Oplan Hatid: Stories of Typhoon Survivors

Days after Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan struck Leyte and Samar, Phil. and foreign military personnel started to bring the survivors to Manila, with at least 6 C130 planes landing in Villamor Air Base everyday. Then a few caring Manilans noticed that some evacuees are left on the streets, with no means to get to their relatives in Luzon. So this core group of Manilans started the Oplan Hatid (Operation Drop Off) campaign for volunteer motorists to help transport the evacuees to their safe havens.

 

I joined Oplan Hatid last Wednesday night, and continued for 5 more days/night until the night of 30 Nov. 2013. During those 8 trips I made, I heard a lot of stories from the survivors, as well as from fellow driver volunteers. When CNN stops reporting the plight of the typhoon victims, at least this post will remind us on the victims' ordeals.

Historical Tour of Butuan City in Agusan

Right after arrival and heavy lunch in Butuan City, Wife and I started our historical tour of the city. We went first to the city's museum but it is closed for renovation. The guard directed us to visit the Balangay Shrine Museum instead.

Our contracted trike driver charged us P 120 for a round trip and waiting package to the Balangay Museum. He do not know its exact location, so he asked the locals in the Paradise subdivision how to get there.

Zinio: A Digital Newsstand's Tempting Offers

I used to subscribe with Time, Readers Digest, etc., all in hard (paper) copies when I was younger with plenty of time to read them. Nowadays, I just read e-books and sometimes browse the electronic copies of newspapers abroad from my notebook or smart phone. 

Five days ago, I was contacted by Zinio, a digital newsstand with more than 5,000 magazines titles from all around the world. They offer magazines in digital format, in attractive bundles and incentive pricing, that can be read in laptops, iPad, Kindle, tablets, and smart phones. 

By reading magazines in digital form, we also spare some trees from being cut to make paper, avoid packaging and shipping to reduce our carbon footprint. Below are some of their nice, attractive offers. Just click the hyperlinks below:

Running in Skyway for Mangrove Forest

Last 05 February 2012, I joined the 5-km category of the Condura-Skyway Marathon. With just 3-4 days of practice runs within our village, I was confident to finish the run in 40 minutes. This run is part of my 2012 targets to participate in marathons this year for social or environmental initiatives.

Below is a photo of the B-wave waiting area where I'm included.

Emperor Spa in Binondo, Manila

With a full stomach yet tired and aching legs from previous day’s mountain climb, I continued on my walking tour of Binondo. This time, I was in the hunt for an inexpensive yet good massage. A helpful pedicab driver referred me to Emperor Spa along Soler Street, not far from 168 mall where Wife is doing some Christmas shopping.

Arriving at past 11:00 am in the spa, I was able to avail their early bird 20% discount from their regular Php 500 massage fee. If getting the services of their foreign expert (Chinese masseuse), I think the massage fee is Php 650. The lady at the counter gave me a key for my assigned locker, and instructed a staff to show me their locker and communal shower room at the second floor.

Sensations Spa in Pulilan, Bulacan

I dropped my wife at SM Baliwag last Monday to meet her high school batchmates. While waiting for her and the rest of our group on their shopping, I decided to get a relaxing massage. I've thought about the spa in the NE supermarket compound nearby, but I remember their rates to be quite expensive. So I decided to try the Sensations Spa in Pulilan, beside the Max's Restaurant near the highway's major intersection. Taking a 12-minute jeepney ride to the site, I left the car at SM's parking lot, where parking space is a prime commodity on a weekend.

The spa is located on the second floor of a 2-storey building, where the first floor is obviously having renovations. The entrance is at the back, and I have to go around the balcony to see their entrance door facing the road. Upon opening the door, the comfortable lounge area above is a bit of a surprise, something I don't expect to a spa located in the area.

Thanks for the 100,000 Hits

A big Thank You to all the readers of this blog, whether regular readers or who just stumbled on this once when "googling" a topic. After 138 posts eliciting 300+ comments, this 568-day old blog had just garnered 100,000 hits from over 45,000 visitors, who have read this blog from 128 countries around the world. As expected, Philippines top the number of visitors, followed by US, Singapore, Canada, and Hongkong. 

