Events:

Spotlight On Little Monsters

The 2010 Witches And Wizards

Costume Contest For Kids

SM City Iloilo was turned into a huge house of fright as children age three years old and up donned their spooky Halloween costumes and lurked around the mall last October 31, 2010 for the annual Witches and Wizards Costume Contest for Kids.

Little girls dressed like witches were the ones who dominated the crowd. Their bloodcurdling faces and huge brooms frightened little kids, as well as adults. There were also young boys on wizard costumes, who waved their wands and mumbled their spells as they passed by a crowded lane. Other kids were clad as animals, super heroes, and characters from folklores and ghost stories.

The participants of the contest paraded around the mall and were asked to pose on stage afterwards. They impressed the crowd with their horrifying facial expressions and body movements as their names were called one by one. The much-loved costumes were awarded with big prizes. This year’s category included the scariest costume, the funniest costume, and the most creative costume.

Other kids, who did not reach the age requirement of the contest, also dressed up to celebrate Halloween. They roamed around the mall carrying pumpkin baskets to collect candies from the event sponsors. It was also a family day, because parents and grandparents enjoyed a lot of their time with the kids.

  

Feature:

Changing Tunes

Remembering the “cassette tape” generation

By Pepin

As far as I can remember, it was for almost three decades that the cassette tapes ruled the audio stores. They replaced those huge and flat gramophone records in the 70’s, and became top sellers in the 80’s until the late 90’s. In fact, millions of people have been collecting them since they were out in the market.

I used to receive audio cassette tapes as presents for my birthday, and my collection consisted of various albums, like Oasis, Air Supply, Eraserheads, Bon Jovi, Ace of Base, and Backstreet Boys. I would usually buy one if I want to get hold of a copy of the song I heard over MTV, then I would play it over and over again on the car stereo or the karaoke at home. Oftentimes, I would push the play-rewind-play for the nth time, until my last song syndrome was finally relieved. I just can’t get enough of these audio materials as I was growing up. Honestly, the last time I played a cassette tape was five months ago. My car was still having a cassette tape player back then.

Cassette tapes are more than just collectibles; these have been considered by many as their comfort zones. These have been soothing respites of daily mood swings, especially during desperate moments. Moreover, these served as storage spaces for intimate love songs, and even used as recording materials for a baby’s first laughs and cries. It is without a doubt that being in the limelight for three years; cassette tapes have served a lot of purpose to humankind.

But today, if these are not kept as collections, they are seen on the dumps. Little children would destroy their casing and play with the two miniature spools. The magnetically coated tape is a wonder toy for them, and they would often knot this around their body or on both trees to create a fence. This only shows that today’s generation are unaware on how precious these items were used to be.

Music artist of the cassette tape generation would also earn a lot by selling their albums through this format (audio cassette tape format). But today, songs and other audio materials are easily copied and are reproduced illicitly (talk about piracy). Other songs can even be downloaded on some websites over the internet without respect to copyright policies. All of these caused a decline on the music industry, and even discouraged hundreds of music artist to make quality songs.

It’s quite impossible for cassette tapes to regain their glories. However, no one can erase the fact that they became a big part of many cultures. Eventhough compact disks and other portable media players are readily available in the market today, the valuable contribution and exceptional tunes of these old-fashioned audio materials will never be over and done.

Feature:

"Her Life And Her Faith"

MOTHER ROSARIO ARROYO, O.P.

Foundress of Beaterio de Molo

Dominican Sisters of the

Most Holy Rosary of the Philippines

By Pepin

Mother Rosario Arroyo’s life best exemplifies the virtues of humility, honesty, simplicity, and faith. It is without doubt that she has become an inspiration, not only to her fellow Ilonggos, but also to different people around the globe.

Born on February 17, 1884 in Molo, Iloilo City, Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo was a daughter of a wealthy couple. Her childhood years were less complicated compared to other children in her community. She was blessed with her wants and needs adjacent to her self.

