my star for all seasons

Lola (Grandmother) Maria

my lola cannot read. the most she can write would be numbers and her signature. yet, she (together with her husband) raised up 4 successful children and put them to school.

my lola only has an eye, yet she's sensitive enough to give you a blanket when you feel cold.

lola's a bit hard on hearing, yet she manages to drop her punch line (and sarcasm, i should say) at such a precise timing.

my lola survived lolo, yet she handles widowhood with such grace and confidence that you never see her on a weak moment. you'd always find her strolling in the nearby village where almost everyone is her cousin.

my P6 Pancake House experience

April 24, 2007

Martin Lorenzo
CEO
Pancake House

Dear Mr. Lorenzo,

Last April 21, 2007 my dad and I were on our way home to Ilocos from Manila and decided to pay a little premium for breakfast instead of the usual fast food. Hands down, our choice was to eat at your reputable branch in Luisita, Tarlac.

Overall, it was a delightful breakfast experience except for the part where we had to pay the bill. I gave P400 for our P393.60 meal and was supposed to have a measly P6.40 change. Normally, I would've replaced it with a higher amount to leave a good tip. The client next to our table got his bill a few minutes after ours and got his change back right away. I was still waiting for ours. A good 10-15 minutes later, when the change didn't come, I had to ask for it. That's when I saw one of your staff open the tip box to recover my change and official receipt.

As a client, several things come to mind:

Is it ethical for Pancake House staff to do that? Is that how you usually conduct your business? Maybe it's time that you review your policies because it definitely shouts "unethical" to me. Or maybe I wasn't dressed as smartly as your staff expects me to be. Maybe they think I wouldn't care and I wouldn't notice and I wouldn't take the extra mile to report this incident to the "big boss".

All I am saying is, I am an entrepreneur myself, and if you (higher management) don't hear about the little business practices your people is doing, you'll slowly be going down the drain.

I never bothered getting the names of your staff, but if you have to sanction them, just check who were on shift from 7.30-9am last April 20, 2007 (Friday).

You may choose to act on this incident or totally ignore it. As far as I’m concerned, Pancake House would always be flashing “rip-off” and “unethical” on my mind.

A delighted-turned-sour customer

thinkin' of...

scientists have proven that human minds are linked with each other through neuron activities. so, if you're thinking of someone all day long without any reason at all, that person is probably thinking of you too, in any sense

-time magazine
(fiction to reality)

...

When one rules over men righteously, ruling in the fear of God, He dawns on them like the morning light when the sun rises on a cloudless morning, when the tender grass springs out of the earth through clear shining after rain.

- 2 Samuel 23: 3-4, Amplified Bible

on pursuit of happyness

talk about resilience.

watch this movie, and you'll never see problems the same way again.

favourite cousin

photo taken by Mikmik, Bene's amateur photographer sister (hmm, doesn't sound right, but you get the picture).

we just couldn't get enough of the island! for the second time this month, we went back and discovered its snorkel-potential. saw schools of blue tiny fishies and some striped kind. stunning underwater beauty!

como estas

on different occasions this week, i asked three people the usual, "Kamusta na po kayo?" (How are you?)

for some strange reason, i didn't elicit the well-known "Fine thanks, and you?"

there must be something about the way i asked it that made them, um, elusive.

they must've sensed that i was genuine in asking and was not after the superficial pleasantries. i then understood that when confronted with this simple, yet meaningful phrase, people tend to shy away in fear of exposing the real them. they don't want to show the world how vulnerable they are. and almost instantly, they change the topic and divert it to something "safer".

how are you?

abstinence

some people observe the lenten season by skipping any form of meat except for fish and seafood. others pass up on alcohol.

but for someone who doesn't eat pork nor drink (like me), what difference does it make? it isn't even sacrificial.

if anything, i'd have to give up internet and computer time.

come to think of it, that virus came in timely.

unprotected

it was the familiar "Ate, pakopya ng songs." (Can I copy your songs?)

