Rice and Life

I am out of the country and the other day i talked to my sister on the phone. My sister is 3 months pregnant. She told me, "how i wish i am not pregnant right now, the rice is 50 pesos per kilo already and it might reach 60 pesos per kilo this year". I answered to her, "you better be pregnant now than when the kilo of rice will be 100 pesos or more!".

The fact is : when is the right time to get pregnant? The right time is when you are there and when you think you can support a life. As for me, there is no right time to get pregnant.

The businessmen are so tricky brilliant. They had been hoarding and hoarding how many cavans of rice? They want to sell it for higher price. Of course, they want profit. What about the NFA (National Food Authority) Rice? I just think they are the lowest, lowest quality of rice. It is just a manifestation how infected our government is! Okay the price of NFA rice is 25 pesos per kilo and you should queue as early as 6 o'clock in the morning to be able to avail. I mean, what a deplorable state of our country. Do you think the price of rice will become less? Do you think the quality of NFA rice will be atleast closer to Jasmine rice? Or Basmati rice? or any other kind of rice? I always believe that price and quality goes hand in hand. What is free in this world?

As for the unborn child in the womb of my sister and for the other unborn children, what future await for them? The very sure thing is : they will eat rice. It doesn't matter if they will eat it with a sprinkle of salt or a little bit of oil, or a little soya sauce. Rice is always a staple food no matter what is the partner. And the price of rice? Always high. And life? It is priceless! Probably, we need to parctice eating maize now! Or just like what my neighbors are eating right now, rice porridge(" lugaw"), with lots and lots of water!

No Hassle STD Testing

STD testing might be embarrassing. I can just imagine the thought of it! STDs or sexually transmitted diseases testing as found out had been embarrassing, time-consuming and unreliable. But here comes tSTD . It guarantees an easy testing, private, no hassles, complete and accurate with 7 STD tests in one visit. Get tested now and your partner,too!

Flores de Mayo and Sta. Cruzan

What will i remember on the month of May? Since i was a child till adolescent age , month of May would mean Flores de Mayo. It would mean performing church activities from May 1 to May 31. I had regularly attended and would always won goodies and awards for being a good kid. Together with the daily catechism classes, there were lots of incentives, not mentioning the daily snacks ( ah, i would remember the "binignit" and the "chocolate rice"--- "champorado")... In other words, i had religiously attended because snacks were free and i would get "tickets" which i can exchange for goodies,candies, or treats at the end of May. Those were the childhood days...

When i am entering my early teens, i would regularly attend because i will meet my "crush". hehehehe. I am just joking... The main purpose of Flores de Mayo is actually honoring the Virgin Mary, offering prayers and flowers for her as she is the Mother of Christ. We usually recited the Holy Rosary and sang many, many songs for HER.

Ah, i had miss those days... how fast the time flies... those were the times when we will dance at the end of May. We'll get awards for being attentive, resourceful, etc... etc... There were lots of awards and really, many, many children would attend. Those were the days when only the people who can afford would have television sets. We only got a television after i graduated college and got a job, so, attending church activities were really regular and saying the Holy Rosary would always be everyday. (I wonder if teenagers and young children now would still regularly say the Holy Rosary or any prayers? Oh well, times are different and they probably are more abreast to American Idol or Pinoy Idol...).

And the Sta. Cruzan? Santacruzan is a religious-historical pageant held throughout the Philippines during the month of May which commemorates the search of the Holy Cross by Queen Helena (Reyna Elena) and her son, the newly converted emperor, Constantine. Her mother, Reyna Emperatriz, is also portrayed while our Lady, Queen of the Flowers (Reyna de las Flores), takes an important role in the procession of characters. I hadn't been a Reyna Elena. I've guess they always chose the Most Beautiful One! So, since i was not, i am contented to become "buddy-buddy of Reyna Elena". I became a Reyna Emperatriz once.

Oh well, i am reliving those memories and since i am out of the country now, i am missing this event. I wonder how they celebrate it now? I wonder if still many kids go to this catechism classes? The last time i heared, there was even Sta.Cruzan procession for the gays???

I wonder what the church would say about that? Ah, i am missing the old days... i am missing those days...

Resources and Population: Always Related

I was born from an impoverished family. We are eight siblings. My dad did not have a steady income, going from one job to another( mostly menial labor) and it was only my mom who was a seamstress who was supporting us regularly. That was a very hard life. A hard life unimagined. It still amazes me up to now how we had survived!

Honestly, i don't want to blame the government why we became poor. Honestly, i asked myself, "why did my parents never think about our future? why are we so many? why will they never think about how many of us will divide a kilo of rice?" Sometimes we never had viand at all and just some sprinkle of salt will be fine or sometimes soy sauce. That was quite special that time. My most favorite will be dried fish and sometimes fish paksiw(fish with vinegar accompanied with local condiments). So, i learned how to grow vegetables especially "malungay". In fact i can still memorize the scientific name : moringa olifera lam! It's because it is always my favorite. And what will i do with the malungay leaves? I will boil 1 liter of water put the malungay leaves, sprinkle some salt, a little bit of msg, and that was our viand. Oh, well, we survived and i survived!

