Tag Archives: pinoy

Artistas Quest For The Elusive Olympic Gold

Posted on by
Reply

a videograb from youtube featuring the judo powers of baretto and greco-roman wrestling ability of santiago

Philippine telecommunications magnate Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) has been a longtime supporter of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), the duly recognized organization by the International Olympic Committee for the Philippines’ representation in the Olympic Games.

Hours ago, the country’s dream to win an Olympic medal faltered when Pinoy boxer Mark Barriga lost his fight to a Kazahstani fighter.  Thus, another 4 long years again the Philippines will have to wait for a chance to finally pull it off and achieve that elusive Olympic gold.

It has always been a well known fact that the POC lacks the modern equipment, cutting-edge facilities and expert trainers to hone Filipino athletes who would slug it out during the Olympics.  Many people say that the answer to this long running Olympic medal draught is money.

If a lot of people are saying that money is the solution, I just wondered, what if the 4-billion-peso losses of TV5 the TV network owned by MVP was instead spent to buy modern sports equipment, construct cutting-edge sports facilities and train, feed, clothe and shelter the Filipino athletes, would the Filipinos today be united and are already rejoicing for the triumph of the country’s first Olympic gold?

Yeah, if I were MVP I would have spent the 4 billion pesos to these sports related venture.  This would clearly be one great patriotic endeavor.  Too bad I am not MVP.

But if I have the wealth and power of MVP mixed with lunatic neurons and neurotransmitters of Nengkoy’s son (that’s me,) I would spend the 4 billion to Philippine sports but will have to have specific conditions to further ensure the success of obtaining the Olympic gold.  I would dole out 4 billion pesos to Philippine sports only if the following artistas (Filipino entertainment celebrities) will compete for the following Olympics event:

  1.  With the expertise she has shown during her NAIA Terminal 3 airport showdown with Mon Tulfo, actress Claudine Barreto will have to compete in women’s Judo and Taekwondo
  2.  Corollary to item number 1, actor Raymart Santiago will compete in men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling event
  3. Since the Aldeguer Sisters would be too old already by this time, I will demand that the Wea Twins who now for sure are adults must compete in the duet competition of Synchronized Swimming
  4. Corollary to item number 3, the Sex Bomb Dancers will compete also in Synchronized Swimming but in the team competition event
  5.  Since he has done two Panday movies and is planning to film a third one, senator/actor Ramon Bong Revilla must vie for men’s Fencing event
  6. Corollary to item number 5, Anabelle Rama who showed great potential in Fencing during the wake of the late Dolphy by using a cane in trying to whisk her nemesis must compete in that event
  7. Yet corollary to item number 6, Chito Arceo who ran like a scared rat when threatened by Anabelle with a cane must compete in the 100-meter dash
  8. For the country to have more chances of winning the Olympic gold in athletics, Vice Ganda who is a self-confessed horse must also compete in the 100-meter dash
  9. Marian Rivera, Charlene Gonzales, Alice Dixon and Alma Moreno must compete in the various Swimming events since all of them played the role of Dyesebel in the movies and on TV in their respective eras.  They can even vie for the 4×100 meter medley relay.  They will of course will be coached by Vilma Santos who ones played the same role during the ‘70s
  10. Too bad FPJ and Rudy Fernandez are no longer around, they could be our best bet in Shooting events.  These legends never miss a shot in their movies.   Nevertheless, I will give the opportunity to action stars Robin Padilla and Cesar Montano to compete in Air Rifle and Rapid Fire Pistol events
  11. Lastly, Kris Aquino.  She will not compete in any game – she’s to lame – but will instead be the Philippine flag bearer during the big opening ceremony to be escorted of course by Baby “Bimby” James

Talo nanaman kasi tayo kaya kung ano-ano nanaman ang naiisip ko. Go por gold!

Sarah G is such a Turn-Off

Posted on by
2

geronimo & anderson

Entertainment TV host Ogie Diaz and the rest of Pinoy showbiz-landia attributes actor/celebrity Gerald Anderson’s surrender of pursuing actress/singer/superstar Sarah Geronimo to be his girlfriend to the latter’s wicked mother. Considering that Anderson is one of the most eligible bachelors of this country, only stupid ladies, I guess would say NO to him. Even devoted caring mothers would pray to the heavens that their daughter be the girlfriend of this gentleman.

