MV Dona Paz: “Asia’s Titanic” 20th December 1987

The perils of travel always loom as the fangs and claws of devilish men wander the season.  Lest we forget ….

Christmas and New Year are Holidays Filipinos value the most. Undeniably, the best opportune ever …. gifts, food, friends … family! To some or many, all aches and shortcomings forgiven and forgotten, or merely just held in abeyance, if only as far as the last byte of the streaming Christmas carols.

The records of the Titanic tragedy was accidentally challenged in 1987, when only 26 of about 4,000 passengers (24) and crew (2) of  “the worst peace-time maritime disaster of the 20th century” survived.  That was 20 December 1987, Philippines.

At 0630H, MV Doña Paz sailed from Tacloban City, Leyte due for Manila 0400H the next day. All never could have known that that was its final voyage. It was few days before Christmas. 

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MV Dona Paz was filled to the neck. Overbooked with about non-listed 2,500 passengers. At sea, the weather was clear but the sea was “choppy”. While most were asleep and cold, back-laden in all sides of the ship, and without warning, MV Dona Paz collided with MT Vector, an oil tanker loaded with 8,800 barrels of gasoline and other petroleum products owned by Caltex Philippines.

 Almost instantly, the flames spread rapidly throughout the ship.  It was a sea of fire!  Darkness, panic, and shock ….”life jacket lockers had been locked” and “passengers were forced to jump off the ship and swim among charred bodies”.   Within two hours from the time of collision MV Dona Paz sank.  MT Vector was doomed within four hours …. down to the floors of the 545 meters deep-cold-shark-infested Tablas Strait at Dumali Point.  It was 2230H, Philippine Standard Time.

“It reportedly took eight hours before Philippine maritime authorities learned of the accident, and another eight hours to organize search and rescue operations”. But, only 26 people (24 were passengers of MV Dona Paz, 2 were crews of MT Vector) survived.

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The joy of coming home and anticipated celebration were suddenly cut and halted … entombed in grief and the unending unknownness of the missing and the lost. 

It was a soul-wrecking tragedy … it happened and will remain a forewarn to all who travels whether by sea, land or space how painful it might be.  Why did it happen? why to the victims? …. I also do not have an answer.  But one thing is clear, life is a mystery …. there is a beginning and there is the end … unknown but certain …. the thing is we are merely travellers and we have the moments in our hands … to cherish not just for this season.

To the victims of tragedies … their kin and friends …. my prayers. To the responsible, the Authorities and co-travellers …. it pays to never forget, if only to learn from.

“a national tragedy of harrowing proportions…[the Filipino people's] sadness is all the more painful because the tragedy struck with the approach of Christmas”. - Former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, Philippines.

“The Asia’s Titanic” – National Geographic Channel

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Christmas Party’s over …

Christmas Party at the school is over, She walks home as a loner;
The school is over for now, no books and teachers to matter.
Schoolmates and friends, laughter and plays are nowhere;

"I got my Christmas exchange gift!"

It’s home and chores, brothers and mother, so is the father.
Books and crayons, pencils and pens, all rest you must,
School-time is done, Christmas is fun.
She practiced some carols, songs will be sung,
Gates open she hopes, to fill a polished can.
It’s Christmas, kindness is everyone.
Who knows what she thinks? Mine are pure guesses.
One thing is sure, the excitement is hers and only hers.
She is a child, Christmas wishes are simple to wide and wild.
I only wish, all be filled with the Santa vibes.

Mama’s Bangus in Corn Oil: All Natural … No Preservative

Sinardinas na Bangus!!  (Milkfish Sardines)

I have to admit it, this “Mama’s Bangus in Corn Oil” Homemade sardines is one of the best sardines I ever tasted. 

The thick sauce … spicily-just-right … the fish meat, tender and juicy (yes, not as dry as that in the popular shelves) … the tasteful “bangus belly” …

Homemade Bangus Sardines in corn oil, thick sauce, spicy-right, all natural, No preservative

… and  most importantly, the fish bone! … perfectly cooked, soft and tender … never a taste of mud …. never a taste of something fishy …. not even that familiar fishy sardines smell just like those from the little cans … best for “meals“, “pulutan” or “pasalubong” (gift) — I ordered mine and brought a packful across the sea!!! 

When you are looking for a ”really” fresh bangus sardines cooked just right and without smelling fishy, order from ”Mama’s Bangus Sardines in Corn Oil”. http://zahlreich.wordpress.com

No wonder! Mama, the cook, personally picks all the ingredients carefully and cook it just like cooking for his well-loved family …. It is homemade, no preservative (but it last even a week without refrigeration, but  I’m sure, just like me, a serving will 

Call "Mama" for your order: 0 9 2 7 7 1 3 7 9 8 8

not last more than few minutes).You just have to try it!  You got to taste it! … so you’ll know what I mean! 

Many book for advance orders and pick it up!  They even deliver in clean, carefully packed plastic ware …. within Makati City and nearby cities. Deliveries to other places can be arranged though. 

