Showing posts with label City Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City Life. Show all posts
While on the road home...
I was driving back home yesterday afternoon when I saw three young toddlers squatting side-by-side on the sidewalk. Normally I wouldn't pay them any attention, but since traffic was heavy, I began to notice them. They appeared to be three or four years of age, covered in dust and grime, wearing tattered shirts without any shorts or underwear. The eldest one, a skinny brown girl, looks around self-consciously as she relieves herself on the sewage drain below her. The two smaller boys were laughing with each other, playing their game while taking a dump on top of the same drainage.
I drove my car a few meters forward, passing the kids, wondering why I felt a little troubled by this incident. I've seen a lot of street children around the city -- sniffing rugby, aggressively asking for alms, cursing you if you ignore their pleas. Years of living in Manila had made me both indifferent and angry at the plight of these young beggars. But at that moment, I felt a familiar sense of despair creeping inside me.
As a fresh college graduate, I remembered having a lot more empathy and concern. I truly believed that they were the neglected victims of a cruel society. I was foolish to think that I could have made a difference. Back then I had that desire to help them out, to restore their dignity and fight the system that continuously abuses them. So I did my share of volunteer work at the local church and even joined a few protest movements to speak out against this injustice. But somewhere during that time, I had a change of heart. Maybe it was the idea that poverty was an incurable plague that infected the city or nothing that I did really mattered. Eventually I stopped caring about them, focusing on other things that I can control, like my career and my family.
The car in front of me moved another three or four meters. I quickly pushed all these troubling thoughts to the back of my mind. My car was now beside a half-empty jeepney parked next to the sidewalk. There were two men standing at the back of the jeep, hooting and calling for passengers. One of the barkers kept his eyes on the kids, checking if they were finish with their business. The other man drew out something that looked like a small gun from his baggy pants.
For a moment I panicked, I wasn't sure if the weapon was real or not. The pistol looked authentic from a distance, but it could have been made entirely of plastic. The barker grinned as he held the weapon, as if he was prepping himself up for a fight. I looked at him as he played with the gun, his companion called him, and he quickly pushed the weapon back into his pants.
I took a couple of deep breaths as soon as I drove pass the jeep. I was moving further and further away from these disturbing sights. But I could not push back the faces of the people I had just seen and the feelings that have started to bubble up inside me. It was foolish of me to think that I was totally safe in my car, inside my own little cocoon, protected from the harsh realities of this city.
It would have been easier for me to close my eyes again, pretend not to see the parts of our society that have been crumbling for ages. The bitter truth is that we are only as strong as our weakest members. The children that sleep and shit on the streets today may become the harden criminals or the industrious workers of the future. Their experiences on the urban road have shaped them into the people they are right now, and it will continue to shape them in the years to come.
I am thankful for this experience. It came as a wake up call for me, reminding me of the judgements I have over other people, particularly the less fortunate members of our society. I might not have the answers to poverty nor do I have the dedication to help uplift their lives, but at least I am now awake to face this reality.
I drove my car a few meters forward, passing the kids, wondering why I felt a little troubled by this incident. I've seen a lot of street children around the city -- sniffing rugby, aggressively asking for alms, cursing you if you ignore their pleas. Years of living in Manila had made me both indifferent and angry at the plight of these young beggars. But at that moment, I felt a familiar sense of despair creeping inside me.
As a fresh college graduate, I remembered having a lot more empathy and concern. I truly believed that they were the neglected victims of a cruel society. I was foolish to think that I could have made a difference. Back then I had that desire to help them out, to restore their dignity and fight the system that continuously abuses them. So I did my share of volunteer work at the local church and even joined a few protest movements to speak out against this injustice. But somewhere during that time, I had a change of heart. Maybe it was the idea that poverty was an incurable plague that infected the city or nothing that I did really mattered. Eventually I stopped caring about them, focusing on other things that I can control, like my career and my family.
The car in front of me moved another three or four meters. I quickly pushed all these troubling thoughts to the back of my mind. My car was now beside a half-empty jeepney parked next to the sidewalk. There were two men standing at the back of the jeep, hooting and calling for passengers. One of the barkers kept his eyes on the kids, checking if they were finish with their business. The other man drew out something that looked like a small gun from his baggy pants.