But all the money of her family did not hinder her from allowing her self to interact with people living with an impoverish life. In fact, she felt sympathy at them. She did not hesitate to reach out to their needs, both material and spiritual. For her, it was in serving the poor and the helpless that the love and ways of God can be learned and understood.

Joining the religious life in the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina in Manila did not only strengthened her faith to the Father, but she was able to mould her self to live a life in prayer and poverty. She went back to Iloilo after spending some time teaching the words of God in Manila and Pangasinan. She returned home with full of dreams for the needy, hence together with two Dominican Sisters from Santa Catalina, she established a foundation, the Beaterio del Santisimo Rosario in Molo, to reach out to more people in need and to those who are failing in their faith.

Mother Rosario Arroyo died on June 14, 1957. She left her own legacy to her congregation, community, and the world, and that is inspiring everyone to develop a deeper love and devotion to God by serving the poor.

PRAYER
(For the beatification of Mother Rosario Arroyo, OP)

O most loving and merciful Father,
You constantly build up your Church through Your faithful servants

who dedicate themselves to You

in love, service, and generosity.

We thank you, loving Father,

for you have shown

through Your beloved servant, Mother Rosario,

Your constant love and care in the world

by accepting within the Church

a religious family whose members

dedicate themselves to the education

and formation of Your people.

We beg You, loving Father,

to raise Mother Rosario

to the glory of the Blessed Ones.

May her love and dedication

to the work of your Son,

continue to inspire young women and men

to serve Christ faithfully.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

(Here you may present your petition to
God through the prayers of Mother Rosario)

One Our Father,

One Hail Mary and

One Glory Be

Feature:

"What It’s Worth"
Being an OFW is no shaggy dog story

By Pepin

Credits to VSPRODUCTION of the United States
for the Youtube video upload

“Nandyan kayo… kahit nandito na ako o saan mang lupalop ng mundo, dito dala-dala ko ang obligasyon ko sa inyo na bigyan kayo ng magandang buhay, dahil magulang niyo ako!” These are the striking lines of Josie played by Vilma Santos, one of the country’s renowned actress, in the 1999 hit movie, Anak. It was eleven years ago, but the same words would always bring tears to my eyes every time I think of my loved ones working abroad (Dramahan? ‘Yon!). I have to be honest; this movie would always trigger my soft spot.

However, I would consider being melodramatic for the fact that the story is on the brink of what is really existing. Being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is no shaggy dog story (Hindi talaga!). You really need to surrender everything that is with you and in you. Every single choice that you make matters, especially if you have a family at risk of starving. You cannot afford to make any inaccuracies on your decisions nor do something that is wide of the mark.

But despite the sacrifices, it would often be a lost for someone who is working abroad. Yes, the income generated would suffice for the needs and wants of the family left behind. But the thousands of bucks earned cannot always replace the thousands of tears shed because of the longing, despair, apprehension, and solitude. These will always be heavy burdens among overseas Filipino workers (I believe that 99.9% of OFW’s are getting homesick most of the time!).

Moreover, the rewards are not always what you expect them to be. I have spoken to three of my friends a year ago. Aside from having parents working abroad, another common denominator among them was they are all out-of-school. One is working in a fast-food chain, and the other two are both couch potatoes for almost eighteen hours everyday (watching the same shows over and over again! That’s mind-numbing!). Not to mention, they are spending lazy moments over beers and turning themselves into smoke weeds. I did not bother giving them with a label of “ignominy”, but I sympathize on their situation and most especially on their parents, who are working in the rough desserts of the Middle East.



My father has been working overseas for almost twenty five years now. He is literally working “over the seas,” (He’s a seaman) and I know that he has a tough job. It is a little bit tougher because I know how much he yearns to stay longer at home every time he is granted with his vacation. My father is not vocal of how he feels, but his tight grip to my mother’s hand would explain everything. At 58, I know he always long to stay home with his family.

