Pwede at di Pwedeng Dalhin sa NZ

Mag po-post na ako ng article about what things you may and may not bring to NZ. Ang dami kasing nagtatanong. Actually, ang lahat naman ng information na sasabihin ko dito nasa website ng NZ Customs.

Kung sinisipag kayo, I suggest puntahan niyo ito at i-open lalo na yung brochure nila about “Advice to Travellers”. Remember, ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse. Below is a list of prohibited or restricted goods I got from that brochure.

1. Cash – If you’re bringing more than NZ$10,000, kailangan i-declare ninyo. Hindi naman bawal magdala ng more than this amount. Gusto lang nilang malaman at uriratin kung saan mo nakuha ang ganong karaming cash. If you obtained the amount through legal means, hindi ka dapat mangamba. The penalty for not declaring is $2,000.

To summarize, if you are bringing less than NZ$10,000 cash, hindi mo na kailangan i-declare. Otherwise, you have to declare. How about if you’re bringing more than that amount in traveller’s cheques, kailangan bang i-declare? Hindi po, kailangan lang kung cash ang dala mo.


2. Agricultural Items – food of any kind, plants, animals or their products, equipment used by animals, camping gear, golf clubs, used bicycles, biological specimens. If you’re bringing any of these, you have to declare them. Otherwise, you can be fined $200 upto $100,000 or 5 years in imprisonment for failure to do so.

Pwede bang magdala ng bagoong? Marami nang nakapagdala nito basta dapat maganda ang pagka-package at di nangangamoy. Mas maganda kung see-through ang lalagyan para hindi na i-open during inspection. Dahil kapag in-open at umalingasaw ang amoy, siguradong itatapon nila. The same is true for all other foods na maamoy. Eg. Tuyo, dried fish, squid.

Pwede bang magdala ng canned goods? Pwede basta may tamang labels. Kung ikaw lang ang nagpalata at ni-tape mo lang ang label, humanda ka at bubuksan nila ito. It’s not actually advisable na magpa-can ng pagkain.


3. Domestic pets – Di ko na i-explain ito. Most of us naman, don’t bring in pets.

4. Firearms and weapons – This is common sense. Ang dagdag ko lang yung mga taga-Batangas na mahilig sa balisong. Sorry, bawal ang balisong.

5. Medicines – You can bring over the counter medicines (imodium, lomotil, paracetamol, cortal, etc) basta reaonable quantity lang. If you are bringing prescription medicines you should have a prescription from your physician and the drugs must be in their original containers. Their quantity must not exceed 3 months supply for prescription medicines or one month supply for controlled drugs. I think examples nito yung mga depressants or anti-depressant drugs or anything na addictive.


6. Objectionable publications – mga sex magazines, books at mga DVDs, CD-ROMs na may bold. I’m sure some of it like Playboy and Penthouse are okay. Meron din dito non e. Basta siguro paisa-isa lang at not considered commecial quantity. Pero yung mga pirated DVD/VCD, hindi man objectionable, it’s possible na baka harangin dahil pirated.

7. There is a section in the brochure about “Radio Transmitters and Telecommunication Equipment” and another one for “Cannabis Utensils”. I won’t bother to explain them here, dahil di naman common. If you’re bringing any of these, basahin na lang yung brochure na nabanggit ko sa taas.

8. Products from Engangered or Exploited Species –

a. ivory in any form, including jewelry and carvings,
b. meat from whales, dolphines, rare animals,
c. medicines from rhino tusks, tiger derivatives,
d. carvings or other things made from whalebone or bone from many other marine mammals,
e. cat skins or coats,
f. trophies of: sea turtles, big cats, antelope, deer,
g. all clam shells, corals,
h. bird feathers,
i. butterfly collections,
j. many goods such as belts, bags shoes from skins of crocodiles, lizards, snakes or other reptiles.

Medyo strict yung number 8. This is because NZ is conforming to a word-wide agreement called CITES that aims to protect endangered wild life. Huwag ninyong tularan si Paul Hogan ng “Crocodile Dundee” na may leather vest, hunting knife na may leather na looban all from crocodile skin. Tapos may necklace pa na may mga ngipin ng crocodile. Ma ko-confiscate lang ng customs, if you bring any of those... tapos ikaw naman ang ipapakain sa mga crocodiles.