The “3 slices bangus in tomato sardines sauce” is my favorite.  Definitely just right! CHEAPER (@ more than 230 grams) and BETTER TASTING!

NOTE: ”MAMA” got a list in her menu (ask if available): like, Menudo (saucy), Lumpiang sariwa, (“ubod” ng sarap);  kilawing-baboy (traditional tagalog-style), crispy-fried chicken (tastier than the all-crusted ones)… etc … all flavorfully homely food…. Call “Mama” for your order: 0 9 2 7 7 1 3 7 9 8 8

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Doctor, Doctor I am Sex

Hayden Kho is officially stripped by the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) of his license to practice medicine .

Although some say it is too harsh a penalty, many are convinced that it is but proper having caught red-handed with sex videos and sex scandals stored in his personal computers … with different partners, most are his former girlfriends or having relationship with at the time of surreptitiously filming the titillating sex acts … fantasy-fulfilling sex acts.

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Sometime in Cebu, Philippines, a surgical operation on a patient to remove a cologne-spray-canister from the patient’s anus, was filmed and documented through a cellphone or mobile phone camera. But, things get out of hand when the surgery room were noticeably filled with people not members of the surgical team. Worst, during the procedure, the crowd was noticeably, most not in proper vests and masks, with their head and personal cellphones almost a few feet (some, few inches) from the patient’s exposed bottom, disregarding the protocol.

When the cologne-spray-canister was finally removed, a senior (doctor?) was even seen and heard to be exclaiming, in jest, as if they were delivering a baby, feeding the crowd a push to act as if in a circus. The video was all over the Net.

Some weeks after, the gay patient,  filed a complaint, claiming, the filming was improper and unprofessional violating his rights as a patient. Doctors and some members of the crowd were suspended from their profession and school (some were nurses and interns).

To date, no penalties harsher and proper than a suspension is heard (or if there is, publicized). Hence, many asks, what is worst?  a doctor surreptitiously filming sex videos without consent of his partners (yes, many of them. Some are even celebrities and co-doctors) and exposed to public? (Hayden Kho denies any hand in the exposure though) … OR …. doctors being unprofessional and violating ethics rules in the performance of duties? Still, the question of license revocation lies in the hands of the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC).

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Bugtongan: The Filipino Riddle Game

“Ayan na si Kaka, pabuka-bukaka?” …. ano ito?  …. PAKO!

“Ako’y isang Krus na maliit, kung wala ako’y walang langit!? …. ano ito? …….

Bugtongan (boog-too-ng-an) or riddle game is always fun.  It simply tests one’s wit and cleverness on words and phrases.  It’s a game … it’s fun … it’s educational … It’s a brain exercise …. it’s poetic …. it’s pinoy.

Before XBox, PS3, Wii, computer games, flash games, and texting was bugtongan … among other typical Filipino traditional games  (piko, tumbang-preso, tumbang-lata, bao, and other exciting games). It was a family game … even a group game at that … first to guess it right … wins …. ahh … the sound of laughter and picking on the loser … of course, not without the how-could-it-be’s and challenging-protests …. and the grandpa’s and grandma’s are instantly summoned for the FINAL answer.  It was a game mostly enjoyed during twilight, a full new moon and blackouts.  Bugtongan is simply fun.

Bugtongan also brings out the master-bugtongero … one who knows the answer for every bugtong and has a well of ammunition full of bugtong charges — from the simple and popular, to the most clever and at times, of his own.  This challenge on the wits between bugtongeros is even brought to test on top of the stage, especially during fiestas and celebrations in full adornment of barongs, sombreros and props.  It is a challenge taken and faced with pride and honor.

In the advent of technology, computer games, boxing, basketball, golf  and beers, bugtongan fades with the master-bugtongeros.  The traditional Filipino game withers with the kaymito, the bayabas, nilupak, kinulunggong-duhat, dinikdik-na-sinigwelas-sa-asin -at-paminta and kakanin….. flickering with the age of the olds …..

It’s 21st Century and I am very much aware of it.  Who would not love this century of microchips and fiber optics; of chats and tweets;  of farmville and poker; of loops and facebooks; of tubes and downloads; of google and flickers; of iPods and iTunes; of Wii and PS3; of ebooks and notebooks; of convection and microwaves … who would not wonder and amaze with genetics and physics; of men and politics …. this I believe is still the advent of a future.  Bugtongan, in this age, could be just a zero and one.

I long for the wit, laughter and fun in bugtongan … it is not just a game; not just for fun; not just a test of wit; not just a language in zeroes and ones … it is a tradition …. a culture …. once upon a time, popular … once upon the age, played.

The generation may be new and advents after advents beckon …. but it is never too late for the “once” to “be”.  The new genre may have heard of it, but  I never really got to see it played and passed on.  I hope ….

The riddles of the tongue twisters … the wits of the master-bugtongeros … the laughters and fun of the young and the old … a pinoy-culture flickering in the wave of the future.      

“Ako’y isang Krus na maliit, kung wala ako’y walang langit!? …. ano ito?  eh di ….. Titik “T” (the letter “T”)

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