Temporary home and utopias

"This is just a stop...to where i belong...this is my temporary home..."




Frances Jakelyn Abad is 15 and is a 4th year student at General Santos High School under the Special Program in the Arts major in Creative Writing. In Youngblood, the PDI column for contributors twentysomething and below, she writes about Utopia and seeing things from two perspectives - having it all (luxury car, mansion with pool, several maids and guards, great business, being King of the World) and having contentment.

"I guess seeing things in a positive way is the best way to be happy. Nowadays a lot of us think only of how to make money. Yes, money can make us happy - for a while. But does money buy us salvation when we die? Does money change the way God will judge us?...My teacher in Trigonometry and Statistics once said as she was writing the equation for the Growth Law (N=Noekt) - (that) you may have hundreds of money that multiply like a bacteria, but can you make it indestructible so that you can bring it when you die?..."

While listening to this song, it gave me goose bumps and left a lump in my throat. It made me realize that our life on earth is actually a terminal to our final destination, wherever it will lead us. At whatever age or stage in life, from birth to our growing years to our relationships and to our death bed, our stopovers are actually temporary homes.

I remember my youth, my hardships, my dad, my friends, those who have come my way...and have gone to a better place...

Our temporary home...sooner or later we will all be finally home.

The bitter or better half?

Since it's the heart month, February, I decided to dedicate my first blog of the month on relationships.

I am not THE expert nor AN expert on relationships. But I am simply sharing a piece of my mind on this.

There is no perfect relationship. There are many reasons why we end up with the one we share our life with currently. In this life, we all search for happiness.

From infancy to childhood, we look at the nurturing capacity of our parents and relatives. Our adolescent period is actually a struggle between dependence on material needs from our family and independence from their emotional baggage. It is the latter that we actually struggle from on our road to creating relationships with others - friends, peers, or lovers.

There is that first love or love at first sight or the eternal love. Whichever category you fall in, most of us (and I am the expert on this matter), search for THE ONE true love.

For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health...till death do us part.

Which of these do we really adhere to? Some of us perhaps are bound by the piece of paper called marriage. At times, getting stuck in a rut or a relationship that sucks because of marriage can actually be detrimental not only to the couple but to the children that are caught in the eye of a stormy relationship. It is unhealthy to raise children in a relationship where parents see each others as enemies. There is no love at all. Hate is all that is shared.

In this age where same sex relationship is tolerated (or accepted) by societies, the same principle holds true. While same-sex marriage is not approved (in most countries), same-sex relationship ironically is likewise in search of the "happily ever after" endings as well.

It is human nature to want to be happy. It is human nature to want to be loved.

Unfortunately, our love stories are not like movies that have either happy endings or tragic ones. The movie puts a period in the imagination of the viewer. But the stories are real events in each of our lives, hence the storyline for romance films.

When my friends ask my for advice, I provide unbiased professional opinions after balancing each side. Of course, we will always be biased to who our friends are, but seriously, I provide good advice.

There are three cardinal rules I preach and follow when getting involved in a relationship.
1. Never get involved with the people you work with
2. Never get involved with people who are married or are already in a relationship
3. Never get involved with the people who work for you

People say that love comes from the most unexpected places. But one does not have to look desperate when searching for love. Love on a rebound, love by destroying other relationships on the brink of destruction, love for the sake of lust...these are the kind of relationships that will never last and will never bring happiness.

A relationship is borne on trust and respect. You need to respect the other person and be accountable for your actions. You need to trust each other and openly discuss faults and gains so that you can share each others weaknesses and not only each others strengths. A relationship involves two people, who not only love each other, but respect each other. The strength you draw from each other is tested at the most unexpected times...and it counts that both of you grow from the bond you have formed.

Which is why I've always loved this line when it comes to saying goodbye...which actually means that you've both said goodbye to all the pain and trials a relationship goes through.

there are days when I close my eyes and wonder why...a tear sometimes rolls down softly on my cheek and I wonder why...then a smile on my face tells me, now I know why...perhaps you've found happiness...and that's all that matters to me. Then I know that it's time...to say...goodbye...


And when you let the other go because he or she has found happiness, you too will realize that there will be closure in your own search for true happiness.