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE

Salamat kay Marghil for tagging me. Eto na ang mga sagot ko

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE

20 YEARS AGO:
1985 – Titser ako sa UP College of Engineering sa Diliman. Nagtuturo ng Computer Programming at Hydraulic Engineering subjects. I’m happy to say na wala akong binigyan ng singko sa mga naging estudyante ko. Syota ko na rin si Jean nitong mga taon na ito.

15 YEARS AGO:
1990 – Naging ama ako during this year. Napanganak ang one and only daughter namin. Nasa Bureau of Immigration ako nagwo-work at nag-install ng mga computers sa NAIA. Pinadala ako sa Canberra para mag-attend ng IBM training ng ilang linggo. Yon ang nagbigay ng idea sa akin para mag-migrate. It was this year and the following years that we decided to apply for migration to Australia. Kaso hindi natuloy kaya sa NZ kami napadpad.

10 YEARS AGO:
1995 – Bagsak kami sa application for residency sa Australia kaya nagbakasakali kami sa NZ. This year nasa processing na ang NZ application namin. Habang nipro-process I decided to apply for visitor’s visa to the US. 1995 nung pumunta ako sa US at maghanap ng trabaho. Sinuwerte naman at may nakuha akong sponsor doon. December ng taon na ito, sumunod sa akin sa US ang aking mag-ina. The following year nakuha namin ang resident visa namin sa NZ, kaya nagpasya na kaming mag-migrate sa NZ after a year and a half sa US.

FIVE YEARS AGO:
2000 – January nasa Pinas ako. Pinadala ako ng company na pinapasukan ko sa NZ sa Pinas para tulungan ang mga computer programmers sa Pinas na kasalukuyan noong nipro-program ang drivers licensing para sa LTO. Three months ako sa Pinas at bumalik.
By this time very much settled na kami sa NZ. May kotche at bahay (na inutang sa bangko) na kami. Stable naman ang mga trabaho namin ni Jean.

THREE YEARS AGO:
2002 – Nakabili kami ng bagong bahay na mas malaki kesa sa tinitirhan namin. Napilitan lang kami ng real estate agent kaya hindi pa kami ready na lipatan yung bahay. But it was a blessing in disguise. Pinaupahan muna namin yung bahay. After 6 months, prices of houses went up by tens of thousands. It was like winning lotto. Because we suddenly found ourselves having a bigger and better house for almost the same price as our old, smaller house. Binenta namin ang first house namin at the same price we got our new house. Di ba bongga? Nag-upgrade kami ng tirahan without borrowing more from the bank.

LAST YEAR:
December last year nag-start akong mag-blog. By accident, nadiscover ko ang blog ni Batjay from Singapore sa Kwentong Tambay. Naisip ko, masaya pala ang mag-blog at di ka naman kailangan maging magaling na writer. Your writings don’t have to be in perfect English or Tagalog para ma-appreciate ng iba.
Last year nakabili ako ng pangalawang sasakyan. Isang lumang Honda Odyssey.

THIS YEAR:
Nakapasyal kami sa Gold Coast, Australia para bisitahin ang aking sister. This year din kami mamamasyal uli sa Pinas since 2000.

YESTERDAY:
Natapos kong gawin yung isang project na pinapagawa sa akin ni esmi. Gawan ko raw ng cover yung lutuan niya sa labas ng bahay. Meron kasi kaming maliit na kalan sa labas ng bahay para doon siya nagluluto ng mga ma-amoy at matilamsik na luto gaya ng pritong isda. Gumawa ako ng parang maliit na phone booth. Nasa loob ang lutuan.

LAST NIGHT:
Natapos kong isalin sa MPEG files ang pelikulang “Jesus of Nazareth”. Dati kasi nasa tatlong VHS ang pelikulang ito. I finished transferring the entrie movie which is 380 minutes into 6 files. Sa susunod i-transfer ko sila sa DVD para pwedeng panoorin kahit saan.
Nag-bloghop ako after not having able to for a number of days already.

TODAY:
Masama ang ubo ko ngayon at may konting sipon pa. Ngayon lang ako nakahabol ng konti sa mga office work. Kaya ngayon may time na akong sagutin ito.

TOMORROW:
Bibisitahin ko yung isang tenant namin. Nagkaproblema daw yung bathroom sink at nagbaha sa hallway. Nabasa ang carpets. Hay! Naku!

NEXT YEAR:
I hope bayad na mortgage namin, para makapag-holiday naman sa US, Canada or Europe.

FIVE - TEN YEARS FROM NOW:
Definitely, dapat wala na kaming utang. At tapos na rin ang anak namin sa university. Kaya sitting pretty na lang. Every year magho-holiday kami. Yahoo!

