Filipina Soul

This is my first post in a series that will focus on the many and varied uses of the coconut tree. To make things simple, I decided to start from the top. The top of the coconut, that is.
Coconut leaves are strong yet flexible. The leaves are actually fronds composed of numerous leaflets, which have a a flat part and a thin midrib. Fresh, each frond can make an excellent sail for a makeshift raft. One leaflet can also be used to make a pouch in which to cook and carry rice for the midday meal.
Each frond can be woven …read more

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KULAY – a photoblog from Edinburgh.
This photographer knows what “a thousand words” is all about. His photos are copyrighted so we can’t give you a sample here. But here are some titles from the most commented photos -
The world still moves without you.
Forgive us for the crimes we are about to commit again.
I am a patient boy, I wait, I wait, I wait.
The photos shout at you to take a closer look. And stare. Like what you do when you study a great painting and get into the painter’s head.

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Are you a songwriter? Do you want to get the chance to break into the music industry in the Philippines? The Mega Himig Pasko competition is your chance!
Mega Himig Pasko 2006 is a songwriting competition open to all Filipino citizens worldwide. The theme this year is “Ang Pasko Ay Para Sa Pamilya.” Songs can be of any genre (pop, rock, folk, country, etc.), as long as they are original compositions in English or Filipino. Here are some of the competition rules:
* Songwriters may submit only one (1) entry each.
* Each entry may be composed by one (1) individual or a …read more

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You probably know that my co-blogger and lovely sister has gone off to Florence, leaving me to tend to things here at Filipina Soul. While I wish I were with her and her family, she did promise to send me some chocolate. So I’ll be good and continue to slave away while waiting for her to return. Keep me company, OK?
Florence. It reminds me of the movie “While You Were Sleeping”, which is one of the all-time favorite movies in my house. Sandra Bullock’s character, Lucy, has dreamed all her life of seeing the city. Me, I’ve always wanted to …read more

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From opposite sides of the coast – Washington DC and Washington state, just arrived at b5media!

The DC Traveler, written by Jon Rochetti, covers Washington DC, and nearby Virginia and Maryland neighborhoods. Jon says: I look forward to writing The DC Traveler and hope that it provides insight and resources about visiting and experiencing all that Washington DC has to offer – to not only the first-time tourist but to life-long locals as well.

And I’m personally glad we have this blog coz I sure need help navigating that labyrinth called DC. And to think I live just north of it too.

The …read more

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Do you want to be the next Gorio Vicuna, animator for Dreamworks, Warner Brothers and Paramount Pictures? The Animazing Shorts 2007, an animation contest, could be your chance!

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) are launching the Animazing Shorts 2007: 5th Animation Competition and the Philippine Animation Film Festival (PAFF) to promote the Filipinos’ talent in animation.
CITEM said that for the past decades, Filipino animators have done extraordinary work for international studios like Pixar, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney.
Through the launching of the animation competition and film …read more

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It’s time to spread some link-love again!
As per GANDA’s comment here about more Tarsier photos, I thougth I’d lead you to that link from My Gulch and let your heart warm up to the endangered, cute and lovable, gremlin-like halloween-costume of a Tarsier.
And, who is GANDA? She’s a friend of ours from way back in UPLB who’s now in Japan with baby and hubby. Fortunately for her, yes, G.A.N.D.A is initials for her name. She’s one cool writer I’d say. Must be from all the training she got in Developmental Comm. Check her out and what she …read more

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The coconut nut is a giant nut
If you eat too much, you get very fat
Now, the coconut nut is a big, big nut
But its delicious nut is not a nut
It’s the coco fruit (it’s the coco fruit)
Of the coco tree (of the coco tree)
From the coco palm family

So goes the song “Da Coconut Nut”, composed by Ryan Cayabyab for the group Smokey Mountain. It’s a hilarious song with a lot of truth in it.
The coconut is really quite a useful plant. Watch for a series of posts I’ll be doing about the coconut and its various uses. For starters, enjoy …read more

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It’s chaos in my household right now.
My daughter’s been cranky, clinky and sick. She’s had colds since last week, fever and sore throat since Tuesday, and no appetite at all. On top of that when I took her to the pedia, she was given the flu shot.
A happy household we’re not.
What caught me off guard is my baby was diagnosed with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD). No, it’s NOT the foot-and-mouth disease (found in cattle).
The pediatrician says it’s rather common in infants and young children, in season through summer and fall, and moderately contagious. It’s called that because painful sores …read more

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