For a moment I panicked, I wasn't sure if the weapon was real or not. The pistol looked authentic from a distance, but it could have been made entirely of plastic. The barker grinned as he held the weapon, as if he was prepping himself up for a fight. I looked at him as he played with the gun, his companion called him, and he quickly pushed the weapon back into his pants.
I took a couple of deep breaths as soon as I drove pass the jeep. I was moving further and further away from these disturbing sights. But I could not push back the faces of the people I had just seen and the feelings that have started to bubble up inside me. It was foolish of me to think that I was totally safe in my car, inside my own little cocoon, protected from the harsh realities of this city.
It would have been easier for me to close my eyes again, pretend not to see the parts of our society that have been crumbling for ages. The bitter truth is that we are only as strong as our weakest members. The children that sleep and shit on the streets today may become the harden criminals or the industrious workers of the future. Their experiences on the urban road have shaped them into the people they are right now, and it will continue to shape them in the years to come.
I am thankful for this experience. It came as a wake up call for me, reminding me of the judgements I have over other people, particularly the less fortunate members of our society. I might not have the answers to poverty nor do I have the dedication to help uplift their lives, but at least I am now awake to face this reality.
Watching the 2014 Christmas Show at Greenhills
It's now part of our family Christmas tradition to go to Greenhills Shopping Center and watch the live puppet / animation show. Every year, the shopping center sets up a part of its open parking space for a free puppet show - complete with moving mannikins, bright colorful lights, and loud music. The fifteen minute show starts at six pm and plays every thirty minutes.
This year's show was a re-enactment of the nativity play, with the birth of the baby Jesus and the arrival of the three kinds. It was better compared to the shows from the previous years. The kids loved the entire presentation - from the large stage, moving animals, and beautiful songs.
The entire show was free for the public, but the mall cleverly placed a dozen food stalls and small tiangge bazaars around the perimeter of the parking space. I bought some German franks, ice tea, and Shawarma sandwiches for the kids. The entire viewing area was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and fried street food. By the end of the show, we were coughing from the barrage of overpowering scents.
This year's show was a re-enactment of the nativity play, with the birth of the baby Jesus and the arrival of the three kinds. It was better compared to the shows from the previous years. The kids loved the entire presentation - from the large stage, moving animals, and beautiful songs.
The entire show was free for the public, but the mall cleverly placed a dozen food stalls and small tiangge bazaars around the perimeter of the parking space. I bought some German franks, ice tea, and Shawarma sandwiches for the kids. The entire viewing area was filled with the aroma of grilled meat and fried street food. By the end of the show, we were coughing from the barrage of overpowering scents.
Dream House
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the perfect home for my growing family. It would be nice to buy one of those fancy townhouses made by big real estate developers. But I personally think property prices in the metropolis are way to high, probably higher than their actual values.
It would be wonderful to build your own house, probably something that reflects your personal tastes and ideas. Personally I prefer smaller houses because they are easier to manage and easier to clean. If given the choice, I would build a house that would look something like this:
The house would probably have three bedrooms - one for the boys, one for Nika, and one for me and Jen. I think tiny houses like these would allow us to be more aware of our surroundings and become closer as a family. The smaller space would teach us to be more conscious of the things we own (and force us to stop collecting junk).
I also found a site that features tiny houses in America. It offers a lot of wonderful ideas on building these small houses. I could imagine living in one of these homes.
I think these tiny houses offer a different approach to family and home building. We have been trained to think that "big is better" and having more stuff means you are rich or successful. But living small doesn't mean you are depriving yourself of the many luxuries of life. It only means that you are focusing on the essentials and the things that really matter to you.
It would be wonderful to build your own house, probably something that reflects your personal tastes and ideas. Personally I prefer smaller houses because they are easier to manage and easier to clean. If given the choice, I would build a house that would look something like this:
The house would probably have three bedrooms - one for the boys, one for Nika, and one for me and Jen. I think tiny houses like these would allow us to be more aware of our surroundings and become closer as a family. The smaller space would teach us to be more conscious of the things we own (and force us to stop collecting junk).
I also found a site that features tiny houses in America. It offers a lot of wonderful ideas on building these small houses. I could imagine living in one of these homes.
