juan flavier

i rarely get affected when a celebrity or a publicly known individual passes away. i guess this is where proximity, one of the eight elements of news, comes in as i don't know the celebrity on a personal basis. or there are just too many buwayas in politics that i don't really care at all.

but in those rare occasions when i get affected, the news sticks with me putting another element of news in motion, emotion. this is what happened when i learned of senator juan flavier's death. i got sad. of course i don't know him personally but the sad part of it was the knowledge that a good pinoy died. he was one of those rare politicos who wanted to serve and be of service. he put together high impact health programs such as doctors to the barrio, yosi kadiri, let's doh it, among others. one of the prime examples of service leaders. to top it all, his foray into politics was not driven by ill will of making money or to pursue ambitious gains of a higher office. i was hoping that he'd run again in 2010 but decided to quietly retire, went back to his old medical practice and private life. after all, his name was the first one i wrote among the 12 senators when i first voted in 2001. 

a true statesman, proud to be isko because of his example... salamat, senator juan flavier. 

thai iced tea

is it your orange-y color?
is it the milky taste?
is it your cold refuge againts bangkok's urban heat?
is it the sweet but not too sweet?
or all of the above?

one of the best drinks in the whole wide world! here's to one of the best-est products of man's modern genius... chaa yen or thai iced tea!

macaron

what a nice surprise! thanks, sivatel!

windows

travels are all about discovering new things, could be a new activity, new places, new happenings and new food. at the same time, travel is about those things that make you wonder time and again. and for me, i could not get done with a travel to thailand without a series of pictures depicting windows. more of these come from temples, as these have elaborate designs and ornate details.

when taking these pictures, one has to be wary of signs saying that pictures are not allowed. or else you may be violating temple rules. otherwise, it's perfectly fine to take pictures inside a wat. of course, one has to always remember to not use flash during picture taking. as most of the time i travel solo, my usual problem is how to have a picture with these great wat windows as my background. i'm not much of a selfie-r so i always have to ask somebody to take my picture. but not inside a temple. locals go here to pray and give thanks while most foreigners usually do not want to give favor such as this as a sign of courtesy. outside the wat, it's altogether a different matter. i can and will approach anyone to take my picture. as always, i have the reliable timer to rely on... only when there's a flat surface that i can put the camera on.

i will never get tired of taking pictures of wat windows. as ella wilcox puts it, "let there be many windows to your soul, that all the glory of the world may beautify it." going back to bangkok in a while... see you agan, beautiful chiang mai!

barong

uy, congressman!
saang baul mo ba kinuha ang barong mo?

kulang na lang ay sunglass, PSG na ah!

anong masasabi mo, mayor?!

ganitong mga hirit ang normal mong maririnig mula sa mga tao kapag ang isang lalaki ay nakabarong. maging sa kasalan o kaya ay may kinalaman sa mga gawaing pangkorporeyt, normal na lang yata sa maraming pinoy ang magkomento ng mga ganito. puwede kasing di sanay ang mga taong makakita ng nakabarong sa maraming pormal na okasyon. o sanay ang maraming tao na iugnay lamang ang barong sa gawaing pampulitika o laging suot ng maraming pulitiko. pero mas nakababahalang malaman na may mga taong mababa ang tingin sa barong. bahagi na lang daw ito ng nakaraan kaya dapat ay nasa baul na lamang. o kaya naman ay mas maganda raw ang kanluraning kasuotang long sleeves at amerikana.

