Filipina Soul

Touted as the third biggest mall of the world, the recently opened SM MAll of Asia boasts of four mini-malls  – although ‘mini’ is certainly an understatement. Rather these are huge buildings that house malls, theaters, corporate for-lease offices, and huge parking lot. Cool and unique features found at THE MALL include the country’s first IMAX theatre; a marina with a spectacular view of Manila Bay’s sunset; trams to transport the avarious shoppers; the country’s only olympic-size skating rink; a science museum (surprise!) and of course gazillion stores and shoes ala-SM.
For the movie-going public, there are 10 ciniplexes to choose from. There’s …read more

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Confession: I’ve never read a blog for more than two hours at any one time. Until I found Notes from the Peanut Gallery by Dean Francis Alfar, an award-winning playwright, novelist, comic book creator, and writer of speculative fiction. The blog itself posts excerpts of his manuscripts and short stories which is kinda neat because every post is like a good book – you can’t stop reading until it’s over, and then you can’t wait for the next posting.  It was riveting. This guy undoubtedly has the gift to lure readers into the story and capture our emotions so well that you actually want to respond to his blog. At least I …read more

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I do not speak with a Filipino accent, but my face reveals my true ethnicity. I do not speak Tagalog, but I take pride in my heritage.
So writes Sunrise Decena in her essay on being a Filipino American. She talks about the value we place on family, respect for authority, the importance of a good education and and the “strict” rites of dating/courtship (like asking permission) that her parents instilled in her.
Although I grew up in the Philippines, I have quite a lot of Fil-Am friends. At first glance, it’s easy to judge that they’ve totally forgotten or abandoned their heritage because …read more

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My heart goes out to our Malay neighbors in Yogyakarta, Indonesia after a 6.2 earthquake hit the Java islands last Saturday. It’s devastating! As of today, the death toll has jumped to more than 5000, and many more thousands injured and homeless.
Saturday’s quake was the latest misfortune to hit the world’s fourth-most populated country after Islamic militant bombings, bird flu outbreaks and the massive 2004 quake and tsunami. The worst, the Dec. 26, 2004, quake and its resulting tsunami, left some 170,000 people dead or missing around Aceh.
When one’s this far from that tragedy, it can feel like it’s just news. But …read more

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Pictures do paint a thousand words. And more so for me when it’s about my home.
Here are some photoblogs (and photographers) that I love to check out every now and then. They take different angles of life in the Philippines.
http://www.maniladailyphoto.com/
Good pictures. Great memories. And then, just a slice of life in Manila.
http://eightframes.lastpromise.com/ 
Here’s a really good photographer (me thinks).
http://www.parconline.biz/photoart/index.php
Use of light (and filters) are awesome! I think he’s a professional.
http://www.bulitasin.blogspot.com/
Funny. Insightful. Emotionally raw.
http://constantineagustin.blogspot.com/
This one’s all the way from Ilocos Norte (and maybe some Manila shots too) but I like his style of writing about life and photography.

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“Kasal” or “Kasalan” refers to the word wedding. And for a Filipino, a wedding is no small thing, even if it’s just a small gathering. Rarely actually is it a small gathering! It’s a big production, with a lot of traditions, superstitions and  pre- and post- wedding events.
Here are some traditions that give a wedding it’s Filipino flavor -
Wedding expenses are paid for by the groom’s family in the Philippine setting, unlike in some western cultures, although more and more couples even shoulder the entire wedding expenses themselves. It normally follows that whoever foots the bill has the final say …read more

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June is almost here, and though it’s really NOT the weddingest month of the year (December is), it’s still traditionally associated with weddings. If you are about to tie the knot next month, then you should almost be ready, with only the details left to finalize. If not… well, don’t panic (too much) there’s help around the corner.
I got married in the Philippines, but was only physically in the country three weeks prior to my wedding day, although we did plan for a year. How did we pull it off? With the help of my mom, of course, and an online …read more

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It’s one of the most colorful festivals in this side of Quezon.  It’s a magnificent sight as street after street, houses are creatively wrapped in elaborate decorations made from kiping. It is a wafer-thin leaf-shaped rice tortilla dyed in a spectrum of colors, and used to create chandeliers, huge paper fans, flowers, and floats. Bounty of local fruits and vegetables are strung together and displayed everywhere as a token of thanksgiving and of the harvest to come.
It was believed that this rite must be done by the farmers in order to avoid bad luck, drought and famine. But this is actually done to celebrate the feast of San Isidro, …read more

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It’s summer. Oppressively hot and humid. At 92 0F today, it won’t get any cooler as the summer bores on us. Those living in the metropolis get it worse. The congested traffic and smog make the air more hot and sticky. Overload from stress, bones aching from sitting 8-5 in the office, the endless routine, and a weekend that’s coming up fast, and you’re just about ready to get away. Head for somewhere cooler, more relaxing, more adventurous. Where is the nearest exit?
I say, LOS BANOS, in nearby Laguna.
Spanish for “the baths”, this town is famous for its therapeutic pools of mineral hot …read more

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I went outside today. The afternoon sun felt warm, so I took my daughter for a walk on our street. It was just past 4 o’clock but there were no children playing on the street. We walked past two homes and came back. It felt wierd. I wasn’t used to being outside anymore. Just taking a walk, or sitting on the front steps, talking to the neighbor also sitting on her steps, or tending her garden.
I used to be always out, growing up. Right after school, the neighborhood kids would meet on the street and start playing whatever games we fancy for that day. Patintero, luksong-tinink, tumbam-preso, chinese garter. If a …read more

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