Sige lang

Nai-release kamakailan ang unang album ng bandang Equilibrio na may pamagat na Sige Lang. Ito ay binubuo ng mga kanta ng pag-ibig at pag-asa, sa genre na pop rock.

Ang Sige Lang ay masasabing isang OFW album. Ang unang kanta, na may pamagat na Sige lang ako, ay tungkol sa pagtatrabaho at pamumuhay nang malayo sa pamilya. Ang mga sumunod na kanta ay hindi naman tuwirang tumatalakay sa buhay OFW ngunit maraming linya na kapuna-puna ang pangingibabaw ng damdaming OFW. Hindi ito dapat pagtakhan. 9 sa mga kanta ay sinulat sa Dubai at ang 1 ay sa Singapore. Ang huling kanta ay Harinawa. Dahil sa mga blessings at isang dasal na nakapaloob dito, pwede itong kantahin sa birthday, pasko o sa bagong taon. Pero higit sa lahat, bilang OFW, ito siguro ang gugustuhin mong kantahin sa pamilya mo o vice versa, kung tapos na ang bakasyon mo sa Pilipinas at pupunta ka na naman sa bansang pinagtatrabahuhan mo. Kung may genre na "OFW rock", ito na siguro iyon.

Narito ang video na naglalaman ng excerpts ng mga kanta sa album.



Ang iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa album ay makikita sa Facebook album page. Ang CD album ay available sa Amazon at CreateSpace at ang digital album ay sa Nimbitmusic.

Bagoong rice

I went to the newly opened Barrio Fiesta in Bur Juman for lunch today. Going through the menu, bagoong rice caught my attention. Well, I'm used to having chopsuey rice and chili fish rice and chicken fried rice here in Dubai but bagoong rice . . . something new . . . gotta try.

It's rice flavored with bagoong topped with fried egg and shredded green mango and bagoong. (Bagmansilog?) Masarap. The serving was supposed to be for two but I finished it, together with chicken adobo flakes and kalamansi juice. Masarap talaga.

Sushi as Springboard

Last Tuesday night we bid farewell to one of the leader of the Tuesday knight group. He will be returning to the Philippines after a year of stint here in Dubai as an architect of a Saudi based developer with an office here in Dubai. Although he is not a part of those retrenched by other company due to recession but he resigned because of his firm inactivity here in Dubai.

The meeting was started with a game of chess between me and one of the leaders. The place was called Trinity Café inside Spinneys building behind Burjuman Mall, this place was a familiar hangout of the group. I joined this group about a year ago before we transfer to Burjuman and we returned here for this not so normal event.




Architect Elvin is a direct influence in our group, as one of the leader he is one of the pillar which make the group sustain its existence, he have shared us so many life changing topics which encourages us to go on and pursue our life here in Dubai, helping us stand strong spiritually. But he have more priority with his family in the Philippines, perhaps not only his job contribute to his feelings being off track professionally maybe he is yearning for more completeness if he will be at home.


Then comes the sushi time for this event, since I am not so familiar with the food listed in the menu, I was advice by the waiter to try light foods then I choose sushi. Peter who once part of the leadership of this group was invited by Eugene, currently one standing as our kuya. He shares us some words for us to be encouraged so we will have no heavy feeling when one of our brothers will leave the country for good.



Of course for our friend’s information of this meeting, snapshots were taken by some in the groups, check Danny’s account in facebook, some are in this blog. So we send out Elvin with a Sushi as springboard. While I beat Eugene in chess game 3-2, a thought run to my mind, we will meet again Elvin again someday in a different venue and different status. And by that time, Eugene will beat me in a different game, maybe dama, when we will be a bit older, hehe.

Eid tea

So that’s how you get inside the Burj al Arab. Make a reservation for an afternoon tea at Junsui.



I went there Sunday with Rey, Poh and Santad. So it’s true – the lobby glitters with gold. And the atrium, said to be the highest in the world, looks like a futuristic spacecraft. The place is magnificent ... and awe-inspiring ... and ... aah ... saksakan ng ganda.

The Junsui Asian afternoon tea consisted of 7 courses, I think. There was, well, tea and then some dimsum and then congee and spiced chicken … There was also something like a haluhalo.



Great Eid afternoon.

goodbye my dubai

the dubai bubble for me has bursted,

and everything has changed since then.

terminated and has been casted away

to the abu dhabi airport i am to flee.

my life here had been sort of,

just been utterly fantastic.

it was filled with many good things, but few were not.

people and things, filled me with awe and wonder.

i had not wished it be, nor had i forseen it,

that these experiences would happened to me.

everything here was moving too fast.

the blurr was breathtaking indeed!

the novelty of new places can't be denied.

and the glow on common things are exciting.

dubai for me was new and promising.

i was right, and disappointment was far from me.

wether i was jogging in a cold winter morning,

in the streets of karama, or in the parks of jumeirah,

my heart was pumping full red delight.

the blue frigid air seems to agree with me.

people is peculiar in a stange new place.

they seem to be friendlier and kinder to you.

in charismatic groups or colleagues, it does not matter.

love virus is in the air, and everyone is catching it.

food, fruits and drinks here are flowing and aplenty.

exotic and gourmet, everything is of gluttonic delight.

