was too tired and fell asleep and woke up to the sound of Epol's laughter outside my door... my morning started nicely...

we're not that busy now and though there are still a lot of things and chores to do, I can at least have time to blog already...

and as to what topics, i still have to think about it.

even the photo "sounds" good enough

2009-08-14T03:08:00.000-07:00

I was browsing for free photos and this is what I got.

I know I've posted about jazz before but listening to beautiful jazz rendition made me nostalgic.

2009-07-23T22:55:00.001-07:00

i am walking through a silver morning
and i feel the music inside me
what can i say if it makes me feel this way
gonna bring it home to you

from kenny rankin's song silver morning

to cheer you up...

2009-07-09T23:56:00.000-07:00

i love you jazz the way you are

2009-07-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

My cousin Wet introduced me to jazz, and big bands. Before that, I never heard of Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker or Joe Sample and his contemporaries. Then I fell in love with Manhattan Transfer, Chuck Mangione, the Crusaders, Noel Pointer, George Benson, to mention just a few. Listening to their music makes me feel alive... gives me a reason to be, sort of.

We also have jazz singers and performers here in the Philippines.. but I haven't heard of their renditions anymore, live or on radio. Many of the Filipinos are just not into it. I feel a little sad that talented Filipino jazz artists like Jacqui Magno stopped having concerts because there's just too little demand for her musical forte. Lately, however, there's a good number of local talents like Sitti, Richard Poon and Nina who dared to be different. Sitti's samba sounds good and Richard Poon's I'll Take Care of You sounds romantic. Nina's stylized rendition of classics is fresh and scintillating.

I am not saying that jazz performers don't have a following here. They do have a good number from the A and B crowd..those who have "the" taste for it and at the same time can afford a 4-digit tickets. So for the rest of us who may have the taste but don't have a grand or two for the ticket will just have to wait for 2 weeks or maybe a month for the televised version. Fair enough, I think.

But then, we can always download. Right?

Photo of Chuck Mangione from www.starpulse.com

classic kalachuchi

2009-07-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

We have one kalachuchi tree on our front yard and it's blooming. The flowers are white and smells sweet-too sweet actually that sniffing it makes me want to puke...no, just kidding. But I'm not as to its sweet smell.

The flowers often drop the day after they open but the smell stays. Epoy really loves to pick them up. I saw one that he missed and it looked just like this one.

time wasted?

2009-06-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

After a few days of making reports and beating deadlines, I felt like I've had enough of it. All I wanted was to do nothing. Then yesterday, the hard disk of the desktop that I'm using at the office was reformatted and I found myself "jobless" for a day...which was fine...for a few minutes. Then the hours after that seemed to drag on. Doing nothing, I found out, is a hard thing to do.

There's a saying that says The time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time. But what exactly is wasted time? It's a question that asked for a subjective answer. And yesterday at the office is one good example of wasted time.

When I was a teenager, I've spent so much time with my friends. We spent hours talking, telling jokes, inventing ghost stories and go home with smiles on our faces. At other times, we spent afternoons beach combing (I had a collection of cowries and driftwoods which I made into a lamp shade) and inevitably, watching the sun as it sinks into the darkening blue horizon, hushed and everyone strangely deep into his own thoughts.

pastel sunset

2009-06-20T19:13:00.001-07:00

how many beautiful sunsets "happen" in a month? and how many are stared at by those who have problems at hand? Many, I'm sure. This scene is often seen but do they have time to admire it? Does it stir their aesthetics? No.

It's not fair at all that only those who have no pressing problems should enjoy and experience beauty of nature. Enjoying a sunset is free... but why is it that it means nothing to them? They are looking at it but not seeing. It means nothing and doesn't affect them in any way. Why?

I often asked myself that question before because when I saw beautiful sceneries, especially sunsets, I felt ridiculously affected. All at once I'd feel alive, sad, nostalgic,and a sort of deja vu-ish ..over what, I really don't know but it's there.

