Emergency Alert

This was an emergency earthquake alert on my cell phone that woke me up. It came in three times. 

English translation “Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit San Marcelino Zambales at 10:27pm, 25th May 2017. Aftershocks are expected. Be prepared, ensure your safety and your family as well. “

San Marcelino Zambales is located along the northern coast of Subic Bay in the Philippines. Earthquake was felt in some areas in Manila, but not where I live.

Although you woke me up, thank you PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology) for the alert. You are much improved now. Keep up the great job!

Thank you to the inventor of smart phones. Thank you to my office for giving me the smart phone. A gift I received for being a loyal employee for ten years of service. Emergency situations are disseminated to the public instantly through this powerful gadget. 

Remembering our Departed Loved Ones

Every 1^st to the 2^nd of November yearly, Filipinos would visit departed loved ones at various memorial parks and cemeteries. Customarily, the occasion is being observed nationwide by surviving family members taking with them flowers and candles as offering to their departed loved ones. 

Those with bigger family members visiting would have tents. The tents are to protect themselves from the bright sunlight at daytime. Likewise shield from possible rain as they vigil overnight.

Family members would bring food for them to partake during the visit. In some memorial parks, fast food operators would take advantage of business opportunity. They cater food to the family members who do not have time to prepare food. It is a family reunion to most Filipinos as they gather together at the resting place of their departed loved ones.

Most of us prefer to visit on the 1^st of November, being All Saints Day, some would visit the 2^nd being the All Souls Day. It is also acceptable if we visit early to avoid the traffic jam.  In my case, I prefer to visit my parents resting place before the 1^st of November.  Prior to the occasion, family members would clean up the tomb, freshen up with new coats of paints and make sure the epitaph on the head stone are readable.  For those who can afford to pay, they would hire someone to do the job.

Despite the influence of Western culture that is celebrating Halloween. Most of us Filipinos would spend for candles and flowers for our departed loved ones rather than spending for Halloween parties.  Due to some imposition from private offices and shopping malls some of us are hook up on preparing costumes for Halloween.  I have nothing against those who celebrate Halloween parties. But, to be honest I do not like to see grotesque figures of dead people, zombies and the like.   It is not that I am scared of them but for me it connotes negativism.

I am glad that majority of us, Filipinos do not really buy the idea of Halloween parties. Rather continue the cultural tradition of spending money and time in remembrance of our departed loved ones. This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation all over the Philippines. This occasion in addition to Christmas brings Filipinos together as a family

Remembering our Departed Loved Ones

Every 1^st to the 2^nd of November yearly, Filipinos would visit departed loved ones at various memorial parks and cemeteries. Customarily, the occasion is observed nationwide by surviving family members taking with them flowers and candles as offering to their departed loved ones. Those with bigger family members visiting would have tents. The tents are to protect themselves from the bright sunlight at daytime. Likewise shield from possible rain as they vigil overnight.

Family members would bring food for them to partake during the visit. In some memorial parks, fast food operators would take advantage of business opportunity. They cater food to the family members who do not have time to prepare food. It is a family reunion to most Filipinos as they gather together at the resting place of their departed loved ones.

Most of us prefer to visit on the 1^st of November, being All Saints Day, some would visit the 2^nd being the All Souls Day. It is also acceptable if we visit early to avoid the traffic jam.  In my case, I prefer to visit my parents resting place before the 1^st of November.  Prior to the occasion, family members would clean up the tomb, freshen up with new coats of paints and make sure the epitaph on the head stone are readable.  For those who can afford to pay, they would hire someone to do the job.

Miss International 2016

Congratulations Miss Philippines! 

Kylie Verzosa, Miss International 2016! 

Thank you for a job well done! Thank you for making us Filipinos proud again with another talented Filipina beauty! 

At the pageant the fifteen finalists were given a minute to give a speech.  She spoke with clarity and said.

