Filipina Soul

Recently it has become my habit to “drag” my three year old son to my office on Saturdays. He always is appreciative of a “day out” even if his mom is cheating him out of it by working in her office computer. Anyway, we usually stop by the cafeteria to get breakfast before heading on to my office building, which is still about some 500 meters away.
My son has always been mistaken with any nationality from Korean to Japanese and the question that is always thrown at me is if he’s a son of one (Korean or Japanese), at a …read more

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Finally, this Filipina Soul found her way in this B5media home. I hope the dear readers at the old AW site will eventually land here, soon…somehow. The love month February is supposed to be a time for good happenings but the Philippines faced one tragedy after another: from the ULTRA stampede to the landslide in Southern Leyte.
February 25 is supposed to be the 20th year anniversary of the world-famous EDSA revolution that freed the Filipino people from the Marcos dictatorship.
(to see what’s happening at the EDSA Shrine real time, go to www.manilaview.com)
Freedom. BIG word.
We Filipinos seem to shout it at …read more

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He is the Jose Ma. Vicente Fernandez I mentioned in my name game article.
His b5media profile claimed he looks like Mr. Bean. I think it’s too bad he is “over-age” to join the next round of StarStruck (the American Idol pinoy version).
Jayvee, as he is fondly called is the techy geek of cellphone 9 turned fashionisto who I think can turn into the next pinoy heartthrob if he’s not careful.
Far from your idea of the typical nerd, Fernandez is no recluse. He’s equally comfortable in front of a computer as he is talking to a large crowd. Nor is …read more

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Love is certainly in the Philippines’ air. Filipinos usually make a big fuss about Valentine’s day like it’s a crime if you don’t celebrate it like the rest: with flowers, cakes, going to the movies, romantic dinner (or a hotel room reservation) and little red hearts hanging over your heads.
As if any normal day couldn’t be as sweet and romantic if one will really put their hearts into it.
For some reason (may it be commercial or cultural) getting mushy, extremely sweet and loving is tolerated on Valentine’s day.
Personally, I’ve always made it a point not to go out on the …read more

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Well I don’t want to talk more about poverty and Filipinos being poor like our politicians and media people do these days. I only have one last thing to say: I know poverty in the real sense of the word. My father used to earn (on the average) 2$ a day. He took any honest odd job available, bought lottery tickets daily and regularly offered candles and prayers to St. Raphael. He dreamt big and sent us to school. BUT (if he was alive) he will never be fool enough to line up for a wowowee raffle ticket.
In addition, I …read more

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The stampede is still the talk of the town, anywhere you turn: TV, radio, gatherings.
It is indeed a tragedy that nobody wanted. Afterwards, pointing the blame to anybody is just so easy. In my analysis, it just boils down to a few important points:
1) Even if they deny it, ABS-CBN will do anything to top the rating of Eat Bulaga at its rival station, GMA-7. Thus the more opportunities they give for viewers to win cash prizes even on regular show days.
2) It is already a given fact that many Filipinos are living below the poverty threshold and thus will …read more

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The Philippines mourned this weekend for the many deaths caused by the Ultra stampede.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen. STAMPEDE.
ABS-CBN’s noontime show Wowowee was supposed to celebrate its 1st anniversary on Saturday, February 4. The show promised big money prizes to its live audience. Naturally, people from all walks of life, from different parts of the country went to the Ultra Sports Complex in Pasig City that fateful morning. People who dreamt and hoped of bringing home cash prizes.
Some dream. Only to end in tragedy. May God bless their souls.
Photo Credit. INQ7.net

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Who said we do not have four seasons in the Philippines? The photo above (taken an hour earlier) is the parking lot of the building where I work. To me it certainly looks like fall and spring at the same time. You have to look close enough and notice that new green leaves are sprouting out of the branches before the brown fallen ones even made it to the sweepers.
One time I remember my foreign friends discussing that maybe the reason why Filipinos are always smiling because the sun is always there. (I also remember them noting that the sun …read more

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