And then I grew up and had many problems along the process. Then and only then that I knew why. With so much pressing problems at hand, your mind becomes numb and insensitive and couldnt care less.

poor rice farmers

2009-06-18T04:10:00.000-07:00

A neighbor came to me this morning. He is a farmer. He farms rice. Not really a friend nor enemy but I knew him for he was once my hired hand years ago. I was wondering what he wanted from me but he finally came to it after some weather talk. He needed to buy 6 bags of commercial fertilizer for his rice farm and was asking if I could supply the fertilizer for him. In return, he said, he'll pay me with 3 sacks of rice per bag of fertilizer. Hhhmmm..tempting..that means 18 sacks of rice in 2.5 months! But of course I didn't say yes for 2 reasons. Not only because I don't have the money for it but mainly because I can't allow myself to take advantage of the poor farmer in this situation. Believe me, I have tried it before and saw the anguish in their eyes as they part with sacks of rice that could feed their families for a few months more...that it haunted me for a long time.

This sad situation of our poor farmers has never shown any improvement...a vicious cycle of debts, usury and misery... a never-ending story and if these poor farmers can't get a real help from the government, then their children will continue what their fathers are doing. And that would be another sad story to tell..

2009-06-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

when words don't come easy...

2009-06-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

I tried..really tried to write something to post here but a mound of crumpled papers after, I stopped, only to try and fail again. And it went on for weeks. One proof that I am really trying is when I'm writing on paper instead of directly on the computer..because if I am in the mood for writing, I don't have to work hard on it..

What caused this must be the too many celebrations we had last month. We attended three fiesta celebrations (and have to travel by boat and plane to attend one!), two birthday parties, culmination programs and been bombarded with loud music every night for more than two weeks..all these depleted my creative juices.. LOL Maybe...

Now that we're almost in the middle of June, I'd probably have the juices back. For now, all I can say is: when words don't come easy, they don't.

Loboc River

2009-05-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Many tourists come to Loboc to experience the river cruise, dine with the local folks or with other tourists. Loboc Riverwatch is a floating Restaurant that offers buffet dining. Login to www.lobocriverwatch.com for more information.

seeing green

2009-05-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not into green really but it may seem so because I'm using it a lot on this site.

I believe green is a good color to stare at for a long time. It's restful and relieves your eyes (if you've been looking at the monitor for hours). Now you may be wondering why I'm writing about this color. You see, I've been seeing green lately :-) Just last week, I was in Butuan City together with my nieces and nephews and their kids. From the plane window, I saw the islands below covered with green canopy. As we reached our destination, green again.

Now I'm back home (second home actually) and every time I look outside from my window, I see trees and lots of green foliage.

I told you, I'm seeing green... literally. Now, who was it that named a color “leaf green”? I wonder if he knew how many tints, tones and shades of green there are to identify just by looking outside my window. From a single twig alone of a particular tree, you'd see at least four different greens. And to think I can see about twenty or so different species, not counting the wild shrubs and grasses below.

Before sounding like I'm complaining, I do have a favorite shade of green: moss green in small amounts (ex. Moss green T-shirt or sweatshirt) It looks velvety and rich.

koi

2009-05-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

one morning, years ago...

2009-05-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

this is a picture of Mount Banat-i as viewed from the Tagbilaran City fishing port (causeway). I took this one morning years ago...when digital camera was unheard of by ordinary folks like me :-)

reading again...

2009-05-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been reading a lot. There are times that I just feel like it and times I don't at all.

But anyway, here's what I've read today from Crystal Waters' Web Concept and Design, New Riders Publishing: On chapter 8, Mood Lighting, page 134, she mentioned a website which she described as funky/fun: the Blender.Web and she wrote( in part): Holy saturated colors, Batman! Umm..remember the contrast stuff we were talking about? Blender.Web is bright, high contrast, and painful to stare at for long periods of time, but also screaming LOOK AT ME, DAMMIT! and you do...

I like this book. Really. But wait, here's another one on page 118, same chapter, this one she described as lush/rich: Sotheby's. She wrote: It's rare for me to find sites that use red backgrounds that are both easy on the eyes and says a lot about the site's image. Sotheby's uses rich red-on-red and green-on-green color schemes that successfully put forth the richness of a velvet backdrop. Like walking into an expensive jewelry store, we are presented with a dark-yet-lush background that allows the product to shine.