I think these tiny houses offer a different approach to family and home building. We have been trained to think that "big is better" and having more stuff means you are rich or successful. But living small doesn't mean you are depriving yourself of the many luxuries of life. It only means that you are focusing on the essentials and the things that really matter to you.
Toy Kingdom Warehouse Sale
Disturbing Realities
I know this is old news, but I just like to post the image that got a lot of people reacting. The mall owners say it was a prank and they are currently investigating on the matter. That's the problem when you project an image of catering to a specific market niche, in this case, the rich and elite.
Disaster Preparedness
I've been keeping myself updated to the latest events happening at Japan. I am amazed at how the Japanese are coping with the crisis, trying to do everything they can to prevent a nuclear meltdown and rescue survivors in the earthquake-devastated cities.
Part of me keeps wondering how we would react and cope if such a disaster struck Manila. I remembered the events of Ondoy, how we lost people and property that time. We were able to survive and recover from the floods. Some people even got to swim in flooded underpasses, cheer at moving vehicles that were able to cross the flooded streets, and steal from those abandoned houses.
I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the possibility of another Ondoy, an earthquake or a tsunami hitting the city, and how unprepared we are for such an event. It got me thinking about preparing ourselves for the possibility of such an event. I'm not talking about stockpiling water and food that would last for months, or buying firearms to protect yourself from looters. I'm thinking of making small emergency kits like bottled water, biscuits, first-aid medicine, flashlight, extra clothes, some cash and other stuff that can fit a small backpack. These kits could be placed in cars and strategic positions at home, just in case something bad happens and you need to get away quick.
Call me paranoid but I think it pays off to be prepared for emergencies. Some people would just put their trust on other people -- like God, the government, or other institutions, for help whenever trouble comes. I think we should help ourselves by preparing for whatever happens in the future.
Part of me keeps wondering how we would react and cope if such a disaster struck Manila. I remembered the events of Ondoy, how we lost people and property that time. We were able to survive and recover from the floods. Some people even got to swim in flooded underpasses, cheer at moving vehicles that were able to cross the flooded streets, and steal from those abandoned houses.
I admit that I'm a bit concerned about the possibility of another Ondoy, an earthquake or a tsunami hitting the city, and how unprepared we are for such an event. It got me thinking about preparing ourselves for the possibility of such an event. I'm not talking about stockpiling water and food that would last for months, or buying firearms to protect yourself from looters. I'm thinking of making small emergency kits like bottled water, biscuits, first-aid medicine, flashlight, extra clothes, some cash and other stuff that can fit a small backpack. These kits could be placed in cars and strategic positions at home, just in case something bad happens and you need to get away quick.
Call me paranoid but I think it pays off to be prepared for emergencies. Some people would just put their trust on other people -- like God, the government, or other institutions, for help whenever trouble comes. I think we should help ourselves by preparing for whatever happens in the future.
Visiting the new 999 Shopping Mall
While making my rounds at Divisoria, I got the chance to visit the new 999 Shopping Mall. Located at Soler St, besides the (in)famous 168 Mall, 999 is the newest shopping center in the block. The mall has three floors, with basement parking (for customers) and food court. And They even have a facebook account.
I stumbled on the mall by accident, but I heard about it from my mother-in-law before. She told me that the 168 Mall already had an extension mall built beside it. So I thought it was just part of the old 168 Mall. Apparently this was a new mall with its own facilities.
The foodcourt is located at the third floor, which is smaller compared to the foodcourt in Divisoria Mall. It has the usual Chinese food stalls, along with Andoks Litson Manok, Lot's A Pizza, and a Wendy's Burger stand.
There are still a lot of empty stalls in the second and third floor, but the entire first floor is filled with shops owned by Chinese businessmen.
I found an interesting store near the foodcourt, which sells Korean junk food -- from ice cream to chips. The store is offering free chips to people, to try out the merchandise before buying. And it works. A lot of people are crowding the store, trying to taste the chips and buying them afterwards.
The mall has its usual clothes, school supply, hardware, and jewelry shops. There are a number of toy shops at the first floor as well. I came across a couple of toy shops that sell authentic US toys at a cheap price. One store (stall 1-L-9) sells original action figures and toys. I saw numerous matchbox cars, Star Trek action figures, Lego sets, and other toys in the shop.