Salo-salo sa PinoyAtbp!!!

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PAGKAIN ang current topic. Isa nga ako sa mga natokang magsubmit ng post. Basahin niyo ang post ko doon, pati na ng iba pang fellow bloggers. Lahat tungkol sa pagkain.

To give you a better introduction about PinoyAtbp!!!, eto ang sabi ni TeacherSol. (Mam, pakopya ng intro mo, ha. Galing e.)

ETO NA ANG...PINOY atbp!!!

Isa na namang makabuluhang blog ang aming binuo ng mga fellow bloggers at blogger friends ko. Hindi naman masasabing basta-basta ang aming blog na nai-launch na kahapon; isa ito sa mga paraan upang pagyamanin ang mga nabubuong pagiging magkakaibigan sa blogosphere ng mga Pinoy bloggers na naninirahan na ngayon sa iba't-ibang bansa. Isa rin itong magandang gabay para sa mga Pilipino na nais mamuhay sa ibang bansa, o sa mga Pilipinong nasa ibang bansa na may mga legal na problema tungkol sa mga naiwang ari-arian sa Pilipinas. Magandang ideya, di ba?

Updated ito halos araw-araw ng mga sikat na published writers, at mga writer wannabes (tulad ko, hehe). Sana naman mai-link ninyo rin ang aming community blog sa website ninyo, at silipin nyo rin paminsan-minsan ang mga nakakatuwang pagbibigay impormasyon namin tungkol sa maraming bagay na dapat nating malaman sa pagiging Pinoy.

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The Ultimate Hand Held Device

iPod is a class of portable digital audio players designed and marketed by Apple Computer. There are different models of the iPod, but the upper ends are those that come with a hard drive. There is one with a 20GB hard drive and another one with a 60GB hard drive. The 20GB model stores about 5,000 songs, while the 60GB, about 15,000 songs. Recently these models have been upgraded to also store photos. The 60GB model can store 25,000 photos.

Is it me or what? I don’t get it. Maybe people who own an iPod can answer these questions. Do you really intend to store 15,000 songs on your iPod? How long will it take to compile this many number of songs? Has anyone really taken the time to store 25,000 photos on their iPod? When you store photos, what do you do with them? With songs, at least you can listen to them all day. But with photos, do you plan to look at them all day too?

I think the iPod is but a fad or more appropriately a status symbol among the well-to-do. It's main function as an MP3 player will be shortlived. One could enjoy hours of listening to it, but I bet you, after a few weeks of listening to the same collection of songs, you’ld want throw up.

The other problem I have with an iPod or similar device is that it’s an extra thing you carry with you. If you already have a cell phone with you, carrying another small device, no matter how small makes it one too many.

Dapat pagsamasamahin na lang nila lahat ng small hand-held devices into one. Oo nga meron na ngayon cell phone with MP3 playback capability, but I think that is not enough. Ang gusto ko gumawa sila ng hand-held device that integrates at least the following everyday-used devices :

Cell phone/video phone

MP3 Player

Digital camera

AM/FM Radio

Sound recorder/player

USB file transfer device for your PC

Walkie-talkie (nice to have, but can be optional)

TV and Video player – a bigger screen will allow one to watch TV programs or play movies. Another optional feature. Baka maging masyadong mahal, kasi lalagyan pa ng TV tuner. But if the device already has a color screen, I can’t see why it can’t easily be used to play video clips or movies. Using ordinary RCA cables you can then connect it to a regular TV or computer to watch video.

Universal remote control for your TV/DVD/VCR/Stereo. Pwede na rin optional. Naisip ko lang kasi parating nagtatago ang remote namin.

I’m sure integrating the above devices into one is very possible. I even think it’s quite easy. It’ll be like a Swiss army knife for cell phones. Ano kayang itatawag? Swiss-Army phone? No, I have a better suggestion. Perhaps "MMP" as in Multi-Media Phone (hindi metro manila police). Or simply “The Phone” (because it will be the ultimate phone of all phones).

Embarrassing Moments

Got this TXT message from my daughter. I’m rewriting it here in readable form, not TXT language para mas madaling basahin.

Nasa elevator ka with your crush. Suddenly napa-UTOT nang malakas ang crush mo! Anong gagawin mo?

1. Magpakatotoo ka!

2. Smile, then say "Ok yung Ringtone mo ah, send mo naman sa akin!"

I thought it was funny. It brought out some memories of embarrassing moments and bloopers from my past. Seriously, when something awkwardly embarrassing happens to you, what do you do? In my case, wala akong magawa. Gusto ko na lang maglaho sa mundo.