Now this reminds me of the first time I walked into a department store in Makati City. I was not expecting to see a very classy interior design that I almost run away. LOL! Rustan's is just like Sotheby's, you know, that as I walked inside, I so felt inappropriately dressed in my denim slacks and T-shirt and dusty sneakers.

rural bohol

2009-05-15T04:15:00.000-07:00

I hope you're not fed up with this style of drawing ... yet :-)

nipa hut

2009-05-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Everytime I see a nipa hut (nipa is a kind of palm tree and its fronds are harvested to be made into roofing material), it makes me a bit nostalgic. Rural folks spend late afternoons in the nipa huts just like this...mainly because its shade is cool and it's where friends meet. After the hard work during the day, rural folks unwind here..alone or friends and neighbors. Here, they play chess, sungka, dama, tong-its and chiki-cha (card game). Or they drink tuba (fermented coconut sap). Or they just sit here, telling stories, listening and laughing at old jokes.

painting with watercolor

2009-05-05T03:59:00.000-07:00

It's a little tricky, painting with watercolor. For one thing, if you make a mistake, like for example you were planning to make a wash and forgot that you're supposed to wet the paper first, and come up with a blotchy finish or it simply won't look as planned. And if you don't like the color you applied,there's nothing much you can do about it, especially if you're using aquarelle.

Some artists say that painting with watercolor is not as easy as it looks. I agree, but it's a good practice if you start with this medium. It dries quickly, the colors mix easily, and if you're careful with the mixture, you could create beautiful tints, tones and shades. Take note though that you could easily come up with muddy mix. Except when you wanted a color for shadows, avoid mixing a color with its complementary.

Someday, I'm going to post watercolor paintings here...who knows, maybe I could have my own etsy...
For now, I'm enjoying drawing or sketching.

Have a pleasant day ahead everyone.

framed in green

2009-05-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

I saw this hummingbird from my window early this morning and it looked rather smaller than it actually is because of the big leaves that framed it.

Afternoon Delight, A Daily Scent by Bench

2009-05-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to a mall nearby with no particular plan on what to buy. I always do that. Anyways, remembering I ran out of cologne I went inside the Bench boutique. The fun thing about choosing cologne or perfume is that you get to try all the testers and after a few squirts, you end up smelling good but in the end, you can't make up your mind which one you really want. They all smell good of course but you have to choose. So, the first thing you do is to (now this one really works!) decide how you want yourself to smell. Like flowers? Spicy or oriental? Woody? Musky? Squeaky clean? In fact there are so many to choose from. You can choose any or many, depending on your mood swings and of course your budget.

I came across a poll in the internet. Nothing official of course but it's quite interesting to note that among the young ladies, 30+% of those who voted want to smell fresh and clean. My choice was Afternoon Delight. It's woody and at the time smell fresh and clean but it's just how I think it smells and I really love it. Besides being a Bench product, the price is just right.

Cesar Montano in Bohol

2009-05-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I saw a man who looked like Cesar Montano at the Island City Mall. I looked again and realized that that man was indeed Cesar Montano. He was alone, wearing city shorts and T-shirt and rubber shoes? I can't remember..

Cesar Montano, by the way, is movie actor, director, producer and the Singing Bee (tv show) host. He is often seen here in Bohol. I heard that when he's not doing some taping or whatever they call it in the movie industry, he spends his free time here with his wife and children. Every now and then, his friends from movieland would come and Cesar gladly acts as tour guide or host.

If not for the saleslady asking for a pose with him while her friend took the picture, I wouldn't notice Cesar at all. You see, many Filipino celebrities have come here just to get away from their normally hectic lifestyle. Most of them come back, for here, they have freedom. They're not mugged by fans. For sure, Boholanos recognize them, throw admiring glances and for for a daring few, ask for autographs or picture taking with them. But normally, Boholanos keep their respectful distance. We don't have paparazzis hiding behind shrubs taking pictures of their private moments.