having gotten most of my songs free, i willingly shared.

she handed me her thumb drive and i began transferring the files.
while waiting for it to be completed, i noticed a file i've known from a previous dreadful experience (Brontok.a.htm). right away, i knew it was a virus. dang! i'm in trouble.

even if i was all boiling up inside, i managed a calm, "Girl, your thumb drive has a virus!"

apparently, she wasn't aware. and apologized profusely. i assured her, "let's just hope it doesn't spread."

but i knew. i just knew, that i've been hit.

and i had been.
3 grueling days. my folders were multiplying and running applications. my network connection could not be detected. my sound driver wasn't functioning.

until finally, i had to face the truth: there's no other cure except to format my laptop. *sigh*

gladly, a friend taught me a nifty trick, which proved to be very helpful (and which, i'm glad i did before this virus hit my unit):
partition your hard disk and save your data files in one of the other drives.
that way, even if you have to format, your data would go unharmed. =)

Thank God it's Good Friday

while perhaps the entire philippines was in a pious mood observing the 'holiest' day of the holy week, my cousins and i were out celebrating my sister's birthday.

we're not being sacrilegous(? irreverent?) or anything, but for us, remembering the death and resurrection of Christ isn't a "Holy Week"-only affair. it's remembering Him every day of our lives.

anyhow, out we went for a day of adventure. we've been hearing about this island off our favorite beach in cabugao and decided to go find it and spend the day there.

getting to the island proved to be a challenge since there were no road signs and the directions the locals gave us were vague. we were running in circles and were going back where we came from until after 3 rounds, we finally found the right route. i remember Kamera saying something about their place in New Zealand, "we do not build nice roads on purpose to prevent intruders from coming!"

i'm guessing these Sabang locals' line of thoughts were running along the same line.

once we reached the port, we hired 2 boats to bring us to the island. i was charmed at how clear the waters were and i just couldn't believe that this paradise has been here all this time!

i was like a kid whose parents got her a brand new bike for a present. i was all the more thrilled when i saw there was a trail for hiking. my excitement must be infectious because i got my "sheltered" cousins to join. it was a short 20-minute trek and we just held our breath when we reached the top. we were atop a cliff overlooking the shores below.

we went back the same way we came and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the cool water and basking under the sun.

except for the five other tourists in the island, it was just us.
Thank God it's Good Friday.
Thank God Sabang isn't tourist-laden.

before sunrise

today, i woke up at the crack of dawn (5.38am).

it's been a while since i caught a glimpse of the sunrise. i guess my body has now adjusted and am now back to being an early riser.

situated on the east, my side of the bed lets me witness the most amazing and spectacular backdrops at the break of day.

but with the construction of our new 4-storey office building, my sunrise days are numbered. *sigh*.

unfortunate pinay

it was my turn at singapore's immigration. the officer gazed at me, took a close look at my passport, and started bombarding me with questions:

"how long are you staying in singapore? when are you leaving? do you have a return flight?"
..and demanded for my ticket.

since i planned on coming back and spend 2 more weeks in malaysia, she started scribbling my itinerary.

15 minutes later and probably proving that i have no intentions of prolonging my stay in the lion city (as most pinays do), the officer finally let me in.

-- & --

when i met up with my Maori friends Kamera and Harley in Kuching, i told them about what happened in singapore. i also gave them the background that the reason why immigration officers are stern about letting Filipinas in is that most of these Pinays overstay, hoping to find a job there before their 14-day visa expires.

"no wonder our line was held up in brunei immigration. there was a filipina in jeans and shirt who was ahead of us. she looked like a typical househelp."

kamera then continued her advice by telling me to dress appropriately when i go to brunei. this will tell them that i respect their customs and am not there to find a job.

fast-forward to brunei immigration. the lady officer was dutifully doing her task reviewing my
passport and i was all-smiles. donning a long-sleeved kurta and a lengthy sarong, doing my best to look prim and proper, ready to show her my flight out to the philippines in a few days, and ready to recite my itinerary, she handed my passport back to me. stamped with a 14-day stay. no questions asked.