Think about it - Are you the bitter or the better half?



p.s. It's an old song...but listen to the lyrics...it shares so much of oneself in the search of love and happiness...

Pramis, Peksman, Hope to die

My apologies to my foreign readers who do not speak Filipino or Tagalog or Taglish (our local version of Tagalog and English). I am blogging this in the local language, hopefully, to get the message across, and praying that it get circulated on a national scale. If you have Filipino friends, you may want them to translate it for you.

Mga kababayan, tatagalugin ko ito (este, may Taglish din ang ibang kataga). Sa mga hindi marunong magtagalog (sabi ni Fortun hindi daw nakakintindi ng tagalog ang mga Ampatuan), paumanhin po. Itong huling blog na ito sa huling araw ng Enero ng taong ito ang araw na ilalahad ko kung sino ang aking iboboto sa darating na halalan.

Alam ko na walang pakialam yung iba diyan kung sino man ang magiging manok ko sa darating na halalan. Eh wala din naman akong pakialam kung sino ang inyong iboto.

Sa dinami dami ng mga "jingle" ngayon at mga pulitikong nagsipagsulputan bigla sa Facebook, hindi naging madali ang aking pagpili kung sino sa mga tatakbo ang aking ini-endorso sa darating na halalan. Halos dalawang buwan ko din itong inisip...at pakiwari ko, panahon na, para mangampanya na din ako.

Malapit na ang eleksyon. Batuhan na ng tae ang iba't ibang kampo na tumatakbo bilang pangulo ng kaawa awa nating Pinas.

Kung ang pagbabasehan natin kung mas matalino na ang botanteng Pinoy ngayon ayon sa mga nakikitang mga "advertisement" sa media (TV at radyo) - ang sagot diyan ay HINDI!

Nakakapanindig balahibo ang ibang mga "advertisement" at "jingle" at "theme songs" o "background music" (at may kasama pang Silent Night) ng iba!

Susmaryosep! Bakit ba pinaglalandakan ng iba diyan na galing sila sa mahirap? May mahirap daw at may tunay na mahirap (sabi ni Dolphy, meron daw...kaya siguro yung iba pekeng mahirap?!?!?). Magbobote, laking Tondo, nagtutulak ng kariton, nagbibigay ng libreng tulong (kasama na ang ataol), gamot, pabahay, "Medical Missions" (parang dumami ang doctor na libre ang singil pagdating ng eleksyon na kasama sa hakot ng pulitiko), tulong sa mga OFW, tumutulong sa mga nasalanta ng pagputok ng bulkan...pasiklaban, payabangan na ng mga nagawa. Pati yang mga gusgusing yagit, sinama na din sa pagkanta ng isang sugo na aahon sa bansang ito sa kahirapan.

Kakaibang hayop talaga magisip ng gimik na papatok ang mga political advisers ng mga ito. Pangmasa ang dating. Ginawang eng-eng ang mga Pinoy! Pakanta kanta, pasayaw sayaw. Ika nga ng isang commercial - basta happy tayo! Sanamagan na halalan ito!

Wala naman akong away sa mga ito. Oks na oks naman sa akin na mangarap tayo ng mas mabuting buhay para sa sarili at para sa ating pamilya. Sipag at tiyaga and tunay na solusyon diyan. Paminsan minsan, may kikislap na bituin (o kulog at kidlat), at tatama ka sa Lotto!!! Yan ang jackpot! Yan ang tinamaan ng suwerte talaga!!

Tunay na pangarap at hindi yun nangangarap na gising. Hindi panaginip na magiging isang bangungot sa mamamayan. Sawa na tayo diyan. Bawat pulitiko eh pulos pangako naman na iaahon tayo sa hirap. Asan na tayo ngayon? Andito pa din. Kaya dumami ang OFW natin sa mga huling taon (at yang ang bida ni Ate Glu) ay dahil di na nila maatim ang paghihirap at di pagtupad sa mga napakong pangarap ng mga pulitiko sa Pinas. Sa ibang bansa nangangarap ang ating mga kababayan. Kaawa awa talaga ang Pinoy.

