A couple of weeks ago, Filipinos were enjoined to tie a yellow ribbon around trees, light posts, vehicles and even post them on blogs and social networking sites, as a gesture of love and support for an icon who was in the last stages of a valiant battle against a deadly disease. Today, that enduring symbol for Filipino democracy has gone on to the heavens.
Former Philippine president Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino succumbed to colon cancer early this morning, leaving behind a country in grief. Current president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has just declared 10 days of national mourning. Time, CNN, BBC, Washington Post and other prestigious international news wires found it worth their while to honor her with articles.
This is one time time that I feel truly proud to be a Scholastican. St. Scholastica's College Manila was Tita Cory's alma mater and we had been staunch supporters from the very beginning. We were encouraged by the nuns to speak out against oppression and even joined a couple of marches to help topple down a dictatorship.
More than the People Power Revolution, here are 2 speeches that stand as testament to truly great leadership. Having come out of the shadows as a grieving widow asking for justice for the assasination of her husband and transformed herself into a bastion for hope should inspire countless generations to come.
1) Restoring Democracy by the Ways of Democracy - Speech Before The U.S. Congress September 18, 1986 Part I Part II Part III 2) Last SONA (State Of The Nation Address) July 22, 1991 Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V
Personally, I have had a yellow ribbon tied to my car's antenna for close to two weeks now and vow to keep it there till Tita Cory is laid to rest. To learn more about this great woman, check out her official website.
A friend forwarded this to me via email and I was so amused I just had to share...
These are Filipino words that are so unique and loaded in meaning that they will never find a direct translation in the English language. Forget traditional dictionaries. Keep this.
1. *Achuchu* (A-chu-chu). This refers to the pointless insincerities being said during long, involved conversations about nothing at all.
2. *Ano* (A-noh). The all-around, all-purpose word for everything. (1) Pronoun in interrogation: Ano? (What) (2) Noun: Where is your ano? (Where is your father/mother/ dead-uncle' s-second- cousin) (3) Verb: Anuhin this. (Paint/kill/maim/castrate this.) (4) Adjective: This is so ano. (This is so pretty/big/astounding.) (5) Interjection: Ano! (What the hell!) (6) Substitute for genitalia : Did you ano your ano? The use of ano is quite dangerous for the untrained ear, and must be put into the proper setting. "Honey, the ano is too long, we have to cut it," must be accompanied by the proper understanding of the context, as results may be critical to a couple's future.
3. *Booba* (boo-bah). A female blessed with larger than usual mammary glands which can be used as weapons of mass destruction.
4. *Checheboreche* (Che-che-boh- re-che) Same as achuchu. It is interesting to ponder on the reason why there are so many words in the Filipino language that beautifully describe meaningless chatter.
5. *Epal* (Eh-pal). An individual who believes he is God.
6. *Gigil* (gee-gil). An uncontrollable desire to bite something.
7. *Hipon* (Hee-pon). Literally "shrimp," whose body is eaten while its head is thrown away, this refers to a female/male whose body is to die for and whose face looks like it belongs to the dead.
8. *Kikay* (kee-kay). Refers to individuals who carry a brush, hand wash, moisturizer, lip-gloss and various other facial enhancements in a case (aptly called a kikay kit) inside her bag. Recent inspections of various backpacks have led to the conclusion it is not a purely female trait. This breed cannot resist checking themselves out on mirrors, glass windows, bread knives, sidewalk puddles and plastic-covered notebooks.
9. *Kaek-ekan* (Ka-ek-e-kahn) . Same as achuchu and chechebureche.
10. *Kilig* (keel-leg). A rush of excitement due to the actions, presence or even mention of he whom you see as the future father of your children.
11. *Laglag-brip* (lag-lag-brip) . The female counterpart of laglag-panti.
12. *Laglag-panti* (lag-lag-pan- tee). A man so incredibly hot, so heart-stoppingly gorgeous and oozing with masculinity that female underwear (whether worn by males or females) falls to the ground without effort whatsoever.
13. *Indyanero* (In-jan-neh- ro). An individual who fails to appear at an appointment without prior warning. Not to be confused with individuals who appear according to Filipino time (approximately 10 minutes before the meeting is to end).
14. *Japorms* (Jah-porms). Describes an individual dressed differently from the usual (typically involves clothes that have been laundered and pant legs of roughly the same length).
15. *Lagot* (Lah-got). A prophesy of evil things to come.
16. *Para* (Pah-rah) A term that informs the driver of a jeep to stop and pause (usually in the middle of the road) as the individual speaking intends to leave the vehicle. Dangerous for individuals as drivers seem to believe having one foot in the air is all that is necessary for descent.