I remember, nasa isang formal meeting kami. Mga bigtime pa nga ang mga ka-meeting ko. We were offerred chocolotates cookies and softdrinks for merienda. Siempre, kuha naman ako. While on my second cookie bigla akong nasamid. Para mahinto (or so I thought) ang aking pagkasamid tinungga ko ang malamig na coca-cola. Hala, biglang nag-tuloy-tuloy ang pagkasamid ko at naibuga ko ang natitirang pirapirasong cookies, na naglalagkit gawa ng coke at laway, na parang mga projectiles sa mukha at suits ng mga ka-meeting ko. At that point in time, all I wanted was to vanish from existence.

Moral lesson: Huwag iinom ng softdrinks kapag ikaw ay nasasamid.

Then there was another “dumb and dumber” kind of situation I got into when one time we had some VIPs from Australia visiting our company. To impress them, niyaya sila ng CEO namin, kasama ako sa Manila Hotel para mag-lunch. Aba, perstaym kong mag-lunch sa isang 5 star hotel. Ang galing smorgasbord (eat all you can). Tumayo kami para kumuha ng pagkain. Napansin ko ang mga Australyano at ang CEO namin, kokonti kung kumuha. Nung ako na, aba, gutom na ako e. Kung konti lang ang kukunin ko, di ako mabubusog, so pinuno ko ang ang king plate. As in, parang Cordillera mountains na nakabundok ang pagkain. Naisip-isip ko kailangan samantalahin ang pagkakataon. Hindi na mauulit ito. Umupo na kami at nagumpisang kumain at magkwentuhan. Business talk. Half an hour or so later, busog na busog na ako, lumapit yung isang waiter at sabi sa amin, “Sir/mam, the mains are now being served at the buffet table.” Doon ko na realize na yun palang unang tayo namin ay para kumuha lang ng appetizers! Iba pala ang pagkuha ng main course! Napa-iling na lang ako nung yayain akong muling kumuha ng pagkain at sinabi kong “No thanks, I’m already full.” Napatingin lahat sa akin ang mga puti at medyo nangingiti. Another instant na kung may disappearing powers ako, ginamit ko na.

Moral lesson: Sa turo-turo na lang kumain.

Kayo, have you been in an embarassing situation before where you felt like evaporating from this planet? How did you react? What's the best way to react?

TAGay ni Goyong

Sasagutin ko lang itong "TAGAY NG KUWATRO KANTOS PARA SA APAT NA ALAS" mula kay Mango Goyong. Eto na.

APAT NA PINAKADAKILANG PILIPINO:
1. Andres Bonifacio
2. Jose Rizal
3. Ninoy Aquino
4. Mang Pending (isang OCW)

APAT NA PILIPINONG HINAHANGAAN MO SA ANUMANG LARANGAN
1. Eddie Garcia
2. Rico J
3. Ninoy Aquino
4. George Estregan (sa larangan ng bold)

APAT NA MAGAGANDANG LUGAL SA PILIPINAS NA NARATING MO.
1. Corregidor Island
2. Baguio
3. Tagaytay
4. Mt. Makiling

APAT NA LUGAL SA PILIPINAS NA GUSTO MONG MAPUNTAHAN
1. Palawan
2. Davao
3. Boracay
4. Ifugao Rice Terraces

APAT NA BAGAY NA PAG-NAKIKITA MO NAALALA MO ANG PILIPINAS.
1. Bahay Kubo
2. Jeep
3. Tricycle
4. Parol

APAT NA PUTAHENG PILIPINONG PABORITO MO.
1. Rellenong Alimango
2. Pochero
3. Ginataang kuhol
4. Sinigang na Bangus sa santol

APAT NA SALITANG PILIPINO NA KAILANGAN MO NG TALASALITAAN PAG IYONG NARINIG
1. Pariwara
2. Talipandas
3. Paghawan
4. pass, la na maisip

APAT NA KANTANG PILIPINONG GUSTO MONG MARINIG.
1. Masdan Mo
2. Pinay
3. Bayan ko
4. Pasko na, sinta ko

APAT NA MATATAMIS NA SALITANG O KATAGANG PILIPINO
1. Iniirog
2. Sinisinta
3. Mutya
4. Asukal (sori la na kong maisip)