Kaya nga bentang benta ang "concept" ng mga mahihirap na may isang sugo na aahon sa atin sa kahirapan. Diyan ako nasuka. Sayang. Magaling pa naman yung ibang kandidato. Walang masama mangarap at magbigay ng pagasa, pero tama din naman si Gibo, na hindi lamang "jingle" ang dadala sa isang bansa para maging mas maunlad at matatag. At kaya natin lumipad patungo sa ating mga pangarap kung magaling ang piloto natin.

Kung ang pagpapatayo ng bahay at paaralan, pagbigay ng tulong sa mga OFW o sa mga mahihirap, o pagpapaunlad ng sariling pamunuan ang magiging basehan natin sa pagpili ng pangulo, "I am sorry to say", hindi yan ang dapat maging basehan. Ang mga pinaglalandakan ninyong mga nagawa o "achievements" na yan ay isang DAPAT LAMANG na ginagawa ninyo. Walang dapat itanaw na utang na loob ang mamamayan sa inyo po! Dapat lamang gawin ninyo ito. Susmaryosep. Aba, lumalabas pa na dahil ginawa ninyo ito eh karapat dapat lang kayong maging pangulo?!?!?! Sanamagan. Eh pawis at dugo namin na binabayad sa mga patong patong na buwis ng lecheng pamahalaan na ito ang pinanggagalingan ng inyong "pork barrel" funds! Pawis at dugo ng buwis sa mga nagtratrabaho, na kinakaltas ninyo buwan buwan. Yang mga patay gutom at istambay at iskwater at mga Juan Tamad ang nakikinabang. Kung ako ang masusunod, eh ang mga nagbabayad ng buwis lamang ang may karapatan bumoto! Saling pusa lang kayo.

Ito lang ang masasabi ko, wala kayong karapatan angkinin na may nagawa kayo sa pera ng taong bayan, dahil ang sagot diyan ay DAPAT LANG!

Ang daming tatakbong sugo ngayong halalan. May sugo ang Diyos daw. Noong nakaraang halalan, nakalimutan ng Diyos yung sugo niya. Kung tunay na sugo siya, dapat parang isang propeta sa bibliya sana siyang pumupunta sa Malacanang at itaas ang kanyang batuta at sabihin na may mga sumpa na darating sa palasyo ng duwende kung hindi nito pakakawalan ang mga Pinoy sa kahirapan. Yung huling sumpa eh kukunin ang panganay niyang anak na congressman din. May nangyari bang ganito? Walang himala...kahit na ang simbahan eh tiklop. Nung namatay nga ang palaban na si Cardinal Sin, ang ibang mga kaparian natin eh parang maamong tupa. Utos siguro ng Roma na huwag makialam.

Para sa akin, huwag ng mag asam na maging pangulo ang sugo ng Diyos. Walang himala! Napanood na kaya nito ang pelikula ni Ate Guy? Sayang ang pera na nauubos sa pangangampanya para sa isang himala. Maraming nagugutom. Maraming puedeng pagbigyan nito. Hindi niyo ba napapansin ang simbahan kung makahingi ng abuloy linggo linggo eh may pangalawang koleksyon pa?!?!?! Ang pangalawa ay abuloy kung saang saang proyekto - sa Haiti, sa mga kaparian, sa nasunugan, sa nasalanta ng bagyo...kulang na lang sa pagkain ng mga malnourished tulad ni Kim Chiu. Kahit di Katoliko si Eddie V, kung talagang may malasakit siya sa mga Pinoy, eh tutulong siya, kahit na anong relihyon ka!

Sayang din naman ang ibang kandidato natin na may kakayahan. Madaming nagawa sa kanilang sariling pamunuan. Maunlad na maunlad na ang kanilang pamunuan, pero ang tanong, paano nila nagawa ito? Hindi sa sipag at tiyaga mga 'tol! Ang tawag dito - nepotism! Syete mga 'tol. Isipin ninyo na hindi sila nagkakalayo sa mga Ampatuan. Sa totoo lang, karamihan sa mga pulitiko ay hindi malayo sa mga Ampatuan. Ilan ang kilala ninyong Mayor at Congressman sa lokal ninyong pamunuan mula ng matalsik sa puwesto si Marcos? Sa Makati lang, eh pulos Binay ang pangalan. Paslit pa ang anak ni Binay nung naging mayor si Jojo. Pumalit sa kanya nung matapos siya maging mayor ng ilang termino ay ang misis niyang doktora. Tapos bumalik siya sa puwesto. Habang lumalaki si JunJun. Ngayon tapos na sa pag aaral at may mga anak na din si JunJun, eh panahon na bumaba ang ama. Kaya si JunJun na ang tatakbong mayor ng Makati. Parang walang katapusan ang DYNASTY nila duon. At parang ang tanga tanga ng mga tao sa Makati. Iisa lamang ang kanilang kilalang pinuno? Ano siya, Hari? Eh di dapat mayor ang tawag duon kundi Datu o Hari! Huwag ng mag eleksyon pa sa Makati o sa Marikina o sa Olongapo o saan man sa Pilipinas.