Lobster, pink salmon, prawns and assorted biryani,

what else can you say but, what to do yani?

the sun and the sands of the desert, hot and dry,

whips in me the fictional universe of frank herbert's dune.

arabs are my fremen, ang-moh are the imperial sardaukkar.

paul muad'dib said, from the desert, a voice shall call for my salvation.

the building marvels of the age was in dubai.

architectural concepts that would elicit a laugh or a breath,

that are coming to life on the sands and even at sea.

imagination here is boundless and flying.

then, suddenly, the world had lost something.

the international market crashed, fell in ashes, burnt and spent.

nothing was spared, nothing remained untouched.

the dubai that was, had had came to pass.

boarding the plane, i glanced around me for one last time,

and looked at the country that has accomodated me for three years.

i muttered one last prayer in this foreign land, my God,

please let me return here in the near future. If You are willing.

now i bid to all of you my forlorn adieu.

goodbye to my love and my honeybabe.

goodbye to my goodfriends and aquaintances.

for i shall not see you again........ in dubai. he3!

Kumusta na?

Ang Kumusta Na (Makulit Ba?) ay isang kanta ng pag-ibig na sinulat ko. Medyo nag-eksperimento ako rito. Kanta ng pag-ibig pero walang salitang "iniibig" o "minamamahal". Walang "sinta" o "hirang" o "habibti".

Pagbibiro at pangungulit - ganon yung kanta.

Kumusta na? Wala pa ba?
Ako naman ay pwedeng maghintay pa.
Kaya nga lang, eh bakit pa
kung ngayon ikaw ay sigurado na?

Kung ‘di naman, saka na lang.
Ayaw ko ring ika’y minamadali.
Pero, teka, ngayon na lang
kung tayo’y doon din mauuwi.

Pwera na lang sa bandang gitna na medyo seryoso. Merong parang saglit ng zen (zen moment) . . .

Sandali'y hayaang maging sa ating dalawa.
Sa katahimikan ay may himlayang kay ganda.
Pakinggan mo ang puso ko.
Pakinggan mo ang sa 'yo.

Nangyayari iyan, di ba? Kasama mo yung chick. Biruan kayo nang biruan. Lokohan nang lokohan. Tapos biglang magiging seryoso. Tatahimik. Kasi, parang hindi na dapat magsalita. Siya rin, parang hindi na kailangang sumagot. Pakiramdaman na lang. Paparoon na, bok . . . Pero, dito sa kanta, balik na naman sa pangungulit.

Kumusta na? Wala pa ba?





Ako naman ay pwedeng maghintay pa . . .

how to finish a burger meal.

at these times of global financial crisis, it's a sin to make waste. precious food, whose market prices rise exponentially everyday, must not be taken for granted. this is similar to what your grandma used to say to you when you were young (ages ago, he3!!!).

focus panda, focus. ok, here i am, looking at my half-eaten burger. i suddenly became full. maybe because a few seconds before, i had gobbled-up french fries and dipped these decadently in mayo-ketsap mix. the said fries are good. it is with a distinct but delicious taste comparable to the fries of the golden arches, which by the way, i still rate as The Best.

anyway, going back to the burger, which now looked to me like anything but delectable, in between my hands, and held it there, waiting, or thinking what to do next. i had definitely lost my appetite.

should i throw it into the bin? come to think of it, it would be an awful waste. marami kayang nagugutom sa payatas... (there are many people starving in far away payatas, metro manila). ang sagot, bakit? kasalanan ko ba na nagugutom sila? (the answer, is it my fault that they are hungry?). hmm.. there is a point there, somewhere.

after my food-poisoning incident last november, i seldom eat-out anymore. furthermore, i seldom eat at all, moreso if it is a cuisine from the sub-continent (the culprit last year). never you mind, i'd rather starve. i dunno, alien food to me suddenly became sinistrous. close to paranoia perhaps. there could be an "e. coli" or salmonella hidden, swimming in that yummy-looking pungent orange sauce. goodluck! (emphasis at the K).

shaking my head to clear the mind. whew! enough! i have to finish this. i could hear my grandma again, yes ma, i will finish this (grumbling). this is bad, i am hallucinatingkh. i gave a sigh, the show must go on. then, i'm on. one bite after another, it's beginning to be difficult. it's an effort to swallow it down. now and then, it seems the burger is struggling to go out my mouth. but i went on. look, i am making progress.

you know, the hardest part is that last bite. i stared at it for a while. good grief, the last morsel. i am almost ready to blow. the water at the dam is in critical level, it is at the brim. where is the nearest toilet by the way?..... pause, aim, shoot it netless into the ring!

then, after all that has been said and done, nothing is left of the burger, it's done.

sit back straight, tip the head from side-to-side,

take a sip of cola, just to push it down,

and give a resounding belch if you can.

then raise your arms in a V. saying, aah! victory at last!

mission accomplished. what a nice way to finish a burger meal.

khallas!

you don't mess with what?

I had a brief interest with a movie I heard from a levantese friend ages ago during one of our rather routine site inspections. He was rather irritated with it then, or aggitated with something about it. This is not new to me, him being aggitated or similar to that on some obscure issues. Somehow it seems natural for him to be that way. Well, anyway, this movie that he was referring to is a comedy. just a comedy. As he harangued about it, I just politely ignored it all together and simply went into my own business of inspecting some items in the then, being-constructed mall. Eventually, I lost interest in the movie even before I started having to.

Number of months came to pass, and I totally forgot anything about the discussion with my friend and his favorite movie as narrated above, until today.