APAT NA APELYIDO NA PAG IYONG NARINIG NAKAKATIYAK KANG SILA AY PINOY
1. Penduko
2. Bituin
3. Dimatulak
4. Tapang

APAT NA PANGALANG PINOY NA AYAW MONG IPANGALAN SA IYONG ANAK.
1. Serafica
2. Ryan (Baka tuksuhin "sirayan")
3. Israel (hindi makakapagtrabaho sa Saudi. It's true)
4. Mustafa (suspected terrorist kaagad pag punta ng US)

APAT NA LARONG PILIPINO NA NALARO MO NA NG BATA KA PA.
1. Taguan
2. Patintero
3. Luksong tinik
4. Tumbang preso

APAT NA BAGAY NA AYAW MO SA PILIPINAS.
1. Lagay
2. Basura
3. Politiko
4. Trapik

APAT NA BAGAY NA GUSTO MO SA PILIPINAS
1. Pamilya
2. Shopping Centers
3. Pagkain
4. Fiesta

APAT NA BAGAY NA GAGAWIN MO KUNG IKAW ANG PANGULO NG PILIPINAS.
1. Compulsary education
2. Federal type government
3. Supilin ang graft and corruption
4. Repormahin ang elections nang maging kapanipaniwala

Sleepover

Sleepover is a very common practice among children here in NZ. Eto yung makikitulog usually isang gabi ang bata sa bahay ng isang kaibigan o classmate. Kadalasan grupo sila na matutulog sa bahay ng isang classmate dahil may okasyon. Halimbawa birthday nung nagpapa-sleep-over.

I remember the first time na mag-sleep over sa ibang bahay ang daughter namin, she was 7 years old. Naalala ko noon hindi kami mapalagay ni esmi dahil perstaym siyang hindi natulog sa bahay namin. Hirap kaming matulog at malungkot pala kapag may kulang na isang miembro ng pamilya.

Ano naman ang ginagawa ng mga bata during a sleepover? Sa mga girls, the usual girlie stuff. They play dress up, watch chic-flic movies, eat popcorn, and talk all night long. Anything but sleep. 5AM nga gising pa! Sa mga boys naman, di ko alam. Wala kasi akong anak na boy. I’d guess play PS2 or Xbox.

What should children bring during a sleepover? If you’re child is the one going to a mate’s house for a sleepover, make sure that they bring along some warm clothes during winter, play clothes, pyjamas or sleep wear, tootbrush, toothpaste, towel, a pillow and sleeping bag. You shouldn’t expect a bed and blankets to be available. Out of consideration for the host you shouldn’t require them to provide any either. Hence a sleeping bag is essential.

May kaibigan akong Pinoy na may tatlong anak na halos kasing idad ng anak namin. Siya hindi niya pinapayagan mag-sleepover ang mga anak niya. Kapag tinatanong siya ng mga anak niya kung bakit. Ang sagot niya “basta, di pwede because it’s not common Filipino practice!”. Sa aking opinyon, over protective siya. Para sa akin kasi there comes a time na kailangan din payagan ang bata para masanay na maging independent and responsible. Kailangan din ipakita na you trust them not to do anything stupid especially when you’re not watching.

Kayo, what’s your view on this? Papayagan niyo bang mag-sleepover ang anak niyo? At what age will you allow them?

Pito-pito

KaDyo, eto ang mga sagot ko sa mga tanong mo. Thanks for tagging me.

Seven things that scare you:
Loosing a family member. (Don’t know if I could cope with this)
My wife when she’s angry
Riding a roller coaster
Snakes
Rats
Stray dogs
Creepy, slimy creatures

Seven things you like the most:
Spending time with my family
A sunny day
Browsing inside a hardware store
Watch movies
My wife's cooking
Grilled juicy steak
Gourmet Coffee

Seven important things in your bedroom:
PC
Radio alarm clock
Digital Camera
Family portrait
TV
Phone
DVD movie collection


Seven random facts about you:
I’m left handed when doing most but not all tasks
I used to have a moustache, but decided to shave it off last year when gray hair started to appear.
I have very slim feet, size 7 and a half
I have two Levi’s jeans, sizes 33 and 34
My jewelry collection consists of my wedding ring and a Seiko-5 watch
My cellphone is an antiquated Nokia 6210. (Same size as the 5210 but slightly slimmer)
I drive a 1993 Honda Civic. Our other car is a 1996 Honda Odyssey