There is always a relationship between resources and population. That is why the price of rice will always be surging so high is because the demand is soooo high and the supply remains the same. And just imagine, how we, Filipinos grow everyday. Look at the rich people. Most of them got 2 or 3 kids. It is quite rare you will see the rich couple with 8 or 10 kids. But you go to the impoverished communities, in our Barangay alone in General Santos City, there is a family with 24 chilren and the house is a nipa hut in a squatter's area. How they sleep? They sit. Yup, they sit when they sleep!

Now, okay, i know how government is corrupt. I know also that family is a basic institution where in the discipline, security and comfort should start. Corruption always start within the family. If every family is secured, then our country is. I always love what John F. Kennedy had said, " Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Anyway, i got some facts related to rice:

1. The NFA rice is currently the cheapest available in the market, with the “regular variety" being sold at 18.25 pesos per kilogram and 25 pesos per kilogram for the “premium variety." The prices are way cheaper than that of the commercial rice that are already being priced at 38 pesos per kilogram.

2. Rice is a staple for Filipinos and have rice on top of their list of food to buy. Rice, being a source of carbohydrates, is particularly important for the poor who perform difficult tasks or heavy labor.

3. Filipinos consume as much as 29,000 metric tons of rice a day, but with the country’s growing population, rising faster than its Asian neighbors, the demand for rice is also increasing.

4. The government has announced that the number of Filipinos grew nearly 16 percent to 88.57 million as of August 2007 from 76.50 million in May 2000. By 2009, with a projected population of 92.22 million, the Philippines will consume 9.75 million metric tons of rice, higher than the expected 9.56 million metric tons that Filipinos will consume this year.

Rice production, however, is not increasing.

The Politics of Being Thin

Look at these photos of popular celebrities today. They all have one thing in common: miniscule legs, tiny frame and they all feel they are full, i mean, not hungry! They always do and if they eat they think that it will make them big.

In our modern culture, to be thin is to be beautiful and the media had played a great deal about that. Can't you imagine how Tom Cruise's wife, Katie Holmes shed off those pregnancy fat just after two weeks??? We know that women in Western cultures are willing to do quite dramatic and drastic things to effect weight loss. And in some cases, it is gravely dangerous.

In the news, there are few teenagers, especially in North America and Europe who lose their lives because of bad eating disorders. These teenagers just wanted to be like their idols --- to be thin as a stick and the belief that to be thin is to be very beautiful and very sexy.

On the other hand, celebrities like Victoria Beckham, always worry about their figure than his philandering husband. The question is: when is thin too thin? The obsession with weight, especially in the modelling industry is also very tremendous. What is the Model Killer? Answer: Dying To Be Thin.

So, when is thin too thin???? No one ever know.

Brunei's "Bruneiyuki"?

This is the breathtaking The Empire Hotel of Brunei Darussalam and i frequented here a lot of times during my travels to Borneo. It is very near to the Philippines and during my husband's meeting with clients he always wanted me to be with him, plus babysitters!
Anyway, one time, here i am relaxing(while hubby is with clients), taking a walk at the magnificent golf course, and there is this guy jogging and stopping by right at my spot and bluntly asked this question, " who are you booked with?" I said, "what are you talking about"? But hearing the word "booked", i know very well what it meant as sometimes i made a chitchat with some Filipinas in Labuan's Waterfront Hotel or Sheraton Hotel or Kota Kinabalu's Shangrila's or Sutera Harbor Hotel, to name of a few of 5 Star Hotel Accomodations of Brunei and Sabah. So, i said to this guy, "I am sorry, you are talking to the wrong person. Not all Filipinas are prostitutes. If you think all Filipinas are ,then you are very wrong" ... I got so angry and he saw it on my face. I can see also that he got little bit nervous hearing those words from a woman! He said he is very sorry....

I cannot blame this guy because i know so many Filipinas, some with illegal passports going to Sabah and Brunei who will take a ferry from Zamboanga city to Sandakan who will come to Borneo either to be domestic helpers or prostitutes. The ferry ride is pretty cheap and the travel is not very far! I knew some domestic helpers and some of them are really nice people and i also knew some prostitutes who look very pretty indeed but i am sorry about their attitudes. They think they are "somebody" who married Sultan Bolkiah or something....

