jun.anteola

It had been a long time since my family last got together for a fun trip, and spending Sunday at the MOAP was well worth the short ride from Ozamiz. Except for a couple of aunts and my tatay, who always manages to give some flimsy reason not to go when such occasions come (be it outings, parties, weddings, etc), everybody who went had something to be happy about. I have always loved the beach, but the experience moved it several notches up my “most memorable” and “best holidays” lists.

The Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park is the province’s best bet for eco-tourism, and boasts of a mangrove forest, a mini zoo, an ostrich farm, fish hatcheries, marine reserve, boat rides, fresh seafood, and beach frolic.

The best part of it was Dolphin Island, a short boat ride away, where the real fun is at. There’s a sanctuary for dolphins open for public viewing, and which the kids loved. I counted ten, and of different species. I was told these were bottlenose and pantropical spotted dolphins, and a single false killer whale. Continue reading this entry »

I grew up listening to Yoyoy Villame songs, as they were staple to local radio then. My father is a big fan as well, and during high school, I remember squirming in embarrassment as he’d turn his cassette player full volume when his mood called for his Yoyoy and Max Surban collections. Back then I thought it was baduy and hillbilly, and I didn’t want to be called that. It was only later, on drunken binges, when college barkada reintroduced me to the music, that I was able to appreciate the humor, the craft and the genius behind the songs.

Sadly, we lost Yoyoy to cardiac arrest on Friday, May 18, 2007.

In Memoriam.

Nephew: Tito, is grandpa your dad? And grandma your mom?

Me: Yes, they are.

Nephew: And isn’t grandpa my papa’s father, too? And grandma my papa’s mom?

Me: Yes, of course. That makes me and your papa, brothers.

Nephew: You are both their babies?

Me: We used to be their babies, just like you were your mama and papa’s.

Nephew: Why do you fight a lot? People here fight much…

It took me some time to realize that he was referring to the occasional, casual disagreements in the household, which may have had us raising voices. When impassioned, we sometimes do. Even if the issue is as trivial as Kris Aquino’s lovelife, on whether Maria Flordeluna’s storyline was changed from that which starred Janice, NBA upsets, or most recently, why Chiz should be voted for. I tried to explain to him that we weren’t actually quarreling, we never do.

But what difference does it make to a four-year-old?

• Half the world, nearly three billion people, live on less than two dollars a day
• Over a billion people are illiterate – unable to read or sign their name
• Some 1.1 Billion people have inadequate access to water
• 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation

I was aware that the internet is a medium with a large user base, but it was only when I started to blog and go blog hopping that I got to appreciate this. Through the very few months I have been at it, I came to experience firsthand and realise the potential of the internet to reach an immense number of people, and to sell anything - be it a product, an idea, a skill, even affection. Until then, I couldn’t quite comprehend and ascertain why businesses see it as an important medium to advertise in.

It is from seeing this tool’s power over both consumer and provider that the people at ripple found inspiration to get income to support its causes: access to clean water, food, education and microcredit for the less fortunate. With a click or a search on the ripple homepage, users help in generating funds for these ends, advertisers effectively reach consumers as well as contribute, and more money means more work done for the advancement of these charities. It’s a win-win scenario. It makes one feel good because he is able to get involved in something worthwhile, and there’s no catch.

click on the image to get started in saving the world

“Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” - Rudyard Kipling, 1892

Wouldn’t it be neat if either of the sexes is able to instinctively decipher each other’s minds? There will be no need to beat around the bush and end up feeling stupid. Talk is good, but sometimes people say one thing but really mean another. It then becomes convenient to say men are from Mars, women are from Venus. Rules of diplomacy are in order.

Here’s one hilarious list I was able to stumble upon online. For the ladies.

Mens’ Rules for Women

1.It is only common courtesy that you should leave the seat on the toilet UP when you are done.
2.If you are cooking a special dinner for a man, be sure to include something from each of the four major male food groups: Meat, Fried, Beer, and Red.
3.Don’t make him hold your purse in the mall.
4.Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary in many of the fine bars and fraternities throughout the country, not all men are cretins deserving your contempt.
5.Shopping is not fascinating.
6.When he asks for a threesome with you and your best friend, he is only joking.
7.Unless the answer is yes.
8.In which case, can he videotape it?
9.If you REALLY want a nice guy, stop dating good-looking assholes.
10.The man is ALWAYS in charge of poking the campfire with a stick and/or tending the grill. Continue reading this entry »

 

MAY 5, 2005: A counselor in red soccer jersey & his team brought me to It Works! After hours, I was transferred to LS for detoxification. On May 9th, monday, I started Day 1 and attended my 1st A A Meeting. Thank You for helping me… Today, I am two (2) years CLEAN & SOBER…

My brother sent this text message to me this morning. I wanted to say, “how time flies!”, but taking his perspective, these two years of daily struggle against drug addiction has been a long, challenging crawl through the tunnel’s end.

All that happened about his healing still remain fresh, etched in memory, to serve as a battery of lessons about life, love and family.

The family never expected it to happen to anyone among us. We saw no reason for him to get into it. He didn’t either. Like the rest of them. Nobody intends to get caught into its trap. Lucky are those who are able to get away from it after the first few tries, or are able to occasionally have its thrill without discernible harm. Maybe it just isn’t their thing. But for most, the promise of temporal pleasure is just too hard to ignore and let pass. And it doesn’t take long to get hooked, even before they know it. By then it will be too late to see that there is no sense in playing Russian roulette with life. Continue reading this entry »