ewan ko pero karuwagan at pagtataksil sa bayan ang pagkakaroon ng mababang tingin sa barong. higit sa kung anupamang dahilan, pamana ito ng ating lahi. kung paanong ganoon na lamang ang pagmamahal ng ibang lahi sa kanilang tradisyunal na kasuotan, may mga pinoy na may gana pang magtawa sa barong o sa nakasuot nito. ok lang ang ibang hirit tulad ng may kinalaman sa mga pulitiko pero dapat ito'y walang bahid ng masamang panlasa. walang monopoliya ang mga pulitiko sa pagsusuot ng barong. kung paanong karaniwan lamang ang batik ng mga indones, dapat ay sanay din ang mga pinoy sa mga nakabarong na di pulitiko. oo nga't may binabagayan ang barong pero ang amerikana rin naman. may mga nagsusuot ng amerikana pero ang kulang na lang ay salaming pantabing sa kanilang mukha, mga bulaklak at naghihinagpis na mga kamag-anak.

bakit di mo magugustuhan ang barong? puti, malinis at magaan ito sa paningin ng marami. presko at akmang-akma sa mainit na panahon dito sa pilipinas. madaling suutin… kailangan lang ng puting kamisa sa loob, ayos na ang buto-buto. dapat lang ay di masyado itong maluwag pero di na kailangan ng necktie para matawag na pormal kaya bawas na rin sa gastos. makagagalaw at makakikilos ng maayos ang maysuot nito… wala nang kailangan pang hubaring amerikana kapag di na komportable ang maysuot. ekonomikal, praktikal, moderno, presko, madaling isuot at dalhin, at higit sa lahat, pinoy na pinoy at sariling atin.

paninindigan ko ang barong tagalong at pagsusuot nito. may kung anong saya ang dulot ng barong sa akin. direktang kawing ito sa mayamang kasaysayan ng aking lahi. pakiramdam ko, lalo nitong pinatitingkad ang aking aking pagka-pinoy at sa tulong nito, naipagsisigawan kong "pinoy ako"! 

sipon

kailan mo ba balak umalis?
di ka naman nagbabayad ng upa

wala rin namang anupamang buting dulot.

ilang araw ka lang dapat di ba?

naambunan nga kasi ako

lakas pa ng ulan n'ung isang araw.

hanggang kailan mo ba balak mag-stay?

masakit ka kasi sa ulo

may sakit pa sa kasu-kasuan.

wala ka na sa weekend di ba?

kapagod na suminga

magbabalat na rin ang di dapat magbalat dahil sa iyo.

alis ka na kaya?

suggestion lang naman ha.

kung di naman nakakaabala sa iyo.

nude service

eyelash that is. happy monday!

grief

rest in peace, kuya ato.  

The Best Things to Say to Someone in Grief

1. I am so sorry for your loss.
2. I wish I had the right words, just know I care.
3. I don’t know how you feel, but I am here to help in anyway I can.
4. You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers.
5. My favorite memory of your loved one is…
6. I am always just a phone call away.
7. Give a hug instead of saying something.
8. We all need help at times like this, I am here for you.
9. I am usually up early or late, if you need anything.
10. Saying nothing, just be with the person.

The Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief

1. At least she lived a long life, many people die young.
2. He is in a better place.
3. She brought this on herself.
4. There is a reason for everything...
5. Aren’t you over him yet, he has been dead for awhile now.
6. You can have another child still.
7. She was such a good person God wanted her to be with him.
8. I know how you feel.
9. She did what she came here to do and it was her time to go.
10. Be strong.

biktima

walang patumangga. walang kagatul-gatol. heto na naman ang dementora. oo, isa na namang piyon ang yumukod. isa na naman ang naut-utan ng ligaya. isa na naman ang tuluyan nang nautas.

wala talagang kupas ang kapangyarihan ng nag-iisang mandragora. tunay na mabisa ang salamangka nito upang magpayuko ng mga taong mangangahas na kumalaban sa kanya.

sa laban ng mga may-edad, inakala ng iba na tatagal ang gruvi-gruving si atchi. mahaba na nga raw ang karanasan nito kaya't may sapat daw itong antidoto laban sa kamandag ng mandragora. kaya raw nitong makibaka kumbaga.