English is the major language used by this blog's visitors, followed by Filipino, and a far third is German. Majority of the readers use Firefox as browser, closely followed by Chrome users, then Internet Explorer (IE). There is a debatable study released in Yahoo News before that in general, those who use internet browser other than IE are more intelligent, so I'm sure the readers of this blog belong to the smarter group of the world's population, hehe.

Steve Jobs of Apple Inc.

Today, the tech world mourns the death of Steve Jobs, one of the most influential and iconic person in current history. Below is a photo of Steve Jobs that appears now on Apple Inc.'s website, a company he co-founded in 1976.

I first learned of Steve Jobs during college in 1990, when we are discussing the competition between Apple and IBM on one of our management subjects. Back then, our impression of him is a maverick or unconventional type of person, yet he cannot beat the Watsons of IBM in the market share of the computing world. In 1985, he was even pushed out of the company he co-founded.

Angono Petroglyphs in Binangonan

What are petroglyphs? They are pictogram images or symbols created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. In other words, rock carvings. Petroglyphs are found world-wide, and are often associated with prehistoric people.

The word comes from the Greek words petro meaning "stone", and glyphein meaning "to carve". The oldest petroglyphs are found in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, carved between 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

Not many Filipinos are aware that we also have post-Stone Age petroglyphs, situated in the boundary of Angono and Binangonan in Rizal province. Our national artist from Angono, Carlos "Botong" Francisco, had accidentally seen it on March 1965 while resting in a rock shelter in the company of boy scouts.

Above photo with turtle and lizard pictograms is a portion of the Angono petroglyphs. Below are other rock carvings believed to be depicting a healing ritual of the early people, where a human figure is surrounded by shamans and other people.

SMS or Text Scam by Sam Mendoza

Last Friday, I received 2 SMS or text messages from a Philippine mobile number 0906-4314621. Introducing herself as Sam, this 22-year old lady from Bacolod City asked for help, to be able to apply for a job in Manila. She seems to be desperate for help, as she is willing to offer anything, with a website (www.livealife.tk) to support her cry for assistance.

Upon checking the given website, I was surprised to see a nice looking young lady in a graduation photo, complete with a shortened resume, transcript of records, diploma, etc on the sidebar. On the left side is a longer version of her sad story, and readers will surely take pity on her experiences and current condition. It ends with a note as follows:

Alegre Guitar Factory Store in Mactan, Cebu

Last Friday morning upon arrival at Mactan airport, my colleagues and I visited the Alegre guitar factory near the airport as part of our city tour.

Various body plates and guitar parts will greet the visitors upon arrival.

SLEX and Skyway's Astronomical Toll Rates

On 26 April 2011, new toll rates from Magallanes/C5 to Alabang will take effect, both in Elevated (Skyway) and At-Grade (lower) sections. For Class 1 vehicles, below will be the new toll rates, including the 12% eVAT as of 01 October 2011.

Elevated/Skyway Section:

Makati - Bicutan                                   72

Makati - Sucat                                    118

Makati - Alabang                                 164

At-Grade/Lower Section:

Magallanes/C5 - Bicutan/Merville            49

Magallanes/C5 - Sucat                          84

Magallanes/C5 - Alabang                     118

Bicutan - Sucat                                     34

Bicutan - Alabang                                  69

Sucat - Alabang                                    34

On my calculation, it will be a 23% increase on Skyway, while it will be a whopping 63% increase on lower section, both from current toll rates. Plus the 350% increase on SLEX toll rates from Alabang to Calamba, and you will understand why the South Luzon motorists are complaining on these insane toll rates. Add 12% on the toll rates below to include eVAT.

Hong Kong Space Museum

I have always been curious to see what is inside the big spherical building below which is visible from my hotel along Salisbury Road in TST District of Hong Kong. I found out later that it is the Hong Kong's Space Museum, sandwiched by the HK Convention Center and Museum of Arts.