Tama nga si Ate Glu. Dapat palitan ang ating Konstitusyon. Hindi karapat dapat ang klaseng pamahalaan natin ngayon. Pero mali din siya at si Tabako king (Former President Fidel VR) na dapat parliamentary ang pamahalaan natin. Maniwala kayo't hindi, mas papatok ang monarchial government sa atin. Lahat gusto maging hari at reyna. Walang gustong bumaba sa puwesto. Gusto ng lahat maging sugo --- FOR LIFE!!!!

Kung si Ate Glu ang ating pagbabasehan, ay talagang hindi mananalo si Gibo. Sa mga fanatikong mga taga La Salle lamang siya patok na patok. Sa totoo lang, magaling magsalita si Gibo. Napapahanga ang mga kabataan sa mga katagang nilalabas niya sa bibig niya tuwing sumasagot siya sa mga napupukol na mahihirap na tanong. Tulad ng kanyang amo ngayon, matalino din si Gibo. Pero hanggang duon lang. Maabilidad. Magaling magsalita. Ano ang pinamalas ni Gibo at puede natin siyang maging pangulo kundi sa likas ng galing sa pananalita? Habang buhay siyang magkakaroon ng utang na loob sa isang taong naging ganid at sinungaling. Habang buhay niyang papasanin ang pagtatakip sa mga kasalanan nito. Kung makukumbinsi niya na hindi tumakbo si Ate Glu bilang congresista sa Pampanga sa darating na halalan, may pagasa pa siyang manalo. Mapapaloob ang mamamayan na mawawala na ang duwende sa pulitika. At kahit na magkaroon ng pagpapalit ng ating konstitusyon, di na maaring bumalik pa sa pulitika ang duwende! Kahit na sa puwesto bilang baranggay tanod! Kung magawa ito ni Gibo ngayon, maaraing manalo siya sa darating na eleksyon.

Ang ibang tumatakbo ay isang masaming panaginip lamang. Inutil naman ang ating Comelec. Basta gustong tumakbo, hala sige, takbo! Alam naman natin na isang malaking kabaliwan ang ibang kandidato. Umaasa pa sila. Pero sa totoo lang, may following ang mga yan. Ang tawag sa followers nila, fanatiko! Parang si Jason Ivler. May following sa Facebook. Kahit na mali, ay tama para sa kanila. Yang mga fanatikong yan ay mga walang pangarap sa buhay. Baliktarin mo man ang mundo, para sa kanila, mamamatay at papatay sila para sa idol nila! Puede dito mag-recruit ang Al Queda. Mga fanatiko ito. Sabi nga sa ingles, "no reason, no rhyme"! Sanamagan talaga. Dapat patok na patok ang specialidad ng Psychiatry sa Pinas sa dami ng may kulang na turnilyo sa tuktok. Isama mo na ang dakilang sugo ng mga yan. Ang tawag sa sugo nila, ilusyonado. Pero bebenta yan. Alam mo naman ang Pinoy, showbiz na showbiz ang dating. Tamang tama ang huling kataga ng kanta ng pambansang awit natin - ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo!

At dito magtatapos ang aking dalawang buwang pag-iisip kung sino ang aking pipiliin maging pangulo. Pagkatapos sumakit ang ulo sa pakikinig sa GMA, ABS-CBN, ANC, sa mga debate sa paaralan, sa mga internet websites, sa SWS at Pulse Asia ay lalo akong nalito sa mga pasiklablan nila. Eto tayo sa huling punto ng aking pagpili ng susunod na pangulo ng bansang ito.

Tama ang mga batikos kay Noynoy. Wala nga siyang masyadong kakayahan.