Actually, I had watched that movie last night. I was actually laughing at the movie. no surprise there since it is supposed to elicit that response, a comedy, right? Thinking, fortunately, my countrymen is not a target of the mockery in this ridiculous movie. Goot. AH! I have now realized, that maybe, that is why my friend was not at all happy about this movie. His sensibilities are offended especially because the bad guys in this movie is them (Again).

A US magazine described it as an obscene, ridiculous and occassionally funny movie that may cause panic in the Middle East and derail the peace process. Too much girgir for me!

What i think is, to put it lightly, is that it was a combination of cultural mockery, politically incorrectness, racist redneck bigotry and whore piggery all-in-one!!! This sick comedy will somehow make you laugh.

Hummous is a common middle eastern food garnish, which literally means chickpeas, grounded to paste and comes with spices. Normally, olive oil is added on-top for presentation. They normally eat it with most dishes. However, in this movie, mockery in mind, it is used everywhere and in everything, barbequeing, hair moisturizer, toothbrushing, you name it.

If ever they decide to mock my native bagoong, i will brush it all-over them for good measure. Let them enjoy the stink of their own hubris. he3!!!

Yani, it is about a conflict in the Middle East about land, people-vs-people, and the right to live in these ancient lands. Wa baden, the protagonists were brought to the shores of milk and honey to enable them to escape the troubles at home and to start a fresh and new life in the new world.

However, these peoples, thought that they have left the troubles of their homeland, are now confronted with each other again, face to face, to death, and with the addition of their new oppressors in, in the supposed to be, land of the free, Amrika.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This is not a political commentary, it seems that it does not take sides in the conflict. One must not take this garbage seriously. It is anyway, above all, a slapstick comedy, and a wishful love story, and then, a ridiculous action movie. The protagonist fell in-love with the antagonist's sister. Try to figure-out what will come out of it. he3!!! It is not unlike a telenovela back home. The ending of the movie was a reconciliation of both sides.

I somehow pity my friend in being subject to that stress. His people being picked upon by comedians in Hollywood and would surely get to his nerves someday. And there it was, I remember now, my aggitated friend, fuming finally got to his nerves. Whom i totally did not understand before, if i may add, and ignored, and relegated into the backburner of my memory. A sorry and apathetic response from an indio, whom should not be numb and could relate to indignation and suffering. Que horror!

But now I simpathize with him because of the tragedy that they are now suffering under the bombardment of the Israelis. I mourn the inocent harmed and lost.

However, retaliation will not end it, but will just prolong it.

Would it be asking too much if we could see the ending in this conflict be similar to that in the movie?

Khallas!

first article

wow... first article... ano ba ang pwede kong isulat dito? ang sabi sa akin nung tumulak sa akin na magsulat dito eh pwede yung mga experiences ko dito sa dubai... ilang araw na din yun mula ng sabihan nya ako n kailangan ko ng magpost... aba with added pressure eh mukhang mahihirapan ang mga daliri ko magsulat... di ba nila alam na matindi sumpungin ang mga ito ng writers block... ayaw naman makisama ng utak kong walang lamang alak, ayaw tulungan... what to do yanni... may required length ba dito... sana wala... kailangan ko munang ibreak-in ang utak ko ng ilang araw para regular akong makapagsulat ng mga walang sense na nilalaman ng ulo ko... kaya pag pasensyahan nyo na at malamang me mapupulot din kayo sa akin ng paminsan-minsan... kung me mga kailangan kayong mga payo mula sa akin eh pwede kayong sumulat sa akin at di naman akong madamot magbigay ng aking kuro-kuro, haka-haka, cge na nga magbibigay na din ako ng payo (pero di ko sigurado na magagamit nyo ang mga payo ko)... well, that's all for now, and readers, buckle in... hope you will have fun reading same as me writing...

Emirates ID

Meron na akong Emirates ID. Natanggap ko kangina – pinadala by courrier. Isa't kalahating buwan matapos akong mag-apply. Ano kayang maitutulong nito sa akin?

Actually, meron nang kaunting naitulong. Nasulat ko ang “Kanta ng Paghihintay” dahil dito.

Kasama ko si Jovi at Dayan sa pag-a-apply sa Al Barsha Center. Alas dose ng gabi kami pumunta roon noong 17 November 2008, pero hindi pa rin kami ang nauna sa pila. Numbers 10, 11 and 12 lang kami. Habang nakapila kami ni Jovi at natutulog si Dayan sa kotse, naglalaro sa isip ko ang mga linyang naging unang talata ng kanta.

Ito'y isang gabi ng paghihintay.
Hindi ako inaantok.
Ito'y isang gabi ng paghihintay.
Hindi ako mahihimbing.
Magbibilang ng bituin.
Kung gusto mo ay sumabay.
Ito'y isang gabi ng paghihintay.

Alas siete y media ng umaga nang papasukin kami. 150 lamang daw ang pinapasok. Marami pa ring naiwan. Pagkatapos ng dalawang oras, tapos na ang application procedure na may kasamang kaunting interview, fingerprinting at pagkuha ng litrato.

Dumiretso kami sa Noodle Bowl sa Al Diafa pagkatapos at kumain. Doon kami nakakita ng dyaryong 7 Days na ang headline ay “Deadline Extended”. Ok. Basta kami ay tapos na.

Yun namang kanta, natapos ang pagsulat ng lyrics 3 days later. Ito palang si Jovi at Dayan ay nagpla-planong pakasal nitong December. Kaya sa ikalawang talata, naging romantic nang todo ang kanta.