Seven things you plan to do before you die:
Teach Jean and my daughter how to drive
Teach Jean how to open the safe
Organize my insurances and give Jean all important documents
Sell properties I have in the Philippines
Visit friends and enemies, if any
Hug and kiss Jean and my daughter
Post my “Mi Ultimo Adios” in my blog

Seven things you can do:
Fix a leaking tap
Assemble a computer
Use hand tools and a few powertools
Cook egg (hard boiled, soft boiled, semi-hard boiled, sunny side up, scrambled)
Cook the best tasting grilled pork chop
Hold my breath for 1 minute and 15 seconds
Speak a little Japanese

Seven things you can't do:
Sing
Dance
Cook
Bend forward and touch the floor without bending my knees
Roller or ice skates
Swim more than 100 meters (Any longer, I’ll drown)
Have sex more than 5 nights in a row

Seven things that attract you to the opposite sex:
Eyes
Flawless complexion
Bouncy hair (yung parang bagong shampoo at kahit malayo naaamoy mo na ang bango)
Breasts of any size as long as they’re natural. (Implants turn me off).
Long straight legs, especially if she’s wearing mini or tight jeans
Soft, bedroom (not loud, high pitched, irritation) voice
Smooth silky hands with short clean fingernails

Seven things you say the most:
The word “just”. (I just can’t finish a paragraph without using this word. It’s just me.)
“Come to think of it”
“Ganun ba?”
“Sorry?” (As in “I beg your pardon.”)
“Langya!”
“Pambihira!”
“Nak ng hweteng!”

Seven celeb crushes (whether local or foreign):
Raquel Welch (during her prime. Napaghahalata tuloy ang idad ko)
Sophia Lorren (during her prime.)
Dawn Zulueta (in the 90’s, because I don’t know what she looks like now)
Demi Moore (When I first saw her in “About Last Night”)
Jennifer Beals (in Flashdance)
Ara Mina
Vivian Velez (in that famous betamax scene with a certain Mayor, I forgot his name)

I need an interesting shop name

Ang galing talaga ng sense of humor natin. Stumbled into this page of Philippines Today in the net. Natawa ako sa mga shop names in the Philippines. Here’s some of my favorites to do with eateries. Balak ko kasing magtayo ng Pinoy restaurant dito sa Auckland. Believe it or not, there is not a single Filipino restaurant in NZ yet! There were a few who tried to start one, pero di tumatagal, nalugi yata. I think ang kailangan nila yung pangalan ng shop na tulad ng mga ito.

Babalik Karinderia
Bread Pitt (Bakery)
Candies Be Love?
Caintacky Fried Chicken (in Cainta, Rizal)
Cleopata's (bakahan and manukan)
Cooking ng ina mo (carinderia)
Cooking ng ina mo rin (right across Cooking ng ina mo)
Doris Day and Night (24 hour eatery)
Domingo's Pizza
Kina Roger's (restaurant)
Le Cheng Tea House (in Chinatown)
MacDonuts (Donut Shop)
Mang Donald's (burger joint, Naga City plaza)
Miki Mao (noodle eatery)
The Fried of Marikina (fried chicken shop)
Wrap and Roll (lumpia outlet, Quad, Makati)
Pansit ng taga-Malaboni - along Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong

Makakuha kaya ako ng franchise ng isa sa mga ito para i-open dito sa Auckland? Pero mas ok siguro kung original ang pangalan ng restaurant. Balak ko puro ihaw-ihaw lang ang pagkain. Madaling i-prepare at mahilig naman ang mga Kiwi sa barbecue. Kailangan ko, a catchy name for the shop. Ano kaya?

Usapang bubwits

Overheard the following conversation from 2 bubwits.

James: "I'm going to school now."
Joyce: "Ya, and what do you do in school?"
James: "Play, eat and my teacher teaches us the alphabet and spelling."
Joyce: (Ayaw magpatalo) "Me, I'm not going to school yet, but my mum said I'm very bright because I already know how to spell."
James: "Really, what can you spell?"
Joyce: "I know how to spell DVD."

O kayo, nung pre-schooler pa kayo, marunong na ba kayong mag-spell ng DVD? hahaha!

Love and Hate

It is said “The opposite of love is not hate: it's indifference” and “It’s better to be hated than ignored”. I do believe in these sayings because I do believe it is easier to transform hate into love, but not so with indifference.

So when someone tells you “I hate you”, be grateful because he/she has bothered to hate you. He/She has put time and energy to express an emotion towards you. With their attention you now have a chance to turn hate into love. On the otherhand people who are indifferent towards you, don’t care about you. To them you are invisible. Without their attention, there is no chance to get their affection. It's as simple as that.