"Three things come to mind when I think of Miss International: culture, education, and international understanding. These three work together to make the brand of Miss International beauty pageant relevant to the global community and to our time. If I become Miss International 2016, I will devote myself to cultural understanding and international understanding because I believe that it is in developing in each of us sensitivity to other cultures that we expand our horizons, tolerate difference and appreciate diversity. All these enable us to achieve international understanding and I believe I am prepared to take on this responsibility"

Other winners - 1st Runner-up Alexandra Britton Miss Australia. 2nd Runner-up Felicia Hwang Miss Indonesia, 3rd Runner-up Miss Brianny Chamorro Miss Nicaragua, 4th Runner-up Kaityrana Leinbach Miss USA. Pageant was held at Tokyo Dome City Hall, Tokyo,Japan, 27th of Oct. 

Kylie is Philippines 6th Miss International winner. She is a pre- school teacher from Baguio City Philippines. A graduate of one of a private schools in Manila, Philippines with Business Management degree. 

Miss International 2016

Congratulations Miss Philippines Kylie Verzosa, Miss International 2016! 

Thank you for a job well done! Thank you for making us Filipinos proud again with another talented Filipina beauty! 

Her winning answer - "If I become Miss International 2016, I will devote myself to cultural understanding and international understanding because I believe that it is in developing in each of us sensitivity to other cultures that we expand our horizons, tolerate difference and appreciate diversity,"

Other winners - 1st Runner-up Alexandra Britton Miss Australia. 2nd Runner-up Felicia Hwang Miss Indonesia, 3rd Runner-up Miss Brianny Chamorro Miss Nicaragua, 4th Runner-up Kaityrana Leinbach Miss USA. Pageant was held at Tokyo Dome City Hall, Tokyo,Japan, 27th of Oct. 

Kylie is Philippines 6th Miss International winner. She is a pre- school teacher from Baguio City Philippines. A graduate of one of a private schools in Manila, Philippines with Business Management degree. 

Baguio City Goodies

I received these goodies from our thoughtful team captain yesterday morning while at work. It came all the way from Baguio City. The place is known to Filipinos as Summer Capital of the Philippines due to its cool weather all year round. Baguio City is on the north, about five hours drive from Manila. We had our team building there, 5th and 6th of March. About four of us in our team did not make for various reasons. The strawberries are so sweet, the  jam is my favorite. The strawberries are gone in few bites. The jam is still inside my ref with a spoonful gone.  :)

The Gilas Pilipinas Fever

The last but not the least win over Senegal is not bad for our FIBA National Team Gilas Pilipinas. I am not an avid fan of basketball compared to my late mother, but I was touched by these players who fought hard on the court. It is my pride and joy to watch them play hard over their mighty basketball nemesis. Filipinos buoyed by the team resilience over the four times court mishaps supported Gilas until the conclusion of the game. Winning over Senegal was the game that elevated the morale of Gilas team and millions of Filipino basketball fans.

The most talked about hard court battle was that of the match between Gilas Pilipinas and Argentina. Argentina coach Julio Lamas twitted as I quote “The most uncomfortable game I had to coach in my life.” Sports writer Andy Bailey  says “Gilas Pilipinas refuses to die.” Filipino fans within the Philippines and abroad were glued to their televisions cheering relentlessly for their basketball icons. We lost in the score board, Philippines 81, Argentina 85. But, take note as of 2013, Argentina ranked third worldwide, Philippines is on the thirty fourth slot.

Recap of Gilas Filipinas Games FIBA World Cup 2014 – Seville Spain

August 30 Gilas Pilipinas scored 78, Croatia scored 81

August 31 Gilas Pilipinas scored 70, Greece scored 82
September 1 Gilas Pilipinas scored 81, Argentina scored 85
September 3 Gilas Pilipinas scored 73, Puerto Rico scored 77
September 4 Gilas Pilipinas scored 81, Senegal scored 79

I would say, if Manny Paquiao gained popularity worldwide as boxing icon. Heart strong Gilas Pilipinas gained great respect in basketball game worldwide. It was not an easy win for the much taller opponents. Gilas Pilipinas fought mightily like a Filipino warrior with agility and passion. Truly inspiring!