The toys look original.
Of course, you have the electronic shops that sell the fake Apple Ipads. The smaller unit costs around 3k with the keyboard. The bigger unit costs around 7k.
I stumbled on the mall by accident, but I heard about it from my mother-in-law before. She told me that the 168 Mall already had an extension mall built beside it. So I thought it was just part of the old 168 Mall. Apparently this was a new mall with its own facilities.
The foodcourt is located at the third floor, which is smaller compared to the foodcourt in Divisoria Mall. It has the usual Chinese food stalls, along with Andoks Litson Manok, Lot's A Pizza, and a Wendy's Burger stand.
There are still a lot of empty stalls in the second and third floor, but the entire first floor is filled with shops owned by Chinese businessmen.
I found an interesting store near the foodcourt, which sells Korean junk food -- from ice cream to chips. The store is offering free chips to people, to try out the merchandise before buying. And it works. A lot of people are crowding the store, trying to taste the chips and buying them afterwards.
The mall has its usual clothes, school supply, hardware, and jewelry shops. There are a number of toy shops at the first floor as well. I came across a couple of toy shops that sell authentic US toys at a cheap price. One store (stall 1-L-9) sells original action figures and toys. I saw numerous matchbox cars, Star Trek action figures, Lego sets, and other toys in the shop.
The toys look original.
Of course, you have the electronic shops that sell the fake Apple Ipads. The smaller unit costs around 3k with the keyboard. The bigger unit costs around 7k.
Graveyard Dwellers
Here's another video that features families that live in cemeteries. It reminds me of the caretakers in my grandparent's grave. Like the family in the video, they live inside the graveyard, taking care of the tombstones and mausoleums. Some people find it creepy but these people are making a decent and honest living.
Serenitea Revisted
Jen, Aaron and I went out last night to visit our favorite tea house in town. I'm amazed that Aaron knows about the tea house and is looking forward to drinking his favorite milk tea.
The tea shop is located along Wilson's street in Little Baguio. It is a block away from Little Store and it is along the block where the Buddhist Ocean Sky Monastery stands.
It is branded as the healthy tea shop since you get to decide how much sugar you want to place on your orders. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from -- like the Hokkaido milk tea, Yakult fruit teas, Okinawa, and even Earl Grey milk tea. The drinks also come with sago pearls and other gelatins which you can add for a few extra pesos.
I enjoyed taking out the family around the neighborhood and have a quick snack along the way. It offers a (tea) break from the usual weekday routine that we've been having. My only complaint about the tea store is its size. I think the store should expand to accommodate the number of customers it has. There were limited seats and tables. The traffic of people also makes you want to just order your drinks to go and leave immediately (rather than stay and enjoy the tea you ordered).
Jen and I ordered the Earl Grey milk tea and theRaspberry plum Passion Fruit tea for Aaron. The drinks tasted wonderful, the sweetness was just right. We decided to stay for a few more minutes before heading home with our drinks.
It is branded as the healthy tea shop since you get to decide how much sugar you want to place on your orders. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from -- like the Hokkaido milk tea, Yakult fruit teas, Okinawa, and even Earl Grey milk tea. The drinks also come with sago pearls and other gelatins which you can add for a few extra pesos.
Jen and I ordered the Earl Grey milk tea and the
Urban Bridge Dwellers
I am posting this video as a reminder to myself, to be aware of these families and their sad condition, and also to remind myself to be grateful for what I have.
I've seen these people who make homes under bridges all over the city. It is sad, but I think they are better off compared to those who don't have shelter and live on the streets. The video also shows the resourcefulness of these people, how they are capable of surviving in the most intolerable environments.
I've seen these people who make homes under bridges all over the city. It is sad, but I think they are better off compared to those who don't have shelter and live on the streets. The video also shows the resourcefulness of these people, how they are capable of surviving in the most intolerable environments.
Noisy Celebration Equals Happy Celebration
It's the season of company Christmas parties again.
