Filipina Soul

There are many things to be said about the Philippines. If I so choose, I can focus on the bad and ugly, but you already know what these are. No one is naive enough to think there is no poverty or frustration in the country. And all through my stay, I could see it everywhere.
But as in most things in our lives, the memories and stories that live on and what we love to tell our grandchildren are those of triumph and beauty. The ones that made us smile and remember with fondness.
So to cap my jubilee, I choose to …read more

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UP Los Banos will always hold a magical place in my heart. It was where I grew up, and schooled from elementary to the graduate level. Most of everyone I hold dear still live in this university town. So my last day of vacation was spent strolling the campus and reminiscing of simpler days gone by.

The UPLB Carabao plaza. Can you almost smell the freshness of this mountainside campus? Stately palm trees and hundred year-old acacia trees still dot the landscape and bring a sense of permanence.
Even a felled acacia such as pictured below has found its life again. …read more

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I went “ooh, ahh” ga-ga over this gigantum mall. Just take a look at the expanse of the Mall of Asia .

And I’d have to admit that I never got to finish the “tour” in one day, since I didn’t care much for the gazillion signature shops inside. But golly, brands that I had seen only in the upscale streets of Milan, Italy actually have stores here. I’m flabbergasted at the wealth of the ‘common pinoy’.

The architecture and design though were what captured my attention for the rest of our tour.

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Maricar posted some pictures of The Shrine of Jesus and Paco Park, where our bunso brother and his beloved held their wedding and reception.
So, let me show you some more pictures of this special event in our family.
The church complimented the beautiful ceremony…

At Paco Park, where we held the garden reception… it was an overcast Saturday afternoon, and the weather was perfect for an afternoon tea reception that extended into the sunset hours.

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After the jeepney, next on my list to re-acquaint with is the humble tricycle…

How many passengers do you think can fit into this remake of the motorcycle? 4…6…? How about 14?
Yup. I once road on one in a remote Tanay, Rizal mountain barrio where there were 4 inside the cab plus one kid on a lap, 3 of us behind the driver, 2 hanging on to the back end, and 4 more on the roof. Granted it was a larger tricylce, but still… It was the first time I feared for my life.
In places where there are fewer jeepneys, the …read more

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The first few days of my trip to the Philippines went by in a whirlwind. We were all preparing for my brother’s wedding. Amie and Bern went steady for 10 years before tying the knot. We’re very happy to welcome Amie to the family!

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Hostage-taker Armando Ducat didn’t really mean to harm the children. He just wanted to make a point. But he was armed with two grenades (later found fake), an assault rifle and a .45-caliber pistol.
Frustrated with the way the country was being run, Ducat held hostage the 26 school children and 4 teachers of his own daycare center inside a bus in Manila Wednesday. He demanded support for the education of the children of his daycare and improved housing for them and their families. He was running a daycare in a slum area in Parola, Tondo.
It was a weird kind of …read more

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“Sakay na kayo!” (Let’s get in and ride!)
Nine years ago, when I first arrived in the US, the first thing I looked for was public transportation. I didn’t have a car then, or money enough for a taxi. Of course there was the bus, but I was scared of riding the routes for fear that I would get lost in the maze that was Baltimore City… so I pined after a ‘beloved’ –

And this March I got to ride it again… aahh… the joy of riding this king of the road. I had my head almost out of the window …read more

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I checked the results of the current poll, and was happy to see that quite a number of you have participated. Reminds me of all the yummy food I had on my recent trip! Hahaha.
If you haven’t cast your vote yet, there’s still time to do so. The topic is about your food cravings. We’ll run the poll (see sidebar) till the end of the month. Then we’ll have a new set.
Be counted! Vote! (That applies to the coming Philippine elections too!).
Tags: Filipina Soul, Philippines

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I’m back Stateside, and still recovering from the 24-hour journey from the Philippines. Jetlag and a cold have combined to make the return to normalcy a bit difficult. Add to the fact that I’m sad to have said goodbye once more to Mt. Makiling, which cradles my home and people I love. But I’m getting back to a routine slowly, and am excited to get back to blogging!
I’ve got lots of stories to tell and photos to show. So many things to tell you about so check back soon and we’ll chat!
Tags: Filipina, Philippines

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