Though Anderson’s acting skills can be compared to a guy suffering from indigestion, Gerald is famous, single, childless, young, handsome and filthy rich.  A lot of people would agree with me – and I apologize to the multitudes of Sarah fanatics – that he is even more beautiful than Sarah Geronimo.  He could therefore be considered “one rare find”.

I just hope Sarah Geronimo (who at 24 years old has yet to develop her inner backbone) would not end up marrying an old, adulterous, ugly and atrocious beer-bellied worthless bum in the future.  Her inability to stand up for what she wants and how she feels as well as her allowing to be controlled by people whom she actually feeds is just absurd.  She for me in this case is a whopping turn-off.

Hindi ka stap toy na pwedeng itago sa cabinet ng nanay mo neng?

My Lunch Today Is About Dolphy

Posted on by
Reply

Today the whole Philippines observe the National Day of Remembrance in honor of Dolphy, The Comedy King of Philippine cinema.

In today’s national observance, my lunch is Munggo Bean Soup (a thick green mung bean bisque with smoked fish flakes topped with pork cracklings); Sinuteng Baby Pusit (young squids sauted in olive oil with chunks of sliced garlic); and, a cup of jasmine rice as ordered from Bistro Remedios in Malate, which happens to be one of Dolphy’s favorite restaurants in the metro.

Press this LINK, a news article in Manila Bulletin to support such claim. If you will try the dishes in Bistro Remedios, you will never wonder why the late Philippines’ King of Comedy often dined there.  It’s yummy! What about you, what’s the tiny yet trivial thing you did today to commemorate the day’s national observance?

Ang sarap parang ako…

Authentic Caviteño Dishes

Posted on by
4

According to an article in Bites on Today, Andrew Zimmern predicts that come 2014 Filipino food is the next big thing in America.  While we wait for this prediction to finally be realized let me inform all those who will have the chance to come across this blog that an authentic and heavenly set of Filipino cuisine does exist in Cavite City.

Last Wednesday I had the awesome opportunity to dine and try out a number of delightfully genuine Caviteño dishes served in Asiong’s Carinderia.  Located at 719 P Paterno Street, Caridad, Cavite City, Asiong’s serves Filipino dishes that I have never seen nor tasted before.

I never claimed to be the last arbiter of Filipino food but the following notable Caviteño dishes can exclusively (I suppose) be found in Asiong’s:

  • Pancit Pusit (vermicelli noodles cooked in squid ink and squid meat topped with crunchy chopped fresh kamias fruit),
  • Asiong’s version of Kilawin (shredded fish meats with julienne cut green papaya and shredded cabbage soaked in strong vinegar sauce),
  • Asiong’s version of Inihaw na Bangus Binusog (grilled stuffed boneless milkfish whose surprising stuffing includes salted eggs, chopped tomatoes, leeks and onions)
  • Bagoong Na Itlog Ng Isda (fish roe in palm or olive oil which I suppose is Cavite’s answer to caviar cultivated in the Caspian Sea, which is best eaten when mixed into a bunch of hot cooked rice)
  • Adobong Pula (a Filipino-style pork stew in reddish brown sauce – which I failed to ask what was placed to turn the sauce reddish)
  • Tamarind Halaya (sioupy tamarind jam with milk, best eaten as a topping for vanilla ice cream),
  • Leche Flan (a rich all egg yolk crème caramel, I think with fresh pandan extracts – a tropical plant’s leaves widely used in Southeast Asia as flavoring)

All these divine dishes were washed down into my tummy by drinking a refreshing Asiong’s version of lemonade (a mixed juice containing fresh lemon and Filipino tropical fruit called kamias with organic extracts of moringa and lemon grass).

After dining and while my tastes buds were still clapping and shouting “Bravo!” I had the rare opportunity to talk to the owner Sonny Lua.  I asked him how he was able to concoct and formulate simple native ingredients into grand flavors of dishes.  He simply told me that the recipes actually came from his mom and grandmother.  He said that when he was still a child his “tambayan” (a usual place to hang and loiter around their house) was his grandmother’s kitchen.  He was never thought how to cook but by merely observing and trying to recall how he witnessed his mom and grandmother’s way of cooking he was able to reconstruct all these beautiful Filipino dishes.  He also professed that his grandmother was a great cook and frequently prepare these dishes for she was often invited to cook in various banquet functions (weddings, birthdays, fiesta celebrations, etc.) around Cavite City in the olden days.