We live next to asweatshop factory that makes branded girlie accessories. They had their Christmas party last weekend and it was literally a blast. The entire village, and neighboring houses, could hear their sound system. It's like they have gigantic speakers facing the windows and intentionally want to broadcast their event for all the world to hear.
They began playing their party music around five in the afternoon, with occasional commentaries from one of the DJ/employees. The other neighbors tried to ignore their rowdy event, closing the windows or turning up the television in their own rooms to drown out the noise.
Unfortunately, the party lasted until the evening. The kids were already asleep but the music was making it difficult for everyone else to rest. It was until 11:30 that a police SUV came into the village and demanded to talk to the owner of the factory. Apparently someone made a report and told the police about their wild celebration. The owner then came down and apologized to the policemen. He claimed that they were not that noisy and promised to lower the volume (which they did).
I really find it sad when people equate noisiness with happiness. You can have a meaningful and joyful celebration without waking the entire neighborhood. I guess it is a Filipino (or Asian) thing since a few foreigners have noticed this same peculiarity among the locals. We always think that being noisy is a way to be happy -- that's probably the reason why we spend a lot of money on fireworks, sounds, and noise makers to welcome the New Year or Christmas.
I doubt if we'll ever learn to keep quiet and learn to experience happiness amidst silence. I have a feeling that our neighbor's party next year will definetley be more rowdier and crazier than this year.
We live next to a
They began playing their party music around five in the afternoon, with occasional commentaries from one of the DJ/employees. The other neighbors tried to ignore their rowdy event, closing the windows or turning up the television in their own rooms to drown out the noise.
Unfortunately, the party lasted until the evening. The kids were already asleep but the music was making it difficult for everyone else to rest. It was until 11:30 that a police SUV came into the village and demanded to talk to the owner of the factory. Apparently someone made a report and told the police about their wild celebration. The owner then came down and apologized to the policemen. He claimed that they were not that noisy and promised to lower the volume (which they did).
I really find it sad when people equate noisiness with happiness. You can have a meaningful and joyful celebration without waking the entire neighborhood. I guess it is a Filipino (or Asian) thing since a few foreigners have noticed this same peculiarity among the locals. We always think that being noisy is a way to be happy -- that's probably the reason why we spend a lot of money on fireworks, sounds, and noise makers to welcome the New Year or Christmas.
I doubt if we'll ever learn to keep quiet and learn to experience happiness amidst silence. I have a feeling that our neighbor's party next year will definetley be more rowdier and crazier than this year.
Adventures at the Phil. Orthopedic Center
It's the fourth day of my father's injury. He and Mama wanted to get a second opinion, and decided to consult a Chinese doctor in Quezon City. By Chinese doctor, I'm referring to a physician schooled in the alternative/Eastern Chinese medicinal sciences. Personally, I do not believe in Chinese medicines and I prefer to trust Western medical sciences. But my parents brought me along, to get help them decide what to do with my dad's broken bone.
We drove to the doctor's house and showed him Dad's x-ray. Like most practitioners of Chinese medicine, the doctor was from the Mainland. He looked at Dad's x-ray and said that he cannot do anything about the bone. It was broken. No amount of pressure point massage and herbs can fix that. That probably scared my parents (who were still relying on Chinese medicine). I'm grateful that the doctor convinced my parents to go have Papa checked in the hospital -- the sooner the better.
Out of options, I suggested that we have Papa examined in the Philippine Orthopedic Center. We drove to the hospital and brought my dad to the emergency room.
This was my first visit to the hospital. It reminded me of PGH -- how the building and facilities looked old. Compared to other private hospitals that were built to resemble five-star hotels, the Philippine Orthopedic Center looked more like a sleazy motel.
We went to the ER and there were a lot of people inside. I was a bit shocked to see injured patients lined up, waiting for their turn at the clinic. There were kids with broken fingers, arms, and bruised eyes. Several other patients had severe injuries that they had to be placed in the bed while they waited.
I brought Papa to a doctor and showed him his x-ray. He studied it for a couple of minutes and told us that the bone could be re-set and allowed to heal. This was the best solution for Papa's case. Surgery would result to unforeseen complications (due to my father's age).
