Who-one’s (Juan’s) bakasyon Sa 5 Star Hotel (tipikal na senario)

Day1. Plano pa lang pumunta … isip na ng isip … magkano ang budget? ano kayang accomodation? magkano kaya per night? may libre kayang breakfast? may sundo kaya? kung meron, libre kaya o hiwalay na bayad? online kaya o walk-in? …. tawag sa telepono, google, tanong, basa ng blog, punta sa website …. hanggang lito na kung saan …. saan makakamenos kahit konti ….. lito na at puyat sa kapipili …. ano pa at nakapag-pa-book din …

Day2. Ilang Araw Bago ang Araw ng Check-in … Excited. Shopping. Anong maisuot sa araw ng check-in, dapat may dating para entertain-in ng ayos; pag breakfast, dapat ibang damit; pano kung lunch … eh sa dinner …. ? pili-pili-pili sa mall …. pang-swimming din pala … swimsuit! 2 piece, 1 piece, short-shorts (sa babae) …. o … balabal pala kelangan … baka mangitim! sunblock! sombrero!shorts, sando, bling-blings (sa lalaki) ….  at ang shades! ….. magbaon kaya ng biskwit, kape, tubig, instant noodles …. maka-tipid kahit papano … ang camera pala, dadalhin … dapat digital … mag-tripod pa kaya? …

Day3. The Day Before Check-in sa Hotel.  Impake.  Kuha ng check-list. Review at baka may malimutan … Bakit parang ang daming dala? … putok na ang maleta … bawasan ang gamit … pero … baka kailanganin … sige na lang … pilitin at pagkasyahin sa maleta … mabuti nang dala … kesa biglang kailanganin … ear buds pala … magadadala rin … Gabi na, di pa rin tapos … testing ng damit at swimsuit …. harap sa salamin … testing din ng make-up (sa babae) … madaling araw na.

Day 4. Araw ng Check-in sa Hotel… Excited. kelangan maaga sa check-in time para sulit. Ano kaya complimentary? …. praktis ano sasabihin sa Bell Boy … magbigay kaya ng Tip? magkano? … Tatambay muna kaya sa Lobby …. feel sanay …. makaikot ng konti … o diretso muna sa room? … kukuha pa pala ng taxi ….. double check ang mga bitbit baka may maiwan …

Pagdating sa Hotel Lobby. Ipa bitbit ko pa ba sa Bell Boy ang maleta? automatic tip yon! wag na lang kaya, may gulong naman ang maleta …. kaya ko na yon … baba sa taxi, smile …. “good morning!”.

Diretso sa check-in counter.  Smile. Pakilala. “I have a room reservation”. Relaks, feel sanay. Ooops, nakabantay ang Bell Boy, hinawakan ang maleta … ibibigay ko ba? ako na lang …”o sige, ikaw na nga … thank you”.

Elevator. Mataas …. hilo … excited na uli … ano kayang hitsura ng kwarto? malaki? malinis? may view kaya? bath tub! … newspaper?

“This is your room, sir … here’ the keycard.  If you need anything, just call room service, sir” … hala, iabot na ang Tip … nagpapaabiso na ang Bell Boy …. baybay Tip … Php20 ba yong nabigay o Php50 … Php100 yata? ewan.

Lock the door. Diretso sa banyo, check ng towel, tissue … hanap ng kulang at dumi …. etc. Wala. Kuha ang remote control ng aircon … increase the temperature … kuha ang remote control ng TV … turn on sa kahit na anong channel … hanap ng movie sa HBO …. ang coke in can pala, nasa maleta pa … palamigin muna sa ref … may baon nga palang jollibee burger … ok na ang meryenda!

Dali-daling hubad ng pants at shirt …. underwear na lang muna  at medyas … talon sa kamang malambot … hilata ng konti sabay buntong-hininga …. sarap mahiga!

maya-maya … isip! … saan kaya makapag-lunch? room service o sa buffet? a la carte? … kuha ang menu … hanap ng mura! presyo muna bago ang kung anong pagkain yan! … french fries? burger? Oriental? … may coke namang baon … pagkain na lang kulang …. room service na lang kaya … dinner na lang sa buffet ….

Order …..  mag tip pa kaya ulit? … magkano? … sige na lang ….