Kakayahan lamang ba ang magiging basehan natin sa pagpili ng pangulo? Pustahan tayo na mahigit 75% ay nag-eendorso ng manok nila, hindi dahil sa kakayahan, kundi dahil sa isang tanog - WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? Sampalin ninyo sarili ninyo pag nagsinungaling kayo sa sagot na ito! Pustahan tayo na marami sa atin eh may pangarap maging sikat! Sikat sa pulitika. May kilala sa pamahalaan. May kilala na senador, kongresista, mayor, baranggay kaptain, tanod at sino man pipitsugin na kinaugalian natin i-name drop!

Sabi ng iba, galing si Noy sa pamilya na sikat kaya nadadala lang siya ng agos ng eleksyon. Hindi nga siya si Ninoy at hindi din siya si Cory. Sa dugo lang niya at ng pamilya niya lumalatay ang isang tunay na dahilan kung bakit dapat tayo mamili ng tama sa darating na halalan - ang pagmamahal sa ating lupang hinirang!

Ang mga magulang lang ni Noy ang nagpakita ng tunay na pagmamahal sa ating bayan. Isang bayan na kahit na wala ng pag-asa ay binalikan ni Ninoy para mapakita sa isang dikdatura na walang takot siyang mamamatay para sa demokrasya. Isang bayan na kahit na walang patutunguhan ay itinaya ni Cory ang kanyang mga huling sandali sa pagdarasal at paglalaban sa tama.

Isang bansa, na sa darating na halalan ay mabibigyan ng isang pagasa uli bumangon at ipakita sa mata ng mundo at mata ng lipunan na may pinagyayabangan tayo bilang isang lahi! Tayo'y Pinoy! Sa salita, sa diwa at higit sa lahat, sa puso! Kung mahal natin ang ating bansa, ito na ang huling El Bimbo natin. Ito na ang pagkakataon na maiahon natin ang ating bansa sa tunay na kahirapan. At taas noo natin masasabi sa buong mundo na AKO AY PILIPINO!

Ang simula ay dapat galing sa puso natin. Hindi sa kung ano ang makukuha natin sa mga pangako ng tumatakbo bilang pangulo. Hindi pangako ang kelangan natin kundi isang pinuno na may integridad.

Bayaan na ninyo yung katagang - may takot sa Diyos. Nabenta na yang katagang yan at walang nagsabi ng totoo. Kung makakasagot lang ang Diyos, eh sasabihin niya na natatakot siya sa mga Pinoy sa dami ng sumumpa at gumamit sa pangalan niya para lamang maging kampon ni Satanas.

Simulan na ang laban.

Sino man ang manalo sa darating na halalan, kung ano man ang inyong naging Pramis at nag Cross your heart and Peksman pa kayo...kung hindi ninyo matupad itong mga pangako na ito pagkatapos ng inyong pamunuan, eh sana matupad ang huli...hope you die!

iPad, the next generation

OMG!

That's all I could say when I opened my laptop today. My browser actually logs on to Apple's website automatically (as I use Safari) and voila!!! It was a 7 1/2 minute presentation of Apple's launch on it's tablet.



Is it going to change the way we marvel at technology? It's going to be available beginning end of March 2010 for the Wifi, while delivery is in April 2010 for the Wifi + 3G version. It's lowest end in 16 GB is priced at USD$499 for the Wifi ($629 for the 3G), 32GB at $599 ($729 for the 3G) and the 64GB at $699 ($829 for the 3G).

I won't say much about it because once I watched the video, I was in awe! And awe is a description I rarely use. It was definitely jaw dropping, particularly with regards the iBook. Darn, I was drooling...

Now to save enough the next 2 months as I have made my reservations. This definitely will be my new toy!

This is it!!! Galing ng Pinoy!!!

You've seen the dancing prisoners of Cebu on You Tube.

Now, with the choreographers of Michael Jackson, watch this! Pinoy Power and all I can say is...SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!

10 Supermarketing Tips from an Expert

Ahem...I go to the supermarket every Tuesday. For the last decade (or so...I think longer), I've reserved Tuesday as my official day off. A friend of my commented that it's Tuesdays with Inang. Tuesday happens to be my official supermarket day as well.