pero hindi rin. di nga tumagal ng halos apat na buwan. isang wasiwas lang ay para rin itong nawalis na alikabok. di rin ito umubra sa makamandag na gawi ng dementora. naubos din ang anumang ligaya sa katawan nito. at gaya ng mga nauna, kinailangan ding magpaalam. para kasing kumuha lang ito ng batong ipupukpok sa kanyang ulo nang tanggapin ang alok na ito.

malabong magiba ang dementora sa kanyang trono. pers klas ang ginamit nitong semento sa pagbuo ng kinalalagyan niya ngayon. at siyempre, hawak din niya sa leeg ang mga nagsisitaasan.

kaya naman, umpisa na ulit ng pilian ala-hunger games… 'yung pinakamatatapang diyan, mangyari lamang pong pumila at magpalista! mga rikisito? kailangang matibay ang sikmura, handang mawalan ng ligaya sa buhay, walang plano sa buhay kundi magpaalipin at higit sa lahat, may angking antidoto o lunas sa kamandag.

baskin robbins

baskin robbins ang destinasyon. kahit na nga maulan. o maski pa may ubo ng kaunti. ice cream pa rin ang isa sa pinakapaborito ko. sabi nga ni jerry greenfield, "ice cream is the perfect buffer because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. plus, people have an emotional response to ice cream; it's more that just food." kaya nga, i-enjoy natin ang ice cream. 'ika nga ni thornton wilder, "my advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate."

1 more scoop pa!

violet crawley

Since I'm so looking forward to its 5th season (now on the 2nd episode), it's high time to look back at Countess Dowager's killer lines from the four previous seasons of Downton Abbey. What long-lasting lines will we hear from her this time?!! Oh, Dame Maggie! 

Starting with my favorites and the rest of the bestest... enjoy!

 “Why do you always have to pretend to be nicer than the rest of us?”

“I don’t dislike him, I just don’t like him. Which is quite different.”

“Don’t be defeatist, dear, it’s very middle class.”

“I do hope I’m interrupting something.”

“It always happens when you give these little people power, it goes to their heads like strong drink.”

“You see, sometimes we must let the blow fall by degrees. Give him time to find the strength to face it.”

“What is a weekend?”

“Is this an instrument of communication or torture?”

“I was right about my maid. She’s leaving – to get married! How could she be so selfish?”

“Hepworth men don’t go in for loneliness much. I knew his father in the late 60s. Mais ou sont les neiges d’antan?” (Where are the snows of yesteryear?)

“Why does everyday involve a fight with an American?”

“Alas, I am beyond impropriety.”

“I will applaud your discretion when you leave.”

“Everyone goes down the aisle with half the story hidden.”

“Give him a date for when Mary’s out of mourning. No one wants to kiss a girl in black."

“Edith, you are a Lady, not Toad of Toad Hall.”

“No doubt you will regard this as rather unorthodox, my pushing into a man’s bedroom uninvited.”

"Wasn’t there a masked ball in Paris when cholera broke out? Half the guests were dead before they left the ballroom.”

“Last night! He looked so well. Of course it would happen to a foreigner. No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else’s house.”

“I’m a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose.”

Countess Violet: “Why would you want to go to a real school? You’re not a doctor’s daughter.”
Sybil: “Nobody learns anything from a governess, apart from French and how to curtsy.”
Countess Violet: “What else do you need? Are you thinking of a career in banking?”

Countess Violet: “You are quite wonderful the way you see room for improvement wherever you look. I never knew such reforming zeal.”
Mrs. Crawley: “I take that as a compliment.”
Countess Violet: “I must’ve said it wrong.”

“Sir Richard, life is a game, where the player must appear ridiculous.”

Sir Richard: “I’m leaving in the morning Lady Grantham. I doubt we’ll meet again.”
Countess Violet: “Do you promise?”

froggatt

downton abbey's having its season 5 shown on diva universal! it's always nice to see the actors in modern outfits, haha!