He already bought a car, a house, and supplied everything that his family wanted and needed throughout the years. And I am truly grateful for all of his efforts, determination, and love; that is why I did not lose any chance to prove to him that his money, his sweat, and his dreams will not go to waste. I and my sisters are proud that we have attained our own respective degree much because of his hard work. We believe that finishing school is one of the best ways we can sustain him with exuberance and self-esteem while he is roasting himself in the machineries, spending a lonely night during his birthdays and Christmas seasons, and overcoming the threats of colossal waves.

My own story was the only response I gave to my three friends, and I will tell the same thing to those who casted off their parents’ effort (Alam po natin na hindi biro ang pinagdadaan ng mga magulang natin sa ibayong dagat). Being miles away is not a hindrance to be miles apart from having a responsible self. Our moms and dads might be in other places, but technologies are adjacent to us and we can use these to keep in touch with them. For instance, we can use the laptops they bought us last Christmas to chat with them during our free time. We can also utilize the digital camera they sent us as their birthday present to take pictures of the blissful moments at home. Or, we can still make use of letter writing to communicate to them our joys, as well as our despairs. Sinubukan po namin ang lahat ng ito to keep in touch with our father, and I assure anyone reading this that they all worked in opening the line of communication between our home and anywhere our father will be.

And most of all, we should not forget to clasp our hands and pray for the safety of our loved ones abroad and the whole family. Prayer will always be an essential element in every family, and it will keep the bond stronger, even if your parents and love ones are far away from home.

I am truly grateful for PEBA (Pinoy Expats Blog Awards) for this opportunity. I scribbled my thoughts and my own personal encounter, because I believe that through my writing skills, I can fulfill the call of this organization to strengthen the OFW families. I only wish that everyone like me, who is left in the country, will be building a stronger and a happier home (just what me, my mother, and my sisters did and continue doing), especially that our loved ones abroad dream of it the most.

Stanza No. 009:

It's just all about the art of dancing.

Eco-chic:

Cry Me A River

By Pepin

Rivers would usually make a perfect backdrop for any romantic moment. But today, avaricious people look at them as perfect dumping sites.

Old tires, broken dolls, tattered diapers, and rusty cans are all over Iloilo River. You name any kind of garbage and it is there, floating or jammed on a pongy mud. Not to mention the various kinds of flies and mosquitoes breeding on the dumpy loam. Anyone who has a delicate sense of smell would easily purge out because of the stink that is extremely indefinable.

Who on earth couldn’t resist to slaughter rivers like this that made it possible for commercial trade, sources of livelihood, channels of transportation, and hotspots for leisure-time activities to flourish for centuries? Undoubtedly, only those with vile hearts have the guts to wreck these precious creations and turn them into a nightmare.

If the dumping activities wouldn’t stop, and if all people will not provide measures to clean Iloilo River and other dying rivers in the world, it won’t be long for fishes, mangroves, and other valuable living organisms to perish. Estuaries will be clogged up and more diseases, including those that are resistant to modern-day therapies, will begin to proliferate. Give it ten to twenty years more and all of these unexpected perils will ensue.

There are 1,001 ways to clean a river. We can hold a “Clean-up Drive” for a week and encourage different sectors in the society to participate. We can also ask our legislators to enact stricter laws that prohibit waste disposals in the river banks. We can also march on the streets and demand for factories and other establishments to shut down their pipes, which drain dirty waste water. Or we can campaign and raise funds for river improvements and further research studies that will look into other concrete ways and means on how we can save these dying bodies of water. We can do all of these things, because “We can!”

Since we still have time left, let’s do everything we can to save our rivers before anything worse will happen.

Announcement:

Panay Mud Pie would like to congratulate

DUNGOG:

The Indigenous Peoples Festival 

of the Province of Capiz

for winning the 2010 BEST TOURISM EVENT IN THE PHILIPPINES, awarded by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) last October 3-6, 2010 during the 11th ATOP National Convention at Subic Bay Freeport Zone.  