But that's just one of the reasons why celebrities come to Bohol. Most of our tourist destinations here are just as attractive. Our resorts are famous for its natural setting: powdery white sandy beaches, coconut groves, native designs for accommodations (mostly) and again, privacy. Amenities? We have most of what tourists might want to experience and enjoy. And for those who want adventure, we have EAT DANAO- Extreme Adventure Tour in Danao town. and of course, who would miss the famous Loboc River cruise? It was here that Cesar made his Panaghoy sa Suba movie.

I've read yesterday's post again this morning. It's not a happy post, so to cheer this page up a bit, here are some photos...

2009-04-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

this flower just fell on a cypress branch from its mother plant...

2009-04-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

tension, anyone?

2009-04-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

A few hours ago, I was reading an old issue of Writer's Digest featuring a whole bunch about writing for kids. On technique pages, Elaine Marie Alphin said that children want tension when they read and continued with "To achieve this tension in your writing, make things difficult for your character."

Tension. That I know a lot about.

As a kid, I was small for my age, thin, shy and a loner. I had few friends but they were 3 to 4 years younger so I couldn't be with them during school days.

Every school has its own bullies and I was one of the targets. I wasn't actually pushed around physically but the verbal assaults were just as painful, even more so because remembering brings pain. This tension continued even as I entered high school, only the assailant is not the same person and a lot bigger, taller. I hated him. Many times I escaped from his bullying for I always see him first and I was in constant lookout. But one day, he saw me first. Escaping was out of the question. Worse, he was with three other boys and they were looking at me, laughing and talking most probably about me. I was angry. I was about to be humiliated again, in front of the boys he was with. Then it happened. I attacked him first, verbally, that is. I just blurted it out. I said "Why don't you look at yourself in the mirror first? You are uglier than I am!"

That silenced them, no, stunned them. But I was trembling hard. I must have looked like a ghost, I don't know but it sure felt good to stand up for myself. The good part is, I was never bullied again.

Well, was that tense enough for you? For me, it was. But I survived.

2009-04-25T02:44:00.001-07:00

what if...

2009-04-25T01:54:00.000-07:00

What could possibly go wrong? Everything was in order: the drinks were chilled, the food kept warm, the mascots arrived and the birthday cake was set on the table, its two little candles waiting to be lit and blown. A few early guests were there with their moms and dads. It was 6:45 pm and 25 minutes more to go for the birthday party to begin.

Then it happened! Brownout. Blackout. Power Outage. Whichever it's called, it was still pitch dark.

Some kids panicked,calling “ Mom, where are you! Dad?” And vice versa.

The host rushed to the kitchen counter where they kept the emergency light, bumped unto something and yelled “OUCH!”. Somebody chuckled to which he countered with “What, you happy now?

Then everybody laughed!

I have a confession to make: the story three paragraphs above didn't actually happen, well, at least not to me (except the brownout: it's really happening right now). It's just a scenario I made up while waiting for the power to come back. But the thing is, It can't be far from the truth if in case it did happen. Filipinos have the knack of turning a minor mishap into something funny.

In case you're wondering how was I able to post this: Power generator. It's irritating to listen to but at least I have internet :-)

Have a nice day everyone!

with a not too little help from my friends

2009-04-24T03:58:00.000-07:00

A friend who reviewed this blog said that loading this page took a long time because many of my photos and drawings had big file size and suggested that reducing might help. So to Anish of actuate life, thank you!

I also thank Jojo, a techie friend who stopped posting for his Dauis.Info for a while because I was such a makulit ( pain in the ___). It was easier than I thought, but of course he's good at it.

about the picture below

2009-04-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

I smile every time I look at this picture because I always remember what happened that afternoon. We planned to go to Puntod Island for a picnic but our motorized outrigger just stopped somewhere between the main Island of Panglao and Puntod. Our guide Jojo tried to fix the motor but to no avail. I was a little worried but my companions, Johanna and Alice, were just cool about it. I asked Jojo how long would it take us to reach the main island paddling and he said maybe an hour and half. "Ok then" I said, "let's start paddling!" There was one problem. We only had one paddle. Alice suggested that we eat first so we could use our plastic plates as paddles after and you know what? It worked! We were paddling like crazy and had the most hilarious, fun, and memorable day of our lives. Good thing the sea was calm and as we reached the main island, the sun had set. And then I took this picture.

hello, sentinel...