Ang dila ko ay gustong tubuan ng kamay dahil gusto nitong pumalakpak sa sarap!

Thanks Jessica

Posted on by
Reply

Let me be a thinking well-mannered adult this time around.  This is because Phillip Phillips who won the American Idol 2012 title seems to be a nice and humble gentleman.  Aside from his good looks, these characters I guess made America love him.

Let me be civil and let me give peace a chance.  I will not be bitter and I would not even dare attack anybody.  But I would have been gladder if Jessica Sanchez won American Idol season 11.  But somebody got to lose because only one person can win that show.  Jessica not winning the title will for sure is gonna be just fine and okay.  She has been phenomenal.  She’s amazing and for sure she’s gonna do crazy good things.

Let me say thank you to Jessica for letting me stick and watch the whole season of American Idol this year.  But let me also express my special gratitude to Jessica for bringing in some good and awesome news for the past weeks in the Philippines which is actually pretty hard to come by.  The Philippines has never been so affected by American Idol until now.  It was so strange that an American contest feels so at home and so local here in the Philippines.

Salamat bru!

The Pressures Faced Yet Outshined By Jessica Sanchez

Posted on by
Reply

If you are a contestant in a singing competition and you are to follow a stratospheric vocal delivery of a contender dubbed by the judges as the greatest live performance in the history of any singing contest, what would you do?

If you are the next contestant to perform in a singing competition and you heard for sure the rendition of your opponent who just sang which was truly amazing and one of the judges announced that he wanted to go home already like announcing to the whole world that the contest is already finished, what would you do?

If you are the person who will sing next in a singing competition and you heard the judges giving the most superlative accolades that a judge could say about a contestant and this contestant was the person who just sang before you, what would you do?

If you are the contestant who was told by the stage director that you should just stand don’t walk around the stage nor go near the live audience and do nothing but sing and you knew that the competitor before you received the most number of standing ovations bestowed by the judges during the elimination process of the contest, what would you do?

Could you still sing with all these chock-full of pressures at hand? This is what Jessica Sanchez was faced with during the top 4 elimination round of American Idol Season 11.  If I am in the shoes of Jessica Sanchez at that very moment, I for sure would just be compelled to step back, shut my mouth, pack my bags, go home and never sing a single song ever in my life.

Before Jessica Sanchez sang, I wondered what song was she gonna sing to topple down the performance of Joshua Ledet to prove to the judges and the viewing public that they were wrong.  I even thought to myself that I would totally understand with full compassion if the host Ryan Seacrest will announce that Jessica Sanchez has decided not to sing and just backed out from the contest.

But that is not what Jessica Sanchez did.  She actually sang one of the most difficult songs on the planet and simply gave her all!  After seeing and hearing Jessica Sanchez sang her second song entitled And I Am Telling You, I hated her.  I hated her because I wanted to smack her down, rip her throat open and put her vocal chords into my body and use them!

Jessica Sanchez seemed not shaken by the pressure for she was fabulous and was flawless.  I don’t know where she came from!  It’s absolutely insane!  She is so great! I don’t even think she’s from planet earth!

What she just did and overcame was simply a mark and testimony of a true IDOL!

Galing mo neng!

Possessed by Sisa and Don Tiburcio De Espadaña

Posted on by
Reply

In the novel Noli Me Tangere written by the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, two colorful yet secondary characters were Sisa and Don Tiburcio De Espadaña.  The former is a loving mother with sadomasochistic tendencies who turned nuts when her two accused of theft sacristan children, Crispin and Basilio, has vanished and were nowhere to be found.  The latter is an emotionally disturbed, toothless, poorly dressed limping Spaniard who stutters and is often maltreated by his social-climbing wife yet collects exorbitant fees out from his being a quack doctor.

Noli Me Tangere was written in the era when the now preserved mansions and houses now rebuilt in Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar heritage resort located in Bagac, Bataan flourished.  This is the magnificent resort that I and my travel-buddy Karen spent our weekend.