For more information about the Dungog festival, click here: 
http://www.capiz.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=155:dungog-showcases-15-indigenous-peoples-houses&catid=1:latest-news

Kata-kata: Blab 07

Nasubayan

By Pepin

Wala ka bala nagatingala kung nga-a wala ga-diabetikon ang mga subay kag langaw bisan pirmi sila nagapanamit kaon sang mga matam-is nga pagkaon?

Isa ka adlaw gin gaan ko sila sang mousse cake (abaw sosyal). Gin hulog ko lang ini sa lupa kag gin lantaw ko kung paanu sila nag hagaray magkaon. Pagakatpos sang lima ka minuto, napuno na sang pula nga subay ang cake kag nag umpisa na pamasyar ang mga langaw. May naghapon pa gid nga lagong. Sa kilid may mga guyum nga gusto mag intra sa pista, pero gin-snub sila. Wala ko gin sabad ang mga ini sa ila hilikuton. Nagpadayon ako sa pag obserbar.

Pagkadugay-dugay gin pamangkot ko kaugalingon ko, “wala man ni galingin ulo nila?” Indi ko ma take nga ako gani indi kaagwanta sang katam-is sang cake, pero sa ila daw sa wala lang (ang lagong daw seryoso gid). Nagpaminsar ako sang mga diabetikon nga tawo nga indi kapanamit kaon sang cake subong, pero ang mga subay kag langaw ya daw ka hisaon gid.

Dugay-dugay gin amat-amat tabunan sang mga pula nga subay ang cake sang balas kag gintago ini (nagdinalok guro sa lagong). Nag damo pa gid sila ka gang iban nanghagad pa gid sa iban nga baryo.

Sang indi ko na gid masabat ang akon pamangkotanon, nagdesisyon na lang ako nga batunon ang matuod base sa akon na obserbaran, kag gin liswahan ko ininit ang mousse cake ko (sin-o mas hisaon?).

KULBA tale 5:

Mirror Terror

By Pepin

We use a mirror everyday to see how we look. However, there are times that it can deceive us. It does not only reveal to us our physical image, but there are also secrets and mysteries that it tries to hide from us.

Way back in 1995, Anne, an eight year old student from one of the prestigious schools in Iloilo, experienced how a mirror does its tricks. It was two in the afternoon, and she was in a music class in the oldest building of the campus.

Five minutes had passed, but the teacher hasn’t arrived for class. Anne decided to go to the comfort room to fix her self. She asked Katrina to go with her, but the latter was busy playing with the other girls. She went on her own; unaware of what was to happen to her.

The comfort room was in a complete silence when she entered. There were five cubicles and the tiles were clean, although there were cracks on them. At the left is the washing area with two sinks and a medium-sized mirror hanging on the wall between them. Everything in side was in order.

Anne was looking at herself in the mirror as she was combing her long black hair. But suddenly a reflection stood behind her. She looked back but saw no one. She continued fixing her hair. Five minutes later, the reflection stood behind her again, but still no one was around inside when she tried to look around. She turned back to the mirror, but this time she saw a reflection of a nun smiling at her. Surprised and stunned, she cannot move away from her post. The image was clear, and she saw the beautiful old nun with her two eyes.

She kept on smiling at her, and Anne didn’t want to be rude. And eventhough she was trembling, she smiled back to the person in the mirror. But she did not get what she was expecting in return, because blood began to drip on the nun’s lips and her fangs slowly came out. Her eyes turned red and her stare fumed. Her saintly face turned atrocious.

Anne dropped her brush, ran her way out of the comfort room, and told her account to Katrina and the other girls. After hearing her word, the group went immediately to the comfort room to investigate. They stared at the mirror, but everything was in still silence.

Another horrifying mirror trick. Credits to theunknown from new york, USA.

Events:

Bamboo: The Green Gold

Iloilo Bamboo Market Week 2010

By pepin

The bamboo has become a part of the Filipino culture for so many centuries. Its many valuable contributions to the lives of every pinoy made it as one of the most treasured gifts of Mother Nature.