Ito'y isang taon ng pananabik.
Kay tagal nag-aasam.
Ito'y isang taon ng pananabik.
Kay tagal humihiling.
na di lubhang maninimdim.
at di lubhang maiinip.
Ito'y isang taon ng pananabik.

Sa huling talata ay mai-imagine mo ang isang rock star, kasama ang kanyang banda, na nagpe-perform sa harap ng libu-libong Pinoy sa Rakrakan sa Dubai.

Ito'y isang kanta ng paghihintay -
sa titik ay kinakapos.
Ito'y isang kanta ng paghihintay
sa tiempo ng pusong sabik.
Dito ka lang at makinig.
Kung gusto mo ay sumabay.
Ito'y isang kanta ng paghihintay.

Ako yon. Pag wala na kasing mapasukang trabaho sa construction dito dahil sa global crisis, ipu-pursue ko ang matagal ko nang pangarap na . . .

Na na na na na na.
Iilang oras na.

. . . na maging rock star. Pwera biro.

Round-about Drift.

This is a little similar to the world famous Tokyo Drift (from the movie of a different name, HA!). They are both exciting to do and very illegal. Speed junkies are more likely users of this addictive thrill-ride.

However, there are several distinctions to keep them apart; One major difference is that in the latter, you may hit a wall or a column; while the former, you would likely hit another car. Another is that the latter is world famous, and the former is infamously UAE. He3!!!

I don’t usually do this Drift. But unfortunately, I am an occasional doer of the former. And no, I will not whine about it now and tell you my horrifiying car accident details, nor do I intend to soliciting some pity and consolation from you and tell me in-return that I was wrongfully wronged (what?) and violated. Well my friend, we will come to that, but at least not just yet. He3!

Anyway, it’s not my fault!!!! He3!!!!

A drift is a slide of the vehicle perpendicular to the intended direction. Since a round-about is, very good, it is round, and it is more likely that the vehicle inside is induced to drift.

Aside for the physical attributes of a round-about, there is the psychological aura it gives those who enter it. The drivers in that area unexplainably tend to suddenly suffer from acute stupidity, road rage or recklessness. It is like the mysterious Bermuda triangle in some ways, but the round-about is not a triangle (DUH???). Iodized salt please……

Lighting strikes twice, maybe not in the same place, but in the same circumstances. One was at the round-about near the Etisalat Bur Dubai business center, the other was near the Shindagha Tunnel, both in Dubai. What could be wrong? Why do they keep hitting me?

Is my tower of sticks done yet? Not quite.

Funny thing is that there are hundreds of round-about in Al Ain, and no Round-about Drifting has (and I hope, ever will) ever happened. Maybe the problem is the drivers in Dubai are crazy. Good thing I’m transferred to a different place already. He3! Safe!

Also, this bunch of liars driving around this country is causing insufferable harm to other innocent people (like me) on the road. They could tell lies to the investigating police and over-turn the verdict and give you the red copy instead (i.e. the “judgment”, or the police report, yani, you are at-fault while the green copy is the opposite), so you better be on your toes.

Swinging around the round-about at 80 Km/H is quite fun. It is like you’re riding in a roller-coaster ride (uh, redundant again). You should try it yourself sometime. He3!

However, this round-about drift has a major hassle because after doing it, and thereafter get caught, you have to visit the nearest police station to give statements about your demented fun that went wrong. Darn! Those involved in this drift, like the other kind of drift, includes hefty fines and maybe a few black points. kaliwali! A morsel of advise from a junkie like me, just be careful next time and try not to get caught.

My Tower of sticks is done. I’m finished here. You can do anything you want with it. Bring it tumbling down to the ground for all I care. It doesn't matter to me anymore.

Now, we ride baby!

Maui had moved-on.

It happens sometimes without you consciously knowing it that you have to move on and look for yourself out there.

Who? The girl in the picture is who? Ah yes! Partly yes, since she had moved-on in someway or another, but I am not referring to her specifically in this article. Sorry guys, no scoop about her.

It is the apparel that had moved-on, so to speak. Unclear? Let me expound upon this theory.

Flashback!!!!!!!!!

High school, Junior year. The t-shirt brand was the coolest thing so far!! Good thing someone gave me a gift of it that’s why I’m very proud and happy. And I saw a couple of my friends; this was how the conversation went:

Oiey! Nice shirt!
Thanks (am smiling smugly).
Lemmi’ see that tag (he quickly went to the tag at the back of the collar of the shirt). Eih? (Something disappointed him, I wonder.).
How about your tag (the nosey one to the other friend)? He looked. Ooah! Very nice man!
And I also looked at it myself, he is right. The tag indicates that my friend's shirt is original.

The color, texture, and quality of textile, everything looks great. After the faux pax, I gave an inconspicuous glace to my shirt, suddenly it looked pale in comparison. Shucks! I was given a fake, (PEKE PALA!). I was very disappointed. I dunno’ which case is worse, wearing a fake, or not knowing it is a fake. Duh? Ashamed and defeated as I was, I slowly slipped out-of-reach, out-of-sight, and into the background.

Damn! I did not wear that shirt ever again.

Stop. Back to the Future!!!!!!

