The first leg of our road trip is Candelaria, Zambales. We left Marikina around 6:00 am. My ssiter Rose and I proceeded to my brother Ruben's place in Valenzuela, and from there took the NLEX to Dau, then to the Subic, Clark, Tarlac Expressway. What should have been a harrowing trip via Pampanga, then Olongapo was a mere 30 minute drive through the SCTEX. We passed by Subic to buy some supplies and arrived here in Candelaria around 1 pm. We were served a delicious lunch of rabs and shrimp and sinigang na baboy by my sister Ruby and brother-in-law Ayo. We will be staying in Candelaria until Nov.1, then move on to the second part of our road trip -- Aringay, La Union. Pictures to follow.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tsubasa Wo Kudasai
Sometime in 1997, when i was still working for Angelicum College, we had the pelasure of hosting 4 japanese students from the Tokyo YMCA. During one of our trips, they taught us a song called Tsubaa wo Kudasai (Give me wings). I recenly found on YouTube (tm) a version of the song and i would like to share it with you.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Greenhills
It has been a long time since i visited the Greenhills shopping complex. Truth be told, after my father passed away in 2004, i have been to that area a total of 5 times, including my visit yesterday. I miss the old Greenhills area with the open fountain area, the long pond, Unimart and Choo-Choo Junction. When i was a little kid, my parents used to bring me along to Greenhills when they went crocery shopping at Unimart. While my mother took care of the buying, my father would take me to the open parking area near Choo-Choo Junction (yes, the spaghetti place inside a real train). We would watch RC owners race their cars around the hastily-made track.
After that we would meet my mother at the cafe inside Unimart for some chicken mami and softdrinks. As the years progressed, we graduated from mami at the cafe to Luk Yuen fronting the pond area. My father loved their radish cake. We would then walk to Virra Mall where we would buy squid balls (during that time squid balls was virtually unknown to most filipinos). When you cooked the squid balls, it grew to the size of a golf ball, and my father served it as "pulutan" when hi "compadres" come to visit.
It was also in Greenhills where i first got to taste Orange Juilius' orange juice and hotdog sandwhich. It was also in greenhills where i first tasted sugar cane juice, and where i lusted over the imported toys in the shoppersville area. I remember my parents buying me this train set from Tita Oning Banadera's shop. I still have pieces of the train set though i doubt if it still works.
When i went to Greenhills a couple of weeks with my fellow zen members after a meeting at ADB, i was surprised how much greehills has changed -- inside and out. I love what they did to Virra Mall, but can't get over my disappointment at how much the fountain area has changed. What used to be a mini-carnival for kids is now a tiangge. I have to admit i even got lost trying to find my way back to the Virra Mall area.
I decided to go again yesterday to familiarize myself with the place. Still i couldn't get over the fact that my favorite place to visit in Greenhills is now full of people selling everything from old coins to big stone buddha statues. Oh well. They say the only thing constant in life is change. So hey, i'll get used to it.
Gotta go. I'm going to Greenhills.
After that we would meet my mother at the cafe inside Unimart for some chicken mami and softdrinks. As the years progressed, we graduated from mami at the cafe to Luk Yuen fronting the pond area. My father loved their radish cake. We would then walk to Virra Mall where we would buy squid balls (during that time squid balls was virtually unknown to most filipinos). When you cooked the squid balls, it grew to the size of a golf ball, and my father served it as "pulutan" when hi "compadres" come to visit.
It was also in Greenhills where i first got to taste Orange Juilius' orange juice and hotdog sandwhich. It was also in greenhills where i first tasted sugar cane juice, and where i lusted over the imported toys in the shoppersville area. I remember my parents buying me this train set from Tita Oning Banadera's shop. I still have pieces of the train set though i doubt if it still works.
When i went to Greenhills a couple of weeks with my fellow zen members after a meeting at ADB, i was surprised how much greehills has changed -- inside and out. I love what they did to Virra Mall, but can't get over my disappointment at how much the fountain area has changed. What used to be a mini-carnival for kids is now a tiangge. I have to admit i even got lost trying to find my way back to the Virra Mall area.
I decided to go again yesterday to familiarize myself with the place. Still i couldn't get over the fact that my favorite place to visit in Greenhills is now full of people selling everything from old coins to big stone buddha statues. Oh well. They say the only thing constant in life is change. So hey, i'll get used to it.
Gotta go. I'm going to Greenhills.
Monday, October 06, 2008
La Naval
October 12 is a date to remember for all devotees of the Mother of the Holy Rosary (Nuestra Senora de Santissima Rosario de La Naval de Manila). I recently purchased the coffee table book of the Saga of La Naval. It was a steep purchase for 4k but a very good buy nontheless. The coffee table book includes an interactive cd that features old photos and even rare videos from the 1920 procession of the La Naval in Intramuros -- plus lots of trivia. Since i was raised under the Dominicans, the La Naval is an icon i will never forget. I have never missed a procession except maybe for this weekend since we have plans to go out of town.
Since the La Naval was transfered from the UST chapel to the new Santo Domingo compound, the image has been called the Mother of Quezon City. (more on the La Naval's history next blog)
Since the La Naval was transfered from the UST chapel to the new Santo Domingo compound, the image has been called the Mother of Quezon City. (more on the La Naval's history next blog)
La Naval
October 12 is a date to remember for all devotees of the Mother of the Holy Rosary (Nuestra Senora de Santissima Rosario de La Naval de Manila). I recently purchased the coffee table book of the Saga of La Naval. It was a steep purchase for 4k but a very good buy nontheless. The coffee table book includes an interactive cd that features old photos and even rare videos from the 1920 procession of the La Naval in Intramuros -- plus lots of trivia. Since i was raised under the Dominicans, the La Naval is an icon i will never forget. I have never missed a procession except maybe for this weekend since we have plans to go out of town.
Since the La Naval was transfered from the UST chapel to the new Santo Domingo compound, the image has been called the Mother of Quezon City. (more on the La Naval's history next blog)
Since the La Naval was transfered from the UST chapel to the new Santo Domingo compound, the image has been called the Mother of Quezon City. (more on the La Naval's history next blog)
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