From October 8 to 14, 2010, SM City Iloilo is home to the annual celebration of the Iloilo Bamboo Market Week. With a theme of “Bamboo: The Green Gold,” the said event aims to promote bamboo as one of the best raw materials for so many things, such as tables, window panes, arm chairs, accessories, and even as ingredients to cooking.

The week long fair includes exhibits of finished bamboo products of some local craftsmen and artists, essay writing contest, bamboo food preparation contest, painting contest, and a forum about the bamboo and the environment. All of these activities are thought to raise people’s awareness on how versatile and functional this natural gift can be.

A team from John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation (JBLCF) joins

the bamboo food preparation contest.

Judges deliberating over food taste.

An exhibit of some of the finest bamboo crafts

Participants for the bamboo food preparation contest

get ready for the panel of judges.

A unique delicacy called Bamboo Shoot  Bringis

Inspiring Anecdotes:

Early Morning With Oysters

By Pepin

How hard is it to prepare oysters? For this guy, it is as hard as waking up as early as five in the morning and scrubbing them one by one until they don’t have anymore mud on it. That’s always the case if you want to be the first one to get some customers and earn an income for the family.

Sad to say, but this guy will be working for almost eighteen hours just to sell his oysters. It is not that easy to do trade with these hard shells, especially that he has a lot of competitors who are also improving their business to lure buyers. Not to mention the risk of cutting his hands with a knife, which he uses to open these oysters after they were cooked. Moreover, any rain cloud up in the sky means that business will not be that satisfying as people would often not eat oysters during wet seasons for reasons that these are contaminated by dirty water (many would claim it that way).

But for this guy, life must go on, especially if selling oysters will feed his family three times a day, and will give his children a chance to experience a good education. It’s indeed a tough job, but definitely rewarding.

Feature:

More To Expect In Aklan

For a reef-walking adventure in Boracay

By Pepin

With an approved government budget of 185 Million Pesos, Aklan’s tourism industry is expected to rise higher in the coming years. Particularly, the said amount is to be utilized in the construction of more concrete roads in the province, including the circumferential road in Boracay Island, which is one of the Philippine’s premier tourist destinations.

Local and foreign tourists will also be treated with new infrastructures soon, as part of the financial plan is intended to build new public spots and to improve the existing ones. But it is not only the visitors who will benefit from this budget, because the agricultural sector of the province is also on the list of priorities.

Stanza No. 008:

I wrote this poem in memory of my best buddy, Iggy (July 23, 2002 - October 4, 2010).

Eco-chic:

An Entomologist For A Day

How I explored an incredible world
in my backyard

By Pepin

Sundays are usually reserved for relaxations and respites. But I utilized one of these rest days to go out and explore a whole new world; a world which maybe smaller than ours, but definitely one of its kind. Yes, it’s the world of insects!

I went to the countryside to capture still photos of magnificent little creatures that live inaudibly in this planet. I was surprised that they too can register well in the camera. Their colors gleamed vividly, and every shot was a masterpiece. They are all splendid and they made my nature-loving self jump in extreme exuberance.

I wondered why people consider them as “creepy crawlies” when all they have to do is to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Without these little creatures, this world will be non-sense – flowers won’t bloom, trees will not bear fruits, and other animals will have no food to eat. In some major ways, these insects contribute to life, and Mother Nature put them there for a purpose.

At the end of the day, I realized that these so-called “creepy crawlies” are not that creepy at all. People indeed do a lot of stereotyping these days! And I can say that these wonderful tiny creatures may not have any stories to tell to everyone, but they sure make this planet an interesting place to live in.

Stanza No. 007:

Love may not always be the way we want it to be. We can repulse from it; but if we try to accept it as it is, we can find the real quintessence of loving. This poem tells us so:

KULBA tale 4:

The extra team members

By Pepin

It is during the grade school years when a boy or a girl becomes more active to do things, like playing with friends, messing around the classrooms, bullying others, or doing sports.

