Tsinoy Rules

Kundi lang talaga kailangan, hindi ako pupunta ng Divisoria. Napilitan lang kaming magpunta ni Misis dahil kailangan naming bumili ng souvenir para sa kasal ni utol.

Dahil nga christmas season na, sobrang dami talaga ng tao. Dito mo talaga mararanasan yung maglalakad ka kahit ayaw mo, dahil sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, itutulak ka ng tao pasulong.

Sa Divisoria, walang mayaman, walang mahirap. Lahat ng tao, pantay-pantay dahil lahat sila, lumalakad sa iisang maputik na daan, nakikisalamuha sa lahat ng tao, kumakain sa pare-parehong foodstand at foodcourt, nakikipagsiksikan, nakikipagtawaran.

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Inabot din kami ng halos isang oras papunta sa may Adora kung saan kami umorder ng souvenir.

At dahil nasa Divisoria na rin lang kami, nagpunta na rin kami sa 168 Mall para tumingin ng christmas gifts para sa office at para sa mga inaanak.

Ngayon ko lang halos naintindihan kung bakit napakaraming tao ang nagpupunta sa Divisoria araw-araw (lalong lalo na kapag christmas season). Napatunayan ko na kung may isang bagay kang gustong makita o mabili, pumunta ka sa Divisoria.

Nagkalat ang prutas tulad ng mansanas, kiat-kiat, ponkan at ubas.

May damit para kay baby, may shorts para kay daddy, may bestida para kay mommy, may pajama para kay lolo, may duster para kay lola.

Hindi magkamayaw ang mga nagtitinda ng parol, mug, swiss knife, flashlight, office supplies, memo pad, relo, laruan, payong, lahat! makikita mo. Dito siguro mag a-apply yung sinabi nila na "Makikita mo ang hinahanap mo!".

Kapansin-pansin din ang mga China phone na kaparehong-kapareho ng mga original. Dati nang may immitation ng Nokia phones, pero noong Sabado lang ako nakakita ng immitation ng Samsung, Blackberry, Sony Ericson at iPhone. Daig pa nila ang original, dahil ang China phones, may TV! Noong Sabado, may bago pa silang ino-offer, dahil may mga telepono na raw sila na Wi-Fi Ready. Sa'n ka pa?

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Pinay ang mga saleslady. Sila yung mga tumatawag at nagsasabi ng 'Ano po'ng hanap nyo Sir?', 'Pili na po', 'Cellphone po ba? Ano'ng unit po?'

At sa loob ng bawat tindahan, sumilip ka at makakakita ka ng among Intsik.

Maraming pure chinese. Pero karamihan, Tsinoy.

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Tsinoy, o Pintsik, sila yung mga cross breed na ng Pinoy at Intsik. Mga simpleng tao lang, mga simpleng manamit, pero siguro, walang sasalungat kung sasabihin kong sila ang nagmamay ari ng Divisoria.

Dahil sila ang may ari ng business, sila ang kumikita. Ang mga pobreng pinoy (na kargador) at pinay (na saleslady), umaasa sa arawang suweldo.

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May napili kaming items. 45 pesos ata ang isa. Kung bultuhan, 35.

Sabi namin, 30 pesos na lang, dahil 40 pcs naman ang bibilhin namin.

Sabi nung Intsik, "kung 30 pesos nyo bibilhin, wala kaming 40 piraso. Pero kung 35 pesos nyo bibilhin, meron makukuha sa bodega".

Reliving Your Patio

If there is one thing a Filipino would love to have, it is that of having his own home. And when he already acquires one, he will definitely do his best to make it as comfortable as possible.

It is not only the interior designs, the rooms and the kitchen that Filipinos love to make comfortable. Most families, especially the rich, are spending lots of money to acquire a space for patios. A patio is a spanish term to mean backgarden or backyard, and is generally used for recreation and/or dining. And since the Philippines has once been under the Spanish colony for decades, it is not surprising to note that Filipinos have inherited some of the Spanish culture and architecture- which is why even the typical Filipino house and outdoor designs (walls and posts), and even accessories, like large vases, figurines, and Patio Umbrella, are similar to those of their Spanish origins.


Nowadays, designers have started to modernize the outdoor settings by mixing other European and American concepts in reliving patios. Just as what is being shown in the picture on the left, there is a simple recreational backyard set-up with a built-in Outdoor Patio Umbrella with a state-of-the-art design that will surely captivate people who love beautiful outdoor accesories.

What's more, an Outdoor Umbrella is actually much more than an added design in patios. It creates a place for people to gather for shade and relax while enjoying the garden scenery. And of course, it is best when you are chatting while sipping your favorite juice or fruit shake.

The house to a typical Filipino is his number one place of comfort, that is why he always ensures that he will make every part of it as beautiful and as comfortable as possible- inside and out.

As what we always say, we always go back to our Home Sweet Home.

Church And Politics In The Philippines

No matter how much people debate about the issue, it has become inevitable in the Philippines for politicians to pursue the bloc votes of various religious organizations.

Vice versa, it seems that the churches have also made it a habit to use the pulpit to anoint or favor a politician. As it seems, this habit makes an informal endorsement of sorts.

In 1998, the influential group, Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement led by Bro. Eddie Villanueva, conducted a rally at the Luneta Grandstand entitled, "Jesus' Declaration of Victory" (JDV). Looking into the title in pure context, there is nothing wrong about it, but just a clear statement of showing that Jesus is declaring victory for His people. However, people are quick to note that the title gives a double-meaning to endorse then presidential aspirant Jose De Venecia (JDV).

History unfolded, and De Venecia lost via a very big margin vs Erap Estrada.

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Last Tuesday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally filed her Certificate of Candidacy as Representative of the 2nd District of Pampanga.

Before the filing of the COC, the President attended a catholic mass where the priest, Fr. Roland Moraleja likens Arroyo's descent (from President to Representative) as that of Jesus Christ.

"Do not believe you are diminishing the power of the [Office of the] President. Ating metung a taung migbaba ba yang sumuyo—I Kristo (There was a person who came down to serve us—Jesus Christ)".

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If religious acts like these will continue on and on, no one really knows. But as long as there are religious organizations that benefit from the government and as long as there are government officials that benefit from religious organizations, it is bound to continue.


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See also: Battle of the Gods