:) delightful.

it's a sad reality that Filipino women are discriminated against.
that's why whenever i run off to a different country, i try my best to give the Philippines a good name.

shoestring traveller

if you're one of those lazy to do a bit research, utterly clueless about South-East Asian geography, and baffled that i got to visit 3 countries in one go, then stick around. i'll let you in on a little secret.

the malaysia-singapore-brunei route is absolutely attainable and you don't have to be moneyed to be able to do that. but it will definitely be helpful if you brought out a map now (or google it) as i explain the routes.

oh wait, here's the map to save your precious little time.



my original itinerary is as follows:
* clark - Kuala Lumpur
* Kuala Lumpur - Johor Bahru
* Johor Bahru - Kuching
* Kuching - Kota Kinabalu
* Kota Kinabalu - Clark

while i was clicking away and booking my online flights, i strategically located them in such a way that it will let me explore nearby countries. now if you take a second look at the map, you'll see that JB is near to Singapore. and if you look at KK, it is in close proximity to Brunei. i could've also included indonesia in my itinerary but that's another story, and that'll require another few weeks to explore!

so how did i do it?

JB-SINGAPORE
Coming from Senai Airport, I didn't waste any more time by getting a bus that would bring me to Kota Raya.
cost: RM 8

From Kota Raya, buses would frequent the terminal picking up passengers headed to Singapore. make sure you know and specify your destination. otherwise, you'd have to pay double.
[as for me, i thought they only go to Kranji MRT. it was only after i got out of Singapore immigration that i found out that they NOw service Woodlands Bus Interchange, which should be the best route for my destination. ergo, i had to pay again. so, make sure you know where you're going.]

also, make sure that you keep the ticket the bus driver issues. that way, you won't pay twice. remember, you'll be on and off the buses to go through immigration exiting Malaysia and entering Singapore.

cost: RM1.1

* NOTA BENE: on our first drop off, i found it odd to spot a desk positioned by the road. on it, 3 indian-looking locals were queued while another man sitting behind the desk were filling out immigration cards. since there were no signs in english, i waited patiently for my turn. but when i saw the men shelling out a couple of ringgits, my instincts tell me something was off. this guy was pulling a scam on them! so i immediately went pass them and straight up the stairs. and right there, i saw the official booth.


travel tip
the best way to get around Singapore is to get yourself an EZLink. it'll be your ticket to all rides--bus, MRT, LRT. that way, you won't have to fumble through your purse looking for loose change.

cost: S$15

travel tip
if you're a filipina going to Singapore, read this


KK-BRUNEI
This leg has only one itinerary:

KK-Labuan ferry: 3hrs
Labuan-Muara ferry: 1 hr
Muara-Bandar Seri Begawan bus: 30 mins

The ferry always leaves KK at 8am. If you want to get guaranteed seats, you can purchase your ticket a day before. Their booth (in Jesselton Point) is open until 1.30pm.

travel tip
it's always cheaper if you get a straight-through-ticket from KK to Muara than buying KK-Lbn & Lbn-Mra.
cost: RM 53 + RM 3 (Terminal fee)

Once you reach Labuan, and assuming you got a straight-through-ticket, you still have to go to the Ticketing Counter to pay for another Terminal Fee (for Labuan). you can't get away with it, because they check it before letting you in.
cost: RM 5.

From the Muara ferry terminal, you can catch a bus that brings you to Bander Seri Begawan. Just walk straight out the hall. you won't miss it, there's only one Bas Express parked there.
cost: B$2

travel tip
since singapore and Brunei have practically the same exchange rate, you can use your leftover Singapore dollars as tender in Brunei. it is widely accepted.

travel tip
if you're a filipina going to Brunei, read this

pinoy fame in malaysia

when the female Malaysians i met learned that I am Filipino, they almost always squealed with delight.