Here, in the land of sand and oil, after a number of years, I saw this brand of t-shirt again inside a mall. Hah! Payback time! Now I can buy 10 original shirts if I want to. Huh! We’ll see. This time, I would be wearing ORIGINALS! Bwahahaha!!!! Then I began to browse the shirts in display. The problem presented itself in an undeniable way. The designs are way-out-there and above me. Yani, the shirts could be too colorful; maybe the color scheme is “different”; I cannot finger it. The layout and also the arrangement does not speak to me, does not communicate to me. Lastly, the figures/drawings that I expected to see in this brand (a shark in tees and shorts holding a surf board) of shirt is not anymore present there. There is something huge missing, something lacking. I cannot believe it. I am holding the very same brand of t-shirt of high school days, here in my hands, but somehow it is not it, it has dissappeared. I had a feeling that I lost something forever. My nostalgia was dashed into smithereens!

Something had happened. And it hit me, hit me hard. Remember the theory I mentioned earlier? That Maui had moved-on. The answer is, maybe yes. But I recon, that I myself had moved-on also. Not in the same way more likely. And the world had moved-on.
Good grief! I’m getting older faster than I thought.

bow-tie bow!

I bought a printed blue bow-tie in the Mall of the Emirates ages ago. Not the clip-on stuff mind you, but the mature and dignified self-tie tie-type (pardon for the double redundancy, he3!). I used to fancy myself wearing that thing around my neck walking around the party, looking smart and preppy, just like suave actors in the movies. Wicked!

I tried to tie it once, but I was not satisfied with how the finish product looked like. Maybe I did a lousy job in doing-the-knot. Also, I am not used to it. Have you seen a Filipino wearing a bow-tie? Guess not. Another maybe is that it is cultural. I have no roots for it and most (99.5%) of all the “Kabayan” I know are not “in” with the bow-tie thing. So, what the H, I am different from the rest of the potatoes, and I will show it with my unique-”kamote” bow-tie. Bow!

The actual effort is an “extra challenge”. It is like Hercules wrestling Hydra’s heads. It was very difficult to manage and my arms were sore doing the loops-and-turns. Why is it here? Where is that A-Hole? It is supposed to be here. Even though I had instructional print-out sheets of How-to-tie-a-bow-tie-you-idiot, pasted on the wall near the mirror, I am “sotong” (confused) already. In spite of these, the end-result is not very encouraging (to put it lightly). But it looked more like shoe laces of a 4-year old that went awry. B@#$H! So, I decided to put-away the damn thing, well, at least for the time being.

Then suddenly, like a phoenix rising up from the ashes, I resurrected my bow-tie from the abyss of obscurity last night. Something mysterious happened. I cannot explain it, but with some serious effort, that gorgeous bow-tie is now nicely fastened around my neck, complementing my simple handsome self (note: adverse reactions are not permitted). Indeed, practice makes perfect.

Chill!!!!

A Different Taste

My brother-in-law just celebrated his birthday in a nice fine dining restaurant inside SM annex in Pasig. I have discovered that although the restaurant is serving a unique spaghetti and pizza, the owner is not italian nor an america born citizen but a filipino who used to have his business in US and open up a branch in the Philippines...below is the narration of the restaurant origin...




The foods we have feasted...







And some of the famous guest staring on us while we are chomping...



This can be a challenge to our balikbayans or returning OFW...why not try opening up a restaurant serving foods with a foreign taste...like chopsuey, in Dubai...or my favorite chicken recipe...

NOSEBLEEDDOTCOM

“Nose bleed!!”

Medically speaking, Epistaxis is defined as bleeding from the nose. Minor injury to the nose is a common cause. This may be an injury to your nose, or may be due to nose picking. People with blocked noses blow them very hard and this may start bleeding. Infections such as the common cold make the vessels more likely to bleed.

(Siyet!!! Ingles yun ha… NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)

However, there is another common cause of a nosebleed (iyung tipong magdurugo talaga ang ilong mo sa hirap!). The following are the “nosebleed” collection that I have gathered around:

Case 1:
I was in the gym one evening when two kabayan ladies came in fully geared up with short-shorts, tank top and rubber shoes and headed to the 2 treadmills beside me. Kabayan 1 set up her ipod and started walking on the treadmill while kabayan 2 was just standing and with arched eyebrows seriously staring on her mobile.

Ten minutes passed by when kabayan 2 noticed her friend and asked:

Kabayan 1: Hoy, ano ba? Bakit seryoso ka jan?
Kabayan 2: Teka lang sandali, nag-iisip pa ako kung paano ko sasabihin…
Kabayan 1: (Sensing that her dear friend is in a dilemma, became eager to help) E, ano ba ang gusto mo kasing sabihin na di mo masabi sabi?
Kabayan 2: Gusto ko sanang sabihin sa kanya na gusto kong ilaglag ang lakad ko para makaatend nang bertdey nya.
Kabayan 1: Eh di sabihin mo, “you want to DROP YOUR WALK to attend the bertday party” (inday, ganito na lang ba, “I want to cancel my previous appointment?” malaglag ka sa kinalalakaran mo, sigue ka!)
Kabayan 2: Ay oo nga, ‘no!! (ay oo nga, eto pa ang isa!)

(NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)

Case 2:
On day three of my Hong Kong vacation with some friends, our next stop is Hong Kong DISNEYLAND RESORT (Yehey!!!). We were the first group that was picked up by the tour guide which was good coz we could get the front seats. However, in our dismay there were personal belongings on the seats indicating that it is already occupied by somebody else. So we just settled on the seats directly behind it.

Second group that was picked up were a group of kabayans (approx. 15 pax in total). They were headed by a middle aged woman whom they refer to as “Ma’am”.