HATS OFF FOR YOU GILAS PILIPINAS! 

The Purple Thumb

Most winning candidates last 13^th of May on our automated election were already proclaimed as winners. Most are happy, yet some are not. Some are questioning the qualifications of the winners. Some winners are yet to be determined if they are qualified to run process wise.  Our Election Commissioner Chief had been strict on our Party List Representatives.  The battle for some disqualifications cases for these Party Lists Groups are still pending for resolution with our Supreme Court.  

                    My CONGRATULATIONS to the Winners!

Election 2013

I forgot to mention in my blog post another hot event in Manila and throughout the country is the ongoing campaign for our 12 Senatorial bets, Congressmen and local officials. We are to have the election comes 13^th of May this year. As usual candidates have time to make themselves lovelies and handsome in the presence of their constituents and spectators during campaign rallies. I do hope if they get to be elected their promises are not to be broken. 

Our Commission on Election Chief and Officers all of a sudden became famous. The Chief had laid out rules for the campaign. Disqualifications were made on some nuisance candidates. In the Philippines, our constitution has provision for party list representatives to run. Whoever is the representative of a party list is given a seat in our Congress.  He also enjoys the benefits accorded to a Congressman. Our Commission on Election Chief was marred by criticism when he disqualified some party list to run. Motions for reconsideration were filed and left to the decision of our Supreme Court.

In the end, the sole judge for this sovereign exercise will be us, the Filipino people. I rally behind Filipinos who would opt for conscience voting. I want the taxes I am paying to be in good hands.

What is Hot in Manila?

The weather in Manila Philippines is about 35 degrees Celsius but even warmer in some Northern Luzon provinces. It is summer as declared by our weathermen. While some are getting ready for the beach escapade some prefer to stay home and save their money for their children school expenses comes June. June is the opening of classes in Philippines. My neighbor bought a plastic pool for their kids. The children about three to four years of age enjoyed throwing a toy penguin at each other inside the pool joined by some kids in the neighborhood. Our common yard became an instant swimming pool. 

My summer becomes hotter due to body temperature of almost 40 degrees. I had fever as I was attacked by my allergic cough.  I could not stop the cough despite my antihistamine cough medicines.  I went to see a doctor for the right medicines. Doc prescribed anti bacterial antibiotics and allergy tabs. Accordingly, I have asthma that is manifested in cough instead of shortness of breath. This normally happens to me when there is change of weather from cold to warm.  No worries this time folks. I am feeling much better now, no more fever but still coughing a bit.

Miss Tourism International 2012

Rizzini Alexis Gomez is Miss Tourism International 2012. A registered nurse from Cebu City Philippines bested fifty-four other contestants. Fifty-five beautiful young ladies from different countries participated in the contest. The beauty pageant was held in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 31^st of Dec. 2012.  Miss Gomez also won best in evening gown aside from winning the coveted title. 

Congratulations Miss Philippines

Janine Tugonon is 1^st Runner Up- on the recently concluded Miss Universe 2012 Beauty Pageant. Filipinos are VERY proud of YOU!

Coronation night was held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Wednesday night 19^th of Dec. 2012, Thursday morning 20^th of Dec. 20 in Manila, Philippines.

Miss Universe 2012 Winners

Miss Universe - Miss U.S.A  Olivia Culpo

1st Runner Up - Miss Philippines, Janine Tugonon

2nd Runner-Up - Miss Venezuela, Irene Sofía Esser Quintero

3rd Runner-Up - Miss Australia, Renae Ayris

4th Runner-Up -Miss Brazil, Gabriela Markus

Home Hobby

Whenever I am on day off from work I would slumped on my red couch to watch television for early morning or evening news. Mostly not good news, but at least I am updated with what is happening around Manila, the entire Philippines and other countries as well. 

My television is the first appliance I bought since I started working at the Call Center. I call it call center baby.I still do not have cable as I am still debating what provider to choose.  Well, I guess not a priority for now. It is alright, I have access to international news anyway through internet.