And I've become THE expert when it comes to supermarket deals and I'm sharing some tips to my readers on how to shop and save in the supermarkets:

1. NEVER SHOP WITH CHILDREN. You know how these little kids are when you pass through the candies and junk corner. And the moms. Darn...they just accede to whatever the little runt picks up in the grocery. Junk, junk, and more junk.

The other day, I saw a mom buying Oreo cookies, a pack of M & Ms, and chocolate chips with a bottle of water for the lunch of her 2 1/2 year old boy. And he's so reed thin that if I had accidentally hit him with my cart, he would have flown 100 meters and died right there. Parents, a word of advice - feeding is a habit that is learned! Notice how kids are in the grocery. Bilmoko nun, bilmoko nyan ha! (Buy me this, buy me that mode!) I have parents that literally beg me to prescribe a good vitamin for their children who have such bad eating habits. When you ask them what's literally in their lunch box, it's practically junk.

Lesson number 1 - DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS WITH YOU TO THE SUPERMARKET! You will save on the junk that you don't need to buy. (And you people have the temerity to complain that you don't have enough money for food but look at what's in your cart! Dang these people.)

2. EAT BEFORE YOU SHOP - I've noticed that whenever I am hungry and go to the supermarket, I am always buying more what I don't need. Hotdogs, bacon, salami, Spam, tofu, yogurt, fresh orange juice, fruits, etc. Normally I buy enough for a couple of days. But when I'm hungry, I buy not only more (in terms of amount) but even those I don't need - candies, ice cream, chips, popcorn (they're junk!!!). And I normally hesitate buying junk. It has a certain way of beckoning the buyer when the buyer has a growling tummy. I'm sure you believe me by now. Best way to avoid over spending on food? Shop after lunch or after dinner. The crowd is usually thinner as well.

3. COMPARE PRICES IN SUPERMARKETS - Take mental notes. Sometimes some supermarkets have better deals than others. Just because it's S & R does not mean that the imported items are cheaper. Actually, what you seem to be shopping by the bulk may actually mean more expenditure which you don't need. And try to budget yourself on a weekly basis especially when it comes to food. You don't want to overwork that refrigerator of yours and wonder why the meat you bought a year ago is still sitting in your freezer or the yogurt you have expired 3 months ago and your son just ate it! Both Makati Supermarket and South Supermarket (of course, near where I reside) have almost the same price for food, but South Supermarket seems to have a bigger array of choices when it comes to household items and other knick knacks in the house. S&R is okay when it comes to fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood. But S&R prices are steeper than the ordinary supermarkets. When shopping, remember - every centavo counts! What you save with one product when compounded can add up to your next lunch meal!

4. NEVER BUY APPLIANCES AND OTHER NON-SUPERMARKET ITEMS IN THE SUPERMARKET - Amazing how some supermarkets carry all these. TV, iron, iron board, maids uniform, underwear, supporter, socks, water heater, car wax, tires, jogging pants, light bulbs...get the drift? They're actually cheaper at Ace Hardware or in designated appliance stores. The tag price difference may be a few pesos (water heater at SM supermarket is P380 for the 3D brand, while the same water heater at Anson Appliance is P375) but you can talk to the store manager of the appliance store who'd gladly offer discounts if you're paying in cash or straight charge (P340 in the end).

In short, sort out the essentials when you go to the supermarket. If you need to buy the flat screen TV, go buy it in the appliance store. You can even get it at 6 months 0% interest, which the supermarket will not do.

5. READ THE LABEL - Okay, so you're always in a rush. And you don't have time to read the label. Tough luck. Read it when you get home. If you're still harassed at home, tough luck. Read it while you're sitting in the toilet bowl taking a crap. That leaves you no excuse not to be stupid.

I had this patient that complained so much about his kid gaining so much weight lately. And all his teenage son was into was Vit Water. He would not drink anything but Vit Water and that Fit and Right thingy that's being sold left and right as slimming aids. Nutritional content? Anywhere from 50-120 cal per serving. Water is 0 calories. Why in God's name do you want to buy water laced with vitamins or a drug? There is no way, no way at all that they can make it taste that good without adding sugar! And stupid you, you go ahead and believe it without reading the label.