Hindi ba nakapagtataka na kung minsan ang nakakatuluyan ng isang tao, yun pang hate-na-hate nila nung high school o college? Sa mag-syota o mag-asawa, there are times na nagkakaaway kayo, di ba? During those times you feel na galit na galit kayo sa isa't isa. May ilang magkakaibigan na ang friendship nila started from a quarrel. Ang magkakapatid, ina o ama at anak nagtatampuhan yan at kung minsan hindi nag-uusap ng matagal. Tapos pag namatay o nawala ang magulang o anak, magsisisi ang kabila and only then they realize their pettiness and the fact that they really didn't hate each other. If you think about it, hate in these contexts is really a result of the need for love. You hate someone because they failed to manifest positive feelings towards you. In other words you hate them for not loving you. And this is not too bad because it only takes one party to stop hating and soon both starts loving.

Which is why when I know a person hates me and provided I don't feel the same way, I try to reciprocate with kindness and pray for their love. If this doesn't work I simply hope for them to continue hating me. That I can accept, but ignore me, I beg them, please not.

Forget Not, Hiroshima!

Today, August the 6th marks the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. On this date, year 1945 was when the US aircraft “Enola Gay” dropped the first weapon of mass destruction ever used in war on Hiroshima, Japan. The devastation levelled an entire city to the ground and killed 150,000 people within seconds.

In 1991, I had the chance to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Having been there personally at ground zero, seeing war pictures, murals, video footages and even talking to some survivors first hand made me feel the immensity of the destruction. Man’s inhumanity to man! Still fresh in my mind was the story narrated to us by one survivor of how some of the victims fleeing away from the inferno tried to jump into the Hiroshima River thinking they’ll find relief in it. But relief there was not, only gruesome death. For the water was boiling hot!

Years after the war, thousands more of the city’s surviving inhabitants eventually died of diseases directly attributable to radiation exposure. Perhaps none more poignant as the story of Sadako Sasaki, a 12 year old girl who for 10 years after the bombing suffered leukemia. While in the hospital Sadako started making origami paper cranes believing in an age-old Japanese belief that one’s wish will be granted after making one thousand paper cranes. She tried and tried, never losing hope, until she became very weak and eventually succumbed to the disease. She managed to only make 600 or so cranes before she died. After she died, Sadako’s classmates decided to build a monument for her of a beautiful girl holding a crane over her head. Inscribed at the bottom of the statue: "This is our cry, This is our prayer, Peace in the world". Today, children all around the world create paper cranes as a symbol of peace.

An epitaph at Hiroshima’s Peace Park reads, “Let All the Souls Here Rest in Peace, For We Shall Not Repeat the Evil.” It is my hope that the nightmare of Hiroshima never to happen again. And so with reflection and prayer, I bid you all, forget not, Hiroshima!

Lahing Artista at Singer

Kuha ito sa Seaworld, Gold Coast Australia. Jean, our daughter Fidez, nephew Robb and Me.


Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung i-post ko ang picture na ito. Kaya tinanong ko si Jean kung i-post ko ba o hindi.

“Sige, i-post mo na, kamukha mo naman talaga si Brad Pwet diyan e.”, nanunuyang sagot niya.

“A ganon ba? Bagay pala tayo. Kasi hawig ka dun sa singer na Spears ang pangalan.”, seryosong sagot ko naman.

“Ah si Britney Spears, yung kumanta ng Toxic? Talaga?” tanong niya.

“Hindi si Britney, si Pweet-ni Spears” sagot ko sabay halakhak nang nakakainis.

Hinabol ako at pinagkukurot.

Si Pareng Brad

Una kong napanood si Brad Pitt sa pelikulang “Sleepers” at “Seven Years in Tibet”. Bilib ako sa akting at dating ni Brad sa silver screen. Hindi lang looks, pero meron din siyang X factor. Pagkatapos non napanood ko rin siya sa “Devil’s Own” (kasama niya si Harrison Ford), “Legends of the Fall” at “Troy”. Pero ang pinaka-peborit ko yung “Meet Joe Black”. Mahilig kasi ako sa love story at kasama niya dito yung isa pang hinahangaan kong artista, si Anthony Hopkins, na naging tanyag sa pagganap bilang na Hannibal sa “Silence of the Lambs”.

Katuwaan lang, nagresearch ako ng mga old photos ni Brad nung siya ay bata pa. May nakita naman ako. Eto. Hindi mo ma-recognize, di ba?