We waited for another hour to have a nurse come and help us re-set Papa's bone and apply a new set of bandages and cement on his shoulders. While waiting, I stumbled upon another ER patient -- a young woman who's head a bruised and blood pouring out of her neck. Her companions were making fun of her while the nurses try to clean her injuries, they made fun of her and even took pictures of her (much to the disapproval of the nurses).
When our turn finally came, the nurse and the doctor applied some bandages to Papa and we applied pressure on different parts of his shoulder. Papa endured the pain as we re-set the bone. A few minutes later, Papa was all wrapped up in new bandages and was headed to the x-ray room for another look at his bone.
Looking at the new x-ray, the doctor said that the bone was now set properly. It will take the bone a couple of months to mend. He prescribed a couple of pain-suppressant pills to be taken as needed.
We are all grateful that Papa is on his way to recovery. I'm sure parents are also relieved. All the while we were expecting him to have surgery. I am truly thankful to the nurses and doctors at the Orthopedic Center -- they are heroes in doing what they do.
We drove to the doctor's house and showed him Dad's x-ray. Like most practitioners of Chinese medicine, the doctor was from the Mainland. He looked at Dad's x-ray and said that he cannot do anything about the bone. It was broken. No amount of pressure point massage and herbs can fix that. That probably scared my parents (who were still relying on Chinese medicine). I'm grateful that the doctor convinced my parents to go have Papa checked in the hospital -- the sooner the better.
Out of options, I suggested that we have Papa examined in the Philippine Orthopedic Center. We drove to the hospital and brought my dad to the emergency room.
This was my first visit to the hospital. It reminded me of PGH -- how the building and facilities looked old. Compared to other private hospitals that were built to resemble five-star hotels, the Philippine Orthopedic Center looked more like a sleazy motel.
We went to the ER and there were a lot of people inside. I was a bit shocked to see injured patients lined up, waiting for their turn at the clinic. There were kids with broken fingers, arms, and bruised eyes. Several other patients had severe injuries that they had to be placed in the bed while they waited.
I brought Papa to a doctor and showed him his x-ray. He studied it for a couple of minutes and told us that the bone could be re-set and allowed to heal. This was the best solution for Papa's case. Surgery would result to unforeseen complications (due to my father's age).
We waited for another hour to have a nurse come and help us re-set Papa's bone and apply a new set of bandages and cement on his shoulders. While waiting, I stumbled upon another ER patient -- a young woman who's head a bruised and blood pouring out of her neck. Her companions were making fun of her while the nurses try to clean her injuries, they made fun of her and even took pictures of her (much to the disapproval of the nurses).
When our turn finally came, the nurse and the doctor applied some bandages to Papa and we applied pressure on different parts of his shoulder. Papa endured the pain as we re-set the bone. A few minutes later, Papa was all wrapped up in new bandages and was headed to the x-ray room for another look at his bone.
Looking at the new x-ray, the doctor said that the bone was now set properly. It will take the bone a couple of months to mend. He prescribed a couple of pain-suppressant pills to be taken as needed.
We are all grateful that Papa is on his way to recovery. I'm sure parents are also relieved. All the while we were expecting him to have surgery. I am truly thankful to the nurses and doctors at the Orthopedic Center -- they are heroes in doing what they do.
Lessons Learned from Basyang
After the typhoon came and left Manila, I was again reminded of how we have become so dependent on technology and energy to sustain our modern way of living. Basyang struck the metropolis and caused a city-wide black out. A lot of areas are still without electricity and the power company is working round-the-clock to restore energy to these places.
Power was restored in our area around three am this morning. Jen and I were both relieved because the kids were getting restless from the evening heat. Of course we are to be blamed for spoiling them with the air conditioner (and sometimes the electric fan) turned on. Kids are big sweat factories -- they perspire even if they are just standing still. Being the protective mom, Jen would turn on the cooling machines just to keep them dry and sweat free.
It's not just the air conditioner. The source of our regular evening entertainment (computer, internet, and television) were cut off. It's one thing to endure the dark and the heat, but enduring them without these diversions makes things even more difficult to bear.
Maybe we should try to find some other alternative to our evening activities and rely less on electrical machines. People from the past have lived (and thrived) without the modern comforts that we now enjoy. We could cut down on the use of the air conditioner and spend our evenings doing other things beside watching TV. It can help reduce our electrical bills and make us closer as a family.