I gave the dad a pop quiz - how many calories in 1 bottle of Vit Water (for energy) he didn't have a clue! 49 calories. How many calories in 1 bottle of Viva water? 0. That's what it's supposed to be - 0. Nada. Zip. None. Wala.

Look for carcinogens. Look for aspartame. Look for added coloring. Look and read. Ignorance is bliss. You have time to go into Facebook or play Bejeweled or that DS Lite, but you don't have time to read the nutritional content of the label. That's why there is a label.

And reminder - If there is no nutritional content or the label has no ingredients written down, DON'T BUY IT! It's not worth it if the company is not willing to reveal what it manufactures. Don't risk your life.

6. CHECK THE DATES WHEN THE FRUITS WERE PACKED - Notice at how some of the fruits are already prepacked? And there's a price tag right there. Well on the price tag you should be able to read when the fruits were actually packed. For freshness, make sure that they're packed on the day you're buying them. Otherwise, just get the loose ones and have the sales lady weigh how much you'd like to buy. I always prefer that you get the loose ones rather than the prepacked because they usually stuff the rotten fruits at the bottom of the prepacked ones.

7. ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE - You notice how some goods are buy 5 take 1 or buy one take one or the Hershey bar is 50% off? Well that's because it's near expiry! It's always tempting to go for a sale, but you're going to throw it away if you plan to eat or drink it 1 month from today!

8. AVOID SUPERMARKETS THAT MAKE YOU PAY FOR YOUR PARKING FEE - You're already buying from their store. The least they can do is not to charge you for the short time that you shopped in their store. (It's the same take I have with malls. I think they're all thieves. They should make it an incentive that if the shopper buys at least a minimum amount, their concierge should validate your parking pass and not charge you for the parking. Ano sila sinusuwerte? Sila lang ang may karapatan yumaman?) They should be honored that you're shopping there. The customer has rights too (but the Supreme Court is ignorant of that and the Department of Trade and Industry will always side with the thieves.)

9. PREPARE A CHECKLIST BEFORE SHOPPING - You don't need to zip from one lane to the next like a ditsy drug-crazed maniac trying haplessly to recall what you needed to buy and what you did not. Maybe this, oh yeah and I need this too and oh, do I still have this? Like a psycho who's trying to make heads or tails out of what you need or not need to buy, it's always best to make that checklist before you go to the supermarket. And use recycled paper! Try to be kind to the environment.

10. GO GREEN - Most supermarkets offer shopping bags for a minimum price (or even free at S&R). Bring it with you when you go to the supermarket so you don't have to ask for more plastics and more plastics (of course you need it to put your trash, cheapskate). If you're such an advocate of environmental concerns, start with yourself. In Hong Kong, the supermarket asks if you need a bag. If you want a plastic bag, they charge you $1.00 (HKD) for the bag. They ought to do that here. In the US and other countries, they use paper bags. Oh well, we're third world, what did you expect? It's on our own initiative that we practice going green.

Can't resist a good buy? It's always best to be an intelligent buyer than having to shell out that hard earned money needlessly.

Incidentally, that product you may have been buying is not currently available. No, the manufacturer did not close. Some supermarkets have not been paying their merchandisers on time, so their accounts have been blocked by the merchandisers. Check with the companies on line. If you see that product in other supermarkets, then the one you're going to is probably over their head in debts. It won't be around the block much longer.

Bitching 101 - Between Pessimism and Sarcasm

Bitch of the Week: Bishops air concern over poll automation (Headline of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan 25, 2010)

CBCP President, Bishop Nereo Odchimar issued a pastoral statement saying that "many serious questions about the reliability and integrity of the equipment and the personnel involved have not been satisfactorily answered." He suggested that the Comelec come up with fallback positions and scenarios. Dang these church people. Why are they so pessimistic? I cannot understand why they cannot be proactive! Instead of conjuring "apocalyptic predictions", can they not have a more positive outlook by joining in an information campaign effort for the upcoming automated polls? The problem with preaching from the pulpit is that you simply play mouthpiece without coming up with solutions to issues. For example, each parish church that has an LCD (of course they have laptops), should be able to come up with a prepared 5 minute video presentation to guide the people on how to vote during the upcoming computerized election. For those parishes that do not have, the sermons can be cut short (after all, you gotta agree with me that some of the sermons are actually nonsensical and out of the gospel reading). The priest can ask the lector to just read to the church goers the mechanics of how to fill out the ballot form using the automated method. It's a matter of being proactive. There is nothing worst than priests who condemn and cast the first stone.