As “Ma’am” got in the bus, she stopped beside the 4 empty front seats, and commented “OH, somebody still sitting there already!” (Ano un ma’am? Maybe it should be, “oh, somebody had taken this seat already?”) then headed at the back of the bus.

(Si Ma’am talaga, NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)

Case 3:
Still on the tour bus heading to Disneyland, the tour guide was doing her usual stuff. Informing us about the location of restaurants, Cinderella castle, schedule of the fireworks and that Disneyland City Hall gives gifts to guests who are celebrating their birthdays that day. Then she asked the group if anyone is celebrating his/her birthday.

A very excited high pitched voice came from a kabayan at the back of the bus saying, “Me! Me! Todey is my bertday!”

The tour guide congratulated her and advised her to go to Disneyland City Hall to be able to claim a free gift by simply presenting her passport.

Then the excited high pitched voice became a disappointed high pitched voice saying “Aaayyy… I donut hab my passport!”

The tour guide also disappointed, asked her why she did not bring her passport with her. And she replied on her high pitched voice, “you did not TELLED us, eh….” (Asus ka! ”you haven’t told us?”)

(Wwwaaahhhhh!!! )
(Si kabayan, NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)

Case 4:
I was enjoying and feasting my eyes on the awesome sceneries outside on our way to China, when suddenly I heard a high pitched shout coming from the back of the bus that ended my tranquility saying,

AAAHHHH!! ITS FALL!!! ITS FALL!!! (oi! baka naman, “aahh!! It fell!!! It fell!!!)

Then came a big bottle of mineral water rolling to the front of the bus.

(Si kabayan na naman, NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)

Case 5:
We were in IKEA one afternoon looking for some stuff for the house when we chanced upon a kabayan sales lady and her European customer.

European Customer: Excuse me miss. Could you please tell me where I can find an ice maker?

Kabayan Sales Lady: “ICE MAKER? Ah you mean the maker of yelo!!!” (Huat? Di ba tagalog ang yelo? Pa-sosyal ka pa inday!)

(NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!!)


Case 6:
This is the best of them all!!!

Quote

Dear All Good morning, I would like to thank all the staff committee members for giving us the help during
Last week (Kailan ba talaga? Noong isang linggo pa o kasalukuyan?) , we pasted in their office (Ano ito? Cut and paste?) in cargo village
Really it was a very good opportunity to meet and to work with another part of XYZ team and i would give a special thanks for the persons i didn’t say good by to them yesterday (Sana lang naintindihan ninyo iyun, o baka naman gusto nyo na ng tissue?)have a good day see you soon Very Best Regards AIDA

Unquote

(Si Aida Ferchichi, NOSE BLEED!!!! TISSUE! TISSUE! TISSUE!! Parang naubos na tissue ko ah!)

So far, exposure to these nose bleeding circumstances can cause mild nasal hemorrhage. If symptoms persists, insult your doctor.

Bubble has busted!

It started in the US, where the property sector fell to the ground in flames. Then, from some reason or another, in the UK and Europe, banks suddenly fell like flies. Across the Atlantic, large banks in the US filed for bankruptcy. The American Congress is deliberating for a huge economic bail-out for main industries that are gravely hit by the onslaught of the recession. Consequently, the rest of the world was in a scramble, looking for cover from the economic fall-out.

Some said that there were signs that a recession is ahead. Politicians and economic managers somehow, according to their ulterior motives, ignored these signs, or rather, brushed it under the rug.

Like a tsunami, it hit the coasts of far-away regions and swept away billions upon billions of dollars, reducing the coastline into a damaged and impoverished wasteland.

Lo and behold, Dubai is the beach-head of the UAE, splendid, high and rich as it is, crumbled to the ground, breaking into pieces, severely maligned by this global catastrophe. Hundreds of expatriates were immediately laid-off in this great city alone. The economic implications are staggering in magnitude. All sectors are affected, one way or another, in more ways than another. No one is safe now.

Dubai is hardest hit of all the emirates in the UAE because it is more exposed in the global financial market. An anomaly in the worldwide trading system has serious, and now, as we are presently experiencing it, have negative repercussions here. Experts say that we are in an unprecedented downward spiral towards global financial collapse, and no one can predict when the recession will last.

None in this once proud city, do not know someone who were recently re-trenched or worse, downright fired. Hiring in companies is stopped. Job contacts were suspended indefinitely. Some people may estimate it to 97% of all projects in Dubai are either on-hold, shelved, stopped, cancelled or a variation thereof. The construction industry is literally in a stand-still.

Traders are now demanding for small change unlike before, it is easily forgiven. Credit cards were relaxed in their payment collection whereas now, a few days of delay would warrant you to be threatened with incarceration. Banks now are very stringent in the approval of personal loans, or worse, as the gossip grapevine suggests, they are not lending at all. Accommodation annual rentals may not go up, but landlords demand 100% payment instead.

Where to find money in this cash bereft city?

The bad times are undeniably and unmistakably here.

Is this the very end of the “Dubai Dream”? Maybe it is.

Of all the worries going around, one thing is for certain. The dream of Dubai that was, the wonder that sparked imagination, and the glittering thing that attracted countless many is all but no more. The financial plague consumed it. The bleak reality has set in. The bubble has busted and we can do nothing about it.