Ding-dong! …. ayan na … panic… hanap ang bathrobe … sandali! … pakilagay na lang dyan … pirma … saan? … “Anything else sir? If you need anything sir, just call room service. Thank you, sir” … ahhh … Tip nga pala …  

… ahh, ito pala yong order ko? Kung sa labas, mas mura ito …. ambiance nga pala, mahal …. ayos na rin …. kain!

… swimming? … pasyal? … o pa-picture? … anong maisuot …. dalhin ba ang towel? bathrobe? tsinelas o tapak? iwan ba ang cellphone? baka mawala ang valuables? bag? … isip ….

Lamig ng tubig sa pool …. sa beach? … picture mag-isa … souvenier!

Dinner … buffet naman … daming putahe … tikman lahat! … balik! … change plate! … busog … may dessert pa pala … tikman lahat! …. busog na busog …. para sulit!

… bigat ng tyan … bigat! … kape? … saan kaya … lobby! may kumakanta at nagpi-piano! tambay-pa-cute naman muna …. cool!

“Excuse me, Waiter! … menu!” (pabulong na mustra sa nguso at sabay senyas ng dalawang kamay ng kwadrado sa hangin) … anong mura? magkano kaya ang San Mig Light? … wow … lasing agad, presyo pa lang … kape? … wow … nerbyos agad, wala pang higop ng kape … isang tasa lang, ilang kilong bigas na … ahhh … ambiance! … Ok, “brewed coffee” …. busog nga pala …. “Sir, cookies o sandwhich with your coffee?” … aba, nag-sell in … “mamya na, busog pa eh”, …. “”tap water na rin,” …. “Sir, bottled?” …. (sabi ng tap water eh …. sell -in na naman … style bulok) … “tap water lang” …. (“service water” na tawag ngayon) ….

Galing ng kumakanta at nagpi-piano …. tipirin ang kape! …. kuha ng napkin at request ng kanta …

…. ooops … ano kaya palabas sa HBO? … amsarap manood, malambot ang kama at aircon pa! … Go!

Bathtub kaya muna ng konti … sana nakapag-baon ng beer-in-can … nalimutan … ……. init! nasobra pihit! … timplado rin … ibuhos lahat ng bubble soap! … sarap!

HBO na … nakatulog na sa kapapanood … walang patayan ng TV!

Day5. Breakfast! … Tanghali na. Napasarap ng tulog! … dali … malapit ng mag close ang breakfast buffet …. sayang yan, complimentary pa naman …. Tikman lahat! … may newspaper pa!

…. and so on and on …. the day repeats itself until check out time …

Day7. Check Out. Aga dapat sa beakfast. Magpi-picture pa. Bitbitin kaya ang shampoo, toothbrush, lotion, tissue, pen, sobre, pad …… baka may maiwan … double check … OK … check-out counter … bayad … “Thank you sir, hope you enjoyed your stay. Come again!” … ”Thank You, rin” … grab hotel brochures for souvenier …..    

Natapos din …. pauwi na rin …. pero, mukhang mas madalas yata ang pa-stress …. bawat kilos at galaw, tinitimbang. Bakasyon o alta-presyon? 

TIP: Magbudget. Ihanda ang sarili na may gastos sa loob ng Hotel. Kung may budget, enjoy na lang and indulge …. hindi naman yan pag-araw-araw … isang bakasyon … wag gawing alta-presyon.

Updated Partial List of Products for BFAD testing for Melamine

Sunstar .com.ph breaking news posted: at

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breakingnews/2008/09/30/updated-partial-list-of-milk-products/

“September 30th, 2008

Updated partial list of milk and other milk products collected by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for testing for presence of melamine as of September 29,  2008.
1    Anchor Wam Frootmilk Drink Mango Magic
2    Anchor Wam Frootmilk Orange Chill
3    Anchor Wam Frootmilk Strawberry Spin
4    Dutch Lady Pure Milk
5    Farmland Skim Milk
6    Greenfood Yili Pure [...]“

Puso, Plato at Plastic

 

 

 

This is the typical meal set around Cebu. Here, I tried crispy deep-fried chicken, puso, and Sparkle soda, with soy-sauce-with-calamansi as dipping sauce …. i forgot the red chili.

“Puso” (poo-SOH) as locally called. Boiled rice grains. How they do it? I heared, first, a heart-shaped woven palm leaves is prepared. Before the final weave, rice grains are poured into the weave then cooked in boiling water. They tastes good with the aroma of the palm leaves and could last at least two days outside the fridge.