2009-04-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

turning
from watching the moon
my comfortable old shadow

led me home.

-from an old Japanese collection of poems

-the painting by sally

I've always been fascinated by the moon, not so much with its facts and theories as a heavenly body but rather on how its reflected light illuminate roof tops and tree canopies, creating long shadows on the ground, transforming an otherwise dreary scenery into dreamland :-)

It all started when I was ten years old. I saw a painting featured in a magazine, of an evening sky- the moon as the focal point was full, pale yellow, radiant and to my adoring eyes, beautiful. Below the painting was the caption: The Sentinel.

white beauty

2009-04-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

a breathing space

2009-04-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Just this morning, I was watching a musical show on cable tv. It was a full orchestra and they performed rather well but I missed the introduction so I don't know which orchestra. At first, I enjoyed the 1st movement but as the 2nd dragged along, I felt strangely uncomfortable. There was no discordant note nor was it like listening to Bela Bartok who's not for the faint-hearted listener. In fact, the arrangement was gorgeous (reminds of the movie August Rush). Still, I felt an urge to stop watching and it insisted..so I clicked off the remote control. And took a deep breath.

Out of breath. Listless. But why?

Ponder. I do that when there's nothing else to do :-)

You know, it's was like diving into the sea, looking at a beautiful coral reef community, immensely drawn to it... but without an oxygen tank on or a snorkel, you can't stay long under the water. That's how I felt... Or reading a whole paragraph in one long sentence without commas? Whatever. I guess what it didn't have were just breathing spaces.

taxes: what they do to your heart, your brain and your pocket...

2009-04-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

April is tax...no, TAXES month.(what with income tax, percentage tax, withholding tax and Lord knows what else!) If you have business and would do anything in your power to make it succeed, you must, you need to, you have to master taxation because if you don't, it could be very"taxing" (excuse the pun :-) ...) on you, financially AND emotionally.

And how is it that some government employees and officers make it specially hard for you to transact business with them? Starting or renewing business permits (which is your right), you submit papers, legal and in order, but you can't get it done until you get so fed up with mindless and insensitive dismissals like "come back next week" or "the officer in charge is out of town" or "your supporting papers lack this and that" when it could have been avoided by giving complete and correct information in the first place. Such careless attitude is a sure vexation to the spirit.

Starting a business? Huh! Best of luck, my friend. And if you tend to flareup easily, let your faithful assistant do it for you instead ...or better yet, learn anger management first because you'd surely need it once you are vis a vis with those insensitive and calloused pack.

Sad to say, but we do have those kind in our midst. However, there remain a few with kindred spirits. Still.

boatride

2009-04-15T01:54:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite photos...

Sandbar of Puntod Island

2009-04-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I took this picture while we (me and some city folks) camped there for a night. Even preparing for it was already exciting-too exciting I guess that we forgot to bring flashlights, can opener and yes, you guessed it right: no matches and no lighter. Good thing we bought some bread, cooked bananas, chips, lots of it, some canned food and drinks..So we didn't grill hot dogs like we promised Nang Matea's grandchildren.

It was almost 5pm when we reached Puntod Island on a motorized outrigger and like children, we raced to the sandbar's end. I remember feeling so grand just standing there, looking at the horizon line where the ocean and sky met, smelling the salty breeze and watching the sky turning colors from blue to blue-green, yellow, and then to all the glorious colors of summer sunset. And as if it was not enough, the moon took her turn to delight us. So we dined under the moon and the stars, and until now, I can't very well explain why I felt ridiculously happy...

Sandbar of Puntod Island, Panglao

2009-04-12T16:26:00.001-07:00

vinta

2009-04-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

misty

2009-04-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

that's odd...

2009-04-03T03:44:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, I imagined myself owning an art studio..and that I'd spend most of my waking hours painting, sketching, carving. I never had one and I doubt it if I ever could. But that's ok..I accepted the truth long time ago.