17. *Takusa* (Ta-kuh-sa). Derived from takot sa asawa (afraid of wife), this is a term used to describe the silent (very silent) minority of males married to feminine reincarnations of Hitler.
18. *Torpe* (tore-peh). A gentleman who is desperately attracted to a female yet by some strange compulsion is reduced to a frozen mound of stuttering male whenever that female is near.
Armed with this list and a smile, you will be sure to make the proper impression not just on your new relations, but on your loved one as well.
Now let's practice:
"Honey, when I first saw you, I made laglag brip, and was almost torpe. When I finally got the nerve to date you, I almost became indyanero, because I didn't think I had the right japorms.
When you're around, I'm kilig. When you're not, I get gigil. You may think all this is achuchu, kaek-ekan, just checheboreche, but in truth, my love, I'm so ano with you."
As we were on our way to the GTS outing in Canyon Woods after work, we decided to stop by for dinner at Anna E.'s cousin's place. Little did we know that we would stumble upon one of Tagaytay's best-kept secrets.
Please allow me to wax poetic about Chateau Hestia. Hestia, in Greek mythology, is the goddes of hearth and home and truly, this unobtrusive restaurant tucked in the heart of Tagaytay gives you a comfy, homey feeling upon entering the foyer. Its' interiors will remind you of a quaint restaurant in Austria or Germany where you get to pick out which gastronomic experience you would like to have for the day.
Ron suggested I try out their set menu. Here's what my P600.00 got me: rustic (freshly-made foccacia) bread with gazpacho dip, sopa de ajo (garlic soup), ensalata mixa (personally prepared for us by the owners' pretty and precocious 6-year old daughter), carne de vaca con tomate (beef stew with tomatoes and perfectly mashed potatoes) and chocolate mousse (wonderful German chocolate blended with just a hint of liquor). Mind you, their servings are good enough for 2 so if you are a light eater, then you and your companion will just have to shell out P300.00 each. I capped it off with capuccino and it most definitely made it one of the best full-course meals I've had in a long time.
Being introduced to the gracious couple, Mr. & Mrs. Johannes Zehethofer, who owned the place was an added incentive to come back again. Chateau Hestia is open Thursdays to Sundays and reservations may be made through Johannes Zehethofer +63918-9305372 or Atty Maria Falcon +63918-9016225. Cash basis only but they will be accepting credit cards soon. Visit:
I saw this on Dateline a couple of months back and didn't know that not a lot of Filipinos know about it. The idea of the Cebu Provincial Government was to find a more enjoyable way for all 967inmates of the penitentiary to spend their "exercise" time. Fudge gave a short intro about it but didn't post the vid. There are actually several more "performances ("Bebot", "Sister Act", "Radio Gaga", "Algorithm March", "Rico Mambo" to name but a few) which have also been popular hits on YouTube. The project has garnered both positive and negative reactions from viewers. I am personally for it - it's not as though there are snipers behind every tower forcing the inmates to do these numbers. Apparently, since its' inception, the prisoners have become more disciplined and their morales have been boosted tremendously by all the attention they have been getting worldwide. Besides, everyone looks like they're having loads of fun. Rack another one up for "Only In The Philippines..."
Yes, folks, just 62 more days to go and we will be smack dab in the middle of Simbang Gabi and Noche Buena revelry! Come the 24th, we would've heard almost all the versions of The Christmas Song, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town or Silent Night. Amidst the din of stores competing for noise supremacy in all the malls, there is one unforgettable Christmas ditty that stands apart from all the rest. Forget the Ray Conniff Singers, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, The Carpenters, Charlotte Church even.
Presenting, for your enjoyment, the one and only, Star For All Seasons, Ate Vi! (Otherwise known as Lucky's mom...) Credit goes out to my friend, Trish, who sent this to me. So classic! I almost swallowed my spoon!
Location: 8th lilypad, faerie lake, enchanted forest, Philippines
like to sing (in the car, the loo, anywhere!), dance (more like traipse around), laugh uproariously, read voraciously, watch movies, enjoy the company of friends; eternally wishing it were christmas all year round, amusement park junkie (the higher the ride, the better!), unabashed cryer in cinemas (potential seatmates, beware!), devout carnivore (you can count the veggies i do eat in one hand)...also have a bordering-on-the-absurd collection of all things froggy given by friends and next of kin. maybe one day, one of them'll turn out to be my prince - harharhar!!!
A couple of weeks ago, Filipinos were enjoined to tie a yellow ribbon around trees, light posts, vehicles and even post them on blogs and social networking sites, as a gesture of love and support for an icon who was in the last stages of a valiant battle against a deadly disease. 
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