Aware of the shortage and demand for water, plastic plates are wrapped with onion-skin-thick-plastic to serve as plate laminate, minimizing the need for washing the dishes after use.

The extra onion-skin-thick-plastic is used as “gloves”, again, to minimize use of water for handwashing.

After meal, depending on the place and store, either food and plastics are wrapped in the plate plastic laminate and wholly thrown in the same waste can, or; food is scraped into a food waste can and the plastics, into an all-plastic can.

The use of plastic as laminate and gloves could minimize possible transfer of diseases (usually, hepatitis)from shared utensils (common in Manila street food dining) and improper dishwashing especially on the street food stalls and small eating places where water supply is scarce and safety of water source, unsure.  But, the proper disposal and accumulation of plastic wastes are another concern.

Anime Gospel

So far, the best illustrated Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, I have ever had is the Tagalog version by St. Paul’s Publication (Makati, Philippines). 

The illustrated Bible comes in three paperback volumes: from the Old Testament to the New Testament. It was so effective and engaging that when I started with page 1 of Book I, I had only one option  … that is … to finish my reading to the last page of the Book 3, so i could start all over again.  That I termed — “to review-again”.

The illustration and dialogue were so vivid and clear as to come just a little short of the characters moving and vocalizing in front of your eyes and in the palm of your hands … remember the movie ”The Ten Commandments” with the great actor, Charlton Heston? It was the closest, if not the exact, depictation of how these Books I’m telling come through. 

My copy of the books passed on hands and read by many through the years. They were with me and were parts of my book collections until that very unfortunate incident in my bookshelf.

I moved and rented an apartment in Cebu … with my book collections … yes, including the illustrated Bible by St. Paul’s. After some years, just when I thought things were just fine, one time, after being away for a quite a while, I got an itch to “review-again” the Books. Lo! there they were … the mean “termites”! …. i traced and found the subtly hidden earth tunnels hidden in the cracks of the wall to the back of the shelf right in target … the pages of my three Books! … It was too late … the termites made a haven out of the years-old-brittle-onion-skin-like-time-worn-pages of the Books … wasted!

I looked and still looking around for a copy of these Books, but no luck so far … simply out of print! …. but I have not given up, I’m not and  … will not! That’s how these books left a mark in me.

The Books are inspiration and teacher; I appreciate the non-illustrated Bible from them; I got the love for classic movies (those of Mel Gibson’s and the likes included) from the illustrations that probably were hand-drawn by the master artist … and I spent my savings to get those.     

As if a sign, I found this new generation gospel illustration in a Christian bookstore in Cebu along Ramos St. by Abuhan Restaurant … entiled the “Manga Mesiah” … an anime version book of the Gospels. Yes, entirely by Japanese master artists and publication.

“Manga Mesiah” is of better quality … paperback but thick; pages, white and glossy; colors, pastel and bright; graphics and dialogue, short, clear, precise and engaging ….

Meanwhile, my search for the 3 Books of “Bibliyang Isinalarawan” (The Bible, Illustrated) by St. Pauls’ Publication continues … next to hunt under the rugs is “Limang Sandali Araw-araw” (Five Minutes a Day)- a two inches thick  compilation of short stories with spiritual lessons to reflect on … another collector’s item … someone borrowed it and forgot to return all these years …

Note: Manga Mesiah: Scripwriter- Hidenori Kumai; Artist- Kozumi Shinozawa

My Way or His Way; A Fact or Fantasy

“My Way”, the song, is undeniably one of, if not the most, popular classic song in every karaoke bar in the Philippines. That, I must say, every hand that holds a bottle or glass of beer-on-the-rocks can sing that song even while crawling on the floor and regardless of all the words ending in “ssshhhh”. 

 

It is that popular! …. But not until the unfortunate and un-called-for related incidents of violence … perhaps incidental or coincidental to the song … that the disks that bear the supposedly melancholy and meaningful song is forced to retire and sidelined to privacy … and marked UNAVAILABLE!

 

I love the song … Know It by heart … I have to agree with ianne when he said:

 

“Personally, I don’t think so it’s about the song at all, it just happened that the victim sang it & the crazy drunken bad guy killed him. Karaoke is just for fun & it should stay that way.”(sic)

 

“My Way” is a positive song … it’s about being strong facing all the odds in all his might … and it encourages all.  And yes, what negative vibes will come out from such a beautiful song.  Yet, the thing is … the “mystery of the incidents”.