As an example to the public, watch the video by the Sex Bomb Dancers created by GMA TV where a positive contribution can actually help educate (even the most uneducable, believe me this will catch on, especially the jologs):


Ompong, Willie and Villar. The King of Comedy (well once upon a time), has a 1 minute video commercial endorsing the candidacy of Manny Villar that's been airing on prime time television. Personalities and big names have been taking the plunge at the various candidates running for president in the upcoming 2010 elections. This is not unusual. In the US, Oprah Winfrey made the sales pitch for Barack Obama, which pushed the latter into the White House office a few months later. But the endorsers must be credible. Dolphy for all he is worth has been one of the prime movers of Philippine cinema. But alas, his family does not seem to fit the bill. Many of his kids and his grandchildren have been in various melee with the law - from murder raps to drug busts. While his personal life is no business of ours, one who carries that extra baggage in his back is unbelievable. Which goes to the point of Wowowee King Willie Revillame. The guy is an absolute jerk. But he seems to be able to charm the Pinoy crowd. Bastusan na kung bastusan sa show niya at parang manyak pag sumasayaw ang mga dancers niya, pero swak na swak ang dating kay lola na walang ginawa kundi umindak ng umindak parang naka droga! (Being lascivious on his show and acting like a maniac when the lady dancers are gyrating, even the grandmothers seem to enjoy and gyrate like drug addicts on his show). But Villar may just make it with this kind of company he runs around with. The Pinoys can actually relate to them.

BAKIT? And on the entertainment page, the upcoming movie of Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu is entitled "Paano na Kaya". I am not endorsing this movie. I am posting the pop quiz - how many Pinoy movies can you name that's actually a question? There's: "Dapat ka bang Mahalin?" (Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, "Paano Kita Iibigin?" (Regine Velasquez and Piolo Pascual), "Nasaan ng Kailangan Kita?" (Snooky Serna, Susan Roces, Janice de Belen), "Saan Nagtatago and Pag-ibig?" (Vilma Santos), "Bakit may Kahapon Pa?" (Nora Aunor) just to name a few. And then starting this afternoon is GMA's telenovela "Ina, Kasusuklaman ba kita?"

Speaking of Kim Chiu, this girl is as thin as a reed. I normally don't watch noon time shows, but at ASAP yesterday, it was the first time I saw this scrawny looking girl, as this as a reed, as narrow as a scarecrow. If she got hit by a car (and I'm talking about a Cherry QQ), she'd be dead on impact with all those bones scattered 100 meters away. They should bring her to a doctor for a check up. Her "thinness" (if there is even such a word) is not a good role model for the Pinoys (unless we happen to be advertising malnutrition as our next slogan, she is picture perfect as poster girl for the malnourished people).

Medical Societies and Sponsors: It's that time of year when you see medical societies and medical organizations holding annual conventions left and right. I have no qualms on sponsorships. Naturally, the medical societies will ask (if not beg) for sponsorship. That means, moolah out of the pharmaceutical industry. Which means that they have to pass it on to consumers (read: drug price increase). But the government doesn't want the price increase (why not? Politics of course. The election is just around the corner. You cannot give away Philhealth benefits only. You gotta give away the Botika!!!). There's a 2 page advertisement on PDI today for the Foundation for Lay Education on Heart Diseases, Inc. There are ads by C-Lium Fibre, Memo Plus and Cor-30 (Aspirin). Not including the side bars involving Therapharma (a division of Unilab) for registration to the convention; Pfizer, Pascual and Therapharma (again) for Publicity; Therapharma (again and again) for Audiovisuals; Folares (for the convention kits); Boehringer Ingelheim for Signage (darn, even this is at the expense of the drug company). This does not include the food that they partake and the luncheon symposia and other miscellaneous events. I am just using them as an example because they are the first in a multitude of organizing societies that will hold scientific sessions left and right this year. Nothing against scientific events to upgrade the brain capacity of the doctors. Can societies not function without having to ask for sponsorships from pharmaceutical companies so that they are not beholden to benefactors?