"Oooh, I love Kristine Hermosa. Do you know Jericho Rosales? And, how do you say, 'deet? dayet? Diether Ocampo'? "

imagine my surprise. the Filipino soap "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas" hit the Malaysian TV sets and the ladies are going berserk! i never knew they were that famous in Malaysia--and in all states: Peninsular, Sarawak, specially Sabah!

aside from the soaps, Freddie Aguilar's "Anak" is topping the charts when it comes to popularity among locals. get this:

i went to Bako National Park, an island away from the city to go jungle trekking, monkey-spotting, bird-watching, and i was astonished that one of the staff there actually has an mp3 of that song stored in his office desktop! sensing their fondness of it, i offered to teach them the song--get the lyrics and translate it for them.

my thrilled students Salmiah and Lihos

just how safe is brunei?

it could be their strict law enforcement.

or it could be the fact that most of brunei darussalam's people are well to do and well-educated that committing a crime doesn't even cross their minds.

i've been reading from travel books that it's generally "safe" in brunei. but being the ever skeptic that i am, i don't usually buy into those stuff unless i experience it first-hand.

here's how brunei fared:

i knew i wouldn't be meeting my host Gillian right away since she was teaching and won't be able to slip away from the university until about 5pm. i got to bandar seri begawan two-ish and figured it would be difficult to fluff around the city with a huge bag slinging on my shoulder. so i texted her asking if i could leave my baggage outside her flat. "it should be safe for you to leave it there," came her reply.

"sweet," i thought.

when i came back 5pm, i was greeted by Gillian and saw my bag inside. after exchanging short pleasantries, she showed me my room and toured me to different parts of the flat. i immediately noticed that her place was surrounded by sliding glass doors/windows. coming from a country where it's not safe to leave windows open and "security" is a major concern, i almost instantly inquired, "what time do you usually shut the windows?"

"i dont, it's safe to keep it ajar. i don't totally close it but leave a bit of space to keep my papers from flying because it can get windy during the night," she answered.

great, here i am worried about security and she's concerned with flying papers!

well, that's good to know!

[the view i wake up to each morning]

previously, i wrote how rare it is for people to walk since most locals are expected to drive their own vehicles. thus, if you're not "most locals" and wanna go and visit the Places of Interests, you either have to take a bus or walk. luckily, the one i wanna see (Brunei Museum) is accessible by bus. glancing at the map, i surmised the nearby places of interests would be walk-able.

it took me 2 hours to wander around the museum, and by the time i got out, it's almost past lunch time. the receptionist said that there's an eatery in the vicinity. after walking a few hundred meters and still no sign of the eatery, i decided to stop at the nearest (and ONLY) grocery store. i got myself a cup of yogurt and isotonic drink. the middle-eastern-looking shop owner and his friend eyed me as i downed my yogurt. i told them i was a filipina touring brunei, and asked how far my next destination was from the shop.

"15 minutes, 15 minutes," they replied.

"i can handle that," i judged.

"where are you going? bandar seri begawan?"

i nodded and repeated my next destination.

the shop owner offered i ride with his friend. "He's going to bandar. He'll take you. bandar you said?"

hesitant me responded, "no thanks, i can walk."

but the friend insisted, "i go to bandar. come."

stealing a look at the scorching road, i caved in.
and prayed, "Lord keep me safe from this stranger".

this should be quick. i reckon if it's a 15-minute walk, we'll get there in 2 or 3 minutes. i learned that he was Pakistani and that he had a Filipina friend before named Rosario Garcia. then we sat awkwardly the entire time. nothing scary happened. soon i realized that the 15 minutes they were talking about was not a 15-minute walk but a 15 minute drive!

i am just so glad that i hitched.

i got off and was endlessly saying thank you in all the languages i know
Terima Kasih!
Shukriya!

so is it safe in brunei?
you bet!