While exploring the marvelous resort, we found a studio that offers pictorial services in which clients will be photographed wearing traditional Filipino dresses during the 18th and 19th century.  We availed of the photo shoot package and were handed with our respective Filipiniana costumes.

Inside the dressing room it seems that we were possessed and controlled over by the spirits of Sisa and Don Tiburcio De Espadaña that resulted to the following bizarre and wacky images.

No we were not in some serious drugs!

Ano sa Tagalog ang “jumpshot”? 

Las Casas De Filipinas

Posted on by
Reply

It is so far the most magnificent and most historically significant “jigsaw puzzle” I have ever seen in my life!  Who on earth would have the idea of putting together parts of very old, decaying and abandoned heritage houses in one place and create a magnificently beautiful nostalgic paradise?  I guess it is in the person of Jerry Acuzar, a rare soul with lofty ambition, who owns Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar.

My Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar adventure, located in Bagac Bataan was like travelling through a time capsule bringing its visitors back to the glorious 18th and 19th century Philippines!!!

At the outset of our visit, I was a skeptic.  I did not believe on the resort’s claim that the buildings were the actual and authentic parts of Filipino Principalia Mansions.  Initially, the “illustrado” fragment of my soul was screaming “Cinverguenza! Punyatera! No way will Jerry Acuzar be able to transfer, rebuild and restore such old houses?!”

But when I and Karen went out of the resort to buy a pack of cigarette from a nearby construction workers’ carinderia (eatery and mini-store), we passed-by multiple decks of old stone bricks, voluminous timeworn planks of wood as well as various antiquated hard-wood house-posts lying on the ground.  Those materials were obviously salvaged from an old house somewhere in this country.  That was the moment I believed and confirmed that those massive mansions inside the resort were no-doubt authentic.

Let me then offer an honorable salute and a big standing ovation to Mr. Acuzar for such a rare feat, ingenuity and craftsmanship!

Kakaiba! Cinverguenza sa ganda!

We Were Like A Rolling “Bulanglang”

Posted on by
Reply

i will never be too old for tantrums...

The benefit of being with your mother is that you are allowed to simply be yourself and say whatever you like to the point of throwing tantrums.  That is what I exhibited when my family was travelling back to Manila after an overnight stay at the hometown of my father in Pangasinan last weekend.

And as usual, just like any rural adventure that my family would carry out from time to time, Nengkoy never fails to stop over and shop at the local palengke (wet and public market) of the rural place we visit.  Our journey would not be complete without Nengkoy buying the local produce of the province or the countryside we visit – bushy-tailed vegetables, freshly caught fishes, newly slaughtered meat, brightly colored fruits as well as local indigenous delicacies.  She wouldn’t just buy a piece or two just to satisfy her shopping passion.  She would buy tons of it!!!

This usually makes me cranky and grouchy.  This is because I and the whole family need to spend considerable amount of time at the border and perimeters of the wet market doing nothing but wait while Nengkoy finish her procurement.  My considerate and selfless brothers and sisters are so used to Nengkoy’s habit they would sometimes join her in penetrating the labyrinthine passageways of the palengke to locate the freshest produce and help her out carry the loads of her purchases. I, at all times refuse to join the pack but instead just wait and wait and wait.  Did I already say that I impatiently wait?

Anyway, while we were in Manaoag, Nengkoy purchased local delicacies of Pangasinan: bags of puto calasiao (local rice cakes of Calasiao, Pangasinan) and tupig (charcoal-grilled glutinous rice and grated coconut wrapped in banana leaves).

While we were in Dagupan, she purchased tubs-full of fresh bangus (milk fish), oysters, large shrimps, a bag full of mangoes and large bottles of the local bagoong (a brown, murky yet tasty sauce made from fermented tiny fishes).

We also made a stopover in  Villasis where she bought heaps and oodles of locally grown vegetables – malunggay (fruits of moringa tree), talong (eggplants), sibuyas-pula (tiny red onions), bawang (garlic), kalabasa (pumpkin), and even bouquets of bulaklak ng kalabasa (squash blossoms).