 

So, to satisfy my itch to find other factual records (other than those I came to know, read and seen in the breakfast news ) I googled “my+way+song+philippines”, and these I got among the hits … … not one, but many …

 

 

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Barrita: My way

By Eddie O. Barrita

Small Bites

 

“A man shot and killed his cousin in a Mandaue City videoke bar after the latter refused to yield the mike and kept him from singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”.”

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/06/18/oped/eddie.o..barrita.small.bites.html

 

 

 

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Farmer killed for singing ‘My Way’

By Bong Garcia

 

“A YOUNG farmer who was singing “My Way” died after he was shot by another customer in a videoke house. 

xxx The Zamboanga Peninsula Police Office (ZPPO) reported that the incident occurred last week in the village of Tipasan, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.

 

The ZPPO identified the victim as Alvic Masilid, 25, while the suspect was Dodong Legados.

The victim succumbed to three bullet wounds from a caliber .45 pistol.

“Investigation disclosed that Masilid was inside a Videoke House located at said place (Tipasan) and singing a “My Way” song when suspect (Legados) occupying an adjacent table got irked with the groggy voices of the victim and pulled out a handgun and shot him dead,” the ZPPO report stated.”

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/zam/2008/02/24/news/farmer.killed.for.singing.my.way..html

 

 

 

Friday, September 22, 2006

Serna: Trimedia feted

By Roger Serna

 

“Commentator Choy Torralba rendered a Visayan translation of the song My Way. Was it intentional on Choy’s part to go vernacular to avoid another shooting incident? Joke!

 

The song is very notorious for inciting violence in videoke bars and even in simple gatherings where singing is staple fare. Why remains a mystery not only to this columnist but also to most of people out there. Would you know?”

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/09/22/life/serna.trimedia.feted.html

 

Southeast Asia

SERIALIZATION:  The Traveler and the Gate Checkers

“Manila My Way, Boss”

Part 1: The elusive Miss Belgium

By Ted Lerner

 

“The song “My Way” is perhaps the most preferred song when the drinks start flowing and the karaoke gets turned on. The song is so popular, and singing it is taken so seriously, that dozens have literally died because of “My Way.” Perhaps someone laughed while a buddy was singing during a drinking spree, or someone didn’t like the way the guy at the other table clapped after he tried to imitate Frank. It’s always a ridiculously stupid reason but, no matter, out comes the fan knife or the pistol and wham!-it ends in a liquored-up flash, another senseless death due to “My Way.” I wondered if Frank was aware that so many had died because of that song.”

 

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EE20Ae03.html

 

 

Karaoke Fan Killed For Singing Out Of Tune

Philippines Man Shot By Guard At Karaoke Bar For Refusing To Stop Singing

MANILA, The Philippines, June 2, 2007

© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

“Alas, it does not seem to be a rare occurrence. So many fights and even deaths have occurred in Manila when patrons sing out of tune that the popular Frank Sinatra tune “My Way” was reportedly taken off many karaoke bars’ song lists.”

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/02/world/main2877951.shtml

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=62817

 

 

 

nationmaster.com

Other Popular Culture References

May 2007

 

“My Way” is one of the most popular songs sung in karaoke bars in the Philippines to the point that it has been reported to cause numerous incidents of violence and homicides among drunkards in bars.”

 

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/My-Way-(song)

 

 

 

Taipei Times

World News Quick Take

AGENCIES

Sunday, Nov 06, 2005, Page 7

¡½ Philippines

`My way’ sparks stabbing

 

“Sherwin Gatutua, 23, was singing Frank Sinatra’s My Way at a bar in Dalaguete town on Wednesday when Bara Quilaton, 32, showed he had had enough by taking over the microphone. A fight then broke out resulting in Quilaton stabbing Gatuta with a sharpened iron bar before fleeing. The victim was rushed to a hospital where doctors managed to save his life. The song has gained some notoriety in the Philippines due to the brawls it apparently sets off. Last month, a fight broke out in a bar in a Manila suburb after a waitress refused to play the song while another man was fatally stabbed last month while singing it. One man was also shot dead and another wounded outside a Manila karaoke bar after they failed to contain their laughter at a performance of the song.”

 

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/11/06/2003278990