Power was restored in our area around three am this morning. Jen and I were both relieved because the kids were getting restless from the evening heat. Of course we are to be blamed for spoiling them with the air conditioner (and sometimes the electric fan) turned on. Kids are big sweat factories -- they perspire even if they are just standing still. Being the protective mom, Jen would turn on the cooling machines just to keep them dry and sweat free.
It's not just the air conditioner. The source of our regular evening entertainment (computer, internet, and television) were cut off. It's one thing to endure the dark and the heat, but enduring them without these diversions makes things even more difficult to bear.
Maybe we should try to find some other alternative to our evening activities and rely less on electrical machines. People from the past have lived (and thrived) without the modern comforts that we now enjoy. We could cut down on the use of the air conditioner and spend our evenings doing other things beside watching TV. It can help reduce our electrical bills and make us closer as a family.
Fun at Ace Water Spa
Even though we haven't had an out-of-town trip for the summer, Jen, Aaron and I managed to have a mini summer excursion/swimming trip here in the city. The three of us, along with Cendo and Vivian's family spent yesterday afternoon at Ace Water Spa.
It was an interesting, fun, and tiring, swimming experience. This was the first time I swam in a water facility that promoted hydrotherapy and family fun. The facility was spacious, there were a lot of people swimming, but everyone had a great time.
The "spa" had a large five lane lap pool (for serious swimmers), waterfalls, floor fountain, and lazy river for the kids to play around, and twenty five different hyromassage systems to soothe your tiring muscles (and promote health). There are small hot herbal pools for people (with jasmine, mint, and lavender flavors), sauna, and steam rooms.
I tried out everything tried out everything there, except for the sauna/steam room. Jen and I loved the shower hydro-massage that gave our back a full back massage. The lukewarm water felt wonderful and I could just spend the entire day soaked in one of those bubbling pools.
The admission fee is around 550 per adult, but if you have their special card and discount coupons, you could get in at a cheaper price. I'd definitely like to go back and have another water blast. Maybe during a weekday, where there are fewer people in the pool.
It was an interesting, fun, and tiring, swimming experience. This was the first time I swam in a water facility that promoted hydrotherapy and family fun. The facility was spacious, there were a lot of people swimming, but everyone had a great time.
The "spa" had a large five lane lap pool (for serious swimmers), waterfalls, floor fountain, and lazy river for the kids to play around, and twenty five different hyromassage systems to soothe your tiring muscles (and promote health). There are small hot herbal pools for people (with jasmine, mint, and lavender flavors), sauna, and steam rooms.
I tried out everything tried out everything there, except for the sauna/steam room. Jen and I loved the shower hydro-massage that gave our back a full back massage. The lukewarm water felt wonderful and I could just spend the entire day soaked in one of those bubbling pools.
The admission fee is around 550 per adult, but if you have their special card and discount coupons, you could get in at a cheaper price. I'd definitely like to go back and have another water blast. Maybe during a weekday, where there are fewer people in the pool.
For the upcoming national and local election...
Found this link that has a complete list of all candidates running for the national and local election.
I found this useful since I live in a city that is managed by a family of showbiz actors-turned-politicians. The people here love them and I have no doubt that they'll win again. At least I know their competitors and see if they have something better to offer.
Only six senatorial candidates have made it to my list. I'm still considering a couple of other people, but I'm fairly certain I won't make it up to twelve. There are only a few deserving and qualified candidates out there and I don't want to waste my vote.
I found this useful since I live in a city that is managed by a family of showbiz actors-turned-politicians. The people here love them and I have no doubt that they'll win again. At least I know their competitors and see if they have something better to offer.
Only six senatorial candidates have made it to my list. I'm still considering a couple of other people, but I'm fairly certain I won't make it up to twelve. There are only a few deserving and qualified candidates out there and I don't want to waste my vote.
The High Cost of Electricity
We finally got our bill from the electric company. It was definitely higher than the previous month, more than double what we paid two months ago. With all the people protesting and complaining about the added cost, I was expecting our bill to be way much higher. I guess I over prepared myself mentally for this occasion.