Halaga ng bandila sa kotse

Ang komentaryong ito ay pag-sagot sa sulat sa pinaka-ibaba:

Para sa kung sino man iyun na “mas higit na nakaka-alam”,

Una, hindi ako nagsasabi na burahin ang Plate Number ko sa computer ng mga pobre nating kababayan na nagtatrabaho sa tanggapan na nagbabantay ng lansangan. Bakit nga ba nila binubura? Pinagtatakpan ba nila ang mga pagkakamali ng iba nating mga kababayan na hindi sumusunod sa batas? Mali naman iyun. Mali sila dun. Kung sino ang nagkamali, siya ang managot.

Pangalawa, hindi kasalanan ng bandila ng ating bansa ang pagkakamaling ito. Walang kinalaman ito sa pagkakamali ng ilan nating mga kababayan. Inilagay ko ang bandila sa likod ng aking sasakyan upang ipakita sa buong mundo na ako ay galing sa “Lupang Hinirang”. Hindi ko ninais at ayaw kong maghari-harian sa mga kalye dito. Gusto ko lamang makarating ng payapa at matiwasay sa aking pupuntahan. Magkarerahan sa Sheikh Zayed? Ipaubaya mo na lang iyun sa mga taga-rito kung gusto nila.

Hindi nyo ba alam kung ano ang ibinuwis ng ating mga ninuno noong panahon nang Himagsikan? Binili ang ating kalayaan nang Dugo! Ang bandilang ito ang sagisag nang kabayanihan ng mga nagmahal sa ating bansa. Tapos sino ka na magsasabi na tanggalin ko ang bandilang ito sa kadahilanang may mga tukmol na tao na gumagawa ng mga kalokohan para ikahiya ko ang sagisag ng aking bayan?

Tama ang pamahalaang ito na palayasin ang mga napatunayang gumawa nang kasalanan. Khallas!!!

At kung nasa aking kamay ang kanilang buhay, baka bitay pa ang hatol ko sa kanila. Ano pa ba ang hatol sa nakakahiyan na ginawa nila? Hara-kiri? Sayang lang, hindi tayo Hapon.

Kayong mga kababayan ko, hindi kayo naparito sa gitnang silangan upang magtarantado at maghari-harian. Lumugar naman kayo. Mga panauhin lamang tayo rito. Kumilos kayo nang nararapat.

Magising sana kayo sa katotohanan.

Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

-0-

Ang sulat na pinagmulan ng isyu na ito.

Paki inform mga kabayan natin,

> > Kelan lang ay may naglabasang balita na pag may FLAG sticker ng > Pilipinas ang kotse mo ay ligtas kana sa mga violation sa kalsada > katulad ng overspeeding at beating the red light, dahil diumano'y ang > mga kababayan nating Pilipino ang kumukuha or nagda-download nito sa > mga nagkalat na camera sa kalsada at intersection. > >

Ang mga bali-balitang ito po ay nakarating nasa kinauukulan ng > Ministry of Interior at pilit na pinagpapaliwanag ang mga pobre nating > kababayan na nagtata-trabaho doon, ang ilan sa kanila ngyo'y under > surveillance at ang iba naman ay napauwi na. Marami sa mga kababayan > natin ang galit dahil ang iba sa knila'y nawalan ng trabaho at ito'y > ipinararating nila sa karamihan na kung pwede sana paki-tanggal na ang > mga sticker ng Philippine flag sa inyong mga sasakyan at kung gusto > nyo naman eh pwede nyong ilipat ng location ang sticker wag lang po sa > likod or wag malapit sa Registration Number. > >

Para maiwasan po ang kahit na anong problema na ating kakaharapin sa > kalsada ay sumunod na lamang po raw tyo. Ang sabi nila'y nasa watch > list ng MOI ang mga sasakyan na may flag ng bansa natin. Eto po ay > pawing transmitted message lamang ng mga taong mas may higit na > kaalaman.

> > Maraming salamat poh!