Oh, well, anyway, Morality is a very personal thing. It just belittled me how many people think that Filipinas are prostitutes. Fine, call me, domestic helper, i don't care. It is very noble thing to do and it is a profession we are proud of. The OFWs are the modern heroes and the situation in our country made them decide to work as DH. And the prostitutes? Aren't it that being "escorts", more popular and more "social" term for "prosti" happen because of the sad situation of our country?...Probably yes, probably not. I can't really answer. There are so many reasons and the only reason i can think is that all what we do is a matter of choice. We always make a choice of what we want in our life.

Now, what i wanna let the world know this ... FILIPINAS ARE INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE NOT PROSTITUTES AND SO MANY OF US WANTED CHANGE IN OUR SYSTEM.

I am very happy with this blogging thing because even how small our voices are, it can be heared all over the world and no matter how small the voices are, it is limitless.

Caution : This is Non-Halal

This is the Philippine's national dish, popularly known as "Lechong baboy" or roasted pork. Major occasions will never be complete without this dish. Sorry, for the non-meat-eaters, this is not for us. I hadn't had any taste of pork for over ten years now.
The photo may be making the mouths of many pork-eaters watery, but really, i had this self-discipline of not eating it anymore. But,well, with the society where i grew-up, this is the dish that i grew up watching. I have every right to showcase it. hehehe!

Teen Pregnancy and Polygamy

This is in connection with my post a week ago about polygamy. They are becoming headliner again this week. I pity those teenage girls. And Warren Jeffs, who has been revered as prophet in their polygamous sect? I don't know if he sick or what but he certainly got his own belief and that is --- Polygamy brings glorification in heaven. What a strange belief! And impregnating teenage girls?...
The headline : 31 of 53 teen girls at FLDS ranch are pregnant or had baby

Sure, teenage pregnancy is so rampant in our society but not to get pregnant this way --- being forced by elders. I don't know know what to say, just the moral fiber of the society is getting so loose. Where is the morality? In a country where modernism is everywhere, moral fabric is going nowhere.

Ah, this is strange, just strange!

Baby and Jetlag

How many days do you think the baby can cope up with jetlag and settled to the new environment after travelling? My friend doctor told me that it will take 15 minutes per day for the baby to cope up. It depends on the time difference of the country the baby came from minus the time zone of the country he is in now. So, if the baby came from the Philippines and come to United Kingdom with a time difference of 8 hours, let us say he will cope up 15 minutes per day, oh, dear, it will take for the poor baby to adjust to the new environment fully around a month. That is really tough! That goes on to say how travel can be travail at some point! But i also think it depends on the baby. Must be tougher with time difference of 12 hours as such countries like Canada and United States!

For the Love of LV

Many people feel powerful and well-respected whenever they wear designer handbags, especially a Louis Vuitton. Maybe it is psychological, but probably they deserve high respect and good service from anybody whenever they wear one. Or do they really deserve one?
How much do you think you'll gonna get if you'll resell your LV? I mean, if i will resell my 24 karat 8 grams ladies gold ring, it might double the price after 5 years. But what of an LV? And what if you are someone i know who has to borrow money just to satisfy the cravings of collecting one??? I know many are hooked to designer handbags. It is good, really it is... They are classy, chic, sassy, or whatever highclass adjectives you would define it. There is a feeling of "high" and i really know that feeling. But there is someone i know, who without realizing it, don't know how to handle her expenses when she found out most of her money went to designer bags of which she don't gotta wear most of them anyway! But who will gotta buy most of them at the same price that she bought before? Of course, none, the prices depreciate everyday.
I don't wanna mention the name of the daughter of the former ex-city Councilor of the biggest city in the world in land area(Davao City), who when we were together in an out of town trip had to borrow money from me because she gotta buy an LV. She promised me she will pay me back when we arrive back home. Hola, i let her because, you know, look at her, she's fashionable, she's beautiful, she looks like a person who can be trusted. And so, anyway,she bought that LV bag she really fancied a lot. So, we returned home and hola, i can't hear from her anymore. I called her to remind her of her debt, it seems that i am the one who got ashamed! I am this kind of person who don't want to keep asking for payment when in fact she knew it already.
So,anyway, to make the story short, she never ever had payed me back. All for her love of this LV. The last time i heard about her and her family, they went bankrupt. I really don't give a damn! hehehe!
So, now,what? You think the one who is wearing an LV is dignified? I would never think so. Some of them may not even pay their credit card bills, maybe? Who knows? Ah, this LV thing....this materialistic world...I better just be a very simple person but with peace of mind. But, oh well, i do have an LV, and i am even shy to wear it!

What would you prefer?

I took this photo while on my breakfast to the one of renowned 5 Star Hotel in Manila. I know how foreigners hated dried fish...But during breakfast buffet, usually in Philippine hotels, fried dried fish is presented sumptuously as possible in the buffet table. This dried fish from Cebu City called "Danggit"is a must. I can't blame the foreigners if they don't like it. Their taste buds are not just so used to it!
But i love dried fish once in a while! How about you? Would you prefer the corned beef instead?