Jerson, a football player wannabe from Iloilo City, was already involved in a rigid training at age nine. He can kick, do defense, and run as fast as he could. In fact he was one of the favorites of the coach to be part of the school’s varsity team for football.

But training was not always fun and challenging for him and his fellow players. One day, back in 1998, his coach called for a second try-out. It was five in the afternoon, and the class was already over. But Jerson and other hopefuls decided to extend for another hour for the last try-out.

They were divided into two teams. One team called themselves “Supreme Fighters” and the other one was “Extreme Kickers.” The practice game started out fine, and everyone was enjoying every moment of it. There were a lot of sweats, and even trash talks, but these made the game more exciting.

However, in the middle of the game the coach of the Extreme Ballers kept on calling for a time out. He was a little bit confused with the other team, and complained to the referee, saying “Our opponent has two players more.” The referee, also puzzled, counted the players of the Supreme Fighters, and found out that it has the exact number of players required for the game. The protest was a sham, and so he decided to resume the match.

Jerson, who took time out himself from the play, heard about the complaint, and he became observant with the other team. He knew that this was impossible because the members of both teams were counted prior to the start of the game. But he cannot be sure, because he also thought that the other team might be playing tricks to win. And so he monitored the game closely.

But he was staggered to note that the other team did have two extra members playing in the field. He can’t explain why. He immediately approached the referee and whispered to him, “Kindly count the players.” The referee did what Jerson asked of him, and he was surprised that there were indeed two extra players in the Supreme Fighters team.

He whistled and asked everyone to pause in the middle of the field. “Stay where you are, players. Do not move!” he shouted. Then he counted the players of both teams. He was more flabbergasted, because both teams have the exact numbers of players required for the game after he finished his counting. “Then who are the other two?” he asked, but no one answered him back.

At that very instant, the coach, Jerson, the referee, and everyone else were terrified. They can’t explain where did the two players, who wore the same uniforms and kick their way on the game, came from. They decided to end the try-out match and decided to resume it the next time around. It was about six thirty in the evening then.

Panay Festivals

PANAY FESTIVALS SCHEDULE

OCTOBER 2010

Cry of Jelicoun Festival (New Lucena, Iloilo)

• Last week of October

• In commemoration of the missions of the Ilonggo revolutionaries, led by General Martin Delgado

• A showcase of the simple ways of the Ilonggos and their willpower to fight oppressors

• Re-enacts the Cry of the Revolution that took place in Barrio Jalicuon, New Lucena, Iloilo

Indigenous Peoples Month Celebration (Roxas City, Capiz)

• October

• To uphold the rights and well-being of the indigenous people in the province of Capiz

Hirinugyaw Ke Meme Ati (Dumarao, Capiz)

• October

• A celebration of the Ati Culture in Mt. Tag-ao, Brgy. Tumalalod, Dumarao, Capiz

Pangasi Festival (Brgy. Lanipe, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras)

• October 11-13

• A showcase of the “Pangasi,” which is a traditional peace offering ritual done by farmers to ask for a bountiful harvest

• The celebration also showcase folk games, agri food fair, and other minor cultural presentations

Cry of Lincud (Dingle, Iloilo)

• October 28

• A celebration of how Ilonggos revolted against Spanish oppressors, and how they triumph on their quest

Saludan Festival (Tigbauan, Iloilo)

• Last week of October

• A colorful display of dance and music on the established ways of the people in Tigbauan.

• Specifically, the festival is about the method of catching fingerlings through nets

Manokan Festival (Concordia, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras)

• Every 30th of October

• The place is known to produce good quality of high-breed chicken

• The celebration highlights this particular source of income for the community

Tigkaralag Festival (Pavia, Iloilo)

• October 30

• Pavia’s native version of the Halloween celebration

• There are dance competitions, dramas, and cultural presentations

Harvest Festival (Igan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras)

• October

• A colorful parade to express how people are thankful of the good harvest

• Local farmers and fishermen also boast their products during the celebration