I was jobless for many years. I quit my first job,which was pointless of course, but I was young and full of dreams and thought I'd find a better one. Besides I was really sick and tired of it. So I ended up doing odd jobs like sewing curtains and seat covers, upholster sofa, chairs, paint walls and windows, etc.. I also sketched Philippine sceneries which an American couple bought - the whole sketchbook! The most salable though were the bamboo mugs which I painted with Philippine scenes. I still make them but only when there's a ready customer. It's fun making them but it sure takes a long time to finish one.

I've been asked many times if I had regrets...you know, for quiting my first job. Yes, I had. I'd be a hypocrite if I say no, none, nada. But I did learn a lot from it.

Books and bookmarks

2009-04-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

You never quit on books...you may stop reading for days or months but you always come back to it. The good part of not reading books for a long time is that you treat each of your favorite as if new..even if you knew exactly how a story ends, reading it from the beginning, chapter after chapter, is like opening doors and finding what's inside and thrill you the second.. third time around. Sometimes you'll find a page with a bookmark which could be anything-a folded table napkin, a bus ticket, a photograph, a feather..anything that marks a page as favorite or where you stopped. And then memories come crawling back.

I found one bookmark as I read Alone by Rod McKuen. It was a poem which I wrote years ago on a notebook page...and (don't laugh at me now) it goes like this:

the hills are calling
i hear it in the wind
and smell it in wafts of ylangylang blooms...
somewhere at the foot of the hills
awaits someone

I didn't write it for someone special..I was just smitten by Rod McKuen's poems and tried to write one...

the drawing below

2009-03-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

It had been a long day and still had one more thing to do. The sofa looked so inviting and if I had given in, I'd surely fall asleep and that I couldn't afford to do...so I took my pencil and sketchbook instead.

It didn't take long. I used to draw that kind of setting many times before when I was still studying interior design at PSID (Philippine School of Interior Design) in Makati City (a loooooong time ago) and I guess I still have the hang of it.

I'm tired and all I see is this comfy sofa...

2009-03-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

On John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie-2

2009-03-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

On page 116, Steinbeck wrote:

An animal resting or passing by leaves crushed grass, footprints and perhaps droppings, but a human occupying a room for the night prints his character, his biography, his recent history and sometimes his future plans and hopes. I further believe that personality seeps into walls and is slowly released. This might well be an explanation of ghosts and such manifestations. Although my conclusions may be wrong, I seem to be sensitive to the spoor of the human. Also I am not shy about admitting that I am an incorrigible Peeping Tom. I have never passed by an unshaded window without looking in, have never closed my ears to a conversation that was none of my business. I can justify or even dignify this by protesting that in my trade I must know about people, but I suspect that I am merely curious.

Having read that, I stopped for a while, stood up and surveyed my room. What would Steinbeck say about my cluttered books, the colored pencils on the table, the more than full waste basket, an unfinished drawing and some crumpled papers on the floor? What about the hanged towel that defied gravity? I have to smile at the thought that he would probably say: The recent occupant has problems and on top of those is that she is unfocused.

And then I continued reading...trying to focus : D

Danao Adventure Park

2009-03-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

Like a proud mama, I relish moments when my Bohol comes up with something really good and exciting. I take pride of being a Boholano and although some would raise eyebrows to ask bah-ket? (why?), all I can say is: they have their own opinion and I have mine.

Yes, I am proud to be a Boholano...but that's deviating from my main topic, Danao Adventure Park. Truth to tell, it was a pleasant surprise to learn that they have come up with that idea. The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Danao has done it again with their recent addition to their eco-tourism projects: the zipline-the longest in the Philippines. They're also promoting other adventures like root climbing, cave exploring, kayaking, mountain trekking, rappelling, boulder climbing, tubing, bird watching, camping, village and organic farm tours.

Danao Adventure Park

2009-03-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

Danao Adventure Park Logo

a repeat post (from thumbnail sketches)

2009-03-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

Special moments for me are those that come unexpected though I must say not all that come unexpected are special. But this one is: It was about six in the evening. The sun had set but the sky was still tangerine and it held for a few minutes more. I stood in the quiet for a while enjoying the view, smelling the waft of blooming ilang-ilang in the breeze, taking it all in. It was enough to make my day. Then a hummingbird suddenly flew down from nowhere and perched on a twig somewhere near, making noise that could mean a scolding or a warning. It was quite different from what we usually hear in the morning when their calls are sweet and far between. I heard a baby bird call getting louder while the mama continued making a racket, perching from twig to twig. Then it stopped. There was a soft chirping and then there were more. I carefully moved towards the sound for it was getting dark and I didn't want to scare the birds. Then the moon appeared (it was full and yellow!) and there, perched side by side, were five baby birds and a mama, backlighted by the moon.