This is one of those moments when I'm glad we decided to live with my parents. Since we are living under their roof, they are the ones that are paying for the utility bills. They have the money anyway, and they are willing to provide for us. This is definitely a big blessing on our part since we don't have to worry about the water and electric bill. Still, I guess we have to do our part in conserving energy. It's not that easy to cut back when you have a baby and toddler living with you.
A lot of people are blaming the electric company for the unreasonable price hike, but I think they had no choice. It hasn't rained for months and the water level in the dam is at a critical low. Despite the rotating brownouts and the limited supply of energy, people are still consuming endless amounts of electricity. It made me thing of how much we have taken things for granted. Conservation is probably the path we have to take in the near future.
This is one of those moments when I'm glad we decided to live with my parents. Since we are living under their roof, they are the ones that are paying for the utility bills. They have the money anyway, and they are willing to provide for us. This is definitely a big blessing on our part since we don't have to worry about the water and electric bill. Still, I guess we have to do our part in conserving energy. It's not that easy to cut back when you have a baby and toddler living with you.
A lot of people are blaming the electric company for the unreasonable price hike, but I think they had no choice. It hasn't rained for months and the water level in the dam is at a critical low. Despite the rotating brownouts and the limited supply of energy, people are still consuming endless amounts of electricity. It made me thing of how much we have taken things for granted. Conservation is probably the path we have to take in the near future.
Disaster Preparedness Reminders
Reposting an entry I got from Dino, which was taken from Marnie Dolera's Facebook entry. Marnie is "sharing tips and reminders from some friends over at Greenpeace, and some from bitter and painful experience from years of living in a mini-rain forest in Antipolo."
Hi everyone,
Just a few reminders before the storm hits. :)
Please charge all your cell phones and batteries now. Kahit lumang phone, basta pwede pang magamit, i-charge niyo na. Lower the LCD brightness on your phones to conserve power. You can buy a couple of hours more of battery juice simply by doing that. If the power cuts out, try to limit communications to texting instead of calling to extend your battery life.
Make sure that your most important numbers -- family, emergency numbers in your area, etc. -- are stored in your SIM CARD, as opposed to your phone or expandable memory, in case you need to transfer your SIM to a different phone.
Have an emergency bag filled with basic necessities at hand in case you need to evacuate. Don't forget to pack biscuits, water, energy bars or chocolate and any personal medicines that you might need. Flashlights will help alert any authorities to your position at night. If you have any big plastic bags, they can serve as thermal blankets in an emergency if you tear out holes for your head and arms.
Secure all items that might get blown about in the coming storm. Tie down any rain gutters (alulod) that could get torn off by the wind. Lawn furniture, mini playgrounds, anything made of plastic in your yard will need to be taken inside or lashed securely to something sturdy. If you have pets, round them up and secure them asap.
Please remind your friends, too. I know that some of these tips may seem like common sense, but in an emergency, these are the things that are most likely to be forgotten. Better safe than sorry, 'ika nga.
Hi everyone,
Just a few reminders before the storm hits. :)
Please charge all your cell phones and batteries now. Kahit lumang phone, basta pwede pang magamit, i-charge niyo na. Lower the LCD brightness on your phones to conserve power. You can buy a couple of hours more of battery juice simply by doing that. If the power cuts out, try to limit communications to texting instead of calling to extend your battery life.
Make sure that your most important numbers -- family, emergency numbers in your area, etc. -- are stored in your SIM CARD, as opposed to your phone or expandable memory, in case you need to transfer your SIM to a different phone.
Have an emergency bag filled with basic necessities at hand in case you need to evacuate. Don't forget to pack biscuits, water, energy bars or chocolate and any personal medicines that you might need. Flashlights will help alert any authorities to your position at night. If you have any big plastic bags, they can serve as thermal blankets in an emergency if you tear out holes for your head and arms.
Secure all items that might get blown about in the coming storm. Tie down any rain gutters (alulod) that could get torn off by the wind. Lawn furniture, mini playgrounds, anything made of plastic in your yard will need to be taken inside or lashed securely to something sturdy. If you have pets, round them up and secure them asap.
Please remind your friends, too. I know that some of these tips may seem like common sense, but in an emergency, these are the things that are most likely to be forgotten. Better safe than sorry, 'ika nga.
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