Ay naku mali pala ang picture na na-post ko. Hindi naman yan si Brad Pitt e. Brad Pwet pwede pa. Teka sino nga ba ang totoy na yan?

"Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been'."

Ang aking ama ay isang napakatalino at sikat na inhinyero nung 50's/60's. In fact, nag top 10 siya sa board exam ng civil engineering. Mapua grad siya at ilan sa mga notable buildings na siya ang structural engineer ay ang Insular Life at Rustan's sa Makati. Mabait at uliran siyang ama. Pero ganon siguro talaga, kapag mabait ang tao. Maagang kinukuha ng Diyos. 43 anos lang siya nung siya ay barilin at pagsasaksakin sa loob ng kanyang opisina sa may Rizal Ave, Manila.

Isang construction worker na kanyang nakagalitan dahil nahuli niyang natutulog sa job site ang pumaslang sa kanya. Nadakip naman ang murderer subalit di ko na nalaman pa kung ano ang nangyari sa kaso. Sampung taon lang kasi ako nung mangyari ito.

Dahil sa pagkawala ng aking ama, kami ay napilitang umuwi sa aming probinsiya sa Pampanga at doon magpatuloy ng pag-aaral. Lima kaming magkakapatid na mag-isang pinalaki ng aming ina. Sari-saring business ang pinasukan niya para kami’y mabuhay nang hindi umaasa sa tulong ng iba. Meron nang mangalakal ng paninda tulad ng kumot, kulambo, alahas, gamit-kusina, at mga damit mula sa Maynila at Zamboanga para itinda sa Pampanga. Meron nang maglako ng home-made niyang tocino at longganisa. Nagbukas din kami ng botika at maliit na kainan sa may Basa Air Base.

Bayani ang aming ina. Kinalimutan niya ang sarili niyang kaligayahan. Hindi niya naisipang mag-asawang muli. Lahat ng oras at lakas niya kanyang ginugol para sa aming magkakapatid. Dahil kung tutuusin, di naman kailangan sa exclusive schools niya kami papag-aralin. Pero dahil naniniwala siyang magandang edukasyon lang ang maipapamana niya sa amin, kaya kahit hirap siya, pinilit pa rin niyang mapagtapos kami sa mga kilalang paaralan. Don Bosco, St Scho at St Marys sa elementary at high school. Sa kolehiyo naman, dalawa kami nung kapatid kong lalaki (na ngayo'y may doctorate na at kasalukuyang nagtuturo sa La Salle) ang nakatapos sa UP Diliman, at yung mga babaing kapatid sa UST naman.

Malupit yata talaga kung minsan ang tadhana. Dahil pagkatapos maghirap ng aming ina upang kami’y pagtapusin sa pag-aaral, siya naman ang kinuha ng Panginoon. Isa lang sa amin ang nasamahan niya sa college graduation. Nasa 2nd year college pa lang ako nung siya ay ma-diagnose ng cancer. Ilang buwan siyang naratay at naghirap bago siya pumanaw, isang linggo lamang pagkaraan ng kanyang ika 48th birthday. Wala na siya nung lahat kami’y isa-isang mag-graduate at magtamasa ng masaganang pamumuhay.

Mahirap maging ulila, lalo na sa murang idad na desi-otso (come to think of it, 14 years old naman ang bunso namin at that time; kasing idad lang pala ng anak ko ngayon!). Kung minsan ma-mimiss mo ang iyong mga magulang. Wala ka nang mapagtatanungan at mahihingan ng support, moral man o pinansyal kapag ikaw ay may problema. Lahat ng dilemma sagot mo. Di tulad dati, magaan dahil kahati mo sila sa problema.

Yung mga kaibigan ko ngayon na kung minsan ay nag-ko-complain dahil sa pagpapadala nila ng pera sa kanilang mga magulang, ang masasabi ko lang, mapalad pa rin kayo dahil may mga magulang pa kayo. Huwag ninyo akong tularan dahil ako di ko man lang naipadama (black sheep kasi ako noon) ang aking pasasalamat at pagmamahal sa aking mga magulang nung sila ay nabubuhay pa. Huli na nung ma-realize ko ito. Kaya mahalin niyo sila habang buhay pa sila at ipadama niyo ito. Tandaan ninyo tatanda rin kayo tulad nila. How you treat them today, may be no different from how your children will treat you tomorrow.

Eto nga pala sila. Corazon at Mauro Sr. Para sa inyo ito.