New Wave Music Addiction

Others call it alternative rock music. I was exposed to new wave music because of my dormmates in UPLB during college days of the late 80's. Since then, my local radio tuner has always been stuck with DWXB, later to NU 107.5 FM station, sometimes 105.1 FM, until they reformatted their music formats. I have also bought audio CDs before in Greenhills of new wave music compilations at ridiculous prices, starting at Php 750/pc.  I felt bad when that CD compilation was stolen from our Kapitolyo flat. 

Later, cheaper versions of such compilations came out after a few years. Unfortunately, I can't find the CDs now of my New Wave Diaries, I Hate Pop, and other compilations. When MP3 formats came out, I also scoured the pirated versions of new wave music from stalls offering DVDs and PC softwares.

Climatic Disasters: Is It Just Beginning?

After a decade of worst drought in Australia for hundreds of years, the rains started to arrive on second quarter of 2010, bringing back life to their parched lands like the one below. 

Unfortunately, the rains showed no signs of stopping, and continue to cause floods in some parts of the island country, their worst in 200 years. 

Espasol by Lorrie's Sweets

My mother-in-law (Nanay Lorrie) creates the best Espasol I've ever tasted. It is no wonder that our friends, relatives, officemates, and even complete strangers order it for pasalubong not only in the provinces, but also to other countries. 

A friend's Japanese boss would always ask her to buy some, while a hospitalized aunt of a lady senator would not eat anything on the hospital except my Nanay's espasol. One time, she even sent her driver to get the espasol from San Ildefonso, Bulacan to be brought to Manila!

Made from only three simple ingredients -- glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar -- it is so popular for those who have tried it. Even those who do not eat espasol easily became converts. To skeptic buyers, I always tell them to try a box first, then I don't oblige them to pay if they are not satisfied. Well, I have yet to encounter one who will refuse to pay or would not place another order, hehe.

Pastillas de Leche by Lorrie's Sweets

My mother-in-law Nanay Lorrie has been making pastillas (dulce) for many years now. Unlike the moist, sugar-covered pastillas of San Miguel, Bulacan from carabao’s milk, Nanay produce the drier version from cow’s milk, making it less vulnerable to molds and therefore can have 3 weeks of shelf life. 

Her pastillas is sold under the brand name Lorrie’s Sweets, and has been featured many times in early morning TV shows, documentaries, and  in some magazines. She does not advertise her products, and she do not have a retail or distribution outlet, but her regular clients who flock to their home in San Ildefonso, Bulacan do the word-of-mouth promotion for her.

Despite the increasing demand especially during holiday seasons, Nanay maintains the same homemade-level of production. I think her reason is to maintain the consistency of quality through the same 2-3 trained workers doing the tedious handmixing of the pastillas paste. Let me walk you through the making of her unique, pure, and all natural pastillas.

The Girls of Auto Salon 2010

This is my post with the least words but the most photos. As what a popular song says, "a picture paints a thousand words", so the photos are more than enough for this post. Regrettably, I was only able to bring a camphone, so some photos do not give much justice to the beauty of the subjects.

Auto Salon 2010 at SMX

We just arrived from the Auto Salon 2010 at SMX Convention Center along Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City. There are many amazing displays of vehicles, as well as merchants offering their various products and services. Below are some photos I was able to capture using just a camera phone, as I forgot to bring a real digicam.

 

Above is the oldest car in the show, a Citroen originally built in 1925, displayed outside the exhibit center. Below is a yellow Ferrari car.

Christmas Lights in Makati

The city of Makati is the premier business district of the Philippines. Boasting one of the highest revenue generating cities of the country, their local government can afford to flaunt their wealth by decorating their main business roads with Christmas lights each year.

Usually, their Christmas lights on the road islands have yellow color and without any form or shape. This year their Christmas lights have white color and are arranged vertically like big cylinders or funnels. Another difference is they have a special effect, like a dropping luminous white liquid, or a low shooting star from afar.

The photos above and below are taken along Ayala Avenue in between the Makati Stock Exchange and BPI branch.