Long, Long Driving

Long drives from Al Ain to Dubai would take approximately 2 hours, and could be a daunting task because you are looking forward into the next couple of hours driving alone in the middle of nowhere. Furthermore, it could just be outright boring.
That is unless you do something about it. He3!!! Actually, you can do many things to keep you busy. Herein listed below are some suggestions to consider:
1. Listen to the Radio. Music can keep you company during long driving. Singing with your favorite hits or maybe shouting with it as if there is no tomorrow bro! However, you can only do that when you leave Al Ain town proper because it is difficult to catch english radio station frequencies there. I dunno if it is intentional or somethin’ b’coz even if the digital radio’s frequency is fixed in an english dubai channel, there is still a bellowing habibi comes thru the car radio. But that is just temporary. When you get to the fringes of the town, radio channels are back to normal. Keep on rollin’ baby!!!! Haya-haya habibi!!!! Nyeek!!!
2. Race. Yup, you’ve read it right, race. That four letter word that most people fear. I am not actually encouraging people out there to do careless drag-racing in the Dubai-Al Ain Highway. Nope, not that kind of race. Then, what the heck am I driving at? Well, let me explain it like this, play and imagine that you are in the Grand Prix. Thunderin’ motor-noise and cars passing at high speed. Whow! Adrenaline pumpin’ dude! Get the Tokyo Drift? Then continue, choose a competitor; there are many ways to find one. Observe the traffic population. Nope not that new shiny 4WD that sped past you, its waaaay outta your league. How about that wretched looking ancient dirty-white hatchback that is screeching thru the road on your left side? Nope. Mismatch. Look at the front-right side, there booming a 10-year-old Gringo 4WD. This is the competition? Why not? And then, Bang!!! Shot Fired!!! And the race is on!!! Run in full speed past the Gringo to challenge him, he will get what you mean. “Days of Thunder” is here!
3. Speed-Cam Watching. Out there in the desolate desert wasteland, in the wild high highway (he3! Similar to “the wild high seas”, get it?), where you thought you could have peace and tranquility and speed-up to your whim. It is just you, sand, breeze, rustle of grass, stars in the sky, WELL YOUR WRON-G! There are these loathed, evil devices called speed-cameras to harass you and make your life miserable. You would be forced to slow down and drive at 139 km/hr (a hairline below the speed limit) especially when you see a speedometer a few meters ahead. If you had just passed that hated device, immediately zoom above 150 or more and stay on guard for the next one at the left side of the road.
4. Speed Lane Hugging. The left-most lane near the road-island is the “speed lane”. Where all the newly minted, high-powered, bombastic and flashy automobiles speed-by, leaving you green with envy. They run to 200 and with headlights full-blast (sometimes light flashing), telling anybody blocking their way; “get the hell out of my way”. Since many people do not want to be bothered by these “show-offs”, the second lane is the popular choice for peaceful driving. But then again, who wants a peaceful-boring drive? Not me! He3! Wait for you chance to get inside the first lane, coast is clear? Go with headlights in full-blast too! Run to the limit. Chase away slow cars and make the sheep go to the second lane. However, when a much faster car approaches your rear, sway to the second lane, as the alpha passes, then spring back again to the first. Be persistent, consistently harass the sheep, mind you, you are a fine shepherd breed! Ruff!!! Ruff!!! You’ll be reaching the emirate-border in no time!
5. Pick a fight. No, not the actual physical thing, you rascal. Look for something unusual. How about a car with light in-full-blast but it not running fast enough? Good sport! He3! Go in swing in front of him and step on the ciliñador amigo! He will eat smoke and be humiliated for sure. The bloke would try to out-maneuver you and retaliate. Thus, you have your dog-fight. Several twists and turns would happen in the contest. And before you know it, you are in sight of the glittering Dubai Business Bay over-passes. Argh pirates! Land ahoy!!!
Please be noted that these written above are only suggestions that may relieve you of your boredom and are not intended in anyway; in getting you killed. Caution must be undertaken not to overdo any said tips and considerations.
Remember to drive safely (talking about U-Turn, he3!!!).
Khallas!

Christmastime carol

This morning, just after Pacquiao won his match with Dela Hoya, my teenaged daughter Meg and I wrote together lyrics for a carol in a Yahoo Messenger chatbox.

The carol was an assignment for her English class. She was to come up with the lyrics and her groupmates were to compose the music. She said she didn't know how to do it and asked me to help. In around 1 and half hours of chatting, we wrote lines, argued, filled in missing words, argued, searched an online rhyming dictionary, argued, rewrote and rearranged the lines and reargued. Here are the final lyrics of the carol, which she titled "Christmastime".

It's Christmastime.
I stop and think of love that heaven sent.
It's Christmastime.
I thank God that you took me as your friend
and I wish you a wonderful time,
my buddy, my mate, my pal.

It's Christmastime.
I think of all the days that we've been through.
It's Christmastime.
I'm thankful that I have a friend in you
and I wish you a wonderful time,
as wonderful as you are!

Merry Christmas!

Rakrakan raks

I went to the Rakrakan Fest 2008 last night with my friends at the Dubai Festival City. The concert, sponsored by The Filipino Channel, featured Pupil, Kamikaze, Dawn and Bamboo.



Pupil, with former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia, opened the show at around 7:00pm. Their sound was a bit raw, reminding you of the Rolling Stones. It's OK because the songs are good. Towards the end, they sang Eraserheads songs, including “Pare Ko” and “Alapaap”, in new arrangements. The crowd roared with approval as soon as they recognized the songs and sang along. Their finale number “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, I think, was one of the highlights of the concert. Buendia's Eraserheads bandmate Buddy Zabala, who is now with the Dawn, joined Pupil in this song.

Kamikaze played next. I'm not really into their kind of music but I enjoyed their set because the lead singer Jay Contreras was very funny with his confessional talks, dance steps and circus acts. Ang saya!

The Dawn, who's been around since the 80s, followed with “Iisang Banka” as opener. Their sound seemed to me the most polished. Vocalist Jett Pangan is still good. And Francis Reyes is still one of the best guitarists we have around. Their closing number “Salamat” was probably the highlight of the evening. It seemed that everyone was charged up and danced and sang along.



Bamboo was the last to perform. The band started with Rivermaya songs followed by their new ones that I'm not familiar with. They did “Noypi” in the middle of the set. “Here's our song”, former Rivermaya vocalist Bamboo Manalac introduced it. For me, “Noypi” is one of the best Pinoy rock songs ever written, along with “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and “Salamat” and some others. Yup, it's our song. Manalac did well in most of the songs. The surprise for me was the guitarist. I enjoyed his solos which bordered on jazz. They closed the concert with the Rivermaya song “Kisap Mata”.

Just before the first song of the evening, Pupil's Yan Yuzon proclaimed, “Ngayong gabi, nasa-Pilipinas tayo! (Tonight, we are in the Philippines!)”. He was right. For 5 hours, I felt I was, rocking with my friends and around 15,000 other Pinoys.