All throughout these panic purchasing moments, I did nothing but wait and complain. Grrr!  We literally could no longer move inside the car for it was full of the local produce of Pangasinan.  Out of madness, I even cried out loud to everybody inside the vehicle traversing the highways of North Luzon on our way back to Manila that we are already like “Umaandar na Bulanglang!” (a rolling Bulanglang – a stew made of fish and mixed vegetables seasoned with bagoong that originated from northern Luzon).

nengkoy with some of her bulanglang veggies

Pagdating sa bahay ni Nengkoy, ako din naman ang kumain ng mga yon. ‘Yan si Nengkoy walang kupas. At ako, walang pasensya.

Villa Escudero: A True Gem of Filipino Country Life

Posted on by
Reply

Nengkoy wished that her 75th birthday be held and celebrated in the vast coconut plantation estate that was converted into a tourist destination located south of Metro Manila.  True enough, her wish was made into a reality when Nengkoy, twenty seven crazy members of my family and I trooped to Villa Escudero Plantation & Resort on her birthday.

Every member of my family was treated with a 2-day glimpse of a typical life of rural Philippines.  Upon arrival we were served with refreshing “gulaman” as a welcome drink.  After which, the whole pack were led to the magnificent museum that houses the marvelous antique and unique collections of the Escuderos.  There were all forms of Catholic statues and statuettes.  We saw an overwhelming array of Filipino costumes, jars, vases, indigenous forest hunting gears, stuffed Pinoy-once-endemic fauna and other eclectic treasures made, found and discovered in the Philippines.  I was particularly was astonished by the collection of authentic handwritten letters of Philippines’ National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal displayed in that marvelous museum.

facade of the museum

After feasting our eyes to the overwhelming collections found in the museum, we were then taken for a ride on a carabao-drawn cart for a tour around the vast resort.  Seated at the end of the cart were two resort staffs in traditional Filipino clothes.  One played the guitar while the other sang traditional Filipino songs while the cart was being drawn to lead us to checked-in at our respective nipa-like villas built right at the edge of a serene lake.  The villas were reminiscent of a traditional Filipino house called “Bahay Kubo”.

my monster "pamangkins" on their carabao caravan ride

jumpshot!!!

We then immediately proceeded to one of the highlights of our stay.  The scrumptious buffet lunch served and eaten al fresco style few meters away from the base of a waterfall.  Still typical of a Filipino dining set-up, we ate on native bamboo-craft-woven plates with banana leaf as its lining and our soup bowls were coconut shells!  Breakable chinaware was non-existent!  Flowing water on the ground touching and lashing our feet add up to the delicious dining experience.

An hour after lunch, we then headed to one of the resort’s pavilions where a Filipino cultural dance display is being held.  The show featured various ethnic and colonially influenced Filipino dances performed by the employees of the resort.  The costumes, the music, the colors, the graceful dance moves were all but a rewarding add-on during our stay in Villa Escudero.

a piece of a young coconut palm leaf weaved to form like a fish handed to me by one of the dancers

After the show, we proceeded to our assigned villa for a short afternoon rest.  The villa is not equipped with TV, sound system and not even an internet.  All you got is the refreshingly beautiful scenery of what the old Philippines were plus the melodious sound of birds lurking around the area.

Later in the afternoon, majority of us lined up to get our respective paddles plus a life vest for we did a little of rowing at the pristine lake using an old-fashioned kayak in the form of a bamboo raft.  While we do the rowing, other members of the family were busy trying to catch live fish from the lake or just busy lazing around.  In the same afternoon, a number of employees of the resort serenaded Nengkoy at the villa singing a couple of Kundiman songs plus of course the classic birthday song in Tagalog version.

erika and the band!!!

Dinner buffet was served inside an elegant pavilion.  This is the moment when Nengkoy was greeted by the singers performing during dinner time and was surprised when a birthday cake was brought to her table for her to make a wish and blow the candle.  After which, the rest of the night was spent bonding and chitchatting before everybody hit the sack with smiles on our faces.

nengkoy about to blow her birthday cake candle

Our stay and adventure in Villa Escudero to celebrate Nengkoy’s 75th birthday is no doubt one of my family’s memorable experiences!  I actually don’t know how to end this writing.  But one thing is for sure Villa Escudero is one authentic representation of Filipino pride, culture and extravaganza.

It made me want to dance the Tinikling as sang by the 50’s circa Pinay diva, Sylvia La Torre…

Nais kong umindak sa saya…