On John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie

2009-03-26T01:20:00.000-07:00

On page 154 of John Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie (Bantam Books), it's being mentioned that there's a place called Badlands which the author described with appropriate adjectives and he added: "They deserve this name." Two pages later, he wrote that after talking with a woman who lived there, he continued, saying: "Her voice rattled on as though she was terrified of the silence that would settle when I was gone. As she talked, it came to me that she was afraid of this place and, further, that so was I. I felt I wouldn't like to have the night catch me here." He wrote further that he was "in a state of flight and was ready to get away from the unearthly landscape." He continued, "And then the late afternoon changed everything. As the sun angled, the buttes and coules, the cliffs and the sculptured hills and ravines lost their burned and dreadful look and glowed with yellow and rich browns and a hundred variations of red and silver gray, all picked out by streaks of coal black. It was so beautiful that I stopped near a thicket of dwarfed and wind-warped cedars and junipers, and once stopped, I was caught, trapped in color and dazzled by the clarity of the light......... The strange landscape shouted with color! And the night, far from being frightful, was lovely beyond thought."

Wow!

sea creatures with stories to tell...

2009-03-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

tarsier of bohol

2009-03-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

2009-03-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

There are things more exciting than watching frolicking dolphins up close... but there's nothing quite like it.

seaside stories and fond memories

2009-03-23T05:26:00.000-07:00

I had been lucky to have spent two years of my life in the island of Panglao. Lucky because I have lived a kind of life that I dreamed of and that is to live where I would be able to look outside my window and see the blue ocean. I've seen it in different moods and I never get tired looking at it. It's been six years since I had a long last look at it but my memory of that place and time will never be erased.

One of the most exciting things I did was when my good old friends, Nong Honorato and Nang Matea who owned a motorboat would invite me and some friends to join them diving for danggit (a kind of fish), sea urchins and other edibles like shellfish and crabs...at night! It was pure excitement! And afterwards we stop at the beach to grill our harvest over the fire, sharing jokes and fishermen tales while waiting made the food even sweeter.
I have been a beachcomber too. I collected shells, colored pebbles, bits of corals and driftwoods. At times when the sea is calm, we go dolphin watching. When we're lucky, we get to see many of them.

Epol of surprises!

2009-03-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Epol. I've written a post about him weeks ago and I have to write another one now before I forget as this one has a profound effect on me.

This morning while I was doing my laundry, my niece Tere (she just graduated! Inkcode) took turn in babysitting Epol. She let him ride on a stroller and they were talking baby talk while going around the house. Every time they pass by, Epol would call me: Lola Tol! And I would answer: Epol! Then the next time around, he said: Goodnight, Lola Tol and then he sort of took a reclining pose, pretending to be asleep with a matching snoring sound. And then he laughed!

What a wonderful way of starting a day!

Just thinking...

2009-03-21T02:08:00.000-07:00

Last week, a group of Filipino celebrities spent sometime (and lots of money!) in a resort at Panglao Island, Bohol. They chose to stay at an exclusive resort in Barangay Tawala. The rates range from 425 to 2100usd during lean season and from 575 to 2250usd at peak season.With a conversion rate of 48.50Php/1USD and most probably, they checked in to more exclusive balai (villa), let's say at 2100USD/day plus extra charges and tax, they would have, more or less, paid a 105,000PHP +. And that's just for one day stay which is equivalent to an annual salary for an ordinary worker. But look, I am not saying this against the celebrities. They worked hard for that money and they definitely deserve it. It's just a thought that came to my mind when I saw their pictures in the newspaper, that's all. Let's face it: some guys have all the luck. Most of us don't.

zipline in bohol!!

2009-03-20T04:34:00.000-07:00